Funding deal to create 28,000 jobs in the region

A £320 million cash boost has been secured by local leaders from the public and private sector to create over 28,000 jobs and training for 40,000 people across the Sheffield City Region (which includes Chesterfield).

This is the fifth most substantial Growth Deal that any city region local enterprise partnership (LEP) has made with government as ministers make their announcements for the 39 LEP areas across England.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was in Sheffield City Region on Friday (4 July) to confirm the final investment during a visit to a local business, which is already benefiting from investment from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The new funding will enable the City Region’s leaders to create a £130 million Skills Bank, which will provide training for 40,000 people in the Sheffield City Region, including between 5,000 and 7,500 apprentices.  The funding will also be used to build new facilities at existing colleges, including a brand new British Glass Academy.

£50 million of the funding will mean that the LEP can extend its highly successful business investment and support programme and create 4,000 new jobs for local people.

James Newman, Chairman of Sheffield City Region LEP, said:

“Sheffield City Region is getting a bigger share of the new funds than we might have expected and is clearly punching its weight when it comes to newly devolved powers and funds from Government.

“Our Growth Deal is the first step on a journey to enable the Sheffield City Region to take control of its own economic destiny. This is a strong start and, although we have not got everything we wanted, we have done well and we look forward to working with Government to increase their trust in our LEP so we will be able to take even more of our own funding and strategic economic decisions in the future.”

Photograph: LEP Board member Paul Houghton shakes hands with DPM Nick Clegg with the SCR Strategic Economic Plan, at Chapmans Agricultural in Sheffield

Source:Sheffield City Region

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