Liverpool Vision, the Mayor’s economic development company, has announced a partnership with Business Doctors that will deliver free business coaching and support for ambitious city businesses in 2014. The offer will be launched at a free event on 27 January, for which would-be attendees can pre-register. It begins at 5.30pm at the city’s central library.

Under the business support programme, businesses will be able to benefit from fully funded business support, to be delivered by a five-strong team of experienced business-support specialists. The funded support is available from now and is expected to be taken up in the first half of the year.

For interested companies, an online registration of interest will be followed by an online application and then a telephone assessment to look at qualifying suitability and at where to focus any support. The business support will mostly be delivered in two day-long sessions, but other approaches will be considered.

Terry Houghton, who is taking the lead on delivering the project for Business Doctors, said: “This represents an excellent opportunity for Liverpool businesses to access the support they need to sharpen up and achieve real growth in 2014 and beyond. I probably don’t need to emphasise that fully funded support like this is unusual and we expect a lot of interest. Those business that could benefit from some individual attention and support from our experienced coaches should apply as soon as possible.”

Even brand-new businesses are eligible to apply and they can be active in nearly any sector. Those with the potential to deliver strong growth and create jobs are best placed to secure the support. Only those with a registered company address in Liverpool postcodes are eligible.

Howard Fleming, deputy head of business growth at Liverpool Vision, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with the Business Doctors on what is a very exciting business support programme, we urge businesses to take advantage of the programme while they can.”

The funded support is intended to help preserve and create jobs across Liverpool, and the project will be evaluated on those terms.

Terry Houghton added: “Even strong businesses sometimes need help to develop and grow in the right direction. We are sure that the support we can deliver will help many companies to take the next step and ultimately to take on more staff and grow Liverpool’s economy.”

Business Doctors has 36 operations across the country, including a strong presence in the North West. It provides businesses with advice to drive business growth, from strategies for sales and boosting profits to advice for effective people management, accessing finance and acquiring other businesses.