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Harrogate district businesses set to grow thanks to LEP funding

5 May 2014

A number of Harrogate district businesses are set to grow after benefiting from funding from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Business Growth Programme. Seven businesses have secured a total of £1,125,000 worth of grant funding which in turn has helped generate £10 million worth of private sector investment.
The LEP Business Growth Programme provides grant funding to create new jobs and aid business growth and is open to all businesses based in the Harrogate district or those planning to invest here, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. It is envisaged that the fund will create hundreds of jobs across the region over the coming years.
The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s Business Growth Programme encourages businesses to apply for grant funding of between £10,000 and £500,000 which is made possible by the £25.7m pot of funding from the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

Covance Laboratories, one of the largest employers in the Harrogate district has secured a £575,000 grant towards the establishment of a new European R & D Centre for Nutritional Chemistry & Food Safety,

Lucy Hind, Facilities Director at Covance said: The LEP grant has opened up a fantastic opportunity for Covance. The funding will enable us to develop a new service offering that will bring additional jobs and supplier opportunities to the Harrogate and Leeds City Region.

Harrogate Spring Water Limited, producer of one of the world’s finest spring water brands, secured a £430,000 Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership grant towards a new production plant helping to ensure more of the famous Harrogate Spring Water is exported across the world.

James Cain, Managing Director of Harrogate Spring Water said: We’re delighted to meet the requirements of the Leeds City Region Business Growth Fund – the awarded funds will assist our business in mobilising our ambitions for not only our future growth, but also helping towards the provision of the much needed power requirements for the town of Harrogate.”

Other businesses in the district who have benefitted from a LEP grant include Knightsbridge Neckwear, a local printing company, and three of the district’s manufacturing businesses.

Nigel Avison, Harrogate Borough Council’s Director of Economy and Culture said: It’s fantastic that these local businesses have taken advantage of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s Business Growth Fund and I would encourage other businesses in the district to do the same before the money runs out. Furthermore, due to this district’s membership of two Local Enterprise Partnerships, local businesses can also apply for the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership’s business growth fund. These two funds are an invaluable means of helping businesses develop and achieve great success.

 

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership commented: Harrogate is home to some pioneering companies with ambitious business plans and I am delighted to see the Business Growth Programme enabling this good growth.
“This funding is already having an impact on the local economy, but with grants still available, we look forward to working with more SMEs in the Harrogate district and wider city region to accelerate this growth and create further jobs.

Funding is still available for the Business Growth Programme, but given the high levels of interest in the grant funding, the LEP included an extension of the programme in their recent bid to government for the Local Growth Deal. The LEP is anticipating the outcomes of the bid in summer 2014 and hopes this successful business support will continue to have a positive impact on the regional economy.

Any business in the district wanting further information about either grant scheme should contact Harrogate Borough Council’s Economic Development Team on 01423 556019 or email business@harrogate.gov.uk

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