GIVING BUSINESSES A NEW BOOST

A support programme aimed at helping Lancashire businesses start, grow and thrive has unveiled a new range of services, thanks to a fresh £3.9m funding deal.

The new funding will ensure that Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, continues until March 2025, with a potential extension beyond that.

Boost, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has supported more than 14,000 businesses since its launch in 2013, creating more than 3,500 jobs.

The Growth Hub is aiming to support 1,525 more businesses, in addition to helping 125 new businesses start and create more than 1,000 new jobs.

The £3.9m Boost programme is made up of contributions from Lancashire County Council (£1.2m), UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations from 10 partner local authorities, and the Department of Business & Trade (£2.7m).

The partner local authorities are Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre.

The Boost support offering will include a new Business Support Helpdesk, which offers advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business in Lancashire, as well as businesses already trading in the county.

The helpdesk will provide business owners with guidance on available local, national and sector business support.

Businesses in the 10 partner local authority areas will also have access to a Business Advice Service, led by a team of experienced advisers.

This service includes a 360-business review, a business support action plan and access to business clinics.

Boost has also revealed a new Flying Start programme, delivered by Lancashire-based Selnet, and has appointed national business support provider, the Growth Company, to deliver a Growth Catalyst programme, and a Scale to Thrive programme.

The Growth Hub will also deliver a new Access to Finance service to help businesses find and secure finance and funding.

Andrew Leeming, programme manager of Boost, said: “This is a powerful and exciting new Growth Hub partnership offering a rich breadth of business support to owners and leaders across the county.

“If any business is unsure what support is available, our business support helpdesk is here to guide them.”

Lancashire business owners and leaders can get in touch with Boost by calling 0800 488 0057 or contacting Boost online.