UCLan launches Centre for SME Development

Lancashire entrepreneurs are set to benefit from a new business support hub at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) which will enable small to medium sized enterprises to grow.

As a gateway to the University, the Centre for SME Development enables the region’s SMEs to access a range of support, including world-class expertise, workshops and networking events, consultancy, bespoke training and recruitment.

“The Centre for SME Development is going to play an important role in the local business community, and in turn the economy, by supplying the resources required to achieve success and growth, including fresh talent in the form of students and graduates, the expertise of academics and mentors and first-class facilities.”

Since setting up Green and Black’s in 1991 with her husband Craig Sams, Jo has helped build the ethical product into a worldwide brand worth almost £100m and regularly selected as one of Britain’s CoolBrands.

Jo Fairley said: “A very relevant piece of advice I always give to entrepreneurs is to take all the free help on offer to you, and there are some fantastic new opportunities opening up at UCLan via the Centre for SME Development. I certainly wish there had been something similar available to me when I was starting out.