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Barnsley business support project creates 1,000 jobs in 2014

1,000 Barnsley jobs have been created in 2014 as part European-funded business support programme.

Enterprising Barnsley, which is run by Barnsley Council, provides free business coaching to Barnsley-based businesses with growth potential, in areas such as marketing, finance, leadership, IT and branding.

In 2014 the programme helped create 1,030 jobs in the borough.

Councillor Roy Miller, Barnsley Council’s cabinet spokesperson for development, environment and culture, said: “The latest figures prove that with the right support from the right people businesses can go from strength to strength.

“This is down to the innovative and hard-working attitude of business people across the borough and the continuous support of Enterprising Barnsley.”

One firm to receive input from the programme this year is Experia, which is one of the top three suppliers of multi-sensory equipment in the UK.

Managing director Gareth Jones has seen his company buy its own premises in Grimethorpe, invest in infrastructure and create five new jobs bringing Experia’s workforce to 19.

Gareth said: “Experia moved to Barnsley from West Yorkshire in 2011 and the company has expanded rapidly since then. Enterprising Barnsley has always been a great support and at the end of the phone line with practical advice and possible business contacts when we need them.”

Other firms that have created jobs include Aldi with 42, DHL with 30 and Active Response Security with 27.

Work opportunities for the future are also being created by firms moving into the borough. With Enterprising Barnsley’s support, Euroscan, a specialist company offering X-ray inspection services to food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies, has opened for business at Shortwood Business Park near Hoyland.

Enterprising Barnsley is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2,259,511 investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .