THE Growth Hub On The Road ‘Town Takeovers’ began with a visit to blustery Bude at the beginning of the month, spreading some winter warmth with news about this new, free business support signposting service, available in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Business owners and managers are busy people. Therefore, the growth hub town takeovers are about bringing the offer direct to the businesses in their own community.
During the Bude takeover on January 10, the business connectors held ‘pop up’ meetings in and around the town, and the team pounded the streets, talking to retailers, banks and service businesses about the different types of support they and their clients could access to help businesses grow.
They teamed up with the Bude Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking meeting to provide free taster sessions, giving flavour on the range of funded programmes on offer.
.png?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Superfast Business Cornwall led with ideas for free online tools for remote working; Better Business for All gave hospitality and tourism businesses concrete examples of how working with the regulators from Cornwall Council could save time and cash, and Oxford Innovation explained how using the canvas model can refresh and revitalise business strategies.
Some 25 businesses attended, with a further ten to 15 booking business reviews with the business connector for North Cornwall, Richard Scutt.
Speaking about the event, Verity Lawson of Bude Chamber highlighted the value working with the Growth Hub On The Road programme.
She said: “It was a real pleasure to collaborate with the Growth Hub On The Road and link up businesses in Bude with their connectors. Bude Chamber has grown to 45 members in three months, and has been really pleased to have been supported by the Growth Hub.”
The town takeovers continue until June, with one taking place in Launceston on February 24.
Look out for networking events, pop up information sessions and workshops, all free to attend for any business.
For further information, visit www.ciosgrowthhub.com/growth-hub-on-the-road