Work with the Growth Hub: LEAD and Steps Into Digital Programmes

The Growth Hub are now planning our programmes of support for local businesses for the year, and are again looking to work with expert providers to deliver this support. These programmes are funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)

Two opportunities to work with the Growth Hub are now being launched:

LEAD: Leadership Excellence and Development

Deadline: Friday 16/05/2025

The LEAD programme is designed to support management and business leaders through a match-funded delivery model. It aims to provide long-term benefits to businesses by addressing common challenges such as recruitment and retention. The programme encourages business owners to collaborate on developing long-term skills plans to support their growth ambitions.

Training Aims:

  • Soft Skills and Customer Service: Improve communication skills, especially for younger employees.
  • Recruitment: Effective recruitment strategies and techniques.
  • Retention: Workforce management, career development, and training plans.
  • Lean Management and Continuous Improvement: Streamline processes while maintaining quality.
  • Growth Strategy: Mentoring and consultancy for business growth.
  • Personal and Leadership Growth: Overcome internal barriers to unlock potential.
  • Succession Planning: Prepare for future workforce needs.
  • Project Management: Introductory training.
  • Sales Management and Techniques: Training for managers and team members.
  • Finance: Basic skills for non-finance specialists.
  • Peer to Peer: Share best practices among senior managers and business owners.

The programme seeks training providers who can deliver lasting impact and positive change, with attendees leaving with actionable plans to implement their learnings.

Steps into Digital

Deadline: Monday 19/05/2025

The ‘Steps into Digital’ programme by the Growth Hub is designed to support businesses in their digital transformation journey. This comprehensive initiative will offer a range of workshops and one-on-one advisory sessions, covering seven key topics to help businesses overcome common barriers such as cost, complexity, and time constraints.

The main objectives of the programme are to simplify technology adoption by providing tailored roadmaps, offer flexible delivery options (both online and in-person), collaborate with local providers and tech specialists, and leverage government grants to encourage digital innovation.

Support will be divided into seven pillars, each focusing on specific areas:

  1. Digital Marketing Mastery: From website essentials and social media support to advanced campaign automation.
  2. Ecommerce Essentials: Setting up online stores to expanding internationally.
  3. Business Automation & Efficiency: Workflow tools to AI-powered automation.
  4. Data Analytics for Smarter Decisions: Basics of data software to predictive analytics.
  5. Cyber Security & Digital Resilience: Cybersecurity basics to advanced threat detection.
  6. Digital Tools for Remote Working & Collaboration: Collaboration tools to custom digital workflows.
  7. Sector-Specific Digital Transformation: Tailored support for key sectors like Agri-Tech, Tourism, Retail, Manufacturing, VCSEs, and Creatives.

Overall, the ‘Steps into Digital’ programme aims to make technology more accessible and beneficial for businesses of all sizes, helping them thrive in the digital age.

Applications have now closed.

If you’re interested in benefiting from the programme, visit Steps into Digital Programme: Expression of Interest

YNY Equity Hub Launches to Drive Business Growth in York and North Yorkshire

A new digital platform, the YNY Equity Hub, has launched to boost investment in businesses across York and North Yorkshire by connecting local enterprises with prospective investors from across the UK. Designed to tackle one of the region’s key barriers to growth, the YNY Equity Hub offers a streamlined, user-friendly portal where SMEs and start-ups can showcase their investment opportunities and growth potential.

Yorkshire businesses get £2.4m digital innovation boost

Hundreds of manufacturing businesses across Yorkshire have put themselves at the forefront of enhancing their business through digital innovation – and now more can join them after a further £2.4m was received to support the region’s digital ambitions. Since 2021, the “Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber” programme has supported more than 700 Yorkshire manufacturing businesses to take up digital adoption projects to improve efficiency and productivity, boosting the strength of manufacturing across the region.

BOOST: A marketing support programme for York and North Yorkshire tourism and hospitality businesses

This practical, action-oriented programme of activity has been developed to help you market your business more effectively, saving time and money. It’s created and delivered by Susan Briggs from The Tourism Network. Susan has over thirty years of successful tourism marketing experience. It’s for visitor-facing tourism businesses such as accommodation providers; visitor attractions; activity and experience providers; creative, retail, food and drink businesses.

Y&NY Growth Hub
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