Assessing and improving economic sustainability and real business options

We have a combined experience of business support in many contexts having helped to develop businesses for others and for ourselves for over 55 years. We have developed successful business plans for individual businesses and groups, and carried out feasibility studies for new social businesses.

Our particular skill lies in the development of the business environment for and with SMEs, focussing on micro-businesses in rural areas, with a view to developing sustainable economic futures in all aspects.

We also have extensive experience of developing business support programmes for people in disadvantaged urban areas, and of supporting businesses on a regional basis, having worked with Business Link Shropshire on a project that has become a national exemplar (Rural Business Connect).

We take a participatory approach to business planning when appropriate, whether working on town plans, with business consortia or with rural product development and marketing.

This is what we do on a regular basis:

• Business planning – the full process of advice, report and financial analysis
• Social Enterprise support
• Feasibility Studies
• Micro-business support
• Economic impact surveys
• Business start-up support
• Market evaluation and product development

In practice, we often deliver a range of these services as a package that is developed in partnership with the client.

Helen Fairweather is the specialist in this area and she would be pleased to hear from you.