A free business event is being held in Redcar & Cleveland to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access expert support through short, one-to-one sessions.
Businesses with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than £40 million are invited to the Redcar & Cleveland Business Growth Surgery from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Tuesday, March 22 at Redcar & Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart, Ridley Street, Redcar.
The Business Growth Surgery will give companies the chance to book one-to-one appointments with leading experts to access information and guidance on:
- funding opportunities and financial advice;
- improving current business technologies;
- apprenticeships and skills training to take your business forward;
- supply chain development;
- how to win business in the public sector;
- exporting;
- coaching and mentoring for business owners.
Partners include: BE Group, Enterprise Revolution, Materials Processing Institute, NE Chamber of Commerce, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Redcar & Cleveland College, TEDCO, Tees Valley Business Compass, Teesside University, UKTI and UK Steel Enterprise.
The event, offered as part of the Business Compass Growth Service, aims to help new and established businesses with the right level of ambition, capability and capacity to improve and grow.
Councillor Dale Quigley, cabinet member for economic growth, said:
“We recognise that business owners are busy and as a result we have created this morning surgery so they are able to book one-to-one appointments with a variety of experts all in one place.”
To book a 30-minute one-to-one appointment email bizgrowthsurgery@icloud.com and indicate which organisation you wish to meet with. Businesses can book to meet with more than one support organisation.
Surgery appointments are available with the following organisations:
BE Group offers a comprehensive portfolio of services to help businesses become more productive, profitable and competitive. They currently have grants available to Tees Valley based businesses through Let’s Grow North East and Tees Valley Business Compass towards capital expansion projects that create new, permanent jobs. The local representative on the day will be Phil Sly.
Enterprise Revolution and Enterprise Made Simple helps individuals and businesses to develop the skills and expertise required to run a successful business. The representative on the day will be Phil Teasdale.
Materials Processing Institute (MPI) helps small and medium sized businesses to develop, commercialise and improve technology with a range of comprehensive business, technical and financial support. Specialising in challenging processes, particularly those involving high temperatures, hostile environments and high specification materials. The Institute is also part of the Innovate Tees Valley Project lead by Teesside University. The local representative on the day will be Dawn Huntrod.
NECC helps local companies considering apprenticeships and skills training. The representatives on the day will be Tom Warnock and Michelle White.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s Business Growth and Procurement Teams will be there on the day to help local firms do business in Redcar & Cleveland, with services such as information on vacant sites and property and associated incentives, planning and local regulatory advice and details of how to do and win business with the Council. The representatives on the day will be Margie Oliver and Clare Stanton
Redcar & Cleveland College offer training and apprenticeship support to industry through academic and bespoke courses. This includes training from Site Safety Passports through to bespoke innovative designed courses. Current expertise is in Oil and Gas, Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plant Process Engineering, Business, Management, Construction and Civil Engineering, including Occupational Safety for International Companies. The representative on the day will be Graeme Wood.
TEDCO helps new businesses to start up and grow through intensive support including business planning, accessing finance and making those all-important contacts. TEDCO is the North East delivery partner of Virgin Start Up, offering low cost loans and expert mentoring. The representative on the day will be Mark Johnston.
Tees Valley Business Compass helps ambitious businesses realise their growth potential by providing relevant and up to date economic information, advice and support, supply chain development, funding and investment for training, upskilling and expansion plans. Local representative on the day will be Stephen Carey.
Teesside University’s newly branded business support service, The Forge, offers businesses a range of services including research and consultancy, training and development, talent recruitment, business facilities and access to UK and European networks. The local representative on the day will be Gilly Hall.
UK Steel Enterprise provides funding to start-up and growing businesses under its Regeneration Fund for loans up to £3,500. Further debt and debt/equity packages are available from £25,000 to £1,000,000 for growing businesses. The local representative on the day will be Sarah Thorpe.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) helps UK based companies export their products and services overseas. Working across the UK and in more than 100 countries they have a unique ability to support and UK companies at home and abroad as well as encouraging overseas-based companies to invest in the UK. The local representatives on the day will be Chris Simpson and Stephen Muir.