Embargoed: Not for publication or broadcast before 00:01 on the 23 February 2012.

Manufacturing industry urged to bid for extra growth funding

From today an extra £1 billion is available to businesses seeking support to help them create new jobs and grow, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will announce.

Business Secretary Vince Cable and Universities Minister David Willetts today announced the appointment of Professor Les Ebdon as the next Director of Fair Access to Higher Education.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said:

“We are pleased the Court rejected outright the suggestion that our student finance reforms breach students’ human rights.

Four new lenders have been accredited to offer loans to small businesses under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme, the Government announced today.