Euro funding set to benefit businesses in Coventry
A MULTI-MILLION-POUND support programme to help businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire sustain growth has been launched – ironically with European funding.
The new Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme is backed by £6.3m from the European Regional Development Fund with further support from Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council.
It is being delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub, together with the two local authorities plus a wide range of specialist delivery partners.
As well as support for starting new businesses, it will also offer help for firms struggling to overcome barriers to growth such as recruitment, high operating costs and access to finance. It will offer workshops, events and seminars to provide networking and supply chain opportunities and advice on the health and well-being of staff.
Companies and start-up entrepreneurs will find out more about the programme at a series of events, the first of which takes place at the Butts Park Arena in Coventry on Thursday (June 30).
The events have now taken on added significance following the referendum vote.
Jonathan Browning, chairman of the CWLEP said: “This is a major programme which will look at all areas of the economy across Coventry and Warwickshire. The Growth Hub was established by the LEP to drive forward the economy by helping companies achieve their potential by overcoming barriers to growth.
“This three-year programme will help us support more businesses in that aim. Our businesses advisers are best placed to signpost the most valuable and relevant support which allow companies to cut through much of the legwork and access help quickly and in a way that best suits their needs.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for Coventry’s Jobs and Regeneration and LEP board member, said: “We’ve been clear that we want to support local business so this cash boost is good news because it will make real money available to companies with ambitions to grow and create more jobs.
“Once the Growth Hub and local partners have done their work with companies to help them grow, we will then work with the Job Shop to make sure that local, unemployed people have the best chances of getting the jobs on offer.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council and an LEP board member, said: “This new business support programme makes it clear that we are an ambitious and forward-thinking council with clear goals for supporting the growth of the economy and plans to achieve them.
“Working with our partners Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub and others means we can provide support for new start-ups, mentoring for growing businesses and targeted financial assistance to support the development of new and existing businesses, to ensure the vibrancy of our region’s economy.”
