Businesses invited to attend free business health check `clinic`

Growth hub advisors

Published: Tuesday 25th June 2019 | 12.10pm

Businesses in Cannock Chase are being invited to attend a free business health check ‘clinic’ with a Growth Hub Advisor next week.

More than 70 small and medium enterprises have so far benefited from help and support from one of three Growth Hub Advisors who have been tasked with helping businesses across Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and East Staffordshire to overcome barriers to growth and reach their potential

They do this by providing firms with the vital connections, information and support they need to succeed and grow. As Growth Hub Advisors, Klaudia Haines, Louise Stolz and James Roberts have access to a range of services, initiatives and organisations that can help businesses in a variety of ways.

As current funding for the service is only available until September, businesses are being urged to take advantage of the scheme while they can.

The advisors are running a Diagnostics Clinic at Cannock Chase Council offices on Wednesday 3 July. A number of 90-minute slots are available between 9.30am and 4.30pm. For more information and to book a session, please contact James Roberts at James-Roberts@tamworth.gov.uk  or call 07855 106377.

Cannock Chase Council is working in partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Growth Hub to deliver the role to support businesses across southern Staffordshire.

The advisors can provide information and signpost to a range of different organisations and schemes, such as the Higher Level Skills Match programme, which matches SMEs with work-ready local graduates and linking with universities, such as Staffordshire University, to promote the Higher and Degree Apprenticeships scheme, which enables employers to recruit new apprentices through a free recruitment system. They also have access to a range of funding opportunities, training and workshops.

This includes the many workshops available through the Growth Hub itself and the Enterprise for Success programme, delivered by Blue Orchid, on an array of subjects from social media and marketing to tax and bookkeeping.

Cllr Gordon Alcott, Deputy Leader of Cannock Chase Council and Town Centre Regeneration Portfolio Leader said: “We are delighted to have been able to team up with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver this really vital business support role.

“There’s so much to take in when you’re starting or running your own business that it can be difficult to find out about all the relevant schemes and support that is available. Just one sit down with a Growth Hub Advisor can change all that. You could discover something that ends up being pivotal to your success. It can also help just to talk through your business growth and direction with someone impartial looking at things from another perspective.

“As this funding is only confirmed until September, we would encourage as many businesses as possible to take advantage of this free service and get an appointment booked in with one of the team.”

If you can’t make the event on 3 July, you can arrange an appointment with a Growth Hub Advisor at another time to suit. They are contactable as follows:

Klaudia Haines at Klaudia-Haines@tamworth.gov.uk, or call 07528 630002

Louise Stolz at Louise-Stolz@tamworth.gov.uk, or 07855 106383, or

James Roberts at James-Roberts@tamworth.gov.uk, or 07855 106377

The GBSLEP Growth Hub acts as a single point of contact for business advice, funding and support for any business across Greater Birmingham, either providing support directly, or referring to specialist advice through partner organisations.

Photograph:

The team of Growth Hub Advisors who will be in Cannock on 3 July.

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