Call out to Gloucestershire organisations: Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Core Growth Hub services and activities

Gloucestershire has one of the country’s leading Growth Hubs, which is successfully working closely with local businesses, since its doors opened in October 2014.

On behalf of the national Growth Programme Board, the Department for Communities and Local Government is inviting Gloucestershire organisations to apply for the ERDF call out - ‘Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises – Core Growth Hub services and activities’, with a value of up to £1,700,000.

The local European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Strategy states that by 2022, Gloucestershire aims to be “a hub of world class companies, with a diverse business portfolio and a reputation for starting and growing great businesses”. This call is looking to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises in Gloucestershire, specifically though the provision of Core Growth Hub services and activities. The Growth Hub has developed a distinctive physical space with a central hub in Gloucester, and then in phase 2, there will be a network of resource centre throughout the county.

Call Specification – Deadline 27th May 2016

Phase two Growth Hub activity to be delivered through this call

This call seeks to invest European Regional Development Fund in delivery of the independent and impartial core Growth Hub services, allocated £1,700,000: 

1. 1.       Marketing and promotion: Enabling a significant percentage of Gloucestershire’s small and medium sized enterprises from European Regional Development Fund eligible sectors to access Growth Hub services including online services, peer to peer activities, workshops and events;

1. 2.       ‘Navigator’ style services: Providing needs diagnosis, tailored information and brokerage to small and medium sized enterprises from any European Regional Development Fund eligible sector;

1. 3.       ‘Guide’ style services: Providing a differentiated, intensive support package, with experienced and knowledgeable guidance that is sector or growth specific for businesses which have the greatest potential for growth.

Applicants under this call will need to demonstrate how activity and delivery will be co-ordinated, and made accessible through the Growth Hub in Gloucestershire. Applicants will also need to demonstrate how they will work locally with their Growth Hub and all business support provision provided by local public and private sector partners, without duplicating any existing business support services.

The ERDF required outputs that must be delivered, full details and how to apply can be found here.

If you have any questions, or would like any further information on the call please contact GFirst LEP on info@gfirstlep.com.