York businesses eligible for �31million funding pot from Leeds City Region LEP

Businesses attending York Business Week are being encouraged to find out how they could tap into over £31million funding from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to grow, develop new products, enter new markets, train their workforce and create jobs.

For businesses interested in developing their workforce, the LEP’s growth manager for York, Jo Burgess, will be answering questions on a panel at the Make It York “Next Generation Workforce” seminar on the 19th November. The panel will explore the challenges and opportunities of recruiting young people, school-leavers and apprentices, and the wide variety of support available to help start this process. Jo will also be participating in other Make It York events focusing on marketing and sustainable growth, providing businesses with multiple opportunities to connect with the LEP and explore their growth options.

Nine businesses in York have already benefitted from the Leeds City Region LEP’s business grants programme, offering the potential to create 22 new jobs and unlock over £1.2 million private sector investment in the local economy. Alongside this business growth funding nearly 70 businesses in North Yorkshire have been successful in securing LEP skills funding worth £260,000, accelerating vital training programmes.

York business owner Lesley Buxton and husband Ian, successfully secured a grant of £30,000 to expand their growing business, Yorvale, a manufacturer of ice cream. The company had plans to grow the production operations and contacted the LEP to see what support was available. The company used the grant to part fund the conversion of a former farm building into a cold store, enabling Yorvale to expand its production facilities, save water and employ three new members of staff.

Lesley Buxton said: “We needed to make this investment to help grow the business further within the foodservice sector, and expand into new markets. Following support from the LEP, we recently employed a commercial manager to support our business expansion and we are excited about further growth in the future.”

Roger Marsh, Chair of the LEP said: “We are delighted to have been able to assist companies in York and North Yorkshire in their strategic investments. We have already supported over 450 businesses from across the Leeds City Region with capital investment and over 200 business with skills funding. This is a unique opportunity to secure funding for both business growth and staff training and development and I would urge more York businesses to take advantage of this opportunity while the funding is available.”

Councillor Chris Steward, City of York Council Leader said: “York Business Week is a great opportunity for local businesses to find out how to access funding to help develop and gain the confidence to invest, hire and grow. It’s pleasing to see that the funding has already supported improved infrastructure and job creation in the city and I hope more York businesses join those already benefitting from the LEP funding by applying.”

Charles Storr Economy and Enterprise Manager at Make It York said “I’m delighted to see York businesses taking advantage of the available funding and we at Make It York are working ‘hand in glove’ with the LEP to spread the word and work with local York businesses.”