David Smith has been designated by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Growth Hub as the primary business adviser for Swadlincote, Derbyshire, to help local firms access grants and business support. Effective February 2026, he will serve as the main point of contact for small business owners looking to grow their companies.
Mr Smith is a Level 5 qualified coach and mentor who will operate out of the Swadlincote Innovation Centre (Bob Wheeler House). He has more than 20 years’ experience in business support, including managing publicly funded grant programmes, and will provide one-to-one guidance on training, business diagnostics and access to finance.
A key part of the role involves helping owners apply for funding through the South Derbyshire Accelerator, a business support project designed to help manufacturers, retail businesses and the visitor economy to start, sustain and grow. The Growth Hub advisers can also signpost businesses to specialist services where needed.
The programmes sit within South Derbyshire’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation of £1,001,681 (April 2025–September 2026), overseen by South Derbyshire District Council. The South Derbyshire Accelerator element is available until 31 March 2026, so business owners are encouraged to contact advisers promptly to access remaining Accelerator funds.
The appointment forms part of the EMCCA Growth Hub’s consolidation of regional business support following the transition from previous arrangements, with the aim of providing a single, easy-to-reach expert for entrepreneurs in the South Derbyshire area. It has not been publicly confirmed whether the role is a permanent EMCCA post or a fixed-term appointment linked to the Accelerator funding cycle.
