RGF cash could generate over 47,000 NW jobs

THE Government has announced 34 North West projects were successful in the second round of bids for RGF funding.

Siemens’ bid for cash for its new green technology centre in Manchester, Salford City Council’s bid for the Port Salford project (left) and Burnley Borough Council’s bid forfor the Todmorden Curve project are just three of the projects which have gained approval as the government awarded £227m worth of funding for regional projects.

The government has said that funding for projects in the North West will create 7,800 jobs directly and lead to another 39,500 being generated in the supply chain. Nationally, it said investment would create 37,000 jobs directly and a further 164,000 in the supply chain.

Speaking following the announcement of £950m worth of cash for projects across the UK This morning, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this boost to business, which will jump start growth and create jobs that last in the places that really need it.

“This targeted support for businesses across the country allows them to expand and create jobs.

“It unlocks private sector investment – with at least £5 put in for every £1 of public money.

“People in the rest of Britain have been let down for far too long by governments in thrall to one Square Mile of it.  

Business secretary Vince Cable said: “We need to be doing all we can to enable businesses and organisations to create much needed jobs and inject private investment into the economy.

“We have announced today that a further 119 projects will benefit from the fund, and expect to deliver a huge number of jobs across their businesses and in the supply chain.”

Burnley Borough Council’s project will provide a direct link between the town and Manchester’s mainline train stations, as well as opening up its £100m Weavers’ Triangle joint development with Barnfield Investment Properties which could create up to 250 jobs in the town.

It will mean that travel times between Burnley and Manchester should dramatically reduce to around 40 minutes – or half the current total travel time. It should also improve Pennine Lancashire’s GVA figures by more than £30m a year and revitalise land around the Manchester Road station.

Following the announcement, Barnfield Investment Properties’ managing director Tim Webber said: “Barnfield are committed to the Weavers’ Triangle: its regional historical significance, and great economic potential for the region’s future.

“There is something positive happening in Burnley – the way the business community came together to support our bid not only fills me with great personal pride having worked in this area for many years, but it also serves as an example to other areas across the country who seek to move towards private sector-led growth.”

Charles Briggs, Leader of Burnley Council, said: “I am really proud of all those who have made this possible, and proud of the partnership working between businesses and the public sector, and the important influence of Gordon Birtwistle, our local MP who has been very active in pressing the case for this and a number of other economic development priorities.”

RedX Pharma has been awarded £5.9m for a two-year research and development phase into new cancer treatment drugs.

The company, which is based at MerseyBIO, said the award would help it to build a new Oncology Medicinal Chemistry Centre which will create up to 250 biosciences jobs in the city.

Dr Neil Murray, chief executive of Redx Pharma, said: “Redx has the potential to be one of the cornerstones of the strategy to develop what’s been dubbed locally as the Knowledge Economy and today’s announcement is a glowing endorsement of a vision we share with the city.

“Liverpool has given itself the challenge of enabling the establishment of two or three new life science businesses, which each employ 200-300 staff in the next 10-15 years.

“RedX Oncology will be the first of these companies and through developing our portfolio of new drug candidates we can raise Liverpool’s life science profile and build on the city’s established reputation in cancer care.”

A full list of the regional organisations to have received funding from the Regional Growth Fund appears below:

University of Liverpool
Harpscreen(GB)
Pirelli Tyres
Phoenix Court Blackburn
Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon Limited (‘Gilkes’)
Crown Speciality Packaging UK
Redx Pharma
Double R Controls
C&C Baseline
Standish Engineering
Ronfell
Double R Controls
North West Aerospace Alliance
Sefton Council
Eldonians Group
Energy Coast West Cumbria
The Listen Media Company
The Greater Manchester LEP
Siemens
Diodes Zetex Semiconductors
Ferguson Polycom
Salford City Council
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Economic Solutions
Pochin Developments
Keepmoat Homes
Regenerate Pennine Lancashire
Lucite International UK
Bentley Motors
DI UK
HMG Paints
Burnley Borough Council
Pilkington United Kingdom
Getrag Ford Transmissions