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<p>I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 October 2014 to Question UIN
<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-10-13/210227/"
target="_blank">210227</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The primary support for
business in Stafford and elsewhere is our long term economic plan which is delivering
jobs, growth and low inflation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>16 start up loans have
been made available in Stafford and 1,000 Apprenticeships in the past year.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My Hon. Friend may also wish to note that in the Stafford constituency
there is one Round 1 Regional Growth Fund project with a grant of £4 million leveraging
£57 million of private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 1,600 jobs.
The grant will help the company undertake research and development for the creation
of High Voltage Direct Current power transmission products, including the installation
of equipment at a new engineering centre of excellence owned and run by the company
in Stafford. It will create 200 new jobs and safeguard 1,400 existing jobs.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Businesses can access support via two local programmes that
cover the Stafford constituency. These are run by the Local Enterprise Partnership
(LEP) and the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the above there are
a number of national Regional Growth Fund programmes which companies in Stafford can
apply to.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Stoke and Staffordshire LEP area is one of
15 Wave 2 Cities who are receiving £6.4m Government funding to establish growth hubs
in 2014-15, from a £32m Regional Growth Fund programme managed by Lancaster University
which also includes local business support. Growth hubs are intended to raise awareness
and take up of business support, impact of business support, simplify the local business
support landscape, eliminate duplication and improve the impact of business support,
helping to increase private sector growth.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
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