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Funded through the council’s £5.8m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), these initiatives will help 600 local businesses over the next two years. 

Other elements of the UKSPF programme will help local people secure local jobs and deliver community-led initiatives for young people which address social disadvantage.

This latest tender opportunity is available via the council’s approved supplier (DPS) system giving professional organisations and consultants the opportunity to apply to deliver 1-2-1 support and workshops as part of an events programme for local businesses from June 2023 to March 2025.

The value of the scheme is approximately £165,000 and will benefit up to 70 businesses with direct support and another 160 through workshops and events over the next two years. 

Consultancy support will be fully-funded for participating SME businesses and aims to help businesses deliver and achieve their aspirations through practical support. 

The 1-2-1 guidance will focus on increasing business resilience and supporting productivity improvements and the scheme is intended to be flexible and responsive to business needs – helping them to meet their individual requirements.  

Support delivered could include business or strategic planning, accessing finance, adoption of new processes and systems, digital enhancements and use of technology which includes cyber security.  

 It can also complement business specialisms such as financial planning, helping businesses to get online and implement new systems, diversifying to reach new customers and becoming more energy efficient and sustainable.

The deadline for consultants and organisations to apply to be on the DPS is Friday 9 June at 5pm. 

You can find out more about the opportunity and application process here.

Businesses seeking support will access the programme by submitting an enquiry to the Invest Telford team via the website. 

The enquiry will then be assessed before the opportunity is announced to approved consultants and organisations on the DPS system in the form of a short ‘mini-competition’.

Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for place (the economy & neighbourhood services), said: “We are excited to launch this latest tender opportunity which is another innovative UKSPF-funded project being delivered through Invest Telford to help businesses across the borough.

“Businesses will be able to access support and advice which is specific to their needs and this is also the perfect opportunity for consultants to become part of an expert local network.

“Invest Telford is our inward investment and business support service which aims to attract new businesses to the area and provide support to existing ones. This latest scheme will build on the support provided by the team over recent years, particularly during and after COVID.

“We want to make it easier to access the information and additional help needed to encourage investment and grow in our area and help local businesses to go from strength-to-strength.”

Other business schemes will be launched over the coming months providing help with starting a new business, this 121 support, as well as grants and assistance with exporting and energy efficiency.

Find out more about applying to be on the DPS here or more information about the UKSPF fund is available here.

For regular updates, you can sign up to the Invest Telford newsletter here.

Notes to Editors

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. 

The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities, supporting local businesses and people and creating new skills.

For more information, visit the UKSPF prospectus here.