ST HELENS Chamber of Commerce has won a tranche of European funding to help more than 300 small firms expand and create a targeted 100 new jobs while safeguarding a further 250.

The European Regional Development Fund is providing £382,935 as part of a new £765,870 business programme that will run until March, 2012.

It will be delivered by the Chamber’s business advocates team.

The programme, Improving Employment Practices to Create Jobs, will focus on skills development, improving recruitment and employment practices and increasing productivity.

Chamber chief executive Kath Boullen said: “We are delighted to have secured these new funds which will allow us to deliver an important business support service in St Helens.

“More importantly, it will allow us to continue to work with local businesses and help boost their performance and productivity in a time where economic recovery is extremely fragile and dependent on the success of the private sector.”

David Malpass, head of the European Programme, added: “The project will establish a link which will give businesses access to a wider range of people and give unemployed people greater opportunities.”