The owner of a growing Burnley HR consultancy business has urged businesses not to miss out on a fully-funded business support programme from Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub.

Boost, which has been helping businesses for more than 10 years, announced a new strategic partnership in November 2023 with Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council to give businesses in the borough access to its fully-funded businesses support services.

The partnership, which runs until March 2025, means Burnley companies can access four fully funded growth programmes which help businesses start, grow, scale and access the finance they need to reach their potential.

Lisa Sourbutts is managing director of Cube HR, based on Empire Way, which received support from Boost’s startup programme shortly after launching the business in 2017. Through the service, Lisa was assigned a business adviser and gained support through one-to-one advice and targeted masterclass events which helped her develop the skills to manage and grow her business.

placeholder image — Lisa Sourbutts, Cube HR

Cube has since expanded steadily, increasing turnover and staff and Lisa contacted Boost again in 2021 and 2023 for further help as the business continued to expand. She has received help through from Boost’s mentoring and Peer Networks programmes as well as the Growth Catalyst programme to support the company’s ongoing growth and help grow her network of contacts.

She said: “The support from Boost when I first began Cube HR and also as the company grew was invaluable. The Growth Hub’s team of experts can help you develop skills which are instantly transferable into the business and the network I’ve gained through Boost has also helped me gain confidence as a leader.”

Cube has grown from just Lisa to six members of staff, has won a number of Lancashire business awards including Service Business of the Year at the BIBAs and Small Business of the Year at the Burnley Business Awards. The company is continuing to expand and grow its services and client base from its offices at Empire Way.

Lisa added: “There’s nothing to lose from contacting Boost and so much you can gain which can help your business, whether its advice, new networks or support to gain growth funding – don’t miss out!”

Boost was previously funded by Lancashire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Since November, it has been funded by Lancashire County Council alongside 10 contributing local authorities in Lancashire: Burnley Council as well as Blackburn with Darwen Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire and Wyre Council.

Boost Access to Finance, managed by Lancashire County Council is one of the services available to businesses in Burnley. It gives ambitious business with a desire to grow access to impartial and specialist advice from former bank managers and finance experts to understand their funding options, source and secure finance.

Among the other programmes Burnley businesses can access is Boost Growth Catalyst, which supports established businesses over three years old to take their business to the next level through a combination of one-to one support as well as masterclasses and peer group sessions.

Scale to Thrive is an exclusive service for businesses over £1m turnover looking to grow 20 per cent per year or those with future scaleup projections. Businesses on the programme are assigned a dedicated scaleup adviser who will work with them, including to create a bespoke scaleup action plan. The support is then tailored to this plan.

Flying Start helps people start a new business or grow a young business through a combination of coaching, mentoring and leadership development. It is delivered by business and social enterprise support organisation Selnet.

Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, leader, Burnley Council said: “Boost has been operating in Burnley for over 10 years and has helped hundreds of businesses in our district over this time. The Growth Hub’s reputation for providing the right business support to businesses at the right time is the reason we chose to invest Burnley’s UK Shared Prosperity Funding in this partnership with Boost, so that we can help contribute to more Burnley success stories like Cube HR.”

In addition to its four targeted support programmes, the Growth Hub also operates a specialist Business Support Helpdesk which offers advice and guidance on available local, national and sector business support as well as a Business Advice Service which matches a business with an adviser and includes a business review, a business support action plan, business clinics and regular updates.

County Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, Lancashire County Council, said: “Lancashire County Council has provided funding for Boost since its inception in 2013 and has helped more than 14,000 business during this time, including Cube HR.

“We have provided £1.25m in funding to Boost as part of the current programme and our partnership with Burnley Council means that, together, we will provide funding through Boost to support businesses in the district at each stage of their journey. Given this partnership currently ends in March 2025, our message to businesses is clear – take advantage of this support while it is available!”