Retail experts will be on hand to help Stone town centre businesses this autumn.

It follows successful workshops in neighbouring Stafford which a number of town centre businesses have been involved in during the last couple of months.

Businesses are invited to workshop launch events which are taking place in Stone, and the adjacent market town of Eccleshall, in September and October. Sessions will then be offered to around 15 businesses with one-to-one support that will take place at their premises.

The free workshops are part of a campaign driven by Stafford Borough Council in partnership with leading consultancy Good2Great, who have retail sector experience across the Midlands.

The expert support is just one of a series of initiatives being rolled out by the borough council with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The council was awarded one of the largest pots of money in the country having successfully put forward schemes to help the visitor economy, regeneration, climate change and culture.

The 90-minute workshops will kick off at Granvilles in Stone on Thursday 19 September at 5.45pm. A second session will take place at the same time and venue on Wednesday 2 October. And the final workshop will be at Eccleshall Cricket Club at 5.45pm on Tuesday 15 October.

Councillor Rob Kenney, Deputy Leader of the council with responsibility for town centres, said: “We want to help grow our new and existing businesses and this programme demonstrates the council’s ambition to do just that across the area.

“We will be reaching out to a whole range of companies, enterprises and future entrepreneurs to invite them to take up the advice, support, or financial help that could be available so they grow and thrive in our borough.”

The scheme includes several hours of one-to-one support on aspects such as sales, marketing, and administration.

The local authority say they hope to attract more than 50 businesses to the workshops which will also be a great opportunity for networking. For more information and to sign up go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/high-street-boost.

Press Release 6147