A Solihull-based security and manned guarding specialist has received funding from a new grant-aid programme to help businesses grow.

Integrity Security Group – with over 15 years of experience – is one of a growing number of companies in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP (GBSLEP) area to have benefitted from the Business Development Programme.

It will be using the funding to expand its existing offices in Highland Road as it looks to continue with 100 % year-on-year growth since 2008.

Tony Turner, Director, explained: “The BDP Grant has come at a perfect time in our development and will help us move forward a lot quicker than first anticipated.

“Having the larger office will give us an ideal platform to manage a string of new contracts we’ve recently won and will hopefully lead to us taking on another 40 to 60 people.”

He continued: “Ideally, we want to double the size of the business in 2013 and believe with this backing we can make this vision a reality.”

The Business Development Programme is an £8 million business support programme aimed at helping more than 400 across the GBSLEP area.

To qualify for funding of between £10,000 and £15,000 towards business expansion projects, companies have to have been trading for more than six months and have expansion plans ready to implement that will safeguard existing jobs or create new ones.

The programme operates across the whole of the GBSLEP area, meaning any firms in the Solihull local authority area will be able to apply. The programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013.

Councillor Ian Courts, Cabinet Member for Community & Economic Regeneration within Solihull said: “It is great to see the growth of local companies such as Integrity Security, supported by the Business Development Programme.  We recognise finance is a key issue for businesses  and this initiative provides a critical stepping stone to enable organisations to realise expansion and recruitment plans.  I urge all local businesses to get in touch and see how they can benefit.”

The Business Development Programme grant is available to businesses in eligible sectors that are located within the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area.  The grant, will cover 45% of the costs of an eligible project, subject to satisfying criteria and approval.

As well as the financial assistance scheme, an intensive coaching and mentoring scheme for businesses has now launched.  The great200leaders scheme includes 100 hours of leadership development, delivered over a 12 month period in 10 peer group workshops. Each workshop is headed by an inspirational expert speaker and each participant receives £4,000 funding towards the cost. This programme is aimed at 200 ambitious business owners and directors, to deliver personal performance and business growth.