Motor Industry targetted by Hull business support programme

Garage bosses and other small businesses in Hull’s motor industry have been finding out about the Grow Employment Sustainability scheme,  which is offering free assistance to employers trading in the current economic climate.

Staff from lead contractor Probe (Hull) Ltd and the Goodwin Development Trust, one of the companies involved in delivering Grow, made their debut this month at a motor industry show at the Willerby Manor Hotel, organised by city company Waterloo Motor Trade Ltd, and are now following up on the contacts made.

Grow, which is funded through Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund and One Hull -  the city’s local strategic partnership - is providing the scheme to help local employers develop sound strategies and improve their viability without losing staff.

Probe’s Contract Manager Donna Jackson says: “There was an excellent response from the visitors to the show. We’re working with auditors and tax advisors KPMG and Hull law firm Rollits who can provide two days of free advice to businesses in Hull through the scheme. That could help them to manage their costs and improve viability with the aim of preventing job cuts.”

The scheme can also offer work-based mentoring which is delivered through the partner-organisations Goodwin Development Trust, Hull Llite, Skills for Communities, Latitude and specialists  KPMG and Rollits. They can, where possible, provide help to obtain funding for staff training and equipment.

Robert Wells, who runs Lowgate Garage in Sutton, a family firm which employs seven staff, said: “Any help is useful to a firm like ours, especially with the cost of recruiting and training staff. I’ll be keen to find out more.”

Jim Munday, Managing Director of Waterloo Motor Trade based in Main Street, Hull,  welcomed the involvement of Grow at the show: “Plenty of our customers were at the event and I am always looking for new ways to help and support them. In common with the rest of the economy, the motor industry has been finding the recession challenging but schemes like Grow could help many of our customers and other businesses in the city.”

Probe is looking for other opportunities to meet employers at their trade events. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about  two free days’ support from KPMG and Rollits, as well as meeting the Grow Employment Sustainability team, log onto www.growinhull.co.uk or call 01482 710141.