Business Growth Advisory Services

Challenge

In September 2024, V4 were commissioned by Herefordshire Council and The Marches Growth Hub to deliver 1-2-1 advice and support to eligible businesses, enterprises and MSME owners - supporting productivity boosts and the local economy through improving individual business performance and safeguarding jobs.

The programme was funded by the UKSPF and supported a total of 24 businesses - across a range of sectors and business types including sole trader and MSMEs.

This project was delivered by V4 Business Advisory Team, who have delivered a range of business support interventions across a range of diverse programmes since 2020. 

Solution

These interventions enabled Herefordshire Council to meet their core objectives to support local businesses and enterprises to:

• improve performance, enable businesses to become more resilient, more productive, more diverse, more efficient, more informed, and better positioned by providing them with the knowledge, tools and techniques to support them through this process;
• support the local economy by helping businesses and enterprises to improve their performance;
• implement business support to businesses and enterprises at least six months old, for a minimum of 16 hours per each business/enterprise

V4 provided business advisors to the Herefordshire Council (HC) programme, collating business insights and management information to report back to HC - supporting evidence was submitted to UKSPF to validate the grant funding evaluation reports.

The business sectors included retail, creatives, wellness, education and sustainability.

Each owner was provided with intensive, tailored support, advice and mentoring/coaching for at least 16 hours; where there was a business case – such as multiple priorities or complex issues to resolve – an additional number of hours was provided.

Across 24 diverse businesses from a children’s bookstore and a dog groomer to a tree surgeon we delivered 460+ hours of targeted business advisory support, with business owners demonstrating high levels of engagement and made practical changes that position them for future growth.

The Outcome

Jobs Safeguarded: Jobs protected across the businesses (a mix of full-time, part-time and self-employed roles)

New Services Launched: Introducing new income streams or expanded offerings

Productivity Improvements: All businesses adopted new tools or systems including AI, Shopify and CRM

Growth Confidence: All businesses owners reported greater control, clarity and commercial focus

Sustainability & Inclusion: Support delivered to women-led and purpose-driven businesses, many with local community impact

Improved Business Performance: Achieved through tailored business plans and structure follow-up

Drive Productivity: Realised via tech adoption and clearer workflows

Explore New Markets: Multiple businesses now operating in new sectors or channels

Build Owner Confidence: Universally reported as a key gain

To find out how V4 Services can help you with your next project, please get in touch.