Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps the Government has taken to improve local infrastructure for small and medium-sized businesses.

Government has supported and invested in the creation of a network of Growth Hubs (one in each Local Enterprise Partnership area), providing businesses across England with tailored advice and support. Businesses in Telford are served by The Marches Growth Hub. Since its launch in 2015, this Growth Hub has engaged and supported over 14,081 businesses and delivered 144 intensive assists.

Through the Industrial Strategy, Government has announced its intention to ensure all businesses in every region continue to have access to a Growth Hub. We will therefore build on the Growth Hub programme, providing a further £24m of core funding over the next 2 years (£12m in 2018-19 and £12m in 2019-20). In addition, Government will continue to provide national support to all businesses through the Business Support Helplinee and GOV.UK.

The Government is also supporting Local Enterprise Partnerships to develop local infrastructure, skills, broadband and innovation in their areas. We are investing £104.9 million in The Marches LEP as part of the Growth Deal Programme. This includes a £4 million project to provide Telford with 100% fibre broadband coverage by 2020 to support the town’s growth, economic prosperity and digital inclusion; and significant works to improve connectivity and access to Telford Town Centre, which will benefit small and medium-sized businesses in your constituency.