The first grant from the GSK Enterprise Fund is helping to create six highly-skilled software jobs in Ulverston.
Miller Waite Ltd will receive £46,000 to advance its global expansion plans.
The company, which already employs 17 people, is a professional software, information technology service and support business, working across the range of sectors.
It has developed industry-disrupting business software called mimis, approved this summer by HM Revenue and Customs for digital tax and VAT returns, which offers a complete solution for tracking customers, sales, orders and business inventory.
The software is already being used by one of Cumbria’s largest businesses, A.W Jenkinson Forest Products, and Miller Waite has ambitious plans to roll out mimis internationally.
Managing Director David Miller said: “This grant is an adrenalin shot for the Cumbrian tech sector and will turbocharge our expansion plans – mimis is already making waves by streamlining business management.
“We are grateful for GSK’s faith and support for our global ambitions.
“In time we hope this investment will kick start further highly-skilled software development and support roles in our business and the county.”
The GSK Enterprise Fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £100,000 to meet up to 30 per cent of the cost of projects that create permanent employment.
The pharmaceutical company set up the £0.5m fund to mitigate the impact of job losses at its Ulverston site. Cumbria Business Growth Hub operates the scheme on behalf of GSK.
David Millar, Commercial Director, GSK, said: “We are very pleased to see the first successful applicant receiving a grant award from the Enterprise Fund in order to support business growth in the local area.”
Suzanne Caldwell, Deputy Chief Executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the lead partner in the Growth Hub, added: “We’re delighted to have made this first grant award, particularly so given it’s supporting such high quality jobs.
“It will be the first of many, with two further offers made this week, and more applications due to be submitted shortly.
“Demand for the scheme is proving extremely strong with lots of great potential projects coming through so the panel is having to prioritise toughly.
“We’re also working with applicants to help them draw on the range of funding available, and draw in other support.”
