Insider Media Limited

Communities minister baroness Hanham CBE has visited two sites in Leicester and Corby to see how the region is benefiting from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The baroness will visit the Corby Enterprise Centre, which comprises 32,000 sq ft of office and studio space for new enterprises and business start-ups.

The Enterprise Centre has received more than £1.1m ERDF funding, and the East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) has contributed nearly £6.5m to the scheme.

Baroness Hanham will also visit the Leicester Business Women project. The scheme works alongside the Business Link Start-Up Service to develop enterprise and start-up initiatives for business women in disadvantaged and isolated communities in Leicester.

Delivered by not-for-profit organisation Skills for Enterprise, the Leicester Business Women project has received £373,322 of funding from the ERDF. The European funding has enabled the organisation to establish a central women’s ‘hub’. The hub provides enterprise awareness, coaching and mentoring provision.

Emda is responsible for delivering the East Midlands 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme.

Baroness Hanham said: "I am delighted to be able to meet women from Leicester and Corby who are a shining example of how learning new skills can open up life changing opportunities. I was impressed by their ideas, ambition and business acumen, and it's encouraging to know that many more local people will benefit from government funding supporting these types of projects.”