The Growth Vouchers scheme is set to help SME’s access strategic advice to grow their businesses and offers up to £2000 match funding along with a free initial business consultation.

The schemeis a pioneering initiative by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills to discover the kind of advice businesses need, and give them the opportunity to obtain this expert advice to accelerate their growth.

The application process is simple and is made online at:

www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers

Once an application has been made a local Business Advisors will arrange a completely free diagnostic consultation with you to discuss your business and your growth plans, which will help define the actions and advice needed to reach your business potential.

Your business could be eligible if

• It’s based in England
• It has fewer than 50 employees
• It has not paid for strategic advice in the past 3 years
  • Has traded for at least a year.

Vouchers worth up to £2,000 will then be allocated on a lottery basis for those who sign up for the programme to help them pay for strategic private sector advice in the following areas:

• Raising finance and managing cash flow
• Marketing, attracting and keeping customers
• Making the most of digital technology
• Improving leadership and management skills
• Recruiting and developing your staff

Following a successful award applicants then contact the Enterprise Nation Marketplace, www.marketplace.enterprisenation.com   Enterprise Nation Marketplace allows users to search for an approved,  accredited supplier who can provide strategic advice in one of the five areas.

The Growth Voucher programme is a pioneering government research projectrun by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Behavioural Insights Team at the Cabinet Office and is run as a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT). It aims to test how external advice can help small businesses overcome barriers to growth and examine what role Government should play in this space.

All businesses taking part in the programme will be participating in the largest business research project ever initiated by government. It will produce real comprehensive evidence on which future policy will be built, as well as benefitting the businesses involved.

Enterprise First, www.enterprisefirst.co.uk was established in 1981 and has been providing impartial advice, information and support to start-ups, as well as new and existing businesses ever since.  We offer a range of free support including confidential advice sessions with our experienced business advisers, practical workshops on marketing and finance as well as a useful library of documents on our website and links to other useful organisations.

As a member of the Cavendish Consortium, www.cavendishconsortium.co.uk  we are also delivery partners for the following national programmes: Ready for Business, Virgin Start Up Loans and Growth Vouchers.  Based in Aldershot, we cover the South East region.

For more information please contact Sheryl Tipton at sheryl.tipton@enterprisefirst.co.uk
Tel:   0800  652 6254 - Web: www.enterprisefirst.co.uk