INFLUENCING GROWTH IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE
Join us! Together we are a positive and supportive force for change
About The Group
Using our collective experience to support the economic growth & development of the North Lincolnshire area
North Lincolnshire Growth Group (NLGG) got together to discuss the challenges and opportunities that faced us all, and shared some of the things we were doing individually to overcome the challenges.
The conversation turned to how the collective experience and extensive networks of the group could be used to support the economic growth of the area, and the role that local firms could play in that growth.
Local small businesses make up 90% of the business population and their success has a big impact on the success of the borough. It became clear however that to have an impact we needed to work in constructive partnership with each other and with organisations like the council.
“North Lincolnshire is changing, with many businesses adapting during the pandemic, with new ways of working, a changing employment market and a march towards the net zero ambition.
The priorities of the area’s economics are well rehearsed. The most pertinent being ‘Protecting the local economy through strong support for business’, a sentiment we entirely support.
This is certainly the time to recognise the diversity of our business community and the essential role our local business community plays in creating employment, providing training and skills, reinvesting in the area, and making a significant contribution to the economic growth of North Lincolnshire.
From the self-employed to firms employing hundreds, from retail outlets to supply chain providers, the local businesses in our area underpin our shared ambitions for the future.“
Benefits Of The Group
Collectively working together to create and inspire sustainable growth for North Lincolnshire.
90% of the business population Is SMALL BUSINESSES
Their success has a big impact on the ongoing success and continued growth in the area.
90% of all working adults in North Lincolnshire are employed by sMES
We want to encourage, sustain and expand our SME sector to benefit from the wider opportunities.
ONS STATE THAT 5625 registered NEW Enterprises in 2021
Of these, only 20 are large business and 4995 are micro businesses.
The Government's reaffirmation of ‘Levelling Up’ is high on the agenda
Under this initiative our area is poised to take full advantage of the available funding and support.
Our Mission
1. Return to the high street
To establish a partnership between NLGG and the local authority with the aim to revive the town centre.
2. quality employers
To establish a universal ‘Good Employment Charter’ and create a Good employer ‘badge’.
3. Connectivity is essential
A much more informed and proactive approach to connectivity and high speed broadband across the borough is needed.
4. Minding the gaps
To undertake a Business Diversity Ordinance to identify gaps by area and business type.
5. business Financing
To help create better route to appropriate finance through financial management education and improved access.
6. bringing it all together
To create a Local Business Strategy that will be presented to the council for endorsement, approval and integration.
Why Get Involved
The benefits of joining North Lincolnshire Growth Group
- Having A Positive Impact On Business Growth & Sustainability
Shaping the future as a collective group and creating opportunities to support sustainable economic growth in North Lincolnshire. - Advocacy
Being part of a diverse business community with extensive business knowledge in a variety of sectors who can help, share information, talk to and provoke thought. - Collaborative Working
Working in constructive partnership with members and larger organisations to create solid foundations to support ongoing success and growth in our area. - Shared Knowledge
As a business owner having a platform to share collective experiences and access to extensive networks of the group.
Our Members
Our Manifesto
1. Bringing local business back to the High Street
Whilst recognising the planned developments to revive Scunthorpe Town centre and create a place of enterprise and business growth is excellent, we still face an increasing number of vacant premises, anti-social behaviour, declining services, poor evening economy and erosion of reasons to visit and linger there.
2. Quality Employers
There is a lot written about employability and skilling up our prospective employees, however, we believe that employers should also play their part.
We Propose:
- Establishing a universal ‘Good Employment Charter’ that outlines the benefits and policies that a local business should have in place to ensure they are seen as attractive employers by the candidates they seek. This Charter will exist alongside supporting business support and HR workshops. An example can be seen here.
- Create a ‘Good Employer badge’ and online jobs board for those adopting and complying with the Charter.
3. Connectivity is essential
We propose:
- A whole infrastructure review, creating a connectivity “heat map” and challenging providers accordingly.
- Use what is available to insist new commercial developments have the best connectivity possible using broadband and 5G.
- Promote the areas that have strongest connectivity to ‘encourage development of broadband/5G in those with the weakest.
- Consult with Government on potential funding and resourcing for being an early adopter town for 5G.
4. Minding the gaps
It’s imperative to any growth strategy that areas with high potential and low growth are identified, both by sector and by geography so that specific initiatives can be employed to capitalise on the potential.
Essentially, we need to be mindful to identify where we can be most effective based on the local requirements and expertise, and educate and encourage where possible.
We propose:
- Undertaking a Business Diversity Ordinance to identify gaps and strengths.
- Working in public/private partnership to identify areas of town centres and suburbs with positive strategic relevance.
- Commissioning Research on the approach to procurement and supply chain development taken in other areas of the country and internationally to enhance the loyal to local scheme and apply it to B2B.
5. Business Financing
We need to make sure our strong local firms are not being held back from growth due to risk-averse lending strategies.
Support for businesses exists, however, with accessible lending organisations like Finance 4 Enterprise, we want to create a far better route to appropriate finance, along with improved access and awareness.
We propose:
- Creating a process with high street lenders to get fair interest requests for lending anonymously.
- Setting up a mechanism to encourage/educate businesses seeking finance to take specific advice from a professional adviser regarding pre-request planning, such as financial awareness, budgets, documentation, and business planning.
- Establishing a CIC/CDFI using existing funding streams as a sustainable lending pot targeted at businesses that have traded for 2 +years and have a robust growth plan.
6. Bringing it all together
With all the issues raised above, it seems clear, the area would benefit from a cohesive and owned ‘Local Business Strategy’ to compliment the economic strategy and inward investment strategy that already exist.
The creation of this strategy would be an opportunity to use the Business group to engage with the wider local business community and involve them in the plans for the future.
We propose:
- The small business group work with North Lincolnshire Council and others to consult on and create a Local Business Strategy that will be presented to the council for endorsement, then submitted to the ED team at the council for approval and integration.
Read the full manifesto
You have the opportunity to make difference in your local community by getting involved with North Lincolnshire Growth Group.
Get involved
To find out more about the North Lincolnshire Growth Group, or to become a member, please complete the contact form.