Local Chocolate Company Gets £150,000 Covid-19 Grant

The Cocoabean Company, based at Twynholm, Dumfries and Galloway is to receive £150k Covid-19 pandemic support grant through South of Scotland Enterprise Funding.

Support available through Covid funds specifically helps support businesses that have been negatively affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE said: “We have been working very closely with Cocoabean for a number of weeks now, so we are delighted to make this award and help them on the journey ahead. The company is an integral and inclusive part of the local economy in Twynholm and throughout the region, attracting some 150k visitors every year. Cocoabean are pivotal to the economic infrastructure to the South of Scotland, and we look forward to working closely with them as they plan their future.”

Cocoabean Company Director Claire Beck said: “We are delighted to receive the positive news of the new funds. We are a small, family run business who relies heavily on visitors during school holidays and at weekends, so the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has hit us hard, and we were really struggling. Receiving this significant amount of money is going to be a lifeline to our company and help us retain 25 full time jobs in Twynholm. We are really grateful for all the support and advice we have received from South of Scotland Enterprise and look forward to working closely with them as our business moves forward.”

Emma Harper South Scotland MSP said;

“I’m delighted that a successful outcome has been reached for Cocoabean who are a well- established local company, following my intervention to help the staff and management who I contacted upon hearing of the major challenges their business was facing.

“The company have since been able to liaise with the new South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) who have been assisting many local businesses across Dumfries & Galloway during this hugely challenging time, since they started operations on April 1^st this year.

“It’s good news that by working in partnership we have been able to engage and effectively support Cocoabean ,which is a hugely valued company enjoyed by both locals and visitors to the region. Protecting valuable jobs in our rural part of Scotland is essential.”

Local Constituency MSP, Finlay Carson  said:

The Cocoa Bean Company based in my home Village of Twynholm, is a hugely popular venue for locals and tourists alike. I was made aware of the difficulties that the company faced with the COVID-19 lockdown and received many letters asking for my support to lobbying for assistance after the original application for support was rejected.
My office has been working with the management of Cocoabean and assisting in the appeal process with the Enterprise Agency for some time now and I am delighted that a support package has been agreed to provide immediate support and longer term assistance for the future. This will safeguard local jobs and allow many thousands of locals and tourist to continue to enjoy one of the area’s best loved visitor attractions.