Funding success for Telford business scheme
Members of a Telford business network have played a key role in helping to secure crucial funding for a new initiative.
Telford Business Partnership has been working with Telford & Wrekin Council on a bid to bring in financial backing to deliver a business support package for local companies.
And now the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), together with Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and Herefordshire Councils, have agreed to fund the package for the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) region.
TBP Chairman, Robin Melley, said: “We’re delighted to have helped Telford & Wrekin bring in this vital funding which will make such a difference to businesses in our area.
“We will be supporting the project going forward by providing a professional mentoring service for businesses and several of our members have already agreed to offer their services. Our members are experienced business professionals, and many are business owners, managing directors or partners in their own companies, so their expertise will be invaluable.”
Mentors already signed up include: Robin Melley of Matrix Capital; Andrew Mason of Andrew Mason Consultancy; Graham Davies of Martin-Kaye Solicitors; and Geoff Parkes of wmbk Consultancy.
TBP has now called on other members of the Partnership to join the mentoring scheme and to put their skills to good use in helping other local businesses grow and develop.
The business support package will begin in April, and run until December 2014, helping small and medium sized businesses with specific needs. In particular, it will help individuals to start a business; support businesses created or attracted to the region and surviving for 12 months; help businesses who want to improve their performance; and support social enterprises. Telford & Wrekin Council will provide ongoing backing to the scheme and aim to ensure a high quality of mentors are recruited by providing basic mentoring training.
Any companies who would like to join the scheme should contact TBP administrator Jaclyn Kitson on 01952 567578 or email jaclyn.kitson@telford.gov.uk. To find out more about the scheme and TBP visit www.telfordbusiness.org
