Award-winning Prudhoe based business, OpenWorks Engineering has been awarded a grant of over £80k to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facility to support their growth plans.
OpenWorks was established in 2015 and is now the world leader in the defence and security technology industry. The company currently employs over 18 full time members of staff, and their growth plans show no sign of slowing down.
After learning about Northumberland Small Business Service through a Google Search, OpenWorks registered online to learn more about the support available and how they could benefit from the service.
The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is delivered by Advance Northumberland on behalf of Northumberland County Council. The project is partly funded by the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority.
OpenWorks applied for the Capital Grant from NSBS in November 2023 and has already hired three new permanent full-time members of staff. The grant will enable OpenWorks to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facility, with new capabilities that “would not have been possible without the funding”. The brand-new facility is due to open in the early spring in 2024.
Eligible businesses can access the £2 million rural Capital Grant Investment Fund which supports businesses in rural areas with clear growth plans, to access capital investment to expand their production capacity or diversify into new markets or products.
The grant has enabled OpenWorks to expand its product range, and its development and manufacturing capability. OpenWorks thanks The Northumberland Small Business Service team for the assistance with their grant application “The team have been extremely supportive, and readily available to answer any queries we have had regarding grants or support for small businesses, It has been a brilliant experience from start to finish”.
Liz Nelson, Interim Programme Manager for the Northumberland Small Business Service Team said “It is great to see another local project being boosted by the capital grant funding. We are excited to hear more about OpenWorks and their growth journey, it has been a privilege to work with them”.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
If you have any questions about the event or the new Northumberland Small Business Service, please visit www.northumberlandsmallbusiness.co.uk or contact the team at [email protected]
