More than 100 people from the Staffordshire business community turned out for the latest Big Business Breakfast event, which delivered a round up on the latest funding and finance opportunities available for companies in the county.
The event, hosted by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, was held at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, and headlined by Tom Nadin, Head of Projects and Business Support at the Chambers, who delivered a presentation alongside a panel of leading finance and funding providers.
Funding available for businesses includes:
- Skills and Apprenticeship Hub from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub: Offering impartial advice, training needs analysis, and skills grants of up to £1,000 in Stoke-on-Trent and East Staffordshire.
- Start-Up Loans from Staffordshire County Council: Interest-free loans of £3,000 to £5,000 are available for new businesses, providing vital support for essential purchases without the need for collateral or match funding.
- Green Solutions from Staffordshire Business Environment Network (SBEN):This programme supports businesses in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through free energy assessments, carbon literacy training, and grants of up to £100,000 for energy efficiency projects.
- Made Smarter Programme: Tailored for manufacturers, this initiative offers grants of up to £20,000 (50% match funded) and expert guidance to support digital transformation.
- Fly High Start-Up Grants from Stoke-on-Trent City Council: Grants of £500 to £3,000 are available for Stoke-on-Trent businesses less than 12 months old to support marketing, equipment, and digital upgrades.
- Powering up Investment from Stoke-on-Trent City Council: Grants are available to organisations looking to relocate to the City or already based within Stoke on Trent, but undertaking expansion, new product development, additional services.
- Promoting Innovation Pathways Programme (PIPP): Digital Improvements Grant up to £5,000 that will aim to assist businesses with areas such as web design & UI elements, CRM implementation, or any other kind of digital-facing consultancy
- FLOURISH initiative by Keele University: SMEs, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations in Newcastle-under-Lyme are able to benefit from Keele University’s student and graduate talent.
- Fully Funded Courses from Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group: A series of courses for employers based in Newcastle-under-Lyme and their employees that are fully-funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Programmes.
- West Midlands SME Grant Programme from Cannock Chase Council: Start-up SMEs grants of £1,000 to £7,500 are available for businesses located in Cannock Chase
Also highlighted were a number of other initiatives designed to give businesses free access to workshops and peer networks, covering a range of topical business challenges.
For more details on the opportunities discussed, email [email protected]
