IQ-Magazine-Issue-12

IQ business support
Suffolk And Norfolk Firms Utilising
Growth Hub
Service
IQ explores how the Growth Hub has been created More
to support the expansion of our local businesses
Since its launch in June 2014, the New Anglia Growth Hub has
engaged with over 1570 businesses to help them develop and
grow. Providing free advice and support, the hub is working with
local and national organisations to ensure that businesses have
quick and easy access to the help and support they need. The
Growth Hub is managed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce on
behalf of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, and the hub
aims to support up to 3000 businesses by June this year.
Support is available for any business in any sector, from startups
to growing companies. It’s now over six months into the
project, and businesses are really starting to feel the benefits. The
Sicklesmere Post Office and Convenience Store in West Suffolk
was successful in securing a £20,000 grant from the New Anglia
LEP’s Small Grant Scheme, which awards grants to businesses
making capital purchases to upscale any part of the business.
The grants are offered at 20% of the total funding required, on
the understanding that new jobs will be created.
The support offered to businesses varies considerably, and it’s
not just about grants. Suffolk River Cruise Restaurants secured
a funded training course for an aspiring young chef. Zach Rea
has been working towards a recognised and useful Intermediate
Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery. The course is provided
by Easton and Otley College, and lasts up to 18 months. What’s
more, the course is delivered in-house, so the trainer actually
comes out to the kitchen, resulting in minimal disruption and
maximum impact for the business.
Morgan Potter is one of the Growth Hub’s Business Growth
Advisers who identified that the company was eligible for this
training. “The company had plans to bring in two boats and
centralise their food preparation facilities. Training was needed,
and the result has been an Apprenticeship funded and delivered
through Easton and Otley College.”
Mark Stead, Head of Work-based Learning at Easton and Otley
College said: The college is pleased to be able to support the
Owners John and Susan Haresnape and the crew of the Allen Gardiner vessel.
Information
To find out more, call 0300 333 6536 or email
growthhub@newanglia.co.uk. Follow us on twitter @AngliaHub
expansion of Suffolk River Cruise Restaurants by delivering
directly in the workplace training and development needs for
their staff.”
The Growth Hub is working with some really interesting and
highly innovative companies, such as Aponic Limited, which
designs and produces ‘vertical green wall units’. These units
allow you to grow plants, vegetables, herbs and fruit without the
need for soil. Ideal for anyone too tired of digging and weeding
in the garden, the units are easily mounted on a sunny wall or
fence, in greenhouses or conservatories and even on balconies.
The system incorporates a reservoir where the fish live, and
their waste is turned into nutrients by the digesting action of
the vertical plant towers. The water and nutrients are recycled,
saving up to 90% of the water which would otherwise be lost in
the ground. So, there’s no need for fertiliser, the plants are not
vulnerable to soil-based pests, and they are not at the mercy of
the great British weather.
Aponic, launched only six months ago, have already had a
good start after they secured £28,000 from the Agri-Tech grant
scheme that supports new ideas and projects which improve
agricultural productivity or which develop new technology for
the Agri-Tech industry.
Owner Jason Hawkins-Row said: “We’re really pleased with how
our research and development has progressed, and our aim over
the next few months is to consolidate our production process and
get on with running the business smoothly, so that we can expand
and ultimately, employ more people.“
Ten Business Growth Advisers operate across Suffolk and
Norfolk, and are able to come to your business to help you scale
up. Businesses can also take advantage of the new Digital Growth
Programme, which includes two digital advisers to provide
impartial advice and guidance to local businesses on Broadband
and internet issues, including how to access Superfast Broadband
and how to maximise its benefits.
issue 12 | page 63