Are you looking for Business Support?

Supporting the growth of SMEs is a key policy of the government. Given the scale of the contribution that they make to the economy, there is no doubt that focusing on boosting the growth and productivity of the SME sector could contribute substantially to improvements throughout the whole economy.

Inevitably, however, across a modern, sophisticated economy like the UK, there are a number of areas that require greater focus and attention. Coordinating the supply of business support and advice, in tandem with other public sector providers and the private sector, presents a serious challenge. 

There is no doubt that there is a considerable amount of support out there for businesses. Whether they are looking for some advice about digital marketing, a better understanding about how to plan for, and implement, strategies that can help them grow or simply assessing their options for accessing the right type of finance to buy new equipment, there is almost certainly a scheme, provider, programme, fund, policy, strategy, course or event that can help.

However, creating an easily understood, easily navigated and easily accessed support system is a difficult problem.

The Levelling Up Fund - announced in November 2020, is a £4.8 billion initiative that focuses on capital investment in local infrastructure across England, Scotland, and Wales. It aims to support economic recovery, drive growth and regeneration in areas with specific challenges and places that have received less government investment recently. Areas in need of "levelling up" are determined by a ranking system based on criteria such as economic recovery, transport connectivity, and regeneration.

The Towns Fund - introduced in July 2019, is a £3.6 billion programme comprising three separate strands. It targets 101 eligible towns in England to develop "Town Deals" and address issues like ageing populations, limited economic opportunities, and lack of investment. The Fund also includes a further bidding round for towns not selected initially and the Future High Streets Fund, aimed at renewing town centres and high streets.

N.B. In June 2023 it was announced there would not be a second round of the Town Fund and any remaining funds would be transferred to the Levelling Up Fund.

The Community Renewal Fund - announced in March 2021, was a temporary initiative designed to support communities in piloting programs and new approaches in preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It focused on four investment priorities: skills, local businesses, communities and place, and supporting people into employment. The Fund identified 100 "priority places" based on an index of economic resilience, with bids from these areas prioritized.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - launched in April 2022, is a £2.6 billion fund intended to reduce inequalities between communities as part of the Government's "levelling up" agenda. It replaces funding previously received from EU Structural Funds. The UKSPF has three investment priorities: communities and place (improving community infrastructure and neighbourhoods), local businesses (increasing job opportunities and business productivity), and people and skills (with the largest part being the Multiply program for adult numeracy). The UKSPF's budget is allocated across core functions, the UK-wide Multiply programme, and centrally retained Multiply activity.

If you want access to high-quality business support and advice, and easy access to a wide range of business-friendly services, in one place, then BizEquals is for you.

We recognise that not every company is looking to grow quickly. Some may already have been through a period of rapid growth and are looking to consolidate. Others may have designs on growing quickly, to capture new opportunities in new markets, whether nationally or internationally.

Our goal is to help busy B2B SMEs find everything they need to help them achieve their business goals. Whether growing rapidly or happily stable, it's great to find that helping hand when needed.

Active peer networks, strong local supply chains, access to qualified non-exec board members

Providing relevant training, research collaboration, scaleup graduate interaction

Collective ambition, ability to tap into good will of stakeholders and other local resources