NDBC Tender for Signal Business Assist Programme 2014 - 2015

Tender description

Each year SIGNAL has run a Business Improvement Programme to assist SME’s to think strategically, identify pathways to growth and to drive and focus activity, leading to the implementation of action plans created as a result of participating in the programme. To date over 220 businesses have benefited from the series of programmes. SIGNAL now wishes to build on previous Business Improvement Programmes, to offer a new package of support through the Business Assist Programme, which will run on a continuous basis from March 2014 to June 2015. It will be a new model of Business Support to act as a stimulus for economic growth by giving businesses access to a package of support that can be tailored to meet individual needs. It will be built around a core process whereby each participant will be able to access key business information, carry out a self-assessment, be signposted to local sources of existing programmes and support and be assisted to develop specific and individual plans for improved performance in the areas initially identified through a new web portal, co-ordinated by a dedicated Business Assist Programme Officer and followed up by input from specialist mentors and advisors. A dedicated project officer will manage the programme and act as the main coordinator and initial point of contact for those businesses registering on the programme. The officer, based on the results of contact with participant businesses and an online diagnostic, will identify and co-ordinate a package of tailored support for each client business.