Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

What Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership does

Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, rebranded in 2025 as The Skills and Business Hub, is an independent not-for-profit organization delivering fully-funded business support, skills development, and careers guidance across Berkshire, England. The organization operates as the regional delivery partner for the UK Department for Business and Trade's Business Growth Service, and all services are provided free of charge to users. Its core offering is structured around four interconnected hubs: Berkshire Growth Hub (SME advice from start-up to high growth), Skills and Apprenticeships Hub (including Skills Bootcamps), Berkshire Careers Hub (delivered as part of the Careers and Enterprise Company for schools and colleges), and Berkshire Opportunities (connecting job seekers with employers via the Give An Hour volunteering programme).

The supporting platform comprises a digital business directory, an events platform, the Growth Academy learning programme, and member-facing tools accessible via skillsandbusinesshub.org. Distribution is multi-channel, combining a self-serve website, in-person workshops and networking events, an email newsletter, and organic social presence on LinkedIn and Facebook. Community-led and event-driven go-to-market motions dominate; channel partnerships with schools, colleges, and employers (via Enterprise Advisers) extend reach into the future-talent pipeline.

The revenue model is government grant funding rather than commercial sales. The entity has 11-50 employees, serves approximately 49,895 active enterprises in its catchment, and operates from Reading. There is no parent company, no disclosed equity funding, no M&A activity, and no proprietary technology patents. Its competitive position rests on its official designation as a government-funded Growth Hub delivery partner and on the integrated classroom-to-boardroom ecosystem that links SMEs, individuals, schools, and employers within a single membership network.

Name

Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Legal name

The Skills and Business Hub

Website

https://thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Skills and Business Hub (formerly Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership) is an independent not-for-profit delivering free, government-funded business support, skills training, and careers guidance to SMEs, individuals, schools, and employers across Berkshire, UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Business Support Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Business support services
• Skills development programmes
• Apprenticeship support
• Careers education services
• SME advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hessle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Fully funded by the Department for Business and Trade. As a not-for-profit organization, all services are provided free of charge to businesses and individuals. The organization operates as part of the Business Growth Service to transform how businesses access government and partner support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Skills and Business Hub (formerly Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that delivers fully-funded business support, skills development, apprenticeships, and careers guidance services to SMEs, individuals, employers, and schools across Berkshire. Its core offerings are organised under four hubs: Berkshire Growth Hub (SME advisory), Skills and Apprenticeships Hub (Skills Bootcamps), Berkshire Careers Hub (schools careers education), and Berkshire Opportunities (job matching). All services are provided free of charge to users, funded by the UK Department for Business and Trade.

Product overview

The Skills and Business Hub is an independent not-for-profit organisation operating a multi-hub platform structure. The core portfolio consists of four interconnected hubs: Berkshire Growth Hub (providing fully-funded SME business support), Skills and Apprenticeships Hub (with Berkshire Skills Bootcamps for workforce development), Berkshire Careers Hub (delivering careers education to schools), and Berkshire Opportunities (connecting job seekers with employers). Supporting these are the Growth Academy for structured learning, a Business Directory for member visibility, and an Events Platform for networking. The organisation serves businesses, individuals, and educators across Berkshire, offering free membership with access to resources, networking, and support tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berkshire Growth Hub: Business support hub delivering fully-funded advice from the Department for Business and Trade to small and medium sized businesses, from start-up to high growth.
• Skills and Apprenticeships Hub
• Berkshire Careers Hub
• Berkshire Opportunities

Products and services

• Berkshire Growth Hub Fully-funded business support service delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, providing tailored guidance to small and medium-sized businesses from start-up through high growth stages. Part of the national Business Growth Service.
• Skills and Apprenticeships Hub Connects employers with training opportunities and individuals with apprenticeships and skills development programmes, including Berkshire Skills Bootcamps offering flexible training for in-demand skills.
• Berkshire Careers Hub Delivers fully-funded careers support to educational institutions across Berkshire as part of the Careers and Enterprise Company, facilitating employer engagement and real-world experiences for young people.
• Berkshire Opportunities Platform connecting job seekers with employment opportunities across Berkshire, featuring employer vacancy listings and the Give An Hour volunteering programme.
• Growth Academy Structured learning and development programme supporting business growth through expert guidance and practical resources.
• Business Directory Searchable directory allowing members to feature their business, post events and vacancies, and connect with other businesses across the local area.
• Events Platform Platform for posting and discovering business events, workshops, networking sessions, and seminars for professionals across Berkshire.

Quantifiable outcome

• Berkshire job growth of 2.8% in 2023, stronger than South East (0.5%), London (1.6%), and Great Britain (1.1%)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Careers and Enterprise CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkshire Careers Hub is part of the Careers and Enterprise Company, delivering fully-funded careers support to educational institutions across Berkshire. Partnership empowers young people to secure their best next steps.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise Nation: UK small business support community offering free membership, events, mentoring, and resources to SMEs and start-ups. Comparable as a free digital community providing advice, networking, and growth content to a similar SME audience.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership organisation providing advice, networking, and representation for small businesses. Directly comparable as a member-led SME support body operating in the same customer segment, although FSB is national and member-fee funded rather than government-grant funded.
• British Chambers of Commerce: Umbrella for UK regional chambers providing business networking, events, training, and policy voice. Highly comparable to The Skills and Business Hub in terms of business community/membership, events, and local business support services, with a similar regional network model.
• Greater Manchester Growth Hub: Regional Growth Hub delivering government-funded business support to SMEs. Closest direct peer in structure and funding model: a regionally scoped, publicly funded business advisory hub serving as the local access point to UK business growth programmes.
• Be the Business: UK not-for-profit focused on SME productivity, leadership, and growth support. Directly comparable as a free, business-improvement-focused organisation targeting UK SMEs with structured programmes and peer learning, overlapping the Growth Hub remit.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Directors (IoD): UK-wide director and business leader membership organisation providing networking, training, and policy voice. Comparable member-services model targeting senior business decision-makers with events and development programmes.
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI): Major UK business membership body offering networking, events, policy advocacy, and business services. Comparable as a business community / chamber-style organisation but operates at national scale and serves larger enterprises alongside SMEs.

Regional players

• London Growth Hub: Another regional Growth Hub providing free business support within a different UK geography. Same operating model and funding structure but operating in London rather than Berkshire, so not a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Careers and Enterprise Company: National funder/coordinator of the Careers Hub network that Berkshire's Careers Hub is part of. Comparable on the careers-education side of the Skills and Business Hub's portfolio, but operates as a national umbrella rather than a regional delivery body.

Others

• AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers): UK membership body for employment and training providers. The Skills and Business Hub is a member; comparable as an industry body relevant to the Skills and Apprenticeships Hub's training delivery model, though AELP is a trade association rather than a delivery organisation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SkillsandBusinessHub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkshire-local-enterprise-partnership

Compliance2 records

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 Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership