By Isle of Wight Observer
Following the announcement of the Government’s first sketch of a road map for reopening society, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a free online tool to help businesses start to develop their own road map to restart, restore and recover.
The Covid-19 Business Support Tool provides businesses in the Solent with an invaluable review of their current position in a range of key areas, including; business strategy and operations, sales and marketing, supply chain, customers and clients, employees and people management and finance.
Developed to support Solent-based businesses adjust to the gradual easing of measures taken in response to Covid-19, the tool allows firms to create a bespoke report on their current position and bench-mark themselves against others in their industry, as well as providing tailored information on what actions to take to access support in the areas it is most required.
SJ Hunt, Solent LEP Director and Chair of the LEPs Coronavirus Business Support Taskforce, said: “Covid-19 has had a major impact on so many areas of business and the LEPs first priority has been ensuring companies can access support to deal with immediate challenges. However, as lockdown measures begin to ease, it is just as important to ensure that businesses are supported in their transition to what will be a new normal for many.
Our Covid-19 Business Support Tool will be a key element of our approach to this and help our business leaders identify and focus on the areas most critical for their business.
We’re encouraging all businesses in the Solent region to utilise this tool and to contact our Solent Growth Hub team if they are seeking support or assistance in relation to business planning for the coming months.”
The Covid-19 Business Support Tool has been designed to be completed by members of a company’s management team who will have oversight of all operations. Taking approximately 15-20 minutes to complete, it produces a downloadable report that will inform the development of a road map to restart, restore and recover business operations and signpost a range of resources, both locally and nationally, that will add value to the business throughout the implementation of these plans.
The Covid-19 Business Support Tool is available immediately for businesses to access.
