DORSET BUSINESS FOCUS / NEWS
Support Central An interview with Dorset Gateway Business Advisor Suzannah Kennedy on how the service has provided support to Dorset businesses through the pandemic and how it can help during post-COVID recovery In a nutshell, what is Dorset Gateway and what is its remit? Dorset Gateway offers a fully funded service to provide advice, support and signposting to any Dorset-based business looking for any kind of support. The service is funded from Government via Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and delivered in partnership with Dorset Chamber. Essentially It centralises the ever-changing information on support so businesses have a one stop shop for guidance. During the pandemic, what changed for Dorset Gateway and how were you able to respond? Since the start of the pandemic Dorset Gateway has been in contact with and assisted 1400+ Dorset-based businesses seeking support which shows the scale of demand. During the peak, on one day alone, we received more enquiries than during a “normal” pre-COVID month. We were able to adapt quickly to meet both this demand, and the challenges of the fastchanging support environment. Two additional staff members were secured to help manage work flow and processing and to assist with the delivery of accurate and relevant information across various channels, including web sites, email, newsletters, phone and social media. What was the biggest support requirement during the pandemic? The service proved to be a fundamental resource for many and a life-line to others. It frequently acted as a counselling service for distraught business owners whilst helping to source and secure information, clarify eligibility criteria and signposting to relevant grant funding schemes made available from central government, and aligning the service with both councils who were busy interpreting and implementing them. It also played an integral part in raising key issues faced by Dorset-based businesses such as marine and hospitality so that local government, Dorset Chamber, British Chambers of Commerce, and the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and
Suzannah Kennedy, Dorset Gateway Business Advisor
Industrial Strategy (BEIS) were aware. We continue to work closely with BCP and Dorset councils to help raise, consider and resolve issues for Dorset-based businesses struggling to secure funding. Can you highlight any success stories for businesses or sectors in Dorset during the pandemic? I’m delighted to say that there have been a great number of success stories but what really stood out for me was that time after time, Dorset business owners of all sizes and sectors expressed their gratitude for being able to talk to an individual who was able to provide help and solutions and to access grants and further support which they had previously struggled to find.
businesses: we make it our business to have the best understanding possible of this complex and changing landscape, so we can provide information and connect businesses to the most relevant opportunities. Our advice: get in touch. Once we understand your needs we can signpost you to support now and in the future. For more information contact Dorset Gateway: gateway@dorsetchamber.co.uk or phone 01202 714800 for a conversation.
What is your one key piece of advice for companies who need support for post-COVID recovery? You don’t know what you don’t know! There’s a huge amount of support available to Dorset
During the peak, on one day alone, we received more enquiries than during a “normal” pre-COVID month 44
Sept 2021 | Dorset Business Focus
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