Over 1,000 Staffordshire people have been supported by the county council through its business Start-up Mentoring Scheme which has been running since 2021.
And 500 businesses have now received expert guidance through Get Started and Grow which started in 2022.
The Start-Up Mentoring Scheme enables people to take their first steps into starting a business. It offers friendly, practical support to help build ideas, unlock potential, and turn ambition into reality for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Get Started and Grow has also made a big difference by helping businesses to start up, grow, and develop. Through free website builds, branding and logos design and hands-on support, the programme supports new businesses to build strong foundations and plan for the future.
People can find out more on the county council’s business support programme webpage.
Those who have benefited from the Get Started and Grow programme include Sophie Shelley from Shenstone near Lichfield. She accessed the scheme after taking on a franchise with House of Colour UK.
Sophie said:
It’s been a lot harder starting out than I thought it would be, so it’s great to get the support from Staffordshire County Council through programmes like Get Started and Grow and Women in Business.
Initially I didn’t realise how much I would have to rely on social media, so the Get Started and Grow session on how to use it effectively to market my business was really useful. Being in Staffordshire has definitely been beneficial for my business. There’s a lot of support with networking, peer support and funding, which has been brilliant for me.”
Robin Hall, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
Starting a business can be exciting, but the first few months and years can also be incredibly challenging. Getting the right expert advice and practical support at an early stage can make a real difference.
It is fantastic that more than 1,000 people have now been supported through our Start-up Mentoring Scheme, with a further 500 businesses benefiting from Get Started and Grow.
Staffordshire is home to so many ambitious entrepreneurs and small businesses. We want to give them the strongest possible foundations to grow, create jobs and contribute to our local economy.
These figures show that our business support programmes are making a genuine difference and we will continue developing the support available to meet the changing needs of Staffordshire businesses.”
