Millions of pounds administered by a regional business support group has helped a landmark 200 businesses and is expected to lead to the creation of more than 2,200 jobs.

The Leeds city region Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers Bradford, has used money from the Government’s Business Growth Programme to provide grants to businesses totalling £16 million.

As the programme requires additional funding from the private sector, from the £16m committed, the LEP expects a further £140m of private sector funding to be invested into the regional economy.

The programme, which was launched in February 2013, has so far supported a total of 229 businesses in the Leeds city region.

Businesses in the LEP’s key growth sectors have been encouraged to apply for the 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, and includes businesses in the creative and digital sector and the hand life sciences sector.

Coun Keith Wakefield, chairman of the Leeds City Region Investment Panel, said: “It is great to see the positive impact this funding is having across the city region, creating over 2,000 jobs and supporting economic growth for a whole host of innovative and enterprising projects.

“Even through the recent tough economic times, we’ve seen that businesses within the region have continued to have ambitious growth plans and demonstrate sound investment opportunities that we have been able to support.

“I am delighted that the Leeds city region Enterprise Partnership is working hard and successfully to give businesses the hand up they need to achieve their aspirations.”

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 its recent bid to government for the Local Growth Deal.

Among companies benefiting from the LEP cash was Shipley-based Saltaire Brewery, which secured more than £12,000 for equipment to increase production from 35,000 pints a week to 50,000. The 33 per cent rise in output enabled the recruitment of a sales manager and extra brewer.

Bradford Council is advising companies on how to access funding.

Tony Gartland, Saltaire Brewery’s managing director, said: “We very much appreciate the assistance provided by Bradford Council, which has enabled the company to increase production and recruit the staff to deliver future business growth.”

Saltaire Brewery was visited by the Princess Royal to officially open the firm’s new fermentation plant and was toasted with a commemorative Celebration Ale.