£30m boost for growth hub

A CASH boost of £30m has been delivered to Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub to expand its services and offer new programmes to stimulate the area’s economy.

Since it was established in 2011, Business Growth Hub has helped to create 6,000 jobs and contributed to an increase of £81m to the Greater Manchester business environment.

The new support programmes build on the success of what has been delivered to date and the Hub has responded to the evolving needs of businesses with a comprehensive suite of services.
 
Business Growth Hub, part of Manchester Growth Company, brings together specialists with a wealth of commercial experience in starting a business, accessing finance, increasing sales, using digital technology, upskilling and staff development, business infrastructure and launching new products or services.
 
The organisation is scaling up its innovation service, which is designed to bring new products and services to market. The Hub will also encourage more collaboration across the network of innovators and partners, whilst harnessing critical research and development opportunities and building relationships with universities and Innovate UK.
 
It will also be expanding its successful Executive Development Programme, along with its new Workforce Development Programme, which will support individuals at all levels within a business.

The firm will also provide targeted support in Low Carbon Goods and Services, Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and the Digital, Creative and Technology sectors.
 
It has also launched the £9.5m Greater Manchester Export Fund which will target grant and short-term funding opportunities that will enable local businesses secure and grow export contracts globally.
 
Richard Jeffery, director at Business Growth Hub, part of Manchester Growth Company, said: “We’ve been awarded £30m of funding to help support our clients and enable Greater Manchester to achieve its growth ambitions over the next three years.
 
“It is inspiring to see the positive impact our work has had and I’m exceptionally proud of what our clients have achieved to date.
 
“Greater Manchester continues to be a fantastic place to do business, and it is our job to help innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs thrive and compete on a national and international scale.
 
“To strengthen the wider offer to clients in the region, our partner network is critical for growing businesses to draw upon industry specialists and accessing cutting edge technology and research. With our new programmes now in place, I am extremely excited for what can be achieved in the future.”