Issue details
Decision to appoint business advisor to deliver 1-2-1 business start-up advice
Following the successful delivery of the ERDF
Start-up Programme (in partnership with Telford and Wrekin
Council), to over 40 entrepreneurs and start-ups, Herefordshire
Council would like to continue the delivery of 1-2-1 business
start-up support and advice, to Herefordshire based entrepreneurs
and business start-ups (up to 12 months old).
In 2018, 715 new businesses started up in Herefordshire, a rate of
8.5% (start-ups as a percentage of all active businesses). This was
lower than in the West Midlands (13.3%) and nationally (13.0%).
Start-ups are surviving longer in Herefordshire than regionally and
nationally (92% at one year for businesses started in 2017, 59% at
three years for businesses started in 2015 and 48.1% at five years
for businesses started in 2013). Herefordshire has a greater number
of businesses per head of population (527 per 10,000 per population
aged 16+) than across the West Midlands (498).
CGRBS will be expected to work alongside the Marches Growth Hub
(Herefordshire), liaising with the Growth Hub Manager, and the
Economic Development Team, to generate interest and take up of the
start-up 1-2-1 support programme but it is worth noting that there
is also a pipeline of entrepreneurs waiting to receive support as
the previous programme has met all of its targets.
Each business will have a minimum of 14 hours support. A minimum of
four hours will be 1-2-1, to cover personalised and bespoke
action/business planning and follow up.
Up to 10 hours can be business workshops focusing on sessions that
will provide the skills and understanding to start a business,
assess viability, how to explore and exploit business
opportunities, legal considerations, access to finance and
successful business planning, selling and marketing etc.
CGRBS has extensive experience in delivering start up courses and
tailored advice and was successfully chosen following a tender
process carried out in accordance with council’s contract
procedure rules.
The maximum budget for this contract is £24,500 for the term
up to 31 March 2024.
This contract will run up to March 2024 or until the funding has
been fully allocated (whichever is the soonest).
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 28/07/2022
Decision due: 28 July 2022 by Service Director - Economy and Regulatory
Contact: Roger Allonby, Service Director Economy and Growth Email: Roger.Allonby@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 260330.
Decisions