Whilst we had planned for steady expansion within the Growth Hub during 2020 based on programmes and activities that we were proactively bidding for , clearly , we did not predict the pandemic and all that followed . Some of our decisions were instinctive and importantly we felt equipped to react and confident to respond . We mobilised resources as effectively as possible to ensure that business support was readily available , relevant and was of course free of charge , with a goal that the Growth Hub would be considered a trusted advisor and reliable source of both information and ongoing support .

In a matter of weeks , the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub was transformed from what was previously a mostly digital business support resource to a much more enhanced service . We organised a new Triage Plus Business Support Service with a dedicated support line and a team of six Business Navigators working directly with local businesses . Our initial mobilisation efforts were kindly supported by Wiltshire Council ’ s Employment and Skills team , who were briefly seconded . As a result of activating and sustaining this service , thousands of businesses have been in receipt of intensive support , which included guidance

to apply for Small Business Grants , Job Retention Schemes and Discretionary Grants provided by central Government and facilitated in many instances by local Government .

Providing front line business support was our priority , but we also consciously balanced this with ensuring that our business community had access to timely guidance and reliable information . As did many , we launched a COVID-19 support page where all the latest news , announcements and advice could be found , and we stepped up our newsletter frequency to share vital messaging .

As things started to improve in summer 2020 ( or so they seemed ), our next challenge was to maintain the support we had instigated as a result of the pandemic . SWLEP had bid for European Regional Development Funding ( ERDF ) back in 2019 and were delighted to be awarded a three-year contract of £ 2.4m to fund the SME Competitiveness Programme , providing business support and specifically start-up and scale-up support to the Swindon and Wiltshire business community . This funding has been instrumental in supporting local businesses in the last year , helping them through the challenges