A Period of Transition
A central theme of the discussion was transition. While new programmes such as the Local Growth Fund and Pride in Place will bring investment to some areas, many others will see reduced or less flexible funding. This creates a mixed national picture and, in some cases, uncertainty for delivery organisations and businesses alike. However, panellists were united in the view that this moment also presents an opportunity: to move away from short‑term, programme‑led approaches and towards more sustainable, locally shaped models of business support.
Speakers highlighted the importance of local ownership and long‑term thinking. Rather than continually adapting to changing funding rules, places are being encouraged to focus on what their businesses genuinely need — whether that is support for start‑ups, scale‑ups, specific sectors, or businesses facing financial pressure. This shift requires stronger coordination across partners and a clearer articulation of the role business support plays in achieving wider economic and social outcomes.
Key Principles for Reimagining Business Support
The webinar discussion closely reflected the three principles set out in GC Insight’s accompanying white paper.
Integrated business support is now essential. Fragmented provision can be confusing, frustrating and inefficient for businesses. More joined‑up systems, clearer referral pathways and a ‘single front door’ approach can help ensure businesses access the right support at the right time, while also improving value for money.
Evidence‑led decision‑making is becoming increasingly important as resources tighten. Robust data, forward‑looking insights and effective diagnostics help target support where it can have the greatest impact, rather than spreading resources too thinly.
Flexibility was the third recurring theme. Business support systems must be able to adapt quickly to economic shocks, policy change and emerging trends such as AI. Agile teams, responsive diagnostics and scalable digital tools can help maintain continuity of support even as funding and priorities evolve.
Enabling Future Models
Technology was seen as a critical enabler of this future model. While it cannot replace the value of trusted advisors, digital tools and AI‑enabled services offer a way to handle higher‑volume enquiries, share diagnostics across partners and free up specialist capacity for businesses with more complex needs.
Ultimately, the webinar made clear that while the post‑UKSPF landscape is challenging, it also offers a rare chance to reset. By focusing on integration, evidence and flexibility — and by placing business needs at the centre — local areas can reimagine business support in ways that are more resilient, targeted and impactful for the years ahead.
You can watch the webinar on demand here and download the whitepaper for free here.
At GC Insight, we are the UK's largest profit-for-purpose social enterprise providing economic advice and analysis. We work with local places across the UK to develop strategy and deliver business support, empower informed decision making through our Growth Flag data platform and build powerful business benchmarking tools.
