30th June 2023 saw the final day of delivery for our two ERDF funded business support programmes – Cumbria Business Growth Hub and Business Start-Up Support programme.
Both programmes were continuations of earlier ERDF initiatives funded since 2011 which have in combination delivered tremendous impact to individuals, young businesses and established businesses over those years.
To date, the Growth Hub has worked directly with more than 8,700 businesses, with around 3,000 benefitting from intensive assistance. This has created or safeguarded 6,600 jobs and generated an estimated £330m GVA.
In the ERDF programme just ending, since 1st January 2019 Cumbria Business Growth Hub has supported 905 businesses intensively with a minimum of 12 hours support, over 200 businesses with 3 hours information, diagnostic & brokerage support – in total working with 1,423 Cumbrian businesses. To date phase 3 of Cumbria Business Growth Hub has created 240.7 jobs and part funded 443 subsidies of between £1,000 and £7,000 supporting projects focused on specialist consultancy support.
Similarly, since 1st April 2019 our Business Start-Up Support programme has supported 500 individuals intensively with a minimum of 12 hours support helping them become enterprise ready, supported 311 young businesses intensively – in total working with 1,802 individuals and young businesses. We’ve also part funded 117 subsidies of between £1,000 and £2,000 supporting projects focused on specialist consultancy support.
Alongside ERDF funding these schemes have been supported by funding from Carlisle City Council, South Lakeland District Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council, Sellafield, Penrith Industrial BID and Lancaster University.
Both programmes offered support during Covid when project activity was moved online, pivoting quickly to be able to support individuals and businesses, and we’ve continued to deliver support during the recent economic challenges and cost of living crisis.
As we were the ERDF Growth Hub for Cumbria, DHLUC also asked us to take on and administer the Small Business Recovery (147 grants) and Kickstart Tourism (175 grants) funds giving out Covid 100% grants of just over £818,000 in just over 6 months.
The Growth Hub website (www.cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk) has a great range of client case studies.
Below are some comments from people and businesses we’ve recently supported.
“I’ve benefited hugely from the support provided by the Growth Hub. Starting with the three-day start-up course which gave me everything I needed so I could get my ducks in a row as I set up my own business. I’ve then also received support tailored to my business via 1-2-1 sessions with an experienced business adviser. This has been brilliant. I’m continuing to benefit from the funded workshop sessions that the Growth Hub runs, I’ve learnt lots from these and they are great because they cover specific topics, meaning many businesses can gain truly relevant support.” Natalie Barker – M&M Business Support
“Thanks to Cumbria Business Growth Hub, I transformed setbacks into opportunities, and today, I help businesses thrive in the digital world. Thanks to my business coach I’ve learned that language barriers and personal struggles can hold everyone back, but when you are fuelled by passion, you can achieve your goals. I embrace every challenge with gratitude, knowing that every step brings me closer to my dreams.” Nataliia Pinchuk – So Nataly
“Working with the Growth hub was a great experience and was much simpler than we had imagined. It allowed us to access additional resources to ensure the project was completed to the highest standard, on par with the biggest marketing agencies in the industry.” Natterjack Marketing
“My experience with the Growth Hub has been very positive, everyone I’ve encountered has been friendly and helpful. My business adviser is very informative and knowledgeable especially around reducing waste and likeminded suppliers and has helped give me direction and great tips on how to grow my business.” Amanda Palmer – Bellaport Cakes
“Cumbria Business Growth Hub is a great organisation and well embedded in the community which is so helpful. Its network of advisers have a variety of experience and, being local, they really understand the issues we face in Cumbria. Our adviser for this project, has unique skills which really plugged into the needs of our B2B outreach project for these new conference rooms including experience with a major local holiday property website platform as well as with developing and running e-commerce sites.” The Rowley Estates
“Our experience with Cumbria Business Growth Hub was fantastic, we received a subsidy that allowed us to improve our website and create a brand new video showing off The Guild attracting new members to our community. From first contact to the assistance through the process and confirmation of our subsidy our experience was smooth, professional and painless, we would and have highly recommended it!” The Guild Coworking
What next?
ERDF activity has only ever been one part of what Cumbria Business Growth Hub delivers.
Cumbria Business Growth Hub is still and will continue to be the ‘one stop shop for business support’.
The web portal will continue to be funded by Cumbria Chamber, as it has been throughout this ERDF programme, and so will continue to offer a wide and developing range of information and inspiration.
Alongside this we’re continuing with a range of support, which we’ll be adding to as the year progresses.
We’re offering 3hrs support to any business facing issues/challenges/problems they’d like to discuss with an experienced and knowledgeable business adviser. We’re already supporting 40 businesses with 60 places remaining. We’re just in the process of developing a peer network for 10 food & drink businesses which will give 12hrs support including group sessions and 1-2-1 support – anyone interested please email lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk (we only have 5 places remaining).
We’re also offering support to individuals and businesses in the Barrow area including a business review/diagnostic, free training (26th September – Blogging) and supply chain support. Next month we’ll be sharing details of a meet the buyer event in partnership with BAE and we’ve got some exciting plans as part of this year’s Global Enterprise Week.
We’re continuing to run free webinars with two booked in for July.
How to create your HIGH-LEVEL BUSINESS PLAN – 27th July
Biological well-being taster – Learning to Listen to what your body is telling yourself, while you’re telling yourself you are fine – 28th July
Click here for more details and booking links – we’re having a break in August but will be back with more free webinars in September.
Our most recent monthly podcasts are available to listen to.
What is distributed leadership? With Rebecca Smith of Box Box Solutions
Armed Forces Day 2023 special with Kellie Cox
The importance of biological wellbeing with Adapt & Evolve Consultancy
We’re heading back to Torpenhow Cheese Company on 25th September but this time also including Three Hills Gelato for our next food & drink site tour. Our first visit was a great success – who doesn’t love cheese and ice-cream? Open to any food & drink business in Cumbria it’s £15 a head (covering cost of lunch).
We’ve added a Sizewell C supply chain section sharing slides and Q&As from our recent Sizewell C Supply Chain event which took place on 5th July at North Lakes Hotel. There’s also a link to CompeteFor portal where tender opportunities are being promoted. We’ll continue to work with Sizewell C, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and partners to bring opportunities to Cumbria. Keep an eye on this page for more details and resources being added as and when available.
We’re not going anywhere – we’re here to deliver business support which is relevant, what businesses need, inclusive, flexible and simplifies the business support landscape.