The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 50: Aug/Sept 2020 | Page 5

BUSINESS NEWS
SWINDON AND WILTSHIRE
LEP SECURES £9.7M TO
BOOST THE LOCAL
ECONOMY
The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership has bid successfully for £9.7m from
the Getting Building Fund (GBF) for a wide-ranging package of projects that will deliver a
much-needed boost to the local economy. GBF funds will deliver key science and innovation
projects in the cyber, life sciences, environmental and digital technologies sectors.
These are new projects that will bring public and private sector
investment over the next two years, at a critical time for the
region as it looks to recover from the impacts of Covid-19.
The three projects bring together academic research with
industry expertise to drive growth and jobs in the region and
build the UK’s knowledge and resilience in these key sectors of
the economy.
CUSTOMS, IMPORT, EXPORT
& INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS
SUPPORT FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Do you import & export goods?
Worried about Brexit & how new
rules may affect your business?
Confused & need some direction?
SPEAK TO OUR SPECIALIST TEAM
TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP.
CUSTOMS
BUREAUX
07968 849 671
www.customsbureaux.com
BUSINESS CYBER CENTRE (£3.7M)
A centre of excellence to help close the cyber skills gap driving growth through an
academy, employment hub and a cyber response team. The Centre will facilitate
secure operations across a flexible workforce by opening up remote working
employment opportunities. The Business Cyber Centre will level-up the UK Cyber
presence as a rural hub for businesses.
PORTON SCIENCE PARK PHASE 2 (£2M)
Developed in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and Defence, Science
and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) this 3500m2 research and innovation centre
will provide meeting and conferencing space, workspace, laboratory bench space
all linked to the existing Porton campus.
CARRIAGE WORKS, SWINDON (£4M)
The revitalisation of these Grade-II listed buildings secures a sustainable future for
this key heritage asset. With high-speed fibre connectivity, this dynamic education
and employment environment will attract high tech incoming businesses to
support Swindon’s ambition to compete at the forefront of digital innovation, using
technology for positive change.
Paul Moorby OBE, Chair of Swindon and
Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership
said, “This is very good news for Swindon
and Wiltshire and enables us to deliver
new, essential projects for our local
economy. The projects demonstrate the
strong partnership across business and
the public sector to restart growth in
our area.”
Paddy Bradley, Swindon and Wiltshire
Local Enterprise Partnership CEO,
added, “The three projects are the first
to be funded from our recent local
industrial strategy. We believe we live in
an incredibly innovative region and this
funding will help unlock some of our
potential for growth. This represents a
huge opportunity in the life sciences,
advancement of the cyber sector and
sustainable innovation across Swindon
and Wiltshire.”
Minister for Regional Growth and Local
Government Simon Clarke MP, said, “We
want to build back better to fuel a green
economic recovery across the country by
investing in infrastructure, creating jobs
and building the homes people need That
is why, we are investing £900 million in
shovel-ready projects through our Getting
Building Fund, including £9.7m in the
Swindon and Wiltshire LEP. This funding
will unlock homes, create new jobs and
deliver investment in commercial and
green spaces and a much-needed boost
to the local economy.”
For more info:
www.swlep.co.uk
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2020 5