Chesterfield business funding

10 Ways to grow your business in 2025

Chesterfield’s vibrant business community is offering a wide range of support to help local companies thrive.

With only 26% of UK SME employers reporting in 2023 to have sought external advice or information in the last year, we’re encouraging businesses across the area to find out more about the initiatives, expert advice, and funding opportunities available across the town.

Whether you’re a start-up or an established company, we want to ensure you have the tools, resources, and connections to help you achieve your goals.

Here are 10 fantastic ways to grow your business in Chesterfield this year.

1. Chesterfield Accelerator

Chesterfield Accelerator

The Chesterfield Accelerator, run by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Chesterfield Borough Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), offers a local business advisor, free workshops, and grant funding. Businesses can access digital skills training, leadership programmes, grant application support, networking, consultancy vouchers, and energy-saving audits.

Green business grants are also available to reduce carbon footprints. This initiative complements existing support, such as skills brokerage services, innovation workshops, and property advice.

Learn more about the Chesterfield Accelerator here. 

2. Support to grow from the University of Derby

Branded stone wall in front of red brick building - University of Derby Chesterfield campus

The University of Derby provides businesses with expert advice and practical solutions for growth. Eligible companies can access grants, loans, and funded programmes focused on innovation, decarbonisation, and skills development.

The University’s team can guide you to the most relevant support for your needs.

Visit their website or contact their advisors to learn more about these opportunities.

3. Upskill your workforce with the Chesterfield Skills Brokerage Service

Businesses taking place in round table discussions at the Employability and Skills Conference

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Skills Brokerage Service offers free advice to identify workforce development needs. Services include:

  • Assessing training and skills gaps
  • Accessing funding
  • Securing apprenticeship support
  • Developing talent pipelines

Courses available for companies in Chesterfield include green skills for construction and manufacturing businesses, English and Maths, and team leading.

Contact the team at 01246 210351 or email Destination Chesterfield to discuss your needs.

4. Join Our Community: Chesterfield Champions

Chesterfield Champions offers marketing and networking opportunities to help your business grow. Members benefit from senior networking events, media opportunities, and a profile on the Chesterfield business directory.

Champions also contribute to Chesterfield’s continued success. If you’re passionate about supporting the town, email Melissa Shaw at melissa.shaw@chesterfield.co.uk to learn more.

5. Innovation Support from Chesterfield Borough Council

Businesses attending Innovation Support Workshop in Chesterfield

The Chesterfield Innovation Support Programme provides funded support, including:

  • One-to-one business reviews
  • Workshops, seminars, and networking events
  • Specialist innovation advisers
  • Funding advice

For details, contact Adrian Williamson at adrian.williamson@chesterfield.gov.uk.

6. Promote Your Business Through Awards

Large group of people in company uniform pose for a photo. Image taken from above in large warehouse space

Gain recognition by entering local, regional, or national awards. Destination Chesterfield celebrates success stories and promotes award-winning businesses.

Whether you excel in innovation, customer service, or sustainability, awards showcase your strengths. Explore award opportunities and promote your business via the dedicated Chesterfield awards page.

Did you know there is a business in Chesterfield dedicated to supporting companies with award applications and nominations? Find out more at: https://pureawards.co.uk/

7. Share Your Successes in Local Media

Birdseye view of man sitting at a laptop

Another way you can promote your business is by sharing your latest successes in the form of a press release or news story.

Has your business recently expanded or moved to a new premises? Maybe you have taken on new staff members or apprentices? If your business has experienced growth, launched an innovative new product or collaborated with another local business, we want to hear about it!

Please submit your press release or details of your positive news to josh.marsh@chesterfield.co.uk

You can also submit news online to the Derbyshire Times for consideration by visiting the YourWorld website.

Wondering how to structure your press release, or wondering what information to include? Take a look at this useful guide!

8. Attend Business Events and Workshops

pr-workshop

Businesses across Chesterfield are keen to support others by sharing their knowledge and expertise by hosting workshops, webinars and events in the area. On top of that, East Midlands Chamber, Chesterfield Borough Council, and University of Derby host regular events across a wide range of topics, all aimed at supporting business development and growth.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest business events in our area at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/events/

Is your business hosting an event in Chesterfield or North Derbyshire? We would love to hear from you to help spread the word. Email info@chesterfield.co.uk with the details.

9. Get Support from a New Government Initiative

SuperiorWellness;business

 

The Business Growth Service launches in 2025 to provide streamlined support to SMEs. This UK-wide initiative, developed with local governments, simplifies access to advice and funding.

Look out for the revamped web portal in early 2025 and discover tailored resources for small businesses. More information at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-growth-service-to-save-small-business-time-and-money

10. Take Advantage of Chesterfield’s Professional Network to grow your business

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Need specific support or advice to grow your business? Our directory of Chesterfield Champions provides details on several different services to bolster your business.

Our directory includes businesses, consultants and service providers which specialise in the following sectors:

  • Legal
  • Financial
  • Business advice, training and HR
  • Marketing and Public relations
  • Skills and recruitment
  • Creative, digital, design and IT services
  • Logistics and distribution
  • Administration
  • Sustainability
  • Health, safety and compliance

So, if you’re in need of support or a particular area of expertise, we’d of course heartily recommend you choose one of Chesterfield’s friendly, down-to-earth and honest businesses… We’re all in it together!

To explore local business support options to grow your business, get in touch with us today via our handy contact form at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/

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Midlands Engine Investment Fund II launches providing businesses with the funds to grow

The British Business Bank has launched its £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, unlocking additional funding to help smaller businesses in Derbyshire prosper and thrive.

The fund will drive sustainable economic growth by supporting new and growing businesses across the whole of the Midlands, through investment strategies that best meet the needs of these firms. It includes a range of finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses start up, scale up, or stay ahead.

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II aims to build on the success of the inaugural Midlands Engine Investment Fund, a £300m fund which has already supported 739 smaller businesses since its launch in 2017. The new fund will help hundreds more businesses to achieve their potential and further increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance by providing options to firms that might otherwise be unable to secure investment. Funding is designed to help smaller businesses with activities including expansion, product or service innovation, new processes, skills development and capital equipment.

Five fund managers have been appointed to manage the fund. BCRS Business Loans and First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans will manage the smaller loans part of the fund (£25,000 to £100,000), Frontier Development Capital and Maven Capital Partners will be responsible for larger loans (£100,000 to £2 million) and Mercia Ventures will manage equity deals (up to £5 million).

Louis Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, British Business Bank said: Small businesses are at the heart of The Midlands’ economy. Since launching in 2017, the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund has so far created more than 4,000 jobs across the region by backing 739 smaller businesses, boosting the region’s productivity by 70%.

The first Midlands Engine Investment Fund provided a blueprint for how we can support entrepreneurs and founders, whoever they are and wherever they are in the region, to access the funds and support they need. This new fund will allow us to continue supporting business owners across the Midlands, whether they’re at the start of their journey or are already running an established firm.

Promoting growth by ensuring entrepreneurs can access the finance they need regardless of where and who they are is one of the Bank’s strategic objectives, and vital to unlocking the full potential of the UK’s smaller businesses.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Gareth Davies MP said: Small businesses are the engine of the economy, which is why having access to funding like this is vital to help them thrive and grow, creating jobs and spreading opportunity everywhere.

As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the Midlands propelled the UK into a new era of technological and economic growth and now the next generation of entrepreneurs will have the support they need to continue this success.

Find out more about support available to businesses in Chesterfield.

Manufacturing at Weightron. Two men working on industrial weighbridge with sparks flying

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University of Derby supports Chesterfield businesses with free recruitment assistance

The University of Derby is supporting small to medium-sized businesses in the D2N2 region to survive and thrive with free recruitment support and thousands of pounds provided in funding.

Local recipients include Community Chesterfield, and biotechnology company, Bio 8 Ltd.

Community Chesterfield is a partnership between Derbyshire Voluntary Action and the University of Derby, which aims to strengthen the voluntary sector in Chesterfield by harnessing skills from the University.

Community Chesterfield have recently hosted two interns through the University of Derby scheme, including University of Derby Media Production graduate, Hayley Beaumont.

Project Manager Charlotte Repton told us: “Using Hayley’s design skills and expertise, Community Chesterfield was able to offer branding services free of charge to voluntary organisations, which included refreshing logos and designing webpages, delivering over £1000 worth of services during her short internship”.

Oliver Peabody, General Manager of Chesterfield biotechnology company, Bio 8 Limited, said “during the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented us a time of accelerated growth, we were approached by the University as we had highlighted two new job roles within our business, a Graphic Designer position and our second Customer Service Representative.

“The funds received from the University of Derby have allowed us to buy better equipment for our new employees and offer them better training than we have been able to in the past”.

In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the University has adapted its service to provide businesses with a wide range of remote working internships.

This has enabled the team to work with more SMEs than ever before, including those who might not have had the office space to accommodate an intern.

To find out how your small to medium-sized business might benefit from the University of Derby’s support funding, email driven@derby.ac.uk

The University of Derby and Community Chesterfield supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The GRADS for D2N2 project is delivered by the University of Derby as part of the High Level Skills consortium which also includes Nottingham Trent University, Derby College, Nottingham College, and Nottingham City Council. For more information please visit www.derby.ac.uk/rebuild

 

chesterfield college

The Unversity of Derby St. Helena Campus

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