SMEs in Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to access six new support programmes that are designed to help companies develop products, grow their business, work with other firms across the region, and secure grants and loans.

The EU-funded programmes were launched earlier this month at Coventry Transport Museum, at an event attended by around 80 companies from all sectors.

They are being co-ordinated through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Hub and delivered by the WMG at the University of Warwick, as well as Coventry University.

Craig Humphrey, of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said the programmes could assist businesses at various stages of development.

“The delivery partners are working together to ensure that we can be as effective as possible in delivering support that aims to boost business innovation among SMEs and ensure that the benefits of new technology and increased productivity are felt in the local economy.”

He said the initiative is, in part, a campaign to get the area recognised as “the Knowledge Capital of the UK. More than 95% of local R&D spend focuses on 16 large businesses, and while it is great that those firms are thriving, we need to ensure that all innovation is supported; these programmes can go a long way to making that happen.

“The EU finance is there until December 2018; I would urge all companies that are developing products to have a look at these programmes and get in touch.”