Business Gateway

Boost to free business support from Business Gat eway Business owners across Leicester and Leicestershire, looking to expand and grow their enterprises now have access to an enhanced service through the Business Gateway Growth Hub, including the addition of a £1.4 million pot of grant funding.

Initial contact with the Business Gateway is with Front-Line Business Advisers who deal with all incoming enquiries and signpost to the most relevant or appropriate help, saving time and keeping busy entrepreneurs well informed of the options available.

The Business Gateway has provided intensive support to over 1,000 Leicester and Leicestershire enterprises since 2014 and will continue to provide a variety of core services including tailored, one-to-one advice, a programme of events and workshops, finance opportunities and support programmes. Following successful bidding to the European Regional Development Fund a further £3.9 million was secured to deliver an enhanced service for local companies. This is run in partnership with Leicester City Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP).

This broader service means there is a larger team of advisers offering free, impartial and commercial-focused business advice and information. A new Business Growth Grant is available to established small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) trading business-tobusiness and looking to create jobs or develop new products/services. With support from a Business Gateway adviser, SMEs can apply for the capital grant, which ranges from £2,000 to £25,000, making up 35% of the total project cost. This could be for innovative technology products, premises improvement/expansion or upgrading capital equipment to enable a more automotive approach, for example. Jon Egley, Growth Hub Manager said: “This boost to the Growth Hub service means we can reach more businesses that want to expand, develop and grow. Our advisers have a wealth of knowledge between them as well as links with all the other support providers in our area. It starts with one call to Business Gateway to see where your business can go.”

The Business Gateway continues to offer a free programme of events to help businesses develop skills and knowledge on all aspects of running a successful business including strategy, sales, finance, marketing and HR procedures while also signposting to relevant business support events from other providers across the county.

These services are available to eligible businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire.

Find out if the Business Gateway can support you or your clients by speaking to a friendly and knowledgeable Front-Line Business Adviser. Call now on 0116 366 8487 or complete an enquiry form at www. bizgateway.org.uk/enquiry

Call us nowto see if we can help you or your client's business grow: free expert advice, access to finance, support programmes and events.

(Quote ref: LawSoc)