Government announces latest RGF settlements

ENGINEERING and sustainable technology projects in the West Midlands have been supported as part of the latest round of settlements in the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills today announced 20 projects in the region were set to receive funds provided they passed the Government’s due diligence tests to ensure they could deliver on what they bid for.

The projects, if delivered, will create more than 33,000 jobs – 3,900 directly and 29,800 indirectly.

The focus of the schemes being supported appears heavily focused on green technology.

Lichfield-based electric vehicle pioneer Zytek Automotive is one of those supported as is Birmingham-based solar energy company Sunsolar Energy. Stoke-on-Trent research group Ceram is another to have received support; the body is currently looking at new technologies to improve the efficiency of the ceramics industry.

Well known Black Country manufacturing names such as Caparo, Angle Ring and Thomas Dudley have also been included.

North Staffordshire, which was disappointed to have missed out on Enterprise Zone status when the Government announced its latest batch of preferred sites in the summer, has been looked on more favourably.

Four of the 10 schemes submitted by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have been backed. In addition to Zytek and Ceram these include Steelite International, which is bidding to develop a new manufacturing facility to produce bone china, and Moorland & City Railways, which is aiming to create a sustainable railway network in North Staffordshire.

The Government has also announced support for county-based excavator manufacturer JCB plus the Stoke-on-Trent regeneration initiative.

The full list of West Midlands schemes receiving support is:

•    LNX Distribution Ltd
•    Zytek Automotive Ltd
•    Aeromet International Plc
•    Alamo Manufacturing Services (UK) Ltd
•    Herefordshire Council
•    Moorland & City Railways Ltd
•    Sunsolar Energy Ltd
•    Birmingham Post
•    Caparo Precision Strip
•    Angle Ring Holdings Ltd
•    Thomas Dudley Ltd
•    NDC Polythenes Ltd
•    Pargat & Co Ltd
•    Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd
•    Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
•    Advanced Engineering Supply Chain
•    Steelite International plc
•    Ceram Research Ltd
•    Trac Group Ltd
•    JCB is listed in the settlement for the East Midlands and South East Midlands