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<p>The Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper upholds the Government’s central
mission to reverse the geographical inequalities faced by our communities by spreading
opportunity more equally across the country and by bringing left behind communities
up to the level of more prosperous areas. This means spreading prosperity to all corners
of the UK, including West Dorset.</p><p>Firstly, Dorset County Council area is included
as one of 55 areas identified by the Department for Education as new Education Investment
Areas. More broadly, higher educational attainment will be supported by a £560 million
investment over three years into a new National Youth Guarantee.</p><p>Second, an
additional £1.6 billion has been allocated to the British Business Bank’s Regional
Investment Funds, which provide debt and equity finance to SMEs. These funds will
be specifically directed toward the South West and North East of England, providing
significant opportunity for the 97% of businesses within West Devon that are either
small or micro-sized.</p><p>Third, Dorset will also see 5 of the 11 new hospital schemes
in the South West.</p><p>Finally, all areas of the UK will receive an allocation from
the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via a funding formula rather than a competition. The
fund will seek to restore pride in place to communities across the UK, and a new prospectus
will be published later in Spring 2022.</p>
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