The University of Wolverhampton in Stafford has been working with Stafford Borough Council to create a business support programme for businesses within Stafford Borough.  This support is ideal for small and medium sized enterprises who are finding the way forward difficult or who have just started their business.

The Stafford Business Hub programme focuses on providing support to business start-ups, re-launches or upscales through a structured and dedicated service based in the Stafford Borough.

The full programme is based on attendance at four key phases and the business must be based within Stafford Borough.

The training is all free and is worth over £500 per business in terms of support and delivery.

Phase 1 is open to anyone who has an interest in developing or upscaling a business, and the course is designed so that you do not have to be the owner of the business. If you are responsible for growth or business development within an existing organisation then that is fine. The business will need to be located with the Stafford Borough Council Area.

Phase 2 - In order to apply for this phase you must have attended phase 1 of the Staffordshire Business Hub programme. Alternatively there is a possibility that you could join at phase 2 but this will be at the discretion of the University.

What is this stage about?

Phase 1 of the Staffordshire Business Hub programme will deliver initially the basic business skills focusing on starting up or growing a business.  

Who can apply?

Phase 1 is open to anyone who has an interest in developing or upscaling a business, and the course is designed so that you do not have to be the owner of the business. If you are responsible for growth or business development within an existing organisation then that is fine. The business will need to be located with the Stafford Borough Council Area.

What will we cover?

Understanding the basic principles of running a small business.

Opportunities and pitfalls

Skills and qualifications

Business Planning

Basic Marketing techniques

Legalities

Legal status

What Next??

Building your Business Training- Phase 2

What is this stage about?

The second phase of the programme will move onto a more intensive programme based over 2 days that would cover the more in-depth skills and knowledge needed around start-ups and upscaling.

Who can apply?

In order to apply for this phase you must have attended phase 1 of the Staffordshire Business Hub programme. Alternatively there is a possibility that you could join at phase 2 but this will be at the Universities discretion.

What will we cover?

Day 1:

Planning your business

• Business plan the key elements
• Timelines
• SWOT analysis
• Practical guidance and examples
• Business basic finance
• Start-up costs
• Breakeven
• Cash flow forecasting
• Basic bookkeeping

Day 2:

Marketing your business.

• Marketing Introducing the principles behind a good marketing strategy
• Know your brand
• Understand your customer
• Social media and the benefits and pitfalls in business.
• Networking and business pitching

Follow on Support

Individual one to one support to support with business planning and growth

Book your place on our next training here

For further information or to check your business is suitable for FREE support email uwis.enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

The BECCI Project benefits SME’s in the Black Country and Marches LEP areas of the West Midlands, by providing fully funded support in the development of products and services.

•  Supports inventors to get their products and processes adopted by industry

•  Links academic research into business, driving innovation and developing social landlord engagement and property developer support

• Testing and measuring of products, with access to a thermal comfort sensors, energy loggers, air tightness kits, ventilation measuring kits and a portable weather station

• Hosting technology showcases, challenges and workshops, providing SMEs with exhibition opportunities

Find out more here

Solving Brownfield Challenges for Black Country Businesses

• Access to hi-tech equipment, Faro Focus S150 terrestrial laser scanner, drone, thermal imaging camera, ground penetrating radar, portable XRF soil  scanner, GIS.

• High definition building and land surveying

• Soil and water testing • Materials analysis

• GIS based brownfield site identification and investigation tool to support redevelopment, site history and background study

P: 01902 322393 

Email

Find out more here

Calmeric (Composite & Additive Layer Materials Engineering Research & Innovation Centre)

The CALMERIC project supports SMEs to carry out research & innovation projects in the field of advanced engineering materials, in collaboration with specialist staff and resources in the Centre.

• Composite materials

• Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

• Engineering, Research and Innovation

• Industrial Research Collaborations

• Product optimisation (using less or lighter weight materials)

P: 01902 323298

EMAIL 

Find out more here

Cyber Quarter
The Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, a Police RCCU Hub and proactive network facilitation service.

• Providing a Cyber Range designed to immerse the business in a real-world customer network that can be used for educational training and for testing response procedures to known or simulated threats.

• Strategic insights and planning to address their cyber and security needs.

• Live demo environment to test & develop cyber defence and attack measures alongside leading cyber security academics. • Hub and facilitator for the cyber, security, blue-light and defence communities

P: 01432 344 424 E: cyberqtr@wlv.ac.uk W: www.cyberquarter.co.uk

CFRC (Construction Futures Research Centre)

A research centre aiming to improve the efficiency of the construction sector through productivity improvements for offsite design, manufacture and construction.

• Mapping and analysing your current manufacture and construction processes

•  Discrete Event Simulation (DES) for offsite manufacturing

•  Exposure to new and emerging Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies

• Aligning your BIM processes against ISO19650

• Developing more efficient workflows using digital techniques

P: 01902 322887 E: CFRC@wlv.ac.uk W: www.wlv.ac.uk/CFRC

ECMS (Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills)

Offering SME’s in the manufacturing and engineering industry short courses and training to up skill the ageing workforce.

• Hire of facilities and rooms for meetings, events, conferences, training etc.

• Manual & Commercial training and short courses

• Material testing and analysis

• Specialist training provision at the National Foundry Training Centre

• State of the art equipment (Labs, Foundry workshops, CAD IT Suite)

P: Springfield HUB: 01902 321678 and National Foundry Training Centre (NFTC): 01902 321955 E: enquiries@theecms.co.uk W: www.theecms.co.uk
Calmeric

EnTRESS (Environmental Technology and Resource Efficiency Support Service)

EnTRESS supports SMEs on the development and adoption of environmental technologies and resource efficient processes.

• Work with leading academics to drive innovation in  areas such as waste management, bioremediation, biopolymers, pollution control, chemical testing and sustainable operations.

• Deliver one-to-one mentoring and business support, as well as technical laboratory analysis.

• Provide exhibition space at EnTRESS and industry networking events.

• Provide in-house baseline audits on resource efficiency.

P: 01902 321871 E: EnTRESS@wlv.ac.uk W: www.wlv.ac.uk/EnTRESS

Smart Concept Fund
The Smart Concept Fund offers a Proof of Concept  grant designed to support the commercialisation of  new technologies.
• Product Development

• Prototyping

• Testing

• IP Protection

• Market research

P: 01902 323911 E: Smartconceptfund@wlv.ac.uk W: www.wlv.ac.uk/smartconceptfund

SIRC (Science in Industry Research Centre)

Science in Industry Research Centre (SIRC) supports companies in the West Midlands to develop new science based products.

• IP Review and guidance

• IP Grants

• Scientific Research

• New product design • Laboratory testing

P: 01902 321826 E: sirc@wlv.ac.uk W: www.wlv.ac.uk/SIRC

SOLVD (Solutions for Digital Enterprises)

Accelerating growth in digital businesses through opportunities, challenges and innovative solutions.

• Assist digital leaders with their technology, digital & security strategies.

• Solving commercial problems through digital technologies.

• Accelerating digital and technology companies by accessing new markets.

• Consultancy and support to enable the development of products or services and bring these into their business or to market.

P: 01952 567589 E: SOLVD@wlv.ac.uk W: www.wlv.ac.uk/solvd