We are forging an innovative, carbon-negative economy driven by our vibrant communities and innovative business base. The opportunities for businesses and residents stretch across scenic moors and dales, to the wild east coast and down to the industrial heartland of Yorkshire. Our strong local identity and exceptional quality of life provide an exciting and stable foundation for investment in the north of England.

We are leading the sustainable development of our towns and creating new opportunities for residents and businesses across one of the largest administrative geographies in the United Kingdom. Learn more about our work in developing the local economy. You can also read our  economic growth strategy (pdf / 5 MB).

Inward investment sites, employment sites and regeneration projects

Business support and advice

We offer free support for businesses of all sizes. Whether you have been growing your business for generations or just had an idea, we can help.

Our team of business advisors can help you start, grow, and develop your business. Contact us and we will put you in contact with your local advisor.

Alternately, you can find the answers to the most common questions businesses ask us on the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website.

We deliver and support a wide range of business support events in person and online across North Yorkshire. You can find all the events being offered in the local area on the events page of the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website

Managed workspaces and coworking spaces

We manage a range of accommodation available to rent across the region from workshops, industrial units, serviced office accommodation to virtual office services. Find out more on our workspaces and offices page.

Funding opportunities and business grants

We currently have a range of funding opportunities available for businesses, communities and social enterprises.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Most business and community funding is currently available through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which includes funding for improving productivity, decarbonisation and placemaking. We are here to help your application process, so please get in contact at UKSPF@yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk or find the full breakdown of the funds available and application forms on our UK shared prosperity fund page.

Apprenticeship funding 

We offer support and funding opportunities for businesses looking to take on apprentices or utilise their apprenticeship levy. Funding is currently available for the former Hambleton and Richmond district areas. Find out more on each of the apprenticeship and graduate schemes:

Find out about other community funds on our grants and funding pages.

Our economy

North Yorkshire has a range of inherent advantages within its economic geography. Our  local economy infographic (pdf / 826 KB) highlights the inherent strengths across our business base, employment, quality of life and connectivity. It set out North Yorkshire's productivity compared to the national figures and highlights how our population is changing.

How we have helped businesses succeed

Scarborough Green Construction Village

Scarborough Green Construction Skills Village is creating new training opportunities for local people in Scarborough to gain skills in low-carbon and green construction technologies.

The Skills Village is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the construction industry. The site has undergone a remarkable redevelopment, featuring bespoke training areas tailored for apprentices of all ages across seven trades.

The Skills Village has recently expanded to incorporate green skills, further enhancing its impact and relevance in the wider construction industry. 
The most significant advantage of the facility is that it allows teenagers, students, adults, unemployed individuals, and anyone seeking a career change or to upskill to gain real-life experience by learning in a live site environment alongside qualified tradespeople.

The success and impact of the Skills Village have been made possible through the support of the Scarborough Town Deal Board, with more than £500,000 allocated from the government's Levelling Up scheme. This has played a pivotal role in funding the initiative. Additionally, Robert Goodwill, MP, the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and ourselves have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.

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A group of young people in a construction training session at Scarborough Skills Village

Sherburn 42

Sherburn 42 is a pioneering brownfield development on a World War 2 airfield. The development is strategically located to draw its workforce from a wide area, with a working-age population of over 600,000 within a 30-minute drive. We are particularly pleased by the focus on sustainability adopted by Firethorn Trust in the development of Sherburn 42.

Sherburn 42 is committed to sustainability excellence and has been designed to meet the BREEAM "Excellent" standard, placing it in the top 10% of UK new non-domestic buildings for best practices. The development also aims to produce net-zero carbon in construction, reflecting our net-zero ambitions for our economy. The project emphasises maximising natural light, reducing water waste through rainwater recycling, and using recycled and recyclable materials to minimise environmental impact.

Firethorn Trust has placed community benefit at the heart of the Sherburn 42 development. The project has established a long-term charitable partnership with Groundwork to deliver a comprehensive community program across the UK. Groundwork supports local initiatives in the areas where Firethorn's developments are located. This commitment aims to actively engage with communities, addressing critical issues such as food poverty, social inequality, education, and employment. The project has also initiated a three-part activity program in Sherburn-in-Elmet, focusing on employment, environmental initiatives, and developing Green Skills for individuals of all ages through education, training, and work experience.

Sherburn 42 development is a testament to Firethorn Trust's dedication to sustainability and community impact. By delivering industry-leading 'eco-warehouse' developments and actively engaging with local communities, the project sets a new standard for environmental performance and creates spaces that positively impact people and places. Sherburn 42 exemplifies the possibilities of responsible and impactful industrial development through its commitment to sustainable solutions and community-driven initiatives.

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An aerial view of Sherburn 42

Langcliffe Quarry

The opening of the Langcliffe Quarry Enterprise Centre near Settle, North Yorkshire, marks a significant milestone in the region's economic development. This £3.5 million project was funded by the former Craven District Council, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and the European Regional Development Fund. It has regenerated the former Craven District Council waste depot, creating a hub for economic activity and local employment opportunities.

The Enterprise Centre offers a range of facilities tailored to businesses' needs, including flexible office spaces, meeting rooms, co-working areas, and private offices. Tenants benefit from state-of-the-art infrastructure, including full-fibre connectivity courtesy of Broadband for Rural North, which provides some of the fastest available broadband. This connectivity and the Centre's strategic location make it an attractive destination for businesses looking to establish or expand their operations.

The centre's first tenant, Andrew Jones of Yorkshire Dales Classics Limited, highlights the appeal of Langcliffe as an ideal location for small and start-up companies, with its modern, well-insulated units and superfast broadband availability. The convenient access to the wider Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire, and Cumbria further enhances its attractiveness.

Moreover, the development of the centre has created 30 new jobs and provided a platform for new, early-stage, and growing businesses to thrive. The project has maintained a focus on sustainability, including the installation of solar panels and rainwater collection. These measures highlight the regional commitment to environmentally friendly practices, aligning with our broader sustainable economic development goals.

The Langcliffe Quarry Enterprise Centre is a testament to strategic public-private partnerships' power in driving economic growth and revitalising underutilised spaces. Its impact extends beyond the creation of physical infrastructure, serving as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation in the heart of North Craven.

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An aerial view of Langcliffe Quarry

Data about our skills and labour market

North Yorkshire benefits from a wide range of education and training providers, including the Further Education and Higher Education providers shown below. We have a strong working relationship with these providers and continue to work with them to address skills gaps and shortages within our local economy. 

We are developing a local skills improvement plan to maximise our impact on skills shortages and challenges in our area. The local skills improvement plan is being developed to identify and address improvements to business skills provision. It will also improve the accessibility of skills provision for everyone and increase productivity in key sectors.

We also offer a range of skills development opportunities, from foundation courses to bespoke training for local business staff. Find out more on our adult education and training pages.

Regeneration projects and Town Deals

Our Scarborough and Whitby Town Deals section includes full details of the investment plans as part of the town deals.

You can also find detailed information of ongoing regeneration projects on our community projects page.