Manufacturing industry urged to bid for extra growth funding
23 February 2012
From February 23 2012, an extra £1bn is available to businesses seeking support to help them create new jobs and grow. The money is coming from the Regional Growth Fund, which now stands at £2.4bn. It will be available to businesses and public/private partnerships with ambitions to create new jobs and make a significant impact on their local economy. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg made the announcement at the Government’s National Manufacturing Summit at the Bristol & Bath Science Park.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg
It was also announced at the Summit that ‘See Inside Manufacturing’, a pilot initiative introduced last year to give young people the opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of the UK’s world-class automotive facilities to learn about modern manufacturing, will return again this June. This time it will be extended to three new sectors – aerospace, defence, and food and drink.
The Government’s Make it in Great Britain campaign received an added boost at the Summit with the announcement of 23 new ‘Industry Champions’, bringing the total to 30. The Champions – who are leaders in their field across a variety of sectors within manufacturing – have signed up to lend their support to the campaign, which culminates in a six week exhibition at the Science Museum this summer during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
There will be a series of road shows taking place across England to give potential bidders to the fund the opportunity to find out more about it and get advice on their proposals. The first series of road shows will begin at Birmingham on 16 March, followed by York on 20 March and Gateshead on 22 March.
For more information on the criteria of the fund and how to bid (deadline for bids: June 13 2012), click here.