Get started and grow scheme information

We have launched the 'Get Started and Grow' scheme to support your business with a choice between 5 different packages, delivered to you by experts in their fields: 

The project is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

You can only choose one package per business:

1. Marketing package - choose between either a branding option to allow you to market test your product, or a website option, branding review or website review, to allow you to track traffic and interest in your product/service or digital marketing to help advance your business. 
2. Social Media package - flexible to the unique needs of your business and can include a 1-2-1 half day digital marketing strategy workshop with our digital marketing expert, followed by up to six two-hour 1-2-1 coaching sessions which will help you to deliver the digital marketing plan that evolves from your strategy workshop.
3. Accountancy support Package - which will give you the expertise of an accountant to test the profitability etc. of your business idea, providing you with the information you need to take your business forward. This can include cashflow projections, budget breakdowns and target setting. (See below for more details)
4. Legal package - will give you up to two hours of legal advice and support. With a speciality in contract law, help can be given towards, Terms and Conditions, Contracts of Trade/Sale, Non-Disclosure agreements, through to company structure and Shareholder Agreements. This is only written advice, and no documents will be produced.
5. HR Package - can include advice on complex people issues which are restricting organisational growth, ensure constructive employee relations to optimise working efficiency within your business, Comprehensive advice, and on-site support in times of dispute (disciplinary, grievance & performance issues). The consultants will work with your business to ensure that relevant recruitment processes are used and that these are all legally compliant.

Marketing services - what's included?

You can choose from one of the five packages offered. 

Web design and development 

Elevate your online presence with the web design and development service, offering visually stunning and functional websites tailored to your business. The package includes: 

• Up to 7 content pages to showcase your offerings and services
• Essential legal pages (Privacy Policy and terms of service) to be provided by you, our valued client. 
• Common features like contact forms, blogs, and newsletter sign up forms. 
• Use of library images from our extensive database. 
• Responsive and mobile friendly design built on the WordPress platform. 

Services not included: 

• Professional copywriting (available at an additional cost) 
• Web hosting (we offer fast cloud hosting as an additional service). 

Typical delivery time: 6 weeks

Logo and branding

Make a lasting impression with the Logo and Branding service, where the consultants will bring your brand identity to life. The package includes 12 hours design time which can include one of the following.

• 3 logo concepts and a final hi-fidelity logo pack based on your chosen design.
• Brand colour schemes and typography aligned with your initial brief.
• Captivating digital designs for social media platforms.
• Printed material design, including leaflets, banners, and business cards.
• Eye-catching signage and point of sale materials.
• Specific numbers of revisions at each stage to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Typical Delivery Time: 4 weeks

Get started accountancy service

As both bookkeepers and accountants we’d like to hope we would help all referrals to put their ideas into practice and get a successful business off the ground. We offer a sense check on the strength of the business idea and can offer practical advice on the way to structure the business – limited company, sole trader, partnership – and information on how taxes work – vat, corporation tax, personal tax, and how to pay yourself. We look at your proposal, discuss it with you and prepare a cash flow & profit forecast and balance sheet based on the discussion that can be used to secure funding from banks and finance houses.

The consultants can also offer support and advice around bookkeeping and accounting services.

What you as a business could receive help with

• Best way to structure your business-sole trader, Limited company etc
• Tax corporation tax, personal tax
• How to pay yourself and wages
• Cashflow help
• Profit and loss checks
• Balance sheet advice

Legal package

Fully funded Legal advice for your business. 

With a speciality in contract law, help can be given towards terms and conditions, contracts of trade/sale and non-disclosure agreements through to company structure and shareholder agreements.  The consultant will walk you through the legalities of setting up a business and what to look out for along your start-up journey.

Human resources (HR) package

Get Expert and Legally Compliant HR advice to protect your business, such as:

• Advice on a specific HR issue e.g. how to deal with disciplinary, grievance, performance and dispute issues (includes on-site support where required)
• How to hire your first employee through a compliant recruitment and selection process  
• Expert contracts of employment and handbooks, specifically for your industry in line with the Good Work Plan
• People Management training programmes for Line Managers and business owners
• Redundancy or TUPE transfer advice in times of business change such as growth or workforce efficiencies    
• Support with transition to cloud-based HR Software which is GDPR compliant and cyber-secure  

Please note: you can only choose one package per business and your business must be based in Staffordshire. Unfortunately, we cannot support businesses in Stoke on Trent. Your business must also be under the age of 5 years old. If your business already has a fully comprehensive website, we regret that you will not be eligible for the website support. You are still eligible for all other areas of support.