An awnings manufacturer based in north Essex is starting 2015 on the crest of a wave after securing £150,000 in grant funding.

Dolphin Tensile Awnings is now looking to expand on to land adjoining its existing site in Main Road, Dovercourt in a move which will also create six new jobs.

Dolphin produces awnings for the leisure marine sector, for anything from small craft up to superyachts, and also for the land-based leisure market, both nationally and for export.

It it run by the Vincent famly, who also operate Dolphin Sails from the same site and are keen to grow the business further, although any new or extended builings are still subject to planning permission.

The grant money, secured under the South-East Urban Creative Enterprise Support Scheme (SUCCESS), will be used to acquire new equipment and for marketing.

Small firms, those with fewer than 250 employees, were invited to submit bids under the SUCCESS programe for anything from £3,000 up to the full £150,000 awarded to Dolphin, representing up to 50% of investment plans.

Funding was on offer to companies in the fields of design, arts and crafts, performance, recording, radio, TV, film production, galleries and venues, music and dance, theatre and community arts, with those in heritage, sports, and tourism also considered if they could show they had creative links.

Four other Tendring firms have also made successful bids, receiving a total of £150,000 between them.

Mick Page, leader of Tendring District Council and cabinet member for regeneration, inward investment and asset management, said he was delighted that a local firm had managed to attract the top award of £150,000.

“This really is great news for Dolphin Tensile Awnings and it will mean they will be able to establish and expand the business and create six new jobs,” he said.

“Four firms – IT Solution Services and UK Diesel Parts in Clacton, Voodoo Creative in Brightlingsea and Popup Entertainment of Dovercourt – also benefitted under this excellent scheme.

“I urged firms in Tendring to make a bid and make sure they did not miss out, and five of them did just that.”