More than 100 businesses have benefited from free expert advice on the Bath Business Support Programme since it was launched last summer.
The scheme, delivered by business growth consultancy Cool Ventures, provides free intensive support to small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups across Bath and North East Somerset.
They benefit from one-to-one coaching from specialist advisers and access to workshops on key topics including business planning, finance, marketing and management.
The 100th business to enrol on the support programme is Bath Water, which was set up by husband-and-wife team Mark and Rachel Allen and their business partner Jonathan Willis. The firm’s bottled spring water is drawn from organic land on the Mendip Hills, where Bath’s famous thermal water originates.
Cool Ventures adviser Roger Wilkins is working with Mark and Rachel, who are now looking to expand their retail and export business, as well as their range of bottled water.
Mark said: “Roger has helped us develop a business plan which has saved us an awful lot of time crunching the numbers and working out our projections for the next five years.
“That’s been invaluable in helping us develop the business case to promote to investors and gives us the focus we need.”
Other firms supported by the programme so far include some from the creative sector, such as web developers and graphic designers, and a variety of food and drink businesses, including catering firms and cake and condiment makers.
Roger, who is a director of Cool Ventures, said: “Supporting more than 100 growing businesses in the few months since the business support programme launched has exceeded our expectations.
“It shows that despite the current economic uncertainty, the entrepreneurial spirit in the Bath area is alive and well. Our job is to ensure that fledgling firms and more established businesses looking to take things to the next level have the essential skills and knowledge they need to grow and develop.”
The Bath Business Support Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and members of the Enterprising West of England consortium, which includes Bath & North East Somerset Council.
For more information about the free business support offered through the Bath Business Support Programme contact Cool Ventures on 01225 580850 or email info@coolventures.co.uk
Pictured: Cool Ventures adviser Roger Wilkins, left, with Rachel and Mark Allen from Bath Water
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