Solent LEP offers mentoring to help creative industries bounce back

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership is offering bespoke business support to companies in the creative sector, to help realise the enormous potential within the creative sector to bounce back quickly, create new jobs and make a significant contribution to the UK's economic recovery.

SJ Hunt (pictured), deputy chair of the Solent LEP and chair of the Solent LEP's Business Task Force, said: "The creative industries are at the heart of the Solent's economic recovery and our ambitions to create an environment where the visitor and cultural economy can thrive.  

"I'm really pleased we're able to offer a tailored approach so small operations in the creative sector can benefit from the Solent LEP's valuable business support at a time when they are having to adapt like never before. The list of trades within the sector criteria is broad, from design, creative, entertainment, performing arts, broadcasting, software programming, computer games and publishing to name just a few, so please do get in touch with our team to find out how we can help."

Nationally, the UK’s Creative Industries have the potential to create 300,000 new jobs by 2025 and could contribute £132.1 billion to the economy in GVA, bouncing back faster than the wider economy and driving the UK’s economic recovery. In recognition that creative industries need greater flexibility in the criteria to qualify for small business support, the Solent LEP is encouraging businesses to explore how its local Peer Network programme can help.

The Solent LEP Local Business Support Network programme, Peer Networks, involves small cohorts of individuals working collaboratively through common business issues, discussing challenges and implementing practical solutions. Groups are carefully constructed to take account of business competitiveness and sensitivities. 

The national programme of peer-to-peer networking is delivered locally through the LEP using expert facilitators, and is aimed at SME leaders, managers and decision makers who want to grow and develop their organisation for future success. It offers businesses in the Solent the opportunity to learn from other's experience and build trusted connections by getting involved in local networks and taking part in free, tailor-made sessions as part of the Solent LEP's Local Business Support Network programme.