Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has celebrated the success of the 'Bridging the Gap' Fund, praising the contributions of the Portsmouth News and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership in particular, during questions to the Leader of the House this morning.
The Fund enjoyed a fantastic response, with over 100 local companies and entrepreneurs applying for grants between £5,000 and £50,000 in the first round alone, with requests totalling more than double the £2.1million pot.
Caroline highlighted the outstanding reaction to the Fund as a result of key players pulling together on the ground and asked:
"I am sure the Leader of the House will join me in congratulating Portsmouth News and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, who have worked together to introduce a successful 'Bridging the Gap' scheme and used a £2.1 million regional growth fund bid to help generate local growth and boost local business."
The Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley MP, expressed his agreement and said:
"I do indeed join my hon. Friend in welcoming the 'Bridging the Gap' scheme and those who have supported it in her constituency and around Portsmouth and the Solent.
It shows how, by working closely with local authorities and businesses, local enterprise partnerships are able to deliver schemes that make sense locally, not least because they are rooted in their local communities and not part of a bureaucracy, which regional development agencies used to be."
The Fund's success highlights Caroline's work in promoting the Gosport peninsula as an excellent place to do business. Caroline has built up a strong track record of supporting enterprise and innovation locally, playing a key role in the creation of the £25m Solent Enterprise Zone and she continues working hard to secure jobs and investment for our area.
