Growth Hub launched as one-stop-shop for Greater Birmingham businesses

LOCAL companies are being urged to take advantage of the Greater Birmingham Growth Hub, which launched yesterday at an event attended by over 300 entrepreneurs, business leaders and stakeholders.
 
Run by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), the Growth Hub comprises a web portal, phoneline and one-to-one specialist advice.

It is the new home for all business advice, funding and support in the area – providing a route for businesses to local organisations offering business support or funding.
 
Though particularly focused on small and medium sized businesses within the GBSLEP area, the Growth Hub is designed to assist companies along the region’s supply chains and across all sectors.
 
Mark Sayers, deputy director of business productivity and growth programmes at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and Saqib Bhatti, GBSLEP director and president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce, both spoke at the launch event, which was held at Birmingham Hippodrome.
 
Sayers said: “SMEs are pumping £1.3 trillion into the economy and are responsible for 50% of private sector employment. Encouraging these businesses to scale up, innovate, secure funding, export and access new markets is key to unlocking growth.
 
“Combining all the local and national services available in Greater Birmingham will provide the greatest benefits‎ to businesses. The Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP and its Growth Hub will have a strong role to play in this.”
 
A further 18 companies and organisations exhibiting at the event – including national bodies UK Trade & Investment and the Manufacturing Advisory Service – provided free advice to delegates.
 
During the next 12 months, the Growth Hub will help with 7,200 business enquiries and contribute to creating 500 new jobs, it is suggested.
The Hub’ ssite – http://www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk/ – has already received more than 5,000 unique visitors and handled more than 300 enquiries and requests for support.
 
Growth Hub manager Ian Mclaughlan said: “Greater Birmingham’s economy is going from strength to strength – and our local companies deserve first class advice and support so they can grow, and recruit, even further.”

The initiative is part of the Government’s Small Business Strategy, with all 39 LEPs in the UK setting up a Growth Hub for local business advice.