Growth Hub will help businesses to flourish

November 2, 2015

More than 180 business representatives attended the Telford Business Summit, which saw the opening of a state-of-the-art facility for business support in Telford.

Visit the Marches Growth Hub online now!

The Marches Growth Hub Telford & Wrekin will help businesses “flourish and become more competitive”, operating alongside the virtual hub, a business support website and dedicated enquiry phone line.
The Business Summit hosted the inaugural event of the hub, which focused on cyber security for businesses, and was followed by tours of the facility at the Telford Innovation Campus at the University of Wolverhampton.
Chairman of the Telford Business Board, Paul Hinkins, explained how the business boards, along with business champions from industry sectors and the local authority, were working in partnership with the Marches LEP to drive business growth in the region.
“The Business Board aims to listen to the needs of our businesses and understand the challenges they face and also to influence economic strategy and the skills agenda to support growth – local, regional, national & international,” he said.
Chairman of the Marches LEP, Graham Wynn, told businesses: “The Marches Growth Hub is one of 30 developed across England to simplify and streamline the support offered to businesses. Each one is different and ours is a virtual hub, supported by three physical hub, the first of which is here in Telford.
“Telford & Wrekin Council has developed a fantastic space here with its partner, the University of Wolverhampton.”
The hub offers hot desk facilities, meeting rooms for hire and space for business advisors to hold face-to-face meetings with businesses looking for support.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Business, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Telford Business Board and the University of Wolverhampton to offer our businesses a state-of-the art physical growth hub, here at the Telford Innovation Campus.
“This will very much complement the virtual hub, but offer our businesses much more – we want our Hub to help business to flourish, to become more competitive and increase productivity and profitability.
“The Hub will ensure that our businesses get access to all of the support they need under one roof – it will be a model of partnership working with the Chamber, UKTI, the national Business Growth Service and other local and regional partners accessible through the Hub. Support may be through access to finance, coaching and mentoring, support to export or access to other expertise locally.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Ian Oakes, added: “The University of Wolverhampton is proud to play a leading role in this scheme and we recognise the importance of attracting government funding into our region to support local business growth.”

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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