The North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s (NWEAB) ‘Growth Vision’ has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of a £2.9 million support package.
The funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government, will help deliver the £5.8m North Wales Vision Enabler scheme. With a focus on current residents, future generations, businesses and investors the North Wales Growth Vision Enabler scheme will play an important role in delivering Growth Deal projects
The scheme will support the Growth Deal in building a resilient economy; through contributing towards job creation, working towards a low carbon economy and ensuring the region attracts future investment. The hope is that it will also contribute towards achieving the NWEAB’s wider vision for the economic wellbeing of north Wales.
The funding will enable the Portfolio Management Office to continue its avid progress of developing and delivering the Growth Deal projects, contributing towards the achievement of a much wider vision for economic wellbeing in the region.
The NWEAB team is led by Portfolio Director, Alwen Williams. She explains:
“The pandemic has amplified the importance of collaboration and partnership. This funding has enabled the region to recruit a strong and specialist regional team to drive forward the work that will achieve vision for North Wales to be a vibrant, resilient and sustainable region, delivering inclusive economic growth and creating new high values jobs and opportunities for future generations as well as attracting talent back to North Wales."
“The work will involve delivering inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as creating new high values jobs and opportunities for our young people and attracting talent back to north Wales."
Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, Chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, has welcomed the funding, he said:
“This is good news and the support will allow us to build on the work that has already been done to develop the Growth Vision. The funding is vital as we shape the team which will deliver the North Wales Growth Deal.”
He added: “On behalf of the NWEAB, I’d like to thank WEFO and the Welsh Government for their continued support, and we look forward to the journey ahead as we work together.”
The scheme also complements the work undertaken by the Welsh Government’s Regional Team and the EU-funded Regional Engagement Team. Vaughan Gething MS, Welsh Government Minister for the Economy said:
“The North Wales Growth Deal has the potential to transform the region’s economy and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to support the team’s work further with funding from the European Social Fund.
The Growth Deal will play a key role in the region’s recovery as we deal with the challenges of the pandemic."
The North Wales Growth Deal is an investment of £1.1 billion, £240 million of which is funded by the Welsh and UK Governments, the remaining by Educational Institutes and the Private and Public Sector. It is driven by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s Portfolio Management Team.