Helping rural business to
start, develop and grow.
SCR Launchpad Service
Growing Rural Enterprise ran a free-to-use support service to help ambitious entrepreneurs set up and run successful new businesses in the Derbyshire Dales.
The project was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Derbyshire Dales District Council, and called the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Launchpad service.
It helped individuals thinking of starting a business, new businesses registered but not yet trading and businesses trading for up to 24 months who needed help with their growth plans.
The overall aim of the service was to increase economic growth and job creation through fostering the development of new businesses able to survive longer term.
For two and a half years (until April 2019) the service offered both one-to-one, face-to-face advice as well as a programme of events and workshops to eligible clients across the district. Mentoring support was also available through the main SCR Launchpad programme.
Growing Rural Enterprise ran two types of workshops both at our Head Office in Sudbury and other locations around the Derbyshire Dales:
Rural Enterprise Development Workshops
Each three-hour workshop helped participants to identify ‘where they are now, where they want to go and how they are going to get there.’
Everyone left with an individual Business Development Plan with realistic and achievable action points.
These were focused and targeted sessions for those who are thinking setting up a business, newly started enterprises and those who have been trading for a while (up to 2 years).
Going for Growth Workshops
Workshops for young businesses of less than 2 years, who felt ready to grow and were considering employing people.
This three-hour workshop helped participants think about job roles within their organisation, delegating and motivating others, team-building, leadership skills, the stages of recruitment and making the process work for them. Attendees created templates for simple job descriptions, people profiles, and contracts of employment and learnt effective interview and selection skills.