21/10/12

Black Country LEP highlighting new Fast Track Business Support Scheme

The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership is highlighting the new SME Fast Track scheme which is being provided by Marketing Birmingham.

Available to businesses across the Black Country and Birmingham, it involves a free two day course with the possibility of securing a £10,000 match-funded grant to support business growth.

The course consists of three simple stages that have an immediate impact on business growth. Firstly specialist business advice will be offered to establish each businesses current situation and set realistic targets. This is followed by high impact workshops where skills such as marketing and communications, sales and access to finance are shared. And then businesses are offered the chance to attend relevant events to meet new customers to help grow their order books.

On completion of the programme, businesses are eligible to move forward to a further project where match-funded grants of up to £10,000 are available.

Paul Brown, Black Country LEP lead on access to finance, said:


“Barriers to business growth can appear in many different ways and the Fast Track scheme offers support in a variety of ways. From receiving specialist business advice including activities to help access finance, most businesses will benefit from these initiatives the LEP are driving forward.”

Councillor David Sparks, leader of Dudley Council and LEP board member, said:


“This scheme offers free support to Black Country companies to help them overcome difficult economic conditions and grow their businesses.  The long-term aim of any scheme like this is to help create jobs for local people so we hope businesses in the area will see how it could support their needs.”

The scheme is available to small to medium sized businesses in all sectors apart from retail or construction.

For further information on the opportunities available, contact Business Support Manager Ivor Marsh on 0121 202 5085 or email [email protected]

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