A LEADING local advice hub will soon team up with Thames Valley Berkshire.
The Berkshire Growth Hub, which offers free support and advice to local businesses, will join the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) from Thursday, April 1.
Since 2017, the service has been delivered by Oxford Innovation and has worked with more than 4,000 small- and medium-sized businesses across the Thames Valley region.
Now, Berkshire Growth Hub and Thames Valley Berkshire LEP will spend the coming months integrating their teams.
Alison Webster, CEO of the LEP, said: “We are going through extraordinary times and the focus of the Berkshire Growth Hub is on helping local businesses, giving them the help and support they need.
“There has never been a more important time to help businesses get back on their feet again and the new normal, whatever that may turn out
to be, will be very different for us all.”
She said supporting local businesses is at the heart of Thames Valley Berkshire LEP’s Recovery and Renewal plan.
Jane Galsworthy, managing director of Oxford Innovation, added: “We are proud to leave the Growth Hub in such a strong position.
“The relationship with Thames Valley Berkshire LEP has been wholly positive and we look forward to working with them in the future as
we continue to provide excellent business support services to the SME business community.”
The majority of growth hubs across England are now directly delivered by LEPs.
Only five of the 38 advice services are still outsourced.
For more information on the Berkshire Growth Hub, visit: www.berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk
