Investment Readiness

A major new funding programme to provide small and medium sized businesses in Coventry with help and support to reach their growth potential launched late last year, and the first cohort of intensive, expert support to help SMEs gain external investment is underway.

C&W Business Solutions, which is part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub Group, are delivering the Coventry Investment Readiness Programme – a new UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme, on behalf of Business Growth West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The scheme, which will run until March 31 2025 and involves two stages, is aimed at improving the opportunities of securing external investment for start-ups, high-growth businesses in their early years and to help SMEs scale-up.

The first phase is designed to help SMEs identify funding routes for their business, and covers topics including debt finance, asset finance, grants, equity, crowdfunding, and angel investment. Businesses joining Stage 1, will be invited to attend an expert-led workshop and offered an appointment with a High Growth Specialist to help them gain a thorough understanding of the funding landscape and identify support for their business.

Eligible businesses accessing Stage 2 of the programme receive up to 24 hours of expert 1:1 support, focused workshops, specialist online tools, and expert mentoring, to help their business become investment ready.

The first cohort of businesses to receive Stage 2 support is currently underway, and feedback from the programme participants so far has been excellent.

Expressions of interest are now being taken for the second year of the programme and businesses in Coventry, looking for investment, are urged to get in touch to find out how the programme can help them achieve their growth aims and to register for the next workshop, by contacting investmentreadiness@ cwgrowthhub.co.uk.