The Growth Hub will continue to provide fully funded business support for every district in Gloucestershire for years to come, while its services will continue to evolve through innovation, digitalisation and future-ready training – with more than £500,000 of vital funding now secured.
The county's business support network – which has helped more than 16,000 businesses to thrive and grow since its foundation in 2014 – has been supported by the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in recent years, but that funding comes to an end in April 2026.
Gloucestershire County Council, on behalf of the county's six districts, recently applied for more than £500,000 from the Gloucestershire City Region Board's Strategic Economic Development Fund, to fund a business navigator for each of the six Growth Hubs in the county.
And in January, the board approved £252,000 for the 2026/27 financial year and a further £282,600 for 2027/28.
The funding not only secures The Growth Hub's future in Gloucestershire, but opens the door for transformation – allowing it to invest in new approaches, including:
- Expanding digitalised learning and on‑demand training, making the opportunities to upskill even more accessible and flexible for time‑pressed business owners
- Building upon collaborative innovation‑led support programmes, through advanced tech adoption and specialist advisors
- Providing additional, personalised support through smarter data and digital tools, offering resources and self‑serve tools to help businesses get support whenever they need it
- Widening direct signposting to national learning and training platforms; and integration with other government funded business support services
- Deeper collaboration with partnership and business support organisations, careers and skills and an expanded specialist Net Zero offer
- Maximising its mentoring programme to support ambitious, high-growth businesses across the county
Councillor Julian Tooke, chair of the City Region Board and cabinet member for business, economic development, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council, said: 'This is very welcome news and a real boost for Gloucestershire’s business community.
'Our Growth Hubs play a vital role in helping local businesses start up, grow and adapt and they have a proven track record of creating jobs and supporting innovation.
'Securing this funding means the hubs can stay open in every district, providing trusted, face-to-face support where it is needed most. I’m pleased the City Region Board recognised the value of this work and approved the full funding request.'
The funding comes from a ring-fenced pot generated through the county’s business rates pool, designed to support projects that drive economic growth across Gloucestershire.
The support will fund The Growth Hub's business advisors until April 2028, when a new local government structure comes into place.
Its digital-driven next phase builds on an already strong foundation for the network, which has welcomed more than 45,000 visitors and delivered over 1,700 training events to date, at its six hubs in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean, Stroud and Tewkesbury.
Find out how The Growth Hub can help support your Gloucestershire business, at thegrowthhub.biz.
