Free advice for Exeter businesses
Businesses in Exeter and the surrounding areas have been given a boost with the appointment of new provider offering free business advice
Exeter City Council has announced the engagement of BIP (Business Information Point) with their business partners Cosmic to deliver Business Advice Support from 1 April.
Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Council decided to pool their resources to provide a Business Advice Support service covering all four Local Authority areas. Tenders were sought from suitable providers in February. Three local businesses on the shortlist were interviewed by Economic Development Officers from all four local authorities.
By pooling their resources, the four Local Authorities were able to offer a 12 month annual contract of £100,000. This will allow them to provide free business support for new businesses (and businesses who have been trading for up to three years) for people living within East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge district council areas. There will be the added advantage of providing a consistent service over the region and a much greater opportunity for BIP to secure match funding to increase value for money.
The Interview panel was particularly impressed by BIP’s professional approach to meeting the agreed targets. Stewart Horne, Managing Director of BIP, said: “Under this contract, we are committed to set up business support workshops for 800 people. We are actually very positive that we will exceed this target and also the target of helping 160 new businesses in the Exeter and Heart of Devon area to create 240 new jobs. Our business advisers are very experienced at identifying the stumbling points that prevent new businesses to go on to be successful. We are very pleased to have won this tender and we are looking forward to exceeding our new clients’ expectations. Cosmic will be running digital workshops which we are delighted about as they have solid experience in this area.”
Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy & Culture at Exeter City Council said: “This is an exciting appointment and one which will help start-ups and even companies that have been trading for up to three years who, from time to time, require support. The Exeter and Heart of Devon area has an excellent track record for creating the right environment for new companies. With BIP’s help, the success of local SMEs should go from strength to strength!”
New start-ups in Exeter and the Heart of Devon area can find out more about the free help that they can obtain from this joint initiative by checking the websites below after 1 April 2016:
www.exeter.gov.uk/business/
https://new.middevon.gov.uk/business/
https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/business
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/business-and-investment/
