The Growth Hub team recently held one of its quarterly network events with the aim of engaging with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Growth Hubs to gain their views on the Industrial Strategy and Entrepreneurship Review. The event, held on Tuesday 28th February, heard from LEPs and Growth Hubs that stretch from Cornwall to the North East of England, including CPCA Growth Hub.
Growth Hubs, of which CPCA Growth Hub is one of 38 across the country, build on local strengths and fosters enterprise to ensure every place meets its potential. They do this by working with businesses across England helping them to start, thrive and grow, providing independent and trusted business support which is focussed firmly on the business customer. Growth Hubs are public and private sector partnerships locally driven and owned by Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Over 130 delegates including a number of LEP Chief Executives and Board Members were present at Tuesday’s event, as well as national partners from DIT, HMT, Innovate UK and HMRC. Other organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce, ICAEW and the British Business Bank also attended. Working with partner organisations plays a vital role in delivering the best service to business customer as the Growth Hubs are an effective England-wide network for piloting new policy areas, helping with business recovery following major disruption and gathering local intelligence.
Small Business Minister, Margot James provided the keynote address highlighting the importance of ensuring that the UK continues to be a great place to start and grow a business and that the LEPs and Growth Hubs are working to drive forward this agenda. She advised that small businesses must have an environment where they can continue to thrive highlighting the outstanding work carried out by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Growth Hubs.
The Minister acknowledged that Growth Hubs are at different stages of development and was impressed by what had been achieved to date in:
- supporting over 407,000 businesses;
- delivering intensive support to more than 32,700 businesses, and;
- helping create 2,200 mentoring and business-to-business relationships.
