The needs and requirements of rural businesses will be on the agenda when D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – hosts a business breakfast in Bakewell.
The LEP has been allocated £6,055,134 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to help stimulate growth, develop skills and boost the local economy through rural businesses.
Businesses will be able to access the funding between 2015 and 2020 and the award comes from a pot of £177 million being divided between the 39 LEPs.
The funds are extra to the £209m already earmarked to D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF), which was announced in June.
It will form part of the D2N2 Business Breakfast agenda at the Agricultural Business Centre, in Bakewell, on Tuesday February 11, from 7.30am to 10am.
The free event will provide an opportunity for businesses and stakeholders to engage on the progress of the LEP and consult on its future plans, with its Strategic Economic Plan, a £2b investment programme, due to be submitted to Government by the end of March.
Businesses will also get the chance to find out more about our multi-million pound Unlocking Investment for Growth grant programme, which is supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
Skills Support for the Workforce across the D2N2 patch will also be on the agenda, with millions of pounds of funding available for businesses to access in order to upskill their workforce without any cost to their company.
Chief Executive David Ralph said: “We are really looking forward to heading to Bakewell for this event and the opportunity to meet businesses from the surrounding area.
“We have been to the likes of Ashbourne and Buxton last year and the events were well attended and in Bakewell, we will also be able to look at the rural agenda and engage further.
“The rural D2N2 area is predominantly made up of small enterprises which are often very resourceful and creative, such qualities that should be harnessed to build stronger rural economies within the communities.
“We will enjoy the opportunity to engage and network with businesses. It is also a chance for them to find out about the funding opportunities surrounding skills and business growth that are already at their disposal from D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership.”
To book your place(s) go to www.d2n2lep.org/BB or contact the events team on 01332 851280 or email events@dncc.co.uk
