Manchester Metropolitan University (www2.mmu.ac.uk) has received £4.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund to deliver regional growth and innovation across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington.

Manchester Met says that it is “developing three distinct programmes, which will provide support to around 500 companies over the next three years, delivered at no cost to the business owner”.

The Cheshire Growth Programme will help Cheshire and Warrington-based SMEs to grow through an injection of expert knowledge and peer support, while the Manchester High Growth Network will “help firms that are already growing to reach their potential and to expand quickly”.

Meanwhile, Smart Cheshire will support firms in Cheshire and Warrington that want to innovate and work with academic and scientific experts in Crewe, Warrington and Alderley Park.