Four people posing together indoors with colorful artwork and screens visible in the background.
Pictured from left to right are: Adele Simmons (Smithfield Works), Sonya Farrall (BabaBaboon), Tom Nadin (Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce) and Rachel Wood (Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub).

Start-ups offered year-long workspace and expert support in growth competition

1 min read

Start-up businesses in Stoke-on-Trent can win free hot desk space for a year as part of a £3,000 prize package up for grabs thanks to a new initiative.

The Business Elevator is open to businesses less than three years old and offers a prize designed to deliver tangible, day-to-day benefits for growth.

The collaboration between Smithfield Works, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub and PR firm BabaBaboon encourages businesses to enter via an online registration form. Those shortlisted will be invited to showcase their products and/or services to a judging panel.

The winner will receive a 12 months free hot desk space at Smithfield Works in Hanley, 12 months free start up membership at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, plus a two-hour PR strategy session with Sonya Farrall of BabaBaboon.

Support will also be provided by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub.

Tom Nadin, Head of Projects and Business Services at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Business Elevator is a fantastic opportunity for early-stage businesses to access the kind of support that can genuinely accelerate their growth.

“By bringing together workspace, expert mentoring, and practical marketing support, this initiative provides a strong foundation for ambitious start-ups to build from. At the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, we’re proud to be working in partnership to help nurture local entrepreneurial talent and ensure new businesses across Stoke-on-Trent have the best possible chance to thrive.”

Entries close on Friday, 29 May and should be submitted via this link.

Judging will take place over the following two weeks with an awards celebration evening planned for Friday, 26 June.

Hayley Johnson

Senior journalist with over 15 years’ experience writing for customers and audiences all over the world. Previous work has included everything from breaking news for national newspapers to complex business stories, in-depth human-interest features and celebrity interviews - and most things in between.

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