Ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs across Norfolk and Suffolk are set to receive a major boost with the launch of a significant programme of support next week to help them create up to 200 jobs across the two counties.

East Anglian Daily Times: Future50 partners Kevin Horne CEO of Nwes, Jeff Henry chief executive of Archant, Adrian Possener from Birketts and Simon Watson from Lovewell Blake. The programme is also being supported by Barclays and UEA. Picture: ANTONY KELLYFuture50 partners Kevin Horne CEO of Nwes, Jeff Henry chief executive of Archant, Adrian Possener from Birketts and Simon Watson from Lovewell Blake. The programme is also being supported by Barclays and UEA. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Future50, which is supported by nearly £2m from the Government's regional growth fund, is a business growth programme designed to recognise the most innovative companies in the two counties and accelerate their growth ambitions.

The enhanced scheme, which follows a successful pilot, is backed by community media company Archant, publishers of the Eastern Daily Press, and East Anglian Daily Times, and partners Nwes, Birketts, Lovewell Blake, Barclays, and the UEA.

It aims to support businesses through quality business advice, inspirational networking events that stimulate peer learning, innovative multimedia business support and access to grant funding as an investment catalyst.

Entries to the programme will open on September 8 via a dedicated website, www.future50.org.

Kevin Horne, chief executive of Nwes, said the programme was aimed at supporting some of our most dynamic businesses and he urged companies seeking to grow to apply to the scheme.

'These are the individuals and companies that will be creating jobs, growing at a faster rate than others, and going on to be leaders in their sector.'

• Further details of the programme will be released following next week's launch.