What is LEGI?
Funded by the Department for Communities & Local Government, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) was announced in the 2005 Budget. LEGI funding is intended to target communities in England over a 10-year period through front-line services. Unique and vital support in Yorkshire and the Humber
Five of the successful bids for LEGI funding came from Yorkshire and the Humber: Bradford Kickstart, Sheffield City Council's Enterprise Team; Success Doncaster, e-factor (North East Lincolnshire); and Sharing the Success (Leeds). We work in close partnership with delivery partners across local and regional government.
There may be five different programme names but we have the shared aim to "release the economic and productivity potential of the most deprived local areas through enterprise and investment, boosting local incomes and employment opportunities, and building sustainable communities."
Our LEGIs provide the only community-based programme, which can successfully reach individuals and communities. Uniquely, we provide bespoke support for people who are not catered for by mainstream business support, removing barriers, inspiring and enabling people, encouraging self-belief.
Moreover, the LEGIs encourage entrepreneurship, helping hundreds of people to take that vital first step to create their own business. In fact, between us, we have set-up more than 2,300 businesses and created more than 5,200 jobs.
The LEGI programmes were designed as 10-year programmes. In our region, the programmes are only a third of the way through but we are seeing people's lives and communities change for the better.
During the recession, this support for the hardest to reach communities has been even more vital. It is important that LEGI funding is maintained so we can see the project through.