A SCHEME to help West Yorkshire's creative businesses expand has so far handed out over £92,000 to three businesses.

#Grow was set up by West Yorkshire Combined Authority in response to Channel 4’s move to Leeds. It was a pot of cash that would support creative and digital businesses that already have a presence in the region to expand. They could apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000.

The fund was launched at Halifax Digital Festival in September, and next Tuesday members of the Combined Authority’s Business Innovation and Growth Panel will be given an update on the first few months of #Grow.

A report to members says: “Three applications have been approved to date totalling £92,020, with the creation of 10 jobs.

£2.5 million funding pot to encourage more creative industries to follow Channel 4 and set up in region

“A further five applications are currently under review and we are working through a pipeline of 50 enquiries.”

The fund goes hand in hand with another scheme called #Welcome - which provides grants to attract creative industries to move to the area.

Together #Grow and #Welcome have a funding pot of £2.5 million.

As well as creative industries such as TV, film and media companies, the grants will be open to companies that support such industries, such as IT, software and hardware businesses, cyber securities and data protection technology groups.