We have a standalone page focussing on digital support for business please click on the link below. There is a wealth of support that we can refer businesses to, to help you thrive and grow. Digital Support for Businesses
If you would like to know more about any of the organisations or programmes listed below, please contact us and we will provide more information.
Access to Finance programmes
LCR Finance Hub: Free and impartial service to advise LCR businesses on securing finance that is bespoke to their needs across LAs.
Delivery Partner: MSIF
Contact: George Wright, Investment Manager – Finance Hub Lead
info@lcrfinancehub.co.uk
Flexible Growth Fund: Up to £1m (per business) for capital investment projects. Repayable Loan finance.
Delivery Partner: River Capital
Contact: Jeff Cummins, Investment Manager
jeff.cummins@rivercapitaluk.com
Gateway Angels (LCR Business Angel Network): Angel investment that bring mentoring and money to start-up and scale-up businesses.
Delivery Partner: MSIF
Contact: Katie Nicholson – Director LCR Angels Network
katie.nicholson@msif.co.uk
LCR Seed Fund: Sector agnostic equity fund for early-stage LCR businesses looking to grow with an alternative to debt funding
Potential launch May 2025
Contact: Sion.Davies@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
Staff wellbeing
Fair Employment Charter
By joining the Fair Employment Charter you’ll send a strong message to staff, customers, partners and the public that your organisation is committed to the principle of fair employment, and you can also demonstrate key social value actions and commitments which are often necessary when applying for funding and other opportunities to help your organisation grow and develop.
More information on the Fair Employment Charter:
www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/fair-employment
fairemployment@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
A5 Leaflet Fair Employment Charter
Living Well Sefton
Funding and training opportunities from Living Well Sefton include:
Workplace Wellbeing Grants
SMEs can receive up to £500 to support their colleagues’ wellbeing, whether that’s through developing the breakroom or a team building day. Grants are awarded year round and you can find out more information here:
Make Every Contact Count training
We deliver Make Every Contact Count for anyone working in a public facing role to help them gain the skills and knowledge to deliver ‘Healthy Chats’ and support the health and wellbeing of Sefton residents.
More information and contact Living Well Sefton here:
http://www.livingwellsefton.org.uk/grants.html
http://www.livingwellsefton.org.uk/training.html
LWS@seftoncvs.org.uk
Active Workforce
Active Workforce is Sefton’s health and well being programme for businesses to help their staff to be active and healthy during working hours, and reduce their absence through sickness and poor health.
Contact Active Workforce:
www.sefton.gov.uk/sport-leisure/active-workforce
active.workforce@sefton.gov.uk
Construction businesses
CITB is the Construction Industry Training Board for businesses in the construction sector. CITB aims to to help the construction industry attract talent and to support skills development through various training programmes and funding schemes.
Contact CITB:
www.citb.co.uk
Starting a business
Contact investsefton@sefton.gov.uk for information on starting a business
Skills & Training
Who’s it for?
Any LCR based employer
What’s available?
A team of impartial Skills Brokers can help businesses to access funding, local grants and government incentive schemes to help up-skill or re-skill employees. They can also support recruitment of new apprentices as well as identifying apprenticeship routes for existing employees.
Delivery Partner: LCR CA
Contact: Skills Brokerage (Alison Russell, Siobhan Grosscurth or Joe Keegan)
Skills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps for the Workplace provide flexible hands-on courses of up to 16 weeks in duration, which are part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda and Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/skills-bootcamps
Sefton@Work
The employer liaison team at Sefton@Work can support your business with recruiting staff, this is a free, bespoke service saving you money on agency fees.
Contact Sefton@Work:
Email: seftonatwork.info@sefton.gov.uk
Sefton@Work website
Sefton Caring Business Charter
Hosted within Sefton@Work, the Caring Business Charter was set up to raise the aspirations and attainment for looked after children or young people leaving local authority care. The team are looking for employers to sign up to the charter to offer site visits, taster days, work experience, mentoring , jobs or Apprenticeships.
More information on the Caring Business Charter:
www.sefton.gov.uk/business/caring-business-charter
Elevate Education Business Partnership (EBP)
Supporting local businesses with staff development, social responsibility, and community connection by linking them with education and young people. Visit Erryn and Tina at their stand, check out last year’s report, and explore exciting opportunities like staff training, Primary and Secondary school sponsorship and volunteering, and the upcoming work experience placements for two Sefton schools.
Contact Elevate EBP:
www.elevate-ebp.co.uk
info@elevate-ebp.co.uk
Sefton Corporate Learning Centre
The Sefton Corporate Learning Centre (SCLC) are based in Ainsdale and easily accessible by road and public transport. They deliver high quality training to individuals working across the public, private, voluntary, community and faith sectors – via face to face, eLearning and virtually at competitive prices.
Contact the SCLC:
www.seftonclc.co.uk
training.services@sefton.gov.uk
Volunteer Centre Sefton
Volunteer Centre Sefton is part of Sefton CVS, connecting those that are looking to volunteer with organisations that need volunteers. They also facilitate employer supporting volunteering throughout the borough.
Contact Volunteer Centre Sefton:
volunteeringsefton.org.uk
info@volunteeringsefton.org.uk
LCR Careers Hub
The Liverpool City Region Careers Hub joins the dots between education and business in the region.
Contact: careershub@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
University Programmes
Eco I North West
The Eco-I North West programme supports businesses in the North West develop low carbon innovation and skills, and to support ‘green’ economic growth.
Contact the Eco I North West team:
EcoInnovatory@ljmu.ac.uk
Eco-I Northwest | Liverpool John Moores University (ljmu.ac.uk)
Horizons Project
The Horizons Project (funded by UKSPF) has been launched in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Edge Hill University, to offer bespoke support for SME’s to increase productivity, access knowledge transfer workshops and adopt emerging technologies.
Contact the Horizons team: hello@lcrhorizons.co.uk or visit: www.lcrhorizons.co.uk
LCR Graduate Scheme
Connecting local graduate talent with SMEs across the Liverpool City Region
Who’s it for
- Businesses based in one of the 6 boroughs of the Liverpool City Region with less than 250 registered employees
- Businesses willing to extend a permanent offer of employment
- Businesses willing to offer a graduate level role with potential for career progression
Contact the LCR Graduate team:
LCRGradScheme@liverpool.ac.uk
LCR Grad – LCR Grad Scheme
Edge Hill – Productivity and Innovation Centre- Innovation Sprint Programme
This is a fully-funded intensive 60 hr programme for established SMEs in the LCR who are looking to scale-up the business. The intervention works 1-2-1 with to develop a strategy to transform you into a high-growth, high-productivity business.
Contact the Innovation Sprint Programme team:
pic@edgehill.ac.uk
SME Productivity & Innovation Centre – Edge Hill University
Innovation Programmes
Baltic Ventures: Bespoke and high intensity support and equity investment for early-stage tech businesses based in LCR across LAs. Applications are open to all tech companies (sub-sector agnostic). A significant opportunity to join a global community.
Delivery Partner: Baltic Ventures
Contact: Claire Lewis – CEO
claire@balticventures.uk
LYVA Labs: Driving growth and innovation across Liverpool City Region. Commercialisation vehicle for Health and Life Science and Deep Tech rooted, LCR-based businesses with challenge funds as well as consultant expertise. Support to help starts ups and innovators.
Delivery Partner: LYVA Labs
Contact: Lorna Green – CEO
lorna.green@lyvalabs.com
Hugh Baird College- Apprenticeship Department
Offers support with growing your talent pool and upskilling your workforce.
Contact the Apprenticeship team:
enquiries-bdc@hughbaird.ac.uk
Apprenticeships | Hugh Baird College
University of Liverpool Management School
The University of Liverpool Management School can help support business via academic research, student placements and leadership and management courses for business leaders. They are delivering the Help to Grow: Management Programme with cohorts starting in September 2023 and March 2024.
More info on the Help to Grow: Management Programme or register a place:
Help to Grow Management – Management School – University of Liverpool
Other programmes and organisations
BIPC (Business & Intellectual Property Centre ) Liverpool City Region
Based in Central Library Liverpool, the BIPC provides information and support to anyone starting or growing a business. They have specialist intellectual property services to help people protect their ideas through trademarks, patents, copyright and so on. The team also run a programme of online and physical workshops, one to one advice sessions. networking and other events to allow entrepreneurs to learn, develop and connect with others. Alongside this there are weekly ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ clinics held every Thursday afternoon from 1pm-4pm in Central Library.
Contact the BIPC team:
libraries.enquiries@liverpool.gov.uk
Business and IP Centre National Network | The British Library (bl.uk)
Build a Better business for Manufacturers
Businesses will receive support over a 12 month period, beginning with a diagnostic selection, followed by workshops that cover each course module.
Who’s it for?
- Minimum of 10 employees
- A turnover of £1million – £20m million
- An objective to grow turnover by 20% year on year
- Commitment to invest time and resources to the whole programme
More info on Build a Better Business for Manufacturers:
Build a Better Business for Manufacturers | Growth Platform
Export
Focus to help businesses increase export activity. This programme will also provide match funded small discretionary grants to enable SMEs across key growth sectors/clusters to engage and explore new export markets for goods and services. Up to £5,500 max grant per business toward a max of 50% of costs. (NB. Very small pot available for export grants – approximately 30 grants can be approved.)
Delivery Partner: LCR Chambers of Commerce & Growth Platform
Contacts: Elena Enciso – Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk
Supply Chain
Focus to Increase the level of sales achieved by LCR SMEs with larger businesses, Tier 1 contractors and anchor institutions across the area as well as national or international supply chain opportunities. Activity will inform and link into the cluster board and new Business & Enterprise Board being set up by the CA.
Delivery Partner: Growth Platform + external delivery partner TBC
Contacts: Craig Donaldson – Supply Chain Executive
craig.donaldson@growthplatform.org
Innovate UK Edge
Innovate UK EDGE is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in businesses that drive economic growth.
It is a publicly-funded service available to all high potential small to medium sized innovation-led companies, Including Innovate UK grant winners. It provides specialist-led support for high-potential ambitious businesses who would benefit from the objective perspective of a dedicated innovation and growth specialist local to them. Each specialist provides bespoke support to the business, working closely with its leadership, in helping to identify the most productive ways to accelerate growth.
Key priority areas include:
More info and contact the Innovate UK Edge team:
Innovate UK EDGE (ukri.org)
Inward Investment
Promotion of the LCR as a place to invest, working with Place Based Teams. Targeting new investment opportunities guided by the supply chain activity.
Delivery Partner: Growth Platform
Contacts: Gavin Quinn – Head of Commercial Development
gavin.quinn@growthplatform.org
LCR Connect
LCR Connect is the new fully fibre digital infrastructure from Southport to Aintree through Bootle to the city centre and across the city region. It’s underpinning some of the City Region’s most exciting businesses, at the heart of growth, investment and innovation.
More info and contact the LCR Connect team:
LCR Connect | Part of the Faster Britain Network
hello@LCRConnect.com
Made Smarter
Supporting and enabling manufacturers to drive growth and productivity through the adoption of industrial digitalisation technologies.
This programme is for manufacturers across the North West who are open to embracing new tech for growth.
More info:
UK Digital Manufacturing advice & innovation | Made Smarter
LCR Local Growth Hub – High Growth Account Management
Who’s it for?
- High growth & potential high growth established businesses
- Fewer than 250 employees, less than £40m T/O
What’s included?
- Bespoke service business needs led
- In depth diagnostic & growth plan development
- Access to specialist support & connected to Place Based Business Support
- If eligible for export grant, provided with procurement guidance
Delivery Partner: Growth Platform
Contact: highgrowth@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk (Claire Pedersen and Paul Radcliffe)
Supporting Socially Trading Organisations & Social Economy support
Kindred: Investment vehicle and business support for socially-trading organisations across LCR.
Delivery Partner: Kindred
Contact: Nicola Higham Nicola@kindred-lcr.co.uk
Jennifer Van Der Merwe jennifer@kindred-lcr.co.uk
Leadership and Management for Digital, Creative and Tech Sector
Gather Programme: Business Scaleup programme for digital, creative, tech and tech enabled businesses across the LCR.
Delivery Partner: FORM
Contact: Matt Johnson – MD matt@form.studio
Sarah Goulden – Project Director sarah@form.studio
Merseyside Cyber Security Programme
Merseyside Police have funded this programme to provide cyber security support for small businesses in Merseyside.
Contact: info@nwcrc.co.uk
Royal Academy of Engineering – Enterprise Hub
We work with a range of engineering and technology entrepreneurs to help them startup, spinout and scale-up. As a charity, all our programmes are free of charge and we take zero equity.
Dream High is a non-profit community-based organisation, which exists to provide free and confidential support to both budding start-up entrepreneurs and established businesses. From helping to develop business ideas, to supporting existing businesses to face challenges and seize opportunities.
debbie@dreamhigh.org.uk
07738559170
A state-of-the-art facility in Liverpool Science Park in the heart of the city, where we collaborate closely with Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool. Helping manufacturers in the North West region stay competitive, improve product development & processes and benefit from new technologies.
Contract: enquiries@the-mtc.org
Phone: (0) 24 7670 1600
LJMU Legal Advice Centre
The School of Law runs a Legal Advice Centre open to members of the public, staff and students. We are one of the only law schools in the UK where every student has the opportunity to get pro bono work experience from their first year onward. Our University believes that even the most junior lawyer has a duty to give back to society.
Sci-Tech Daresbury
Sci-Tech Daresbury is the home of pioneering science, technology and business.
Contact: info@sci-techdaresbury.com