BUSINESS in Herefordshire is set to receive a £750,000 boost.

The region's development agency, Advantage West Midlands, has announced the funding to boost business, tourism and employment in Herefordshire.

The funds will support a range of measures including a business festival, comprehensive support package for the creative industries and plan to turn Hereford into the City of Living Crafts.

The funding package comes hot on the heels of the success of the region's first Meet the Buyer event, tipped to bring more than £1m of new business to Hereford.

The funding package will also have spin-off benefits for employment, tourism, training and inward investment.

Business support

"This is fantastic news for both business and the community in Hereford and will have a myriad of benefits," said John Edwards, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands.

"For the creative industries this means a range of business support measures including a boost to IT support as well as a kick-start to regenerating the area through the arts with community events, festivals and use of local facilities for training and public art displays."

Mr Edwards said the agency would partner with local authorities to turn Hereford into the City of Living Crafts.

Advantage West Midlands is contributing £630,000 to boost creative industries in Herefordshire backed by a further £880,000 of funding drawn from local authorities, business and European funding.

The money will provide business support, product development, marketing and showcasing, technical skill development, IT support, craft and media programmes and community projects including festivals, galleries and studios.

"In partnership with local authorities, Advantage West Midlands will undertake a massive master-planning exercise to refurbish and redevelop strategic sites, streets and gateways across the city of Hereford, turning it into the City of Living Crafts," he said.

"Tourism, training, employment and business in and around Hereford will reap the rewards of this latest investment in Hereford."

Mr Edwards said the agency's first Meet the Buyer event for the area, in September, had been an "outstanding" success.