Support for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and innovations alongside provision of advice to existing businesses to identify opportunities to expand, grow and improve productivity and profits.
The programme is supporting up to 450 new local entrepreneurs at various stages of their start-up journey, by offering free, one to one business advice with an experienced advisor, to help to explore opportunities to start new businesses, with a wider view to increase the number of sustainable new businesses in the local area.
Additionally, over 400 existing SMEs will be assisted to help overcome challenges, become more competitive and resilient and to consider opportunities for growth, whether this be to expand into new markets, adopt new innovations and ways of working, cut business costs or improve marketing campaigns to grow their customer base.
The programme has already awarded over £700,000 of grants to businesses for projects to boost growth, protect existing jobs and create new jobs.
For more information please email leslie.rickerby@thecumbrialep.co.uk
This project received £1,630,000 from Westmorland and Furness Council and the UK Government.