SMALL or medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Bradford have been urged to apply for a share of £16.4 million worth of funding through two new schemes.

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched two programmes of support for firms.

The first is a £9.2m Access Innovation programme which will support SMEs to develop new products and services and access specialist expertise to achieve this.

Firms who receive some of the cash will be able to better connect to other research organisations, including Catapult Centres, which will offer access to expert technical support, equipment and other resources needed to bring to fruition firms’ innovative ideas.

The second scheme is the £7.2m Strategic Business Growth Programme.

This offers support to small businesses to help them realise their growth potential.

It will also provide impartial one-to-one coaching on all aspects of business growth, including financial management, sales, marketing and planning.

These two new schemes are part of a wider range of support available to firms in the Leeds City Region through the LEP Growth Service, which is available for firms of all sizes and stages of development, They are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Government through the LEP’s £1 billion Growth Deal.

Roger Marsh, chairman of the LEP, said: “Our aim is to make Leeds City Region the best place in the UK to start, develop and grow a business and we now have a comprehensive package of support available for all kinds of businesses, accessible through a single phone number and website.

“Innovation is key to driving economic growth and I’m especially pleased that we have this new substantial package of support to help companies exploit new ideas.

“Innovation cannot happen in isolation and this new programme means businesses have greater access to the expertise and opportunities to collaborate, innovate and grow.

“I encourage business owners to pick up the phone and talk to us.”

For more information on the scheme, call the LEP Growth Service on 0113 3481818 or email businessgrowth@the-lep.com.

MORE TOP STORIES