Two more local businesses have hailed the support they received from the Goole Town Deal-funded Opportunity Goole team and revealed how it benefited them.

Brad Huntington of Spotlight Safety, a Goole-based health and safety consultancy, revealed that his business received grant funding towards the cost of training courses.

He explained: “The support we received had a significant positive impact on Spotlight Safety. The grant enabled us to become a training provider, allowing us to deliver a range of health and safety courses that meet the needs of our clients. This new capability has not only strengthened the services we offer, but also contributed to the growth of our business, helping us reach more customers and expand our professional footprint.”

Jon Alexander of Mini Bugz, a nursery on Hook Road, said: “The money we received has been spent on upgrading the technology within the setting and, by doing that, we’ve invested our own money in some new items which, in turn, have enabled us to access some educational programmes for the children that we’ve been rolling out.

“It has been really fantastic and opened so many avenues, not only for us as a business but also for the children who attend the setting. We’ve been incredibly lucky with how this has panned out; the funding arrived at the perfect moment for us to be able to use it to its fullest potential. I’m extremely grateful to Linda and the rest of the Opportunity Goole team for helping us to get it over the line.”

One of eight strategic projects funded by Goole Town Deal, Opportunity Goole was established to develop the local workforce by offering free support to individuals, employers and the self-employed. As well as providing support and advice to more than 350 local people and over 160 businesses, community interest companies and other organisations, Opportunity Goole allocated 70 applicants a share of more than £364,000 in funding from its Flexible Grant Scheme, towards the cost of a wide variety of projects that will boost the local economy.

From April 2026 onwards, anyone who would like to access information and support to develop their skills, or those of their workforce, and gain qualifications or learn something new, should visit East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Adult Learning and Employability website at: https://www.campaign.eastriding.org.uk/. Local business can also access a wide range of support from Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team by visiting: https://investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support/.

As the Town Deal programme enters its exit strategy phase, each individual project will take responsibility for its own forward plan. As outlined above, when the Opportunity Goole project ends on 31 March, local people will still be able to access advice and support about education and training, as well as for their businesses, but from alternative sources. 

Meanwhile, future updates on the Market Hall, Victoria Pleasure Grounds and Goole Leisure Centre projects will be overseen by their respective operators (Brew York, Goole Town Council and East Riding Yorkshire Council). East Riding of Yorkshire Council will continue to oversee delivery of the Public Realm and Property Activation Fund projects, and the Environment Agency will continue to oversee delivery of the Dutch River flood defence and greenway corridor project. 

A selection of case studies about the work of the Opportunity Goole and the individuals and businesses it has supported can be viewed on the Goole Town Deal website at: https://www.gooletowndeal.co.uk/projects/opportunity-goole/.