D2N2 Growth Hub

What D2N2 Growth Hub does

The D2N2 Growth Hub, now operating as the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Growth Hub, is a UK government-funded business support organisation headquartered in Chesterfield. Established in 2014 and operated under the East Midlands Combined County Authority (a combined county authority / government state entity), it functions as a single point of access to business support resources for companies located in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire. The organisation is not a commercial enterprise: all services are provided free of charge to businesses, with funding flowing from the UK Government and EMCCA, and no revenue is generated from customers.

The service portfolio is structured in three layers. The Starting Up programme supports entrepreneurs with planning, legal structure, funding, premises, sales, marketing, and compliance. The Growing Your Business programme covers finance management, people development, net zero, skills, innovation funding, operations, procurement, and international trade. The Accelerator suite bundles intensive growth support, including the Derbyshire Accelerator (Derby/Derbyshire-only) and the Export Accelerator (specialist overseas trade support with grant funding). Distribution runs through a team of Business Advisers, a telephone enquiry line (0333 006 9178), a website with online inquiry forms, and free online and in-person events; cumulative outputs include 17,000+ businesses supported, 1,370+ events delivered, £15m in funding secured for businesses, 390 jobs created, and an 89% Good/Excellent service rating.

The technical footprint is minimal: the source explicitly states the entity is "Not technology-focused." No app, API, SDK, proprietary technology, patents, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The operating partner is East Midlands Chamber, which co-hosts the headquarters and provides operational infrastructure. Referral and co-delivery partners include approximately 15-17 local authorities spanning both counties and major cities in the territory. The organisation runs at a modest scale of 11-50 employees and operates without commercial revenue, equity funding, M&A activity, or external investor exposure.

Name

D2N2 Growth Hub

Legal name

East Midlands Combined County Authority

Website

https://d2n2growthhub.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The D2N2 Growth Hub, operating as the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Growth Hub, is a UK government-funded business support organisation providing free advisory services, events, and accelerator programmes to businesses across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Support Services

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614), Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

Keywords

• Business support services
• Startup advisory
• Growth accelerator
• Government funding programs
• Regional business development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded business support: The Growth Hub is funded by the UK Government and East Midlands Combined County Authority. Services provided to businesses are free, including events, accelerator programmes, and business advice. No revenue is generated directly from businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

D2N2 Growth Hub is a government-funded business support service that provides free advisory, training, events, and structured accelerator programmes to start-ups and established businesses in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire. It acts as a single point of access connecting businesses with expert Business Advisers, funding opportunities, and a network of local authority partners across the East Midlands region.

Product overview

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Growth Hub operates as a single-access-point business support platform for businesses in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The offering comprises a unified platform of interconnected services including the Starting Up programme for new ventures, the Growing Your Business programme covering finance, people, operations and international trade, and the Accelerator suite of programmes (including Derbyshire Accelerator and Export Accelerator) providing intensive growth support with grant funding. All services are delivered through experienced Business Advisers and a telephone enquiry service (0333 006 9178).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Accelerator: Tailored regional support programme helping businesses sustain, grow and innovate
• Export Accelerator
• Derbyshire Accelerator

Products and services

• Starting Up Comprehensive business support programme for entrepreneurs launching new ventures, covering business planning, market research, legal structure, funding, premises, sales, marketing, and legislation.
• Growing Your Business Multi-faceted growth programme offering finance management, people development, net zero support, skills development, innovation funding, operations management, procurement guidance, and international trade assistance for established businesses.
• Accelerator Tailored regional support programme helping businesses across the East Midlands to sustain, grow and innovate through structured guidance and resources.
• Derbyshire Accelerator Fully-funded accelerator project exclusively available to businesses based in Derby or Derbyshire, focused on developing, growing and innovating.
• Export Accelerator Specialist programme helping businesses explore and enter new overseas markets with dedicated support and grant funding.
• Accelerator Workshops Educational workshop series supporting accelerator participants with skill development and business growth techniques.
• Events and Training Free-to-attend events and training programmes available both online and in-person, designed to help businesses grow and develop new skills.
• Net Zero Support Environmental sustainability support helping businesses transition to low-carbon operations and achieve net zero goals.
• Business Adviser Services Impartial business support delivered by experienced expert business advisers providing the right advice at the right time through appointments and a telephone enquiry service (0333 006 9178).

Quantifiable outcome

• 17,000+ businesses supported
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Midlands ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Midlands Chamber hosts the Growth Hub headquarters and is a key strategic partner in delivering business support services across the region. The Chamber provides operational infrastructure and business expertise.
• Mansfield District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• South Derbyshire District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Bolsover District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Newark and Sherwood District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services. Also offers property services for businesses seeking premises.
• Chesterfield Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Bassetlaw District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services. Also offers commercial property listings.
• Broxtowe Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• North East Derbyshire District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Erewash Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Amber Valley Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Derby City CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner (major city) that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Ashfield District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Rushcliffe Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services. Also offers business property listings.
• Gedling Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services
• Derbyshire Dales District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services. Also offers property services.
• High Peak Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services. Also offers commercial sites and properties.
• Nottingham City CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partner (major city) that refers businesses to the Growth Hub and provides local business support services

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership body providing advice, representation and services to small businesses. Operates an adjacent — but not duplicative — advice and signposting function to a similar SME customer base.
• East Midlands Chamber: Strategic core partner that hosts D2N2's headquarters and delivers wider business representation, networking and trade services across the East Midlands. Comparable audience (regional SMEs) with a broader remit than the Hub itself.
• Innovate UK: UK government innovation agency funding R&D-intensive SMEs. D2N2 signposts businesses to Innovate UK grants; both touch the same SME customer on the funding and growth-support pathway.
• British Chambers of Commerce: National chamber network offering business support, export documentation, training and policy advocacy to UK SMEs. Overlaps with D2N2 on export and growth advisory, and is structurally linked to East Midlands Chamber.

Direct peers

• London Growth Hub (via London Chamber of Commerce): London-focused business growth hub delivering adviser-led support and growth programmes to London SMEs, co-located with the local Chamber. Directly comparable operating model and customer segment.
• Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub: One of the largest UK growth hubs, delivering start-up, growth and accelerator support to Greater Manchester SMEs with similar government/combined-authority funding structure. Comparable in service mix (advisers, accelerators, export support) and customer base.
• West Midlands Growth Hub: UK regional government-funded growth hub offering the same single-access-point business support, adviser network and accelerator programmes to SMEs in the West Midlands. Closest structural analogue to D2N2's mandate and delivery model.
• Yorkshire & Humber Growth Hub: Another LEP/regional-authority-backed growth hub providing signposting, advisory and events to Yorkshire SMEs. Same target customer (UK SMEs), same delivery model and same public funding basis.

Emerging players

• Be the Business: UK productivity-focused non-profit offering SME growth advice, mentoring and benchmarking tools. Addresses an overlapping customer segment (UK SMEs seeking growth) via a more digital/programmatic delivery model.
• Startup Coalition (formerly Startup Britain): UK-wide non-profit supporting early-stage founders with mentorship, events and policy advocacy. Comparable 'Starting Up' support function to one of D2N2's core product lines, but delivered nationally and digitally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EMCCAGrowthHub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@emccagrowthhub
• Facebookfacebook.com/EMCCAGrowthHub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emcca-growth-hub

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 D2N2 Growth Hub