Growth Hub celebrates success in boosting business
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub has marked its continuing success in helping local businesses start up and flourish with a Celebration Event at Aston Marina, Stone.
More than 100 delegates were welcomed by Sara Williams, chief executive of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, and heard from successful businesses which had benefitted from Growth Hub support.
Tony Millar, founder and chief executive of landscaping and design business Great grounds, described the assistance he had received from the growth Hub in setting up a new West Midlands base at Dilhorne, near Stoke-on-Trent.
This included help from the Growth Hub in bidding for a Green Bridge grant to convert redundant farm buildings into offices and a conference and education centre, plus a Growth Hub Small Business Grant to fit out the interior of the buildings.
Louise Johnson-Rose, sales and marketing director of Rugeley-based UK Surveyors, highlighted the value of the Growth Hub’s business diagnostic and advice services in growing the business, as well as the assistance the firm had received in winning a grant to buy a 3D camera.
Rebecca Parker, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub business advisor, gave a round-up of the range of businesses support offered by the Growth Hub and its Business helpline, and also led a presentation on access to finance with business advisor Pam Wallis.
Growth Hub manager Nicola Kent spoke about new developments and the Growth Hub’s future plans, and there were also presentations on business growth and innovation from Sandra Butterworth, of Staffordshire Business Innovation Centre, and Stephen Roberts, Business Gateway Manager, Keele University.
Since its launch in 2015, the Growth Hub has supported 6,640 through business diagnostics, events and workshops. Growth Hub advisors have made 9,822 referrals to business support organisations for those businesses.
The Helpline has had 9,355 contacts with businesses and provided 10,246 signposts to sources of support and finance to date.
Picture caption: Pictured from left are Sara Williams (Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce) Nicola Kent (Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub), Tony Millar (Great Grounds), Rebecca Parker (Stoke-on Trent & Staffordshire Business Helpline), Louise Johnson-Rose (UK Surveyors) and Steve Lovatt (Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub).
Notes:
Growth Hubs and the Growth Hub Network
The Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub is one of the 38 Local Enterprise Partnership-led Growth Hubs across England that bring together and simplify access to national and local business support. Supported by Government, Growth Hubs ensure that no matter the size, sector or maturity of a business they provide locally tailored business support and advice to direct businesses to the most appropriate organisations to assist with their specific requests.
Some additional key facts:
- There are 38 Growth Hubs covering the whole of England – one in each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area
- At the end of 2017/18 financial year, the Government had invested £44.4 million Growth Hubs via Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Government has committed a further £24 million to Growth Hubs over the next two years (£12m in 2018/19; £12m in 2019/2020).
About the ERDF
This activity is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020, as part of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership area. Eligibility criteria apply. ERDF is a fund allocated by the European Union that finances convergence, regional competitiveness and employment and territorial co-operation.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs.
About the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub
The Growth Hub was established by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership to play a major role in the drive for strong, sustainable business growth across the LEP area.
It acts as the focal point for businesses that wish to grow by referring them to co-ordinated and cohesive growth programmes, business networks, growth groups and links to specialist information, advice and services.
The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Business Helpline is available to call for expert advice and referrals to a wide range of business support. You can also request a free of charge appointment with a qualified Growth Hub business advisor to discuss what options are available to support the growth of your business. We also host many free to attend events that may be of interest to you – please visit out our website for further information: https://stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk
