A REPORT from a North Yorkshire council has revealed the efforts it has made to support business development and growth, stimulate job creation and enhance the visitor economy.

The Strong Local Economy Annual Review 2015-16 identifies how in the year to March 31 Harrogate Borough Council had:

• helped to secure nearly £700,000 for the district’s businesses

• delivered 188 one-to-one start-up business support sessions and 21 business start-up workshops through the Enterprise Gateway, which supported the creation of 54 new businesses

• engaged with 119 businesses looking to grow

• brought fast fibre broadband to businesses across the district and helped 237 businesses and organisations access at total of £385,000 from the Connection Voucher scheme

• filled 47 apprenticeship vacancies

• attracted 3,429 users to its business and economy services

• hosted 228 events at the Harrogate International Centre (HIC), and 64 Harrogate Theatre and Harrogate International Festival events – the majority held in the Royal Hall

• attracted more than 353,000 visitors to the HIC

• attracted almost 195,000 visitors to the district’s tourist information centres.

The report is at harrogate.gov.uk/localeconomyannualreview

The council’s business homepage is at harrogate.gov.uk/business