Minister of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Nick Hurd has praised the work of the SSI Task Force on a visit to the area.
He also confirmed the handover of the final £5million as part of the multi-million Government support fund secured by the Task Force.
In a meeting with members of the Task Force today, the Minister heard about the progress since SSI closed in 2015, including the immediate focus on supporting individuals and the provision of various funding streams to create jobs and support people starting their own business.
So far the SSI Task Force funds have helped create over 1,000 new jobs, safeguarded over 400 jobs and helped almost 250 new businesses get off the ground.
During his visit, Mr Hurd met three new businesses who have been helped by Task Force funding and he praised the commitment to focus on strengthening the local economy and creating more new jobs.
He said: “Today I met some of the former workers who have set up new businesses with help from the SSI task force and backed by government funding. That process of helping the local community and families to rebuild their lives following the collapse of SSI is ongoing and intended to have a long-term impact. That’s why I have now agreed that £5 million out of the funding we announced in 2015 will go towards helping new businesses set up in Redcar town centre by providing much needed commercial space.”
Amanda Skelton, Chair of the SSI Task Force and Chief Executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “I’m pleased that the Minister has had the chance to come and meet people who have been directly supported by the Task Force funding.
“It is important to turn our attention now to what we can do to help the long-term economic recovery of the Tees Valley and I look forward to announcing a new programme of work shortly.”