This is where over £5m will be spent across community, culture and local economy projects in Sheffield

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund forms part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and will see £2.6bn of funding for local investment distributed to areas, for local accountable bodies to administer – in South Yorkshire this is the role of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SMYCA).

South Yorkshire has been allocated £39m and SYMCA has shaped a South Yorkshire Investment Plan, approved by Government in late 2022, which sets out three key themes directing the funding: Communities and Place; Local Business Support; and Employment and Skills.

The council has worked closely with SYMCA and the other South Yorkshire local authorities to develop some regional programmes, as well as locally focused projects that have the potential to run through to 2025.

The cultural and visitor economy programme has been allocated £346,560 for a series of projects highlighting Sheffield’s cultural assets and events.

Sheffield Cost of Living Fund has been given £850,000 and £244,953 has been allocated for business information officers who help high street businesses stay abreast of guidance and access funding.

Over £2m has been allocated for the Business Productivity Programme, which offers grants of up to £12,500 for productivity and digital adoption projects.

Over £1.3m has also been given to a South Yorkshire wide programme supporting businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

Finally, £686,969 has been given to a programme supporting new entrepreneurs across South Yorkshire to start and scale their businesses.

Coun Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Across Sheffield there are people doing incredible work for the benefit of our city, in our communities and on our high streets, and I’m pleased we have been able to secure some critical funding to continue and build on that.”