Regional Growth Fund to stimulate job creation (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Regional Growth Fund to stimulate job creation

8:00am Monday 13th June 2011 in Jobs News

BUSINESSES is the South-West are being urged to apply for their share of a £950m pot aiming to stimulate job creation in the region before July 1.

Sir Ian Wrigglesworth attended a road show on Friday to promote the second round of the Regional Growth Fund and encourage bidders to compete for a share of £950m.

He spoke about the importance of economic growth and the role of the Regional Growth Fund.

He then took questions about the process of submitting high-quality bids that offer the potential to create new jobs.

The Regional Growth Fund has been designed to:

• provide support for projects that can drive sustainable economic growth and create new private sector jobs; and

• particularly help communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to private sector-led growth and prosperity.

Sir Ian is Deputy Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel, which will consider all bids for funding and make recommendations to Ministers, led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, about which should be supported. Lord Heseltine is Chair of the panel, which consists of a team of academics, business and civic leaders.