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Funding Sparks New Jobs

Scunthorpe based Blue Spark Design Ltd has been given a cash boost that has helped create jobs thanks to funding from the UK Steel Enterprise Kickstart Fund.

UK Steel Enterprise, the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel launched the Kickstart Fund to help create new businesses in North Lincolnshire over the next 2-3 years, bringing much needed jobs to the area. Working in partnership with North Lincolnshire Developments, the Fund provides unsecured business loans of up to £5,000 to help them grow, expand and take on new employees.

Dave Thompson is the Managing Director of Blue Spark Design Ltd which is based on Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe. The newly launched company provides specialist welding and fabrication services to companies throughout the UK.  The funding has helped him to create two new jobs as well as invest in the key equipment he needed to really get the business going.  Blue Spark Design received a £5,000 loan and a £1,000 discretionary grant.

Dave says that without the funding from The Kickstart Fund his business growth plans would have been stifled: “Getting the funding has been just fantastic. Welding and fabrication machinery is extremely expensive so this means we can hit the ground running; which is a major boost.

“With my experience of working with aluminium and stainless steel I am hoping to be able to secure work in the upcoming renewable energy sector in the Lincolnshire region.  We are workshop based at the moment but the funding will also help us set up a mobile service, meaning we can carry out welding work at the client’s premises.

“I’m a former Tata Steel welding contractor and know a few more lads that have been made redundant. If things keep going in the right direction I would be more than happy to employ them and utilise their skills for the business,” says Dave Thompson.

Allan Wood of UK Steel Enterprise says he is looking forward to helping even more North Lincolnshire companies like Blue Spark Design create new jobs. “The Kickstart Fund is already proving that it does not take huge sums of money to help create new jobs and assist small businesses to grow.  Dave came to us with clear ideas on how he plans to create new employment and grow his own businesses.  We were pleased to be able give him a helping hand to start his own businesses and keep these skills in the area,” said Allan Wood.

UK Steel Enterprise also provides loans and equity investments in amounts from £25,000 up to £750,000 for more established businesses, including low interest loans locally in North Lincolnshire.

Anyone wanting to apply for support from the Kickstart Fund should call UK Steel Enterprise on 0800 915 1188.  Blue Spark Design Ltd can be contacted through www.bluesparkdesignltd.co.uk or by emailing Dave at dave@bluesparkdesignltd.co.uk

Photo Caption: Kickstart Blue Design L- R: Allan Wood and Dave Thompson in the Blue Design Workshop