Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has urged MPs to press the government for clarity on the future of business support funding, warning of a looming ‘cliff edge’ when the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) ends in March 2026.
In a letter sent to all MPs across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, Interim Deputy CEO Tom Nadin said uncertainty over what will replace the UKSPF is already causing concern for local businesses and the staff delivering vital support programmes.
He called on the government to outline its plans for business support beyond March 2026, including details of funding up to at least April 2028, by which time local government reorganisation in Staffordshire is expected to be complete.
The letter warned that the way UKSPF has been allocated to individual local authorities has led to ‘too much fragmentation’ and ‘a postcode lottery of eligibility’, with businesses missing out on help simply because of which side of a council boundary they fall on.
Tom wrote: “A significant amount of overall programme funding is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is due to come to an end on 31 March 2026. We are less than six months away from this deadline and once again, we are facing inevitable uncertainty from a cliff edge scenario.”
He added: “Here in Staffordshire, local government reorganisation is taking shape at a slow pace and we hope that the future of business support will extend until at least April 2028, at which point new strategic authorities should be in place and ready to accept devolved funding for respective areas of the county. We are ready to build on our successful delivery of programmes of business support.”
Tom said the end of current funding streams would affect both local firms that rely on advice and training to grow, and the experienced teams who deliver those programmes.
He wrote: “Business support creates jobs and safeguards jobs but it also offers access to knowledge and advice, creating the right conditions for business to thrive and prosper.”
He added that the Chambers is preparing to write to the Chancellor ahead of the November Budget with a list of key requests, and the future of business support will ‘feature prominently within that list’.
Tom said: “The clock is ticking and urgent action is needed to secure a long-term strategy and investment that guarantees continuity of services and support.”
Well said Tom. Westminster needs to listen. This is a very serious point and juncture in business support. I’ve been in business almost 30yrs and have used the services of almost every iteration from PYBT, UKTI Tec Growth Hub etc over the years, all creating employment and to the benefit of the local and national economy (we export 90%+ of our services). Local business support services are crucial to growth, a stated aim of our dreadful Chancellor. Extending the funding would support this.