Project Plan for Business Support in Leatherhead
Purpose of Project
To provide business support and advice to local businesses, especially small, micro and start-ups businesses, in Leatherhead and part of a co-ordinated programme.
Background
Enhancing physical access to the town centre and over coming physical barriers to those who wish to shop or conduct business in Leatherhead is one aspect of the SEEDA bid. Enhancing access to information for businesses, especially small businesses, is the other aspect of the project.
Small business in particular may feel isolated and unsure of where to go for advice. These types of business are vulnerable to changing economic and business climates. They may stand a better change of surviving with business support from experts in various aspects of business development. With good advice, readily available, the retention of small businesses may be improved.
Business advice would also be available for pre-start up businesses to stimulate new enterprise and employment.
The project will widen Business Links contacts and involvement in Surrey and provide additional contacts between Town Centre management and the business community.
What Would Be Provided?
A programme of events covering a number of aspects of business development: innovation, internet and web-based business, manufacturing, sustainable business, start up advice, export skills, business development, excellence in retailing, signposting and brokering other business services and one-to-one business mentoring
The programme would be launched with monthly events for the first 6 months and bimonthly events for the following year
The programme would be developed with Business Link and the District Council’s Economic Development Manager and the Town Centre manager
There would be targeted promotion of the programme by email and hard copy programmes, chamber newsletter, TCM newsletter, Council newsletter, press etc
Events would be organised in different ways: business breakfast, chamber meetings, local one-to-one clinics, business seminars
Healthcheck References
Objective 2 – To improve the vitality of the town and the surrounding area in a way which recognises the different needs of the residents in the town and in the villages.
Action EC3.1 – develop facilities for entrepreneurs to start and develop their own businesses
Action EC3.4 – investigate opportunities … for further education, financial literacy training etc
Outline of Project Plan
March – September 07
Develop programme and arrange venues
Develop and implement marketing and publicity through existing publicity outlets (TCM newsletter, Chamber newsletter, Council newspaper). Prepare news releases.
September 07 – February 08
Monthly events held interspersed with one-to-one clinics
Assessment of the events held to date
February 2008-February 2009
Event organised every 2 months interspersed with one-to-one clinics
Project Costs
Marketing and Publicity and Admin Support £2,500
Venue Hire and Refreshments £2,000
Speaker Costs based on a rate of £350 per day £2,500
Project Income
Co-ordination from staff at Business Link and Leatherhead Town Centre Management
SEEDA Grant £7,500