ESSEX will play a leading role in powering local and national economic growth, a council claims.

Following the Chancellor's budget announcement Tony Ball, Essex County Council's cabinet member for economic development, said the help for smaller businesses and the self-employed will offer the county's entrepreneurs a path out of the pandemic.

He said: “Doubling the financial incentive for businesses to hire apprentices will help ensure that new employment opportunities are available and that businesses are incentivised to offer them.

“The extra support for non-essential retail and hospitality will offer a lifeline to our hardest-hit retailers, and as a former publican I am particularly pleased to see grants of up to £18,000 available for the hospitality trade."

This combined with an extension of a business rate holiday and the continued reduction in VAT for hospitality and tourism can make a real difference, he added.

Mr Ball said: “Allied to this, the news that Colchester has been successful in its Town Deal is a significant success and I pay tribute to everyone involved in this successful partnership-led project. I am pleased our work lobbying on behalf of businesses in the town paid off.

“We have established a bold vision that will help Colchester embrace future opportunities, with a strong package of investment programmes and projects around active travel, employment and skills, regeneration, young people, heritage and culture."

This investment will promote skills development, create jobs for local people and make our communities more attractive with better facilities, he said.

He added: “Essex and the East of England will play a leading role in powering local and national economic growth.

"We can drive the regional recovery from the challenges of Covid-19 – while helping lead the rest of the nation down the path of increased prosperity.”