The Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) is a unique, innovative grant fund that aims to support local economic recovery in local high streets by empowering local groups of businesses to implement changes themselves.
The Economic Recovery Fund is designed to be flexible, allowing applicants to develop solutions tailored to their local needs. By empowering communities to lead, the program has helped businesses take on new roles, build stronger connections, and implement changes that have been well-received by their neighbourhoods.
A whistle-stop tour of some of the brilliant things that people made happen using ERF funding in 2022.
The first round of the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) was launched in March 2021, offering grants for both small (£50k) and large (£50k-£200k) projects. With a total budget of £2.3 million, 26 projects across Sheffield were supported. The impact of the fund has been overwhelmingly positive, as highlighted in a full evaluation:
Based on these results and the evaluation’s recommendations, the Council allocated an additional £2 million for a second round of funding. Currently, 23 new projects are being delivered across the city.
For a full list of funded projects and summaries of their achievements, see here.
You can also read the evaluation of the first round of ERF funding here. A report on the second round will be available by April 2025.
‘Choose Chapeltown’ enhanced the area with a new seating space and planting, vibrant events (including Christmas, Jubilee, Halloween, and Coronation celebrations), and event infrastructure like gazebos. The project featured a branding campaign with lamppost banners, two noticeboards highlighting local businesses and the Chapeltown Trail, and a dedicated website with a business directory. A local advertising campaign was launched, and festive lighting was installed in 2021 and 2022.
'Family Friendly Firth Park' delivered lamppost banners to promote local shopping, a parklet, new benches, and improved planting at the roundabout. Park upgrades included picnic tables, enhanced sight lines, an extended café area, and LED lights on trees. Key events were the Firth Park Family Fun Day, spring activities, a Jubilee celebration, and Christmas lights. Four street art pieces were created, and a Business Link Officer was appointed to aid local business recovery post-COVID.
'Hillsborough Together' delivered new benches, bins, planters, hanging baskets, and cycle parking, along with a shutter art scheme to enhance the high street. Community trails and events, especially during the Christmas season, featured the first holiday lights in 25 years in 2021 and 2022. Business Forum meetings offered marketing and social media training, while collaboration with Hallam University’s TAP program provided insights into shopper behavior through footfall monitoring. Social media and local magazine features were used to engage the community and promote the shopping district.
'Heart of Manor Park' delivered a new litter bin, a replacement noticeboard, co-designed augmented reality artwork, and planters to enhance the high street. Local children created 'Keep Manor Park Tidy' posters, and three successful events were held: summer (August 2022), Christmas (November 2022), and spring (March 2023). The main aims were to improve amenities, connect the community with local businesses, and encourage patronage.
'Nether Edge Village' installed 20 permanent street trees and four community planters, maintained by local gardeners. Two signs were added to share local history and improve navigation. A new brand for ‘Nether Edge Village’ was promoted through lamppost banners and a citywide leaflet. The ‘Walk & Talk’ mentoring program connected youth with local businesses, while Ammi’s Kitchen received support for equipment and marketing to enhance their social enterprise.
'Proud of Page Hall' formed a Business Improvement Forum to facilitate communication and regular meetings with local businesses. A business survey received 45 responses, and a visitor survey gathered 150 responses. The ‘Keep Page Hall Tidy’ campaign included a Clean-up Day, three new litter bins, and 15 lamppost banners. Additional improvements featured new railings and tactile paving to combat anti-social behavior.
The Spital Hill Business Forum (SPF) was established in May 2022 by local ward councillors and a business coordinator to engage diverse businesses. Training offered to members included First Aid, Fire Safety, and Safeguarding. The Forum successfully delivered a Youth Market for young entrepreneurs, attracting over 80 attendees, and a Winter Fair on Ellesmere Green with market stalls and support services. A graffiti workshop led to the installation of two murals by a local artist. Lamppost banners were designed to celebrate diversity and promote local shopping with the message to ‘big up the hill.’
'Walkey Business Action Group' delivered an arts trail featuring 25 utility boxes, 15 shutters, and 2 murals were created. A parklet was installed on South Road for seating and planting, along with 18 small grants for shop front improvements and new noticeboards for local news. Walkey Green saw dangerous tree removal and additional planting. Events included Christmas celebrations in 2021 and 2022, a month-long Walkley Festival, and a Fun Day for families. Infrastructure was purchased for future events, and street furniture like benches, planters, and cycle stands were added along the trail, with lamppost banners promoting the area.
'The Woodhouse Traders Association' reanimated the market square by hosting various themed events over a 12-month period, aiming to increase foot traffic, boost local spending, and improve perceptions of the area. Events included a Christmas celebration, Remembrance observance, Woodhouse by the Sea, Back to School, Arty Party, and Spring Market. The initiative was supported by a leaflet/newsletter campaign and enhancements to the Memorial Garden, Christmas lights, and litter picks to prepare the area for each event.
The team plan to reimagine the branding of the high street and create a new heritage trail and events, getting people to explore the area in new ways. They’ll also bring together a steering committee to help keep positive change going along with adding new street scene improvements and places to linger for longer.
The Greener Greenhill project will see new planting to make the neighbourhood more inviting, and a promotional campaign encouraging people to explore the area. The main roundabout at the hub of the precinct will be made more visually appealing through planting schemes and sculpture to create a destination feel.
The team will create a new collective identity for the area with new welcome signs, banners, planters and a mural for the Alderson Road car park. They’ll also bring people together with a celebratory event and plan on a local marketing campaign to capture the student market with everything the area has to offer
The Gleadless Valley Regeneration Team, utilising existing links and relationships with businesses and communities in these two retail areas aim to make visual improvement to both areas to give a sense of arrival and place. Alongside visual improvements the team will deliver activities and events that animate the areas and bring people together.
The local project team plan aim to combat the perception of businesses and others that anti-social behaviour of young people deters people from visiting the shops, but creating a targeted programme of engagement. They’ll also deliver street art to brighten shutters and gable ends, and improvements to make the high street more inviting, from new bins to Christmas lights.