Welcome to the January 2017 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Newsletter that has been produced by Coventry & Warwickshire’s ERDF Technical Assistance Team.
Following Chancellor Philip Hammond’s recent commitment to fund all ERDF projects approved and contracted before the UK departs the European Union, Coventry & Warwickshire LEP (CWLEP) is keen to ensure that the area maximises the potential of its Structural Fund allocations for the remainder of the 2014-2020 programmes.
The ERDF Technical Assistance team is therefore available to provide support on further developing any project ideas you have on the four themes the ERDF Programme within Coventry & Warwickshire:
- Supporting Research & Development (R&D) and innovation within businesses;
- Enhancing access to and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for local businesses;
- Improving the competitiveness of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs);
- Supporting the development of the low carbon economy.
In this edition, we bring you up to date on the launch of major new business support programmes that are being delivered through the 2014-2020 ERDF Programme in Coventry & Warwickshire.
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Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme
During the Summer of 2016, a major new business support service for Coventry & Warwickshire was launched, which supports the development of sustainable new business start-ups, and tackles barriers to growth faced by established SMEs (businesses employing fewer than 250 people).
The service, which is managed by Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, and delivered through Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub and a range of specialist support providers, was formally launched at three events held in Coventry, Leamington Spa and Atherstone between June and October 2016.
The Business Support Programme provides a comprehensive suite of business support activities, including:
- A range of specialist support services for individuals looking to start a business;
- Support to address barriers to growth faced by established businesses;
- Specialist sector-specific support;
- Workshops and events to promote networking and supply chain development;
- Support with accessing finance;
- Referrals to other specialist business support programmes;
- A bespoke recruitment service designed to meet the needs of individual employers;
- Support on improving health and wellbeing to raise productivity in the workplace.
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The Programme will operate until 31st December 2018.
If you would like to find out more about the support services available, contact Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 60 3747 or contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk
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Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme
Summer 2016 also saw the launch of the Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme, the first comprehensive Coventry & Warwickshire wide business support programme exclusively focusing on developing and growing the low carbon economy.
The programme, which is managed by Coventry City Council, offers a suite of business support services to enable SMEs to improve their energy efficiency levels or to develop new low carbon products and technologies. These services include:
- Membership of a Green Business Network to help share good practice and also provide supply chain and networking opportunities;
- Free energy efficiency surveys to identify areas of potential energy savings;
- Support to new business start-ups that are developing new low carbon products;
- Support with accessing finance to enhance energy efficiency and develop new low carbon products and technologies.
For further information on the support that is available to enable local SMEs to expand their activities in the low carbon economy, please contact the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 603 747 or contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk
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Aston Programme for Small Business Growth
Alongside the Business Support Programme, the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth has been launched by Aston University. The service is based on the Goldmann Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme model, which provides leadership and management support in a group environment, and one-to-one mentoring and support in the developing business growth plans.
For further information, please visit http://www.aston.ac.uk/aston-businessschool/ business/centre-for-growth/aston-programme-for-small-business-growth/ or contact the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 60 3747 or contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk
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Manufacturing Growth Programme
During October 2016, a new specialist support service was launched for manufacturing SMEs that are looking to grow. The service, which is being delivered by Economic Growth Solutions Ltd, provides free advice and support with the development of plans for growth and improvement.
The service will also provide SMEs with the opportunity to access tailored support from industry experts, and in some cases, access to grants to co-fund the development of business growth plans.
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For further information on the support that is available to enable local manufacturers to grow, please contact the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 603 747 or contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk
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The ERDF Technical Assistance Team would welcome feedback on this newsletter.
To provide feedback, or to find out more about ERDF in Coventry & Warwickshire or how the team could help you develop your project ideas, please contact:
David Hope – david.hope@coventry.gov.uk
Telephone: 07572 180 017
Craig Perry – craig.perry@coventry.ac.uk
Telephone: 07557 425 397
Matthew Epps – matthewepps@warwickshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01926 412 566
For further updates on the ERDF Programme in Coventry & Warwickshire, please visit http://www.cwlep.com
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