Local factsheet - Cannock Chase

The Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Business Growth Hub is a brilliant resource for business support with a wide range of services that can aid businesses to make that next step to growth.

They can offer general business advice and referrals to national and local business support programmes. Businesses can also book a face-to-face appointment with an experienced Business Advisor in their location for support relevant to your business.

Advisors are not all sector specialists and will link businesses with specialists where appropriate.

The Growth Hub also offers a variety of events, workshops, masterclasses, webinars and seminars on a diverse range of specialist subjects to help accelerate business growth.

Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Business Growth Hub uses the national Business Support Service and the Staffordshire Business Helpline for initial telephone enquiries. The Growth Hub can be contacted directly via email

Eligibility: Available to pre-starts, start-ups, early-stage and established businesses.

Website: www.stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk

Tel: 0300 111 8002 - Business Support Helpline

E-mail (for all other enquiries): growthhub@staffordshire.gov.uk

Cannock Chase Council provides local business information and advice for start-ups and existing businesses, as well as business development support and signposting to a wide variety of grant and loan schemes.

Additional signposting is offered for property services, business rates, planning, food safety, help with health & safety compliance and understanding environmental regulations.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/business

Tel: 01543 462 621 - Switchboard

Tel: 01543 464 267 - Economic Development

E-mail: econdev@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Looking for support for your business?

Staffordshire County Council provide business support and advice along with information on business rate relief, economic development/inward investment and offers trading standards advice services.
They offer free business coaching, guidance on self-employment, and a fully funded recruitment service for employers.

You can also find details on apprenticeships, exporting, licences, food standards and commercialisation.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/business

Tel: 0300 111 8000 - General Enquiries

Tel: 0300 111 8002 - Trading Standards Business Advice Helpline

General Enquiries E-mail: contactus@staffordshire.gov.uk

Trading Standards E-mail: businessadvice@staffordshire.gov.uk

Get Started & Grow scheme offers fully-funded expert advice and support for businesses aged 0-5 years in Staffordshire, the support includes but is not limited to:

- Development of logos and branding
- Development of a new website, or improvements to what you’ve already got
- A digital marketing campaign fully developed and delivered to engage with new customers  
- Planning and accountancy support, including business planning, forecasting, getting loans and finance, etc.
- Legal support with Terms and Conditions, B2B contracts, Non-Disclosure and Shareholder Agreements
- Tailored HR advice covering compliance in recruitment, handling disputes, and complex people issues 

Eligibility: Individuals looking to start a business or businesses that are less than five years old and looking to grow in Staffordshire. 

Website: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Staffordshire-means-Business/Fully-funded-support-to-start-up-and-grow-your-business.aspx

Tel: 01785 227375 

E-mail: getstarted@staffordshire.gov.uk  

The different types of support includes:

• Business training sessions
• Masterclasses
• 1-2-1 Coaching and mentoring
• Networking and events
• Digital marketing audit

Eligibility:  Staffordshire-based business that have been operating for less than 2 years. You can also be in the pre-start up stage and exploring a business idea that you have had.

Website:  https://www.thenextgen.co.uk/start-up-support-staffordshire

Tel: 01785 526 010

Green Solutions is a programme that offers support to businesses in Staffordshire Local Authority areas (except Stoke-on-Trent) to enable you to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The support available has 3 elements:

- Carbon Literacy Training - Offering a FREE 8-hour training course will provide you the knowledge and skills to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can choose whether to attend an in-person or online course, and the training is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.

- Energy Efficiency Review - A FREE review that will look at your energy consumption and provide recommendations to save money and reduce your carbon emissions.

- Low Carbon Grant - A grant of between £1,000 and £20,000 (cover up to 50% of eligible costs) is available per business to implement any of the recommendations from the Energy Efficiency Review.

Eligibility: Available for trading businesses in Staffordshire (except Stoke-on-Trent)

Website: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Staffordshire-means-Business/Environmental-Business-Support/Green-Solutions.aspx

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has a dedicated, professional business support service team. The team offer free initial consultations, fire safety advice and business support packs. The fire service also offer training courses around fire safety.

Website: https://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/your-safety/business-safety/business-support/

Tel: 01785 898916 - Business Support Lead John Berrisford

Are you a student or graduate looking to start a business?

BSEEN (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network) aims to provide support to entrepreneurial students and graduates to help them start a successful business.  The 12 month intensive programme includes workshops, networking opportunities, tailored mentoring, grants and a workspace.

It runs as a joint initiative between Aston University and Birmingham City University.

Eligibility: Businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading. For undergraduates and graduates up to 5 years after graduation, living in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area.

Closing Date: Run multiple cohorts during the year, check the website for closure dates.

Website: https://b-seen.biz/

Tel: 0121 204 5253

E-mail: bseen@aston.ac.uk

The Business and IP Centre (BIPC) at the Library of Birmingham offers a wide range of resources and information to businesses.

The library has an advice and planning service where advisors are available to support people who want to start, run and grow a business, develop a business idea, or need help with intellectual property issues.

Specialist resources include access to market research reports via the IBISWorld service, plus subscriptions to databases such as COBRA, Creditsafe, FAME and Kompass. Some services need the user to be a library member.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Business Services website: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/BIPC

Business events website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/business-amp-learning-in-the-library-of-birmingham-15352353438 

Tel: 0121 303 6800

E-mail: BusinessandLearning@birmingham.gov.uk

Vast can provide a range of excellent services to those looking to start a new business, such as guidance in starting up. including legal structures, funding, project management, creative and financial support services. It also offers Corporate Social Responsibility services to local businesses.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.vast.org.uk/

Tel: 01785 283400 - Stafford

Tel: 01782 683030 - Stoke on Trent

Aston University provides a wide range of services to support business through start up and growth.

From funded programmes offering consultancy to solve business challenges, facilities and expertise to help you innovate and explore key areas like intellectual property, to supporting employers with developing their workforce and recruiting student and graduate talent, the team can work with organisations of all stages, sizes and sectors.  To reach out and express interest, complete the online enquiry form.

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. Eligibility criteria for individual programmes can be found on the website.

Website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/business

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands is led by police officers and dedicated cyber talent to support and help protect small businesses, SMEs, supply chain businesses and third sector organisations against cybercrime. There is free membership to the Centre, which gives full access to a range of jargon-free resources, toolkits and guidance.  Different membership levels are available depending on organisational needs and a range of cyber resilience services such as cyber security training and testing services are also offered at a cost – more information can be found on the website. 

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. 

Website: https://www.wmcrc.co.uk/

Online contact form: https://www.wmcrc.co.uk/contact-us

A programme for manufacturing companies in the West Midlands. Made Smarter is designed to help accelerate growth through access to a range of support.

This includes advice from digital specialists with a fully funded assessment and digital roadmap for your business, help with your strategy to implement new technologies, leadership & management training, access to digital skills resources and workshops, support for technological innovations, plus up to 50% match-funding towards the purchase of hardware and software.

To find out more and make an enquiry, visit the website.

Eligibility: Manufacturing businesses that have begun trading who are looking to grow.

Website: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/west-midlands/

Innovate UK Business Growth (was Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It provides intensive, specialist-led support to ambitious innovation-led businesses to help them grow and scale.

Each high-potential, innovative business is supported by a dedicated innovation & growth specialist local to them. The specialist will consider a business in the round and, working closely with its leadership, identify the most productive ways to accelerate its growth. This could be by working on the core business plan and value proposition or through exploiting innovation, accessing funding and finance, and/or expanding into new markets.

In particular, the specialists can help companies to develop an innovation-driven business plan; understand how to protect and create value from their intellectual property; develop a strategy to fund and finance their innovation, growth and be investment ready; connect to new partners for commercial, technology and R&D collaborations; and discover opportunities in overseas markets learning how to capitalise on them.

Innovate UK Business Growth  also offer the Scaleup Programme for enhanced support, the Global Incubator Programme and the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (innovative businesses, looking to grow and scale their business in the UK market and internationally) with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland). It is not suitable for pre-starts, or for those businesses who have no ambition to grow through innovation or internationalisation.

Website: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth/

Online Contact Form: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth-contact/ 

Tel: 0300 123 3066  (National Gateway)

BioHub Birmingham works with already active businesses with the aim of enabling them to grow. 

If your business is eligible they provide rate-free lab space, with full access to shared equipment and facilities as well as facilitating access to expertise, services and equipment from the University of Birmingham. The Hub is part of Birmingham Research Park.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (technology-based).

Website: https://www.birminghamresearchpark.co.uk/biohub/

Tel: 0121 415 8543

E-mail: theBioHub@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Keele University offers a wide range of business support, from student placements, graduate internships, continuous Professional Development (CPD) in a wide range of areas, access to facilities and equipment, consultancy advice and contract and collaborative research opportunities.

Eligibility: Businesses trading over 24 months. Work with all business sectors, with particular strengths in medical and environmental technologies, sustainability, natural sciences, healthcare and leadership and management.

Website: http://www.keele.ac.uk/business-support-services/

Tel: 01782 733001

E-mail: gateway@keele.ac.uk

Looking to grow your business in the West Midlands region?

The West Midlands Growth Company aims to raise the profile of the West Midlands Combined Authority region in national and global markets, making it more attractive to investors. It seeks to create new jobs, expand existing businesses and attract new businesses and investment to the region.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading over 24 months.

Website: https://wmgrowth.com/

Tel: 0121 202 5115

E-mail: info@wmgrowth.com

Do you need legal advice? Lawyers for your business is a scheme offering a free half-hour consultation with a member of the Law Society.

The lawyer will not be able to deal with existing legal issues but can help with general legal enquiries about starting a business, employing people, contracts with customers and suppliers, taking on leased premises, business structures, health and safety and raising finance. When contacting a solicitor for a 30-minute free consultation you must advise you are calling regarding the Lawyers for your business scheme and use the named contact on the sheet sent to you from the service.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Tel: 020 7320 5650 - If you need help with using the find a solicitor section, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

E-mail: lfyb@lawsociety.org.uk - please include postcode or town/city in the e-mail.

For solicitors interested in joining the LFYB scheme
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/individual-accreditations/lawyers-for-your-business

Does your business require legal support?

Birmingham FLAG can offer legal advice. The programme is operated by students at the University of Birmingham, working under the supervision of qualified legal professionals.

To access this service you should leave a message or e-mail the service, giving your contact details and enquiry, and a member of the FLAG team will attempt to contact you by telephone. The team will only make three attempts to contact you before they close the matter.

A decision will be made as to whether they can help and, if they can, then they will arrange an appointment.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Closing Date: Birmingham Flag support runs from the start of October to mid-December and from the end of January to the end of March each year.

Pre-booked appointments are held in The Exchange at the University of Birmingham (Broad Street) during Autumn and Spring term times only.  Online appointments are also available. 

Website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/law/flag/index.aspx

Tel: 0121 415 8812

E-mail: birminghamflag@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Medilink Midlands provides support to companies in the life sciences sector to help them form partnerships, secure grant funding, develop new products and services and share ideas.

Eligibility: Less than 250 employees and/or less than €50million annual turnover, are working in, or looking to work in, life sciences, have business premises located in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire or the South East Midlands or are thinking about moving into the area.

Tel: 0115 9932 361

Email: info@medilinkmidlands.com 

Website: https://www.medilinkmidlands.com/business-support-programme-overview/

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II offers commercially focussed finance through Small Business Loans, Debt Finance, Proof of Concept and Equity Finance funds. 

For more information on the types of loans available, go to the following links:

Small Business Loans - from £25,000 - £100,000
Website: Smaller Loans - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Debt Finance - Business loans from £100,000 - £2 million
Website: Debt Finance - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Equity Finance - Later stage equity finance up to £5 million
Website: Equity Finance - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.
Website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/nations-and-regions-investment-funds/midlands-engine-investment-fund-ii-meif-ii/

For all Contact Options visit: Online Contact Form

SMEs based in the West Midlands who conduct commercial operations within the centre of Birmingham could be eligible for financial incentives through Birmingham City Council, designed to offer support towards replacing their LGV (Light Goods Vehicle) and HDV (Heavy Duty Vehicle) to meet required emission standards. 

These include grants for eligible heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles towards the cost of retrofitting existing vehicles, purchasing and/or leasing compliant vehicles or exit/relocation costs.

Registered owners of Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicles, licensed by Birmingham City Council, who have owned their vehicles since before 2018 are also able to access support towards the costs of a clean vehicle retrofit accreditation scheme (CVRAS) approved Retrofit Solution, or towards the operating expenses of a Birmingham licensed electric or ULEV HC vehicle.

Eligibility: Businesses must have been trading for over 12 months and own or lease a qualifying vehicle that does not meet the Birmingham City area Clean Air Zone emission standards. They will need to be able to prove the frequency of travel into the Clean Air Zone (based on current operations) and the current emissions standard of the eligible, non-compliant vehicle.

Location: Businesses must be based in the West Midlands and carry out commercial operations within the centre of Birmingham.

E-mail: Financial incentives | Brum Breathes
Apply via the website.

Email: cleanair@birmingham.gov.uk 

Tel: 0121 464 7474.

Is your business looking for a loan between £10,000 and £150,000?

ART is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) which provides business loans to existing businesses and social enterprises in the West Midlands that are unable to receive their full funding requirements from their bank. 

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: http://www.reinvest.co.uk/

Tel: 0121 359 2444

E-mail: art@artbusinessloans.co.uk

The West Midlands SME Grant Programme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and offers grant support of between £1,000 - £7,500 for start-ups, and £1,000 - £100,000 for existing SMEs, based within Birmingham, Solihull, Shropshire, and Cannock Chase. Grants can cover projects which expand and grow a business, capital equipment, inward investment, developing new market opportunities, innovation, new product development, increasing the productive capacity of new and existing premises through new property builds, refurbishment, extensions and digital projects.

Eligibility: Businesses from all sectors* are welcome to apply, except for Charities, those of a political or religious persuasion, activities involving pornography or clairvoyance, or any business activity that is illegal or deemed unsuitable for public support. The the business needs to be taking on a full time member of staff for every £10,000 of grant they are requesting. Please check online for further eligibility.

Website:https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50293/wm_sme_grant_programme/2693/about_the_west_midlands_sme_grant_programme

Email for application form: wmgp@birmingham.gov.uk

BCRS offers business loans from £10,000 to £150,000 to businesses that are unable to access mainstream finance from sources such as banks. They also offer loans to businesses making a positive contribution to the social, environmental, or economic well-being within their area.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading. Lend to most market sectors including construction, engineering, IT services, manufacturing, service providers and wholesalers.

Website: https://bcrs.org.uk/

Tel: 0345 313 8410

E-mail: enquiries@bcrs.org.uk

The fund offers unsecured loans from £10,000 to £50,000 to support local businesses and entrepreneurs wanting to take their business to the next level.  Loans can be used for a range of purposes, including employing new staff, growth capital, the expansion of premises, purchasing stock, taking on new contracts, marketing and advertising and diversification.  Applications are especially welcome from rural areas.

Funds are delivered by BCRS, in partnership with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Closing date: March 2026.

Website: https://bcrs.org.uk/

Tel: 0345 313 8410

E-mail: enquiries@bcrs.org.uk

If you are looking for funding then Key Fund may be able to help.

Providing tailored grants and loans to support the development and growth of new and existing social enterprise activity in the North of England. Funding can be used to support revenue or capital costs, including bridging facilities, capital purchases, cashflow, refurbishment costs, running costs, set-up costs, and wages.

They also deliver bespoke workshops and one-to-one support.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading but you must be a registered/incorporated company providing positive social or environmental impact. The fund can not support sole traders or partnerships of individuals. Applicants must have already approached a commercial lender and been refused, prior to submitting a proposal.

Website: https://thekeyfund.co.uk/

Tel: 0330 202 0559

Email: info@thekeyfund.co.uk 

Are you looking for funding in the Cannock Chase area? 

Let's Grow is a grant which can be used to support capital equipment purchases and some revenue costs. The grant is 50% of eligible project costs, the remaining 50% of eligible costs will have to be match-funded by the business. The maximum grant available is £5,000 max project (£10,000). Funding cannot be claimed retrospectively.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading over 6 months. Businesses must also be paying business rates or moving to a property with business rates in the area. They must also be taking on at least one full-time employee with the eligible project spend. Please speak with the provider regarding additional eligibility.

Website: https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/business/economic-development/open-business-business-support/sources-finance 

Tel: 01543 464267

E-mail: econdev@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Looking to add investment into your business?

The Regional Debt Fund provides loan/equity investment in amounts from £250K up to £2m towards growth capital, job creation, capital expenditure, product development, export development or marketing development.

Eligibility: Available to businesses trading over 24 months.

Website: https://www.frontierdevelopmentcapital.com/funding/regional-debt-fund/

Tel: 0345 319 4528

E-mail: info@frontierdevelopmentcapital.com

Cannock Chase Council
Information on how to sell to the local council, regulations, and current tender opportunities.
https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/business/economic-development/selling-council
E-mail: procurement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk 

Staffordshire County Council
Information on procurement and tendering opportunities with the county council.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Procurement/homepage.aspx
E-mail: commercial.team@staffordshire.gov.uk

Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub
Business events in Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire.
Email: growthHub@staffordshire.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 111 8002
https://stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk/events/

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
Business advice networking and access to business directories across the whole of Staffordshire.
Email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
Tel: 01782 202222
https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/

Chase Chamber of Commerce
Local events are run via the chamber, check the website for more details – charges may apply.
http://www.chase-chamber.com/

Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Provides business information, events and support for members – charges may apply.
http://www.birmingham-chamber.com

IoD West Midlands
Events and networking available for members of he IOD  
https://www.iod.com/events-community/regions/west-midlands

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Virtual events, including networking and business surgeries designed to help you find advice, support and guidance
Online Contact Form: https://www.fsb.org.uk/contact-us.html#tab3
https://www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html

Stoke and Staffordshire LEP - Events
Events and networking organised by the local LEP 
https://www.stokestaffslep.org.uk/conference-and-events/

Chase Creative Hub
Promotes, connects and develops the local creative sector through support, marketing and advocacy.
http://www.chasecreativehub.co.uk

Staffs Business Environment Network
A network that enables small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their environmental performance.
http://www.sben.co.uk/home

Medilink Midlands
Membership organisation. Offers specialist support to organisations in the bioscience and healthcare community. Membership services include commercial opportunities; networking events; access to a specialist healthcare information resource centre and web portal; training programme; regular newsletters.
https://www.medilinkmidlands.com/events/

Staffordshire County Council
Information on council-owned and council-managed land and premises.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Land-and-premises/Finding-land-and-premises.aspx
Different contacts depending on customer requirements - check the website for details.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Information on the Business centres with workspace available for rent.
https://www.stoke.gov.uk/directory/19/business_and_enterprise_centres 
Tel:01782 597 000

Invest West Midlands
The Inward Investment team provide advice and information on locating a business to the West Midlands, including details of key business development sites, business centres and business parks, and a commercial property search facility.
https://www.investwestmidlands.com/set-up-in-west-midlands/why-the-west-midlands/
E-mail: invest@wmgrowth.com