Peer Networks returns to help businesses help each other

Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, is bringing back the Peer Networks programme which helped support 300 business leaders during a pilot in October 2020.

The programme, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will bring together 35 groups of 11 business leaders to solve common challenges and create powerful long-term networks.

They groups will enable business owners and managers to learn from each other, improve their business performance and gain insight from private sector experts.

They will be facilitated by key organisations from Lancashire’s business support community including the Northern Automotive Alliance, Northern Power Women and Marketing Lancashire.

In addition to helping the participating businesses learn from each other, the facilitators will provide specific one-to-one mentoring or coaching to help each participant develop and grow their business.

Andrew Leeming, programme manager, Boost said: "In Lancashire, the Peer Networks pilot helped more than 320 business leaders to learn from each other to solve shared challenges. That came at a critical time in Lancashire’s economy as businesses began their recovery journey.

"We’re pleased that we will be able to work with Lancashire’s quality business support community once again to bring together 35 new groups of Lancashire business owners and managers – helping them learn from each other, develop and grow.

"The knowledge they will gain, and the long-lasting relationships that Peer Networks will create will bring continued growth in the county over the coming years."

The fully-funded scheme is available to Lancashire businesses more than a year old employing more than five people, with a turnover of more than £100,000 and an appetite to improve.

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