Isle of Wight: Solent LEP to host grant-funding support event for local businesses

Businesses from across the Solent are being urged to take advantage of the third ‘business support pit-stop’ taking place on the Isle of Wight next month.

On January 16, from 10.30am - 2pm, a number of business support organisations will come together at UKSA in Cowes to give businesses old and new a chance to get help on a wide range of business issues in one place. The event follows two successful business support mornings in Portsmouth and Southampton.

Those attending will have the opportunity to meet with a range of business support organisations to discuss everything from assistance with exporting and applying for business loans and grants, to staff training and more.

The event, organised by the Solent LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), will also feature networking opportunities and presentations from the Solent LEP and the Solent Growth Hub on the funding support on offer.

Councillor Ian Stephens, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said: "Solent LEP's business support event is a prime opportunity for businesses based on the Isle of Wight to receive information face-to-face on grant funding and available support. Businesses that operate on the island may not always find time to go to the mainland for this type of event, so it's very positive that the road show events have come to us. The chance to get individual feedback on applications should not be missed by island companies."

Steve Futter, from Solent LEP, added: "It was fantastic to be able to provide face-to-face feedback to the applicants of our various funds at previous business support events. We are delighted to be able to bring our business support service to the Isle of Wight, which has a really innovative SME base with the potential to take full advantage of the support on offer."

The Solent LEP team will also be available for pre-booked one-to-one meetings after the presentations for individuals who have submitted an expression of interest form for any LEP funding programme.

Places can be booked by email: events@solentlep.org.uk, and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, with a maximum of two places per organisation.