West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin today welcomed a deal which will see an extra £7 million invested in the county over the next six years topping up the £47m Local Growth Fund. The cash, which will be managed by the Local Enterprise Partnership, will be used to fund projects which will create new jobs and encourage further public and private investment in the area. It will support critical transport projects like the Southern Link Road improvements and contribute towards the development of the new Worcestershire Parkway Station. The money will also be allocated towards further education colleges to build new facilities to offer extra courses with a focus on engineering and 600 new apprenticeships will be created. Malvern Hills Science Park will get some of the cash to expand and money will be added to the pot to increase the rollout of superfast broadband. Cash will also be invested in projects to help keep traffic flowing around the county during times of flood. Harriett commented: “This Worcestershire Growth Deal is great news for local businesses and shows that the Government is investing in its long-term economic plan. “It is crucial that we invest in our infrastructure to encourage more people to make their base in our wonderful county. Better roads, train services and superfast broadband will all make the county more attractive to businesses and their employees. “And alongside this, we will invest in our young people, offering skills and qualifications which will be relevant to local employers. Companies like Malvern Instruments, Morgan Motors and QinetiQ will all benefit from this investment in vocational education fit for the future.”