Sector specific business information

We have collected information and advice for your business, according to business sector.

Operational efficiencies

Increasing productivity through the use of digital technology. Evidence shows that businesses that have introduced digital and automated operations will see increased benefits in productivity, employee performance, and a reduction in operating costs, leading to faster and more sustainable growth.

Digital Skills Coach

Provides small and medium businesses with free support in the form of a student who can help them with digital projects. This could include social media, data management, email marketing, Search engine optimisation, Artificial intelligence tools, digital marketing, MS Teams and more.

This support is offered through a partnership with East Midlands Chamber and Nottingham Trent University and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (EMCRC)

Provides free membership, support, and help to protect small and medium businesses across the region against cybercrime through a structured collaboration.

The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre works in conjunction with local universities, businesses, and the 5 East Midlands police forces - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire

Barclays Eagle Labs

A free support programme funded by UK Government to assist UK tech start-ups and scale-ups.

This programme includes:

  • Product builder programme - A challenge-based programme for early-stage start-ups, so they can learn about the fundamentals of designing and testing a minimum viable product
  • Funding readiness programme - Designed to help growing businesses understand and navigate the UK’s funding landscape
  • Scale-up programmes - Delivered by expert partners to provide rapidly growing businesses with the support they need to further scale their growth
  • Industry bridge programmes - Bridging together larger businesses and start-ups within industry sectors to share strategic thinking and co-create solutions and innovation
  • Black founder venture growth programme - Targeted support for established black founder-led businesses to help them drive growth and scale
  • Female founder accelerator - A programme that connects and supports female-founded technology businesses in their growth journey, while building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Other sources of information

Heritage, culture and arts

Working together both tourism and the arts and heritage sectors can help create significant opportunities to increase our visitor spend across the region, as well as create a unique sense of place.

Visit Britain / Visit England

The British Tourist Authority, which operates under the brand names Visit Britain and Visit England, is the country’s national tourism agency.

Both Visit Britain and Visit England work in partnership with the industry to develop visitor experience across those areas, plan the national tourism strategy, and grow the value of tourism in England and Britain. 

There is a lot of useful information available, including trade shows and events, which attracts international buyers and sellers and also helps to raise our region's profile.

Visit Nottinghamshire

Works with more than 500 private sector partners and Nottingham City Council to grow the visitor economy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Visit Nottinghamshire can help you with specialist advice and information to support your tourist business.

Create Growth N2 Programme

This is a new investment programme from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is available for creative businesses in Nottinghamshire. It's been designed to bring expert advice and guidance to help creative businesses with high growth aspirations to gain investment opportunities to innovate and grow.

To be eligible, your business must demonstrate high growth potential, have the ambition to scale up with sales revenues generated in the last 2 years, and you must now be seeking investment for growth.

British Council

You can find current and upcoming international opportunities for artists, creatives, professionals, and organisations at the British Council and set up email alerts to be notified.

Other sources of information

Innovation, research and development (R&D) including Patents

When developing products and services you should consider all the options available, including business grants, support from universities, intellectual property, and finding partners for collaboration.

The Enterprising Ashfield Project

This project can supports Research and Development of new and innovative products or processes through identification of needs and opportunities and will gain access to a range of experts who can then help you to achieve your research and development goals. You need to live or work in Sutton or Kirkby to be eligible.

Create Growth N2 Programme

This is a new investment programme from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is available for creative businesses in Nottinghamshire. It's been designed to bring expert advice and guidance to help creative businesses with high growth aspirations to gain investment opportunities to innovate and grow.

To be eligible, your business must demonstrate high growth potential, have the ambition to scale up with sales revenues generated in the last 2 years, and you must now be seeking investment for growth.

Innovate UK Business Growth

Provides advice for businesses looking to commercialise new ideas and succeed in international markets. If you employ less than 500 staff you can get funding, and bespoke support to help grow your business. This includes exploiting innovation, intellectual property, and connections in the UK and abroad, entering new markets at home and abroad, and accessing funding and finance and getting investment ready.

The Ingenuity Impact Programme

Is a free national innovation and entrepreneurship programme that empowers people to turn ideas for change into exciting new ventures which impact social health or environmental challenges.

This programme provides start-up skills training, mentoring and networking opportunities, plus routes to funding for early-stage business ideas. 

It is being delivered by University of Nottingham and provides both in person and online support activities.

Other sources of information

Energy efficiencies

Making your business energy efficient Businesses that reduce their impact on the environment often find that they save money too. Resource efficiency is about looking at the resources a business consumes and finding ways to reduce them. That could be energy, water, packaging, or the production of waste.

Case studies

To see these practices in action, you can read our case studies:

Sustainability initiatives

There are a number of local and national initiatives that help businesses improve their environmental performance.

EV infrastructure grant

This is for small to medium-sized businesses in the UK.

This grant will cover up to 75 percent of the cost of installing the infrastructure needed for charge points to operate and for future charge points to be installed, as well as the cost of any charge points installed. There is a limit of £15,000 per grant.

Severn Trent water audits

This is a free water audit to help detect and resolve issues that could be costing the business money. Severn Trent will also monitor your current water usage and provide personalised water-saving advice, tailored to your business. It can fit water-saving devices, replace any old fixtures and fittings, and identify opportunities to fix leaks, all for free. Less water wasted and less energy used will also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Energy Bills Discount Scheme

will support eligible businesses and organisations that have a non-domestic contract with a licensed energy supplier and heat network suppliers. Organisations can apply for this if at least 50% of its revenue is generated from UK-based activity within eligible standard industrial classification (SIC) code sectors [PDF]. The discount itself will apply to 70 percent of your energy volumes, but you must have a non-domestic contract with a licensed energy supplier.

Other useful sources of information

Retail, hospitality and leisure

Save The Highstreet

Provide specialist business support to retailers across the UK. They will work with you to identify solutions to the biggest challenges faced by your business, and they will support you on this fully funded programme to make changes to overcome these challenges.

Participants will improve their digital marketing approaches, attracting more customers and so increasing existing revenues.

You will also understand how to access financing options including local grants.

Amazon Small Business Accelerator

Amazon small business accelerator is a free online educational programme for anyone who wants to start or grow a business online.

Aspiring business leaders will be able to access more than 20 courses and over 50 videos of content on essential topics, such as ‘how to build a business online’, ‘supercharging operations’, ‘growing sales’, and ‘creating a social media presence’, bringing the best in class from the country’s small business experts and Amazon leaders.

Other sources of information

Third sector

Learn about the many sources of information, support, and online guides available about social enterprises, as well as funding on offer through loans and grants.

Trading overseas

There is plenty to consider when a business wants to start trading overseas. Learn about how to help your business succeed in international markets through advice, guides, and contacts.

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

The Department for Business and Trade works closely with UK-based businesses to ensure success in international markets, by helping to export products and services overseas. The department has access to a large network of contacts in more than 100 international markets, including staff in embassies and consulates around the globe. They are well positioned to research opportunities and help your business break into new markets.

DBT can support your business with the following services:

Trade Advisors

Local businesses can book a free 30-minute video consultation with an international trade advisor. You can contact our local Department for International Trade (DIT) advisor at:

The Export Academy

Provide free webinars, round table meetings, and mentoring sessions, to teach how to sell to customers around the world with confidence. If you finish the entire programme, you will graduate with a completed export action plan, enabling you to take your business direct to international customers.

Want to Trade in US?

The US is the UK’s largest export market for goods and services, and accounts for 20.4 percent of all exports from the UK, which is worth £140.9 billion.

Ashfield District Council are working in partnership with Mentor City, in Ohio, who have opportunities for local companies across a broad range of industries, so if you’re serious about wanting to access new markets in the US, then the City of Mentor could be an excellent first step and this service is completely free.

Trade missions

Overseas trade visits are important buyer seller events that seek to bring people together who are intending to create commercial opportunities.

They provide the chance to gain essential market knowledge, while allowing you to find the right connections to make market entry easier.

You can search for events, trade fairs, missions, and webinars relevant to your sector or overseas markets on these websites.

10Times app

You can download the 10Times app for free via your tablet or mobile device, which lists nearby business events, trade shows, and conferences in the UK and overseas.

It is available on:

Other sources of information

 

 

Contact details

Page last updated 08 September 2025

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