Help for local businesses

Greater Manchester’s GC Business Growth Hub, part of the Growth Company, has announced details of its latest business development initiative designed specifically for SMEs, including those based in and around Rochdale, who are working within the green technologies and services sectors.

These include local companies working in areas such as renewable energy, alternative vehicles, waste management, air quality, energy efficiency and other low-carbon industries.

The programme, spread over three days in late April and early May and hosted at Manchester United’s Old Trafford football stadium, will offer local businesses guidance and training across a range of key issues.

These will include comprehensive and in-depth sessions on business planning, creating focused strategies for driving business growth, developing winning sales techniques, managing the recruitment progress and building an effective marketing plan.

The support will be delivered through a mix of training and mentoring from both the Hub’s staff and external experts. This will be complemented by peer-to-peer exercises which will allow business owners to share their own experiences.

Companies taking part in the Switched On programme will also enjoy a wide range of practical and valuable takeaways from the three workshops.

For example, the ‘Switched On to Marketing’ session will see participants receiving a marketing plan tailored to their specific business, an action plan for future market research, and free access to a resource library of how-to guides.

Those enrolled on the ‘Switched On to Sales’ session will get  free resources directly linked to business development, while those attending the ‘Switched On to Business Planning’ session will leave with horizon scanning and business modelling tools.

Further, all three Switched On sessions are fully funded for Greater Manchester-based SMEs, meaning there is no charge for qualifying companies.

Samantha Nicholson, GC Growth Hub’s Head of Low Carbon, said: “The Hub is here to support all kinds of businesses in many different sectors, but this programme has been tailor-made for businesses active within the green economy.

“This specific sector can be quite a hard-sell for some, as not all customers appreciate the benefits and lasting social value that procuring sustainable products and services bring to their business, and to the wider community.

“However, this series of collaborative Switched On workshops will equip SMEs with expert knowledge and support to help them to grow their business and enable them to maximise opportunities in this growing market.”

To find out more about the Switched On programme visit:

 www.businessgrowthhub.com/green-technologies-and-services/switched-on