An extra £895,000 is being ploughed into a Liverpool city region support scheme to promote the growth of digital, creative and tech businesses. Tony McDonough reports

A Liverpool city region scheme for Liverpool city region digital, creative and tech businesses is to receive an extra £895,000.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram launched the first phase of Gather with a £3.5m cash injection. This has so far supported 178 digital, creative and tech (DCT) ventures to create 314 new jobs and add an estimated £18m to annual revenues.

Delivered by Liverpool consultancy form, Gather offers DCT business in the city region access to a number of services. They include a sales course, a leaders programme, six months of scaling support and expert one-to-one advice.

This latest funding for the initiative will aim to work with around 120 DCT firms across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton.

Steve Rotheram said: “Our area is home to a burgeoning digital, tech and creative sector that supports thousands of local jobs and training opportunities.

“Through Gather, we’re helping the industry to strengthen the future of its workforce and create quality, secure, and well-paid jobs.

“We’ve launched our next round of support to ensure that even more businesses and local people can benefit and take advantage of all the opportunities that will come our way in an increasingly digital world.”

Among the digital, creative and tech businesses supported by Gather are Cybertill, Sood Agency, and online recruitment platform Redwigwam.

Gather funding also provided emergency business support to 221 non-DCT businesses through the related Sustain programme, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Katie Bolas from Form added: |Gather is back to amplify the success of the region’s growing businesses.

A common misconception is that business support is for companies that are struggling, whereas Gather is about growth and success for businesses already doing well and looking to go further.

“We’re really excited about supporting more businesses and helping the digital, creative and tech sectors to thrive.”

Click here to find out more about Gather.