Enterprising Coventry will invest £7 million to city businesses and residents over the next two years.
The scheme, which is a partnership between Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Amazon Initiatives and the Women’s Business Development Agency to name a few, will supply a range of support to boost business and enterprise in the city.
Enterprising Coventry is designed to help unemployed people back into work, deliver business start-up support and also aid existing businesses. It will also offer business support to community and voluntary organisations to help them survive and grow through the current climate and beyond.
The initiative is designed to follow the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) which ran in the city for three years. Carl Pearson, vice chair of the Enterprising Coventry board, said: “Coventry has a reputation for being enterprising and we want to help that continue to blossom.
“Enterprising Coventry has been entirely designed to help that happen right across the board and to build on the good work that has been taking place over the last three years.
“There is a focus on helping people back into work by equipping them with the personal skills they need, and also giving support to those who would like to start their own businesses.
“Micro businesses are vitally important to the economy and in times when job opportunities are tight, people do look to strike out on their own. Enterprising Coventry is well positioned to help people who are considering that course of action.”
Pearson added that some tailored grants would be available for existing businesses. “We want to ensure that help will be available to the businesses which need it the most which is especially important in these economic conditions.
“There will be some match-funded grants available where there is a clear business benefit to be gained.
“A great deal of good work has been delivered over the last three years ranging from helping individuals who may have been out of the workplace for many years, through to helping 644 businesses and assisting 401 business starting-up.”
