Marches Growth Hub

What Marches Growth Hub does

Marches Growth Hub is a publicly funded regional business support service established in 2015 to provide businesses across Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin with free access to advice, funding guidance, and growth resources. Operated by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and managed by Shropshire Council at Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, the service is delivered in partnership with Herefordshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council through three branded regional hubs: Herefordshire Growth Hub, Shropshire Growth Hub, and Thrive Telford / Invest Telford. The service provides a single front door for businesses seeking grants, loans, skills support, and Net Zero guidance, with over 900 support resources accessible via a searchable online support finder.

The platform comprises a core set of services: a Business Support Finder search tool, Funding & Finance Advisory (covering British Business Bank programmes, Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, regional grants, and equity finance), expert Business Advice, Networking & Events, Skills & Employment Support (apprenticeships, traineeships, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships), and a specialized Net Zero Hub for sustainability and green finance. Specialist programmes include Start-Up Programme, Business Boost, Peer to Peer network, UKSPF Sustaining Shropshire, and the ARG Economic Recovery Fund. Distribution is multi-channel: free helpline (0800 998 1098), live chat, website, email newsletter, social media, and in-person adviser meetings across the three council areas.

The revenue model is fully government-funded. The UK Government provides core funding through the Business Growth Service and Growth Hub grants, supplemented by UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations, EU Transitional Funding, and local council contributions. No fees are charged to businesses for advisory, funding, events, or skills support. Lead management is anchored by a Marches Business Support Steering Group representing the three councils, with strategic partnerships to the British Business Bank, Midlands Engine, Make UK, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, and the wider UK Business Growth Service.

Name

Marches Growth Hub

Legal name

Marches Growth Hub (operated by The Marches LEP)

Website

https://marchesgrowthhub.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Marches Growth Hub is a UK government-funded business support service providing free advice, funding guidance, and networking to businesses across Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin, operated by The Marches LEP and managed by Shropshire Council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Business support services
• Government grant funding
• SME advisory services
• Regional economic development
• Business growth advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevenage

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Marches Growth Hub is a free business support service funded by the UK Government. The service is managed by Shropshire Council with delivery partners Herefordshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council. No revenue is generated from the businesses served.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Marches Growth Hub is a publicly-funded business support service that delivers free advice, guidance, grant and loan information, and networking events to small and growing businesses across Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. It is operated by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and managed by Shropshire Council in partnership with Herefordshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.

Product overview

Marches Growth Hub is a business support service operating across Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin, delivered through three regional hubs (Herefordshire Growth Hub, Shropshire Growth Hub, and Invest Telford/Thrive Telford). The service provides a unified platform of advisory, funding, and networking support including a Support Finder tool, Funding & Finance Advisory, Business Advice, Networking & Events, and Skills & Employment Support. Specialized programs include Start-Up Programme, Business Boost, Peer to Peer Programme, Net Zero Hub, and UKSPF-funded initiatives. The hub connects businesses to national programs including British Business Bank, Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, and UK Business Growth Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Advice and Mentoring
• Grant and Loan Information Service
• Business Networking Events

Quantifiable outcome

• One example: Shires Equestrian received £24,999 RD&I grant (62% of costs) to attend international trade fair, supporting 80 jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Shropshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary managing authority for Marches Growth Hub. Provides the core business support service infrastructure, staff, and governance. Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND.
• Herefordshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers Herefordshire Growth Hub service as part of the Marches network. Provides local business support advisers and connections to Herefordshire businesses.
• Telford & Wrekin CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers Thrive Telford service as part of the Marches network. Provides Invest Telford team for local business support and manufacturing sector expertise.
• British Business BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner providing access to business finance options including Start Up Loans, Growth Guarantee Scheme, and Midlands Engine Investment Fund II. Jointly promotes finance opportunities to Marches businesses.
• Midlands EnginemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development body supporting Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and broader regional growth initiatives accessible to Marches businesses.
• Make UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing industry association that partners with Marches Growth Hub on events and support programmes for manufacturing businesses in the region.
• Shropshire Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chamber partner for business networking, events, and co-organising initiatives like the Summer Funding Summit.
• Invest TelfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment and business support team within Telford & Wrekin Council, providing ongoing support to local manufacturers including business advice, funding guidance, and networking.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Start Up Loans: UK Government-backed personal loans for new businesses, delivered through partner organisations. Overlaps with Marches' startup finance advisory and funding access function.
• Be the Business: UK-wide productivity-focused organization helping SMEs improve performance. Adjacent in mission (SME growth support) but privately-backed rather than government-funded.

Broad incumbents

• Local Enterprise Partnerships Network: Network of 38 LEPs across England setting local economic strategy. Marches LEP is a member; structurally comparable as a publicly-funded regional economic development entity.
• British Chambers of Commerce: National network of accredited Chambers providing business support, international trade advice, and networking. Comparable in delivery of local business services but broader and more established.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership organization for small businesses offering advice, networking, and lobbying. Overlaps with Marches' SME advisory function but operates as a broader national membership model.
• British Business Bank: UK Government-owned development bank providing finance to smaller businesses. Direct partner of Marches but operates nationally with broader capital deployment mandate.

Direct peers

• Business Gateway (Scotland): Scottish Government-funded business support service offering free advice, funding access, and mentoring. Comparable public-sector business support model serving a defined geographic region.
• West Yorkshire Growth Hub: Regional Growth Hub offering free business advice, funding connections, and skills support. Closely mirrors Marches' service model with UK Government backing and local authority delivery.
• Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub: Neighbouring West Midlands Growth Hub offering the same government-funded advisory and funding access model. Direct regional peer within the same economic geography.
• Greater Manchester Growth Hub: UK Growth Hub providing government-funded business support across Greater Manchester. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded advisory service delivering grants, funding, and skills support to regional SMEs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/marcheshub
• Facebookfacebook.com/marchesgrowthhub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marches-growth-hub
• Instagraminstagram.com/marcheshub

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

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Marches Growth Hub