Hundreds of Leeds businesses set for £2m support boost with new high-growth scheme

A new multi-million high-growth support programme is set to support hundreds of businesses in the Leeds City Region.

The £2m Strategic Growth Programme, which covers firms that have been trading for more than three years, will deliver support packages for over 500 businesses across the region to help them overcome the challenges caused by COVID-19 and Brexit.

Delivered by Oxford Innovation Services on behalf of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), the two-year initiative will use a High Growth digital assessment tool called GROWTHmapper to measure the maturity of the business and its potential for expansion, before devising a bespoke action plan for each business.

Martin Coats, director at Oxford Innovation Services, commented: “All the media attention is on how big businesses are coping in the wake of Covid-19.

It’s our job to look at how the smaller businesses (up to 250 employees) are doing and how they are utilising the support available to them, giving them access to expertise and funding to grow.

“We are delighted to be able to deliver this vital programme in the Leeds City Region and our aim is to support more than 500 companies over a two-year period to develop their growth opportunities.”

Roger Marsh OBE DL, chair of the Leeds City Region LEP, added: “I am delighted that, through the LEP Business Support Service, we are continuing to support small, ambitious businesses at this difficult time.

“The Strategic Growth Programme is a significant opportunity for companies to benefit from expert advice and funding to achieve their growth potential. I’d encourage all businesses to get in touch to find out how they can improve performance and identify opportunities to grow and contribute to an inclusive, resilient economic recovery.”

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