Funding has been secured by Lincolnshire County Council from the European Regional Development Fund to start a new three-year business support programme to boost local economic growth and create jobs across the county.

Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in Lincolnshire are now able to access free expert advice and grants to grow their business following a £4 million cash injection into the county’s Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub.

The Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub is a one-stop shop for businesses looking to grow, develop new products or processes or enter new markets. Growth Hub advisers can assist businesses to develop a business plan to move their ideas forward or provide expert support to help them implement a plan they might already have in place.

Support programmes already under way include:

  • help to support businesses to understand their current business situation and the basic pillars needed to support their growth in the future
  • help to get their business ‘investment ready’ and access finance for growth
  • help to save energy, reduce waste and become more resource efficient and reduce business costs
  • help to manage supply chains more effectively and access new supply chains
  • help to embed digital technology in their business

Grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 ­are also available to businesses to help them expand and develop.

Full details of the programme and the grants available can be found by searching the Advice and Grant Scheme Finder on the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub website: www.businesslincolnshire.com

Businesses can also book an appointment with an adviser by filling in a contact form on the website: www.businesslincolnshire.com/people-skills/contact-us