SMALL businesses are set to get a slice of success as a new support programme offers a helping hand.

The Furness Economic Development Forum (FEDF) is introducing a new programme to help small businesses engage more effectively with the supply chains of larger firms.

The South West Cumbria Supply Chain Strengthening and Transforming Skills business support programme aims to secure between £30m to £60m of contracts for firms in the local area and to help businesses explore new supply chain markets beyond.

Stuart Klosinski, programme and project manager, said: “The supply chain can be anything from small independent firms right up to the large corporations.

“It’s about facilitating interactions between companies on all different levels.”

Based in Emlyn Hughes House, the FEDF team is based in the centre of Barrow and is available any day of the week.

The centre is also home to BAE Systems’ Foundation for the Future exhibition which offers members of the public information about its £300m development programme.

Business support experts at FEDF are on hand to guide businesses through the various steps of a bidding process through one-to-one support sessions.

The team will help businesses easily access information on active and upcoming contracts and the packages of work involved.

It will also help SMEs break down perceived barriers, take up opportunities and facilitate networking events.

Businesses will also get the opportunity to learn more about making new contacts with other firms in the area.

Mr Klosinski explained: “We’re encouraging businesses to get together with other firms to provide an all round service.

“A butcher could get together with a grocer and a baker so they can provide a full service to a customer.”

Mr Klosinski believes the economic success of the area not only lies with small and medium-sized businesses winning tenders in the supply chain of major projects, but by joining forces with other small firms to bring business to each other.

Mr Klosinski said: “It’s about helping companies get to the next stage of growth.

“The opportunities are there but businesses need to know what’s coming up and who you need to get access to.

“Accessing that information is the biggest barrier.

“The aim of the initiative is to help businesses access that information and to see what’s out there.”

The FEDF is set to hold a meeting on September 11 with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership to highlight what opportunities are out there for smaller firms.