Lancashire firms given chance to ‘Build on Boost’
Businesses across Lancashire are being given a say on how the county can build on the achievements of one of its most successful ever business support initiatives.
Boost Business Lancashire – the county’s £7.2m business growth hub – has supported over 2,000 businesses since it was launched in 2013, with 600 new jobs already being created as a result.
The service has provided access to a range of free and part-funded programmes to help growing businesses in areas such as mentoring, leadership, access to finance, skills and innovation.
Now business owners are being asked how the service can be developed further after funding was secured for a second Boost programme expected to launch later in 2015.
The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is leading the ‘Building on Boost’ consultation and businesses can have their say by completing an online survey available through the Boost Business Lancashire website.
Andy Walker, head of business growth and innovation at Lancashire County Council, said: “Boost Business Lancashire has helped to create hundreds of jobs and has contributed significantly to our local economy. However, the needs of businesses are always changing and it’s vital that we listen carefully to them in shaping the next phase of Boost.
“We’ve already held a consultation event where we gained some valuable feedback. Now we have created this survey to further engage with businesses, professional advisers, and other stakeholders to enable them to contribute their thoughts on the current and future business support needs of the county.”
Delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and supported by £3.6m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
There is still time for businesses to apply for support from Boost Business Lancashire before the first phase of the project comes to a close at the end of June. To apply for support, businesses can complete on online form on the Boost Business Lancashire website or call 0800 488 0057.
ENDS.
For further information, contact:
Andrew Taylor, Emma Rawlinson or Simon Turner, Freshfield
01772 888400
Stephen Axon, communications service, Lancashire County Council
01772 533 194
Notes to editors:
Boost Business Lancashire (Boost) is the £7.2million Lancashire Business Growth Hub led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership).
The role of Boost is to help growth-hungry Lancashire businesses realise their potential by providing simple access to a range of leading-edge funded programmes, delivered by specialists with a track record of growing established and innovative start-up businesses.
The service is being delivered via a partnership between Lancashire County Council, Community Business Partners, Lancaster University, Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, UCLan and Winning Pitch, with £3.6million of funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Boost also helps businesses access specialist private sector business support, as well as other nationally funded programmes, where relevant.
The Boost project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding