Help is one call away: how the Growth Hub helpdesk can support you
Get the latest business support, tailored to your needs, by contacting the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub business support helpdesk today.
The business support landscape is vast and ever-changing – funding opportunities come and go, different programmes for different business needs spring up, and there are so many resources available that it can be hard to know what’s right for you before you dedicate your time to it.
We at the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub understand that navigating this landscape can be daunting, which is why we work to make the process straightforward and person-led; putting you and your needs at the centre of the conversation, and connecting you with the most relevant support.
One of the ways we support businesses is through our helpdesk. ‘Helpdesk’ might be a word you roll your eyes at – there’s a perception that you’re talking to a robot, being put through an automated process that wastes your time more than it helps you. The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub helpdesk is made up of a team of friendly, knowledgeable people who understand your needs and can connect you with the right support, fast.
Meet Faye from the Growth Hub business support helpdesk
Faye is a member of our helpdesk team and is responsible for connecting businesses with relevant support. Read on to hear from Faye about the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub business support helpdesk and how she has helped local businesses:
I am often the first person a business will interact with when they contact the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, and my role is to help them navigate the hectic world of business support and connect them with the best options for their needs. The role of the helpdesk is to man the helpdesk, unsurprisingly! This isn’t a physical desk, but more the front-line of the support we provide.
My duties include:
- Responding to all email enquiries that have come through via our support email address or via our website.
- Answering phone call queries.
- Speaking with our local authority partners, and getting in touch with any business enquiries that have come through from them.
- General administrative support for the Growth Hub team (e.g. updating our database of support schemes).
What do you do when a business contacts the helpdesk?
When a company gets in touch looking for business support, the first thing I do is run through a quick diagnostic with them. This consists of several questions to help figure out the basics of the business and the support they’re looking for. This is because there’s a whole range of support available to businesses in our area both internally and externally but, oftentimes, the options are targeted at specific businesses or business needs. So, running through the diagnostic helps me triage a business to the most relevant support opportunities available for them.
Many of the businesses I speak with are start-up businesses or pre-starts. It’s always great to hear that someone is thinking of starting a business, but I know that it can be a massive and scary step, so I like to check in with them 1-3 months after their initial query to see how they’re getting on and if there is anything extra that I can do to help.
How has Faye helped local businesses?
Go Indian Spice is a York-based business that sells vegan, gluten-free and 100% natural spice blends to bring more flavour to people’s home cooking. Dave and his wife, Lucky, founded Go Indian Spice in 2021 from a shared passion for great Indian cooking inspired by their Punjabi heritage. Dave has been in contact with Faye from the beginning of his journey with Go Indian Spice.
Here’s a breakdown from Faye about Dave’s journey with the Growth Hub so far:
- March 2021 – Dave got in touch with the business support helpdesk regarding his brand-new business selling spice blends. I sent Dave our start-up pack and registered him for our newsletter so he could stay up to date regarding news in our area.
- Dave rang again a few weeks later with questions regarding a start-up course we had previously ran with the PopUp Business School (now Rebel Business School). I told him that we weren’t running the programme at the moment, but would alert him if this changed. In the meantime, I directed him towards some resources regarding marketing and networking, which was positively received.
- June 2021 – I emailed Dave to let him know the start-up course was accepting applications.
- August 2021 – Dave rang to say that Go Indian Spice had been shortlisted for Best New Food Product at the Garbutt & Elliott awards. He thanked us as he would never have known about the awards if it wasn’t for our newsletters.
- February 2022 – Catch up with Dave regarding some programmes offering digital skills support (e.g. marketing strategy and website development). Dave had now begun selling his spice blends on Amazon. He wasn’t aware of the voucher scheme his local council had organised, so I recommended he sign up to his council’s newsletter.
- Later in the month, I rang Dave with some announcements in his council’s newsletter that he may find useful.
- July 2022 – I had a discussion with Dave about Hatch’s New Founder incubator programme that is designed for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
- August 2022 – I emailed Dave with information about StriveLive – an incubator programme we were running for start-ups.
As you can see, the support and communication Dave’s received from the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub hasn’t been focused on finding a quick fix, but providing continued guidance throughout Go Indian Spice’s business journey. When asked about the support he’s received from the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, Dave said:
“Your organisation is always very helpful whenever we have questions about the services you offer.
This is a great platform, especially for a small and upcoming business such as ours in terms of needing assistance.”
What support can the helpdesk direct you to?
The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub helpdesk team can direct you to relevant, specialist support that’s focused on your needs. Whether you’re starting or growing, we can offer programmes and support that work with your business journey. Contact us today.
For starting businesses, we have a range of support available, including:
- Start-up and pre-start programmes and training such as the popular StriveLive Start-Up Incubator and Hatch Enterprise workshops.
- On-demand webinars covering business basics in areas such as finance, marketing, management and digital skills.
- Up-to-date information and knowledge around the latest funding, events and start-up opportunities.
If you’re looking to grow your business, we can connect you with our Business Relationship Managers, who have a wide range of expertise amongst them. They work with you to figure out what your business needs to get to that next level, whether that’s a small or big step. We can also:
- Connect you with recruitment and workforce upskilling support such as the Apprenticeship Hub.
- Direct you to the latest growth funding opportunities.
- Help you navigate topics such as making your business more sustainable and business planning for future growth.
Next Steps
If you need business support or want to learn more, don’t hesitate and reach out to us.
You can contact our helpdesk for free by:
- Calling 0800 246 5045
- Emailing us
- Filling out our contact form
Strive Live Start-Up Incubator: Expression of Interest
Interested in joining a future cohort of Stive Live Start-Up Incubator? Find out more about the programme below, and register your interest to secure the first places when dates are confirmed.
Act now. 864,000 sole traders and landlords face new tax rules in two months
From 6 April 2026, those eligible will need to use recognised software to keep digital records and send HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) light-touch quarterly updates of their income and expenses. These are not extra tax returns.
Innovation Supper - Apply to Pitch
York Business School, Patch York and the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub are delighted to bring you a special edition of Innovation Supper. As part of this year's International Women's Day, we are inviting female entrepreneurs to apply to pitch their business.
Expression of Interest: Mentoring for Growth Programme
We’re launching a new mentoring programme designed to support small businesses across York and North Yorkshire who are ready to grow, scale and move confidently into their next stage. This programme connects local business leaders with experienced mentors from different sectors, creating space for honest conversations, fresh thinking and practical support.
XR Stories supports creative technology skills development
A new training programme from the XR Stories project at the University of York is offering people in York and North Yorkshire the opportunity to develop skills in creative technology.
Business.gov.uk | National Support
We know that the national and global business environment is changing faster than ever. Which is why we understand that rapid access to the right business support and networks is vital to help you operate and grow with confidence. Every business, whether small or large should create an account.
PR Media Workshop: How to Tell Your Story in the Media
In a fast-paced digital world, PR is arguably the most cost-effective, high impact way to build trust, raise profile and increase footfall. This hands-on 3-hour ‘boot camp’ is designed to empower you to understand what makes a story, how best to tell it, and how to master media relations.
Mayor Launches £2.5million Great Ideas Fund
Great Ideas, a new £2.5million programme as part of the Mayor’s Business Innovation Fund, will give businesses the ability to tap into expert advice and grants worth up to £60,000. The initiative will support businesses of all sizes to develop their new ideas for a product or service. It will also support businesses to take a developed idea to the next stage. Businesses with the most investment-ready proposals will take their ideas to a panel of experts from the region.
Steps into Digital: Digital Marketing Mastery - Scarborough
The Digital Marketing Mastery series is back by popular demand, hosted at Scarborough Rugby Club, and led by Katie Thompson, founder of content marketing service Katie Lingo. This three-part weekly workshop series is ideal for business owners and brand marketers who want to strengthen their online presence. Participants will learn practical strategies to improve search engine rankings while creating a seamless, user-friendly experience that attracts and converts customers.
Digital Marketing 2-Day Workshops
This in-person, 2-day course is designed to equip businesses in York & North Yorkshire with the essential digital marketing skills they need to feel more confident and grow. Coming to Richmond, Thirsk, York and Bentham.
5.65 million still to file as the Self Assessment deadline looms
Customers can start their tax return, save it and re-visit it as many times as they need to before they submit it. And, once they’ve sent it, the bill doesn’t have to be paid straight away, but does need to be paid before the 31 January deadline. The easiest way to pay is through the HMRC app. Customers can also set up notifications in the app to ensure they know when payments are due so they don’t miss a deadline.
Step into Meta for Business: Webinar Series
Unlock the power of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram with three action packed workshops. Come to all three to find out where to start and how to boost your organic, paid and sales growth on these enormous platforms, or pick and choose topics to suit your business. We’ve gathered a team of highly experienced and qualified Meta experts to help you get the most out of using Meta for your Business.