Growth Hub breaking more new ground
AS THE GROWTH HUB BREAKS FRESH GROUND, PHILLIP THOMPSON LOOKS AT ITS LATEST CREATION
THE Growth Hub is becoming an increasingly well-known concept on the county business scene.
And that is set to continue with the introduction of the latest dedicated business centre in Tewkesbury.
Opened in the borough council’s Public Services Centre, the dedicated space offers local businesses and startups vital support and resources to help them grow expand.
And it has a distinct claim to fame. Councillor Rob Bird, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “We are very proud of this.
“This is the first Growth Hub in the UK hosted by a local council, illustrating our driving ambition to help businesses grow successfully, which creates prosperity for a thriving community.
“Economic development was a key part of the council’s economic plan.
“And it fits perfectly with our Public Service Centre ethos. There is everything businesses need;with one point of navigation and assistance from the council.
“The Tewkesbury Growth Hub is a major boost for local businesses of all types and sizes, and I encourage everyone to make full use of the help, advice, resources and facilities available.”
The latest addition forms part of a network of Gloucestershire Growth Hubs.
And David Owen, chief executive of local enterprise partnership Gfirst, was in no doubt about its significance as he conducted the opening with Mr Bird and Gfirst chairman Diane Savory.
He said: “I’m going to go ahead and say it’s the first in the world, “£5m has been spent on rolling out Growth Hub’s across the county, and will be worth half a billion pounds to Gloucestershire over five years.”
He added the Growth Hub was set up through a combination of public and private funds, as well as some funds from central government.
Diane Savory, said: “Back in 2013 we came up with the original concept of a Growth Hub network offering business support right across the county.
“The original Growth Hub in Longlevens, in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, opened its doors in October 2014 and has worked with over 2,000 businesses since then.
“It is fabulous and a real coup as it is the only Growth Hub to be located within and partnered with a borough council in England.
“The Growth Hub is certainly an amazing space for local businesses to work, build wider commercial networks and access the support they need to encourage and realise their growth potential.
“It has been an absolute delight to work on this project from conception through to the development of this fantastic facility.”
Gfirst LEP is led by the business community to help the county realise its economic potential, and works with the education and public sectors to achieve this.
The new Growth Hub in Tewkesbury is the second major site away from the initial site at the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls campus, following the opening of a location at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester earlier this year.
The Growth Hub includes three incubator units, a corporate meeting room suite for events and seminars that is ‘business-ready’ and filled with updated IT equipment, and casual seating spaces.
A full business navigator service is provided along with a range of workshops and training events, bringing these services out into the local Tewkesbury area.
The Growth Hub will provide ‘access to unrivalled support and advice from council services, including important regulatory, planning and environmental health advice.’
Minister for Local Growth Jake Berry MP said: “This Government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future.
“The latest addition to the Gloucestershire Growth Hub network in Tewkesbury, backed by £465,000 from the Local Growth Fund, will deliver jobs and boost productivity for local businesses.
“It’s great to see the network expanding right across Gloucestershire, part of a £9.4m investment in Growth Hubs across the county.”
Nigel Dawson from Cafe Au Chocolat in Tewkesbury was among those at the opening event.
The shop, which sells handmade chocolates also offers workshops to help people learn about the art of chocolate making.
He said: “I wish I had accessed the Growth Hub earlier on as we’d be much further ahead.
“We have found the advice and guidance we received from both the council and the Growth Hub invaluable and I would really encourage small businesses to get in touch with them to see how they can help develop businesses further.”