In summary
Welcome to our latest newsletter! This month, we highlight the Creative Growth Programme, a 12-week initiative for creative businesses, some current business consultations, and a workshop on Winning More Work.
Regional support is available, so as we enjoy the summer months, take advantage of these resources to grow your business. If you need more information on finding business support and can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Featured news and events
FSB General Election Manifesto
The pending General Election, provides a perfect opportunity for those seeking political office to put forward a compelling pro-small business offer, to support growth, jobs and a brighter economic future. Earlier in June, the Federation of Small Businesses outlined in our Manifesto, what we believe that should look like.
With 5.5 million small businesses in the UK, employing 16.7 million people – 60% of the private sector workforce – means that around a third of the electorate own or work in an SME.
In our manifesto we present a comprehensive package of recommendations to create the conditions for growth now and in the future; as well as a vision for high streets and town centres; ways to better promote jobs and skills; and a plan to remove barriers holding back more inclusive entrepreneurship. Many of these measures do not involve additional spending.
There are a host of policy areas where legislative action is required to improve the operating environment for small businesses. We are therefore calling upon on all of those competing to form the next Government to commit to a Small Business Act.
Read more and access the full Manifesto report.
Creative Growth: Hull and East Yorkshire Programme.
Designed to support ambitious and growth-orientated creative businesses the programme is aimed at firms from a wide range of creative sub-sectors, including Advertising, Marketing and PR; Architecture; Crafts; Design and Fashion; Film, TV, Radio and Photography; IT, Software, Apps and Video Games; Museums, Galleries and Libraries; Music, Visual and Performing Arts; and Publishing and Translation Services.
This free-to-access 12 week fully funded programme is aimed at businesses looking for advice and support to grow and access external investment, including 6 practical workshops, investment diagnostic, peer networks and mentoring.
The programme covers a range of areas, such as:
• Growth in Creative Industries
• Consumer Behaviour
• Creative Innovation
• Understanding Finance for Growth
• The Art of Pitching
• Investment Springboard
This is a great opportunity for businesses operating in the sector to obtain fully funded support to help them understand how to grow.
For further information visit: the Creative Growth Programme page or email [email protected]
Book your free delegate place now >
In other news
Winning More Work Through Tenders, 15th July, Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Aimed at businesses who are seeking to improve their contract win rate, this interactive workshop will help you understand how to prepare and position your business to win!
Delivered by Nigel Denison and Kate Skillman of Gimlet Associates, bid and tender support specialists, topics you’ll cover will include:
As part of the event attendees will be guided through the essentials of creating successful tenders, bids, and proposals. The first session will cover everything from finding and choosing the right opportunities for your business to understanding the requirements of a tender. Then delve into making bid/no bid decisions, submitting quality bids, and asking clarification questions.
Part two of the event will focus on delivering a winning bid. Explore effective bid writing approaches, understanding evaluation and marking schemes, and the key principles for high-quality responses. Attendees will learn how to deconstruct questions, provide compelling evidence and detail, and prepare for typical bid questions.
Don't miss this chance to enhance your bidding skills and increase your success rates. For more information and to book your spot, visit the event booking page.
Business Sheffield - Discover what funding is available to Small Businesses.
On 4th June, 30+ FSB member businesses gathered for breakfast and networking at Sheffield Electric Works. Hosted in partnership with Business Sheffield, business advisers presented on just some of the opportunities and funding that is available to businesses in and around the City.
From its launchpad supporting start-ups and newly formed businesses, through to innovation funding to help your business grow and improve efficiency, through to support for low carbon projects and improving sustainability.
If you missed the event or would like to find out more about what is available you can contact the Business Sheffield team via 0114 224 5000, and visit their Grants page or email the team.
Discover the art of using AI tools in Barnsley. 1 July, 2024
Discover the art of using AI tools to enhance your digital marketing and promotions. As part of its launchpad programme enterprising Barnsley are offer a free interactive workshop to learn how to use a range of platforms to design a bespoke marketing plan, optimise content, create a great customer journey, and streamline your marketing workload. Explore the benefits, responsible use, and how AI can revolutionise how you market your business. No technical knowledge or previous expertise is required.
The launchpad programme offers a whole series of support to startups & small businesses in Barnsley (up to 10 employees due to funding restrictions). Find out more about this workshop and other support available to businesses across Barnsley via Enterprising Barnsley.
Natwest Accelerator
The NatWest Accelerator is now open in three hubs in the North, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. It supports and empowers UK entrepreneurs and business owners to scale their businesses to the next level.
Through their six month fully funded Accelerator they wrap around support and
expertise, removing barriers to help businesses grow.
Still in the news
Proposed Melton Parkway Interchange East Riding (Consultation)
A partnership between East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Hull & East Yorkshire (HEY) LEP, Network Rail, National Highways and Wykeland Group have developed outline plans to create a new transport interchange located at Melton on the rail network between the existing stations of Brough and Ferriby
This consultation will seek to establish if the principle of a new transport interchange is supported at this location. The views of the local and regional population and businesses and the existing users of Brough and Ferriby Station need to be gathered and understood as this will feed into further timetable analysis and business case development. Further consultation will be carried out as plans are progressed.
Doncaster – the ‘Big City Conversation’ (Consultation)
Doncaster residents and visitors are being asked to share their opinions and thoughts on the future of the city centre in a consultation called the ‘Big City Conversation’.
As part of the conversation, a series of face-to-face workshops are available for those who live or work in Doncaster to share their thoughts and opinions on the city centre.
If you are interested, below are the locations and dates for each available event which are free to attend:
• 30th June- 12-4pm, Hatfield Woodhouse summer Gala - Hatfield Woodhouse village hall, Darking Ing Lane, Hatfield, Woodhouse, Doncaster DN7 6GB.
• 3rd August - 10am onwards - Moorends Rec Gala Park Road, Moorends, Doncaster, DN8 4QR
• 4th August- 11-5pm, Stainforth car show- Welfare Field: Stainforth Miners Welfare DN7 5ND
To read more on the consultation - and to take part:
Email the team for more information>
Business support in Your Area
Whilst business support and what’s available in your area can at times feel confusing, we have some good links with local authority business support teams, advisers and other providers. So if you’re not sure where to start then you can make contact with me, your FSB Development Manager to help direct you to the right point of contact and find the support you need.
More news and activity near you
- North Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- North East England
- More from FSB Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East West
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager South & East Yorkshire and Humber is Paula Gouldthorpe. If you'd like to get in touch about any of the topics above, or if you have news and information about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on X: @FSBSEYorksHumb
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.South.East.Yorkshire.Humber