A MILLION pound boost for East Lancashire manufacturers has been unveiled.

Lancashire Enterprises is co-ordinating a major package of funding aimed at helping firms in areas of declining textile industry diversify and create new jobs. The RETEX programme is funded by the European Union, Lancashire County Council and local councils in Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and the Ribble Valley.

The funding will help small and medium-sized firms in areas such as innovation, international trade and how to gain access to investment capital.

"There can be few other areas in the UK which have seen more textile company closures and job losses than East Lancashire," said David Taylor, chief executive of Lancashire Enterprises. Although aimed at areas badly hit by the decline of textiles, the RETEX programme also offers help to non-textile manufacturing companies to help them develop and create new jobs.

The programme in East Lancashire will offer help including:

Technology exploitation programme to promote the use of new technologies.

Commercial productivity programme to help companies improve efficiency and become more competitive

International business support programme to give companies information on overseas contracts and markets.

An innovation scheme to help firms adapt to new products and processes.

A scheme to subsidise accountancy services to help firms secure finance from banks and other financial institutions.

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