A BRADFORD manufacturer is among those sharing in more than £1million of funds to help start-up firms through a Yorkshire business support programme.

AD:VENTURE, which helps ambitious new businesses trading for less than three years in North and West Yorkshire, has provided over £1.3m of funding to start-up firms and helped create 391 jobs.

Since the programme started at the end of 2016, AD:VENTURE has helped more than 3,000 businesses and individuals in the Leeds City Region, and approved 156 grants to help start-up businesses to grow, including support for purchasing vital equipment and moving to suitable premises.

Partners of AD:VENTURE include the region’s nine local authorities, the Business Enterprise Fund and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, with businesses also able to access academic input through programmes delivered by higher education partners, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University.

The programme has also supported 826 people aged 18 to 30 through its Explore Enterprise Course, run in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.

One of the businesses benefitting from the programme is Bradford-based shed manufacturer Power Sheds.

They received £6,000 of AD:VENTURE grant funding, which was used to help purchase an automated saw. The equipment measures the timber to the correct length, allowing it to be cut quickly, and reduces waste.

The new equipment means that Power Sheds, based on the Euroway Trading Estate, are on target to triple their size within the next year, with plans to expand into Europe.

Jack Sutcliffe, director of Power Sheds, says the support they have had from AD:VENTURE has played a big part in the company’s rapid growth.

“They’ll happily come out and see you and are always available to give you advice on anything that you might need.

"They’ve also advised us on where to go for other funding and put us in contact with lots of different people who might be able to help us.”

Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and NP11, a board set up to support the Government's ambitions for the Northern Powerhouse across the region, said: “Programmes like AD:VENTURE help start-up businesses to speed up their growth, and that leads to a stronger economy.

“We have some fantastic new businesses in this region and these figures show that with the right support provided at the right time, start-ups can go from strength to strength.”

AD:VENTURE is a European Regional Development Fund match-funded programme which offers grant funding, mentoring and business development advice to pre-start, young and new firms with growth potential in the Leeds City Region.

The programme also runs free events to new businesses and offers support to young people who are keen to develop entrepreneurial skills.

For more information visit ad-venture.org.uk.