A new manager has been brought in to head up a business support service covering Leicester and Leicestershire.
The Business Gateway Growth Hub has appointed Jon Egley to lead the recently expanded service which offers a single place for business people to access information, funding and advice.
The hub was launched in 2014 and since then has had around 5,700 enquires from businesses looking for everything from sector specific advice to funding, performance planning, help with implementing new ideas and support in up-skilling employees.
It recently secured a further 拢3.9 million of ERDF funding to support more one-to-one advisers, as well as a 拢1.4 million pot of grant funding for eligible businesses to create jobs or develop new products. Grants of between 拢2,000 and 拢25,000 are available.
The business gateway also offers free workshops on business themes including business strategy, finance, marketing, HR and sales.
Mr Egley joins after managing the Digital Growth Programme at East Midlands Chamber and has more than 20 years experience in business support and development.
He has expertise in sectors including manufacturing, engineering and digital technologies.
He said: 鈥淚 am delighted to join the Business Gateway Growth Hub for Leicester and Leicestershire.
鈥淚n my last role I worked in partnership with the D2N2 Growth Hub, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and Sheffield City Region to deliver the multi-million-pound European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Digital Growth Programme which provided support to businesses to develop the digital capability of their business and employees.
鈥漈hrough talking to many of the entrepreneurs we worked with, the benefits of seeking external support when running a business are not always obvious, so it鈥檚 our job to make it as straight forward as possible.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping our new website goes some way to doing that and signposting services we offer.
鈥淟eicester and Leicestershire are already recognised as a great place for businesses to thrive and grow and I am really looking forward to working with partners and the business community to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of those businesses.鈥
LLEP chair Kevin Harris said: 鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Jon to the Growth Hub team.
鈥淕rowth Hubs were set up across the 海角视频 to simplify access to the support available for businesses that are investing, innovating and up-skilling in order to grow and improve performance.
鈥淲hen businesses keep moving forward, they stay ahead of the competition and continue to deliver future growth and prosperity for the region.
鈥淲e want to see more businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire take advantage of the Business Gateway鈥檚 fully-funded service to ensure our region remains one of the top-performing areas in the 海角视频.鈥
Businesses can speak to a front-line business adviser by calling 0116 366 8487.
The Business Gateway Growth Hub is run in partnership with Leicester City Council, East Midlands Chamber, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited.
