Launch of Business Support Hubs in Chester, Ellesmere

Port and mid-Cheshire

Cheshire West and Chester Council has created three Business, Innovation and Growth (BIG) Hubs across west Cheshire, to offer support to local businesses.

The Hubs, based in the HQ Building in Chester, Meridian House in Winsford, and Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port, will provide a base for the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Business Support Programme.

Hubs will also host workshops, networking, and support entrepreneurship activity delivered by local and national business support programmes and partners.

At an event in July to celebrate the launch of the mid-Cheshire Hub at Meridian House, Road One, Winsford Industrial Estate, businesses were able to learn more about the support and activity on offer at the Hubs, as well as finding out more about the UKSPF Business Support Programme. Over a light lunch, businesses were able to network with delivery partners and other business support partners, including British Bank.

As part of the Council’s commitment to sustainability and supporting the local economy, the Meridian House Hub has been furnished with furniture purchased from two local charities based on Winsford Industrial Estate, Changing Lives Together and St Luke’s Hospice.

Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration said:

“The Business, Innovation and Growth Hubs have been set up to provide support for local businesses across West Cheshire. The Council is committed to doing everything we can to making sure that businesses can thrive and take

Appointment of two Senior Officers

Kathy McArdle will join the Council in September as Executive Director of Place and Growth, replacing Charlie Seward who retired earlier this year. Kathy joins us from Barnsley Council, where she is currently Service Director of Regeneration and Culture. In her new role, she will be responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of our Economy and Housing, Environment and Communities, and Transport and Highways directorates. Kathy’s wealth of experience in delivering large-scale regeneration and place-shaping projects will be invaluable in helping us to achieve the ambitions we have for communities across Cheshire West and Chester over the coming years.

Natalie Abraham will also join the Council as Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Transformation and advantage of opportunities to make new connections and learn new skills and approaches. We are committed to a vision for an Inclusive Economy to make our Borough a greener, fairer and stronger place to live, work and play. Supporting businesses to grow, create jobs and develop skills is crucial to achieving this.

Strategy from October. Natalie will take over this role from Laurence Ainsworth, who left the organisation last week to become Director of Strategy and Transformation at Lancashire County Council. She will be responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of Digital and Technology, Engagement and Communications, Insight and Intelligence, and Public Service Reform. Natalie previously worked for us in a senior management position before co-founding CIPFA C.Co, where she has since supported us and other councils with various programmes of work as its Managing Director. Her passion for local government and proven track record in delivering transformational activity will be crucial, as we continue to reshape vital services and look to address the significant budget challenge that we face.

“I encourage local businesses to keep up to date with everything that our Chester, Ellesmere Port and Winsford Hubs have to offer.”

To keep up to date with upcoming events at the BIG Hubs, visit: https://www.letstalkbizcw.co.uk/events/ And sign up for our weekly business newsletter: https://www.letstalkbizcw.co.uk/ register-for-our-business-directory-andorenewsletter/

To find out more about the Council’s UKSPF Business Support Programme, visit the Let’s Talk Business website: https://www.letstalkbizcw.co.uk/ support-funding/ukspf-business-supportprogramme/

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fundprospectus

Happy 1st birthday itravel!

Our on-demand rural bus service, itravel, which aims to improve connectivity in some of the more remote parts of the borough, celebrated its first birthday in July.

‘iitravel’ covers a wide area including Helsby, Frodsham, Delamere and Acton Bridge, as well as some other villages, where no commercial services are available.

Since the service began on 31 July 2023 it has clocked up an impressive 11,311 journeys with 15,097 passengers jumping on board.

Find out more about the service on the Cheshire West and Chester Council website, itravel On Demand - Connecting People and Places | Cheshire West and Chester Council