EU funded training boost for Burnley business

Caroline Dakin and Sarah Brennan established Burnley-based Evolving Edge after more than 15 years working in learning and development for large organisations.

Evolving Edge specialises in management and development training for senior leaders within large businesses.

Caroline said: “Our aim is to work with big businesses where we can really make a difference and shape its culture. Sarah and I are both enjoying what we have created and our first year has been better than we could have imagined.

“We are both very passionate about what we do and the training we deliver, but we knew we needed some support to make sure we were focusing on the right things.

“Since setting up the business our client base has risen dramatically and we have even delivered work internationally. Having a business mentor helped us to develop and implement an ambitious growth plan.”

Since launching last December, the duo have delivered programmes nationally and internationally for businesses and schools. Eventually their aim is to take on more staff to carry out the training.

The firm has been supported by Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Mentoring programme. Boost is the name for the Lancashire Business Growth Hub.

It is led by the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The overall aim is to accelerate the growth of SMEs to stimulate new investment and job creation by identifying and removing the barriers to their growth.

Boost Business Lancashire has received £3.8m. of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF, established by the European Union.

For more information, visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.