LEP assures Staffordshire start-ups of full support

START-UP businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have been assured they will receive the full backing of the county’s support organisations.

Ron Dougan, chair of the area’s Local Enterprise Partnership, said ensuring there was adequate access to finance and business support for fledgling firms remained one of the LEP’s top priorities.

Dougan was speaking after the publication of a new report claiming there is a lack of venture capital investment in UK start-ups,

The report, published by charity Nesta, focuses on the growing gap between UK and US venture capital funds in digital start-up businesses.  

“A lot of work has taken place in our area in ensuring start-up businesses and SMEs can access essential finance to support their growth,” said Dougan.

“There is now a new joint local authority business loans scheme across our LEP area, start-up units available on flexible tenancies and a range of events to increase growth in areas like exports and manufacturing.

“Venture capital investment offers another opportunity to start-up businesses and we welcome any initiative to increase it; however our scope for supporting our start-ups must remain as wide as possible. I believe we are already on the right path in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire in ensuring this is the best place for new business.”