Groundwork Sheffield and its partners Groundwork Wakefield and Heeley Development Trust, are delighted to announce a new project that aims to create 101 jobs and 15 social enterprises to boost the green economy and create employment opportunities for the people in South Yorkshire and the rest of Yorkshire and The Humber.

This project is being supported by European Union investment, receiving over £750,000 from the European Regional Development Fund through the Yorkshire & The Humber ERDF programme 2007-13.

The project will support social enterprises and social entrepreneurs with a clear environmental focus and remit to develop. It seeks to bring enterprises to the fore, by promoting the value of enterprise as a preferred option for individuals on existing employment creation programmes including the Future Jobs Fund. It will specifically support young unemployed people to access an enterprise development programme.

The nature of the support will reflect the needs of each particular enterprise, but will include intensive start up support, enterprise coaching and mentoring. The project will provide a hands-on approach to develop business skills and confidence amongst unemployed clients.

Fergus Beesley, Green Incubator Coordinator, said: “This project provides much needed support for new social enterprises and creates self employment opportunities for people in some of our most deprived communities. We welcome this opportunity to support growth in the green economy and are keen to hear from emerging or existing social enterprises and social entrepreneurs who have an interest in creating employment opportunities in the green economy.”

For more information about the Green Incubator project, please contact any member of the Green Incubator Team at Groundwork Sheffield on 0114 263 6420, email info@greenincubator.org.uk or visit the web site at www.greenincubator.org.uk.

Further information about the ERDF Programme in Yorkshire and The Humber, including information about the projects that are receiving ERDF Investment, is available at www.communities.gov.uk/erdf

Information about the European Union’s support for regions is available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm