THE Northamptonshire Growth Hub offers a range of support services specifically aimed at helping new businesses to get started, including the South East Midlands Start-up (SEMSUP) project. As part of this project, the Growth Hub provides dedicated incubation space for new start-up businesses and social enterprises as well as individuals in the pre-start phase of development.

We are pleased to announce our newest incubation client, SusConnect Ltd, who will be taking up tenancy at the incubation unit based in the iCon, Daventry this month. SusConnect are a consultancy supporting the agricultural sector with information, advice and guidance, technical support in sustainability and business improvement services aimed at increasing efficiency in the food production supply chain. While they intend to operate from the UK, their business vision extends worldwide, with an initial focus on working between the UK and Latin America.

The SEMSUP incubation units provide the use of hot desks, including free wifi broadband, flexible use of meeting rooms and direct support from on-site, experienced Growth Hub advisers. One-to-one mentoring and business coaching is delivered at weekly clinics and access to Growth Hub advisers via telephone, email or face to face is available throughout the week. The incubation space is offered free of charge for six months with the option to extend the tenancy as the new business develops.

The SEMSUP project also includes skills workshops, information webinars, priority attendance for various networking events and access to grant support. Match-funded grants of up to £1,000 are also available to be used for external consultancy for business improvement projects.

SEMSUP is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Applicant enterprises must be less than 12 months old. Social enterprise applicants must reside in the South East Midlands LEP area and applicants for start-up commercial enterprises must reside in Northamptonshire.

To enquire about the SEMSUP project or for any assistance for your business call the Growth Hub 01604 212696 or email enquiries@northamptonshiregrowthhub.co.uk

The Northamptonshire Growth Hub was established in November 2013 to fulfil a need for business support for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the county and in that time has helped over 6,000 businesses. Its team of advisers handle over 500 calls every quarter, 70 per cent of which are established businesses but with a significant portion from pre-start and start-up enterprises. We operate from two state-of-the-art facilities in Northamptonshire – The Innovation Centre in Northampton and the iCon in Daventry

 

European Regional Development Fund

The projects receive funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.