Warwickshire business support scheme targeting companies in north of county after helping firms in rest of region

Innovative companies in the north of Warwickshire are being encouraged to take advantage of a successful business support scheme in 2025 which has already helped hundreds grow elsewhere in the county.

Business Ready, delivered by the University of Warwick Science Park, is primarily aimed at innovative and ambitious SMEs with good potential for growth, and helps them access finance, benefit from one-to-one mentoring, receive advice on investment, and much more.

In 2024, the programme helped more than 300 businesses across Warwickshire, delivering more than 1,000 hours of consultation.

However, the majority of SMEs helped by Business Ready have either been based in the districts or boroughs of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, and Rugby. Only a few firms in Nuneaton & Bedworth and North Warwickshire have engaged with the programme so far.

Ian McFarlane-Toms, Business Ready Programme Manager, said: “The majority of demand for mentoring support has come from SMEs based in the districts or boroughs of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, and Rugby.  With our limited resources this has meant that only a few firms in Nuneaton & Bedworth and North Warwickshire have benefitted from engaging with our programme. 

“To date, who shouts loudest gets the most attention.  But we are committed to help level up the whole of the county and Business Ready is planning a bigger drive to work with more businesses in these two areas.”

Business Ready has been working with Becky Evans and Carol Ingleston, at North Warwickshire Borough Council and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council respectively, to organise events for SMEs to attend in 2025.

Firms in North Warwickshire can access an AI workshop at Coleshill Town Hall on Thursday 30th January between 10am and 12 noon, while Nuneaton & Bedworth businesses can exhibit at a careers fair event at The Bermuda Phoenix Centre on Thursday 10th April. More events are expected to follow.

Ian added: “Business Ready has achieved fantastic results for so many companies across Warwickshire, but it’s fair to say the distribution of SMEs we have supported is skewed towards the south of the county.

“After hitting our engagement targets in those areas with months to spare, we’re now diverting our resources to help create demand for firms in either Nuneaton & Bedworth or North Warwickshire to access the same level of support which has benefitted so many in the rest of the region.

“After significantly boosting engagement in Rugby this year by hosting well-attended business events at Benn Hall and having positive conversations with Rugby Borough Council, we are hoping to achieve similar success further north.

“Business Ready has been transformative to so many companies in Warwickshire, and we want to do all we can to ensure businesses in the entirety of the county are getting access to the programme.

“We’d encourage young businesses in Nuneaton & Bedworth and North Warwickshire that would benefit from advice and support around growth to contact the team.”

Councillor Martin Watson, portfolio holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Business Ready programme mirrors our ambitions to support Warwickshire’s businesses to grow and develop.

“The programme offers a range of specialist support to help businesses develop their knowledge and expertise, helping to take them to the next level. I encourage our local businesses looking for support to get in touch and make the most of the tools and support available.”

Councillor Margaret Bell, Chair of the Community and Environment Board at North Warwickshire Borough Council said: “Business Ready is an excellent initiative designed to equip businesses with essential start-up knowledge, particularly for emerging ventures that can greatly benefit from expert advice and support.

“I strongly encourage local businesses in North Warwickshire to take full advantage of these valuable resources, as we are committed to supporting and celebrating the success of businesses across North Warwickshire.”

Business Ready forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is delivered by University of Warwick Science Park on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils. The programme is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (via the District and Borough Councils), and Warwickshire County Council.

Find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visit the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub website.