Restart to Growth gets off to a great start!
Are you a business that is facing severe hardship as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown? Help is at hand. Our Restart to Growth initiative has already helped dozens of local businesses that were facing closure because of the lockdown and helped them to regain lost ground and move into growth.
This free initiative gives SMEs access to experienced and skilled experts to help assess, plan and restart their businesses through an agreed programme of intensive support. It includes two full days with an experienced business consultant, delivered over an agreed time period.
Support covers a number of areas, including:
– Strategic planning and Leadership
– Sales and Marketing
– Operations
– Financial Advice
– Skills
– Digital and IT
Find out more on the Growth Hub website.
Renewal Action Plan – building a stronger, greener and fairer economy
The Renewal Action Plan (RAP) sets out our road map to help South Yorkshire recover from the pandemic and put us on the path towards social and economic renewal. It will help people, employers and places recover, and put us on course to transform our region – making our economy and society stronger, greener and fairer.
The plan has been developed in close partnership with local authorities, businesses, trade unions, universities and other partners through the Mayor and the LEP’s COVID response groups.
In the next 18 months we will:
- Help people improve their skills, get back to work, remain and/or progress in work, or set up in business
- Accelerate our Net Zero Carbon transition
- Back our wealth and job creators
- Get South Yorkshire moving by foot, bike, bus, tram and train
- Put cranes in the sky and spades in the ground
Our Plan has been submitted to government and the Mayor and the LEP will continue to lobby the Government for the powers and investment we need to unleash our potential.
So far, we have secured funding for the following projects to support the Renewal Action Plan:
We are now exploring what support we can offer using the powers and funding in the recent Sheffield City Region Devolution Deal to help the region’s businesses.
Take a look at the Renewal Action Plan.
Guiding businesses through the impact of Covid-19
In this latest blog Andy McKenna, our Access to Finance Advisor, offers guidance on what financial support is available to help businesses stay afloat following the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of the UK lockdown.
He looks at the wide range of difficulties that businesses are facing and what support is available to businesses and self-employed workers across the Sheffield City Region. These include:
- Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)
- Re-Start to Growth
- Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
- The Job Retention Bonus
- New Jobs Support Scheme
So, don’t struggle along alone. Make the most of the support available to you and contact the Growth Hub, especially if your business has been affected by the lockdown and you need help to recover lost ground.
For more information about how the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub can guide you through the various levels of support available, contact our team on 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Sheffield manufacturer reaps the benefit of Growth Hub support
Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd (AML) has seen its turnover double in the past 12 months and has created 12 new jobs, which is due, in part to the support it has received through the Growth Hub. The support has enabled the company to access grant funding for innovations within its production process, embark on a dedicated skills programme and gain strategic business planning advice for future growth. Read more about AML’s success story.
Recruitment company gets back on track
Multitask Personnel, a permanent and temporary recruitment specialist based in Rotherham, has taken advantage of our Re-Start to Growth initiative and gained a new strategic direction that should put it back on track.
As a result of the UK lockdown, the company’s core business was reduced by two thirds overnight and Managing Director Claire Lee was left wondering what to do next.
Claire Lee, Managing Director at Multitask Personnel, said: “I can’t thank the Growth Hub enough for what they have done. The Re-Start to Growth programme has really motivated us as a business. We now have a clear plan to work to which is focused, precise and directly relevant to getting us through the challenging period ahead of us.”
Read how the Growth Hub helped Multitask Personnel.
Pioneering research company secures new business after securing grant
AF ChemPharm, a Sheffield company providing pioneering scientific services to industry and academia, has secured a major project with an American chemical company after purchasing a specialist distillation kit, which will enable them to carry out expert distillation of sensitive compounds.
The project came about after AF ChemPharm successfully secured a £25,000 Business Investment Fund (BIF) grant through Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s AFCOE (Access to Finance Centre of Excellence) in 2019.
Dr Rukhsana Quyoum, Director and Scientist at AF ChemPharm, explains: “We’ve been working with the Growth Hub for a couple of years and their support has been invaluable. Not only have they guided our team on securing funding, but they’ve also put us in touch with some very useful contacts – their business advice and guidance has been second to none.”
Find out how the Growth Hub’s support has benefited AF ChemPharm.
Calling all South Yorkshire innovators
Are you trying to prove the concept of an innovation step or looking to test the technical or commercial viability of a new product? If so, why not get involved in the Sheffield Innovation Programme?
The programme provides access to a very wide range of expertise across Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield. This includes various engineering and design disciplines, digital and communications, food technology and business skills.
There are two main areas of support on offer:
- Bespoke Consultancy: Discuss your business ideas and ambitions with relevant experts to scope projects that can help meet your aims and objectives.
- Workshops: A series of industry focussed workshops, delivered by academic experts and covering a wide variety of areas including new science and technologies and developing your people.
You can discuss this with the Growth Hub’s Innovation Advisors or find out more on our website.
Cash boost for manufacturers
Are you an SME manufacturer? You may be eligible to access part of a £6.5m fund set aside to help manufacturers to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and address key barriers to growth.
The Manufacturing Growth Programme is the UK’s leading and largest business support programme aimed at making improvements to manufacturing SMEs and is continuing to support manufacturers to recover and thrive through these times.
The programme has supported more than 5,000 business improvement projects with more than 3,100 SME manufacturers while creating over 4,300 new jobs across England since October 2016.
To find about more about business support and grant funding opportunities, email enquiries@egs.live talk to your local Manufacturing Growth Manager or find out more on the Manufacturing Growth Programme website.
Be part of our online community
Why not join our community group on LinkedIn? Here you can find news; latest updates and you can even share stories about your business. It’s a great place to post discussions and network with more than 5,000 other followers.
Search Sheffield City Region Community on LinkedIn or join our group directly.
Follow Sheffield City Region Growth Hub on social media
Please get in touch with us by emailing growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk or visit our website for updates and further help and support.