Businesses ‘Get Some GAS’ with Growth Hub
50 days after its launch, over 400 businesses have been set on the road to business growth by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub and more are signing up every day to get some GAS (Guidance And Support).
The Growth Hub, which finds the right support to help people start or grow their business, was launched in Cornwall Business Week and since then has been seen 450 sign up to the new website and over 100 contact the Team to start their growth journey.
Victoria Fox, owner of Liskeard based Party Parade said “We met the Growth Hub at the Cornwall Business Fair and thought they might be able to help us expand our e-commerce business into new markets. Our Connector has been amazing, and the speed of the response was particularly impressive. Within two weeks he had visited and referred us on to three support opportunities, who were then in contact within a day. It’s a fantastic network of support and I am recommending it to all my business contacts.”
Since the launch the Growth Hub Team, which includes Navigators on the phone and Connectors in the field, have used planes, trains and automobiles to reach companies across the region and from a wide variety of sectors. From a flower grower on St Marys to software developers in Bude, the Growth Hub is available to any business who would like to grow.
Growth can mean different things to different people, from taking on their first employee or business premises to launching a new product or selling overseas and the Growth Hub can help with all of these steps and more.
Sara Pugh from design and marketing firm Eight Wire in Falmouth added “It is a very easy way to get up-to-date information on what is available and it’s great to have one place you can go to find the support you want”
Businesses signing up to the Growth Hub can complete the GAS tool, call the team and then get access to a Business Connector, who will work with them to understand their ideas and ambitions. The Connector then refers the business on to right support that can help them achieve their goals, which could include local, national and international services depending on their needs.
Clare Colledge from Bad Boy Chilli Mash in Lostwithiel said “We were looking for some PR and marketing advice and, after signing up with the Growth Hub and meeting a Connector, we now have a business coach that can work with us to broaden our market appeal. We have found the Growth Hub a really straightforward way to get the support we need.”
Businesses that sign up to the Growth Hub via the website will not only get access to support information but will also be able to promote their products and services on the Business Directory, check out upcoming events and start sharing their news the straight away. www.ciosgrowthhub.com
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub is part funded by £2,435,909 from the European Regional Development Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. The Growth Hub is delivered by Cornwall Development Company.
Notes to the Editor
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub
The Growth Hub has been created in response to a common issue raised by businesses – that the range and complexity of business support available at a local and national level is far too confusing and time consuming to navigate. At its core the Growth Hub acts as a signposting service, pointing people in the right direction to get the support they need to start or grow their business.
Supported by a comprehensive website, a team of locally based experts work directly with businesses to help them identify and access support in a way that is right for them, whether that is business development, coaching, funding or something else entirely.
Contact:
Kirsty Miles, Growth Hub Communications Manager
Tel: 07399 528676 / kirsty@ciosgrowthhub.com / @CIoSGrowthHub
European Regional Development Fund
The project has received £2,435,909 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government 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 www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme is part of the England Growth Programme, which will run from 2014-2020. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is the only area in England to qualify as a ‘Less Developed’ region and has an allocation of €603.7million which is split as follows:
• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) €438 million
• European Social Fund (ESF) €166 million
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) has an allocation of £10 million in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, aligned with the wider England Growth Programme. www.erdfconvergence.org.uk/growth-programme
Contact:
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ITI Support Team (European Structural and Investment Funds) Tel: 01872 224325 / @GrowthProgramme
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership drives activity to support business growth, create jobs and help people realise their potential.
The LEP is led by local business people working together with Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly to set priorities for how the economy should grow.
Follow us on Twitter @LEPCornwall_IoS and visit www.cioslep.com
Contact:
Jason Clark, DCA Public Relations / 01208-77900 / jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk
Cornwall Development Company
Cornwall Development Company is the arm’s length economic development company of Cornwall Council, designed to deliver a bespoke, business facing service and support the delivery of the economic vision and strategy for Cornwall.
www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk / mail@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk / @CornwallDevCo