'Going for Growth is perfect for Bristol'
Lord Heseltine said the Going for Growth campaign was designed specifically to help small and medium sized businesses. And he said that Bristol was "exactly the kind of city that can take advantage of a fund of this sort"
The 80 yearold former deputy Prime Minister visited Bristol on Wednesday where he spoke at a conference addressing the proposed devolution of power to local government.
He told the Bristol Post "Compaines have to show what extra they will do to get the reward and they have to do it in a competitive environment. But it is access to funds they wouldn't otherwise be able to find. This is very timely. We are beginning I think - I hope - to come out of the worst recession of modern times. We have come out of it in some ways with more strength. There are more small businessess, we have managed to avoid the worst of unemployment. But now we have to build. And, as confidence returns, I have no doubts that this city will be at the forefront of showing the way to a more prosperous future."
He also talked about the importance of devolving decision-making about funding to bodies like the West of
The 80 yearold former deputy Prime Minister visited Bristol on Wednesday where he spoke at a conference addressing the proposed devolution of power to local government.
He told the Bristol Post "Compaines have to show what extra they will do to get the reward and they have to do it in a competitive environment. But it is access to funds they wouldn't otherwise be able to find. This is very timely. We are beginning I think - I hope - to come out of the worst recession of modern times. We have come out of it in some ways with more strength. There are more small businessess, we have managed to avoid the worst of unemployment. But now we have to build. And, as confidence returns, I have no doubts that this city will be at the forefront of showing the way to a more prosperous future."
He also talked about the importance of devolving decision-making about funding to bodies like the West of
England Local Enterprise Partnership.
"This is a major opportunity", he added, "for local communities to get a much bigger say in the money that otherwise would be allocated to them by central government departments. The important thing is to distribute as much opportunity as posible outside London so that others can grow. I think the barriers to growth are the over-centralising of decisions in London. It has happened over the last 100 years or so. A very high proportion of decisions are made in London - about housing, about roads, about environment. What no one in Lodon does is say 'What's good for Bristol?'
That is an important change that some of us are trying to bring about. To give the concept of Bristol a much bigger role. Looking at its strengths and building on them."
Lord Heseltine also thanked the Bristol Post for helping to trigger economic growth in the region "The fact that a local newspaper, in this case the Bristol Post, see itself as playing a positive role is to me a guarantee that the local community will know what is happening, know how to take advantage of it and therefore make it more likely to resonate postitively."
"This is a major opportunity", he added, "for local communities to get a much bigger say in the money that otherwise would be allocated to them by central government departments. The important thing is to distribute as much opportunity as posible outside London so that others can grow. I think the barriers to growth are the over-centralising of decisions in London. It has happened over the last 100 years or so. A very high proportion of decisions are made in London - about housing, about roads, about environment. What no one in Lodon does is say 'What's good for Bristol?'
That is an important change that some of us are trying to bring about. To give the concept of Bristol a much bigger role. Looking at its strengths and building on them."
Lord Heseltine also thanked the Bristol Post for helping to trigger economic growth in the region "The fact that a local newspaper, in this case the Bristol Post, see itself as playing a positive role is to me a guarantee that the local community will know what is happening, know how to take advantage of it and therefore make it more likely to resonate postitively."
How to Enter
The Going for Growth campaign gives firms a unique chance to apply for grants worth up to £1 million.
The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership is looking to hand out £25 million worth of funding to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The money is being made available to firms in five distinct areas:
There will also be an easy to follow online tutorial which will guide people through the application process.
Full details of the Going for Growth campaign and how to apply for funding click on the button below "Application Form"
The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership is looking to hand out £25 million worth of funding to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The money is being made available to firms in five distinct areas:
- For firms involved in research and development
- When capital investment is made by small and medium-sized enterprises
- Organisations planning to invest in training schemes
- Organisations involved in the recruitment of disabled and disadvantaged people
- Support for small firms created or launched be female entrepreneurs
There will also be an easy to follow online tutorial which will guide people through the application process.
Full details of the Going for Growth campaign and how to apply for funding click on the button below "Application Form"
