“Absolutely critical” funding creates and safeguards over 600 Tees Valley jobs

A fund set up by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and the Combined Authority has saved and created over 600 jobs to date.

Mayor Houchen announced that the Tees Valley Business Fund, set up earlier this year, has created and safeguarded 652 jobs so far.

A total of £6m in grants has already been approved for 12 regional companies, supporting £41m of private sector investment into the Tees Valley, allowing the businesses to create 427 new jobs and safeguard 225 more.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen explained: “Creating good-quality, well paid jobs for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is my number one priority and funds like the Tees Valley Business Fund, which supports our amazing small and medium sized firms are an absolutely critical piece of the jigsaw.

“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic my two priorities have been protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and protecting our amazing businesses.

“We will not let this virus hold us back, despite the challenges businesses across the region are wanting to grow and create local jobs for local workers.”