#HereForBusiness support package helping companies take the heat out of the energy crisis

Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub has launched a new support package to help local businesses to manage the increasing cost of doing business.

Working together with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Local Enterprise Partnership, local authorities and business representative organisations, #HereForBusiness brings together support available to Greater Manchester businesses, along with practical solutions they can take to deal with energy price rises and other increasing costs.

The support package will kick-off with a webinar at 9am, on Tuesday, 11 October to explain the detail and limits of the government’s Energy Plan for Business, how to approach your next energy contract and what immediate actions businesses can take during this six-month price intervention window to reduce their energy and other costs.

This will be followed by a second webinar on Tuesday, 18 October which will focus on what businesses can do to reduce energy costs. Both webinars are open to all businesses and sectors across the country.

Further webinars and workshops are planned which will help companies develop a plan to respond to the current economic situation. Aimed at Greater Manchester businesses, these sessions will focus on areas including energy management, financial planning, and people and cost management.

A dedicated website has been launched which includes useful information and advice on what support is available, blogs and case studies.

Other activity includes:

• Further webinars and workshops which will help companies develop a plan to respond to the current economic situation, focussing on areas such as energy management, financial planning, and people and cost management.
• One to one support from advisors, supporting businesses with practical solutions to the immediate challenges businesses are facing, along with longer-term planning, bespoke to their sector.
• Access to Finance, which works with businesses to understand their costs, their cashflow and their income patterns with the aim of helping business owners understand where efficiencies can be made, where costs can be reduced and enabling the finance cycle to work in the best way for the business.

Janine Smith, Director of the Business Growth Hub, said: “In difficult times, the Greater Manchester business community has already shown that it can come together to find collective support and guidance. The GC Business Growth Hub is proud to be working with our Greater Manchester partners, in continuing to make that happen, supporting businesses through the current crisis.

“Rising energy prices and other cost of living challenges is impacting all of us in our personal and professional lives. Businesses need to know that support is here to help them respond in the right way to survive and thrive in these circumstances. For some businesses the immediate future will involve managing through the current crisis whilst others it will be a focus on ensuring they can realise their growth plans.

“From webinars and workshops to one-to-one business support, #HereForBusiness will ensure that businesses can access this help and guidance in a variety of forms to suit their needs and those of their particular sector. All of the support will be designed to give them the insights and practical tips to make a real, immediate difference.”

Sign up for the initial #HereForBusiness: Making sense of the energy challenge webinar here and visit the digital hub – businessgrowthhub.com/here-for-business – to find out more about the support that’s available.

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services.