Humber LEP secures £2.5m for City Deal growth programme

The Humber LEP will be launching a business Growth Hub in 2014 after being awarded £2.5m as part of the Hull & Humber City Deal.

The Growth Hub will create new business support advisers, located with partners around the Humber, who will be tasked with helping businesses to find the advice and funding they require.

The programme, which has recently been part of the consultation for the Humber Strategic Economic Plan, will also include provide a web portal which will bring together local and national business support initiatives in one place to make it easier for Humber businesses to access them.

The Growth Hub will be free for businesses to access. It is designed to be a comprehensive and impartial source of information for businesses.

The Growth Hub will also include new business support advisers, located with partners around the Humber, who will be tasked with helping businesses to find the advice and funding they require.

In addition, the funding will also pay for a programme of business support activity which will be delivered by partners to run alongside the Growth Hub, designed to fill the gaps in support identified by businesses.

Now the funding, which has been awarded from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund via Lancaster University, is secured, the LEP is working to develop a detailed project plan, setting out the details of the additional support that will be available to Humber businesses.

The Growth Hub will be open to business support providers from across the Humber to participate in, and will be free for businesses to access. It is designed to be a comprehensive and impartial source of information for businesses.

The programme will be finalised early in the New Year, with implementation beginning in March 2014.

Lord Haskins, chair of the Humber LEP, said: “One of the most commons issues raised by businesses is that the business support landscape is confusing, and there is no single place to go to find out what is on offer.

“We are delighted that our bid for this competitive funding has been successful so we will be able to help more businesses to find support and advice. This is one of several important measures we have won through the Hull & Humber City Deal that will support growth in the Humber.”

Lindsay West, chair of the LEP’s SME Support Committee, said: “The programme is aimed at filling the gaps for business support and helping businesses navigate the support that is out there to help them grow.

“We have had really good feedback on our bid and we would like to thank our partners and all those who have inputted during meetings or at our consultation events.”

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