Tamworth Town Centre Business Hub
If you own, or work for, a business in Tamworth town centre, you can take advantage of free support such as training courses, one-to-one advice and help from a range of business specialists.
The Tamworth Town Centre Business Hub also acts as a community for business owners in the town centre, to help each other learn, connect and grow.
Access is free – there is no cost to join the hub or any of the training courses.
Join the Town Centre Business Hub
Workshops and webinars will be organised until 2025, and hub members can shape what is included. The hub already has free training modules available, such as:
- Key steps in creating a marketing plan
- Using social media for business
- Quality retail customer experience
This initiative is commissioned by Tamworth Borough Council and run by Digital Islands, a specialist provider of business support services.
Once you have signed up, you will be able to introduce yourself and your business on the hub platform.
You will also be offered a free one-to-one set up meeting, which you will be invited to by email after signing up.
Eligible members of the hub, who complete the one-to-one set up meeting and one of the free online courses, will then have the opportunity to apply for our annual town centre business grants scheme.
- Check out the town centre map to see which area the scheme covers
The programme is currently running business support activities, including business upskilling workshops and networking events across 2024. Join the hub to keep up to date with the latest local events and activities to support your business.
2024 workshops are designed to help businesses in a range of different business areas and needs from assistance with social media content, using artificial intelligence, HR, Instagram Reels and even advice for Young Entrepreneurs in how to get started.
More information on the upcoming workshops.
To sign up, you can select the event you want to attend in the business hub event section: https://tamworth-town-centre-business-hub.mn.co/events, or secure your space directly on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/tamworth-town-centre-businesses-events-for-2024-2295939
Social Boost
New Support Offer available until March 2025 - Free Social Media Support for Town Centre Businesses
Overview
Social Boost is a business support programme providing advice and guidance to town centre businesses, helping business owners improve their use of social media, helping to create useful content and raise their profile on the high street.
Who is this programme of support for?
The objective of Social Boost is to provide support to town centre based business of any kind to be found and seen on the high street, and online. From retailers to market traders, Social Boost is helpful to any business looking for a bit of support to raise their profile.
What’s Involved?
- Businesses can fill in a short online application.
- Participating business owners will receive two to three hours of one-to-one support with a social media specialist who will review existing social media accounts and offer advice on how to improve any social media marketing.
- They can also discuss and create with you accounts with any new social media platforms that might benefit your business if you don’t already have them.
- Your social media expert will also be able to work with you and provide templates and resources to help develop marketing or social media plans and content planning calendars.
- Two photography sessions will also be held in the town centre for local business owners as part of content creation, and for a chance to feature in the Tamworth town centre business hub newsletter.
How do I take part?
Complete the online application form here: https://forms.gle/1HzfztBGMaNnapH6A
How much does it cost?
It's free!
This project is fully funded by Tamworth Borough Council and the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.
Spaces are limited and the programme runs until March 2025, so it is recommended that businesses sign up quickly.
All businesses can access free resources on improving their online presence on the Tamworth Town Centre Online Hub
Tamworth town centre business grants
The Experience Tamworth Grant has now closed and any new submissions will not be considered.
We have an annual scheme offering a variety of grants to small businesses in Tamworth town centre.
New in 2024, The Tamworth Town Centre ‘Experience Tamworth’ Business Grant is offering a grant contribution between £1,000 to £10,000 to registered businesses, organisations or traders to deliver projects and activities Tamworth Town Centre.
The grant is designed to help fund businesses and traders deliver experiences, projects, events and new initiatives that generate footfall, improve and add value to Tamworth as a visitor destination, supporting tourism, leisure and heritage activity. The objective of the grant is to raise the profile of Tamworth and its businesses, attract more visitors, increase dwell time, and engagement with the town centre in order to attract economic opportunity and growth to the town.
Grants can be used towards new projects, products, services, promotional campaigns or events, which will attract footfall and increase engagement with the town centre, and meet objectives such as:
- Raise Tamworth’s profile as a destination to visit,
- Attract new and encourage returning customers,
- Reach and draw in new and untapped markets and demographics,
- Works or projects that will add to, or enhance visitor experience within a business or venue,
- Add value to the existing offer of visiting Tamworth,
- Increase awareness of Tamworth’s businesses, attractions or assets,
- Add or improve atmosphere or enhance the experience of visiting the town,
- Design and development products that will encourage visitors,
- Utilise digital initiatives or targeted marketing campaigns designed to promote Tamworth events, heritage or leisure offer.
The above is not an exhaustive list.
The Council may consider any other activities that the Council deems appropriate.
Projects MUST take place within Tamworth Town Centre, or a business or venue based within the town centre – a town centre map is available to outline the area that is considered eligible for the purpose of this scheme.
The council is using funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver this grant scheme.
Businesses must pay the costs upfront and the awarded grant amount will be reimbursed once Tamworth Borough Council has received receipts or other appropriate evidence of spend.
Successful applications must meet certain business criteria including:
- Tamworth based business with fewer than 250 employees.
- Businesses operating for more than 6 months.
- Businesses registered with HMRC or as a registered company on Companies house.
Applicants that do not meet the criteria, however, have exceptional ideas or projects that may have a high economic impact on Tamworth Town Centre, please contact the Economic Development team for a further discussion: business@tamworth.gov.uk
- Please see guidance notes to see full overview of the scheme.
- Please download the application form here
Businesses can also request an application form by contacting the economic development team, details below.
For more information or discuss your project, please contact the Economic Development team via email: Business@tamworth.gov.uk for further guidance.
Grant applications must be submitted by 13 May 2024 at 2pm.