SMALL businesses in Bury are to receive a productivity boost,.

It is down to a new fund from the Government’s skills experts, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

The competitive fund, part of the UK Futures Programme, run by UKCES, aims to develop ways to address the productivity gap in the North West by adopting better leadership and entrepreneurial skills amongst the region’s small businesses.

UK productivity levels are nearly 20 per cent lower than the average for other advanced economies, according to the latest figures. But the productivity challenge is said to be even greater in the North West, with the average yearly output for each worker 16 per cent lower than the UK average. This is affecting the region’s competitiveness, earnings and potential to generate higher economic growth.

UKCES is looking for bids from "anchor" institutions in specific UK regions where productivity outputs are below average. An anchor institution is one that has a strong local presence and makes a strategic contribution to the local economy. This could include, for example, universities, local enterprise networks (LEPs), colleges, chambers of commerce, banks and major employers.

The co-investment fund is looking for proposals that demonstrate innovative ways anchor institutions can support small firms develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills. The UK Futures Programme is centred on trialling new techniques and projects that address long-standing skills issues. Each project will run for a maximum of 12 months, starting in August.

For more information: visit www.gov.uk/ukces or e-mail enquiries.futuresprogramme@ukces.org.uk