A record number of businesses have applied for grants from Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership to help them expand.
The scheme, launched by chief executive of Royal & Derngate, Martin Sutherland, gives grants to small and medium-sized firms in the county.
A spokeswoman for NEP said: “Prior to the round closing last Friday July 31, enquiries and requests for application packs were received from an unprecedented 170 businesses and individuals working in Northamptonshire’s Creative & Cultural Industries (CCI) sector.
“This time around, INV-ENT CCI specifically targeted ambitious creative and cultural SMEs to support the transformational growth of their businesses with grants of up to £20,000 – offered to support the development of new products, investment in up-skilling existing or securing new staff, enhancing digital capabilities and the introduction of new technologies,” she added.
Firms will hear whether they are successful or not in October.