PolicyDepartment helps secure UK's largest Community Renewal Fund award

The full list of successful bids into the £220m Community Renewal Fund was announced on 3 November. The largest of 471 awards (£2.5m) was for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough's Start and Grow enterprise programme. PolicyDepartment was on the team that prepared the bid alongside partners from Metro Dynamics, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Growth Works UK.

The innovative scheme will promote enterprise in disadvantaged communities. It will connect budding entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with pre-qualified investment funding available to those who complete an intensive learning and mentoring programme. The scheme will also link participants to other support services if needed.

Commenting on news of the succesful bid, PolicyDepartment Managing Director Mike Spicer said:

'I'm thrilled to see Cambridgeshire's Start and Grow programme make the cut for CRF funding. We worked with a great, cross-organisational team to prepare this first-rate bid. It will make a difference to enterprise outcomes in harder-to-reach communities.'

Read more about the Community Renewal Fund and the list of success bids here.