Free support for Yorkshire businesses

The School of Management at the University of Bradford has launched a fund to give businesses the opportunity to access advice and information from its academics and students. The aim is to help businesses strengthen their development plans for recovery and growth post Covid-19.

The funding is open to any business in the Yorkshire region, including small and micro business, start-ups and the not-for-profit and community sectors. The University will host clinics to work with businesses to understand their challenges and match those to the expertise in the School.

Professor Zahir Irani, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bradford said: “We know small businesses and entrepreneurs are one of the groups which have been hardest hit by the preventive measures taken to control the pandemic, yet many have shown considerable innovation and agility in responding to the changed business environment created by Covid-19. At the University of Bradford, we are committed to support local business and community during these difficult times.”

Professor Sankar Sivarajah, Head of the School of Management at the University of Bradford, said: “Our own research has shown how much firms have been affected by Covid and participants in this have identified the need for support in developing their businesses to grow and thrive post the pandemic. As we move out of lockdown, this fund is part of our response to providing this support for our local business community.”

Barney Mynott, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in West Yorkshire, said: “This is a great initiative from the University of Bradford School of Management and shows they understand the needs of small businesses trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic. It is fantastic to see a University supporting small businesses at such a critical time and I know that business owners will welcome this expert support.”

The Business and Community Resilience Fund is one aspect of the support being provided by the School and University for firms in response to the challenges created by Lockdown. The School of Management will be launching their report on the impact of Covid on SMEs that this stems from on Tuesday 18 May and also inviting businesses to join their KTN, ‘Business Support Opportunities – The School of Management and You’ on Monday 17 May 2021 at 6pm.