Fast growing economies, regions and cities tend to be shaped by successful businesses, sectors and clusters. Thriving economies are characterized by high rates of business start – ups, good survival performance and growth, often underpinned by a transition from low to high valued added production.

Key factors in explaining differences in business performance are an entrepreneurial culture, conducive factors markets and availability of a supporting infrastructure base, hard and soft, favourable to business development, establishment and retention. An important factor can be the existence of centres of learning and research as a source of spin-outs and inward investment.

Initiatives to enhance business competitiveness are a vital element in regional development and regeneration strategies. HDL has established a platform to assist clients to support the development and growth of the business sector in general and small and medium sized enterprises in particular.

Our business development experience includes:

• Policy development for start – up and business growth;
• Development of institutional capabilities;
• Design and delivery of training programmes;
• Initiatives to improve productivity; sites and premises, skills, knowledge and finance;
• SME finance issues and instruments;
• Review and evaluation of business development initiatives.