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12 May 2009 - Access your slice of funding and make your business grow - Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

says Verity Biddick, Business Forward Specialist Skills Broker

Business Forward is a new European Social Fund Project with 100% funding available to business owners who work to improve their businesses performance whilst also becoming better qualified.

The project is exclusively available to a variety of rural businesses based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which are working in farriery.

Specialist Skills Broker, Verity Biddick, has been employed by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based industries, to help deliver Business Forward in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly working with different organisations and professionals in the county, including Agri-BIP and Duchy College.

Verity says:  "In essence, the project is a great opportunity for local businesses to access funded support for business planning and development, training opportunities and employment of apprentices in the rural sector throughout the county.

"As the Specialist Skills Broker I meet with local employers at their place of work and we talk about their business strategy and plans for the future.  In many cases, for example, the employer will tell me that they want to expand the business or develop a new outlet/enterprise.

"To progress new business ideas or strategies, the individual or business partners involved often want to drive the project forward themselves, rather than pay an independent consultant or agent to do all of the work for them. There are advantages to this approach, for example, working through and creating a business plan oneself can lead to more meaningful discussions with your bank manager over secured lending issues to get the project up and running. Ultimately, it is the business person who is responsible for making their development scheme a success, so the more knowledge and information they have at their fingertips, the better.

"Business Forward enables such individuals to progress their business ideas by way of creation of a business plan or marketing strategy or whatever is required, with fully funded guidance and support from industry experts in the county.

"This service is extremely valuable as it will enable business owners in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to explore and develop their own ideas.  Many people could find the idea of undertaking business planning themselves rather daunting without the knowledge and support of an expert, so this service will help individuals become more capable and professional in management of their own business and allow employers to make more informed decisions about their business.

"The aim of Business Forward is that the business project evolves within a course specification leading to an NVQ or VRQ.  In this way, not only does the individual develop their business skills but they also help improve the performance of their business as well as gaining a qualification.  The course fees are 100% funded, so the qualification in the management-related accreditation is a real bonus.   Participants can also study towards, for example, an NVQ or VRQ in agriculture or livestock production, rather than a course focusing on an area of business management.  By doing this through Business Forward, they could be eligible for 100% funding.

"As well as providing guidance on, for example, a business plan, which might be in the form of helping accurately assess the project costs or projected cash flows, the expert can also provide valuable industry contacts or links.  The consultant will visit the business to discuss the project in order to minimize the employers' time away from the work place.

"Business Forward also offers funding support for apprenticeship programmes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in a range of rural sector businesses. Apprenticeships are a package of learning whilst the apprentice is employed in a vocation and can offer employers a valuable and committed team member.

"Apprenticeships provide high quality vocational training to meet employers' demands for capable and motivated young people.  As well as training for the job on the job, a wide range of broader skills are also developed which include communication skills, IT, problem solving and working with others."

To find out if you are eligible and for more information please contact Verity on 07867 908 210 or email alternatively visit

www.lantra.co.uk/businessforward.