£4.6 million Business Growth Warwickshire Programme unveiled.

The £4.6 million Business Growth Warwickshire Programme, developed and commissioned jointly by Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council.

Business Growth Warwickshire will create over 150 jobs and safeguard over 250 while enabling more than two hundred businesses to improve their productivity. Over 180 businesses will receive a bespoke decarbonisation plan to help them to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills. The programme will help save over 1,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas. helping Warwickshire to become more sustainable and move towards net zero.

The programme, funded by the UK Government (through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the five district and borough councils) and £500,000 from Warwickshire County Council, will play a major role in strengthening small and medium sized businesses across Warwickshire in the short to medium terms. An additional £1.3 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is expected to be available to boost the Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service. The six strands are:

Warwickshire Business Start Up Support Programme

Aimed at businesses in their first 24 months of trading and individuals who have ambitions to start a business, this is a programme of one-to-one business coaching and workshops to provide the fundamental skills to start and grow a business.

This will be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Warwickshire Business Resilience and Growth Programme

Aimed at businesses over 24 months old to help improve their resilience and growth potential via a tailored package of support with access to appropriate advice and services to support growth plans.

This will be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Business Ready - Warwickshire High Growth and Innovation Programme

This project will engage with businesses with ambitions for high growth and looking to innovate. It will target higher productivity that will contribute towards county-wide growth targets and create new highly skilled jobs. This programme offers access to specialist mentors, bespoke support and specialist workshops.

To be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by University of Warwick Science Park.

Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme

Directly supporting manufacturing businesses across all sectors, to grow by identifying, understanding and removing their barriers to growth to support the creation of new jobs through improved productivity, and competitiveness. A programme of one to one support from specialist manufacturing advisors, digital diagnostic tool, workshops and cohort-based small courses.

To be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Oxford Innovation.

Warwickshire Business Advice Energy Service

Helping to create a green, growing and sustainable economy across Warwickshire through promoting energy efficiency. An energy audit for each business will produce bespoke decarbonisation plans to identify greenhouse gas savings, leading to greater energy efficiency, lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions. It is expected that the WBEAS will include a grant scheme to support businesses with the costs of low carbon adoption.

To be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry City Council.

Project Warwickshire - Visitor Economy Business Support & the Hospitality Business Support Programme.

A package of support for businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, offering specialist one-to-one business coaching, workshops, and networking including with larger businesses.

To be delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Cllr Susan Juned, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "The UK Shared Prosperity funding stream enables Stratford and the other districts/boroughs to work closely with Warwickshire County Council and its delivery partners to achieve positive economic outcomes and benefits for the District via this extensive and varied programme of business support."

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: "The Business Growth Warwickshire Programme is an exciting new chapter for business support across our county. The County Council and our partners in the districts and boroughs have a longstanding commitment to support local businesses in every way we can, and this UK Shared Prosperity Fund-driven programme adds an important new dimension to that support.

"The County Council is delighted to be able to co-ordinate and part-fund a single, integrated programme of support which will benefit hundreds of businesses across the county."

For all referrals to these programmes, businesses should contact the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub in the first instance on 0300 060 3747 or https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk.