Two new business support programmes worth a combined £19 million have been launched in Cornwall.

The Coaching for Growth and Cornwall Business Start-Up projects have been financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020. 

Both programmes will be delivered by Oxford Innovation, a specialist coaching company, in partnership with Unlocking Potential, part of The Cornwall College Group.

The fund which was established by the European Commission to help improve the competitiveness of small to medium sized enterprises by increasing their capacity and capability and supporting entrepreneurship.

Businesses with expansion plans after having traded for a minimum of 12 months will be eligible for the Coaching for Growth programme while brand new ventures will be supported in getting off the ground and continuing their development under the Cornwall Business Start-Up programme.

Oxford Innovation employs a team of coaches with commercial experience across a range of sectors. 

Between 2009 and 2015, the company delivered the Coaching for High Growth programme which, it says, saw more than 2,200 new jobs created.

Andrew Farmer, Oxford Innovation’s operations director, said:  ’We’re looking forward to working with an even wider range of Cornwall’s enterprise community from digital and software firms to hospitality and tourism businesses, manufacturers and engineering companies.’

Businesses wishing to find out more about the Coaching for Growth and Cornwall Business Start-Up programmes should call Oxford Innovation on 01872 300 116 or email [email protected].