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There is no mistaking the challenges we face at this moment . Working together we can rise to meet these challenges .
Paddy Bradley , SWLEP CEO , March 2020
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of the pandemic and for some , aiding ambitious growth plans . This funding , combined with further funding from the Department of Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy , enabled the Growth Hub team to grow and deliver a number of new initiatives , such as the This Way Up webinar series and mobilise the Peer Networks and ERDF grant programmes . We were also delighted to be able to support young people within our community through the Department for Work & Pensions Kickstart programme . By the summer of 2020 , the Growth Hub team had grown from three to 12 and at the height of our support was 15 strong .
The pandemic has helped the newly formed Business Navigator team and Growth Hub to forge even stronger relationships with other business representative
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organisations in our area who were all keen to ensure that the pressures facing SMEs was fed back to central Government by SWLEP . It also ensured that all support organisations understood the numerous relief funding arrangements so that appropriate referrals could be made , easing the complexity and burden on SMEs to determine their eligibility . We work more closely than ever before , meeting regularly and hosting roundtable sessions to discuss and debate the thorny issues , and working coherently to support the local business community better .
The pandemic has for many been the intervention to pause and reflect , regroup and refocus , and as a result the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub is in a stronger place than ever before to support our area ’ s 30,000 registered businesses .
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Businesses of any size or status within our area are able to draw upon the Growth Hub ’ s expertise and guidance to support them through both the challenges and opportunities they face . Whether they ’ re looking for guidance on how to access finance as they continue to grow , how to trade online and deal with workforce issues such as furlough and redundancy , or of course to support those who want to capacity build not only themselves as organisations but also their employees to operate and trade differently . For many this meant online training during these uncertain and ever-changing times .
I ’ m incredibly proud of the team ’ s strength and endurance over the last year . It has been a tough
time all around , and for the Growth Hub there have been lots of positives . We are now proactively working with thousands of businesses across the area , all with differing support needs . For me that is the underlying strength and remit of the Growth Hub ; support for businesses when they need it , on their terms and at their pace . We have been successful in what we do and have achieved , and we thank all those that have worked with us and supported us to do so . There are too many to list .
Claire Alexander SWLEP Director of Programmes
Visit the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub online at :
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