FINANCIAL support from a business-led economic body is set to create 3,500 jobs across the Leeds city region, including Bradford.

More than £50 million in grants and loans has been provided to 350 businesses by the Leeds city region Local Enterprise Partnership.

Three-quarters of funding has gone to manufacturing firms to help with capital investment in machinery, plant and land, with the overall aim of enabling businesses to take on new employees and apprentices. The city region has the largest manufacturing sector in the country.

Roger Marsh, LEP chairman, said: “We are delighted that our funding programmes are having such a positive impact, helping businesses to unlock their potential and create new, good quality jobs for local people.

“I’m especially pleased about the support we’ve given to the region’s manufacturers. Enabling growth in this sector is vital if we are to achieve our ambition of enabling the city region to become a net contributor to the public purse, helping to rebalance national economy and deliver sustained good growth that provides opportunities for all.

“As a result of this LEP investment, a number of manufacturers have been able to explore new markets at home and overseas and purchase new, innovative technology to expand their product offering.”

Among local manufacturers that have grown as a result of LEP support is Otley-based Craftsman Tools.

The company makes high quality tool holders for customers across the world. It successfully applied for a LEP grant to invest in new machinery to help expand production, develop innovative new products and processes and train their growing cohort of apprentices.

Robert Johnson, managing director, said: “The LEP grant enabled us to invest in new machinery, freeing up some of our older machines to be used in our apprenticeship training programme. and enabling us to develop new processes to boost our productivity and innovation.

We employ 11 apprentices who are learning the trade from scratch and having the equipment for the young apprentices helps us provide the bespoke training that is essential if we are to ensure we have the right skills in future years.”

enabling businesses to take on new employees and apprentices.

More than 255 manufacturing businesses have secured LEP grants funding and, following the Leeds city region Growth Deal announcement, a further £18 million will be available from April to businesses across of the LEP’s key sectors of innovative manufacturing, creative and digital, food and drink, health and life sciences, low carbon and environmental and financial and professional services.