South West growth hub awards over £200k funding to support local businesses

The Heart of the South West LEP has announced further funding to support the Heart of the South West Growth Hub in providing support to local businesses across Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

The Heart of the South West Growth Hub offers “free, impartial, expert” business advice, and has a range of programmes and grants available to help support businesses with growth, resilience, trade, marketing, recruitment, and more.

The Heart of the South West LEP has awarded £208,000 to the Growth Hub, to ensure its services continue from March 2023, providing certainty to local businesses. The Growth Hub will continue to offer free advice and support, which has proved particularly important during the current economic crisis and uncertainty around doing business.

Over the past year, the Growth Hub has supported over 1,600 businesses, including Devon Sea Salt, who received business development guidance as well as financial advice, helping to get the business back on track following the pandemic.

Chris Hambley, owner of Devon Sea Salt, commented: “The Growth Hub really enabled us to gain the expert knowledge we needed to move the business forward. The staff at the growth hub are fantastic, really helpful and friendly. No questions were left unanswered, and the advice was given freely. I really can’t thank them enough for their assistance.”

Karl Tucker, chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, added: “With many businesses being impacted by the challenging economic climate, it’s important that we offer dedicated support to help with long-term planning, finance and business resilience.

“We are pleased to offer this funding to further extend the Growth Hub’s vital services, and support our businesses across the Heart of the South West.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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