A variety of schemes to help smaller businesses in Stafford Borough grow are being rolled out.

Stafford Borough Council has launched hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of projects to boost local businesses - including direct funding, workshops and training initiatives.

It follows the success of schemes that the council has introduced using Government funding - with businesses talking about the positive ways the local authority has supported them.

More information about the range of support, as well as the eligibility criteria, can be found from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/business-support  

The range of initiatives for small and medium sized enterprises includes grants to help businesses become more sustainable and help for entrepreneurs to get started. The council are also working with education providers to provide support for businesses - and there is nearly £150,000 specifically set aside to help rural enterprises.

Popular schemes will be extended such as the ‘High Street Boost’ - which gave independent town centre businesses the opportunity of working alongside experts to look at ways of improving their offer and attracting new customers - and ‘Ignite and Thrive’ - which targets fledgling businesses and new start-ups.

Now the borough council is urging people to find out what is on offer to help them; check if they meet the criteria; then apply as soon as possible.  

Councillor Ant Reid, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: “Our small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of our economy and it is great to see the range of support we can provide to them so they can thrive, compete and grow - whether that be regionally, nationally or on a global scale.

“This once again demonstrates our commitment to our businesses and we will be reaching out to many small and medium enterprises, and future entrepreneurs, to invite them to take up the advice, support, or financial help that could be available so they can boost their chances of flourishing in a challenging economic market.”

He added: “If you need further reassurance about why this could be right for you - have a listen to the testimonies from those who have benefitted previously from this support.”

You can hear feedback from some of those successful applicants in a video from the business support pages of the council’s website.

The money received by the council is part of the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Press Release No 6228