Start Up Mentoring Scheme
For businesses based in Staffordshire aged 0 to 5 years, this scheme provides a practical workshop covering registering a business, business insurance, accounting and bookkeeping.
In addition to the main workshop, advisors offer monthly drop‑in sessions for informal 1:1 advice, answering your questions about starting or running a new business.
Stafford residents and businesses should email getstarted@staffordshire.gov.uk to apply.
Start Up Mentoring Scheme (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Get Started and Grow
Free support for new and early-stage businesses in Staffordshire who want practical, hands-on help to grow their business.
The scheme offers one of the following to a business:
- a free 5-page website
- free logo and branding support
- up to 6 hours of legal support
- small workshops covering social media and digital marketing, accounting and financial essentials
Get Started and Grow (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Growth Ladder
A fully funded programme providing businesses (2 to 5 years) based in Staffordshire, with up to a maximum of 3 hours of support from a dedicated Growth Consultant, who will help them get ready to grow, scale and improve performance.
Growth Ladder (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Women in Business Programme
This programme empowers women across Staffordshire to start, grow and succeed in business. This fully funded programme helps women build confidence, skills and a strong business network.
Women in Business Programme (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Build and Scale
Aimed at businesses aged 2 to 5 years based in Stafford, to help accelerate sustainable business growth.
The support focusses on Staffordshire’s largest growth sectors covering:
- property development and construction
- trades and construction (such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry, subcontracting)
- professional services (such as legal, accountancy, architect, surveying, consulting)
Build and Scale (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Made Smarter
Manufacturing and engineering SMEs in the West Midlands can access tailored support through this programme, helping them adopt new digital technologies to boost productivity and efficiency.
The scheme offers specialist advice, a personalised digital action plan, and up to 50% match funding (up to £20,000) for equipment or expert support. It also includes Digital Transformation Workshops and an exclusive Leadership Development Course.
Designed to accelerate digital adoption, Made Smarter connects businesses with experts who can help them modernise operations, strengthen competitiveness, and plan long term digital transformation.
Boosting manufacturing in the West Midlands (madesmarter.uk)
Business Academy
Learn how to sell your products and services to the world. Exporting can help you grow your business by finding new customers and increasing your sales.
Business Academy (business.gov.uk)
Stafford Business Together
Open to all businesses in Stafford and surrounding areas, to help them network, unlock new opportunities and discuss business challenges in a relaxed environment.
Stafford Business Together (my.staffordshirechambers.co.uk)
Staffordshire County Council Enterprise Centres
The County Council has a number of units to let in Stafford as part of its overall strategy of regeneration and economic development.
These are available to let on flexible, monthly 'easy-in', 'easy-out' licences.
Staffordshire County Council Enterprise Centres (staffordshire.gov.uk)
Staffordshire Business and Environmental Network
A free membership group to help businesses achieve long term sustainability and maximise their business opportunities through innovative environmental activity.
Staffordshire Business and Environmental Network (sben.co.uk)
The Tracker Tool
A fully funded online carbon foot printing and reporting tool that enables Staffordshire organisations to measure and monitor carbon emissions from their energy use, fuel use, transport, water consumption and energy generation.
Standard recommendations are also provided to help you reduce your carbon emissions.
Institute of Technology
Led by Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), this £22.5 million development delivers high-quality technical skills training in priority sectors, including advanced engineering and manufacturing, modern methods of construction, digital technologies and health sciences.
Institute of Technology (nscg.ac.uk)
Creative Lab
Offered by Staffordshire University, this is a platform for ideas and business model generation, scaling up and new product or process design.
It is a workspace that provides access to specialist and collaborative facilities where students, innovative thinkers, start-ups and SMEs can benefit from a digitally enhanced environment and university expertise.
Staffordshire University Knowledge Partnerships
KTP is a three-way partnership between a business, the University, and a recently qualified graduate to collaborate on a business opportunity, idea or innovation and supports companies to drive innovation through the development of new digital products, processes and services.
SMEs can claim grant support at 67% towards project costs and for large companies 50%.
Staffordshire University Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (staffs.ac.uk)
Staffordshire University Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Specifically for growth orientated businesses with up to 500 employees, the focus of a mKTP is specifically on delivering human-centred and/or technology enabled, strategic change.
Up to 67% funding is available depending on the size of the business.
Staffordshire University Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (staffs.ac.uk)
Hatchery and Incubation Office Spaces
Office space of all sizes based in Stafford is available to rent through Staffordshire University. Through this, businesses can gain access to academic expertise, specialist equipment, training courses, business mentors and so much more.
Hatchery and Incubation Office Spaces (staffs.ac.uk)
Selling overseas from the UK
Business support tailor made to help you sell overseas.
Export support for UK businesses (business.gov.uk)
Keele University Knowledge Transfer Partnership
This programme is designed to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through better use of knowledge, technology and skills.
A KTP is a three-way project partnership between a business, Keele University and a recently-qualified high-calibre graduate.
Up to 67% of the total KTP budget for SMEs is met by Government funding (for larger companies, this is up to 50%). In certain cases, the KTP may also be eligible for Research and Development tax credits.
Keele University Knowledge Transfer Partnership (keele.ac.uk)
Innovate UK
Supports business led innovation in all sectors and technologies.
Innovate UK (ukri.org) help businesses grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.
King's Trust Enterprise Programme
Free of charge support for 18 to 30-year-olds who are interested in setting up their own business.
Through King’s Trust Enterprise Programme young people can receive expert-let workshops, one-to-one support and find out about the opportunities to apply for funding.
Free support to start a business - Enterprise programme (kingstrust.org.uk)
MentorMe Programme
The Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) offer free one-to-one virtual business support sessions for Staffordshire businesses looking to:
- Start a business or in the embryonic stages of your business?
- Keen to identify potential new markets?
- Interested in bid ready for public procurement opportunities?
- Need advice on chasing late payments?
- Seeking general advice and support?
Contact karen.woolley@fsb.org.uk to book a slot.
Kick Off in Business
This is a fully funded, one-week online course available to adults (19+) who are interested in exploring the option of self-employment or starting their own business. Also open to those have already started their business or registered as self-employed
Help to set up a business or become self-employed (kickoffinbusiness.co.uk)
Staffordshire Skills Hub
The Skills Hub provides guidance and support to businesses looking to upskill their staff. A Skills Hub Advisor will undertake a skills review and offer guidance on training available and what will work best for the business independently, as well as having the most up to date information on funding, apprenticeships and levy sharing.
Staffordshire Skills Hub (staffsskillshub.co.uk)
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