Over 4,200 businesses supported by growth service

Over 4,200 businesses across the region have received a boost from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Growth Service since it launched in 2015 .

This includes investment totalling £20.8m in grant funding for new premises, machinery and equipment to create jobs and apprenticeships.

The LEP Growth Service, working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, has received funding through Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1bn package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

Businesses contacting the Growth Service can get access to a wide range of support available from the LEP and its wider network of partners – from funding for start-ups and early stage companies through AD:VENTURE, to support for developing innovative new products and processes.

Support is also available for companies who want to improve their digital capabilities, explore opportunities to trade overseas, develop the skills of their staff, take on apprentices, enable their employees to travel cheaply and sustainably, and save money on their energy bills.

Over 150 businesses have accessed support from the LEP’s Resource Efficiency Fund – launched a year ago –  with 72 grants awarded totalling £530,000.

Roger Marsh, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “A strong, successful City Region economy is underpinned by the thousands of businesses that start up, grow and thrive here. We have some fantastic businesses in our region, but it can be hard sometimes for them to find the right support to take that next step on their business journey.”

In addition to the support available through the LEP Growth Service helpline and website, a 13-strong team of locally based Growth Mangers also support.

David Masters, group managing director of Wakefield-based OE Electrics, said:  “We have benefited hugely from the one-to-one support from the LEP Growth Manager, who we have been working with for over a year now.”