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New £5m Unlocking Business Investment fund for the Heart of the South West

Businesses across Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset can apply for grants of between £25,000 and £499,000 as part of the Unlocking Business Investment programme. The programme aims to help businesses in the Heart of the South West area to grow and create employment by unlocking investment opportunities and developing new markets.
Funded through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, the £5 million programme will be delivered as a partnership between North Devon+ and Plymouth University and is supported by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. Rob Hetherington, Chief Executive of North Devon+, said: “This programme is designed to support businesses to grow and compete in new and expanding markets. Funding is available for a variety of capital schemes where businesses need some grant support to achieve their investment ambitions to create new and better jobs for our local economy.”
Chair of North Devon+ Andy Lobato said: “The Unlocking Business Investment fund provides an excellent vehicle to support both growth and employment throughout the HoTSW LEP area; it will build on the earlier work of Plymouth University, through the GAIN Growth Fund+. Businesses across Devon and Somerset have the opportunity to reach their full potential, where financial barriers have previously prevented this. With the combined experience and expertise of Plymouth University and North Devon+ Unlocking Business Investment will make a significant positive impact to businesses and the wider economy.”
Businesses can register at https://s3.plymouth.ac.uk/ubi/login.asp and at www.gaininbusiness.com

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.