Support boost for start-ups and growing businesses in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

New businesses and those looking to grow in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are getting a helping hand with the launch of three significant new business support programmes.

Delivered by Unlocking Potential and powered by the Growth Hub, the programmes offer a wide range of support, from the basics of starting a business through to successfully navigating the next stage of growth.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy, said: “These programmes demonstrate our commitment to supporting start-up and growing businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to boost jobs and the local economy.

“We look forward to seeing businesses sign up and benefit from the wealth of experience on offer to help enterprising businesses become part of a thriving Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.”

The three support programmes are being delivered by Unlocking Potential, part of The Cornwall College Group, which has helped 5,300 businesses and supported 2,500 jobs over the last 20 years.

Breakthrough is designed to help new and early-stage companies overcome challenges. It offers a range of support including time with an experienced Business Development Manager, who’ll help with any problems people may be facing. Workshops will be held in person or online and focus on what success looks like, key skills and main areas of interest for running a business and how to create a sustainable business model.

For businesses with a turnover between £75k and £500k there is the Infocus programme to help them take the next step forward.

Starting with online growth planning, one-to-one support and specialist coaching, Infocus will help people to understand what stage their business is at, where they want to be, what they need to do to get there.

The third programme, Talent Match, will launch early in 2024 and has been created to help businesses with recruitment, growing or retaining their team. The monthly ‘how to recruit and grow’ workshops will include workforce planning, budgeting, skills mapping, developing role scopes, advertising, shortlisting, interviews, legal compliance and induction.

To take part in the new programmes, people are urged to visit the website for more information and to register their interest or speak to a member of the Growth Hub team. https://www.ciosgrowthhub.com/business-support

Breakthrough, InFocus and Talent Match are being delivered by Unlocking Potential on behalf of the Growth Hub and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme. The Fund’s mission is to unlock the potential of businesses in the region, contributing to a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous local economy.