{"id":67513,"date":"2025-10-13T10:58:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T09:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=67513"},"modified":"2025-10-15T10:59:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:59:54","slug":"prosper-business-support-programme-extended-to-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/prosper-business-support-programme-extended-to-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Prosper business support programme extended to March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>We are pleased to announce the extension of our successful <em>Prosper<\/em> business support programme until March 2026, offering a vital lifeline to entrepreneurs and small businesses across East Devon, Mid Devon and Exeter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Delivered in partnership with East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council, Exeter City Council and the Growth Hub, <em>Prosper<\/em> provides fully funded, tailored support to help local businesses navigate rising costs, recruitment challenges and the fast pace of digital change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The initiative is open to start-ups, sole traders, micro businesses, SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs, and is delivered by trusted local partners Business Information Point (BIP) and Cosmic. Businesses can access between 4 and 12 hours of support, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One-to-one sessions with experienced business advisors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interactive workshops and peer networks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sector-specific events tailored to local industries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Support is shaped around each business\u2019s unique needs, with examples including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start-up guidance: confidence-building, tackling barriers, and planning essentials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business health checks: reviewing plans, finances, markets and growth opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practical workshops: covering bid writing, AI for productivity, and more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specialist advice: on funding, marketing, HR and recruitment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sector-specific sessions: focused on tourism, food &amp; drink, hospitality, retail and construction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The programme has already helped hundreds of businesses across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Ginny, founder of Virginia\u2019s Furniture Hire, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese one-to-one sessions are gold for a small business. The advice I received was practical, tailored and immediately useful \u2013 it gave me confidence and the push I needed to overcome business challenges.\u201d<br><br>\u201cHaving that support free of charge is incredible, and I\u2019d encourage anyone running or starting a business to take advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_acf-block-68ef70967ab0d\" class=\"councillor-quote align-right dcc grid-x\">\r\n\t<blockquote class=\"councillor-quote-blockquote medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n                    <div class=\"councillor-quote-title\"><p>Councillor Simon Clist, Cabinet Member with responsibility for economic growth, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n        \t\t<div class=\"councillor-quote-text\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\u201cProsper is about unlocking the potential of our local economy by supporting the people at its heart \u2013 our entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\u201cBy offering free, expert guidance at a time when many are facing rising costs, skills shortages and the need to adapt, we are helping businesses across East Devon, Mid Devon and Exeter to build resilience and seize new opportunities.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\u201cI am delighted that the scheme has been extended and would encourage all businesses and entrepreneurs to sign up now via the Growth Hub.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n        <div class=\"councillor-quote-aside medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"councillor-quote-image grid-x\">\r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"small-6 cell medium-12\" src=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/UserData\/3\/7\/5\/Info00011573\/bigpic.jpg\" alt=\"Councillor Simon Clist\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption class=\"councillor-quote-description small-6 cell medium-12\" >\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=11573\" rel=\"noopener\">Councillor Simon Clist, Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n            <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p><br>Businesses and entrepreneurs can sign up now via, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk\/prosper-sign-up\/\" rel=\"noopener\">www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk\/prosper-sign-up\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Prosper has received \u00a3181,790 from the UK government through the <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>UKSPF proactively supports the delivery of the UK government\u2019s five national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":67514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy-and-skills"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":67514,"title":"News Page size (42)","alt":"Advert for the Prosper programme. 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