Member Article

Leeds digital expert to advise SME’s as part of £30 million government initiative

A Leeds digital expert is set to deliver strategic business advice to new ventures and Yorkshire-based SMEs, as part of the Government’s £30 million Growth Vouchers Programme.

Richard Turnbull, founder of Leeds-based web development and eCommerce specialist Label Media, has become one of the advisors in a new scheme that aims to help SMEs benefit from expert advice via a purpose-built marketplace.

The new Growth Vouchers scheme offers advice and guidance to businesses taking part, as well as subsidies of up to £2,000 towards the cost of implementing that advice for successful applicants.

The programme will then monitor business performance over the coming years in order to assess the impact that advice has had.

Richard Turnbull, the only accredited Leeds advisor specialising in web design, development and eCommerce in the nationwide scheme, said: “For decades I’ve worked with a diverse range of SMEs and start-ups and helped them grow significantly by implementing effective digital strategies.

“In the digital world, it’s important to be on the cusp of what’s new, so it’s vital to have advice from someone widely experienced in this sector to help your business perform the best it can online.

“If we can help Yorkshire businesses operate effectively online, it will help create long-term growth and prosperity in the region.

“The Growth Voucher marketplace will hopefully mean taking advice becomes an integral step for people running a business, leading to enhanced sustainability and economic growth.”

Businesses that have been running for a year, with fewer than 49 employees, and which have not paid for strategic external advice in the past three years will be able to apply.

Small business network Enterprise Nation has developed a marketplace for business advice where participants will then be able to find a qualified adviser at www.enterprisenation.com/marketplace

The scheme comes in the context of record numbers of start-up businesses and SMEs across the UK.

The Growth Vouchers programme will run until March 2015. To apply for advice from Richard Turnbull, go to www.labelmedia.co.uk/growth-voucher

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .