Greenborough has extensive experience of designing, bidding for, managing, delivering and evaluating programmes and projects using a range of public funds.
We have also designed our own business support programmes, for example 10×10® Business Accelerator Programme (www.10by10.co.uk)
Greenborough are delighted to have been chosen to design, manage and deliver the last 4 versions of the Northern Max Business Accelerator Programme for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. This exciting project, modeled on our 10×10® business accelerator (www.10by10.co.uk) is aimed at supporting early stage, high growth digital and technology businesses from the Leeds City Region. In 2019/20 and in 2020/21 these programmes had to be migrated to a fully on-line delivery model. In 2022 and 2023 we reverted to a face-to-face model and we are thrilled to say that we have been asked to deliver another programme in 2024 under new funding with West Yorkshire Combined Authority! The new programme will be delivered equally across Leeds and Bradford, providing more opportunities for growing businesses. With additional support, and peer networking, built in these programmes delivered excellent outputs, outcomes and impact.
Greenborough have been delivering the Investment Readiness programme across Greater Lincolnshire since 2012, helping hundreds of businesses raise the grant, debt and equity investment that they needed to grow. We founded the Taming the Dragons pitching event, and will shortly be running our 10th iteration of this excellent pitching competition. Since 2016, we have been delivering the ERDF funded Investment Readiness (this funding has now come to an end) stream of the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub, helping 546 businesses; running 78 seminars, workshops and events; developing an investor network; partnered with 87 intermediaries and hosted numerous investment surgeries. Our clients have, between them raised over £14.8m in grant, debt and equity and also appeared on TV’s Dragons Den!
Since 2019, Greenborough have had a contract with the Productivity Programme for Greater Lincolnshire (ERDF funded). In this programme we support the University of Lincoln in the delivery of productivity based business support and, to date, have helped more than 180 businesses to improve their business growth through productivity improvements.
The West Yorkshire Fair Work Charter is an ambitious new initiative to support and celebrate the great employers from across the region. Designed for employers of all sizes and across all sectors, the Charter helps to promote and recognise the positive impact of fair work on businesses and their people.
The Derby Innovation Accelerator program aims to establish Angel Investment and Investor Networks in the region. Greenborough Management Limited will be involved in the ‘Access to Angel and Investor Networks’ stream, helping businesses understand equity investment and prepare their core documentation for investors. As Enterprise Advisors, Greenborough will be beside them involved in the programme, coaching them as they prepare for their investment pitch.
The programme will provide coaching, mentoring, workshops, and pitch events to develop the local investor network, delivered through various channels.
Academic Commercialisation for University of Lincoln
Working throughout 2023/4 we have been supporting the Research and Enterprise Team at the University of Lincoln to help get academic research staff to be more aware of commercialisation opportunities – whether through contract research, product or service sales, IP licensing, IP assignments or spin-out activities.
Through a series of subject-focused workshops, skills development sessions and one-to-one coaching we have supported a number of academics to develop their idea along the “technology-readiness” ladder, progressing towards TRL6/7.
Already, 2 of the academics have been successful in securing significant grant funding (UKRI and others) to further develop their products.
We are in discussions with the University to extend our service contract for a further year.
University of LincolnGreenborough Management are supporting the University of Lincoln with designing, and delivering workshops for academics to help them commercialise their research portfolios. Our team will also support bidding for grants, as well as facilitate executive development workshops for industry. As part of this project, University of Lincoln will create a showcase event to highlight and promote their agritech research activities. Greenborough will be widely involved in this aspect.
Greenborough holds the 5 year contract for the management and delivery of the Greater Lincolnshire Growth Fund, providing grants of between £150,000 and £500,000 to businesses in the GLLEP Priority Sectors that are planning to undertake “transformational change” capital projects. We have worked with the GLLEP partners to create and implement the grant management process from cradle to grave, and our role also includes post-award monitoring.
We support WLDC with the management and delivery of a number of funded business support programmes including a grant funded shop-front improvement scheme; the Gainsborough Growth Fund; a business rates relief scheme for the Food Enterprise Zones and a commercial loan scheme. We have partnered with West Lindsey for more than 5 years.
Working with partners across Lincolnshire, Greenborough is delighted to have supported the improvement in numeracy across the County as part of the fully-funded national MULTIPLY programme.
With a focus on “Business Numeracy”, Greenborough supported 3 levels of workshops aimed at business owners and staff who have a limited understanding of how the numbers work in business. To read more about the Multiply programme, read our latest blog – here.
Since 2016 we have held the brokerage contract for the Grants 4 Growth programme across the whole of Lincolnshire, helping small and medium enterprises access capital growth funding towards their investment in plant and machinery. Our role includes marketing the programme, assessing eligibility and fit, supporting and evaluating the Expressions of Interest and presenting supported applications to the fortnightly Grant Panel for approval. We also help grant beneficiaries with their claims, ensuring that funds are drawn down in accordance with the grant award.
These back-to-back, multi-University, ERDF funded projects aimed at increasing the number of graduate start-ups through our University partners in the East Midlands. With £5.73 million of funding across the 2 programmes, over a 6 year period, we provided the critical project management and direction; managed the bursary and grant payment processes; tracked beneficiary recruitment and throughput; undertook all quarterly claims; managed the annual monitoring and audit processes and drafted the funding applications with and for the University partners. Over the 6 years, more than 450 new businesses were created and supported.
This was a £1.31 million ERDF project supporting knowledge transfer from 3 of the Region’s Universities into the small and medium business community by way of graduate placements for periods of up to 12 months. Greenborugh’s role was as project manager, claim manager, marketer and compliance officer.
This 2 year project supported small and medium enterprises across the East Lindsey District by providing focused and bespoke business support, advice and guidance. Much of the advice provided was in response to the lack of business growth finance, and the unpreparedness of many of the businesses to approach finance options.
An 18 month ERDF funded programme to help businesses across the County of Lincolnshire to improve their understanding of their own barriers to business growth and to raise the awareness of, and appetite for, a range of business growth funding options.
This 12 month pilot to the Innovation Programme for Greater Lincolnshire was delivered by Greenborough in response to regional need for further investment in business innovation, research and development.
Greenborough provided the contracted Proposal Development and Assessment service to this RGF4 funded programme, aimed at supporting large scale capital investment by businesses in the Lincoln “travel to work” area. Our role was to recruit the business applicants, work with them to create a credible application and present that application – as advocates – to an independent panel to award the investment.
For this RGF5 funded programme, aimed at helping businesses to exit Incubation and Innovation Centres across 7 Local Enterprise Partnership areas in the UK, offered capital grants towards property acquisition. Working with the University of Lincoln (who took over the programme management from UKBI), we provide the technical grant appraisal services and have subsequently been commissioned to provide detailed post-award monitoring.
Will the idea fly or is it just pie in the sky?
Before any investment is made in a project or idea, it is vital that a good feasibility study is completed. This should cover the local area, finances, trends, demographics, historical materials and lots of other things to ensure the project can succeed in the market and area you’re looking at.
Here at Greenborough, we use proven and robust research methodologies, and the latest stats, to accurately map demand and effectiveness.
Utilising a fresh pair of eyes plus our expertise and resources, we’ve delivered feasibility studies for a huge range of different projects, ensuring that the strengths and weaknesses of a suggested venture are objectively and rationally uncovered.
Perhaps your business could benefit from mentoring?
Greenborough Management has successfully mentored start-up, early stage and growing businesses for over two decades. Our team has been involved with the Derby Create Growth programme (two cohorts), worked alongside the ‘Investment Readiness’ programme as part of Innovative Entrepreneurs Programme (partnering University of Leeds) and more. Contact our team to learn more.
We’re happy to advise and find the best solution that will get you the growth you need.
These are some of the funds we’re directly involved in securing for your business growth. If you need something more bespoke we’re happy to help.