The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and their business support service, Growth Platform, are committed to providing businesses with a consistent, high-quality experience no matter who they speak to or what kind of support they access. To achieve this, they turned to GC Insight and their Growth and Performance Platform, a suite of integrated diagnostics and data tools that empower advisers and partners to deliver a joined-up, insight-led service.
“For us, the platform provides a consistent, high-quality framework that ensures every business gets the same professional, data-driven experience,” said Janice Mears, Head of Growth Platform.
“It helps our advisers have structured, meaningful conversations that probe, challenge, and identify the real opportunities for growth.”
The Platform’s Business Model Diagnostic sits at the core of the Liverpool City Region’s approach, helping account managers undertake a holistic review of each business. It frames developmental discussions, providing a data rich foundation that enables advisers to go beyond surface level challenges.
“It’s that report that draws off the diagnostic that makes all the difference,” explained Janice.
“It allows the adviser to focus the conversation, whether it’s around exporting, leadership, or productivity, and ensures we’re consistently looking at the business as a whole.”
This consistency is critical across Growth Platform’s High Growth Account Management Service, where a small team of experienced advisers work with scaling businesses. The structured diagnostic ensures every engagement is guided by the same robust framework, raising the quality and depth of discussion across the ecosystem.
When areas for deeper exploration are identified, the Growth and Performance Platform allows advisers to seamlessly extend their analysis through specialist modules such as Export Readiness and Supply Chain Resilience.
“Having those bolt-ons to the core diagnostic lets us capture richer intelligence,” said Claire Pedersen, Programme Manager at Growth Platform.
“For example, we’ve been able to use the export and supply chain modules to understand where businesses are in their development journey, whether they’re just starting out or ready to expand internationally.”
Claire noted that the modular design makes it easier to match the right diagnostic to the right business.
“A modular approach means we can tailor the depth and tone of the diagnostic to the stage of the business. It’s flexible enough to work for both emerging and mature companies.”
Growth Platform chose to work with GC Insight because of their collaborative approach and flexibility, a true partnership that allowed the region to shape the tool to its needs.
“We didn’t want an off-the-shelf system that we couldn’t change,” said Janice.
“We wanted a development partner who would build with us. GC Insight were really accommodating, they listened, adapted, and refined the tools based on our feedback.”
Claire echoed this sentiment, highlighting the iterative development journey:
“I’ve probably requested hundreds of small improvements over time, and the team have always responded. Some have been specific to us; others they’ve rolled out for everyone because they made the product better. That’s why we chose them.”
“Ultimately, this is about having the right tools for the right types of businesses—flexible, integrated, and consistent,” concluded Janice. “That’s what will help us deliver the next generation of business support.”
