A business support programme in Barnsley has helped create 161 jobs in the borough this year.

Enterprising Barnsley has worked with a wide range of local businesses to support growth since April 2012, when its second phase was launched.

The Enterprising Barnsley support programme provides free specialist business coaching to Barnsley-based businesses with growth potential and is delivered by a partnership between Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) and Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC).

Councillor Linda Burgess, cabinet spokesperson on economic development, said: "We're very pleased to see the creation of 161 much-needed jobs in the borough, in what has been a tough year for business. It's a great start for the second phase of the Enterprising Barnsley programme and shows that even in a recession it's possible for businesses to survive and in some cases thrive, especially if they are given support."

Enterprising Barnsley is currently working with 225 companies to help develop and expand their business. The first 161 jobs created means the programme is over a third of the way towards its target of supporting Barnsley companies to create 450 new posts over three years. The programme is funded to run until September 2015.

This year's progress builds on phase one of Enterprising Barnsley which supported the creation of 630 new jobs and the protection of 397 posts* between 2009 and 2012.

Among the firms which have received input from the programme this year is Manvers Engineering which employs five staff at its new premises in Grimethorpe.

Managing director Colin Ibbotson said: "Enterprising Barnsley's support has been phenomenal, particularly in helping us connect to other local companies and also in the re-brand of the business. We are now developing new products and expanding our business. These are exciting times and all along we are being helped by Enterprising Barnsley. So we do feel positive about the future."

Others given support include Premier Engineering (Yorkshire) Ltd of Stairfoot which has recruited 10 new staff to meet rising demand for its bespoke metalwork structures; Osborne Technologies, of Dodworth, which has recruited six employees to market its award-winning audio visual products across the UK; and Kustom Sport Ltd of Carlton, which has secured a future for its 13-strong workforce by exploring a new area of work, converting white vans into luxury campers. Enterprising Barnsley has also worked with Cultix of Kendray which has recruited two new apprentices to its IT support team.

Councillor Linda Burgess said: "We look forward to continue supporting Barnsley-based companies in 2013. We aim to help them develop and expand, generating economic growth, protecting and creating jobs."

Enterprising Barnsley offers specialist business coaching in areas including marketing, finance, leadership, IT and branding. It funds the SmartStart programme of workshops for people thinking of setting up their own business and the Genesis programme of intensive business support for new business.

The Enterprising Barnsley programme is supported financially by the European Union. The project has attracted £2,259,511 investment into Barnsley from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe's support for the region's economic development, through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Attached photograph shows Colin Ibbotson, Chris Ibbotson and David Devine with their Plant Nappy product at Manvers Engineering.

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

* Protected jobs are deemed "safeguarded" if a permanent paid full-time equivalent job is at risk of being lost within a year. A job can only be claimed to be safeguarded when it is no longer at risk of being lost within a year.

For more information about Enterprising Barnsley go to www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk or contact Martin Beasley on 01226 772648 or at martinbeasley@barnsley.gov.uk