Spotlight on positive impact on communities, businesses, and people

Spotlight on positive impact on communities, businesses, and people

Event at Conwy Business Centre

From breaking down barriers to employment to upgrading key facilities, the numbers highlighting the success of a government-funded programme across North Wales have been revealed.

The region was allocated more than £123 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), with 169 projects delivering tailored schemes across three priorities: communities and place; supporting local businesses; and people and skills.

With the six North Wales local authorities empowered to make funding decisions, more than 15,000 people, 4,135 businesses, and more than 1,830 local groups were supported from 2022 to 2025.

Key takeaways from the programme’s achievements include more than 500 community facilities built or improved, many of which have upgraded facilities to support the future sustainability of much needed local services, close to 1,000 jobs safeguarded with another 686 created, more than 38,750 volunteering opportunities, and more than 10,263 events and activities run.

The stats were revealed at a celebratory event held at Conwy Business Centre, with a publication launched detailing some of the success stories across Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, the Isle of Anglesey, and Wrexham.

North Wales Corporate Joint Committee vice chair, Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, said: “The information to hand already paints a promising picture of meaningful success and change across North Wales. We are already witnessing the positive effects of improved local community assets and infrastructure, growth and efficiency among businesses, and progress in supporting people into employment

“The Shared Prosperity Fund in North Wales – thanks to the flexible approach at the heart of the SPF – shows how, by empowering local areas, regional and national priorities can be efficiently and effectively addressed.”

Further data revealed more than 7,600 individuals gained or were supported to gain a qualification, close to 5,300 people accessed employability support, and businesses reduced their CO2 by 456 tonnes.

One beneficiary who has praised the impact the UKSPF has had on her life is Siobhan Brighton, who completed a 16-week Childcare Works scheme at Springfields Day Nursery, Ashbourne in Colwyn Bay.

Led by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru and funded by

Conwy County Borough Council’s UKSPF funding, the 20-year-old has since gained full-time employment at the nursery.

She said: “It is my stepping stone into a career in childcare, one I wouldn’t have been able to secure myself and I would recommend this project to everyone.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “It’s great to hear about the successful projects in North Wales which have been delivered by the Shared Prosperity Fund, funded by the UK Government.

“We have made economic growth our number one mission. The UKSPF is helping people gain skills to secure well-paid jobs and is working to make North Wales a fantastic place to work, live and do business.”

To view the impact publication, visit https://shorturl.at/1xXiu

The funding supported the SPF’s three priorities:

• Communities and place (£58.98 million):
  to enhance the vibrancy and appeal of local areas.
• Supporting local businesses (£24.20 million):
  to foster growth, innovation, and sustainability within local enterprises.
• People and skills (£36.68 million):
  to equip residents with the skills and opportunities for a thriving future.