TEN million pounds worth of private sector investment has been generated thanks to seven Harrogate businesses securing more than £1 million in funding.

The businesses all benefitted from funding from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Business Growth Programme, which provides grant funding to create new jobs and aid business growth, and is open to all businesses based in the district.

The Business Growth Programme encourages businesses to apply for grant funding of between £10,000 and £500,000, made possible by the £25.7 million pot of funding from the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

Covance Laboratories, one of the largest employers in the Harrogate district, secured a £575,000 grant towards the establishment of a new European Research and Development Centre for Nutritional Chemistry & Food Safety.

Lucy Hind, facilities director at Covance said: “The LEP grant has opened up a fantastic opportunity for Covance. The funding will enable us to develop a new service offering that will bring additional jobs and supplier opportunities to the Harrogate and Leeds City Region.”

Harrogate Spring Water Limited secured a £430,000 grant towards a new production plant helping to export its Harrogate Spring Water across the world.

James Cain, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water said: “The awarded funds will assist our business in mobilising our ambitions for not only our future growth, but also helping towards the provision of the much needed power requirements for the town of Harrogate.”

Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership said: “Harrogate is home to some pioneering companies with ambitious business plans. I am delighted to see the Business Growth Programme enabling this good growth.”

For further information about the grant scheme should contact the council’s Economic Development Team on (01423) 556019 or email business@harrogate.gov.uk