Leaders welcome £6m funding for small businesses
INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRMS TO LEARN FROM THE BEST AND EXPAND
BUSINESS and council leaders have welcomed news that millions of pounds of European funding has been secured to help the region’s small businesses grow.
Three new projects, offering one-to-one support, workshops and a series of grants have been made available after the Humber Business Growth Hub was awarded £6m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The projects will be launched at a series of free events across the Humber region from Tuesday, November 6, and provide an invaluable opportunity for SMES to learn from the best and expand.
The news has been welcomed by both council and business leaders.
Councillor Daren Hale, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for economic investment, said: “The Humber region is a hotbed of entrepreneurialism and projects such as this can really help SMES to grow their businesses through both funding, advice and inspiration, which can benefit the entire region.”
The Humber Business Growth Hub is a Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) initiative to support businesses in the region.
The three schemes are being delivered by Hull City Council in partnership with East Riding Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council and e-factor Group Ltd for the Business Growth Programme.
The launch events in November will give small business leaders the opportunity to learn from success stories such as Jo Smedley, the best-selling Grimsby author who was recently appointed the Humber LEP’S Small Business Champion.
Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber LEP, said: “Our Business Growth Hub has already helped hundreds of businesses to take their next steps.
“This significant expansion of support will help many more businesses across the Humber to realise their potential.
“I am delighted that we have been able to work together to secure this investment and look forward to seeing the benefits in our economy.”
The first of the new projects is the Finance For Growth Scheme, which will see SMES undertake growth projects, being offered guidance on key issues preventing access to finance, such as business planning, regulatory and legal issues, risk assessments and tailored financial management systems.
The ICT For Growth Scheme will offer support for businesses with investment projects focused on ICT (information and communications technology) to increase productivity, skills and employment by utilising ICT more effectively.
The final scheme, the Business Growth Scheme, will offer SMES encouragement to grow through support in business planning, HR and recruitment, supply chain and procurement, which will deliver workshops by industry experts as well as leadership programmes and one-to-one advice.
Councillor Stephen Parnaby, leader of East Riding Council, said: “SMES are the lifeblood of the East Riding economy and the projects provided through the Humber Business Growth Hub are hugely beneficial in helping businesses to grow and thrive.
“By securing this funding, the council and its partners can provide advice and support to entrepreneurs, which will in turn boost the economy of both the East Riding and the wider Humber region and help to create new jobs and industry.”
The launch events will take place across the Humber region in Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Driffield and South Cave.
To register a place, visit www. eventbrite.co.uk/o/humber-businessgrowth-hub-17967626089