Worcester firms urged to bid for RGF cash

FIRMS in Worcestershire have been urged to act quickly to ensure they bid for the new round of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) cash.

Bidding for the £350m pot could play a major part in driving forward enterprise in the county said Worcestershire Local Enterprise chairman Peter Pawsey.

The Government has said that across the UK the fund has already helped 180 projects get started, creating and safeguarding local jobs and attracting significant private sector investment.

Mr Pawsey said: “It is vital for the future prosperity of Worcestershire that county businesses who are interested in RGF react quickly to ensure that we win as much of this valuable boost to enterprise as possible.”

The RGF is a £2.6bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2016. It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

The Government estimates that the first three rounds will leverage over £13bn of private sector investment and create or safeguard over 500,000 jobs.

The bidding for the fourth round closes on March 20.