Full network of 39 growth hubs boost business support across the country

Thirty-nine growth hubs giving 4.7 million businesses across England ready access to the support they need to start up, scale up and create more jobs are now launched, Business Minister Anna Soubry announced today ahead of the start of Growth Hub Week.

Growth hubs work across the country with local and national, public and private sector partners - such as Chambers of Commerce, FSB, Universities, Enterprise Zones and banks, co-ordinating local business support and connecting businesses to the right help for their needs. They are locally driven, locally owned and at the heart of the Government’s plan to ensure business support is simpler, more joined up and easier to access.

Business Minister Anna Soubry said: “Small businesses are the beating heart of our economy and this government continues to build the right environment for them to thrive. We will keep cutting red tape and business taxes, improving access to finance and broadband, and taking forward the measures in the Enterprise Act to cement our position as the best place in Europe to do business. “Growth Hubs have already helped thousands of businesses and, with the full network up and running, every registered business in England can access the expertise they need to succeed. They will help entrepreneurs boost their business and create more jobs for people in the local area.”

Increasing awareness of the public and private sector support available to entrepreneurs and smaller businesses, Growth Hub Week will run from 16 – 20 May 2016. The week will celebrate the completion of the growth hub network, which sees a live hub in each of the 39 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas, covering 100 per cent of the business population in England. Growth Hub Week will raise the profile of growth hubs and the work they do to help local businesses start, grow and prosper.

Irene Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Scale-Up Institute, said: “It has never been a better time for the public and private sectors to work together to support the growth needs of our fastest scaling businesses. The news that growth hubs now have a presence across the country is highly welcome. They can 'lean in' to support scaleup businesses and help them attain even greater success. The Scale-Up Institute is committed to helping them in their journey. That is why, in partnership with the Goldman Sachs Foundation and their 10,000 Small Businesses programme, we are pleased to be launching an extensive development programme to support growth hubs and LEPs in their crucial work. The first of these will be for three days in Birmingham from 17 May and will provide practical guidance and tools that will make a real difference to our high-growth scaling businesses.”

Michelle Pinggera, Partner, Goldman Sachs, said: “Following the expansion of our own programme, 10,000 Small Businesses, which helps high growth small businesses throughout the UK, we are delighted to now be working with the Scale-Up Institute to deliver this new programme focussing on regional economic growth within the Local Enterprise Partnerships and Growth Hubs. We are proud of this collaboration between the private and public sectors, showing continued support and leadership in this area.”

Funding of up to £24 million is being made available over the next two years for LEPs to continue to develop their growth hubs and provide local business support.

Ben Willmott, Head of Policy, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: “The CIPD welcomes this key milestone. Through our People Skills programme we know there is strong demand for support that helps small businesses improve how they manage and develop their people to enable them to grow. The completion of the growth hub network will help embed this type of support nationwide, providing help to the small business community where it is most needed.”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is encouraging everyone to show support for their local businesses by tweeting throughout the week using #GrowthHubs and backing their local growth hub.