Growth Hubs & Councils can support your business
Encouraging growth, helping local businesses, providing advice and support
GROWTH HUBS DESIGNED TO HELP
JOINED-UP BUSINESS SUPPORT
FIND YOUR LOCAL GROWTH HUB
UPDATE: The Role of Local Enterprise Partnerships is changing
This decision is part of the government's commitment to empowering local leaders by integrating LEP functions into local democratic institutions, as outlined in the Levelling Up White Paper. In a letter to the LEP Chairs, Combined Authority Mayors,Local Authority Leaders, and the Mayor of London, Dehenna Davison, Minister for Levelling Up, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, and Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Small Markets and Business said:
"The Government will now support local and combined authorities to take on the functions currently delivered by LEPs. Where not already delivered by a combined authority, or in areas where a devolution deal is not yet agreed, the Government expects these functions to be exercised by upper tier local authorities, working in collaboration with other upper tier local authorities over functional economic areas as appropriate."
There has been some mixed reaction to the news. Mark Bretton, the LEP Network Chair said “The announcement today marks a watershed moment for the LEP Community and should be seen as nationally significant for the economy" but Debbie Francis, who chairs the Lancashire LEP, described the government’s decision to cease its funding as “disappointing”.
Reasons for the Decision
The government aims to embed a strong, independent, diverse local business voice into local democratic institutions. Transferring LEP functions to local authorities removes a layer of bureaucracy and prevents duplication, as many local authorities already have a formal relationship with their LEP. This integration is expected to streamline decision-making processes and improve efficiency in delivering government programmes and local economic planning.
Plan for LEPs Going Forward
In discussing the withdrawal of funding from the LEP network, Cllr Tim Oliver, CCN Chairman and Leader of Surrey County Councils said “While the government have clearly set out that LEP functions should be transferred to upper-tier councils, it still allows LEPs to continue to operate independently without government support. While recognising these are private enterprises which the government cannot abolish, this could create duplication and confusion locally, and therefore they should only continue to function following consultation with the relevant upper-tier council."
Government expects that integration of LEP functions into areas with a devolution deal or into upper tier local authorities will be undertaken as quickly as possible, ensuring a smooth and orderly transition. LEPs will continue to operate until April 2024, after which their functions will be transferred to local and combined authorities.
The government has provided guidance on the integration process, detailing the next steps for LEPs and local authorities. LEPs' current roles include business representation, local economic planning, and delivery of government programmes. These functions will be delivered by local government in the future, where appropriate and where they are not already delivered by a Combined Authority.
Impact on Business Support for UK Companies
The integration of LEP functions into local democratic institutions is expected to have a positive impact on business support for UK companies. By streamlining processes and removing bureaucratic layers, local authorities can better deliver Growth Hubs, Career Hubs, Digital Skills Partnerships, funds (such as Growing Places Fund, Getting Building Fund, Local Growth Fund), inward investment advice, business support, and advice for sectors. This change will enable local authorities to be more responsive to the needs of businesses and provide more efficient support for their growth and development.
Guidance for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and local and combined authorities: integration of LEP functions into local democratic institutions
The Spring Budget 2023 set out that government was minded to withdraw central government support (core funding) for LEPs from April 2024 and to transfer LEP functions to local authorities, where appropriate and where not already delivered by combined authorities."
Read the Guidance here
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
It is designed to reduce bureaucracy and allow local decision making to better target the funds towards local priorities.
The Fund’s interventions will be planned and delivered by councils and mayoral authorities across England, Scotland and Wales – ‘lead local authorities’, working closely with local partners and the Scottish and Welsh governments.
In Scotland and Wales we want to use existing strategic geographies and local authorities to draw on the insight and expertise of local partners, including businesses, the voluntary sector and Members of Parliament to target interventions where most appropriate.
In Northern Ireland, UK government will have oversight of the Fund. We want to work closely with local partners to design a Northern Ireland investment plan. We will refine the plan in consultation with stakeholders in a way that reflects the needs of Northern Ireland’s economy and society. This group could include representatives from Northern Ireland Executive Departments, local authorities, businesses and the community and voluntary sector.
Liverpool Lime Street station
What are Local Enterprise Partnerships and their Growth Hubs?
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were set up in 2010 and were designed to get the private sector's expertise involved in local economic decision-making. The government's assessment was that local places understood both their local economy and their economic needs far better than central government.
The LEPs were defined as “joint local authority-business bodies brought forward by local authorities themselves to promote local economic development”.
Their predecessors, the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) were replaced as the existing local and regional boundaries they were based on often had little real relationship to economic reality on the ground. Their 'mission' was to “provide the clear vision and strategic leadership to drive sustainable private sector-led growth and job creation in their area."
Growth hubs provide business support
In order to meet the aim of providing better, more 'joined-up' business support, LEPs set up Growth Hubs, designed to help improve the coordination and delivery of business support.
With a broad-based recognition that the business support landscape can be complex and difficult to access, one of the functions of growth hubs is acting as a sign-post for businesses to the appropriate support services.
Growth Hubs employ different business models involving a wide-range of partners to deliver the support. They have developed according to local needs and the capabilities of local partners such as local authorities, Chambers of Commerce and other public and private sector organisations.
The Devolved Governments
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own national business support agencies. Explore what the other home nations do to help their businesses.
What is the key purpose of Growth Hubs?
Signposting
Rather than providing detailed advice themselves, they signpost companies to the right resource.
Public & Private
Bringing together the public and private sectors in a coordinated manner to create a one-stop shop for advice and support.
The Right Advice
Using their expertise to understand your business and ensure you get the right advice you need to help you grow and be more productive.
Find An Event
Coordinating a wide variety of events covering a range of advice covering topics such as types of finance, marketing and digital skills.
Business Engagement with Growth Hubs
>£9bn
Local Growth funding
>£7.5bn
additional private investment
> 1million
businesses engaged through Growth Hubs
> 180k
jobs created
as at 30 September 2019
Manchester Town Hall
What role does local government play?
One of their key responsibilities is the fostering of local economic growth, using local people and local knowledge best suited to understand and respond to local needs. The current economic environment is challenging, as previous problems of insufficient digital infrastructure and inadequate skills to meet local employer demands have been exacerbated by the Covid crisis and the current economic uncertainty.
Find your local growth hub
- Black Country
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
- Cheshire & Warrington
- Coast to Capital
- Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
- Coventry & Warwickshire
- The BUSINESS Hub Cumbria
- Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
- Dorset Gateway
- Enterprise M3
- GFirst
- Greater Birmingham & Solihull
- Greater Lincolnshire
- Greater Manchester
- Heart of the South West
- Hertfordshire
- Hull & East Yorkshire
- Lancashire
- Leeds City Region
- Leicester & Leicestershire
- Liverpool City Region (Growth Platform)
- London
- New Anglia
- North East
- Oxfordshire
- Sheffield City Region
- Solent
- South East
- South East Midlands
- Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire
- Swindon & Wiltshire
- Tees Valley
- Thames Valley Berkshire
- The Marches
- West of England
- Worcestershire
- York and North Yorkshire
Wales
N. Ireland
NIBusinessInfo
Invest Northern Ireland
Enterprise Northern Ireland
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Black Country Growth Hub
Black Country Growth Hub provides free and impartial support to businesses and entrepreneurs of any size, sector or status across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Cheshire & Warrington Growth Hub
If your businesses is based in Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester or Warrington, we offer a range of support whether you are an individual on your journey to starting a business, an existing business looking to grow and expand, or an organisation looking to build a base in Cheshire and Warrington.
Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub
We’re your single gateway to navigating the best private and public sector business support available. We’re your foot in the door, your insider knowledge, your expert resource. We’re in your corner.
Dorset Gateway
Dorset Gateway is Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership’s growth hub. We’re here to help businesses across Dorset find the right advice, support and funding to enable them to grow and prosper.
We're funded to provide these services by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, so they're free to any Dorset based businesses seeking help.
Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hub
The Growth Hub is the home for advice, guidance and funding for businesses and entrepreneurs across the Greater Birmingham area.
Heart of the South West (HotSW) Growth Hub
The Heart of the South West Growth Hub provides independent diagnosis and referrals to existing business support services. We are the first point of contact for businesses in the Heart of the South West LEP area wishing to develop and grow.
Boost
Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. Our purpose is to help Lancashire’s businesses grow.
Whether you’re a start-up, large business or somewhere in between, Boost can help get you the right growth support. We provide funded growth programmes as well as helping businesses navigate the best private and public sector business support available.
Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region
Growth Platform is Liverpool City Region’s economic enabler, designed to support people and businesses to realise their potential and generate growth.
Our role is to strengthen and simplify our regional landscape, creating a sustainable economy that reflects the needs of all our business community across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.
North East Growth Hub
The North East Growth Hub is a crucial part of the LEP's Business Growth strategy. Business growth and access to finance are key drivers for more and better jobs. They are necessities in addressing market failures to support stronger indigenous businesses to drive up GVA and employment.
Solent LEP Growth Hub
The Solent LEP Growth Hub is a FREE service and act as a first point of contact for all your business support related queries. Our aim is to simplify your route in accessing the business support that you require, allowing you to concentrate on your Business.
Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub
The Growth Hub was established by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership to play a major role in the drive for strong, sustainable business growth across the LEP area.
It acts as the focal point for businesses that wish to grow by referring them to co-ordinated and cohesive growth programmes, business networks, growth groups and links to specialist information, advice and services.
Berkshire Growth Hub
Free Business Advice and Support for Berkshire Businesses
At the Berkshire Growth Hub, we offer impartial business advice, specialist support programmes and a range of events for businesses in Berkshire—all free of charge. Whether you are an established business with ambitious growth plans, a new start-up, a scale-up company or an entrepreneur looking to turn your ideas into a business, we can help.
Worcestershire Growth Hub
Worcestershire Growth Hub, often referred to as Worcestershire Business Central, are here to support your organisation across a range of topics and no matter the size of your business.
Buckinghamshire Business First
We are a business-led, business-focused community for new, established and growing businesses across Buckinghamshire.
Coast to Capital Growth Hub
The Coast to Capital Growth Hub provides free and impartial government funded business support in Greater Brighton, West Sussex, East Surrey and Croydon which can help your ambitious and innovative business achieve growth.
The BUSINESS Hub Cumbria
Working across Cumbria, our free and impartial support is delivered by expert business advisers, giving you the right advice at the right time for your business.
As part of the national Growth Hub network, we’re here to help you find the best advice, funding or events to turn your growth aspirations into a reality.
Enterprise M3 Growth Hub
Aimed at businesses looking to succeed in the Enterprise M3 area, the Enterprise M3 Growth Hub is an expert advice and resource network which helps businesses achieve results quickly through a free personal, tailored service focused on Growth.
Business Lincolnshire
Business Lincolnshire is set up to help support Greater Lincolnshire based businesses to start and grow. Business Lincolnshire hosts a Growth Hub – a single place to go to for business experts and mentors, support and guidance, grants and finance.
Hertfordshire Growth Hub
At the Hertfordshire Growth Hub we help established businesses with real potential for growth to access the support they need to achieve even more. Our business advisers are Industry experts, ready to work with you to diagnose exactly what your business needs and help you make it happen.
Leeds City Region
If you’re a small to medium sized business based in Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield or York, we can guide you through the complex work of business support.
London Business Hub
We know that no two businesses are the same, so why should the same advice be for everyone?
We’re free and impartial, with decades of collective experience. As part of the national Growth Hub network, we’re here to help you find the best possible solutions to your problems. No matter what stage your business is at.
Oxfordshire Growth Hub
As the growth hub for Oxfordshire, it is our aim to simplify the business support landscape and help individuals and businesses to easily connect.
We're here to help small businesses (SMEs) find the support they need. We offer prompt, friendly, impartial advice and will signpost you to the right business support for you and your business by directing you to expert advice and national and local support programmes.
Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub
The Growth Hub is an exciting new online community developed exclusively for the businesses of Swindon and Wiltshire.
The Hub directs you to a wide range of impartial business support and advice, as well as providing valuable insights, access to events, specialist programmes and funding to help your business thrive.
CPCA Growth Hub
The CPCA Growth Hub is funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and is here to connect your business to the help, support, information and funding that you need to thrive and grow.
Cornwall & Isles of scilly
We work with local businesses, including self employed people and not for profit organisations to find the right guidance and support to help their business work smarter, develop and grow.
The D2N2 Growth Hub
D2N2 Growth Hub provides businesses in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire with a single point of access to business support. Our team of Growth Hub Business Advisers and our dedicated telephone enquiry service have the knowledge, skills and expertise to signpost you to the right initiatives and resources to support your business growth.
Gloucestershire Growth Hub
The Growth Hub is here to help your business maximise its potential.
Whether it's sourcing funding, developing your team or breaking into new markets; our experts are on-hand to consult, connect and collaborate.
Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub
We support businesses at all stages of their growth journey with our broad range of services. We offer expert one-to-one and peer-to-peer business support, events, specialist programmes, funding and much more.
Hull and East Yorkshire Business Growth Hub
The Growth Hub covers the whole of the Hull and East Yorkshire region, which includes the city of Kingston-upon-Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. To make sure that we can support businesses across all parts of this region, our advisors are employed by – and based with – the two regional local authorities: Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Leicester & Leicestershire Business Gateway (Growth Hub)
The Growth Hub is a single place to access business support across Leicester and Leicestershire. We offer free and impartial advice to help all local businesses, with a particular focus on those who are looking to grow and increase productivity.
New Anglia Growth Hub
New Anglia Growth Hub can help your business access a range of business support services from hundreds of sources. The hub’s service is FREE and IMPARTIAL and can help you access grants, finance, start-up support, international trade support and other specialist advice from single point of contact.
South Yorkshire Growth Hub
South Yorkshire Growth Hub aims to be the single point of contact for all business support across our region.
It aims to simplify all the regional and national business support that is available to businesses, so that you as a business owner/manager always know where to go to find the right support. Our experienced teams can provide direct support and also advise and signpost to the most appropriate support based on your business needs.
SEMLEP's Growth Hub
SEMLEP’s Growth Hub is here to help local businesses realise their ambitions through free impartial information, advice and guidance. We have expert knowledge of the national and local business support available. Using this, we support small to medium businesses with different aspects of running a business, from finance to innovation to marketing and so much more.
Tees Valley Business
Get Support For Your Business
We can help you to start, grow or access funding and finance.
As the Local Growth Hub for the Tees Valley, we are here to help ambitious SME businesses and budding entrepreneurs in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees get the support they need to grow.
West of England Growth Hub
The West of England Growth Hub supports businesses throughout Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire to innovate, grow and thrive. We achieve this by connecting businesses to support streams and encouraging collaboration.
