Small businesses in West Kilbride, Largs and Millport, and the rest of North Ayrshire, will share a £2,352,500 Growth Fund the SNP Government has announced.

The funding, which includes £941,000 from the European Regional Development Fund, with the rest from Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise will target growth through innovation and investment.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “This is a great opportunity to support our small and medium sized enterprises (SME), the engine of the Scottish economy.

“The investment aims to identify and develop our growth businesses, creating hundreds of new jobs in North Ayrshire.

Local MSP Kenneth Gibson added: “This additional funding will be a huge boost to North Ayrshire’s SMEs and build on a successful year that saw Business Gateway and its partners provide strategic support to hundreds of growing businesses.

“During 2015/16, Business Gateway saw unprecedented numbers of businesses access advice and information to growth businesses to help them take their ventures to a new level.

“It is extremely important that we keep this momentum going in the coming months and years and there is no doubt this additional funding will play a key role in making this happen.”

Business Gateway North Ayrshire can be contacted at: 01294 507 594

The website is at: www.bgateway.com/local-offices/ayrshire