CHESHIRE and Warrington Growth Hub have expanded their team of experts to help local businesses navigate new rules with Europe and recover from the effects of Coronavirus lockdowns.
As part of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Growth Hub has been supporting businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic and helping them to adapt to the changes from the EU Exit throughout 2020 and into 2021. To ensure that businesses are getting the full support and expertise they need and to help the sub-region’s economic recovery, the Growth Hub have recruited again.
During the financial year 2020-2021 the team supported over 4400 Cheshire and Warrington businesses across a range of topics, including EU transition and new rules, start-up support, export support, skills support, innovation support and advice on Coronavirus topics including financial support, furlough, grants, health and safety practices and reopening.
Recently, the Growth Hub added a further two team members, Cherie Semper and Dave Saddington, both experienced business support professionals from Cheshire and Warrington. This follows the recent additions to the team from Marketing Cheshire of Ashley Shacklady and Fiona Bebbington, both specialists in the leisure, hospitality and tourism sectors. Further expertise is also available to exporters, with the secondment of Tricia Francis from the Department of International Trade.
Andy Devaney, Business and Innovation Director at Cheshire and Warrington LEP, leads on the Growth Hub said, “In 2020, businesses faced the challenges of Coronavirus and dealing with several lockdowns, as well as trying to deal with the changes from the EU Exit. By further expanding our team, we can offer a specialised one-to-one service for businesses needing that extra support to continue their recovery and plan for the future. We are thrilled that the team and expertise within the team has grown at such a pivotal time. I advise any businesses that need support to reach out to the Growth Hub”
Clare Hayward MBE, DL, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, commented: “We recognise that businesses are now reopening and are looking to the future, and the Growth Hub team are a key resource for these businesses. As our sub-region’s needs change, Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership have worked with partners to alter our business support offer, including further investment into the Growth Hub team and developing a Recovery Plan for the sub-region. We have also provided £1.2 million worth of grants to support businesses and delivered virtual events to help individuals looking for jobs. When planning for their recovery, I would encourage any business in Cheshire and Warrington to speak to one of the experienced Growth Hub team.”
Businesses interested in accessing support from the Growth Hub can visit their website candwgrowthhub.co.uk, which has dedicated Coronavirus and EU Exit resource hubs where businesses can request to speak to one of the team.
