Jobs created and improved productivity among outcomes of business support scheme

Image by Megan Rexazin Conde from Pixabay

A brewery seeking to upscale its brewing capacity, a televised events company wishing to further invest in training for its rigger teams and a portable toilet company seeking to implement new systems are among enterprises in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire reporting positive impact from support received from The East Midlands Chamber.

The High Growth Accelerator project is for high-performing businesses that have achieved at least 20% annual growth in revenue, employment or market share over each of the past three years.

The project has received £455,249 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to enable businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham to access expert insight. It is delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of EMCCA (the East Midlands Combined County Authority).

Alongside the High Growth forums and series of workshops on Growth Builders and Growth Drivers, delivered in partnership with the University of Derby, University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, the Chamber has launched a new tranche of High Growth digital workshops that will run until the project’s end in March 2026.

East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford said: “It’s a tall order for a rapidly growing business to introduce wholesale changes to key areas such as strategy, profitability and company-wide implementation of AI when sales delivery often needs to be its firm focus.

“With the guidance of an East Midlands Chamber business adviser, however, scaling businesses have been able to tap into the expert knowledge they need – not only from EMCCA’s High Growth and Export Accelerator projects but also from the Derbyshire and Nottingham Accelerator projects and from signposting to national projects such Help to Grow: Management, Innovate UK Business Growth, Create Growth and Made Smarter East Midlands.

“It’s testament to the quality of the experts involved that so many businesses have reported a positive impact on employment, productivity and new products and services – all within the project’s first nine months of operation.

“It’s only a matter of weeks now before the support comes to an end. If they haven’t done so already, I would urge any high growth business to take advantage of the skills on offer to help secure their long-term growth.”

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward said: “I’m ecstatic that after just nine months, 230 local businesses have joined the High Growth Accelerator.

“Of these, 47 have already created new jobs, 37 have increased their productivity, 29 have received grants, and 25 have improved their products or services! 111 businesses have also accessed one-to-one support or exclusive events, forums, and workshops.

“If you own a growing business in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire: this programme works, and you have until March 2026 to take advantage of it.”