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This Spring is packed with events and support to help your business grow, read on!
Get Investment Ready!
Are you looking to scale your business and attract investment? The Investment Readiness Support programme is here to help you prepare for funding opportunities and connect with the tools and networks you need to grow.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and supported by Nottingham City Council, this programme is designed to build on recent progress in making Nottingham a more attractive place for investors. This local initiative also complements wider regional and national efforts to boost early-stage investment outside of London creating a stronger, more resilient business landscape in the East Midlands.
Why get involved?
By joining, you’ll be helping to position Nottingham as a thriving, investor-ready city. Whether you're an established business or an emerging venture, this support can help secure investment and contribute to a more innovative and sustainable local economy.
Express you interest at: https://tinyurl.com/3rbc23sj
Follow us on X to stay updated with the latest news about the programme, upcoming events, and funding opportunities at: @GrowingNottm
Convert more website visitors into Sales & Leads
Date & Time: 18th June 2025, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Location: Antenna Nottingham, Nottingham, NG1 1EQ
Discover the secrets to converting more of your website visitors into customers.
Conversion rate optimisation (CRO) is one of the most under-utilised elements of digital marketing, yet probably the most powerful processes to make immediate improvements to the return on investment of any website. This workshop shows delegates a range of practical techniques and case studies demonstrating how to convert website visitors into sales or enquiries, so that you can turbo-charge your website into a business-generating machine!
The workshop shows you how to measure conversions accurately, how to use the drivers behind how people make decisions to your advantage, the key elements that visitors look for when choosing a company to buy from and how other websites are successfully using CRO. You will be provided with a range of straightforward methods to help you convert your website visitors into paying customers, whether that is through leads and enquiries or eCommerce sales.
What outcomes will be achieved?
- Gain an understanding of how visitors typically use websites and the factors that drive them to take action, enabling you to optimise your own site.
- Take away numerous practical examples of high-performing websites with explanations of why they work well.
- How to use conversion optimisation software to test improvements to your site.
- Leave with an action plan that prioritises the tasks you need to complete to improve your own website’s conversion rate.
AI & Digital Marketing Conference & Exhibition: 6 June 2025 It’s back, and even better!
Location: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
Join us for this highly anticipated one-day conference, covering the latest AI trends, real life case studies and effective digital marketing tactics to gain the best advantage for your business.
TEDx speaker and award-winning entrepreneur Joyann Boyce of InClued.ai is the keynote speaker and will be joined by a host of digital marketing experts sharing their practical expertise.
If you want to take advantage of AI opportunities in reaching new audiences, winning or retaining customers, and improving sales & marketing productivity, this free event will hit the spot!
Topics being covered:
- AI Will Always Be a Puppy – Joyann Boyce
- How AI Is Changing Search Engine Optimisation – Ian Lockwood
- AI in 2025: Assistants, Agents, and Advanced Reasoning – Martin Broadhurst
- Generative Experiences: The Future of AI Enabled Websites – Rob Gregory
- Ethical AI Guidelines for Content Marketing – Paul Ince
- The Impact of AI on Paid Digital Marketing – Liam Lally
The conference takes place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.
We’re expecting high demand, so please book your free place on now. Please note, you will need to register to book (if you haven’t previously done so).
This conference is sponsored by NetMonkeys
Date & Time: June 19 - June 20 at 3:30 pm
Location: Online Event
This programme is available to individuals based in Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Lincoln City, Lincolnshire and Leicester City. *
This two-day programme of workshops led by one of our experienced business trainers will teach you the nuts and bolts of starting and running a successful business.
Over the course of the programme, we will cover:
- Knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed by successful business owners
- Sole trader, limited company, partnership – which is best for you?
- Your legal responsibilities as a business owner
- Marketing your business
- Understanding tax, National Insurance and VAT
- Record keeping and business banking
- Start up and running costs
- Planning your personal survival budget
- How to price your product or service
- Importance of cash flow forecasting for your business
*Eligibility checks will be made
 Accelerator Project Extension
If you are based in Derbyshire or Nottingham City you can still take advantage of fully-funded business support through the Accelerator Project. If you missed out last time, talk to us about this support, including 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and diagnostics, training and action planning workshops, energy saving and decarbonisation plans and, where available, funding. Visit the website and click on your local authority to make an enquiry.
Stewarts of Trent Bridge are a local coffee roaster based in Sneinton who sell coffee, run workshops and run three Blend cafes. Now, they’ve made their local delivery and collection services greener and cleaner thanks to our Workplace Travel Service.
After successfully applying for and receiving a grant totalling almost £5,000, Stewarts were able to invest in two e-bikes, including a cargo e-bike to use for local deliveries, as well as two EV charging points.
The cargo bike has quickly replaced a diesel van as the vehicle of choice for local city deliveries, as well as moving coffee and cakes between cafes, while the EV charging points have enabled Stewarts to begin transitioning away from petrol and diesel powered vehicles, introducing two electric vehicles with plans to add more.
Local businesses, public/voluntary sector organisations and faith groups are encouraged to apply, with up to £25,000 up for grabs per application to help improve workplace travel options by introducing eCargo bikes, cycle shelters, showers for cyclists and electric vehicle charging points. If the application is successful businesses get 75% of the net costs. Public, voluntary sector, and charity groups can apply for 100% funded grants.
Talent and innovation grants available for local businesses to access expertise
Nottingham’s two leading universities are once again joining City Council to support local businesses through the Talent and Innovation Grants scheme.
Backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, this initiative enables businesses to access highly skilled graduate talent and cutting-edge research expertise. Talent Grants of up to £2,000 help subsidise student or graduate placements, while Innovation Vouchers of up to £5,000 provide access to specialist consultancy and facilities from both universities.
Last year, 60 businesses benefitted from this support, including BACKLIT Gallery, which praised the scheme for strengthening its capacity and skills.
This year, even more industry sectors can benefit through expanded partnerships, including food innovation, aerospace technology, product design, precision manufacturing and immersive media.
The impact of Nottingham’s universities extends far beyond their campuses. Together, they contribute £3.8 billion to the UK economy annually and support 25,000 jobs across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, demonstrating their vital role in our region’s prosperity.
To find out more about Talent Grants and Innovation Vouchers, please contact Harry Taylor on 0115 846 8078 or email: [email protected]. Led by Professor Trevor Farren: [email protected].
Safer Food Means Better Business
Running a food business can be complex, but staying compliant doesn’t have to be. The Food Standards Agency is here to help with free training, checklists, and the latest guidance to keep your customers safe.
Don’t miss out on these free resources.
Visit www.food.gov.uk/here-to-help
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