Regional Success Story 


Winning Pitch provides coaching, mentoring and other forms of customised support to assist high growth businesses. The Winning Pitch approach then involves the supported businesses formulating and implementing a robust ‘game plan’. Winning Pitch deliver the NWDA’s High Growth Programme to 1700 NW-based business. This is the largest such initiative in Europe.

The High Growth Programme has a budget of £8.2 million (part ERDF, part NWDA) and it runs over 3 years. £6 million has been drawn down with the remainder scheduled to be spent by August 2011. All available places on the Programme have been filled, with all sectors of the economy being represented. Participants range from start-ups to established businesses with an annual turn-over of £10 million. Case studies appear on the dedicated website at 
google http://www.highgrowthprogramme.co.uk

1900 jobs have already been created by participating companies, at an average cost of £3k per job. An independent interim evaluation has called for an extension of the programme, highlighting its value for money. Winning Pitch are now planning to launch The North West High Growth Foundation as a follow on to the programme in 2011, such that some of the 1700 participants can continue to receive specialist support and to network and share experiences with each other as they continue their ‘high growth journey’. 
 


Winning Pitch attribute their success to a passion for helping entrepreneurial businesses; some very practical methodologies, tools and techniques developed specifically for high growth potential SMEs; a real specialism in the high growth ‘space’ – and a lot of hard work!


NWOP (North West Operational Programme) Bulletin 
Issue 4 - January 2011 – Happy New Year