Issue - meetings

Members considered a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the Business Growth Programme (BGP), which was being undertaken by the Council’s Business Improvement Growth Team.

Most of the Team had been working on supporting local businesses during the pandemic and activities had been changed to reflect this.  However, the BGP was one of the service areas that had been protected and continued in its current form.

It was reported that the BGP had been supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) that delivered Business to Business, across the Halton Region since January 2013.  As part of the Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) Growth Hub Programme, it supported businesses by offering fully funded specialist support through ERDF and Council funding. 

It was noted that phase 2 of the BGP ends on 31 December 2021 and the Council has been informed by the combined Authority that Halton will not be included in the bid for a phase 3 extension, as there was no ERDF funding available.

The report outlined the type of support offered, targets and performance to date.  An internal evaluation of the BGP had also been undertaken and the key findings were presented to Members.

The Board agreed the importance of the need to continue with the Business Growth Programme, as it was a valuable service for the businesses within Halton and agreed to lobby for a continuation of this.

RESOLVED:  That the Board note the performance of the Business Growth Programme and agree to lobby for a continuation of the Programme.