Bridgend Council has published its priorities for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (pdf).
The Shared Prosperity Fund is one of the funding streams set up by the UK Government to replace EU funding following the completion of Brexit.
In total, £278.5million has been allocated across the Cardiff City Region, with Bridgend’s share being £23.1million spread across three financial years.
Shared Prosperity Fund money is supposed to be used to promote economic development, support businesses and upskill the workforce – similar to previous EU funds.
It’s separate from BCBC’s “Levelling Up Fund” bids relating to a Porthcawl Pavilion refurbishment and the Penprysg Road bridge replacement in Pencoed. It doesn’t affect those bids.
The council’s proposed projects are:
- CELT+ (£8million) – Several related projects targeted at improving employability amongst working-age adults and groups at risk of remaining out of the labour market for extended periods. This will be partially delivered regionally (presumably by the Cardiff City Region/South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee).
- Multiply (£3.99million) – A stand-alone programme which focuses on improving numeracy skills amongst working-age adults and ensuring more people have some maths-related qualification. The Multiply funding has been specifically ring-fenced as part of the Shared Prosperity Fund.
- Centres of Enterprise (£3.5million) – Includes capital funding to improve business premises, particularly in town centres. It lists making Bridgend Indoor Market carbon neutral.
- Thriving Communities (£2million) – A mix of third/voluntary sector funding, support to deliver placemaking strategies and commercial property grants.
- Business Prosperity & Support (£1.98million) – Various projects to support entrepreneurs and established businesses, including helping businesses to decarbonise, business networking programmes and help with things like business plans.
- Community Future Plans & Co-Production Network (£1.4million) – Projects where the public tells service providers how they want services to be delivered.
- Local Resilience Planning (£1million) – Neighbourhood-based plans focused on health, climate change and economic development.
- Green Spaces (£725,000) – Development of a Local Nature Plan and a regional 270km green corridor/bridleway network (“The Great Glamorgan Way”).
- Tourism & Events (£600,000) – Support for local events as well as tourism marketing.
The council’s officers and scrutiny committees will be responsible for making most of the decisions and recommendations relating to the programme. They’ll be advised by the Bridgend Economic Partnership Board (which includes representatives from business, all levels of government, housing, voluntary sector, Welsh Government and the city region).
