This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Taste of success in Lanarkshire
09/07/2003
An award-winning supplier of celebration cakes in
Hamilton has capitalised on Executive support.
Visiting Lightbody today, Deputy Enterprise Minister
Lewis Macdonald said that Regional Selective Assistance
(RSA) grants had supported its growth every step of the
way.
He said:
"The right support - allied to commitment, vision and
innovation from companies themselves - can really deliver
results.
"Lightbody of Hamilton has transformed itself from a
traditional retail bakery business to a leading UK player
in its sector over the last eight years.
"Four RSA offers totalling £2m have helped to establish
the company as a leader in its field, and allowed it to
grow its workforce from 40 to some 700.
"I need only quote chairman Robert Lightbody directly
about the part RSA has played in this success.
"He has said: 'The rate of growth experienced by the
company could not have been achieved without RSA funding
during several phases of expansion. As a direct result of
RSA, the company was able to proceed with each project,
creating employment opportunities and investment in the
local economy.'
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main national
scheme of financial assistance to industry, helping to
create and safeguard jobs and encourage investment in the
economically disadvantaged areas of Scotland. Since
devolution in 1999, nearly 200 separate projects in the
Lanarkshire LEC (local enterprise company) area have among
them received over £44m in RSA payments.