There is some exciting news about the support that is soon to be offered by the Worcestershire Business Central (WBC) team.

WBC has been supporting companies for over five years to help leverage in support from a number of business support programmes that are available locally and nationally, as well as undertaking a number of events to help companies understand the issues that need to be considered and implemented at different stages of growing a business.

This support is soon to be enhanced and expanded with two new areas of activity that will really help business owners take the next step:

Peer to Peer Learning

This initiative is part of a England wide programme to support SMEs, it is free to take part and will help companies to look at areas such as development of strategy post the impact of COVID, adoption of new technology, new ways of working and in particular the well-being of the workforce, innovation, protecting the business, best practice to develop existing and new markets at home and abroad, as well as access to finance and the development of people.

This will involve 18 hours of action learning in groups of 8-12 and 3.5 hours of one to one support from an experienced facilitator which is open to business owners and or members of the senior management team within a company.

Companies must meet the following criteria:

• Operational for at least 1 year.
• Employ at least 5 people f/t equivalent (note. 30% of companies who take part can employ 2 people providing they meet the rest of the essential criteria).
• Have at least £100k turnover per annum.
• Aspiration to improve.

Desirable

• Ability to scale.
• Export or the aspiration to do so.

For further information please use the link to register interest in taking part: https://worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk/peer-networks/

Specialist Business Support

 A number of specialist advisors have recently been appointed and will begin to provide specialist support to companies both large and small in the new year covering:

• In-depth general business support that could look at strategies/policies in the areas of business development, organisation structures, supply chain and operations in general.
• Best practice and guidance on effective ways to market the business and the best way to do so using media and other marketing tools/techniques.
• Adoption of new technology, ensuring the business is protected from attacks on data and how to use technology to improve productivity inside the company, as well as in the supply chain.
• Access to finance, to look and guide business owners on optimising working capital, managing cash flow, debt management, re-forecasting liquidity, cost structures and best sources of third-party finance.
• Green/Neutral Agenda, to encourage companies to consider new working practices, the use of green technology and waste reduction in the running of their business.

The main criteria to benefit from the support is:

• Operational for at least one year.
• Employ at least 3 people f/t equivalent – this is open to SMEs and Non-SMEs.
• Turnover of at least £100k per annum.
• Aspiration to grow.

Desirable:

• Tech based business/start-up.
• Potential to Export.
• Ability to scale.

If either of these programmes are of interest then please contact the Worcestershire Business Central team by sending an email to info@worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk or calling us on 01905 677 888.