AN event is to be held in Bude this week to afford small businesses the opportunity to explore a range of available support, which will help them grow and develop.

Community Led Local Development (CLLD) is leading the ‘Boosting your Business in Times of Changes’ event as part of a series of informal focus events across Cornwall as part of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Business 2019. The Bude event will take place in the Tourist Information Centre on November 1 from 11am to 1pm. A similar event is being held in Callington Town Council’s Chamber from 10am to noon today [November 31].

A CLLD spokesperson said: “We’ve gathered a range of experts to help small businesses navigate these current uncertain times. They are all free and will enable small businesses to gain support to access finance, develop their people, or make new projects or products excel in the market.”

CLLD, an EU funded programme making positive change in core neighbourhoods across Cornwall, is hosting this event in partnership with Access to Finance, The Skills Hub, The Growth Hub and Acceleration Through Innovation.

The spokesperson said: “We support businesses and people to gain funding for projects which make a difference to their communities; helping individuals to gain confidence and skills, and businesses to grow.

“Although informal, the event offers people the opportunity to attend three short targeted 15-minute sessions and although they can simply pop along, we would advise them to book.”

The three sessions include: ‘How to develop and run a business growth project’; ‘Financial forecasting made easy; ‘Your staff: Maximise your greatest resource’.

There will also be advisors available to answer any business queries throughout each event. The events are informal and people can feel free to pop in for a chat whenever suits.

Light refreshments will also be available.

Details of each event and a booking link can be found on the CLLD Facebook page.