The Council's new programme, Hounslow Business First, will provide support to companies from start-ups to SMEs to help them sustain themselves during the current economic challenges.  

Hounslow Business First is delivered by CPG consulting and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).  

The comprehensive offering will help them grow with a variety of support services provided that have been tailored for young and newly developed businesses.  

The programme was officially launched at a special networking event for local business owners at the Loft Hounslow, the boroughs innovative meanwhile use marketplace at the Treaty Centre.  

Hounslow Business First follows four successful rounds of business support programmes delivered in response to the pandemic.  

Guests at the launch of Hounslow Business First (credit: Hounslow Council).

The new offer includes:  

• Coaching and mentoring – to support trading businesses to develop a strong business model for resilience and growth. 
• Digital Skills – growing capacity for businesses to 'harness digital' as a crucial element of business efficiency to support sustainability and growth. 
• Bidding for and winning contracts – support on how to win public and/or private sector tender opportunities, quality standards and consortia approaches. 
• Enterprise Readiness - enabling start-ups to test and take their product or service to market. Transforming hobbyists to entrepreneurs, from kitchen table to co-workspace.    
• The programme will involve a mixture of live events, online support, peer to peer learning and training, and one to one strategic growth sessions in a format that suit local businesses.  

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council said: "Hounslow is a fantastic place to do business, whether you have been operating for years with hundreds of staff and contracts or have a creative hobby that you want to take to the next level, there is the opportunity to thrive in Hounslow.  

"We understand the current challenges facing businesses and entrepreneurs and that's why our Business First support programme is designed to unlock new ideas and skills to maximise growth." 

He added: "In recent years, the Council has expanded our network of co-working spaces across the borough, such as Digital Dock, and I'm delighted these now help us to deliver fantastic programmes that help businesses shine. 

"We have an ambitious vision for the borough, and we are determined to create a fairer, more equal Hounslow. A healthy and robust local economy, offering well paid, good quality jobs for our residents is key to this and we'll continue to find new ways to keep our business community thriving." 

To get involved visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/business-support and sign up to the business e-newsletter via www.hounslow.gov.uk/getconnected. 

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