Businesses can find out more about access to finance to support growth
Small and medium sized businesses in Staffordshire can find out more about how they can access essential finance to support their growth at an event next week.
The Grow Your Workspace workshop, run by Staffordshire County Council’s Rural Enterprise Programme, takes place at Sandon Hall near Stafford next Wednesday September 13.
It will include a presentation from the Federation of Small Businesses, outlining the crucial services offered to support its members, as well as an introduction to alternative finance from BCRS Business Loans. BCRS delivers the county council’s Staffordshire Business Loan Fund.
An introductory presentation about the planning process will be offered by Stafford Borough Council, helping attendees understand how the process works and advise on applying for planning permission for any building works for their business.
There will also be presentations from Rural Enterprise Programme and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Growth Hub, two of the European Union Funded grant programmes open to small and medium sized enterprises and run by Staffordshire County Council. Grants are available for (non-speculative) manufacturing, creative industries or service businesses and office premises.
Staffordshire County Council’s communities leader Gill Heath said: “It remains a top priority of the county council is to continue to support job creation, particularly better paid, better skilled jobs. The Rural Enterprise Programme is an addition to our package of support for small businesses, helping them to expand and create jobs. Expertise provided by the FSB, BCRS and Stafford Borough Council’s planning team will make a real difference to attending businesses’ future growth.”
Frances Beatty, cabinet member for planning and regeneration at the borough council said: “We have a good record of attracting start-up businesses to the area but, more importantly, the number of those that survive is higher than national average. And it is workshops such as this as part of the Rural Enterprise Programme that help give businesses the advice and guidance they need to grow and survive. So we are pleased to be able to team up with the county council to provide information on the planning process that can prove invaluable with those businesses who are looking to convert underutilised buildings or construct new workspace to increase productivity, or to create and safeguard jobs, for example.”
There will be opportunities to ask presenters any questions you may have during the coffee break and at the end of the event. The event runs between 1.45pm and 4.30pm.
People can book tickets by visiting: bit.ly/2gFxkdS
Anyone wanting to find out more should visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/REP call 01785 277400 or email REP@staffordshire.gov.uk