ESSEX County Council is running ten free-of-charge roadshows across the county to help businesses access vital funding for business growth.

The roadshows, which start this month, have been set up by the Essex County Council’s Essex Innovation Programme. They are being in run in partnership with other local councils.

The aim of each roadshow is to engage with businesses to understand their funding needs, give an overview of the funding that is available and introduce businesses to partners and organisations who can offer further assistance and advice.

Businesses will also have the chance to find out more about the Essex Innovation Programme – a business mentoring programme that helps businesses to suitably prepare for and to make funding applications.

Dates arranged so far are:

Thurrock, Tuesday 23 September, 11.30am to 2pm

Colchester, Tuesday 7 October (to be part of the Essex Chambers of Commerce ‘Discovering Business in Colchester’ Exhibition), 10am to 4pm

Uttlesford, Monday 15 October, times to be confirmed

Maldon, Thursday 23 October, 10am to 1pm

Brentwood, Monday, 29 October, 2pm to 6pm

Southend, Rochford and Castle Point, Thursday 6 November, 8am to 11.30am

Tendring, Tuesday 11 November, 9am to 1pm

Chelmsford and Maldon, Wednesday 12November, 10am to 1pm

Basildon , Thursday 20 November, 8am to 10am

Braintree, Friday 24 November, times to be confirmed

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “There are millions of pounds of funding available out there, but it’s sometimes difficult knowing how to get a share of it. These workshops have proved extremely helpful in the past to businesses in Essex, and I hope this autumn series will result in a new tranche of funding for businesses in the county.”

David Cunliffe, Director DCE Motorsports, attended one of the Essex Innovation Programme workshops earlier in the year. He said: “The event showed that for us as a SME that there is clearly funding available. So we’re here to find out more and drill down into what we can do and see the possibilities.”

To register for any of these events please go to www.Investessex.co.uk/events.