More than 800 jobs have been created in 222 businesses over the past year through the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Growth Fund.
The £10m-plus handed out by the fund has enabled the wide range of businesses to gain training, attract investment and carry out research and development as well as create employment opportunities.
The fund, supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, is set to create 2,200 jobs across Bristol and the West of England over the next few years and attract an additional £110m of private sector investment that would otherwise not have happened. 
Businesses could apply for up to £1m to spur further growth and create jobs.
Among Bristol firms to benefit from the fund is Phineas Group, the specialist plastics manufacturer which makes shoe hangers for retailers.
Last year it ‘reshored’ parts of its manufacturing from China to reduce lead times. It received £100,000 from the fund to buy a forklift truck and start manufacturing in its state-of-the-art plastic injection moulding factory in Hengrove, pictured at its official opening.
Other companies boosted by the fund include Portishead-based mechanical engineering company C Enterprise, which received £185,000 to fund research into a desktop fabrication robot and is working on the further development of its CEL Robox 3D printer.
Combined Brewers – the result of the merger of two award-winning South Gloucestershire breweries – used its funding of just over £30,000 to move to larger premises and increase brewing capacity.
Managing Director Mark Frankcom said “Our new operations at Tortworth will put us in a great position to make more of the brands and products that our customers are asking for.”
LEP chair Colin Skellett said: “I am delighted that the growth fund has enabled so many businesses in the West of England to realise their expansion plans and create new jobs. These companies are the driving force of the UK economy and help deliver economic growth for the region. It is encouraging that so many have capitalised on this great opportunity.”
