Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company

What Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company does

Growth Platform is the publicly funded business support service and Local Growth Hub for the Liverpool City Region, operating on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Its core function is to act as a single point of access connecting local SMEs to funding, advisory services, sector expertise, and national programmes. Services are free at the point of use and span the full business lifecycle, from start-up guidance (legal setup, business planning, market research) through scale-up support, export readiness, and high-growth diagnostics. The organisation coordinates activity across the six constituent local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral) and runs dedicated sector clusters in Advanced Manufacturing, Digital & Creative, and Health & Life Sciences.

The product portfolio comprises multiple coordinated offerings rather than a single software product. Core elements include the Local Growth Hub gateway; funding vehicles such as the LCR Seed Fund (£250k–£2m equity, managed by AXM Venture Capital), the £20m Flexible Growth Fund, the LCR Finance Hub, and River Capital's fund:AI EIS Fund; specialist programmes including the Life Sciences Innovation Zone (a £160m MHCLG-backed 10-year programme targeting 8,000 jobs), the UKSPF-funded Export Support Programme (£584,000 allocation), and the Gather scale-up programme; sector clusters with cluster managers; and digital tools such as the Benchmark Index-powered Business Support Finder and the High Growth Business Diagnostic. Technology under the hood is essentially a coordination and content platform aggregating programme information, diagnostic assessments, and partner directories.

Revenue is generated indirectly through public-sector grant funding rather than commercial contracts. The organisation is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with an additional modest revenue line from corporate partnership fees starting at £2,625 + VAT per annum. With 11–50 employees headquartered at No 1 Mann Island, Liverpool, Growth Platform is structured as a public-sector delivery entity rather than a venture-backed or commercially monetised business, and its strategic role is regional economic development rather than market-share capture.

Name

Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company

Legal name

Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company

Website

https://growthplatform.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Growth Platform is the publicly funded Local Growth Hub for the Liverpool City Region, providing free business support, funding access, and sector expertise to startups, SMEs, and high-growth businesses across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Support Services

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (92113)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

Keywords

• Business support services
• Economic development services
• SME growth advisory
• Startup support
• Export advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

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. Public Sector Funding: Growth Platform is a publicly funded business support service operating on behalf of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Services are free to businesses, funded by UK Government through UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Growth Platform provides free business advice, funding access, programmes, and sector-specialist support to SMEs, startups, and high-growth businesses across Liverpool City Region. As the official Local Growth Hub it coordinates six local authorities, national programmes, and sector clusters (Advanced Manufacturing, Digital & Creative, Health & Life Sciences), connecting businesses to funding vehicles including the £20m Flexible Growth Fund, £250k–£2m LCR Seed Fund, and the £160m Life Sciences Innovation Zone.

Product overview

Growth Platform is a business support service operated by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, functioning as the Local Growth Hub for the region. Rather than a single software product, it operates as a coordination and support ecosystem comprising: the core Local Growth Hub service providing single-point access to business support; targeted funding vehicles (LCR Seed Fund offering £250k-£2m equity investment, Flexible Growth Fund at £20m, and LCR Finance Hub as a funding gateway); specialist sector cluster programmes for Advanced Manufacturing, Digital & Creative, and Health & Life Sciences; the Life Sciences Innovation Zone as a dedicated innovation ecosystem backed by £160m; support tools including the Business Support Finder Tool and High Growth Business Diagnostic for business assessment; and export and procurement support programmes. The portfolio connects businesses to funding, networks, sector expertise, and support services across the Liverpool City Region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Local Growth Hub The primary business support service for Liverpool City Region providing a single point of access to local and national business support, funding, and advisory services for start-up and established businesses.
• LCR High Growth Business Support Specialist support programme for businesses in Liverpool City Region demonstrating high growth potential, offering account management, diagnostics, and connections to funding and support services.
• Liverpool City Region Seed Fund Equity investment fund providing seed capital between £250,000 and £2 million for early-stage businesses with world-class products or services, managed by AXM Venture Capital.
• LCR Finance Hub Free gateway for SMEs to access external funding, simplifying the process of finding and securing finance for business growth.
• Export Support Programme UKSPF-funded programme offering export support to established or new-to-export businesses, including business diagnostics, export action plans, trade missions, and access to UK Export Academy.
• Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone A 10-year programme delivering new state-of-the-art facilities, business support, innovation programmes, and training for the life sciences sector, backed by £160m government funding.
• Flexible Growth Fund £20m fund designed to enable new economic growth by removing barriers to investment for ambitious businesses in Liverpool City Region.
• Start Up Hub Comprehensive resource portal providing guidance on business planning, company structures, start-up finance, and marketing for residents starting businesses in Liverpool City Region.
• Supplier Procurement Toolkit Resources and knowledge base to help businesses optimize bidding processes and succeed in public sector procurement, including guidance on PQQs, ITTs, and tender responses.
• Gather Business Scale-up Programme Business scale-up programme for digital, creative, tech, and tech-enabled businesses in Liverpool City Region.
• River Capital EIS AI Fund (fund:AI) The North's first dedicated AI, Machine Learning and Data Science Fund managed by River Capital.
• Advanced Manufacturing Cluster Programme Sector development programme supporting manufacturing businesses through access to industrial technologies, digital transformation, and regional ecosystem connections.
• Digital & Creative Industries Cluster Programme Sector development programme supporting digital, creative, and tech companies with specialist business support, skills provision, and international market access.
• Health & Life Sciences Cluster Programme Sector development programme supporting health and life sciences businesses through initiatives focused on pharmaceutical manufacturing, medtech, and digital health.

Quantifiable outcome

• Life Sciences Innovation Zone aims to create 8,000 jobs and leverage £800m further investment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Liverpool City Region Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth Platform operates on behalf of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the official Local Growth Hub. The Combined Authority provides core funding and strategic direction for business support services across the region.
• Department for Business and Trade (DBT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Local Growth Hub service is funded by DBT. Growth Platform connects businesses to national support and works with DBT on export programmes and UK Export Academy initiatives.
• Halton Borough CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing direct business support services to Halton businesses. Contact: [email protected] or 0151 511 7825
• Knowsley Council / Invest KnowsleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing business support through Invest Knowsley. Contact: [email protected] or 0151 477 400
• Liverpool City Council - Business & Economic Support TeamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing business support and support for new start-ups to grow and create employment opportunities
• Sefton Council / InvestSeftoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing specialist advice for Sefton residents starting businesses. Contact: 0151 934 3452 or [email protected]
• St Helens Council / GrowthcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing business support for St Helens businesses. Contact: [email protected] or 01744 415 322
• Wirral Chamber of Commerce / Wirral CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner providing business advice and support through Wirral Chamber. Contact: [email protected] or 0151 650 6940
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the industrial and digital technologies ecosystem supporting advanced manufacturing businesses in Liverpool City Region
• Sensor City / STFC HartreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and innovation facilities available to businesses through Growth Platform ecosystem for digital and advanced manufacturing support
• Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone (CHI-Zone)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Life Sciences Innovation Zone supporting entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporates to research, develop and commercialize health and care products, with education in Health Data Science and Digital Leadership
• LYVA LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers investment packages between £25,000 and £250,000 for health and life sciences innovators. Part of Life Sciences Innovation Zone with Innovate, Grow, Accelerate & Partner Programme
• Alder Hey InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaediatric Open Innovation Zone (POIZ) supporting child-focused innovations through clinical insight, expertise, and real-world environments at Alder Hey Children's Hospital
• Baltic VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech accelerator with Launchpad (12-week programme for founders) and Accelerator (5-month cohort with £30k investment, coaching, and VC meetings) for Liverpool City Region entrepreneurs
• Agent AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting next generation of talent in digital and creative sectors through sector experience, mentoring and upskilling programmes
• Tech ClimberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCR Tech Climbers programme identifies and supports fastest growing and most innovative tech businesses in Liverpool City Region
• Made SmartercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting and enabling manufacturers to drive growth and productivity through adoption of industrial digitalisation techniques across Liverpool City Region
• UK Export Academy / Department for Business and TradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree training programme supporting businesses to grow by building confidence and know-how for landing first or next overseas deal. Over 18,000 businesses already joined UK-wide
• Local Chambers of Commerce (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Wirral)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExport support delivered through regional Chambers of Commerce providing guidance and networking for businesses looking to sell internationally

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub: Greater Manchester's Local Growth Hub, also a publicly funded business support service providing funding access, growth programmes, and sector-specific support to SMEs. Direct structural peer to Growth Platform, operating under the same UK Local Growth Hub model with co-funding from DBT.
• Business South (formerly Enterprise South West): Regional business support organization providing growth programmes, funding access, and skills support to SMEs across the South. Comparable in mission and funding model to Growth Platform, with a focus on cross-sector and not-for-profit delivery.
• West Midlands Growth Company: Regional growth company for the West Midlands, delivering business support, investment promotion, and trade services. Operates a comparable combined-authority-backed growth hub model with sector support and inward investment functions parallel to Growth Platform.

Broad incumbents

• British Business Bank: UK government-owned development bank providing debt and equity finance to SMEs, including regional funds and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme. Operates at a national scale and overlaps with Growth Platform's funding-access mission, particularly through co-investment vehicles.
• Innovate UK: UK national innovation agency providing grant funding, business support, and R&D programmes to innovative businesses. Growth Platform acts as a regional referrer and complementary delivery partner for Innovate UK programmes across Liverpool City Region.
• Be the Business: UK-wide, government-backed business productivity and growth support body providing SME mentoring, leadership programmes, and benchmarking tools. Broader geographic scope than Growth Platform but overlapping in SME growth diagnostics and mentoring offerings.
• Department for Business and Trade (DBT) - Local Growth Hub Network: National government department that funds and coordinates the network of Local Growth Hubs across England, including Growth Platform. The overarching policy body and primary funder of the Local Growth Hub model that Growth Platform operates within.

Regional players

• Code Boardroom: UK-wide business support and advisory platform offering strategic advice, funding access, and growth programmes to SMEs. Similar in scope to Growth Platform but with a broader geographic footprint and a more commercial/private-sector delivery model.

Emerging players

• Baltic Ventures: Liverpool-based tech accelerator and early-stage investor offering Launchpad and Accelerator programmes with seed investment. Operates as a partner of Growth Platform but also addresses overlapping startup and early-stage tech segments in the Liverpool City Region.
• AXM Venture Capital: Manchester/Liverpool-based VC firm that manages the LCR Seed Fund on behalf of Growth Platform, providing £250k–£2m equity investment. Adjacent rather than competing — operates as a fund manager within Growth Platform's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/growth-platform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Growth Platform - Liverpool City Region Growth Company