Manchester Met to support business growth with new £4.7m funding boost

Manchester Metropolitan University and its partners have secured project funding of more than £4.7m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The university will use the seven-figure boost to drive regional growth through its programmes in Greater Manchester, Warrington and the wider Cheshire area.

Manchester Met’s three programmes, beginning in May, are forecast to support around 500 businesses over the next three years.

The university will deliver the Cheshire Growth Programme, potentially helping SMEs in Cheshire, and Warrington in particular, to unlock growth through knowledge and peer support.

Elsewhere, Manchester Mat is also behind the Manchester High Growth Network, which will seek to support companies already experiencing growth in reaching their potential.

Lastly, the ERDF funding boost will also be used in the SMART Cheshire programme, which will connect innovation-led companies with will scientific and academic experts based in Warrington, Crewe and Alderley Park.