New initiative champions scale-up ambition among Staffordshire SMEs

Businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire with high growth potential are invited to apply for an exclusive programme, designed to take their ambitions to the next level.

Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub and Staffordshire County Council are delivering a fully funded, investment-ready workshop, through the renowned FundingHero initiative.

15 places are available for the 3-hour session, delivered by the founder of FundingHero Jim Shirley, which is geared- up for SMEs looking to raise between ￡100k to more than ￡3 million of equity investment.

Focused on creating a fundraising strategy, the event takes place on 3 December at Philanthropy House, Staffordshire Technology Park.

The first 100 SMEs to register will receive a free, one-month licence to FundingHero.co.uk, an e-learning platform for investment readiness.

From those allocations, 15 businesses will be selected to attend the workshop and receive 12 months of access to FundingHero.co.uk.

They’ll also gain support from Barclays Eagle Labs, who are backing the initiative in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, along with the British Business Bank.

Growth Hub Manager, Rachel Wood, said: “Raising equity investment is vital to ensure we create the next generation of high-growth businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

“With this in mind, we are reaching out to the region’s SMEs with the ambition to grow and scale up to support their investment readiness with FundingHero.

“This is an exclusive opportunity designed to bring some of the best support available to help our region’s successful businesses to grow and thrive.”

The deadline to apply is 18 November.         

Register using the Expression of Interest form at: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Staffordshire-means-Business/Investment-Readiness-Workshop.aspx