Cheshire East Council
Start-up and early-stage business support
Start-up and early-stage business programme
Who is it for?
The programme is for individuals who are:
- ambitious future business leaders and owners wanting to build business acumen and to acquire and apply the core skills required to establish the business and drive sustainable business growth
- looking to develop skills as a business leader
- wanting to gain best practice knowledge to transform your organisation through innovation
- looking to gain unique insights and experiences from other similar organisations on their journey
- wishing to build a trusted network of contacts to support you now and in the future
- inspired by how other people are growing their businesses
Why apply?
By completing the programme, you will:
- Overcome business challenges and recognise and act on new opportunities.
- Build a trusted network of local business connections to support you now and in the future.
- Access a peer network programme with fellow startup leaders and advisers
- Receive support to help you tackle the short-term issues that are affecting your business now.
- Receive 1:1 tailored support from an expert business mentor.
- Gain access to the wider business support hub team.
About the programme
The programme includes:
- Interactive action learning
- Expert business mentor with real-word, hands-on SME start-up and scale-up experience
- Access to startup resources such as templates, workbooks, information sheets and other business tools
- Small cohorts of non-competing businesses
- Best-practice masterclasses
- 1:1 mentoring and coaching support
Do I qualify?
Businesses must meet the following criteria:
- based in Cheshire East
- business founder
- appetite to scale and grow
- trading less than 3 years
Next steps
Apply online
Complete the questionnaire with details of your business and what you want to achieve from the programme.
Review and cohort selection
Our team will review your application and will allocate you to the best cohort of like-minded businesses. If you are not successful, we will refer you to other suitable programmes.
Access the programme
You will be assigned a business mentor, and start the programme of masterclasses, peer group action-learning and growth plan development.
Full programme timetable and details will be provided.
1:1 support from a dedicated business mentor and coach.
Ongoing support and collaboration
Access to a secure portal will be provided with all on-demand resources, guides and templates. You will access our business community network for further collaboration.
Delivered by:
CIRCLE Leadership
Business Support Hub