The Local Growth Minister Andrew Percy MP visited Lincoln earlier this month to announce a funding boost of £29.45 million to help Greater Lincolnshire create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.

The third round of Growth Deal funding negotiated by the LEP with central Government will provide extra money for a new Centre for Health Science at the University of Lincoln, our three Food Enterprise Zones in Holbeach, Hemswell Cliff and Grimsby and a Skills Capital Programme across Greater Lincolnshire.

Other projects will also benefit which aim to improve educational attainment, create jobs, build homes and improve infrastructure.

Mr Percy, who is also the MP for Brigg and Goole and the Isle of Axholme, visited Lincoln on 9th March to visit the newly completed Boole Technology Centre and the Joseph Banks Laboratories at the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park and hear about the university’s aspirations for a new Advanced Engineering Centre extension.

He was shown round the facilities by Herman Kok and Ruth Carver from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Professor Andrew Hunter, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Lincoln.

The highlights of the third round of Growth Deal funding for Greater Lincolnshire are:

  • £5 million for a new Centre for Health Science on the University of Lincoln campus. The centre, led by the University of Lincoln, will drive growth, productivity, higher level skills and innovation throughout the health and care sector.
  • £6.5 million for the three Food Enterprise Zones in Holbeach, Hemswell Cliff and Grimsby. The investment will support infrastructure and services to accelerate the development of the three zones, creating employment land and enabling key buildings specifically designed to support the growth and expansion of Greater Lincolnshire’s agrifood clusters.
  • A £6.5m Skills Capital Programme to deliver high-quality skills provision for people in Greater Lincolnshire. The programme will enable a flexible and appropriate response to the outcomes and recommendations of the current Area Review and will address HE and FE priorities and opportunities. Amongst schemes right across Greater Lincolnshire, it will consider schemes already proposed for delivery in Scunthorpe and Boston.

Other schemes to benefit are:

  • Gainsborough Growth Project (£4m)
  • Junction improvements on the A46 around Lincoln (£2.5m)​
  • A17 Sutterton Roundabout Pinch Point Scheme (£1m)​
  • Sleaford Growth Project (£2m)
  • Advanced Engineering Research and Development Centre, Lincoln (£1.95m)

The latest announcement brings total Growth Deal funding secured for Greater Lincolnshire since July 2014 to £155.45 million.