Digital and creative businesses in Greater Manchester struggling to adapt to the challenges caused by COVID-19 can receive assistance from the sector-specific Greater Connected programme – but they have just two more weeks to sign up.
Greater Connected is a fully funded programme that has been operating since 2016 via GC Business Growth Hub’s digital, creative and tech service. It helps businesses to define or refine their business plans, plot a clear route to their objectives, and gain greater knowledge of core business fundamentals. Recognising the new challenges businesses face, the programme has revised its content to help businesses stabilise, adapt and grow.
In keeping with Government guidelines on social distancing, the structure has also been re-modelled to offer support via different virtual delivery methods.
The cohort-based series of workshops offers tailored expert advice from digital, creative and tech practitioners, and growth advisors from GC Business Growth Hub, part of the Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The change in content and delivery is in line with the GC Business Growth Hub’s #HereForBusiness campaign to support companies during the coronavirus crisis.
Advice provided will take account of the particularly challenging times businesses are having to deal with during this pandemic, with specialist advisors who have experience of guiding companies through crises such as the bursting of the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crash. They also understand the specific challenges that COVID-19 has caused in the creative and digital sectors.
Sarah Novotny, Digital Creative and Tech Sector Lead at GC Business Growth Hub said: “Creative and digital businesses are facing a number of challenges during this crisis, some of which are shared by all industries and some which are particular to this sector. This makes it very timely that they can sign up to be part of the new Greater Connected cohort, which has already helped more than 170 local businesses.
“We know that these businesses need tailored support to help them come through the coronavirus crisis intact and ready to grow again, so our advisors are ready to help and offer advice. There has never been a more important time to be a part of the wider Greater Connected network, learning from other businesses with similar experiences and barriers to overcome.
“While we would usually be conducting these sessions face-to-face, thankfully technology means we can stay connected to keep offering this opportunity for businesses to grow together and help each other through this difficult time. We urge these businesses to apply as soon as possible, to get the right kind of support that’s most relevant to them.”
The closing date for the current cohort of Greater Connected is 1st May. Businesses can apply at https://gc.businessgrowthhub.com.
Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.
