THE Journal’s campaign to help businesses in the North East to grow and create jobs has won heavyweight support.

Our Let’s Grow campaign urging local firms to come together to bid for money from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund has been praised by the deputy chairman of the panel advising ministers on applications for funding.

The fund has a minimum £1m bidding threshold, effectively ruling out small and medium-sized companies submitting applications for support. But by pulling together bids, the Let’s Grow campaign aims to help dozens of businesses in the North East to create jobs.

Sir Ian Wrigglesworth said: “I congratulate The Journal on starting it because I think it is just the sort of regional initiative we need.

“And we need to increasingly think about what we are doing about solving the issues and getting the growth the region needs.

“I think The Journal throwing its weight behind that is tremendously important.”

He added: “I think the region needs to stop looking towards the Government and towards London to solve its problems.

“So I very much welcome the regional initiative.”