Businesses that invest during a recession often emerge stronger and more competitive than they were before. In fact, independent studies have found that companies that don’t invest in growth, training, research and development during a recession are two-and-a-half times more likely to fail than those that do invest.
Expand the subjects below to find out what options are available to your business.
Available to manufacturing SMEs across the North West to help reduce costs and improve productivity. Up to 50% funding is available for up to 30 days on-site consultancy and training support to implement improvements such as LEAN and Six Sigma.
Visit the Business Link website or call 0845 600 9 006
Free support is available to create and develop new and existing businesses in the North West with high growth potential (£500,000 turnover for new businesses within 3 years, or SMEs capable of 20% growth per annum). This provides intensive individual coaching through workshops, networks and on-line resources to help achieve rapid growth.
For more information you can visit the Business Link website or call 0845 600 9 006.
Advice and funding is available to support preparation, entry and expansion into overseas markets for businesses in the North West. This provides individual coaching, workshops and networks, and on-line resources to help businesses prepare to trade internationally. Financial support is available to SMEs towards the cost of overseas trade fairs and missions, international travel and market reports.
Visit the Business Link Website for more details or call 0845 600 9 006
Many companies now are making the Skills Pledge. This public demonstration of the importance you place on investing in the skills of your people helps increase your employees’ confidence, motivation and productivity. Employers who make the Skills Pledge are also supported with impartial advice from the Train to Gain service.
Visit the Skills Pledge website or get in touch with Business Link North West on 0845 602 0062.
Train to Gain is the Government’s flagship service which supports employers in England, of all sizes and in all sectors, to invest in the skills of their employees.
Specialist brokers can advise you on your business’ skills needs, the courses available, the most appropriate providers of training and the public funding available. There is specific government funding now available for small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary organisations, including funding to retrain employees and for short courses – including on leadership and management – which have been proved to be useful for businesses.
Visit the Train to Gain website or ring 0800 015 5545 to find out more.
You can also contact your local college or university to find out how it is working with local businesses to provide training flexibly and easily, in order to ensure that the training offered fits in with the way your business works and can be tailored to your needs.HERO’s University finder makes it easy to find your local universities and colleges and gives contacts for their dedicated business teams.
Funding of training and development for leaders and managers in businesses with 5-999 employees; up to six managers and leaders per business can receive a grant of up to £1,000 each (matched by £500 from business) to pay for training.
An intense 10 month leader development programme that is available for owner-managers of small businesses with less than 20 employees. The programme supports business growth and personal development of the owner-manager; cost to the business is £2,000 per leader/manager.
Mentoring for leaders and managers to support business performance and growth. Available from summer 2009 and free to small businesses in the North West.
For further information on these initiatives, please contact Business Link North West on 0845 00 66 888.
Apprentices can bring many benefits to your business - increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent workforce. You can get full or partial financial support for training up to the equivalent of A level.
Visit the Apprenticeships Service website or ring 0800 015 0600.
Sector business information, networking, supply chain, and business development opportunities are available to all businesses in the North West in the following sectors: Aerospace, Automotive, Advanced Flexible Materials, Chemicals, Food & Drink, Bio Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Energy & Environmental Technologies, Digital & Creative, and Finance & Professional.
Visit the Business Link website for more information or call 0845 600 9 006
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) can also give specialist advice and access to extra and more flexible funding to meet the needs of your specific sector, including for example the hospitality, construction, manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear or engineering sectors.
Visit the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils website for relevant SSC contacts.
To help your business take advantage of research and new technologies and processes, there is now greater assistance available from universities and research institutions, and a range of additional funding and support. Knowledge Transfer Networks and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable businesses to link with universities and research institutions to share and take advantage of research findings and new developments.
Visit the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Business Gateway website for more information.
Innovation Vouchers are also available to businesses in the North West to fund research and development from universities, colleges or private sector research establishments in the region. Up to £3,000 is available, which can be ‘pooled’ with other businesses to create a larger research project.
Visit the Business Link website or call 0845 600 9 006 for more details.
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