Deliciouslyorkshire prepares RGF bid
FOOD industry campaign group deliciouslyorkshire is preparing a £2.5m bid to the new Regional Growth Fund as it looks to fill the funding gap left by the demise of Yorkshire Forward.
The regional development agency provides around half the company’s funding but that will stop at the end of the financial year as Yorkshire Forward winds down to closure in 2012.
It is now set to apply to the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund launched by the Government to promote private sector growth.
Chief executive Jonathan Knight said the organisation was considering a three-year programme of work worth between £7m and £8m with a bid to the Regional Growth Fund to cover one third of the cost and the private sector providing the remainder.
Mr Knight said: “All our members are SMEs and the Government’s focus is in job creation in SMEs so it is a natural fit.
“If we are able to secure that funding it means we can assist more companies and run a more comprehensive programme of business support.
“We have a strong, distinctive brand, a highly motivated specialist team and a well proven range of services. Building on this, we are very confident of being able to continue our support to the region’s food and drink industry by building on our commercial activities from which half our revenue already comes. We are also actively seeking new funding streams through local and national government initiatives.”
Mr Knight said while it was aiming to have a bid prepared for the first round deadline of January 21 the organisation may decide to wait for a later round to ensure its application was in the best possible shape.
As deliciouslyorkshire, which champions the region’s food producers, looks to the future it has recruited Judy Bell, chief executive at Shepherds Purse Cheeses and GW Price managing director John Plant to its board.
Deliciouslyorkshire chairman Cath Clelland said: “Deliciouslyorkshire’s role in promoting and providing assistance to businesses is crucial in supporting a thriving regional food economy. Judy and John are welcome additions to our board, bringing vast amounts of expertise to the table.”
