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2 September 2025 - Business Sheffield Update
 Get a £10,000 grant to cut your energy costs
The Low Carbon Project offers free expert advice, energy surveys, and grant funding to help small and medium-sized businesses cut energy use and reduce carbon emissions.
With our support, your business can lower energy costs, save money on bills, boost competitiveness, build resilience, and improve productivity. The savings you make can be reinvested to safeguard and create jobs, all while reducing your carbon footprint.
Many businesses have already benefited from the grant. They have used it to:
- Install LED lighting
- Replace diesel forklifts with battery-powered vehicles
- Upgrade insulation, heating or ventilation systems
- Fit solar panels or other renewable energy solutions
- Replace outdated machinery with energy-efficient equipment
- and more...
To find out how your business could benefit, email us at lowcarbonproject@sheffield.gov.uk
Access to Finance Networking Breakfast
Looking for Funding to Grow Your Business?
If you’re an early-stage business ready to scale and explore funding options, don’t miss our Access to Finance event on 1 October, 9:00am – 12:00pm at Electric Works.
This free session brings together local finance experts to deliver a series of short, practical talks on everything from small business grants and start-up loans to preparing for investment. You’ll also have the chance to connect with fellow founders and support providers, building valuable relationships in a friendly and supportive environment.
Whether you’re applying for grants or loans, seeking to attract investors, or simply exploring your options, this event will equip you with clear, actionable advice to navigate the finance landscape with confidence.
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Want to supply goods or services to Sheffield City Council, The NHS, University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University?
If you’re a business owner looking to work with Sheffield City Council, the NHS, the University of Sheffield, or Sheffield Hallam University, this event is for you.
Join us on Wednesday 8th October at Sheffield Hallam University, by 9:30am. This free, in-person event is your opportunity to learn how to become an approved supplier for Sheffield’s major public institutions.
You’ll hear directly from procurement leaders about what they look for, gain insights from local businesses that have already secured contracts, and develop a clear understanding of how to approach tender opportunities. The event will also showcase the support available to help diverse businesses compete fairly and succeed.
Business Sheffield Launches New TechForge Accelerator Cohort
Business Sheffield has launched the TechForge Accelerator, a series of five in-person workshops designed for early-stage, software-focused startups. Whether you’re exploring an idea, developing a prototype, or starting to trade, the programme offers practical support tailored to your stage of growth.
Led by experienced founders and Tech Scale-Up Advisors Robin Gibbons and Morgan Killick, participants will gain valuable insights into raising finance, accessing grants, attracting investment, building MVPs, and much more.
You can join the full series or select the workshops most relevant to your needs.
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Tech Entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire – We Need Your Voice
The Barriers to Scale Survey 2.0 is now open. This short, anonymous survey takes just five minutes to complete and will help us uncover the real challenges facing startups and scaleups in our region.
Your insights will directly shape a co-created action plan to strengthen South Yorkshire’s tech ecosystem and ensure businesses have the support they need to grow.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with your network. The more perspectives we gather, the stronger and more effective our strategy will be.
The Innovation in Action Productivity Challenge Is Now Live
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Join the Innovation in Action Productivity Challenge, a six-month programme running from September 2025 to March 2026.
Designed for manufacturers across South Yorkshire, the programme will help you identify barriers, explore new technologies, and test practical ideas to drive improvements.
With guidance from experienced industry mentors, support from technology partners, and collaboration with other businesses, you’ll gain clear, actionable steps to boost efficiency, increase output, and improve profitability.
Companies House to Roll Out Mandatory ID Verification
From 18 November 2025, Companies House will introduce mandatory identity verification for all UK company directors, People with Significant Control (PSCs), and members of LLPs.
The new rules will apply to both new and existing directors and PSCs.
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New appointments will need to complete verification before incorporation or registration.
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Existing directors and PSCs will have a 12-month transition period, with verification linked to their next confirmation statement filing.
These reforms are part of the government’s drive to improve transparency, reduce fraud, and strengthen the integrity of the UK companies register.
Event: A Vision for Positive Change
Are you a business on Ecclesall Road? Join Business Sheffield and Cllr Brian Holmshaw for an open discussion about the future of the area. Together, we’ll explore opportunities for positive change and the potential to create a local business committee to strengthen our community.
Date: Monday, 8 September 2025
Venue: The Lescar, 303 Sharrow Vale Rd, Sharrow, Sheffield S11 8ZF
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Come along, share your views, and be part of shaping a vision for Ecclesall Road.
Collaboration & Partnerships: Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion networking event
We are delighted to invite you to Collaboration & Partnerships: Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion networking event on Wednesday 15th October 2025, 5:00pm - 7:00pm, at HSBC, Grosvenor House, 1 Wellington St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4NB.
It is a great opportunity to connect, celebrate collaboration, partnerships and diversity & inclusion at this special networking event. Please register for your free tickets below and we look forward to seeing you there.
The South Yorkshire Debt Fund
Businesses across South Yorkshire now have access to significant growth support through the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, which is offering loans ranging from £100,000 to £2 million.
The fund is designed to help businesses scale and strengthen their operations, with flexible finance available for a wide range of purposes. Eligible uses include boosting working capital, expanding teams through staff recruitment, investing in new equipment, and making the transition to net zero.
Our FREE business workshops are led by experts, tailored to the needs of Sheffield businesses. Take a look at this month's programme:
Top Opportunities
Young Entrepreneur Fund
Through the fund, ten young business owners will each receive £5,000 to help them grow their ventures. Alongside the financial support, winners will also benefit from six weeks of tailored business guidance, delivered in partnership with our charity partner Hatch Enterprise.
This initiative is designed to give young entrepreneurs the resources, skills, and confidence they need to turn their ideas into thriving, sustainable businesses.
SYIP Deploy Grant
Organisations can receive up to £2,000 of funding towards deploying innovative business solutions from commercial suppliers.
For example, Deploy Grant projects could include:
Purchase and setup of 3D printer and three days of training
Product testing required to launch a new product
Consultancy to migrate data newly deployed CRM system
IoT specialist support to get two machines working together
Would you like to know more? Email innovation@shu.ac.uk or visit shu.ac.uk/syip to register your interest.
This is Us: North East Sheffield
Local organisations and community groups in Burngreave, Grimesthorpe, Pitsmoor, and Crabtree areas can now apply for ‘This is Us’ grant - a new fund designed to support projects that bring people together, challenge prejudice, and celebrate our region’s diversity.
You can apply for up to £2,000 to support activities such as community events, workshops, campaigns, or creative projects that address hate, discrimination or inequality.
Made Smarter Adoption Programme Y&H
The adoption programme is designed to assist local manufacturing SMEs to understand and overcome operational challenges through digital technologies. Made Smarter is designed to lead manufacturing into the future.
Useful Resources
Article of the month: How Everyday Skills Can Make You a Great Entrepreneur
Article: US Tariff explainer
Useful toolkit: Copilot Success Kit for Small and Medium Business
Follow our LinkedIn Page
Follow our LinkedIn page! We've paused all activity on our old page, which will be deleted soon.
Don't miss out - follow our new LinkedIn page to stay updated on our free support, events, and services designed to help your business thrive.
Upcoming Events
Culture Sheffield have a range of exciting events this autumn, including a fundraising strategy event, a workshop for creative leaders, an arts sector social and an exciting discussion about how to nurture the city’s late-night culture.
Toolkit Day: Strategy & Fundraising for Arts Organisations, 12th September 2025
Join Culture Sheffield for a one-day professional development event designed to support arts and culture organisations to explore strategies, strengthen business models, expand fundraising strategies and building long-term sustainability.
We have a number of slots available for 1:1s on specific fundraising advice. If you'd like to request one, complete this short form and we'll get back to you.
3D Connect Employers Event: Recruiting, Retaining, Pathways and Support
3D Connect are hosting a networking event for employers at BHP Chartered Accountants, Albert Works in Sheffield on Tuesday 23 September 2025, 8:30am to 10:30am.
3D Connect are a community of business leaders who support each other at every stage of their development. This month’s theme is recruitment.
BHP will explain how they hired over 50 new employees this summer. Opportunity Sheffield, Sheffield City Council’s employment and skills service, will also be there to talk about how they can support businesses.
Networking Thursdays
Networking Thursdays from the Chamber allow you to expand your network, strengthen your relationships and generate leads.
Register using the link below to attend their next evening networking event.
Next date:
South Yorkshire Chambers Netwalking at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
The three South Yorkshire Chambers are delighted to host their next ‘netwalking’ event at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Bringing all three chambers together from the whole of South Yorkshire.
Register using the link below.
Looking for a fresh take on corporate away-days? Sheffield’s Blend Culinary Foundation runs hands-on team-building events where colleagues cook together in professional kitchens while preparing meals for local food banks.
These sessions combine skill-sharing, wellbeing, and fun with genuine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) impact, as every event directly supports the fight against food poverty in our city.
It’s a chance for teams to bond while making a meaningful difference in the community.
Join the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership for a free event at Sheffield City Hall to learn about Martyn’s Law (Terrorism Protection of Premises Act) and what it means for publicly accessible venues.
Speaker: Figen Murray OBE, campaigner and mother of Martyn Hett, alongside regional counter-terrorism experts.
Date: Monday 15 Sept 2025
Time: 2–3.30pm (networking from 1.30pm)
Venue: South Hall, Sheffield City Hall
Thank you!
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