Business Support

Are you a microbusiness owner in Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire? Do you need help with marketing, employment, HR, recruitment, or website enhancement/marketing support? You may be eligible for fully funded expert help under Achieve and Grow. What is Achieve and Grow? The Achieve and Grow business support scheme was born from research carried out into the …

If you’ve a brand new business or your business is less than two years old, you could be eligible for an interest- free loan of between £3,000 to £5,000, which can be used for most purposes to allow you to fund those key purchases to get your business off the ground. The loan is unsecured, …

Businesses in Cannock Chase can enrol on two fully funded programmes to help them achieve Net Zero or boost the adoption of advanced digital technologies. The programmes are run through Staffordshire University and place an emphasis on innovation. Net Zero Pathfinder This is a 12-week fully funded programme designed for businesses in the Cannock Chase …

Is your business looking for support on how to reduce your costs and become greener? Green Solutions in affiliation with the Business Energy Advice Service is a programme that offers support to businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can access support from any of these: Carbon Literacy Training. This …

Exclusively available to SMEs, large businesses and charities in Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council area. The Advanced and Digital Technologies Innovation Accelerator is a fully funded* initiative that offers support for businesses looking to develop or adapt digital or advanced technologies. The project includes a trained Staffordshire University student or graduate (Innovation Consultant) who will work with …

Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub have launched a fully funded Business Coaching and Mentoring Service! The service provides you with fully funded access to a highly experienced business mentor that will tailor their guidance to your specific challenges and goals, offering personalised strategies that are relevant to your industry and provide you with objective feedback …

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received £373,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver a visitor economy programme Visit Stoke-on-Trent: A City of Imagination. In line with the Visitor Economy Strategy, the UKSPF funded programme will support: delivering a small grants scheme* (up to £10k, revenue only) to revive the area’s …

The Growth Hub is working in partnership with creative marketing agency, Nuddy Media, to deliver ‘Practical Marketing’, a step-by-step course to help local businesses create a Marketing Strategy.  For more information and to find out how to register interest, visit the link below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-marketing-tickets-734529697097

Stoke-On-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub have partnered with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to offer free 1-2-1 virtual business support sessions. Are you a Staffordshire business and are…… Looking to start a business or in the embryonic stages of your business? Keen to identify potential new markets? Interested in getting bid ready for public …

Staffordshire University offers bespoke support suited to your business requirements whether you are a large business, an SME or just starting up. This includes fully funded support schemes, office space, state-of-art facilities, expertise (Knowledge Transfer Partnerships), apprenticeships, training courses and more. Learn more: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/business-services

Moving Ahead is a new initiative that will enable Keele University to work with a cohort of innovation-ready businesses to develop detailed, fundable proposals for intensive Research, Development and Innovation projects. Moving Ahead will also promote networking and collaboration through the creation of a broader Newcastle-under-Lyme Innovation Network, bringing together businesses and partners across sectors …

A brand new series of projects to support Newcastle-under-Lyme. SMEs, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations in Newcastle-under-Lyme are able to benefit from Keele University’s student and graduate talent, through a brand new initiative called FLOURISH. FLOURISH will deliver 60 projects across the following themes: Digital Society and Economy – including digital transformation projects with SMEs and …

Keele University offers a wide range of opportunities for businesses, particularly SMEs in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, to access professional and academic support to grow, develop and innovate including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Apprenticeships and free online vacancy advertising of student and graduate jobs, work experience and internships. Criteria:   SME in Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Learn more: https://www.keele.ac.uk/business/businesssupport/  

Businesses in Staffordshire are able to benefit from a new free recruitment service which will help to match their employment vacancies with appropriate potential candidates. The team of expert Employment Brokers will be able to offer advice and support with your recruitment requirements including training, apprenticeships, and work experience. Learn more: https://staffsjobscareers.com/staffordshire-jobs-careers-brokerage/more/for-businesses/

Are you an established business looking to grow? Whether you are looking to increase sales, recruit staff or develop new products or services, the South Staffordshire Business Hub can connect you with the latest help and support to help your business thrive. Learn more: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/south-staffordshire-business-hub/support-your-business/business-start-support

Developed by Oxford Innovation, it is a comprehensive business diagnostic tool containing a set of business assessment questions helping to analyse and assist with environmental sustainability. It is available FREE to Staffordshire organisations (excludes Stoke-on-Trent area). Learn more: https://sben.co.uk/funded-support/environmental-sustainability-growthmapper/

Carbon Tracker is SBEN’s online carbon footprinting and reporting tool that enables Staffordshire organisations to measure carbon emissions from their energy use, fuel use, travel, water consumption and energy generation. Funded through Staffordshire County Council and developed by SBEN with The Environmental Quality Mark CIC, Carbon Tracker is available free to eligible Staffordshire organisations. What …

Destination Staffordshire is the official tourist board for Staffordshire dedicated to raising the profile of the county as a quality destination to visit, working with local authorities, recognised by VisitBritain / VisitEngland, and other partners. Businesses in the tourism, hospitality and leisure can become members and promote their business. Four main membership packages are available …

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is a membership organisation providing business support, training, events and more to help local businesses network and grow. Learn more: https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk  

Looking for flexible workspace, office space, commercial floor space, collaboration hubs and wider business facilities? The list below outlines the offer available across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Local Business and Enterprise Centres Staffordshire County Council Business Centres Stoke-on-Trent City Council Business Centres Staffordshire University – Incubation, Hatchery and Office Space Keele University – Keele Science and …

Designed and delivered by entrepreneurs and industry experts at world-class business schools, this leadership course will provide time away from the challenges of running a business to invest in your leadership, and to learn how to take your business to the next level. The course is 90% funded by the Government and offers peer learning …

The free NatWest Accelerator supports and empowers UK entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to the next level. The programme could help you gain the knowledge and skills to excel in a range of business areas: Accessing new markets Attracting talent and building an effective team Access to growth funding Leadership development Developing a scalable infrastructure …

Be the Business is an independent, not-for-profit organisation helping business owners and leaders improve the performance of their business. Be the Business Mentoring matches leaders from small and medium-sized businesses with executives from some of the UK’s leading companies including Accenture, Amazon, John Lewis, Lloyds and Siemens. Backed by government, the free Be the Business …

Enterprise Nation has partnered with Vodafone Business to deliver a free training programme – delivered exclusively online, and consisting of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help SMEs kickstart digital change, adopt new technology, and stay safe online. Learn more: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/business-connected  

Digital Boost is a free online platform that connects small businesses, charities and start-ups with volunteer experts so that they can learn essential skills and get the advice they need to grow their businesses. They offer: Unlimited 1:1 mentoring sessions with volunteer experts Small group live Masterclasses and events on popular business topics A Resource Centre with on-demand articles, blogs …

The GREAT.gov.uk trade hub acts as a single digital destination to support businesses whether they are new, occasional or frequent exporters. Through it, businesses can: Get advice from an international trade adviser Find export opportunities Create a free business profile and promote their company to overseas buyers Find online marketplaces to reach international consumers Access …

The Global Incubator Programme is an acceleration programme for innovative SMEs to explore the potential of overseas markets. This enables cohorts of 6-8 innovative SMEs to spend time in world-leading incubators abroad. The programme operates in four countries: the USA, Canada, Singapore and India. Learn more: https://www.innovateukedge.ukri.org/enter-new-markets/Global-Incubator-Programme

Up to 15 high-growth innovative businesses take part in each Innovate UK Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP). They are supported intensively by an innovation and growth specialist whilst exploring and exploiting the collaboration, growth and innovation opportunities that exist in a specific business market around a specific theme, from Agritech to AI. The GBIP provides …

Manufacturing or engineering SMEs in the West Midlands can benefit from Made Smarter and get help to transform their business through new digital technology. The programme includes: Specialist advice and support to develop an action plan for adopting digital technology in your own detailed roadmap. Up to 50% match funding (Maximum of £20,000) available for …

Amazon Small Business Accelerator serves the evolving needs of the UK’s thriving small business community. The upgraded Accelerator is now available on Amazon and offers a suite of free-to-use resources for all startups, entrepreneurs and small or medium-sized businesses. Current and aspiring business leaders can now access more than 20 courses and 50+ videos of …

FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political membership organisation offering their members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice heard in government. Learn more: https://www.fsb.org.uk/

Designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises in the UK. Working alongside the most senior decision makers of 70 other established businesses. Each cohort provides: education and insights from the UK’s leading academics dedicated, highly experienced mentor peer-to-peer support robust, supportive and engaging alumni network …

Is your business looking to improve the way it attracts and retains young people in your workplace? Power Up is a three-month early career development programme developed by the Prince’s Trust that supports new employees aged 18 to 30 to thrive within the workplace.  The programme’s core objective is to help employees aged 18 to …

Fertility Network UK is the nation’s leading patient-focused fertility charity, providing free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding to the 3.5 million people across the country who are affected by fertility issues. Workplace support for this medical condition, defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘a disease of the reproductive system’, is often either …