£7.2m Boost for business growth in Lancashire

“Whether a business has specific growth plans or not, the business support landscape for growing businesses is complex and quite often business owners and directors don’t know where to turn. “We’re aiming to provide a unique service that allows decision makers to start the growth conversation, giving them simple access to world-class advice, some of it funded.

“Through the LEP, we're adopting a private sector focus to the programme. Our primary target is to help ambitious, growth-hungry businesses looking to realise their potential. “It’s an exciting project - the biggest of its kind for ambitious businesses in Lancashire - and one that will act as a catalyst for growth in the county’s economy.” Boost will offer a range of services, some 100% funded, some part-funded, including:

• Growth Mentoring by Community & Business Partners; providing high growth mentoring support through successful business leaders who have already worked through similar challenges.
• Lancashire Forum; an exclusive leadership peer-to-peer networking and development programme run by LancasterUniversity.
• Lancashire LEAP; led by Winning Pitch and Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, providing advice to pre-start and early start businesses.
• UCLan’s Innovation Clinic; aimed at supporting advanced manufacturing and engineering companies develop new products and move into new markets.
• Winning Pitch’s GrowthAccelerator service.

In addition, Boost will offer support through a pre-selected group of private sector advisory firms that specialise in helping growing businesses. County Councillor Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "We want a strong and sustainable economy here in Lancashire. It's important that we have the right conditions for business growth.

By bringing together expertise from the public and private sectors, Boost will help to bring about this growth and create new jobs in the county." Andy Walker, Head of Business Growth & Innovation at Lancashire County Council’s economic development service, said: “We've taken the time to make sure that we have the right partners in place.

We’ve brought together leading-edge specialists, all with a track record of supporting growing businesses. “We have a wonderful commercial pedigree in Lancashire and this programme can offer something for any ambitious company from areas such as leadership development, finance, innovation or business development.” 

Businesses looking to sign up to the programme can do so through a new website www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk or call 0800 488 0057.