The Enterprising Barnsley programme is delivered in partnership by Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) and Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC). It is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of Europe's support for the region's economic growth. Phase Two of the project, launched in April 2012, has attracted an investment of £2,259,511 to support and stimulate successful enterprise across the Barnsley borough.

Enterprising Barnsley aims to help Barnsley-based businesses develop and expand - generating economic growth and creating new jobs. To be eligible to access the programme's support, businesses must have growth potential and operate in one of the priority sectors identified by ERDF-funding: advanced manufacturing and materials, creative and digital industries, food and drink, bioscience, environmental technologies, sports, the investor economy, social enterprise and sustainable development.

BDA business development managers work with eligible companies to help them get the most out of Enterprising Barnsley's wide range of specialist coaching, events and workshops. Nurturing innovative new businesses is a top priority and BBIC manages a start-up programme called SmartStart for new entrepreneurs and an intensive 'business incubation' programme called Genesis to support business ventures in their first few years.

Phase one of the Enterprising Barnsley programme, which ran from January 2009 until April 2012, supported 547 businesses and helped to create 635 jobs and protect 516. So far, phase two of the programme, is working with 225 businesses and has helped them create 161 jobs (the statistics for safeguarding jobs are not yet available).

Find out more about Barnsley Development Agency, which is part of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, here. Find out more about BBIC here.

The Enterprising Barnsley programme is part financed by the Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf