South of Scotland Enterprise officials claim agency has created and supported 10,000 jobs
The enterprise agency was officially launched in April 2020, with grants of more than £50million provided to businesses in that time.
Officials at South of Scotland Enterprise claim they have helped create and support 10,000 jobs since the body was established five years ago.
The enterprise agency was officially launched in April 2020 in a bid to boost inclusive growth across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
And in its first five years, it's claimed it has provided grants of more than £50million to 800 businesses, with every £1 it invests resulting in more than £5 being invested in the region.
SOSE chairman, Professor Russel Griggs OBE, said: 'When we launched, we made a promise to the people of the south of Scotland that we would be bold, different, ambitious and would listen.
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"We are proud of the support we have provided – from Covid-19 support to creation and safeguarding of jobs to development of entrepreneurship and innovation – and believe it highlights the importance of the south having its own dedicated enterprise agency.
'Moving forward, we will ensure we are adaptive, forward thinking, innovative and responsive to the needs of our fantastic region.'
SOSE also believes it has created or safeguarded around 10,000 jobs and helped distribute more than £26million during the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 626 businesses, social enterprises and community groups were supported, with nearly 90 per cent still operating.
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, said: 'The Scottish Government is proud to support SOSE's efforts and I look forward to seeing how the agency goes from strength to strength in the future.'
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