The Getting Building Fund
In June 2020, the Government announced a £900million investment programme, the Getting Building Fund, for local, ready-to-start infrastructure projects that stimulate jobs and support economic recovery across the country.
The SEMLEP area was allocated £27.3million and was invited to submit project proposals, to be approved by Ministers.
On the 4 August 2020, Ministers endorsed support for 12 projects in the South East Midlands. The projects were due to start construction in December 2020, with grant money to be spent by January 2022. As at November 2022, we can now confirm that all grant money has been spent across the 11 projects that proceeded and the projects are completing with their own funds.
Project selection
The projects were selected following SEMLEP’s pipeline bidding round held in January 2020. Alongside supporting the areas economic recovery, the selected projects are aligned to the South East Midlands Local Industrial Strategy. The strategy set out the priorities and interventions needed to invest in to realise innovation, further improve connectivity and achieve sustainable growth.
Together, the projects will create nearly 500 new jobs and support more than 2,300 students, aiding in the economic recovery of our area. It has been great to see new jobs created and new learning facilities opening in 2021 and 2022.As at November 2022, the programme has delivered more than 250 construction jobs, over 550 new and safeguarded jobs, 1,600 new learners, over 21,000 square metres of new facilities and more than 17,000 square metres of new green space. More details are below:
Keeping up to date
All the funds in this programme are now spent and no more funds are being allocated by Government to Local Enterprise Partnerships for capital investment in these type of projects.