170 businesses signed up for Halton Business Support Service in 2024 and the borough council is urging more to seek support in 2025. Tony McDonough reports
Businesses across Halton are being urged to sign up to take advantage of the free Halton Business Support Service, run by Halton Borough Council.
Funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority, the project was launched in 2024 and already 170 businesses have signed up.
This service is designed to help local companies with a range of business-focused solutions which includes management and business planning, digital marketing and sales, PR and content, tendering and bid writing, net zero, HR, manufacturing processes and efficiency, financial management and start-up support.
Fully funded consultancy support is available at no cost to eligible organisations in the borough of Halton and focuses on small and medium sized businesses.
Support is tailored according to the company’s individual needs and delivery can be one-to-one, one-to-many, online, or a combination of all three approaches.
One local business which was struggling to keep work coming in, accessed specialist help through Halton Business Support and as a result, was able to gain significant contracts through universities and large organisations.
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Clare Hart, senior business investment and growth officer at Halton Business Support, said: “I can honestly say that I am so privileged to be working with so many fantastic businesses in Halton.
“I am pleased that so many of the businesses have taken advantage of support through the programme. We will continue to grow our relationship with all the organisations and offer whatever support is required.”
12 new businesses started up since the programme began and 58 businesses have received specialist support through the project. Wider referrals have been made to Digital Cheshire, Finance Hub and other UK Shared Prosperity Fund partner programmes.
If you would like to register your interest, complete this short form. For other business support enquiries email the Business Investment and Growth Team at business@halton.gov.uk