Posted on Tuesday 4th November 2025
Ben and Michelle Haycox from Panelscape in Rugeley
Small businesses looking to stand out this Christmas are being encouraged to get in touch with a county council support programme.
The Get Started and Grow programme run by Staffordshire County Council is offering fully funded, expert marketing or social media support to small businesses to get the competitive edge this festive season.
Businesses interested should find out more and apply at https://bit.ly/FreeFestiveMarketing
The programme has already supported over 250 Staffordshire businesses with the marketing, social media, accountancy and legal expertise that all young businesses need to grow.
With over 80 per cent of UK consumers intending to shop with small businesses this Christmas, local digital experts are ready to offer bespoke support to businesses looking to make the all-important Christmas period the best one yet.
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Martin Murray said:
This is a real opportunity for SMEs to get the skills they need to capture holiday customers. As the festive season approaches, SMEs in Staffordshire are seeking ways to stand out amongst larger competitors during the busy period and we’re happy to give them that edge.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Staffordshire economy and many need to make the festive period a real success. The Get Started and Grow programme is the way to get those skills and valuable insight to make that happen. Harnessing the power of social media in particular is crucial as the holidays approach, so I’m urging small businesses to apply now.”
Ben and Michelle Haycox from Panelscape Ltd in Rugeley benefited from the Get Started and Grow expert marketing support last year.
Michelle said:
Social media was not one of our areas of expertise, so the support we received was absolutely invaluable. We’ve been able to grow our audience and get the products and services we offer to the public and local businesses in a way that we’ve never been able to do before.
Many businesses around the country wouldn’t get this type of support, so we’d fully recommend Get Started and Grow to all young businesses.
The very best thing is that it’s so simple to access the support – it really is easy to apply in just a few minutes, and they come back to really quickly; which is particularly useful when you’re a new business with a lot to juggle.”
Any small business based in Staffordshire and under five years old should apply now as places are limited.