ESSEX County Council and Let’s Do Business Group launch Group2Grow, in support of Essex businesses

Applications open for dynamic programme of specialist business support, delivered by expert business coaches

Let’s Do Business, in partnership with Essex County Council, today announced the launch of a dynamic new program, Group2Grow. 

ECC has provided significant funding over two years to support ‘Backing Essex Business,’ which consists of a comprehensive portfolio of free business support for Essex businesses of all sizes and types. Group2Grow is a part of the Backing Essex Business portfolio and is fully funded for Essex businesses.

Backing Essex Business builds on the existing help ECC has funded over the last year, which has assisted more than 700 businesses and safeguarded and created more than 600 jobs.

Group2Grow is targeted to build upon and continue support for businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic; enabling recovery and ongoing growth; and in turn helping to create jobs and increase the prosperity and productivity of Essex.

Group2Grow is a new and exciting rapid results business support program, that harnesses the power of facilitated virtual peer group sessions, combined with one-to-one support, delivered by a professional Business Coach. 

Successful applicants will benefit from 8 x 2-hour facilitated online group sessions (typically every fortnight) as well as a total of three hours of one-to-one support from a business coach.

This combination of group and one-to-one business support is proven in producing outstanding results with positive economic impacts.

Graham Marley, Chief Executive of Let’s Do Business Group commented: “We are extremely excited to launch Group2Grow.  Essex is the county of Entrepreneurs and we expect some dynamic results from this program.

We’ve hand-picked the Business Coaches because they have a track record of helping businesses grow- moreover, they’ve each ‘walked the walk’ of running a business. 

Group2Grow is a perfect fit for the Essex business community and together with the other services delivered under Backing Essex Business, we are confident that this program will become fully subscribed very quickly.”

Councillor Lesley Wagland, Essex County Council, Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning at Essex County Council, said: “Group2Grow is another fantastic scheme to help businesses develop and thrive in Essex, by offering them the opportunity to seek advice and guidance from those who have previously overcome similar challenges or obstacles. 

“Group2Grow will complement the work that Essex County Council is already doing on economic renewal, in supporting and strengthening businesses across the County, and I am delighted to see this exciting programme moving forward. I would encourage businesses of all sizes to take advantage of the support that this scheme has to offer.”

There are a limited number of spaces available on Group2Grow which is open now for application registration at  https://backingessexbusiness.co.uk/peer-groups