Blue Orchid Enterprise Solutions will shortly be launching and managing a new SME grant programme funded by European Regional Development Fund on behalf of C&W LEP. This event is aimed at suppliers of consultancy services across Cheshire and Warrington so they can understand the rules and process of this grant.

The C&W Covid Recovery Consultancy Support Grant will support those SME businesses across Cheshire & Warrington that have seen their business significantly curtailed by the Covid 19 pandemic through its impact upon their business model, target market or customer demand to adapt to the unprecedented level of change they are currently encountering.

Given the high level of demand that we anticipate for these grants, the enhanced due diligence requirements of managing 100% funded support and the additional application requirements that will be required to demonstrate Covid impact, we will be hosting a number of supplier engagement events to coincide with the project launch.

These events will provide local consultants and business service with relevant information on the projects aims and eligibility criteria to communicate to offer to their networks, as well as information on how the SME grant applicants will procure suppliers to deliver their projects.

The C&W Covid Recovery Consultancy Support Grant will provide grants of up to 100% of the cost of consultancy support (to a maximum value of £5,000).

It is anticipated these grants will be provided to SMEs for consultancy support in a wide range of specialisms which will be assist the business in their recovery efforts, examples such as;

• Marketing including Promotional Campaigns, Branding & Design Work, Marketing Materials, Marketing Strategies and Market Research, in order to engage customers, enter new markets and communicate new trading conditions

• Digital Services including website development & build, e-commerce functions & electronic payments systems, mobile apps, search engine optimisation, web-campaigns, video material and virtual tours.

• HR, Financial & Legal Services where the business can demonstrate that these are used to restructure, adapt and address the changes to business practices arising from the Corona Virus.

• Business Management & Strategic planning consultancy including activities to support management teams in diversification into new sectors and markets, change management programmes & restructure

• Product development & Process Management consultancy including advice and guidance on the development & production of new products, changes to production lines and facilities to support social distancing; sales, product specification and marketing to enter into new markets, etc.