The 拢1m second phase of a major business support programme for small and medium sized companies in Coventry and Warwickshire has been launched.
Business Ready is run by the University of Warwick Science Park and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
Part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme, the second phase will help tech-based SME firms across the area which have ambitions to grow.
The first three-year phase of Business Ready was hailed as a major success after having a positive impact on the companies it helped and the wider economy.
Over 70 jobs were created through the direct support of Business Ready, with the potential for more to follow, and clients were assisted to raise 拢3.3 million in external funding.
The new phase of Business Ready has similarly ambitious targets, which were outlined at an event to welcome the programme鈥檚 鈥榞rowth specialists鈥 who have a range of experience in a variety of fields.
It supports established businesses as well as start-up companies, helping them overcome barriers to realise their potential for growth 鈥 from tapping into the right markets through to accessing sources of finance.
In addition to Business Ready鈥檚 own advisers a selection of growth specialists can be assigned to an SME business to provide practical support.
Ian McFarlane-Toms, business ready programme manager at the University of Warwick Science Park, said: 鈥淭he first phase of Business Ready was a great success and we are now looking forward to supporting many more companies across the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
鈥淭he way we tailor our support, and the growth specialists we assign to an SME business, means they get help that really does work for them and we typically provide this support over a long period of time.
鈥淥ver the past two or three years, we鈥檝e helped companies to access grant-funding, grow and scale, and recruit the right talent.聽
鈥淚n one case, for a small organisation, we facilitated the placement of internships that led to the development of a brand new product that the company is hoping to take to market very soon.
鈥淪o I would urge companies across the region to look into how they can be supported through Business Ready because it can make a very real and tangible difference to their ambitions for growth.鈥
Broad range of companies
Dirk Schaefer, Business Ready growth adviser from the University of Warwick Science Park, said: 鈥淭he range of companies we work with is very broad.
鈥淏etween our internal adviser team and external growth specialists we have expertise in wide variety of sectors and business functions so that businesses can quickly benefit from our support.鈥
Business Ready is one of a number of support programmes for businesses managed by Warwickshire County Council.
Leader of Warwickshire County Council and portfolio holder for economic development, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: 鈥淲arwickshire has a strong economy and a key factor underpinning this is the success of our many small companies, particularly in the high tech field.
鈥淲arwickshire is fast becoming a centre for the tech industry with many small companies, like those supported by Business Ready, flourishing across the sector.
鈥淭his has not happened by accident, though, and working with the likes of Business Ready has helped smaller companies through the potentially difficult period of start-up or expansion.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to be supporting this very promising upward trend in tech industries in Warwickshire.
鈥淚t is not only strengthening the local economy but also ensuring that the county can offer rewarding career opportunities for residents and those that choose to make the county their home.鈥
For more information on Business Ready click
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