Nick Clegg visits North East to announce £14.2m for firms
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has visited the north-east of England to announce more than £14.2m of investment for three local businesses.
Funding from the private sector and the government will go to Proctor & Gamble in Newcastle, Chirton Engineering in North Shields and Alnmaritec in Blyth.
He said it would protect 5,000 jobs across the region and create 91 new jobs at the businesses.
Mr Clegg said it was important for the area to "build and make things again".
Too London focussed
"Creating long term jobs and long term growth is our number one priority for Britain right now," Mr Clegg said.
"For too long the UK economy has been too focused on the City of London, ignoring places like Newcastle, Blyth and North Shields in the North East."
Overall, 14 bids to the fund from the North East have been approved.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced £13.7m would go to Proctor & Gamble to create a UK centre of excellence developing greener and more efficient cleaning products, creating 53 new jobs.
He added that Chirton Engineering's £250,000 would be used to buy new equipment for the plant and 23 new jobs would be created, and Alnmaritec, which designs and builds boats, would receive £250,000, and create 15 new jobs.
The £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund uses public money to fund projects which create long term jobs, sustainable growth and boost the local economy.