IN the past two years St Helens Council has injected £1m into creating jobs and helped 268 people find employment.

Those figures have helped the borough to a table-topping position with an employment rate of 72.1 per cent, the highest in the Liverpool City Region.

Earlier this year Council Leader Barrie Grunewald re-affirmed the pledge he made when he became leader to help local businesses – and create jobs – by announcing a new £2 million financial support scheme for small companies in the borough.

With many banks taking a tougher line on loans, small and medium sized firms are often left languishing when they want to expand. But the new scheme could soon release the purse strings. It will help firms put together the business plans and feasibility studies required by banks and other lenders before any loans are granted.

The scheme itself will also provide grants of up to £10,000 as well as loans to fund expansion plans.

Councillor Grunewald said: “The economic crash of 2008 made a serious and lasting impact on the banks and – consequently - small and medium sized businesses.

“At present there are no resources to support these sectors when companies want to expand or need additional support.

“So we need to act now to help our local employers develop local export markets and supply chains.”

The council has found employment for 135 apprentices in the past four years with seven going on into higher education. Since 2010 the council has found jobs for 73 graduates. News of the scheme follows another boost for local business – in the shape of a new grant programme funded by the Regional Growth Fund and managed by St Helens Chamber.