Last updated 13:16, Friday, 21 November 2008

FURNESS is hoping to defy the credit crunch with grants for new and existing firms to create 28 new jobs.

Fifteen others jobs are being protected by the latest round of grants from Furness Enterprise.

The agency announced the boost for Barrow, Ulverston and the surrounding areas during National Enterprise Week and said they will support the growth of a total of 18 businesses.

The biggest single number of new jobs is at the TDC technical documentation company at Trinity Enterprise Centre in Ironworks Road, Barrow, which is getting a grant of £21,000 towards the cost of creating seven new jobs.

In all the agency is giving out £136,000 from various grants schemes to help 10 new firms start up and eight existing ones expand.

The money will also protect 15 existing jobs that could have been threatened.

Val Robinson, of Furness Enterprise, said: “This is one of our contributions to National Enterprise Week.”

The new businesses being helped with grants include a consultancy, a plumbing business, a builder, a joinery firm, an educational centre, a cafe and a hairdresser.

Mrs Robinson explained: “Today’s announcement of support for new and existing businesses follows Tuesday’s announcement of a £1m investment at Greenodd by Henry Armer & Son, which Furness Enterprise helped the firm deliver.”

Furness Enterprise administers a series of discretionary grants and loans that local firms can apply for including Point grants of £1,000 towards start up costs.