New fully funded programme launched to support scaleup businesses to accelerate growth

Ambitious scaleup businesses in Lancashire are being invited to apply for a new programme fully funded by Lancashire County Council which is designed to help them accelerate their growth.

The Scaleup Leaders Network, led by Two Zero, the council’s support service for the county’s scaleup businesses, aims to help business owners and managers to accelerate their expansion through sustained growth coaching and peer group learning with other high-growth business leaders.

It will be delivered by business growth consultancy Cube Thinking and is open to 15 Lancashire scaleups which can demonstrate strong potential to accelerate their growth.

The support will run until the end of March 2023, giving business leaders access to up to 12 months of support. Participants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to benefit fully from the programme.

County councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, Lancashire County Council added: “The scaleup community is a vital part of Lancashire’s economy and I am hugely proud that through Lancashire County Council there is a funded support service targeted specifically at scaleup businesses.

“The Scaleup Leaders Network will build on the established scaleup support service offered by Two Zero. The benefits of the programme will not just be felt by participating business leaders, the growth of these companies will strengthen our supply chains, local jobs and economic prosperity.”

Scaleup Leaders Network aims to develop the leadership mindset and scaleup strategies of those on the programme through one-to-one coaching, group masterclasses on key topics and by providing facilitated peer learning to help them build long-lasting networks of likeminded business leaders.

The programme will help participants develop robust strategies for accessing finance and environment, social and governance (ESG). They will also learn to develop and refine their overall scaleup business strategy and will receive a full business health check, with support to improve business performance throughout the programme.

Scaleup Leaders Network builds on the success of Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence programme, a six-month programme which helped around 20 scaleup businesses return from the pandemic to full strength quickly during the pandemic.

The programme included well-known Lancashire scaleup business including Slingco, Matrix247 and Blackburn Distributions.

Stephen Pritchard, CEO at Matrix247, based in Rossendale said: “The Two Zero Scaleup Resurgence programme helped us to understand what we needed to put in place to realise our vision. It helped us to prepare our business in the right way for sustained growth.”

Lancashire businesses wishing to join Scaleup Leaders Network must meet a selection criterion and demonstrate scaleup activity already taking place within their businesses. Interested business owners can apply to join the programme by completing the online application form.