Council cash bid to boost employment opportunities (From Gazette & Herald)

Council cash bid to boost employment opportunities

7:00am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

COUNCILLORS have given the green light to three new funds aimed at boosting employment opportunities in Ryedale.

The biggest, of £150,000, described as Ryedale Employment Initiative, will see companies and organisations bidding for funding in return for a guaranteed delivery of employment, said Julian Rudd, Ryedale District Council’s head of employment, at a recent policy and resources committee meeting.

“The funding could be used to support the costs of an apprentice or employee, or to fund equipment,” he said.

In addition, £100,000 is to be channelled into providing 10 apprentice posts within the district council, while the Ryedale Business and Skills Initiative will be given £20,000 to support such events as a skills summit and giving help on business planning and potential short-term use of empty premises for new businesses.

Mr Rudd said the money was being made available through the Government’s New Homes Bonus through which the district council receives £370,000 in the current financial year with a further £707,942 from April.

The authority is also planning to earmark £100,000 into what Mr Rudd said will be a major projects scheme, which will finance investigation work and project development for capital projects aimed at providing employment and economic growth in the district.

Coun Linda Cowling (Con), the council leader, said: “I fully support these schemes because we are putting the funding to good use which will lead to new job opportunities being created.”