A new Growth Hub for Cheshire and Warrington is being established to drive business expansion across the region.

The Government-backed Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub will be launched next week at a series of events taking place in Chester, Warrington and Crewe.

The Growth Hub will be a first stop shop for businesses of all kinds to easily access a wide range of advice, expertise and funding to accelerate their growth.

It is now urging businesses to get in touch to discuss their advice needs.

The Growth Hub will bring together a comprehensive network of local, regional and national business support services from both the public and private sector.

It will aid the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP’s) ambition to make Cheshire and Warrington a £50bn economy by 2040.

Christine Gaskell, Chair of the LEP, said:

“The Growth Hub brings the public and private sectors together and will be a focal point for Cheshire businesses to support other Cheshire businesses, with grant funding becoming available next year to help pay for that support.

“Whether you are starting a new business, looking for funding or want to achieve increased competitiveness and growth, we can help your business to unleash its potential.

“The Growth Hub is about offering a simple solution to those wishing to navigate the sometimes complex network of business advisory services which are out there and is a critical part of our ambitions to encourage enterprise and grow the local economy.”

The Growth Hub, which will be overseen by the LEP’s Business Growth Strategy Board, expects to support some 2,500 businesses with advice over the next two years.

It also expects to provide grants to 250 businesses showing growth potential. An initial grant funding pot of £600,000 will be become available early next year.

Business Strategy Board Chairman Nigel Schofield said:

“Whatever a business’s needs, we will be able to help them assess their options to ensure they get the right kind of advice.

“The Growth Hub will advise companies and direct them to the right kind of support they need to fulfil their ambitions, no matter what kind of business they are.

“I would urge any business person to get in touch to see where we can help.”

Growth Hub Chief Executive Heather Hayes said the Growth Hub would be employing four advisers whose role will be to help businesses navigate the business support landscape to access the best support for their specific needs.

She added:

“We are looking to support growth businesses in all areas of business from marketing, finance, leadership and ICT. There is a wide range of support out there for companies and our role will be to ensure they can access exactly the right support for their needs.”

The Growth Hub will support and advise businesses in these areas:

• Access to finance including grants and loans
• Skills, training and employment
• Exporting and new markets
• Sales and marketing
• Finding the right location
• Growth mentoring and coaching
• Starting a business

Businesses looking for advice should call 03300 245007 or email support@candwgrowthhub.co.uk

For further information go to www.candwgrowthhub.co.uk