A NEW network has been created to offer commercial advice to help businesses to grow.

The Liverpool City Region Local Growth Hub has been launched to give firms across the six local authority areas streamline support.

Halton Council has been chosen as one of the regional brokers.

More than 300 specialist advisors from a wide range of key professional and commercial backgrounds will team up to drive economic growth.

The new service is supported by eight Local Growth Hub regional brokers who play a strategic role in signposting and co-ordinating local and national support, making it easier for businesses to access the advice they need.

The regional brokers are Liverpool City Region LEP, Liverpool Vision, Halton Council, Knowsley Chamber of Commerce, The Women's Organisation, Invest Sefton, St Helens Chamber and Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

Halton Cllr Eddie Jones, board member for economic development, said: “I am delighted that Halton Council and Halton Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise will, in partnership, be delivering the new Local Growth Hub locally.

“Together they are best placed to understand and support the local business community to grow and prosper.

“They are already the go to organisations for business support and advice locally and so access to a wider portfolio of local, regional and national business support services through the Growth Hub can only be a positive thing.”

Businesses will be offered both online and face to face support.

“This hugely innovative service will be fully accessible to all owners and will help ensure that region’s businesses can access the help and support they need when they need it,” he added.