LEGI is a joint programme between the Department for Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury and the Department for Trade and Industry and aims to promote enterprise within some of the most disadvantaged communities in England. The initiative has been designed to:
- increase total entrepreneurial activity among the population in deprived local areas;
- support the sustainable growth and reduce the failure rate of locally owned business in deprived areas; and
- attract appropriate investment and franchising into deprived areas, making use of local labour resources.
The Leeds programme
Leeds has been awarded approximately £20 million for a four year period ending March 2011. The funding will help develop enterprise, create new jobs and boost prosperity in the city's most disadvantaged communities.
Sharing the Success, the brand name for the Leeds programme, has three key themes; engaging people, business and investors. The principle target group is 46,000 Leeds residents, including 15,000 people under 16 years old, who live in communities that are amongst the 3% most deprived in England.
The key element of the programme is the establishment of five Catalyst Centres, which will provide a physical enterprise centre in some of the City's most deprived neighbourhoods, including Chapeltown, Harehills, Beeston, Seacroft and West Leeds.
By 2011, the programme aims:
- to create over 500 new businesses within areas of greatest disadvantage in Leeds, with two thirds of these started by local residents
- to attract 75 new businesses into these areas
- provide assistance to help a further 650 existing businesses develop.
- to stimulate a culture of enterprise, attract investment and create over 1,100 jobs.
Programme delivery
A number of projects have already been commissioned and are in the early stages of delivery. A project overview is available for download here.
For further information about the Leeds LEGI programme please visit Sharing the success or alternatively contact Simon Brereton on 0113 220 6350 or email simon.brereton@enterpriseleeds.co.uk