#HereForBusiness support package helping Greater Manchester companies take the heat out of the energy crisis

Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub has launched a new support package to help local businesses to manage the increasing cost of doing business.

Working together with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Local Enterprise Partnership, local authorities and business representative organisations, #HereForBusiness brings together support available to Greater Manchester businesses along with practical solutions they can take to deal with energy price rises and other increasing costs.  

The support package launched with the first of series of webinars on 11 October. The initial webinar explained the detail and limits of the government’s Energy Plan for Business, how to approach your next energy contract and what immediate actions businesses can take during this six-month price intervention window to reduce their energy and other costs.  

This was followed by the second webinar on 18 October which focused on what businesses can do to reduce energy costs. Both webinars were attended by over 200 businesses and sectors from across the country.

Further webinars and workshops are planned which will help companies develop a plan to respond to the current economic situation. Aimed at Greater Manchester businesses, these sessions will focus on areas including energy management, financial planning, and people and cost management.

A dedicated website has been launched which includes useful information and advice on what support is available, blogs and case studies.

Other activity includes:

• Further webinars and workshops which will help companies develop a plan to respond to the current economic situation, focussing on areas such as energy management, financial planning, and people and cost management.

• One to one support from advisors, supporting businesses with practical solutions to the immediate challenges businesses are facing, along with longer-term planning, bespoke to their sector

• Access to Finance, which works with businesses to understand their costs, their cashflow and their income patterns with the aim of helping business owners understand where efficiencies can be made, where costs can be reduced and enabling the finance cycle to work in the best way for the business.

Janine Smith, Director of the Business Growth Hub, said: “In difficult times, the Greater Manchester business community has already shown that it can come together to find collective support and guidance. The GC Business Growth Hub is proud to be working with our Greater Manchester partners, in continuing to make that happen, supporting businesses through the current crisis.

“Rising energy prices and other cost of living challenges is impacting all of us in our personal and professional lives. Businesses need to know that support is here to help them respond in the right way to survive and thrive in these circumstances. For some businesses the immediate future will involve managing through the current crisis whilst others it will be a focus on ensuring they can realise their growth plans.

“From webinars and workshops to one-to-one business support, #HereForBusiness will ensure that businesses can access this help and guidance in a variety of forms to suit their needs and those of their particular sector. All of the support will be designed to give them the insights and practical tips to make a real, immediate difference.”

View and register for the webinar series here.