GRANT SET TO ATTRACT MORE TECH BUSINESSES TO SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Published 27 March 2023 at 3:57pm

Tech businesses from outside South Yorkshire are being invited to apply for a Tech Welcome Grant* funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to enable them to relocate here and create new jobs.

The Tech Welcome Grant provides between £5k to £10k to businesses new to South Yorkshire and start-ups from outside the area, as part of boosting the local economy.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “South Yorkshire is a brilliant place to establish a tech business.  The digital ecosystem we have here means those businesses and start-ups who decide to relocate to South Yorkshire will thrive. This is great not just for the businesses themselves but for our local economy, helping to grow our region’s reputation as a tech hub and creating new employment opportunities.  We are excited to see the difference the Tech Welcome Grant will make and look forward to welcoming new tech stars to South Yorkshire.”

The news about the forthcoming Tech Welcome Grant was announced at Barnsley’s recent Tech Summit, organised by The Seam (Barnsley’s Digital Campus) which was attended by over 180 digital and technology sector specialists and which had Gary Stewart, Managing Director of Techstars NYC powered by J.P. Morgan as keynote speaker.  The summit focused on the actions needed to ensure the right support, talent, finance, workspaces and culture are in place to help entrepreneurs and innovators from all backgrounds to achieve success.  

Ben Hawley – Programmes and Contracts Manager for Barnsley Council: “There are some really exciting things happening in South Yorkshire and businesses are no longer asking, why should we move to South Yorkshire, but why not? The Tech Welcome Grant is already stimulating interest in South Yorkshire from external tech and digital businesses.  The grants will be allocated to businesses based on the number of staff members who relocate and the new jobs they will create.  We are looking forward to welcoming even more tech businesses to South Yorkshire.”

South Yorkshire has some excellent digital incubation units and managed workspaces for growing tech sector businesses including Sheffield Technology Parks, Barnsley’s Digital Media Centres and the RIDO business hub in Rotherham.

For more information on South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority visit www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk.

To apply for a Tech Welcome Grant visit www.theseam.digital/tech-welcome

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Press enquiries: Marina Wood, Dragonfly PR, Tel 0114 349 5341 or email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk or toni@dragonflypr.co.uk.

*The Tech Welcome Grant provides up to £5,000 is available for businesses that create three new jobs in South Yorkshire in the first 12 months; £7,500 for recruiting 4-7 staff and up to £10,000 for recruiting eight new staff in the first 12 months in South Yorkshire.  The grant will cover accommodation in a commercial property within the SYMCA region for a period of 12 months.  

About The Seam
The Seam is at the heart of Barnsley's economy by inspiring entrepreneurs, creating talent pathways, growing digital business networks and providing an innovative place to live, work and create. Following significant growth in the last three years, the Barnsley Digital Media Centre (DMC 01) is expanding with the creation of DMC 02. This is the very beginning of a new innovation campus in the town centre - a place to bring people, business, education and the public sector together to benefit Barnsley. 

About South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)
We are the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA). 
Led by Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard, we bring together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and the private sector through our Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). 
The Mayor, MCA and LEP have a shared purpose to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire. We work together to unlock the potential of our people, businesses and places and ensure they prosper.
Our Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) provides the blueprint for how we will transform our region. We will keep people and businesses moving and help them grow, delivering a world-class public transport network and attracting investment to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire by 2040.
Our vision is to grow an economy that works for everyone. We will develop inclusive and sustainable approaches that build on our strengths in innovation and embrace the UK’s 4th Industrial Revolution, to contribute more to the country’s prosperity and enhance quality of life for all.
We have powers and resources, devolved from Westminster to South Yorkshire, which mean we can take decisions locally about our economy, transport, skills, housing and infrastructure.
We use these to create a vibrant, thriving South Yorkshire where people want to live and work.
We attract new investment to our region. We build the conditions for inclusive economic growth which benefits everyone. We help create good jobs, by backing businesses to grow, invest and locate in South Yorkshire. 
We support people so they have the training and skills to find work, remain in work or progress in work. We help businesses secure the skills they need to be more productive and grow.