Established firms can make most of Boost

By Andrew Leeming, Boost programme manager.

One of the aspects of my role that pleases me most is getting out and having lots of conversations with Lancashire’s growing businesses.

The ambitious business owners I speak to are often surprised at the quality and depth of support that’s on offer from Boost.

Sometimes they go on to reveal they “thought Boost was aimed purely at start-ups or small businesses”.

This familiar refrain is one aspect of Boost I’m happy to set the record straight on.

While it’s true that Boost does offer great support to start-up businesses, we have just as much, if not more, to offer established businesses.

Indeed, 80% of the businesses supported by Boost so far have been established businesses.

For example, we provided growth mentoring support to Preston-based EKM Systems, who employ more than 75 people, and are the UK’s largest cloud-based eCommerce platform, powering more than 30,000 online shops worldwide.

Boost assisted Burnley-based BCW Engineering, a company established in 2002 and now employing over 150 staff, in securing a £200,000 loan from Lancashire County Council’s Rosebud Finance.

We also provided support to allow Lantex, a second-generation family textile business founded in 1918, to protect its intellectual property and aid business growth.

It makes me incredibly proud that we can support such prestigious and established Lancashire-based businesses.

We support businesses of many shapes and sizes. Whether you’re an ambitious start-up, a well-established businesses, or somewhere in between. So, my message is that if you’ve been thinking that Boost has nothing to offer your business, give us a call and see how we can help.