GM digital and tech firms Amplify scale-up ambitions

Leaders at 14 businesses from across Greater Manchester are set to fly to a European capital of creativity later this month, with the aim of learning from some of the world’s best in the digital and tech industries. 

The three-day trip to Denmark kicks off a new nine-month growth programme, called Amplify.

The GC Business Growth Hub, has created Amplify as a new venture for 2018/19. The programme combines different elements of support designed to enable the sustainable growth of each company, all of whom come from the city’s digital, creative and technology sectors. 

The programme is focused on businesses across the city that have significant potential to scale and create new products, services and / or jobs in the local economy. 

Alongside the study trip, the programme provides bespoke monthly growth challenges, a facilitated two-day strategy workshop using the Google Design Sprint methodology, and ongoing support from an experienced advisor to the senior team. 

Richard Jeffery, director of business growth hub said: “Amplify is part of our wide range of support for the city’s businesses in the digital, creative and tech sectors. 

“Greater Manchester has always been a hub of innovation and fresh thinking. To our knowledge, nothing exists in the country that is shaped quite like Amplify with all its different elements. With that in mind we’re delighted to be continuing this tradition of invention in the spirit of helping brilliant businesses maximise their potential for growth.”

The study trip will provide fresh input and inspiration, which then sets the foundation for the rest of the programme to see momentum build in the growth of each business. Participants will take in visits to sector leaders like DR – the Danish national broadcaster – world-renowned digital product studio, UsTwo and the disruptive fin-tech company, Pleo. 

Simon Weeks, CEO of Maginus, one of the participating businesses, said: 

“As we review our product offer and proposition, we think Amplify will help us to go through this process as effectively as possible, and maximise our growth as a result. It’ll be invaluable to have the support Amplify will provide over the next nine months.” 

The programme will run til 2020, supporting a total of 45 companies across Greater Manchester. Applications for the 2019/20 cohort will open in summer 2019.

GC Amplify is funded by the Local Growth Fund (LGF), a pot of funding designed to help local economic areas address their key barriers to growth and in turn help rebalance the national economy. It was formed following the recommendation that a single pot of funding be created in Lord Heseltine’s 2012 ‘No Stone Unturned: In Pursuit of Growth’ report. Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GM LEP) is allocated a certain portion of the overall LGF amount, using its local knowledge to agree where funding is best spent.