GROWTH HUB LAUNCHES TO DRIVE BUSINESS GROWTH
A NEW Growth Hub for Cheshire and Warrington has been
established to drive business expansion across the region.
The Government-backed Cheshire and Warrington Growth
Hub was launched at a series of events taking place in Chester, Warrington and Tatton
Park.
The Growth Hub is a first stop shop for businesses of
all kinds to easily access a wide range of advice, expertise and funding to accelerate
their growth.
It is now urging businesses to get in touch to discuss
their advice needs.
The Growth Hub brings together a comprehensive network
of local, regional and national business support services from both the public
and private sector.
It will aid
the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP’s) ambition to
make Cheshire and Warrington a £50bn economy by 2040.
Christine Gaskell, Chair of the LEP, said: "The Growth
Hub brings the public and private sectors together and will be a focal point
for Cheshire businesses to support other Cheshire businesses, with grant
funding becoming available next year to help pay for that support.
"Whether you are starting a new business, looking for
funding or want to achieve increased competitiveness and growth, we can help
your business to unleash its potential.
"The Growth Hub is about offering a simple solution to
those wishing to navigate the sometimes complex network of business advisory
services which are out there and is a critical part of our ambitions to
encourage enterprise and grow the local economy.”
The Growth Hub, which is being overseen by the LEP’s
Business Growth Strategy Board, expects to support some 2,500 businesses with
advice over the next two years.
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It also expects to provide grants to 250 businesses
showing growth potential. An initial grant funding pot of £600,000 will be
become available early next year.
Business Strategy Board Chairman Nigel Schofield said:
"Whatever a business’s needs, we will be able to help them assess their options
to ensure they get the right kind of advice.
"The Growth Hub will advise companies and direct them
to the right kind of support they need to fulfil their ambitions, no matter
what kind of business they are.
"I would urge any business person to get in touch to
see where we can help.”
Growth Hub Chief Executive Heather Hayes said the Growth
Hub is employing four advisers whose role IS to help businesses navigate the
business support landscape to access the best support for their specific needs.
She added: "We are looking to support growth
businesses in all areas of business from marketing, finance, leadership and ICT.
There is a wide range of support out there for companies and our role will be
to ensure they can access exactly the right support for their needs.”
The Growth Hub will support and advise businesses in
these areas:
· Access to
finance including grants and loans
· Skills,
training and employment
· Exporting
and new markets
· Sales and marketing
· Finding the
right location
· Growth
mentoring and coaching
· Starting a
business
Businesses
looking for advice should call 03300 245007 or email support@candwgrowthhub.co.uk. For further information go to www.candwgrowthhub.co.uk