Purpose

A decision is sought to agree to an increase of £218,995 to the grant funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) to enable delivery of a Bristol Business and Enterprise Support service during year ending 31 March 2027. The service will include:
•business engagement activity including signposting to local, regional and national support
•a series of locally delivered workshops for entrepreneurs and business leaders to increase knowledge and skills around core business needs such as marketing , cashflow, business planning, use of AI, recruitment etc
•delivery of events for Bristol businesses to enable peer to peer sharing and development of awareness of the value of social value
• commissioning of 3-5 partners to support access to business support by under-represented groups

Decision

Approval to accept grant funding of £218,995 from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to enable delivery of a Bristol Business and Enterprise Support service during year ending 31 March 2027.

Alternative options considered

No alternative options. The decision is to receive MCA Investment Fund to deliver targeted business support activity in Bristol. The only alternative option is to do nothing which would mean a loss of the opportunity to deliver benefit to Bristol businesses in the current financial year as no alternative funding options exist.