RURAL businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are "going for growth" with the launch of a new scheme.

The Going for Growth scheme matches businesses with advisers who assess the company's expansion needs and provide support and information about grants to help them realise their growth potential.

Regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM) is putting £4.5m behind the scheme.

AWM has identified a Rural Regeneration Zone, which covers a large section of Herefordshire and west Worcestershire, plus Bewdley.

All kinds of companies will be invited to take part, but the initial focus will be firms in the food and drink, tourism and creative sectors. Later it will focus on environmental and medical technology sectors.

Mark Pearce, director at AWM, said Going for Growth would help solve issues associated with isolation and remoteness for rural businesses.

"Small businesses in the Rural Regeneration Zone are the backbone of the rural economy but owners and managers often feel isolated and find it harder to access business support services because of their remoteness from larger towns and cities.

"Going for Growth will go a long way towards helping solve these issues, strengthening the business base and continuing our efforts to help the rural economy to fully recover from the impact of foot and mouth.

"By helping companies to modernise and diversify, Advantage West Midlands is showing its commitment to supporting businesses in the Rural Regeneration Zone and driving forward the rural renaissance."

The scheme is run in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Andy Webster, programme leader at the chamber, said the aim was to reach businesses that other schemes passed by.

"We know many smaller companies really do not know who to talk to and ask for help and we are determined to engage owners, directors and sole traders in rural areas.

"The scheme can help enterprises at all stages in their business life."

Events in towns and villages across the zone will demonstrate the help available in areas such as marketing, IT, succession planning, quality procedures and graduate placement.

For more information contact Sue Woolley at the Chamber of Commerce, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, on 0845 450 4684 or e-mail: susanw@hwchamber.co.uk