Sir Ian Wrigglesworth.
I’ve decided to start a Regional Growth Fund blog to give my personal take on the Fund and to talk about experiences as we tour the country promoting the Fund.
It only seems like yesterday that we were embarking on the first round of Road Shows, but it’s actually nearly 4 months since we started! I’ve seen a few new places around the UK in that time. We had over 450 applications in the first round and had to make some tough decisions, but I am pleased with the 50 projects which were selected and with the £2.5bn of private investment secured.
The sooner the money is invested the better. It’s our job to support the creation of sustainable private sector jobs asap to provide work for people losing them as a result of public sector cuts.
And the word ‘sustainable’ is important.
We’re not looking for short-term fixes. We’re trying to rebalance the regional economies that are over dependent upon the public sector. Nothing against the public sector. I’ve spent a lot of my time trying to get Government jobs out of London and into the regions. It’s not that the public sector is too big. It’s that the private sector is too small. That’s what we’re directly trying to address.
However, time waits for no man and things continue to move forward apace. Michael Heseltine and I are determined to get the whole investment on the ground as soon as possible so we are going back on the road to encourage people to bid. We will be doing Road Shows in Margate, Dudley, York, Newcastle, Preston, Derby and Plymouth over the next 6 weeks with the first in Margate on the 12th May.
So, get on the RGF website, look at the guidance, register for a roadshow, submit that expression of interest and most importantly get bidding.
I hope to update this blog regularly as we progress round the country on the roadshows.
Image: Growth by SamuelBenoit http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbenoit/488944501/ used under CC license
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I am very concern about all the growth fund money going to projects around airports and none seeming to go into public transport. The BIS refuses to give even basic details of the winning bids and the bidders are allowed to chose who does the due diligence on their own bid.
I have had my environmental information request for more details of the Birmingham airport bid turned down. BIS will not even say the name of the real bidder. There is a significant connection between some of those who approve the bids and the aviation industry. The public should have better access to information.
I’ve only just found this and that itself made me wonder if this initiative has been publicised well enough ?
In any event my own company would not be eligible for any such funding. I do sincerely hope that the funding works for those companies that are eleigible and that there is a ‘knock on’ positive effect through the whole private sector.
Sounds great – I wish I had heard of it sooner also as I have come across many sustainable business investment opportunities this year through my work with various SMEs.
Looking forward to more progress updates.
Daryl