GM Business Growth Hub has revealed the 25 businesses which will make up the first cohort for its ASCEND Scale Up Programme.
The North West businesses – across multiple sectors including AI & robotics, cybersecurity, fashion & beauty, FinTech, renewable energy and Software as a Service – will come together for a launch event this evening which kicks off six months of support.
ASCEND is a personal development initiative tailored to help founders of high-growth businesses across Greater Manchester to scale rapidly and achieve their full potential.
Delivered in partnership with KPMG, ASCEND provides a unique combination of expert mentorship, co-working access in Manchester city centre and valuable industry exposure.
Over the course of six months, the entrepreneurs will receive in-depth support designed to propel their businesses to the next level.
Each participant will benefit from bespoke guidance, tailored growth strategies and individualised mentorship to foster business resilience and strategic scaling. They will be immersed in workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities that connect them with investors, industry experts and business leaders.
In addition, as part of the programme, founders and their mentors will travel to the renowned Web Summit in Lisbon this November – one of the world’s largest tech conferences – offering a unique opportunity to connect with global thought leaders, partners and potential investors. BusinessCloud is set to report from Web Summit for the first time this year.
The culmination of ASCEND will include a showcase of each business’s progress, highlighting the incredible growth and successes achieved throughout the programme.
The cohort
30Seconds Group Ltd
Driving the digital transformation of occupant communication in residential and commercial buildings.
Carrs Pasties Ltd
Family-run bakery based in Bolton baking perfect pasties since 1938.
CDD Services Ltd
Provides digital tools and due diligence services for those individuals and organisations who want to work together as one.
Circle of Trust Club Limited
Digital word-of-mouth platform that connects businesses with a community of users who are actively sharing and seeking trusted recommendations.
Code Beautiful
Platform to buy beauty products that do what they say they will.
Digitech Oasis
Helps you predict, improve & automate critical business functions via an all-in-one AI technology platform.
Europium World UK Ltd t/a Made by Zen
Platform to buy premium aroma diffusers and other wellness-related goods.
Flight Patrol
Platform for people to check whether they are entitled to compensation over delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights.
H2Origin Refills
Brings chilled, filtered water originating from UK sources directly to refillable water bottles.
Icon Sports Group UK Ltd
Supplies sports equipment & apparel in the UK & Europe. Specialises in providing bespoke teamwear, workwear, print & embroidery.
Mercury Support Limited
Provides the hospitality & retail sectors with compliance, health & safety, licensing and insurance claims support.
MP&Co
Marketing experts working with the industry’s best consultants for standout results.
Nadine Merabi
Luxury womenswear brand.
Parker Neal Ltd
Delivers edge cybersecurity and data governance services.
Perfect Sense Ltd
Supplier & installer of commercial solar PV & LED lighting systems.
Pimberly Ltd
Cloud-based Product Information Management platform allowing customers to record all their product data in one place.
Pixeltree Media
User experience design agency helping organisations to create exceptional digital experiences that elevate their business.
Responsible Breeding Ltd t/a Pet Trust UK
High-security platform to make buying animals online safer.
Shopblocks
Claims to ensure the fastest B2B eCommerce time to value in the market.
Specscart
Platform to buy glasses and frames.
Sticky Connections Ltd
Innovative technology allowing businesses to place interactive touchpoints within stores, hotels, venues and other physical spaces.
The Creative Composite Agency
Inbound marketing for dentists, allowing them to concentrate on providing excellent dental care rather than converting leads into customers.
Wolf Network Security
Cybersecurity company assisting in all areas from network installation to penetration testing.
Zally Limited
Technology which continuously confirms identity with the aim of eradicating passwords.
Zapt
Platform that revolutionises how businesses create, deploy and manage custom Generative AI applications.