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Business Support

Forum for Constructing Excellence

Coventry and Warwickshire's Best Practice, Networking and Business Group for the Construction Industry

Business Support - Famine to Feast?

After a period with little or no funding for business support a few schemes are starting to come online.

Here are the schemes we know about. Do tell us if you are aware of any other schemes that might apply to FORCE & RETA members.

National Apprenticeship Service Employer Grant

If you are a business employing up to 1000 employees and interested in recruiting a young apprentice, you could be eligible to receive the £1,500 grant.

See http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers.aspx for more information.

Sustainable Building Futures

A scheme funded by ERDF and Coventry University that provides FREE business assists in the form of events and 1:1 consultancy:

  • Eligibility SMEs in the West Midlands
  • Flexible scheme that can be customised to specific business needs.
  • Great access to Coventry University resources and facilities, including selected delivery partners.
  • Will be especially useful for businesses as they adjust to the changing marketplace and as they develop new products and services.

See http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/SBF/Pages/SustainableBuildingsFutures.aspx for more information.

If you have a business development requirement or if you just want to know more about the scheme contact FORCE and RETA Steering Group Member Brian Dickinson.

Brian is one of the delivery partners for this scheme.

Coventry University also has another similar scheme for supporting innovation that might be applicable.

Coventry City Council

Coventry City Council has a scheme to support capital expenditure. Ideal if you require investment support that will enable growth and diversification.

See www.coventry.gov.uk/investment-and-business for more information.

This is also the route to special support for organisations relocating to Coventry.

Email Rachael Price - Business Sector Growth Team, or call Tel: 024 7683 1208.

Growth Accelerator

A government sponsored programme to enable ambitious companies to double in growth over the next three years. Grant aid is available to fund the support available.

The aim is to help 26,000 SMEs across England using the services of 800 Growth coaches. Key aims of the programme are:

  • Access expert coaches
  • Boost your sales and marketing
  • Get investment ready
  • Commercialise your innovation
  • Develop your leaders

For further information go to the web-site www.growthaccelerator.com or have an informal conversation with FORCE Steering Group Member Tim Jones or telephone 01827716621.

Tim is one of the few local registered and approved Growth Coaches for the Growth Accelerator programme.

Manufacturing Advisory Service

The MAS4 programme provides granted aided support to manufacturing companies in the following areas:

STRATEGY – Planning your business

INNOVATION– Developing your new ideas

EFFICENCY – Improving your processes

CONNECTS - Growing your supply chain

Grant aid is targeted at SMEs with grants up to £10,000 available. The normal award though is in the order of £1000 to £3000 based upon a maximum of 50% grant. Awards cover the above areas, but can also be used for sales and marketing development.

For further information go to the web-site http://www.mymas.org/ or have an informal conversation with FORCE Working Group Member Tim Jones or telephone 01827716621.

Tim is one of the few local registered and approved MAS Coaches.

Other Schemes for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises)

The New Enterprise Allowance scheme is in place to enable the unemployed start up in business.