CHAMBERLINK BUSINESS SUPPORT POINTING YOUR COMPANY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SUCCESS
GREATER BIRMINGHAM CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE delivers a number of programmes designed to help businesses realise their growth aspirations. It can also help identify other schemes that may be applicable to your particular industry.
CONTACT: Sandra Cunningham T: 0121 607 1874
The Growth Hub is a resounding success
T
he Chamber is playing a major role in the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP’s Growth Hub, a business support service
which is already being hailed as a great success. The Hub provides a single point of access for
business support across the region. It comprehensively lists all of the opportunities and organisations that businesses can access, including local authorities, national schemes, funding providers, universities and science parks. The Growth Hubs are a national scheme,
although the Greater Birmingham and Solihull hub serves one of the largest business communities in the country. So far, the Greater Birmingham hub has dealt
with 1,571 enquiries, with 212 businesses receiving intensive assistance. The majority of these enquiries have been
made since 7 October 2015, which was the date of the full launch of the service. A further target for the hub is job creation – so
far, 368 potential jobs will be created over the next 12 months due to referrals from the Growth Hub. Growth Hub compliance manager David Evans
said: “The GBSLEP Growth Hub has only been running in full launch since October but it is already demonstrating that it is significantly helping local businesses. “With more than 1,571 enquiries dealt with and
over 212 companies receiving more direct intensive assistance, the Growth Hub is having a
real impact on growth and jobs within the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area. “The Growth Hub is there to help businesses
from all sectors and of all sizes from pre-start to established companies. Backed by a comprehensive knowledge bank and led by experienced advisors, the Growth Hub’s aim is to help all businesses that ask for support.”
‘The Growth Hub is having a real impact on growth and jobs’
The Hub’s website will enable businesses to access information and advice about how to start, grow, run and finance their company effectively. The Chamber team includes membership
director Mandy Canny, compliance manager David Evans and Growth Hub advisors Sandra Cunningham and Jeannette Peters. Sandra and Jeannette – both SFEDI accredited
advisors – have more than 26 years’ experience of helping businesses, gained through the Chamber and working on various business funding programmes.
Website:
www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk National helpline: 0300 456 3565 Local helpline for more tailored local support and advice: 0800 032 3488
Super advisers (clockwise from left): Howard Blow, Ivan Moore, David Tomalin and Lara Day
Chamber assembles
super team of advisers Five Chamber business advisers have become ‘super advisers’ after gaining a nationally recognised qualification. The qualification is known by the acronym
SFEDI, which stands for Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative. SFEDI is a not-for-profit standards setting body for business enterprise and business support. Basically, SFEDI helps advisers give better
advice to businesses, by giving them a structure to work to, around which they can deliver appropriate advice. The five Chamber business ‘super advisers’
are: Skills Hub manager David Tomalin, Lara Day, Howard Blow, Ivan Moore and Sarah Rowe, who is based at Solihull Chamber. Director of membership Mandy Canny
said: “This will help us deal with businesses in a more structured way. It is a qualification that helps us improve our own standards, and means we can offer the best advice.”
Apprentice lands full-time job
Chamber apprentice Daniel Joyce is celebrating after being offered a full-time role at the organisation. Dan, 19, who is from Northfield, first joined the
Chamber in 2014 from Kings Norton Boy’s School, where he had completed his A-levels in business studies, travel and tourism, and IT. At the time, he was interested in pursuing a
career in either IT or as a travel rep, and another option open to him was staying in further education and taking a degree course. In the event, he felt the best course of action
Full-time role: Daniel Joyce
was to opt for an apprenticeship. He said: “I had found A-levels to be intense, and I wanted to get
into the jobs market – so an apprenticeship was an ideal route for me.” As his year-long apprenticeship was coming
to an end, Dan was offered the post of junior administrative assistant at the Chamber, and was delighted to accept. He said: “I was very excited about it, as I had
enjoyed my time at the Chamber, and being offered a full-time role gave me peace of mind. I look forward to developing my skills.” Chamber membership director Mandy Canny
said: “Dan is an excellent addition to the team and we look forward to seeing him develop his skills in the next few years.”
MARCH 2016 CHAMBERLINK5
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