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Regional publisher-backed campaign generates almost 400 jobs

Green-Shoots-PlusA regional publisher-backed campaign has helped generate almost 400 jobs across the area it serves.

The Green Shoots Plus campaign, supported by the Midland News Association, provided grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 to small and medium-sized businesses to help them buy new equipment, win new contracts and create new jobs.

The campaign was funded by the government’s regional growth fund and was run in association with the University of Wolverhampton.

It has now drawn to a close after creating 396 jobs and protecting 192 others since 2015, while generating £13.2m in private sector investment into the West Midlands economy.

The fund was aimed at businesses working in advanced manufacturing, building technologies, transport technologies, including aerospace, environmental technologies or business to business services, such as accountancy, design and print, electrical, advertising or marketing.

Applicants needed to have been turned down by their banks for the required funding and not to have had more than £175,000 in public funding in the past three years.

Chris Leggett, marketing and communications director for the MNA, was on the decision-making panel.

He said: “Green Shoots has been a true partnership between the university, representatives of the private sector and the MNA as leading local publisher.

“Our unrivalled reach within the region has allowed Green Shoots to reach senior managers in small companies who would not otherwise have got involved with a government grants programme.”