PLANS for the biggest package of support for Merseyside businesses in more than 20 years have been revealed by the Metro Mayor today.

Steve Rotheram has revealed a £75m Growth Package which will work to attract new businesses to the Liverpool City Region, help existing businesses grow and generate more than 2,000 jobs for locals.

The package also includes £15m to support small to medium sized businesses in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

Companies will be able to apply for support from late in the autumn.

Speaking about the announcement, during a visit to the UK’s leading robotics integration company, CNC Robotics, Mayor Rotheram said: “The Liverpool City Region is the fastest-growing city region in the country, but I will not be satisfied until the benefits of devolution are felt in every community across our city region.

“Our £75m Business Growth Package – the biggest of its kind in 20 years – will help do just this by supporting ambitious local businesses to grow, creating more than 2,000 high-skilled, high-paid and secure jobs in this first phase, right across our six boroughs, helping mitigate against the potentially disastrous impact of a No Deal Brexit and attracting new businesses to our area.”

The support will be open to all businesses with a focus on high growth and technology companies.

Leader of Wirral Council and portfolio holder for inclusive economy and the third sector Cllr Pat Hackett said: “We need to create an environment that allows businesses to thrive to ensure that the residents of the Liverpool City Region can benefit from that growth through access to good-quality, well-paid jobs and opportunities.

"That is why we have listened closely to what business need and we are proposing this innovative £75 million package of support.”

The money will be recycled wherever possible – ensuring truly inclusive growth is nurtured, so our resources can be used to support more businesses and create more jobs in future.

Chairman of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Asif Hamid said: “As the LEP, we have been working closely with our partners in the Combined Authority and the business community over the last 12 months to develop this extensive package of measures to enable our city region’s businesses to realise their potential.

“This £75m support for business is hugely welcome and timely as we build on the excellent growth of the last few years to take our City Region to the next level.

"And we will continue to work in partnership with the Combined Authority and business to help implement these measures through our new Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company.”

Companies interested in accessing this support should visit https://localgrowthhub.com/funding/ where they can register their interest.