Yorkshire projects attract major funding
THREE projects in East Yorkshire have secured part of the government’s multi-million pound package to create jobs and apprenticeships in coastal towns across the country.
More than 50 projects across the UK were today awarded a share of £27.7m of Coastal Communities funding, supporting over 4,000 jobs and creating over 1,000 new apprenticeships and training places.
In Hull, Watergate Developments will get £300,000 to turn a former dry dock and ship repair yard into a Centre for Digital Innovation or C4Di, providing space for 115 digital enterprises creating 450 direct and 25 indirect jobs. The £13m digital business complex is set to be Hull’s first dedicated workspace and venue for digital and technology companies to innovate and explore new opportunities.
East Riding Council gets a £2.15m contribution toward its £25m development to reinvigorate the centre of Bridlington with the creation of a new Leisure Centre with space for commercial and retail outlets. The project could create 27 direct and more than 200 indirect jobs in the community.
Hull-based social enterprise, the Goodwin Development Trust, will receive £404,000 for a Pre-Enterprise Support, Start-Up, and Growth advice service. It will include outreach, training and information via engagement with Hull City Council-owned library and business centres, creating 24 direct and 85 indirect jobs.
Danny Alexander said: “The Coastal Communities Fund allows us to help communities across the UK to rebuild and regenerate their local economy, with projects this year supporting nearly 4000 jobs and 1000 training places.
“This is even more important given the extreme weather and I’m very pleased we’re giving £17m of the fund to projects in areas hit by floods. Additionally, we have invested £5m from the fund’s reserve into the government’s programme for flood recovery.
“The Coastal Communities Fund is supporting some of the most fragile communities. It is a great way to make sure that people living around our coastline can share in the benefits of the increased returns for the Crown Estate’s marine activities.”
Hull Council leader Stephen Brady said: “Both of the successful bids from Hull fit very well with Hull’s City Plan ambitions and will contribute to encouraging sustainable economic growth in the City. I offer my congratulations to colleagues in Hull’s social enterprise sector at the Goodwin Centre, which has a wonderful track record of serving communities across Hull, and which will be working with the Council on a job creation and enterprise start up project.
“I am also delighted at the success of the bid by Watergate Developments, the developers of the Centre for Digital Innovation. Their project will make a powerful contribution towards capitalising on the emerging creative industries quarter of Hull in the Fruit Market area of the City and a key location of for City of Culture 2017.”
Peter McGurn, chief executive of the Goodwin Development Trust, added: “This vital funding from the CCF is crucial to the Goodwin Development Trust’s continuing efforts to tackle poverty and drive economic growth in our community through entrepreneurial activity. Our 20 years’ experience tells us that employment is the greatest cure for economic and social ills – and this funding will be used to create new jobs and businesses by facilitating the expansion of our ENRG Business Start-Up and Growth service.”
Barry Dodd, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The role of the seaside town is changing and delivering growth in Bridlington is a priority for the York, North Yorkshire & East riding LEP. Coastal Communities Fund’s support for the regeneration of Bridlington is a strong vote of confidence in the potential of the town. To build upon this, we hope that the government will continue to support our ambitions as we lay out our plans for the region’s future.”
Ministers have also announced that bidding for the next round of the Coastal Communities Fund is now open and said bids on coastal flood protection and repair would be prioritised. The fund will support £64m of projects across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland over the next three years.
The Coastal Communities Fund was created to direct regeneration investment to seaside towns and villages to help rebalance their local economies, reduce unemployment and create new work opportunities for young people from the local area.
