Boost Business

What Boost Business does

Boost Business Lancashire is the publicly funded Business Growth Hub for Lancashire, England, operated by Lancashire County Council and delivered in partnership with all 14 other Lancashire local authorities. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Preston, the entity runs a free, single-point-of-access service that connects small and medium-sized businesses across the county to publicly and privately delivered support — including funding, skills, digital adoption, innovation, and sector-specific expertise. Its service portfolio comprises a Business Support Helpdesk (0800 488 0057), a comprehensive online Support Directory, regional business clinics held in every Lancashire district, events, workshops and masterclasses, the Boost & Co private-sector partner network (including YOLO Wellbeing, Six Connections, Creating Cadence), the Scaleup Hub, Women in Enterprise, the Boost Flying Start startup course, the Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse monthly intelligence report, and the Boost Knowledge Hub.

The underlying technology is intentionally minimal: the service is described as a "coordination and referral platform rather than a technology company," anchored on a website-based Support Directory and CRM-style tracking of helpdesk enquiries. Headcount sits at 11–50 staff, supporting reported impact metrics of 20,000 businesses supported, £130m+ of economic value added to the Lancashire economy, 3,700 professional jobs created, and a 95% client-satisfaction rate. The customer base is intentionally broad — Lancashire SMEs from start-up to scaleup stage, including dedicated programming for women-led businesses and community-focused enterprises.

The business model is non-commercial in the conventional sense. Boost Business Lancashire charges no fees and earns no revenue from clients; it is "fully publicly funded" by Lancashire County Council with co-funding from partner local authorities and grant funding such as the £2.3m Future Ready Fund awarded to the Lancashire Careers Hub. Adjacent grant and capital channels — Rosebud Business Finance, River Capital, FW Capital, Allica Bank, Lendedge, and the planned North West Mutual Bank — provide complementary financing to Lancashire businesses referred through Boost but sit outside Boost's own P&L. As such, Boost is structurally a coordination and signposting layer for the regional economy rather than a venture- or equity-investible commercial entity.

Name

Boost Business

Legal name

Boost Business Lancashire

Website

https://boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boost Business Lancashire is a publicly funded, Lancashire County Council–operated Growth Hub that provides free business support — helpdesk, regional clinics, Support Directory, events, and partner referrals — to Lancashire SMEs from start-up through scaleup stage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Boost Business Lancashire is a fully publicly funded service. It is funded by Lancashire County Council and delivered in partnership with local authorities across Lancashire (Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre). The service is free at the point of use for Lancashire businesses.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Boost Business Lancashire is a publicly funded business growth hub that delivers free advisory support, an online Support Directory, and coordinated programmes to Lancashire-based businesses. Services span the full business lifecycle — Flying Start for startups, the Scaleup Hub for growth-stage businesses, Women in Enterprise, regional business clinics, events, workshops, and direct referrals to Boost & Co private sector specialists and funding partners. The service connects businesses with funding providers (Rosebud, River Capital, FW Capital, Allica Bank), universities (Lancaster, Edge Hill, UCLan), AMRC North West, and specialist support organizations.

Product overview

Boost Business Lancashire is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub, providing a unified platform of business support services delivered through multiple interconnected programs. The core offering consists of a Business Support Helpdesk, a comprehensive Support Directory of partner services, and the Boost & Co private sector partner network. Additional programs include the Scaleup Hub for growth-stage businesses, Women in Enterprise support, and the Boost Flying Start startup course. The service portfolio is complemented by the Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse monthly intelligence report and the Boost Knowledge Hub for insights. Together, these services address the full business lifecycle from startup through scaleup, covering funding, skills, recruitment, digital adoption, and sector-specific support across Lancashire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boost & Co: Private sector partners providing business support services
• Scaleup Hub
• Women in Enterprise
• Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse

Products and services

• Business Support Helpdesk A dedicated telephone and online helpdesk (0800 488 0057) providing free advice and guidance to Lancashire businesses on funding, premises, digital adoption, startup assistance, and connecting to other Boost programmes; handled nearly 100 enquiries in May 2026 with 80% from new clients.
• Support Directory A comprehensive online directory of business support services available across Lancashire, covering areas including AI and data technology, advanced manufacturing, digital skills, funding, recruitment, and specialized sector support.
• Boost & Co A curated network of private sector partners providing specialised business support services including wellbeing, finance, marketing, HR, and growth advisory to Lancashire businesses.
• Scaleup Hub Support services specifically designed for scaling businesses in Lancashire, helping companies at the growth stage to expand operations, increase revenue, and access investment readiness support.
• Women in Enterprise A dedicated support programme for women entrepreneurs in Lancashire, providing resources, networking opportunities, and access to role models and peer support for female-led businesses.
• Boost Flying Start A comprehensive startup course for Lancashire residents covering business essentials, marketing, financial management, and networking to support new entrepreneurs through the early stages of business formation.

Quantifiable outcome

• £130m+ economic value added to Lancashire
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Lancashire County CouncilcoreOthersPrimary funder and parent organization of Boost Business Lancashire. Provides overall governance and funding for the service.
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Blackpool Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Burnley Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Chorley Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Fylde CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Hyndburn Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Lancaster City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Pendle Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Preston City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Ribble Valley Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Rossendale Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• South Ribble Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• West Lancashire Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Wyre Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner providing co-funding and local delivery of business support services.
• Growth LancashirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoost Lancashire's Growth Hub partner providing business growth support services.
• FreshfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoost Lancashire's Growth Hub partner providing marketing and content services.
• Boost & Co (Private Sector Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of private sector business advisers providing expertise to Boost clients. Includes YOLO Wellbeing, Six Connections, Creating Cadence, and other specialists covering areas like finance, marketing, HR, and wellbeing.
• AMRC North WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Samlesbury. Hosts Boost roundtables and provides access to advanced manufacturing expertise for Lancashire businesses.
• Lancaster UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Lancashire universities providing innovation support, spinout programmes, and knowledge transfer. Noted for strong IP and spinout processes.
• Edge Hill UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLancashire university providing innovation expertise and support to management teams of innovative companies.
• Lancashire Skills HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership helping employers understand skills needs and access training support.
• Lancashire Careers HubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 10 Hubs in England awarded £2.3m Future Ready Fund. Works with 25 schools across Lancashire delivering career readiness programmes.
• North and Western Lancashire Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber providing business intelligence on employment trends, with reports indicating 80% of employers expect employment costs to rise.
• Lancashire MindmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health charity providing workplace wellbeing training support to Lancashire employers.
• Innovate LancashiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partnership bringing together defence, security and advanced manufacturing sectors to strengthen Lancashire's innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GM Business Growth Hub (Greater Manchester): Greater Manchester's publicly funded business growth hub, offering advisory, events, programmes and finance introductions to local SMEs. It is the closest UK regional analogue to Boost's Lancashire Growth Hub model, with a similar free-at-point-of-use, local-authority-funded structure and comparable target audience of regional SMEs.
• Be the Business: UK-wide, government-backed charity that helps SMEs improve productivity through peer networks, mentoring and benchmarking. It mirrors Boost's role as a non-commercial, publicly-supported growth adviser for UK SMEs, with a national scope that overlaps Boost's regional mandate.
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Business Support: West Yorkshire Combined Authority delivers publicly funded business growth support programmes across West Yorkshire. Like Boost, it acts as a single front door for SMEs to access advice, finance and skills support, funded by local authorities.
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority – Business Growth: South Yorkshire MCA funds and coordinates business growth support, including the South Yorkshire Business Growth Hub and Growth Hub Programmes. It is a directly comparable publicly funded, region-wide SME growth hub serving a neighbouring Northern Powerhouse region.
• The Growth Company (Manchester): The Growth Company is a not-for-profit social enterprise delivering publicly funded business support, skills and employment services across Greater Manchester. It overlaps with Boost on SME advisory, skills, and growth programmes, although at greater scale and with more diversified funding streams.
• ScaleUp Institute: UK-wide, publicly backed body focused on supporting scale-up businesses through research, peer learning and policy advocacy. It is a direct thematic peer to Boost's Scaleup Hub programme, both targeting the same scale-up audience.
• Enterprise Nation: Enterprise Nation is a UK small business support community that offers events, mentoring, and content to startups and SMEs, frequently in partnership with government and banks. It is a directly comparable business-support community with overlapping SME content, advice, and events programming.

Broad incumbents

• Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK's national innovation agency, funding and supporting innovative businesses across all regions. While much larger and grant-focused, it overlaps with Boost on innovation brokering, sector programmes (e.g., advanced manufacturing, clean energy), and partner referrals for Lancashire-based businesses.
• British Business Bank: British Business Bank is a UK government-owned development bank that provides growth capital programmes for smaller businesses, including regional funds that overlap with Boost's finance partner network (e.g., Rosebud, FW Capital, River Capital). It is a broad incumbent whose regional funds partially substitute for Boost's capital-routing role.

Emerging players

• Beauhurst: Beauhurst is a private UK data provider tracking high-growth companies, investors, and accelerators. While not a direct growth-hub competitor, it serves many of the same scale-up and funding-introduction needs that Boost addresses for Lancashire SMEs, and could be a complementary data partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/boostinfo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BoostBusinessLancs
• Facebookfacebook.com/BoostLancs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boostlancs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boost Business