Local businesses in Preston will be helped by a business scale-up resurgence plan funded by Lancashire County Council.

21 of Lancashire’s most ambitious firms who employ almost 450 staff between them have been accepted on to Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence programme, which is fully funded by the Council and delivered by business performance consultancy Cube Thinking.

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Alison Handling Services, Clayton Legal and Slater Safety Supplies are among the Preston-based businesses being helped in the three-month county wide scheme.

The three-month programme is tailored to the needs of Lancashire’s fastest-growing companies. It aims to give them the tools to recover quicker from the effects of Covid-19 and return to their high-growth trajectory.

Managing Director of Clayton Legal, a Preston city centre company being helped by the scheme, Lynn Sedgwick says the opportunity will help the business meet its goals.

She said: “Since lockdown at the end of March, when all our future sales disappeared, the strategic focus needed has been key to gain momentum and thrive through this period and planning for the future

“The opportunity to add more to this strategic thinking and positioning through gaining input from Cube Thinking through this scheme is very exciting and will help us achieve our business goals sooner rather than later.

“To work with an experienced world class intervention team will really add to what we have achieved so far during this period alone.”

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The programme is specifically designed for scale-up business in Lancashire, those achieving sustained 20 per cent year-on-year growth.

Amin Vepari, programme manager, Two Zero said: “The impressive demand we have seen for the Two Zero Scaleup Resurgence programme from a wealth of household names in Lancashire business is heart-warming.

“It shows the ambition right across the county to knuckle down, work together and return stronger from the huge challenges of recent months.

“We have handpicked 21 of Lancashire’s most exciting and ambitious firms to benefit from Scaleup Resurgence. We believe providing tailored support to these businesses to return to growth quicker will bring huge economic benefits to the whole county as it continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”

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Two Zero is a partner of Boost; Lancashire’s business growth hub and several of the businesses on the programme have already benefitted from Boost support.

County councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, Lancashire County Council, said: “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Lancashire County Council has made funds available to ensure all Lancashire businesses can receive support and advice.

“Boost has already helped more than 6,000 business leaders through the challenges they have faced over recent months.

“Fast-growing businesses are vital to Lancashire’s economy. They generate wealth in local supply chains and create jobs for Lancashire residents. Two Zero Scaleup Resurgence will provide bespoke support to help them return to their growth trajectory quicker, supporting economic prosperity across the county.”

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Support begins this month and includes intense resilience coaching, quality leadership lessons and targeted peer learning with other fast-growing businesses.

Businesses who have been accepted onto the programme have also signed up to Two Zero’s ‘Giving back to business’ pledge. This encourages them to become an active member of Lancashire’s scale-up community in ways such as promoting Lancashire County Council’s business support offers to contacts who would benefit.

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What do you think about the opportunity? Let us know in the comments.