Business Support Programme highly recommended in survey

A business support programme, managed by Warwickshire County Council, has received very positive feedback from a mid-term survey with 95% of businesses which responded saying they would recommend the programme.

Launched in 2016, the programme is designed to help SMEs in the sub-region with a broad range of advice and support from one-to-one mentor sessions to workshops on a variety of topics.

The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund with further support from Warwickshire County Council, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust and Warwickshire’s five district and borough councils.

Anecdotal feedback from many of the 301 business supported by the programme in its first two years was very positive, but Warwickshire County Council commissioned M.E.L Research to undertake a Mid-Term Programme Evaluation to get feedback from participants and help identify potential areas for improvement for future funding opportunities.

The survey revealed a high level of appreciation among businesses for the help they had received. Most said they had received the right type of support (86%) and the right amount of help (83%) at the right time (85%).

The vast majority of businesses (89%) felt they had gained in confidence as a result of involvement with the Business Support Programme while 80% said they had learned important new skills/techniques from it.

Warwickshire County Council head of economy & skills Dave Ayton-Hill said: "We commissioned the survey because, while informal feedback suggested that businesses were very appreciative of the programme, we wanted to identify any gaps in the support it provides and so improve it if we can.

"It is very encouraging that 95% of respondents would recommend the programme to other organisations. That is testament to the calibre of advisors involved in it, both here at the county council and our partner organisations.

"The survey shows that the programme is having a tangible, beneficial effect on business and the region's economy. I would encourage any small business to get in touch with us to find out more about what we offer."

The strands of support offered by the programme are:

*  Business Start-Up Support (Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce)

*  Business Ready (University of Warwick Science Park)

*  Creative Warwickshire/Creative Springboard (Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust)

*  Jump Start/Business Dream (Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust)

*  WCC Business Investment (Warwickshire County Council).

This support is part of a wider programme of ERDF-funded business support activity in Coventry and Warwickshire.

For more information about this and other support available to grow your business, please contact Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.