Business support projects funded by Preston City Council UKSPF
Need business support? Take a look at these funded business support projects for Preston businesses.
All the following projects are funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for Preston businesses.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
Preston City Council received an allocation of £5.2m UKSPF funding from the Government to invest in a range of projects that will help benefit both local people and the city's businesses.
Business and Community Innovation
The Pilot Innovation Programme is a collaborative programme delivered by three Lancashire universities: The University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University and Edge Hill University.
Innovation is a key driver for growth and productivity and for the creation of high value jobs. This programme will provide access to expert knowledge exchange resources for businesses.
The aim of the programme is to support businesses and social enterprises based in Preston with their innovation needs. This includes activities such as innovation sprints, innovation catalysts, support with developing prototypes, product testing, student placements, expert feedback from academic staff and access to laboratories and facilities.
A full company Innovation Roadmap will be completed with companies who join the programme to ensure that they receive bespoke support. This will include some activities supported through the programme and clear signposting to other support offers.
The project will bring together extensive industry and academic expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, together with tailored support enabling businesses to turn ideas into realities.
For more information visit UCLan - business or call 01772 895500.
International Trade Support for Business
Whether new to exporting or already exporting and wishing to grow international markets, this project provides a wrap around package and equips businesses with the A-Z tools to implement an export plan and find the right countries for their products and services.
Support will include International Trade advice, support, audits and reviews, working with each participating business to identify their import/ export needs, aims and opportunities via consultancy, training, workshops, advice, assistance and support.
The Chamber's International Trade Manager, Paul Walters, has over 40 years' experience in international trade majoring in manufacturing, supply chain and logistics. He is a member of the Institute of Export and Institute of Supply Chain Management and is recognised by the DBT as an 'Export Champion'.
For more information visit Lancs Chamber - global reach or call 01772 653000.
New Export Accelerator
Considering exporting but unsure where to begin? New to export and looking for support? Ready to make the leap from reactive to proactive exporting?
The Export Accelerator Programme is part of the International Trade Support and offers Free training, mentoring and consultancy to Preston businesses to enable you to hit the ground running on your export journey.
For more information contact export@lancschamber.co.uk (Available to all Preston businesses, no need to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce).
Introduction to International Trade
- 8 November 2024 - 10:00-16:00
Gain confidence in import/export processes and procedures.
Planning for Export Growth
- 18 November 2024 - 9:30-12:30
Consider the factors affecting export growth and create an export plan for strategic exporting.
Half Day Consultancy
In addition to the training workshops, you will also benefit from one-to-one advice from the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce's International Trade Team.
Chamber Low Carbon
In partnership with Boost Business Lancashire and Preston City Council, the project is supporting Preston businesses in saving money, reducing their carbon footprint, stimulating low carbon innovation, and achieving their Net Zero Carbon ambitions.
Preston businesses signing up can access fully funded support in environmental and energy saving/efficiency good practice, developing Net Zero targets and Carbon Reduction Plans and guidance on low carbon technology adoption. The support will be delivered via a suite of events, masterclasses and 1-2-1 bespoke support.
New Low Carbon Technology Commercialisation - RedCAT - the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce's RedCAT Initiative in partnership with North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. Together with Preston City Council and Boost Business Lancashire, the project is supporting Preston businesses to accelerate the commercialisation of low carbon technology innovations to support business development, manufacturing and exporting in the local area. Preston businesses signing up can access fully funded support which will be available through - market research, competitor analysis, customer identification and sales strategy, technology viability assessment, grant identification support and demonstrator opportunity development.
For more information visit Chamber Low Carbon or call 01772 653000 or 01254 356487.
For more information about RedCAT email enquiries@red-cat.uk or call 01254 356400.
Support for Growing the Social Economy
Preston's resource for starting and supporting a range of co-ops.
If you want to start a cooperative business or bring together a community group to address community problems, and you want to do this in a fair and democratic way, then get expert help and advice from PCDN, this offer includes:
Access to an online and in-person learning programme
This covers the enterprise and cooperative skills needed to run an effective co-operative, as well as specialist topics including community shares to finance a cooperative community business, and conversion to employee ownership as an option for business succession.
A dedicated 1-2-1 business advice service accessible via the PCDN's website
Two types of support are available: pre-technical support to answer initial enquiries and assess the suitability/viability of a business proposition as a cooperative enterprise; and, for those that meet this criteria, the provision of technical support from a business consultant to move the project from pre-startup through to the creation of a new co-operative enterprise.
The PCDN has a strong track record promoting awareness of cooperative enterprise. It is currently working with business advisors at Boost to increase understanding of the cooperative model across the business community in Preston and to assist advisors in signposting clients to more specialist support.
The PCDN has also supported a range of new cooperative businesses including Community Energy Preston, a new cooperative driving community investment in renewable energy generation; and Retrofit+ on the Brookfield estate which combines the delivery of energy efficiency improvements with employment and training for local people.
For more information visit Preston Coop Development or email admin@prestoncoopdevelopment.org.
Preston Partnership
The Preston Partnership brings together businesses and the public sector to help make Preston a prosperous city to live, work, visit and invest in. Membership is free of charge until 31 August 2024.
What you will get as a member:
- Join an ambitious community of over 100 members
- Attendance at Preston Partnership events
- Hear directly from guest speakers including business leaders, property investors, local authority elected members and senior officers
- Chance to network and build relationships with Preston's business, built environment and local authority community
- Have your say on key Preston issues and influence policy
- Profile your brand through our website and social media channels
- Have a chance to join Preston Partnership working groups
- A chance to play your part in helping Preston realise its potential
For more information visit Preston Partnership
Boost - Lancashire's Business Growth Hub
If you're looking to start, grow or scale your business, talk to Boost.
Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub. They've already helped over 14,000 Lancashire businesses and are here to help you.
Offers a range of funded business support services and a team of business advisers you can talk to.
The Boost support includes Boost - Business Support Helpdesk, which offers advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business in Preston, as well as businesses already trading. The Helpdesk will provide business owners with guidance on available local, national and sector business support.
For more information visit Boost Business Lancashire or call 0800 488 0057.
For more information on Preston's UKSPF please visit GOV.UK - UK Shared Prosperity Fund
For a marketing and print friendly version of this information see our Need Business Support? Brochure (PDF, 4 MB).