More than 650 entrepreneurs have been helped and 80-plus jobs created under the Enterprising West of England programme launched 18 months ago to assist with start-ups and scale-ups in Bristol and across the region.
The figure includes 440 aspiring entrepreneurs who were assisted at the pre start-up stage, while 18 of the jobs are in businesses that received a Scale-up Coaching grant from Business West, the region’s largest business support group and which also runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Initiative. 
This match-funded grant scheme enables business owners to progress their business strategy and leadership capacity with support from an external coach or specialist.
Among the 87 businesses to receive this was Bristol-based web design agency Appeal Digital. Co-founder Luke Trimmings, who successfully applied for a £2,040 match-funded grant last year, said: “Without support from Enterprising West of England we wouldn’t have had the acceleration in growth that we have had. We’ve gone from two co-founders to a team of six in 12 months, hiring a new person every three months.
“The grant enabled us to bring a best-in-class sales trainer into the business for one-to-one guidance and support. This led to us doubling our revenue and we are now working to grow the team and further build capacity in the business.”
Along with Business West, the Enterprising West of England programme – which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund – is run by The Prince’s Trust, YTKO Group, Bristol City, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils.
Support on offer ranges from match-funded coaching grants, workshops and business diagnostic sessions to one-to-one business advice.
The programme has a significant focus on equality and diversity – a key objective is to provide equality of access to business support services, with specific activities targeted towards young people (18-30 years old), disadvantaged areas and ethnic minorities.
For more information or to apply to receive support, visit www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/ewoe
