Despite a difficult year the business development team at Business Doncaster ended the 2021/2022 financial year with a whole raft of successes, including:
- Record number of development and investment projects
- More than £120 million of new investment
- Over £8 million of additional local spend through supply chain interventions
- In excess of 2,000 jobs created and safeguarded
- Provided advice to thousands of businesses whilst carefully following eligibility guidelines fto ensure they received the financial support and guidance they so urgently needed
- Administered and issued over £3m in government business grants
Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Business said: “The Business Doncaster team continue – as these achievements show – to do a fantastic job in attracting the type of investment that is a key part of our future economic growth. By adopting appropriate measures, they can ensure that the borough remains a leading destination for inward investment, with all the benefits this brings to Doncaster.
“Doncaster’s ambition doesn’t stop there…after launching its fourth bid to gain city status, Doncaster hopes to soon become the second city in South Yorkshire. Doncaster thinks, looks and behaves like a city, and has so much more than a lot of cities already including an international airport, a wildlife park, a racecourse, and historic and modern architecture including only one of three Mansion Houses in the country. Doncaster is already on the map for so many brilliant things; obtaining the royal stamp of approval will be the icing on the cake.”
At the start of 2021, Business Doncaster and Visit Doncaster launched a brand new dual website in order to fully integrate digital tools www.businessdoncaster.co.uk and www.visitdoncaster.com that will attract more investment to the town and an increase in visitors.
Over the last 12 months we have also seen many key developments come to fruition, particularly in the Town Centre as part of the Council’s regeneration plans. This includes the opening in May 2021 of the six screen Savoy cinema in Doncaster’s Civic and Cultural Quarter, next to Cast and the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum located alongside. The entrance to Doncaster train station and forecourt has also been transformed into an open, vibrant, welcoming and easily accessible high-quality gateway for Doncaster, creating a great first impression for visitors arriving in Doncaster by train.
Chris Dungworth, Head of Service for Business Doncaster said: “There are many positive stories from businesses across the borough who are seeing increased demand and innovating to diversify their products and services, with many now pushing forward with their expansion plans despite the effects of the pandemic.
“I am pleased to say that we head into 2022/23 with a strong pipeline of enquiries, specifically from companies within sectors that weren’t necessarily at the forefront of our economy a couple of years ago”.
“2022 saw the launch of a new Doncaster Corporate Plan that will meet the needs of a very different future, both for medium and long-term recovery and we are under no illusion about the complexities businesses, and our economy as a whole, are facing. A tough time for many, but as a team we will be working hard to support in every way we can” he added.
