Here 4 Business
Published on 02 July 2020
United Kingdom
Greater Manchester
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
GC Business Growth Hub which works across the 10 combined authorities in Greater Manchester, including Oldham MBC, has introduced its new #Here for Business Programme aimed specifically at supporting businesses who have been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent pan European webinar “Policy Support for Industrial Resilience” – Philip Hargreaves, Head of Access to Finance at GC Business Growth Hub highlighted a few of the key elements of their business resilience programme which is dedicated to supporting local SMEs impacted by COVID-19. For details go to the Growth Hub website:
Project Mercury
As a way of positively reaching out to SMEs the team at GC BGH developed “Project Mercury” – an outbound telephony centre was created from scratch pulling in a team of 40 staff seconded from various parts of the Group.
A process was developed within days and team started to make outbound calls to clients almost immediately utilising a database of 25,000 SME names. The focus was on businesses who had never previously engaged with the Growth Hub.
So far the team has contacted around 11,500 SMEs providing information, guidance and support around finance, Government COVID-19 support schemes, sales and staffing matters to name a few.
Feedback has been extremely positive with many business owners appreciating the support and guidance offered.
In a recent pan European webinar “Policy Support for Industrial Resilience” – Philip Hargreaves, Head of Access to Finance at GC Business Growth Hub highlighted a few of the key elements of their business resilience programme which is dedicated to supporting local SMEs impacted by COVID-19. For details go to the Growth Hub website:
Project Mercury
As a way of positively reaching out to SMEs the team at GC BGH developed “Project Mercury” – an outbound telephony centre was created from scratch pulling in a team of 40 staff seconded from various parts of the Group.
A process was developed within days and team started to make outbound calls to clients almost immediately utilising a database of 25,000 SME names. The focus was on businesses who had never previously engaged with the Growth Hub.
So far the team has contacted around 11,500 SMEs providing information, guidance and support around finance, Government COVID-19 support schemes, sales and staffing matters to name a few.
Feedback has been extremely positive with many business owners appreciating the support and guidance offered.
Expert opinion
Here 4 Business is an impressive example of how coordinated local actions among business support organisation can rapidly mobilise large number of experts and deliver support to businesses on a broad scale. In this specific case the necessary reaction to the Covid-19 crisis and its effect on businesses triggered a large support campaign. It should also be highlighted that this fast and broad campaign was also possible as the local organisations were already working together in the framework of the local Business Growth Hub, a One Stop Shop for businesses. The model proved valuable for taking joint action and can certainly be replicated, not only as rection to a crisis but more generally for providing fast and dedicated support to businesses in general.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
At this stage it is difficult to assess exact costs. The work on Here4Business quickly became the priority for the Business support organisations in Manchester Region. The resources came from re-directing existing staff resources. The lesson is to manage the reallocation of available resources
Evidence of success
So far the team has contacted around 11,500 not currently engaged with the business support organisations SMEs providing information, guidance and support around finance,
Over 3,200 businesses have been surveyed with the data being used by both Local and National Governments to help formulate social and economic responses to the pandemic.
Over 3,200 businesses have been surveyed with the data being used by both Local and National Governments to help formulate social and economic responses to the pandemic.
Potential for learning or transfer
The principle of this work is an easy transfer. The key is bringing the available support for businesses from a range of providers (local, regional and national government) into one place of contact for businesses. A single point of contact is critical to save the businesses time and and receive support as quickly as possible
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub
United Kingdom
Greater Manchester
Contact
External funding Manager