‘New deal’ for Britain’s seaside communities to create 1100 jobs

More than a dozen projects aimed at delivering growth and jobs along Britain’s coast are getting a share of the Government’s £6m Coastal Communities Fund.

The 16 ‘Fast Track’ schemes receiving support in the fifth round of the Fund will start in 2018 and 2019, ahead of the main round of funding in April next year.

Collectively, they are expected to create more than 1,100 jobs and attract both public and private sector co-funding to the tune of £2.4m.

The funding includes a grant of almost £500k for a state-of-the-art fabrication laboratory on Margate High Street. The centre will provide technical skills training, business planning and support for local creative professionals and their companies.

Another is the Scarborough Construction Skills Village project, which is aiming to tackle unemployment and skills challenges. Grant funding of £900k will hep locals into apprenticeships and jobs in the construction sector.

Elsewhere, £60k from the Coastal Communities Fund will go towards transforming an industrial landmark building, St Hilda’s Pit Head in South Shields, into a hub for training and space for offices, events and exhibitions.

One of the ‘Fast Track’ projects, Disability First ‘Access Fylde Coast’ in Lancashire, will get nearly £1m to boost tourism on the Fylde, Blackpool and Wyre coasts by improving the experience for visitors with disabilities.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP commented: “It’s really exciting to see money from the Coastal Communities Fund help kick start these shovel ready projects, which have the potential to unlock the barriers to development and growth in our coastal communities.

“Investment in our seaside areas, through projects such as these, will provide nothing short of a New Deal for the Great British coast, creating thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities along the shore.”

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