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A further 13,000 businesses have been supported in their ventures through the current programmes 2007-2013.

Speaking at a business breakfast event in Cardiff the Minister urged businesses to maximise the many opportunities and benefits available from the new EU funding round 2014-2020. She said:

“Through our EU funding investment priorities and delivery arrangements, businesses in Wales are benefiting from EU funds in many ways, which in turn are helping to increase business competitiveness, innovation and growth. These benefits also clearly demonstrate the importance of the UK’s membership of the EU to Wales’ economic prosperity.

"Looking ahead to the new EU funds, businesses will again benefit from a range of support that will help them establish new ventures and build workforce skills. There are also significant opportunities for businesses through other EU funding programmes, such as Horizon 2020, the research and innovation fund worth €79 billion across EU regions – all of these will help us drive economic growth and increase jobs across Wales."

As well as highlighting the new EU funding opportunities for businesses, the breakfast event outlined the programmes’ delivery arrangements, and the advice and support available to help businesses engage and benefit from EU funds, including how to win procurement contracts to deliver EU project activities.  

The event also provided an opportunity to hear directly from businesses about the positive difference EU funds have made to their organisations and workforce –in the area of business finance, workforce skills, and energy efficiency.

One such business is Gibson Specialist Technical Services (STS), providing renewable energy installation and maintenance services. Working alongside Thomas CMS Holdings Limited, the business decided to form a consortium with three other businesses to bid for a £4.6m contract to deliver some of the activities of the Welsh Government’s EU funded £45 million ARBED 2 project. The partnership not only secured support for businesses in the local supply chain, but also created benefits for the community.

Director of Gibson STS, Paul Gibson, said:

"A contract of this size would usually be secured by a large national company who would then employ local companies to deliver the project. By forming a consortium of small and medium sized businesses, we were able to work in partnership with companies – who would normally be our competitors – and deliver the various elements required. This involved employing local labour, including a number who were previously unemployed, and providing training so they were equipped with the skills for the job.

"As a result there was a great deal of community engagement which in turn led us to donating new solar photovoltaic panels to Fochriw community centre to help cut their fuel bills."

The work of the consortium has been shortlisted for the Welsh National Procurement Awards 2014 in the procurement collaboration category. The winners will be announced on 21 March coinciding with Procurement Week (17-21 March).