Council extends network of enterprise centres

The project is part of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, which aims to support the creation of almost 600 businesses by March 2011, creating over 1,000 jobs in the process.

Enterprise centres have already opened in Harehills, Beeston and Seacroft, and Middleton is set to be the next community to benefit after the council's Executive Board agreed to open a 1.6m facility on Acre Close in conjunction with the charity Health for All.

A council-owned building at the site will be knocked down and replaced with a new building for the enterprise centre. It is due to open in March 2011. Planning permission has already been granted.

The centre will act as an "enterprise hub" for the local community, providing people with guidance on getting back into work or starting a business.

Council leader Andrew Carter said: "Our enterprise centres have already been a roaring success, with the three already up and running helping us to get over 300 new businesses off the ground and create nearly 700 jobs across the city.

"I am sure the new centre in Middleton will provide the people of South Leeds with a similar boost and will create a wide range of jobs and opportunities for local people.

"The centres will offer much more than temporary relief and we are committed to seeing them continue to serve their communities for many years to come."

He said the recession had hit many people in Leeds hard "but we in Leeds are determined to see our city and its people come out the other side even stronger."

He added: "These enterprise centres will be an important part of that, providing people with somewhere in their own community where they can go and get support and advice about starting up a business or finding a way back into work."

The council has received funding of 20.6m through the Government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.

The council says the enterprise centres in Beeston, Harehills and Seacroft have so far created 687 jobs and 320 businesses