Southampton Solent Business School launches Government-backed Growth Voucher initiative for SMEs
Southampton Solent University’s Business School has teamed up with the Government’s Growth Voucher programme to help businesses access and pay for the advice they need to grow.
This new roll out of Growth Vouchers, by six leading business schools who hold the Small Business Charter, will allow more entrepreneurs to access world class support to expand their businesses.
The initiative provides match funding to small businesses to pay for and access high quality leadership and management advice from a national consortium of top business schools.
Thousands of businesses have already benefited from strategic support via business schools holding the Small Business Charter and through Government Growth Vouchers.
Southampton Solent is a trailblazing member of the Small Business Charter Award scheme. An award received last June in recognition of the role it has played in helping to kick-start British enterprise.
Professor Georgina Andrews, Director of Southampton Solent Business School says: It’s great to be given further resources with which to continue providing expert support and advice to local business and enterprise. It will enable us to offer support and advice to even more student, graduate and regional start-ups and small businesses looking for ways to develop and grow.”
Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister, Lord Young, says:
“Strategic advice is key to business success and I welcome the arrival of Southampton Solent Business School as a partner delivering the Growth Vouchers Programme. With their support, more small businesses will be able to access the advice they need to succeed and grow and create more jobs and opportunities.”
Ian McNaught, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter says:
“I am thrilled and excited that business schools awarded with the Small Business Charter are now at the frontline of Government’s support network for ambitious small businesses. Growth Vouchers are a great new weapon in our armoury as we work to link the expertise of Britain’s world class business schools like Southampton Solent Business School with the dynamism of our ever growing ranks of entrepreneurs.”
Small Business Charter business schools have directly helped over 8000 small businesses – working with them through workshops, mentoring and other business support. These schools have been behind 800 business start-ups and have helped 4,700 students to find work placements in Britain’s exciting micro-business and start-up sector. Teaming up with the Government’s Growth Voucher programme is yet another way in which Southampton Solent Business School is helping to support the small business community.
Eligible businesses can apply for a voucher to match fund up to £2,000 towards the cost of strategic advice in the following areas:
- Review of growth opportunity – competitor analysis tools
- Cash flow and general financial management
- Marketing and sales strategies for micro-enterprise
- Process mapping – understanding where I add value in my business
- Raising the finance for growth
- Planning next steps – with a business mentor
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9150
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