BizSmart® to host virtual event with BBC Apprentice winner to celebrate launch of free business support programme in Lancashire

Leading business support provider, BizSmart®, will host a free virtual event this month with BBC Apprentice winner, Mark Wright, to mark the launch of a Government initiative designed to help Lancashire businesses achieve their growth ambitions.

Taking place on Wednesday 20th October, the event is part of BizSmart’s® offering for the ‘Peer Networks’ programme, created by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which aims to encourage local business leaders to invest in their companies’ growth and development by working closely with like-minded peers.

The event will reveal what Lancashire business leaders can expect from peer-to-peer learning and how it could help them, and will include an exclusive talk from Mark Wright, providing insight into his journey to growing a £5m turnover business and his own personal experiences of peer-to-peer support.

Available to business owners with five or more employees, the Peer Networks programme will commence in Lancashire this October and will see many Lancashire firms benefit.

The programme is supported by Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, and each business owner accepted onto it will receive 18 hours of facilitated group support from BizSmart®, together with a minimum of 3.5 hours of one-to-one guidance.

Kevin Brent, founder and managing director of BizSmart®, said: “Following the success of our Peer Networks rollout in Worcestershire and the neighbouring marches, we are delighted that we have been chosen to support the Lancashire business community through the initiative.

“The upcoming virtual event will provide Lancashire businesses with the opportunity to learn more about the free Government initiative, as well as hear Mark Wright’s experience of building his business and the role peer-to-peer support has played.”

Guest speaker, Mark Wright, said: “I am looking forward to speaking to the business leaders of Lancashire to share the story of how I grew my business, Climb Online, to what it is today.

“I am a great advocate for peer-to-peer support and collaboration, and it is something that has really helped me throughout my business journey.

“There are always others who have been through the same challenges as you, and peer-to-peer support provides you with the opportunity to speak to these individuals and learn from them, whilst strengthening your business connections at the same time.”

To find out more and to register your interest for the free introductory event, please email [email protected]