Growth Platform have launched the ‘Ambitious LCR List’ showcasing business growth impact of the LCR High Growth Programme.
The Liverpool City Region (LCR) High Growth Programme coordinated by Growth Platform – Liverpool City Region Growth Company and run in partnership with Edge Hill University and St Helens Chamber has been supporting businesses from across the region who have demonstrated high growth potential over the last 18 months.
Through a range of support measures including guidance from account managers, access to the High Growth Innovation Fund, the SME Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC) and Capital Growth Fund, the programme has so far worked with 120 ambitious local businesses wanting to develop their business growth strategy.
The programme which is part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has already helped to create over 300 jobs, brought new innovation to market, and brought around £12million in private investment – with further impact expected by the close of the programme at the end of this month.
To highlight the achievements of some of the businesses taking part in the programme, Growth Platform has announced the ‘Ambitious LCR List’. The ‘ones to watch’ and ‘list leaders’ were announced at the ‘Future Ambition’ celebration event held at Oh Me Oh My in Liverpool on 8th June.
The event hosted by broadcast journalist Ellie Phillips included a fireside chat with innovation expert Professor Simon Bolton who indicated that while there are only around 500 businesses in LCR classed as ‘High Growth’, there are a further 10-13,000 with high growth potential who, with support, could have a massive impact on the local economy. Professor Bolton talked about “data literacy” being a core driver of business growth saying “It is the one parameter that helps a business unlock their innovation potential”.
A panel of local entrepreneurs and innovators including Rod Wah of Beverston Engineering, Jennifer Fenner of Defproc Engineering, Ben Sweeney of Vidivet and Tony Caldeira of Caldeira Ltd, spoke about the impact of business support on their growth journey.
Rod Wah emphasised the importance of networking for growing your business, admitting in the early days he had seen it as “a waste of time”, but now realising “the benefits” that come from networking such as “finding out what other businesses are doing and how they are doing it” and getting out of your “little business bubble”.
Ben add that “What Liverpool businesses do well, is we support one another” reflecting on joining the ‘Peer Networks’ programme with Growth Platform, pushing him forward into the role of ‘business leader’.
Jennifer Fenner advised the businesses in the room to “always have an idea of what you what to achieve by having a business. Work from your end point backwards to work out how you will get there and always be looking for more opportunities” and reflected on how bespoke business support programmes have proven game changing for their business.
Tony, who pivoted his cushion manufacturing business to developing PPE during the pandemic before accessing capital growth funds to expand since spoke about smart ways to turn sustainability into cost savings and money in your pocket having seen the benefits of solar panels for his business. He advised businesses to “keep the focus on the customer” and keep asking “why is my business special”.
The Ambitious LCR list is split into six categories: Tech for Good; Digitalisation; Global Cultural Capital; Zero Carbon Economy; Open Health Innovation; and Delivering a Sustainable & Industrial Future.
The businesses nominated have all made big strides over the course of the programme – whether that be expanding their team, pioneering new technology, significantly increasing turnover or making huge progress in their sustainability agenda and were selected by the team who have worked alongside them.
The businesses inducted into the inaugural Ambitious LCR List are:
Delivering a sustainable industrial future
Ones to watch: Abbey Eng LLP and Make CIC
List leader: Dowhigh Ltd
Open Health Innovation
Ones to watch: Barerooms and Viz box
List Leader: Biograd.
Global Cultural Capital
Joint List Leaders: Adlib Audio and Sound City
Zero Carbon Economy
Ones to watch are: Avrenim and Heptron Manufacturing Limited
List Leader: Armada Technologies Ltd
Tech for Good
Ones to watch: Hybrid Technical Services and Lead 5050
List Leader: Fifty Eight
Digitalisation
Ones to watch are: Prime Atlantic Ltd and Lavasource
List leaders: The Progress Group
Janice Mears, Head of Business Growth at Growth Platform said
“It is no secret that the last few years have been extremely tough for our business community, but through the LCR High Growth Programme we have seen the incredible resilience, ambition and drive of our region’s business leaders. The innovation from using AI technology to strides in sustainability, aerospace, health tech and manufacturing we’ve seen through the programme has been incredible and we felt it important to celebrate that.
We’ve developed #AmbitiousLCR campaigns and events over the last year to showcase the amazing work happening and create an atmosphere of business growth ambition. Now, through launching the Ambitious LCR List we are creating a legacy of the programme that will help to establish Liverpool City Region as a hub of ambition, innovation and economic growth.
We are incredibly proud of not only the businesses mentioned in the list, but every business who has worked with the team to turn their business growth ambition into tangible growth outcomes, and look forward to seeing them continue to thrive from here as part of our #AmbitiousLCR community.”
View the full #AmbitiousLCR list along with comments from the business leaders on how the LCR High Growth Programme has impacted their work.