Marches LEP launches new £250K Growth Hub

A £250,000 project designed to revolutionise the way businesses access support services has been officially launched by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Marches Growth Hub is available to support firms across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

The virtual hub is a one-stop-shop for local and national products and services available to support businesses whatever their sector, size or stage of growth.

The website – www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk – offers advice, guidance and a directory of support services for businesses. It will be supported by three hub sites, the first of which will be in Telford.

As well as the website, which has been developed by the Marches LEP and is aligned with the Business is GREAT campaign, businesses can contact a dedicated enquiry line at 0345 6000 727 for advice and support.

The Telford & Wrekin hub is at the Telford Innovation Campus at Priorslee and has been funded by Telford & Wrekin Council, in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton, and the LEP.

Graham Wynn, LEP chairman, said: “The Marches Growth Hub is one of 30 developed across England at the request of the Government which recognised that support for businesses across the country had become patchy.

“Our own research found that businesses were confused by what products and services were on offer, and that they needed help to find relevant information on issues such as access to finance, skills, exporting and training.

“The Marches Growth Hub has been developed in partnership with businesses. More than 80 different products and services are listed on the website and it will be continually updated to ensure businesses can find relevant and up to date information and assistance in one place.”

He said the hub at the Telford Innovation Campus offered a face to face extension of this service and the LEP was pleased to be working with its local authority partner as well as the Telford Business Board and the University of Wolverhampton to deliver the new resource.

Anna Soubry, Minister for Small Business, Industry & Enterprise, added: “Small businesses are Britain’s engine room. We are getting behind them so that they can create more jobs and opportunities across the country.

“The Marches Growth Hub will play an important role in promoting enterprise in the region by ensuring businesses can access the national and local support they need to succeed.

“I’m confident it will help lots of entrepreneurs to boost their business, adding value through local expertise.”