Competitiveness and recovery
As the region begins to emerge from the economic shocks of the pandemic it is apparent that the need for impartial free and highquality business support has never been greater .
For many their journey to recovery has not yet started , however with the furlough scheme coming to an end , we recognise that this will pose a significant challenge to local businesses . The Growth Hub is funded by central Government to support businesses and individuals through this time , with Skills Advisors to hand if businesses need to make redundancies and to provide high quality advice , guidance and signposting if re-skilling is required .
During the height of the pandemic local authorities across the UK were charged with administering grants to local businesses and a number of grant relief schemes were made available and extended . This worked in tandem with other Government initiatives such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) and access to grants such as those offered locally via the Growth Hub ’ s European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) Recovery Grants ( closed for application October 2020 ).
The Growth Hub will continue to deliver programmes to improve overall business knowledge and acumen , including business planning , digital skills , mentoring and support with accessing new markets . Through this support the team aims to raise business ambitions and the leadership and entrepreneurship of the area . Despite the challenges of the last year , the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub is in better shape than ever before to support businesses with their needs and is ready to embrace the task . Through chosen delivery partners specific and tailored support is available to existing businesses that have aspirations and plans to grow , and for those entrepreneurs with a budding business idea and concept , start-up and pre-start-up support is also available .
The Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub recently commissioned Wavehill , the social and economic research specialists to evaluate its work and the needs of the local business community in the coming year ( April 2021-April 2022 ). The report revealed businesses ’ key challenges and the areas of support that are likely to be required . Feedback from businesses which engaged with the Growth Hub is that liquidity is a real and distracting issue , with businesses concerned about cash flow and access to finance . The Growth Hub ’ s ongoing support will be tailored to these needs , helping businesses to remain resilient to the ongoing socio-economic challenges that the pandemic has created , whilst supporting businesses to adapt or pivot to fresh opportunities as the new operating environment emerges .
A huge thank you to the Swindon and Wiltshire business community and our delivery partners for your continued strength , resilience , entrepreneurial flair and passion for our area . Together we will achieve our goals .