£1.27m investment to aid D2N2 Growth Hub in ‘powering up business’
The D2N2 Growth Hub has been awarded £1.27million in European funding – guaranteeing its services to businesses in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has agreed to part-fund the D2N2 Growth Hub, with £1.27million from the £97m European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) allocation for the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) area, to guarantee Growth Hub services until March 2019, and improve its offer to businesses in its area.
Part of the private sector-led D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – which promotes economic growth and jobs creation in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – the Growth Hub was launched in December 2014. It works with partner organisations including local authorities, universities and businesses to provide free and impartial support and advice on training, growth and accessing funding to expand.
A recent survey of a sample 200 Growth Hub clients showed 88% (176) would recommend its services to a fellow business.
Since its creation, the D2N2 Growth Hub has:
- helped over 2,400 businesses to access free and impartial support and advice;
- run events and workshops – including with partner organisations – to inform businesses of its services;
- commissioned and managed the delivery of additional business support services, including a high growth business support programme;
- been ‘Highly Commended’ for the design and accessibility of its website (at www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk ).
The new funding agreement for the D2N2 Growth Hub will ensure that its core services – a dedicated phone line, business advisers, a bespoke website and network of business support providers – can provide an improved service to its customers.
It will provide a full time Growth Hub Manager to drive and co-ordinate the project, increased ability and capacity to handle a greater variety of business support enquiries, enhanced marketing and communications, and enable increased working with partner organisations. These will help the D2N2 Growth Hub to strengthen its connection to business support in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire by providing 4,000 businesses with the support they need between now and 2019 – assisting them to create jobs and grow.
Through some of the D2N2 LEP’s local authority partners – Derbyshire County, Nottinghamshire County, Nottingham City, High Peak Borough, Derbyshire Dales District and Chesterfield Borough councils – the core D2N2 Growth Hub service will be enhanced through a network of local business support advisers.
David Williams, Chair of the D2N2 Growth Hub’s Project Board, said:-
“The D2N2 Growth Hub continues to provide Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire businesses with support, advice and information.
“This new funding agreement builds upon our excellent track record, and the belief by Government in our commitment and ability to help the D2N2 business community grow and prosper.”
