Express & Star

David Cameron backs Express & Star Green Shoots jobs fund

David Cameron has praised a scheme set up by the Express & Star which is creating dozens of jobs.

Published

The Prime Minister hailed the work of the Green Shoots project, which has handed out grants of almost £400,000.

The high praise came as the scheme, run with the University of Wolverhampton, today announced eight more firms will be sharing grants worth £238,186.

The money has come from the Government's flagship Regional Growth Fund (RGF), a multi-billion pound project to offer grants to firms with projects and plans to expand.

Prime Minister David Cameron praised the E&S and the university on a visit to Wolverhampton's i54 business park.

He said: "RGF has played a really good role in boosting private sector employment and getting business moving. Full marks to the Express & Star for working with RGF to fund projects that support employment."

  • See pictures and video from David Cameron's Wolverhampton i54 visit

  • David Cameron hears of workers’ pride in new Jaguar Land Rover site

The latest cash handouts bring the total number of Black Country firms supported so far to 12, with 47 jobs being created from a total of £392,643. And more will be announced over the coming year as the Express & Star and the university dish out the funds from a £1.4 million pot to companies with the potential to grow and bring jobs back to the Black Country.

Professor Ian Oakes, a deputy vice-chancellor at the university, said: "Our intention is to provide support to the successful applicants through on-going mentoring to ensure the plans have sustainability and prove to be prosperous for the region in years to come.

"The aim is for the Green Shoots fund to provide a platform for successful businesses to grow and create jobs, not only for themselves but also within the supply chains with which they work."

The Green Shoots Fund offers grants worth up to £50,000 to small and medium-sized businesses based in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley or Walsall boroughs.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.