Funded by the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) the funding will support and resource economic activity assisting businesses to reach their growth potential.
Businesses attending will be able to find out more about £1.2m of funding (South Essex Business Growth Grant) that is available across the Borough to small and medium sized enterprises, including start-ups, to support business growth.
A £120,000 ‘innovation voucher’ scheme is also being launched which will give local firms access to specialists from the University of Essex and Anglia Ruskin University to help them improve their performance, develop new methods and innovations, widen their markets, and increase productivity. Vouchers of up to £5,000 will be made available to help businesses access the best possible advice, research and support.
A new calendar of workshops and events to be delivered by Essex Chambers of Commerce will also be funded through the programme and businesses will be able to register their details to find out more.
All this information and much more will be available on the new one-stop-shop website for businesses www.businesssouthend.co.uk which will be unveiled at the event.
The funding is being made available thanks to the Southend City Deal and Regional Growth Fund being run by the Government.
Key speakers at the event will include the Chief Executive of the Council, Rob Tinlin and Mark Baumann the chef and co-owner of Bourgee and Baumanns Brasserie, who is an early recipient of RGF funding. Brooks Newmark, MP for Braintree and Small Business Ambassador will also be in attendance and take part in a panel session with Mark Baumann and the Council’s Corporate Director for Place, Andrew Lewis.
Cllr Graham Longley, Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “The funding that we have available offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to grow, be more innovative, improve performance and raise profit margins.
“There is a wide range of support available, and this event will help them to find out more, so I would urge local business people to attend.
“The overall project will help to create and safeguard over 500 jobs and will engage over 1,300 local businesses.”
For more information about the event visit: www.businesssouthend.co.uk or email:southendbusiness@southend.gov.uk.