62
BUSINESS SUPPORT
A BOOST FOR GROWTH
The future shape of Lancashire’s business support landscape became clear as 2023 drew to a close.
In November, Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, announced a comprehensive new range of services thanks to a fresh £3.9m funding deal.
The cash will ensure that Boost, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, will continue until March 2025, with a potential extension beyond that.
Led by Lancashire County Council, Boost has supported more than 14,000 businesses since its launch in 2013, creating more than 3,500 jobs.
The Growth Hub is now aiming to support 1,525 more businesses, in addition to helping 125 new companies start and create more than 1,000 new jobs.
As reported by Lancashire Business View in September, the new programme is being funded by the county council, along with 10 of the 14 local authority district councils, who have each committed a proportion of their UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation.
UKSPF is part of the government’s levelling up agenda and a successor to EU structural funds.
The four councils that have decided not to commit funds to Boost are Blackpool, Lancaster, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.
County Hall is putting £1.2m towards Boost – the district allocations and funding from the Department of Business and Trade make up the rest of the pot.
The support offering it is paying for will include a new business support helpdesk, which will offer advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business in Lancashire, as well as businesses already trading in the county.
The helpdesk will provide business owners with guidance on available local, national and sector
business support. Businesses in the 10 partner local authority areas will also have access to a business advice service, led by a team of experienced advisers.
This service includes a 360-business review, a business support action plan and access to business clinics.
Boost has also unveiled a new ‘Flying Start’ programme, delivered by Lancashire-based Selnet, and has appointed national business support provider, the Growth Company, to deliver a ‘Growth Catalyst’ programme, and a ‘Scale to Thrive’ programme.
Liz Tapner, chief executive of Selnet, said: “Through our Flying Start programme, we support pre-start and young businesses to start-up, establish, develop and grow – our team is excited to work with clients to
from existing businesses to grow, scale and create jobs. We want to feed and fuel that ambition.”
Andrew Leeming, programme manager of Boost, added: “This is a powerful and exciting new Growth Hub partnership offering a rich breadth of business support to owners and leaders across the county.
“We look forward to collaborating with all Lancashire local authorities, public and private sector partners to ensure Lancashire business owners and directors get the right business support to help them solve problems, improve their business and achieve their goals, collectively unlocking the economic potential of our brilliant county.”
South Ribble Council is one of the local authorities backing Boost. Coun James
We are seeing a huge demand from businesses
to grow, scale and create jobs. We want to feed and fuel that ambition
determine the support they need to help them and their business.”
The Growth Hub will also deliver a new ‘Access to Finance’ service to help businesses find and secure finance and funding.
County Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: “It’s been 10 years of impact for Boost and we are firmly setting the dial towards the future with a comprehensive range of services and programmes to help more entrepreneurs and leaders start, grow and thrive, especially those that have not received support from Boost.”
He added: “Lancashire’s entrepreneurial spirit is thriving. We are seeing a growth in people aspiring to start a business and huge demand
Flannery, its cabinet member for planning, business support and economic development, said: “We pride ourselves on our programme of work in place to support and nurture businesses and entrepreneurs in the borough.
“Our business community is diverse; with varying needs and the additional services we can deliver through our partnership with Boost will be of great benefit to all those seeking support.”
Asked about its decision not to support Boost, Nicola Hopkins, Ribble Valley’s director of economic development and planning, told Lancashire Business View in September: “As our UKSPF allocation is relatively small, our members decided that it was best used to
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
