First partners join Business Growth Hub
THE new organisation set up to help support business expansion in Greater Manchester and the North West, has signed its first partners.
The Business Growth Hub – which will be launched formally on November 17 – held an event at the Royal Exchange Theatre last night for referral and support partners.
The first partners, business advisers Ernst & Young and Baker Tilly and law firm Slater Heelis, will work with other firms and the Growth Hub to find and support businesses that have the potential, ambition and commitment to grow.
The Hub will work with start-ups, SMEs, through to large established businesses.
The partners will refer companies to The Hub and to advise and supply their own services to businesses on a wide range of topics from finance and innovation to marketing and training.
Richard Jeffrey, director of the Business Growth Hub said: “We have been really impressed by the level of support and anticipation there has been from private sector businesses to the news of the Business Growth Hub launch.
“The inaugural partners event is the first step towards creating a community where businesses with the desire and potential to grow will get the professional and world-class support they need to succeed.
“We’re creating a simplified landscape for business where partners can work together to deliver tailor made growth services and be cost effective.
“We know that supporting and accelerating the growth of ambitious companies is absolutely key to our economic recovery and we’re delighted to be working with so many successful and illustrious business names to make that happen in Greater Manchester and the wider North West.”
The Hub’s programme of business networks, growth groups and specialist information, advice and services will be delivered by the private sector partners as well as organisations including the Manufacturing Advisory Service, Technology and Innovation Centres, UK Trade and Investment Services, Business Angel Networks and venture capitalists.
The Hub will fill the void left by the closure of Business Link’s regional support services.
Chaired by Bruntwood founder Michael Oglesby, the hub is managed and supported by Manchester Solutions and Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Simon Allport, senior partner at Ernst & Young said: “Manchester has an impressive track record of creating successful business and economic initiatives and we’re really proud to be a founder partner in the Hub.
“Every indication is pointing to ambitious and growing businesses as the key way forward to create economic opportunities and employment for the future. We need to be giving them the best support and advice possible to make their job that bit easier.”
Mike Fox, managing partner of Sale based law firm Slater Heelis added: “This new community has come at the perfect time for business in the North West.
“Times are tough but there are some truly innovative and hard-working companies out there who may well hold the key for our future economic prosperity. We owe it to them to work together to share our collective expertise and to hopefully remove some of the barriers to success that they may well encounter. “
Free to join, the Hub’s target market includes 75,000 enterprises in Greater Manchester and 230,000 businesses in the North West
