Cornwall has given a £771,682 cash boost to its SME marine businesses via an initiative aimed at improving productivity.
Cornwall Marine Network’s Propel Cornwall programme is targeted to help the county’s marine SMEs become more competitive and address issues preventing their growth.
Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the scheme will give mentoring and grant support to marine businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to improve areas of their business activity.
Supported activities include implementing new systems and products and improving marketing and digital knowledge and insights.
Also targeted are ways to increase quality, improving supplier management, managing change, growing outputs and increasing staff and skills.
Propel Cornwall marine innovation mentor Sam Winters said: “We will work closely with owner managers to identify which area(s) of their business are priority for improvement, then use our expertise to help them find solutions.
“If we need to purchase specialist help there is grant support available.”
Cornwall is home to one in seven of the UK’s marine sector business base, according to Cornwall Marine Network.
Image: Cornwall coast (sxc)
