Two companies in North Lincolnshire are set to benefit from the government’s Regional Growth Fund to create job and training opportunities for young people.
North Lincolnshire Council has granted £112,000 to expand Saxby Quality Foods, a food manufacturer in Scunthorpe - creating 25 jobs.
The money will support the expansion of the business to meet the demands of the new food safety standards and buy new equipment to widen the product range and support customer growth.
Since North Lincolnshire Council announced in May its Regional Growth Fund to support businesses, 63 have registered an interest.
Grants are available from £5,000 to £2m for businesses looking to invest and create jobs in North Lincolnshire.
The council also awarded £364,000 to support up to 70 new apprentices by March 2014 at Humberside Engineering Training Association Limited (HETA) - a not for profit charity that provides support and training for the engineering sector through training apprentices and adult training. HETA aims to encourage more young people into engineering careers and have placed over 6,000 young people in jobs since 1968.
Individuals appointed are given intensive training and support to ensure they obtain the necessary skills in the engineering field that are appropriate for a number of sectors and particularly will meet the skills gaps for the emerging renewables market.
For more details about the Regional Growth Fund in North Lincolnshire and how to apply, call 01724 297330 or email reginalgrowthfund@northlincs.gov.uk.
Cllr Rob Waltham, cabinet member for People at North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“The Regional Growth Fund is a fantastic initiative that will help boost our local economy by helping attract new business, help businesses expand, and create much needed training and job opportunities.
“Already since we launched the scheme just two months ago, we have received huge interest and helped two businesses.
“Any business interested in finding out how they too can benefit, should contact us. This is a golden opportunity. We are committed to support business growth in North Lincolnshire. We want to see them do well and the Regional Growth Fund will help them to do that.”
Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
“The Regional Growth Fund is really making an impact in places such as North Lincolnshire despite the tough climate. I'm pleased to see that North Lincolnshire Council continues to grant the funds for important bids and hope that they receive many more to support valuable projects in the local community.
"Whether it's creating jobs or boosting manufacturing capability, the Regional Growth Fund shows the difference that Government and the private sector can make when working together. It is real projects like these which will unlock private sector investment to boost local economic growth and rebalance the economy."
The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £2.4bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015. It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. It aims particularly to help those areas and communities which were dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.
For more information on the Regional Growth Fund please visit http://www.bis.gov.uk/rgf
For media enquiries please contact:
Sarah Howe, Senior Media Relations Officer
Tel: 01724 296353, Mobile: 07717586353
Email: sarah.howe@northlincs.gov.uk
