ARG business support programme - register now!

As part of our longer term plan to deliver on our Inclusive Economy ambitions, we're using a proportion of our ARG funding to deliver a range of business support activities to assist the business community in:

• recovery
• resilience
• growth
• ultimately prosperity

These programmes are now live.

Find out more about the ARG business support programme

Please click here to view a recording of our information event webinar held on 3 November 2021 including presentations on all the business support programmes available.

Ready for Scale Aviation Programme - online seminar delivered by Cranfield University

Business start up – delivered by Wenta

• Specialist support from a qualified adviser with bespoke business and action plans, training and webinars
• A small grant voucher scheme of up to £2,000 per business
• Digital grants also available of £5,000 each with mentoring support from an another business, to support young people in the digital sector

Additional black, Asian and minority ethnic specific start up support programme

• With one to one support and training, referrals and sign posting.

Tourism and visitor economy – delivered by Experience Bedfordshire, the destination management organisation for Bedfordshire.

• Businesses that rely on visitors and tourists can promote their services via Experience Bedfordshire, email: [email protected] to connect to this service and take advantage of this offer.

Global trade – delivered by the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce

• One to one practical support and advice for:
• businesses looking to export for the first time
• those already trading internationally but looking to access new markets or looking to overcome trade barriers
• Webinars and training courses with up-to-date legislations on:
• exporting
• EU exit implications
• VAT implications
• global supply chains
• Networking opportunities connecting businesses with global trade networks and matching local business strengths to international market needs

High Street adaptation and resilience – delivered by Hub 109

• Support for high street businesses who are looking to diversify to help their long term future
• Direct one to one business support, workshops and webinars covering:
• Luton Future High Streets Programme
  
• sales
• marketing
• e-commerce and digitisation
• social media
• food handling
• website development
• HR
• leadership
• visual display
• retail
• consumer law

Luton Productivity Programme – delivered by the University of Bedfordshire

• Aimed at high growth businesses, this programme provides productivity training to upskill staff and businesses
• Direct one to one business and academic support from subject experts to:
• provide advice, guidance and development of new products
• process ideas
• develop routes to new funding and inward investment
• business growth
• waste decline
• Website: www.beds.ac.uk/luton-productivity
• Email: [email protected]

Intensive business support – delivered by SEMLEP Growth Hub

• Direct one to one business engagement and action planning for businesses looking to expand
• Regular interactive check-in sessions and live business development webinars
• Voucher scheme of up to £3,000 per business

Sustainability and Net Zero – delivered by Wenta

• Experienced advisers to support businesses to reduce environmental impact through online learning via interactive workshops and webinars
• Delivering Net Zero in Luton

To register and to be sent further details please email [email protected].