Accelerate – supporting businesses in North Somerset Programme

Accelerate is a programme of targeted, flexible business and skills support. It will offer businesses and individuals across North Somerset free support to help them start-up, develop and grow.

The four established delivery partners are:

North Somerset Council – Business Voucher scheme.
Weston College – Bite-size workshops including; marketing, leadership, finance, business planning.
North Somerset Enterprise Agency – Outreach support for women, young entrepreneurs and rural businesses.
The Food and Drink Forum – Concept to launch & specialist food and drink workshops.

Accelerate will allow businesses to access a huge variety of support, e.g. bite size workshops, 6-week Leadership programme, 1 to 1 mentoring, and thematic events. Vouchers, up to a maximum of £2500, will enable businesses to select and pay for the professional support they need. The programme is designed to help support growth, job creation, productivity, product development, and business resilience.

Accelerate is open to all North Somerset businesses and sectors that find it difficult to access business support or have been significantly impacted by Covid and Brexit. Rural businesses, deprived communities, female entrepreneurs, 18–35-year-olds, creative industries, and food and drink manufacturers are being particularly targeted as we generally do not see a high uptake of support from these groups.

The programme is funded by the government’s Community Renewal Fund which aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK. The fund will create opportunities to trial new approaches and innovative ideas at the local level and will inform the future Shared Prosperity Fund.

For more information and to Register your interest please visit: innorthsomerset.co.uk/accelerate