Sir Ian Wrigglesworth encourages the West Midlands to go for growth
The Regional Growth Forums taking place across the country are an opportunity for potential applicants to the Fund to get advice on the bidding…
The Regional Growth Forums taking place across the country are an opportunity for potential applicants to the Fund to get advice on the bidding process. The Government wants to encourage them to come forward with high-quality proposals that promise to unleash local talent and help communities in the West Midlands to flourish.
Up to 175 local businesses, entrepreneurs and civic leaders are expected to attend today’s event at Keele University in Staffordshire.
The Regional Growth Fund has two key objectives:
- to stimulate enterprise by providing support for projects and programmes with significant potential for economic growth and create additional sustainable private sector employment; and
- to support in particular those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.
Sir Ian Wrigglesworth is Deputy Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel, led by Lord Heseltine. The Panel will consider all bids for funding and make recommendations to Ministers about which should be successful. They will be supported by a team of academics, and business and civic leaders.
Sir Ian said:
“I’m delighted to be here in the West Midlands as an advocate for this important Fund.
“This Fund is not about central government control. This is a fund that private enterprise and partners can submit bids for, to support their actions to create more jobs and economic growth in their region. I hope today’s roadshow will inspire local people to think strategically about how this fund can best support growth in their community.
“The Regional Growth Fund presents an opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs in the West Midlands to help shape their own economic future.”
The Regional Growth Fund will operate over three years. The first of at least three bidding rounds is now open and the deadline for proposals is 21 January 2011. Further bidding rounds will be announced in early 2011. More information on criteria for the Fund and the bidding process is available from http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/regional-economic-development/regional-growth-fund.
Notes to editors:
- The membership of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Regional Growth Fund is as follows:
-
Lord Heseltine, Chair
-
Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, Deputy Chair
-
Felicity Goodey (Businesswoman, former senior BBC journalist)
-
Tony Greenham (Programme Head, New Economics Foundation)
-
Sir Richard Lambert (Director General, CBI)
-
Jon Moulton (Chairman, Better Capital equity group)
-
Caroline Plumb (Entrepreneur, Freshminds)
-
Sir David Rowlands (Chair of Gatwick Airport Ltd and Angel Trains Group Ltd)
-
Mark Seligman (Chartered Accountant and Banker, Credit Suisse)
-
Andrew Shilston (Finance Director, Rolls Royce)
-
Lord John Shipley (Former Leader Newcastle City Council)
-
Tony Venables (Academic Economist, Oxford University
-
For further information call Olivia Campbell on 020 7215 5363 or contact her on Olivia.Campbell@bis.gsi.gov.uk
-
BIS’ online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See [http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom](http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom) for more information.
Notes to Editors
Contact Information
Name BIS Press Office Job Title
Division COI Phone
Fax
Mobile
Email NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Name Olivia Campbell Job Title
Division Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Phone 020 7215 5363 Fax
Mobile