Merton Council is set to join forces with the Merton Chamber of Commerce to launch a new business support service to help create good jobs, support enterprise and unlock growth across the whole borough.

Launching in January, it will provide Merton’s small and medium-sized businesses with free, practical help through workshops, monthly advice surgeries, specialist support and commercial connections. Together, these opportunities will offer businesses the chance to access expert advice and pool their shared knowledge and experiences to help them overcome challenges they are facing.

To get more details about the service and to find out when it launches, you can sign up to the council’s Business iN Merton e-newsletter.

The new service will be the latest part of a broad package of support that the council is offering to the borough’s businesses – this includes:

• Targeted Business Rates Support – direct financial support for the small businesses that need it the most
• Our biggest ever engagement with businesses – reaching out to businesses and residents across all our local neighbourhood shopping parades to find out what the council should be doing to improve high streets
• New shopfronts – transforming entire shopping parades with attractive and vibrant new shopfronts for over 50 local businesses so far
• Employ Merton – our jobs brokerage service that is helping to connect our businesses with local talent in Merton
• £150k for Mitcham Town Centre – money secured from private developers to create a business support fund to help Mitcham businesses attract new customers and create more activity in the town centre.

Alongside these local measures, the national Government has announced changes to Business Rates that will see pubs and venues, and small retail, hospitality and leisure businesses all save money.

Councillor Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, said: “I’m proud that we’re stepping up support for small businesses across the borough. These businesses are the beating heart of our community, and I want them to know that we’re on their side, especially in economically challenging times.

“The support we’re offering combines direct financial help, support to make physical improvements and access to practical advice and expertise. The new support service that we’ll be launching in January is just the latest step, and it’ll be there to ensue that no Merton business will have to face a problem alone, they’ll have expert assistance and shared knowledge to back them up every step of the way.”