With the UK now taking its first tentative steps away from lockdown towards a new kind of normality, SMEs in Lancashire looking for a strategy to help them bounce back from COVID-19 can receive help from two new fully funded virtual workshops.
The Strive and Thrive workshops have been designed to help businesses deal with the immediate challenges of the situation but also to enable them to create a robust strategy for the long term so they can again thrive.
These workshops form part of the work being done to support SMEs by The Growth Company. This work continues to be crucial as the region starts to move towards the recovery phase.
The Strive and Thrive workshops will be run by specialist industry experts from The Growth Company in June and July and have been tailored specially for local SMEs to cover
Issues that will be discussed include fundraising during a pandemic; how to package an application for success; how to get support for applying for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and how to mitigate risk whilst maintaining competitive advantage in these challenging times for supply chain management.
The workshops are provided at no cost to eligible businesses. In keeping with government guidelines on social distancing, they will be delivered virtually in small groups of up to 12 people, while still encouraging peer to peer learning and the chance to engage with other business that are facing similar challenges.
Janine Smith, Head of Specialist Services for The Growth Company said: “We’re now entering a crucial time for local businesses as they look at ways to safely get workers back to workplaces and find some new sense of normality. Our Strive and Thrive workshops will help with these processes, as well as discussing and decoding the latest government guidance.
“The workshops will be led by our expert advisors, tailored to the needs of SMEs across Lancashire and will be full of practical and implementable measures to protect against the impacts of COVID-19 and strategies to enable future growth as we reach the recovery phase. Whether it’s identifying funding opportunities or rebuilding supply chains, you will come out of the workshops ready to tackle your challenges and get ready to thrive again.”
Andrew Leeming, programme manager, Boost, said, “During the coronavirus pandemic, Boost has repositioned its service from growth support to resilience support, which is available free for all Lancashire businesses through our #AskForHelp campaign. While some businesses are still understanding how coronavirus will affect them, many are turning their thoughts to recovery.
“We want Lancashire companies to engage with Boost for support, whatever stage they are at in bouncing back from coronavirus. This partnership with The Growth Company will enable Lancashire businesses to receive free high-quality advice on a range of key issues they will need to address as they look to recovery.”
There are a limited number of spaces available for eligible businesses to sign up for the workshops which can be booked below:
Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk.
