The website of the D2N2 Growth Hub has been ‘highly commended’ by the prestigious Good Web Guide Awards, for the help and advice it gives to growing businesses.
The online Good Web Guide provides its users with the top rated websites in the UK for a wide range of categories; including business, retail, travel, financial matters and property.
Its recent Awards, to find the best website in each category, ranked the D2N2 Growth Hub website as ‘highly commended’ for its provision of information to small and growing businesses.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – a private sector-led partnership which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – launched the D2N2 Growth Hub in December (2014)
The Growth Hub is a one stop shop for businesses looking for free and impartial business support and advice, training help and guidance on accessing finance. It brings together local and national business support. It has helped more than 1,000 businesses since it was launched.
The Good Web Guide’s criteria for commended websites includes:
- Design which is high quality, appropriate, and relevant for the audience and the message it is supporting.
- Navigation and structure which shows an immediate overview of what a site offers, with easy access to the site’s content.
- Content which is engaging, relevant and appropriate for its audience.
- Letting the visitor participate on the site, either through sharing with other users or via social media.
- Quick page load times which are free of broken links and work on all internet browsers.
- Sites which make use of the opportunities that social media offers.
The D2N2 Growth Hub’s website – built by website development company Iogen of Derby and co-created by the East Midlands Chamber – excels in the above categories, making good use of social media, and ensuring it is accessible for the increasing number of users accessing the website by mobile device and tablet.
Lindsay Allen, D2N2 Senior Programme Manager (Sector Development), said: “We were delighted to hear about the D2N2 Growth Hub website’s ‘highly commended’ honour. There is a lot of information out there for start-up and developing businesses, and we’ve worked hard to make the website accessible and informative on a range of measures to help companies grow.”
The D2N2 Growth Hub website also provides a directory of its businesses, and offers support in partnership with the Business Growth Service and others. It has received funding this year from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS); as well as Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area local authorities. Also available for businesses are resources, fact-sheets and guides, advice for starting a new business, and grants and funding to help businesses develop.
To learn more about the D2N2 Growth Hub, click here
To learn more about the work of the D2N2 LEP, click here
Media wanting more information about the work of D2N2 can contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Manager, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
