A new centre offering a host of services for businesses is to open in Shrewsbury as part of a major national initiative revolutionising the way that businesses access support.
The Marches Growth Hub brings together all national and local business support services in a ‘one stop shop’ and is fully aligned with the national ‘Business is GREAT’ campaign.
A business-friendly website (www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk) and dedicated business support helpline at 0345 6000 727 is complemented by three physical hubs, with the Marches Growth Hub, Shropshire, due to open its doors in the next few weeks.
The Shrewsbury hub has been developed with support from Shropshire Council and The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and will operate alongside the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, which is based at the same site on Battlefield Business Park.
The hub will open at the Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre on March 10, following on from the opening of hub sites in Telford and Hereford.
Shropshire Councillor Steve Charmley said: “The centre is the perfect place to locate the Marches Growth Hub, Shropshire due to its excellent location close to businesses, good transport links and the facilities which the centre offers.
Support on offer at the hub will be for businesses, no matter what size they are or what sector they operate in – although food and drink businesses may also be interested in the business incubator units we have here on site.
“The hub will provide a flexible space incorporating formal and informal meeting space with the addition of the onsite café, where businesses can meet and access support.”
Gill Hamer is Director of the Marches LEP, which has developed the Marches Growth Hub as a central point of access for businesses looking for support.
She said: “We’ve been delighted with the success of the virtual hub and the telephone enquiry line since the autumn launch and the physical hubs provide a face-to-face extension of that service.”