Business Support Programmes (2025-2026)
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Discover a wide range of support programmes designed to provide expert-led learning for businesses of every size, at every stage.
At the Growth Hub, we collaborate with a wide range of partners to deliver the highest quality support to our businesses. The information below highlights opportunities and services offered by the Combined Authority, local authorities, national government agencies, and the private sector, including both major national providers and local business experts.
This includes everything from self-service resources to comprehensive, long-term support programmes, as well as opportunities for networking. There are also a number of funding and finance opportunities available through the Growth Hub and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to help support your business growth.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or would like specific support, get in touch.
Explore Learning, Development and Support Programmes
Steps into Digital Programme
A supportive, paced approach to digital transformation, the programme is accessible and manageable to all at any level. Demystifying technology with simple, tailored roadmaps.
Leadership Excellence and Development Programme
This programme covers key areas essential for your success, delivered by experts in their fields through a mix of workshops, coaching, and consultancy.
Strive Live Start-Up Incubator: September 2025
Join this award-winning incubator designed to help grassroots entrepreneurs launch their business, tentatively scheduled for September.
Skills Bootcamps in York and North Yorkshire
Skills Bootcamps are funded, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills.
Tourism & Hospitality Support Programmes
Coming soon.
Discover Local Peer Learning & Networking
Building genuine connections with fellow business owners can offer priceless insight and support, as many may be navigating similar challenges
Made Smarter
If you’re a manufacturing business that is looking to increase the use of technology and expand your business capabilities, the Made Smarter programme could help.
Start & Grow Y&NY
If you are a business based in York or North Yorkshire or you are setting up a business, we have a brand new business support programme to help turn your visions and plans into reality.
York and North Yorkshire Work and Skills Interchange
The York and North Yorkshire Work and Skills Interchange will offer advice and make connections for people seeking work, or trying to stay in work.
Business Basics: Access Now
Get to grips with key subjects such as bookkeeping, pricing, VAT, company structure, and the responsibilities associated with owning a business.
Business Resilience
Coming soon.
DBT International Trade
Department for Business & Trade support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
Funding and Finance Opportunities
YNY Equity Hub
The YNY Equity Hub has been designed to address this barrier, offering a user-friendly portal where businesses can effectively present their investment opportunities and highlight their growth potential to investors nationwide.
Digital Adoption Grant
Whether you’re just starting out or already established, the Digital Adoption Grant is here to support your next step in digital transformation. The fund opened for applications on Monday 16 June and will close at 5pm on Monday 14 July 2025.
Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund
Applications for Phase Two of the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund are now open, and will close at 5pm on the 31st July. Discover your local High Street Coordinator.
Business Innovation Fund
This fund includes a Sector Activity programme, Spin-Out & Start-Up programme, Get Exporting programme, Great Ideas programme, and Get Funded programme. Visit the page to see the full list of deadlines.
Business Sustainability Programme
At its core, the programme is about supporting businesses, delivering climate action and contributing to the economic growth of our region. From July 2025 until February 2026
Find your local business advisor
If you’re based in North Yorkshire, visit; Business North Yorkshire | North Yorkshire Council
If you’re based in York, visit; Grow Your Business | City of York Council
For subject specific support, visit; Help & support for businesses in York & North Yorkshire | Y&NY Growth Hub
Articles
Fully Funded Training for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses - Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering
The York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub are pleased to be partnering with North Yorkshire Council and the City of York Council on an initiative to support hospitality businesses from across the area to benefit from fully funded Food Safety and Hygiene Level 2 training and certification courses
Networking events: 10 tips for success
Not all networking events are created equal, so researching the different types might be a good starting point.
Industrial Strategy to provide over £150m to reinforce UK as services superpower
The UK’s modern Industrial Strategy will invest over £150 million in five transformative AI and technology programmes to help UK Professional and Business Services (PBS) sectors such as legal, management consulting and accountancy soar.
Events
02nd July 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
Webinar: Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund - Mastering Grant Applications
In this webinar, targeted at smaller enterprises, Enterprise Cube will share their expertise and some top tips for applying for funding and grants. We’ll then apply this information to a real-life example, in the form of the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.
02nd July 202512:00 pm - 3:00 pmFREE
York Retrofit Network
This is the eighth meeting of the York Retrofit Network, which is part of a wider project supported by Innovate UK to create a Retrofit One-Stop-Shop for York. The meetings will occur roughly every two months
03rd July 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
Webinar: Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund – Using Data to Support your Application
This session is designed to offer an oversight into the value of data and how it can be used to bring success to your project. This can be through helping to communicate the need for your project, understanding the outputs and outcomes of your proposals and ensuring you are on track to achieve these outputs and outcomes throughout the course of the project.
Resources
Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund Phase 2 - Webinar Series
This webinar series is designed to provide practical guidance and in-depth support with your application. Applications for Phase Two of the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund are now open, and will close at 5pm on the 31st July.
Featured Webinar Playlist: Wellbeing
Learn how to build resilience and communication, create a positive work environment, and support the mental health of both your team and yourself with our free wellbeing webinars playlist.
Webinar Recording: Why does Intellectual Property matter to your business?
This webinar will equip you with the knowledge to leverage IP for competitive advantage, investor attraction, and long-term business growth, ultimately showing you how a strategic approach to IP can be the difference between success and missed opportunities.