Free support for South West businesses to boost resilience

As the cost of living crisis continues to impact the prices of energy, fuel and commodities, local businesses across Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay are being urged to make the most of available support to boost their resilience.

The Heart of the South West Growth Hub offers free, impartial, expert business advice, and has a range of programmes and grants available to help support businesses with growth, resilience, trade, marketing, recruitment, and more.

Businesses are being encouraged to get in touch with the Growth Hub team, who offer signposting services and can help find the latest sources of support, including cost of living support, advice for reducing energy costs, and business planning.

The Growth Hub’s Thrive programme offers business planning to build resilience, with workshops, webinars and 1-to-1s available from partners on putting together a plan for your business.

Improving energy efficiency is one way businesses can reduce costs, whilst at the same time working towards achieving net zero. The Growth Hub works with a number of partners who offer schemes to help businesses improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and cut carbon emissions, including SWMAS, the Business Climate Hub, and the South West Energy Hub.

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: “With many businesses struggling with rising costs, it’s important that we continue to offer dedicated support to help with long-term planning, finances, bids for grants, and resilience. The LEP’s Growth Hub is a vital service for businesses across Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset, and we are urging local business owners to find out how they can benefit from the free support.”

Find out more about available support: https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/cost-of-living/