More entrepreneurs and small businesses based in Bath and North East Somerset will now be able to access free business advice, thanks to an injection of £3.8m in funding.
Bath and North East Somerset Council, Business West and other partners across the West of England will extend the range of support available, allowing businesses to benefit from more intensive support.
Through the new Enterprising West of England programme, residents, start-ups and established small businesses across Bath and North East Somerset will be able to access:
- Extensive one-to-one advice sessions with experienced small business advisors, offering feedback on new business ideas, business plans and sales strategies, and advice on finance, employment issues, social media and more;
- Group workshop sessions on a range of topics, including starting in business and finance basics;
- Grant funding towards the cost of intensive coaching to help businesses with growth plans.
Cllr Patrick Anketell-Jones, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “We know that good quality business advice can drive business growth and create jobs.
“Since 2013, the free business support and advice service funded by the Council and delivered by Cool Ventures in Bath and North East Somerset has helped to create over 90 start-ups, and has advised over 700 businesses; helping them to become more resilient and to reach their full potential.
“We’re very optimistic about the opportunities that the Enterprising West of England programme will offer to many more fledgling and established businesses in Bath and North East Somerset.”
Brett Edgecombe, owner of IT consultancy 101 Data Solutions, is clear about the benefits of the service.
He said: “Cool Ventures helped us to look at our business objectively, with fresh eyes. We worked with them to develop a strategy, and implement processes which offer the very best service to customers.
We’ve had great feedback and would highly recommend the service to other small businesses.
For more information, including how to book onto the service, visit http://www.investinbath.co.uk/business/support/getadvice, or email [email protected].