The Forest of Dean Growth Hub opens its doors

Already serving the county’s 26,000 businesses through its network of business coaches and advisors, the local enterprise-funded Growth Hub network now has a Forest of Dean base.

The Forest of Dean Growth Hub officially opened the doors to its latest centre at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean on Friday 8 October 2021.

The workspace, meeting place and port of call for SMEs looking to plug into its expert knowledge and support, joins its other branches in Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Cirencester, with a Cheltenham Growth Hub due to open in 2022.

‘If I were looking to grow my business, where or who would I turn to? The answer is The Growth Hub.

‘A place where you can get specialist advice, receive the help you need, and have access to resources you didn’t know existed. It’s an incredible project to be a part of,’ said Tom El-Shawk, one of the business navigators at the new Growth Hub.

Freya Lake, a business host at the Vantage Point venue, said: ‘There is nothing like The Growth Hub in the Forest of Dean currently. It’s a brilliant resource for all small and medium-sized businesses to use.

‘When businesses come to The Growth Hub, they can expect free business support, help with their business plans and they can even use The Growth Hub as a space to grow their business.’

The new Growth Hub was due to be opened by Forest of Dean MP, Mark Harper chief executive of GFirst LEP, David Owen, and managing director of Forest-headquartered BMJ International Ltd, Kevan Spencer.

As well as support and advice, The Growth Hub Forest of Dean has spaces for incubation offices, co-working, hot-desking and breakout areas and welcomes SMEs of all sizes.

Read more: Digital October events for businesses launched by The Growth Hub

By Andrew Merrell

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