Rural businesses helping to get people trained and into work across Norfolk and north Suffolk are being urged to bid for a share of a £1.1m funding pot.

The Local Investment in Future Talent (Lift) project – which is managed by Norfolk County Council and funded by the European Social Fund – is open to applications from small and medium sized rural businesses, training providers and voluntary sector bodies.

The project has already funded a host of successful businesses but there still remains £400,000 available, and an information day will be held at the end of this month for potential applicants to find out more.

Among those to have benefited is Clinks Care Farm in Toft Monks, north of Beccles, which was awarded £7,906 to support businesses to offer work trials.

Linda Offord from Clinks Care Farm said: '[The grant] is for us to engage with organisations and businesses who can take our Lift Jobs participants into work placements and who may not have previously found employees through organisations such as Clinks Care Farm. This is enabling us to link directly with local small and emerging businesses and organisations to help the local economy grow.'

Other projects include Harleston Information Plus, which was awarded £28,811 to run its job club for two years, extending it to nearby villages to help otherwise isolated jobseekers. Meanwhile, Hellesdon-based Turning Factor was given £7,898 from Lift's skills fund to develop leadership and management skills in employees at nine enterprises around Thetford.

Grants of £5,000 to £50,000 are available and projects will need to secure 50% of their costs from other non-EU sources. South Norfolk and Broadland District councils have already committed match-funding for organisations to apply for.

Eligible project will support businesses and community organisations in rural areas to offer work trials, internships or work experience; support rural residents into employment or self-employment; or reduce training costs for businesses.

The information event takes place on September 26, from 1.30pm in Barnham Broom. Register at liftshowcaseinfo.eventbrite.co.uk