THERE’S lots going on to make sure that small and medium-sized business owners in Northamptonshire are well supported.
Overall, our area remains one of the most successful places to start and grow a business. We are in the top of the table in terms of business innovation and employment in key sectors continues to grow. In general, there is a buoyant, positive business attitude.
One of SEMLEP’s roles is to help businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities and, to assist, SEMLEP has secured more funding from central government to plough into supporting businesses with the ambition and potential to grow.
Did you know that there are around 20 funded projects available right now to help local businesses to develop and grow? Whether that be by:
* supporting sector-specific innovation and development,
* enhancing your business processes or management skills,
* accessing research, data and specialist advice to help turn ideas into business reality,
* exploring new products or services or developing export plans,
* being more effective with your marketing or,
* training, or retraining, your employees.
Whatever your business growth ideas and needs, it’s likely that there will be support – often free – to help you get on and achieve it. You just need to know what’s there and how to get it.
This is where SEMLEP’s Velocity Growth Hub can really help. The Growth Hub is the one place you can go, to get all the business support you need.
The Growth Hub role is not only to provide direct help but also to connect you to all the other business support available to you. This is so you can get to the right support, when you need it.
The Growth Hub adviser team is available to talk directly to you about your business ambitions. They can be an objective friend, someone that you can talk to about your business and share your challenges with.
As part of the Velocity Growth Hub service, they also run a project fully-funded through the European Regional Development Fund. This means that the adviser team can give business owners or directors over 12 hours of free, focused support, delivered through one-to-one advice sessions or through interactive workshops that cover a range of topics including finance, marketing and project management. There is also an opportunity to apply for the project’s grant programme. This can provide ambitious businesses with capital grants to help purchase equipment or improve premises, or with revenue grants to pay for specialist consultancy or to improve business processes or systems.
At the start of a new financial year, now is the time to aim for growth. Whatever your ambitions or business challenges you’re facing, you’ll be well-supported.
The best way to get to know about what’s available to you is to get in touch with your Growth Hub. Call 0300 01234 35, email enquiries@velocitygrowthhub.com or visit www.velocitygrowthhub.com
