Good news for any Leicestershire business that started in 2018 or after, and had to stop trading due to COVID; a huge programme of no-cost business support has been funded by the Business Gateway to help get these businesses back on their feet and growing.
SUBS or Start-Up Business Support will provide training, mentoring, peer networks and digital workshops to over 150 businesses in Leicestershire.
Simon Weaver, senior project manager at the LLEP, said: “This programme is open to any business less than 36 months old, from any sector, based in Leicester or Leicestershire. The only other eligibility criterion is that you must be registered as a business with HMRC or Companies House. It is likely you will be a micro-business or small to medium enterprise.”
Four companies have won the contract to deliver the support programmes. NBV’s Beryl Pettit will be delivering the three-week programme ‘Gearing for Growth’. Stuart Hartley and his company Incrementa will deliver a six-week programme including mentoring, weekly workshops and 1-2-1 support. Sam Larke will lead the Leicester Start-Ups CIC programme to help solve the most critical business challenges. Finally, Ben Mainwaring and his team from So Very Creative will deliver SMARTUP, a digital marketing accelerator.
Mr Mainwaring said: “We’re very much looking forward to supporting Leicester businesses who had to stop trading because of COVID. We’re aiming to deliver really practical sessions that they can use to grow their businesses and leave COVID in the past.”
Simon Weaver concluded: “We’re advising any business that wants to take up this offer to speak to one of our Business Advisers first. There is quite a range of support packages and a Business Adviser can help you decide which one is right for you. Just call the Business Gateway on 0116 366 8487 or there’s more information on our website: https://bit.ly/2YX18zg.”
