Businesses furnished with funding insights at First breakfast

Businesses took on board a lot of valuable information about funding options that could be open to them when they gathered for a very successful networking event for Coventry and Warwickshire First. 

The breakfast briefing took place at the Venture Centre, University of Warwick Science Park. It featured Joanna Smith (Business Growth Advisor at Warwickshire County Council) and Parmy Singh (Business Development Manager at Coventry City Council) who provided an overview of the wide range of business support initiatives, funded or managed by the two local authorities, available across the region.  

These include the Investment Fund, Green Business and Innovation Programmes that provide grant support of up £100,000 and wider business support initiatives such as, free Energy Audits. These schemes are part-funded by European Regional Development Fund. 

In addition, there is a spectrum of loans including the Duplex Investment Fund and Warwickshire County Council’s new £140m Warwickshire Recovery & Investment Fund (WRIF) which supports businesses to overcome financial barriers and accelerate business growth. The WRIF enables businesses in Warwickshire to take advantage of loans from £1,000 to £10million. 

The briefing was very well-attended and received some excellent feedback. Many members of the audience were from professional and financial businesses and stated that they valued the information received which will be passed on to, and welcomed by, the clients that they support. 

To find out more about the support available to businesses in Warwickshire and Coventry, please go to: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businesssupport and www.coventry.gov.uk/businesssupport