Businesses across West Yorkshire will be able to access a ‘world
of support' more quickly, simply and effectively, thanks to a new
initiative that brings together and builds on existing business
support, it can be announced.
The new West Yorkshire Business Growth
Hub – which provides access to local, regional and national
support – was unveiled by West Yorkshire Mayor at a high-profile business
conference today (3 March).
Speaking to an audience of private sector leaders, investors and
entrepreneurs in Leeds, Mayor Brabin said the hub would ensure
there was ‘no wrong door' for businesses of all shapes and sizes
to access the finance, skills, workspace, markets, innovation and
promotion they need to succeed.
By bringing together a complex landscape of business support into
one coherent network, the Growth Hub will make it easier for
businesses to start, scale, innovate and decarbonise.
, Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said:
“West Yorkshire is where opportunity lives, and our hundred
thousand businesses will be the driving force behind our growth
and prosperity for years to come.
“Whether you're launching a startup, growing your order book,
investing in innovation or embracing the green transition, there
will be no wrong door for you to access a world of support
through the West Yorkshire Business Growth Hub.
“By boosting our fastest growing sectors and backing our small
and medium-sized businesses to grow and succeed, we'll drive
growth, create good jobs, and put more money in people's
pockets.”
Since it was established in 2014, the West Yorkshire Combined
Authority has helped to support 19,300 businesses to grow and
succeed. From supporting businesses to green their processes and
save on bills, to developing new workspace for healthtech
companies through the region's £160 million Investment Zone, the
Combined Authority is supporting businesses to access support to
start up and scale, while creating the conditions for economic
growth through key investments in transport, skills and housing.
Mandy Ridyard, Business Advisor to the Mayor of West
Yorkshire, said:
“Through our ambitious public-private plan for growth, we're
aiming to add £26 billion to our economy and support the creation
of 33,000 new jobs over the next decade.
“To achieve that, we must empower our businesses to create, sell
and grow, by making it easier for them to attract talent, access
finance, build new partnerships, and break into overseas markets.
“Our West Yorkshire Business Growth Hub is the product of
extensive consultation and collaboration with businesses across
the region, so we can deliver what they actually need and enable
them to help us build a stronger, brighter region.”
The West Yorkshire Growth Hub will simplify what can often feel
like an overcomplicated landscape of support. Instead of having
to navigate multiple organisations, businesses will be able to
access a coordinated network of partners each providing trusted
support, including with:
- Finance and investment
- Skills and workforce development
- Innovation and technology support
- Markets, exports and supply chains
- Workspace and place-based support
- Networks, mentoring and promotion
No matter where or how businesses enter the Growth Hub, they will
be able to seamlessly navigate to support that suits their needs,
regardless of their size or sector. Businesses which register
with the Growth Hub will receive bespoke information directly to
their account, ensuring they get the right support at the right
time.
The launch of the Growth Hub follows the publication of the West
Yorkshire Local Growth Plan, which sets out the Mayor and local
leaders' ambition to close the region's productivity gap and
unlock £26 billion of additional economic growth. If achieved,
this would deliver 18,000 additional businesses, 53,000 more
people with higher level qualifications, over 40,000 new jobs,
and £3.2 billion more in annual investment.
A core priority of the Local Growth Plan is enabling all 100,000
businesses in West Yorkshire to grow and succeed. The Growth Hub
will be central to delivering that ambition, supporting the
region's fastest-growing sectors – including financial services,
advanced manufacturing, health technology, the creative
industries and the green economy – while ensuring that all small
and medium-sized enterprises across Bradford, Calderdale,
Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield can thrive.
Research shows that businesses engaging with support can see
productivity gains of around 10% within a year. By strengthening
collaboration between public, private and third-sector partners,
the Growth Hub will help local firms to build long-term
relationships, find new customers and suppliers, and access the
expertise that they need to grow boldly and sustainably.
Launching the initiative at Reset Connect North in Leeds – the
flagship net zero and green economy conference being held outside
London for the first time – underlines West Yorkshire's
commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth. The region's
green economy cluster alone is worth more than £8 billion,
employing over 53,000 people.
Businesses will be able to explore the full range of available
support and begin their growth journey by visiting the West Yorkshire Business Growth
Hub online.
