Businesses in Wyre can access a range of new funded business support services as we enter into a new partnership with Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, which is run by Lancashire County Council.
The new partnership has been created after Wyre Council agreed to invest £200,000 into Boost through its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation. UKSPF is part of the Levelling Up agenda and succession to EU structural funds.
Business owners and leaders looking to start, grow and scale a business can access six core services through the new Boost partnership. They include:
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Business Support Helpdesk: A service that offers advice and guidance on available local, national and sector business support.
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Business Advice Service: A service that matches a business with an adviser and includes a business review, a business support action plan, business clinics and regular updates.
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Growth Catalyst: A service to help established businesses ready to take their business to the next level.
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Scale to Thrive: An exclusive service for businesses over £1m turnover looking to scale 20% year on year.
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Flying Start: A service that helps people start a new business or grow a young business.
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Access to Finance: A service that helps businesses find and secure the finance and funding they need.
Boost also provides an online directory of all funded business support available in Lancashire, as well as an event directory, a knowledge hub and information about private sector business support.
Boost has supported over 14,000 businesses since its launch in 2013, creating over 3,500 jobs. The Growth Hub is aiming to support over 1,000 more businesses, in addition to helping 125 new businesses start and create more than 1,000 new jobs.
County Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, Lancashire County Council, said:
“It’s been ten years of impact for Boost and we are firmly setting the dial towards the future with a comprehensive range of services to help more entrepreneurs and leaders start, grow and thrive, especially those that have not received support from Boost.
“We understand that our local Lancashire economies are unique and this new partnership will help us provide a tailored business support solution to local businesses and the people that run them.”
The Boost business support services will be delivered by a number of specialist local and national business support organisations including Growth Lancashire, Selnet and the Growth Company, with Lancashire County Council delivering the Access to Finance service.
Andrew Leeming, programme manager of Boost, added:
“This is a powerful and exciting new Growth Hub partnership which includes a highly experienced team of business advisers who will be delivering advice and support on the ground to help local business owners and leaders solve problems, improve their business and achieve their goals.”
If you want to find out what support is available and to check eligibility criteria, contact the Boost Business Support Helpdesk on 0800 488 0057 or visit the Boost website at www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk.