News from our partners: Growth Hub celebrates year of success

News from our partners Marches Growth Hub 

Shropshire’s leading business advice service supported nearly 2,000 businesses across the county in the first 10 months of 2018, it has revealed.

The Marches Growth Hub Shropshire says it helped 1,983 businesses with their launch and growth plans between January and the end of October 2018 as part of its work to help create a flourishing entrepreneurial economy across the county.

The hub – based at Battlefield Enterprise Park in Shrewsbury – also revealed it delivered 79 separate events during the same period, attracting 1,482 people through its doors.

And it also organised 330 face-to-face business sessions to help set small and start-up firms on the road to success.

Anna Sadler and Emma Chapman from Marches Growth Hub Shropshire.

Marches Growth Hub manager Emma Chapman said the team had reached scores of new businesses throughout the year, delivering expert advice and assistance to help them grow and prosper.

The figures come in the wake of the hub’s hugely successful role in staging an inaugural Business Growth and Export Show in Shrewsbury alongside its sister hub in Telford & Wrekin as part of a co-ordinated Get Growing campaign.

Emma said:-

“We have enjoyed a really successful year during which we have been able to help a growing number of businesses access the support, finance and expertise they need to flourish.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of this county’s economy and it is vital they receive all the help available to ensure they can continue to prosper.

“We have been able to do that through a series of events, personal meetings and advice sessions and are delighted to see that so many of the businesses we have helped are going on to bigger and better things.

“Our aim is to be the one-stop shop for all business advice and support, making it simple and convenient to access, and these figures show that we are meeting that ambition.”

The hub is supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and delivered by Shropshire Council.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for economic growth, said:

“We are committed to helping our businesses grow successfully and this is exactly the role that the hub plays. It’s fantastic that so many businesses have been, and continue to be, supported. After all, they are the key to a prosperous economy.”

The hub has also launched a Get Exporting campaign to help businesses move into overseas markets, and run a pop-up shop in Shropshire Council’s Shrewsbury Shopping Centre to give small producers a chance to showcase their products.

About the Marches Growth Hub

• The Marches Growth Hub brings together all national and local business support in one place for the first time and is fully aligned to the Government’s ‘Business is GREAT’ campaign.
• A comprehensive business support website – www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk – and dedicated enquiry line – 0345 600 0727 – provide businesses across the whole Marches region with access to funding, support and advice. All resources are available to enterprises of all sizes, from start-ups to large employers.
• This is supported by physical hubs in Telford at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford Innovation Campus, at Skylon Park in Hereford and at the Food Enterprise Centre in Shrewsbury.