Regional enterprise agency NWES is urging businesses in Norfolk and north Suffolk to take advantage of free impartial support, and funding of up to £25,000, to help them innovate and grow.

The grants and advice are available via NWES under the Ready, Set, Go initiative which was set up last year ? with part-funding from the European Regional Development Fund ? to support pre-start and established businesses looking to develop or introduce new products, processes and ideas.

The free expert advice is available to businesses employing anything from one up to 250 members of staff while easy-to-access grants are available to help bring plans to fruition by covering a quarter of the investment required, up to a maximum of £25,000.

Kevin Horne, chief executive of NWES, said: 'More people than ever are seeking help in getting a business up and running. We want to balance this by backing existing businesses to introduce innovative growth plans.

'This will help them to compete in a potentially more crowded market place and also boost the regional economy with continued enterprise at all levels.'

• To find out more about the programme, visit www.nwes.org.uk/news/innovate, email info@nwes.org.uk or call 08456 099991.