2024/25 Business Support Programmes
Start-Up Support
Start-up support and guidance is available through the programmes below, our dedicated pages and through contacting our pre-start and start-up specialists.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| Start and Grow York | Momentic | Ongoing | This programme is only available to businesses in the City of York Council area. |
| Strive Live Start-Up Incubator | Enterprise Cube | April 24th 2025 | Delivered online to York and North Yorkshire businesses |
| Business Essentials for Holistic and Beauty Therapists | Ruth Gordon Associates | January (Northallerton) | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
| Support for North Yorkshire Social Enterprises | Community First Yorkshire, Social Vision | January, ongoing | This programme is only available to social enterprises in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
Peer-to-Peer Programmes
The York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub and City of York Council are launching fully-funded peer support business support programmes to offer North Yorkshire businesses a structured and collaborative environment to work on their business with the people who know best – other business leaders. By participating in regular sessions amongst a small group of non-competing peers, attendees can gain impartial advice, fresh perspective, and tailor-made solutions to take their business to the next level. There are more groups to be confirmed soon. If none of the below suit you, you can register your interest to be informed about future announcements by signing up here.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| Innovate York | University of York | Ongoing | This programme is only available to businesses in the City of York Council area. |
| Business Sustainability Peer Networks (Harrogate) | Yorkshire Leadership Group | Fully subscribed | ***Fully booked*** |
| Courageous Females – Malton | Andrea Morrison Coaching | Starts 4 February | ***Fully booked*** |
Marketing Support
Businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area have the chance to supercharge their social media and dial up their digital marketing with fully funded support. Whether you’re a tourism business looking ahead to next year, a local business looking to up your social media game, or want to transform your business so it’s ready for the digital world, our support can help you on your marketing journey and improve your reach.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| 1:1 Social Media Support | Catch Design | 1:1 support available now with sessions arranged to suit attendees | ***Fully booked*** |
| BOOST – a free programme of activities to support your tourism business | The Tourism Network | On-demand content now available, with in-person events schedule from September | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
| Social Media Webinars | Hot Toddi | Six-part series, held monthly August 2024-January 2025 | Held online, open to all |
| How to get higher in Google (Northallerton) | Ink Gardener Copywriting | 11 March | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
Skills Bootcamps
Need to boost skills but not break the bank? Skills Bootcamps offer a wide range of business support programmes in areas such as digital marketing, construction, and green energy – reflecting the diverse needs of the modern economy. YNYCA has secured funding from the Department for Education to deliver the programme, which runs until the end of March 2025. More course details to follow in the coming months.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| CAD for Construction | HBXL | Ongoing | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Construction Management | HBXL | Ongoing | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Excavator | HBXL | Ongoing | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Mixed Plant | HBXL | Ongoing | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Immediate Impact digital bootcamp | Enterprise Made Simple | June – November | Self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Scaffolding Supervisor Training | Northern Regeneration CIC | August | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| HGV | Wetherby Training Ltd | August | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Quality Engineering | Corecom Technology Academy | September | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Social Media | Harrogate College (Luminate Group) | September | Self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Software Development | Primed Talent | September | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| EV & Hybrid Car Repairs | TEC Partnership/Scarborough TEC | September | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Unreal Engine and Virtual Production Technologies | Academy of Live Technology Ltd (Production Park) | September | Individuals and self-employed in York and North Yorkshire |
| Technical Production | Academy of Live Technology Ltd (Production Park) | September | Individuals and self-employed in York and North Yorkshire |
| Quality Management | Clear Quality | September | Businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Digital Skills for Screen | Screen Yorkshire | October | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Heat Recovery and Transfer | Heart of Yorkshire Education Group | October | Businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
| Graduate Work Ready Game Industry | Game Republic | October | Individuals and self-employed in York and North Yorkshire |
| Level 3 AAT Bookkeeping | York Learning | November | Individuals, self-employed and businesses in York and North Yorkshire |
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 you access advice, support and even grant funding.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| Made Smarter | Made Smarter | Ongoing | This programme is available to businesses in York and North Yorkshire. |
Decarbonisation
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| Decarbonising the Business Base in York | Green Economy | Ongoing | This programme is only available to businesses in the City of York Council area. |
Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD)
The Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) Programme is tailored for business owners who want to strengthen their leadership skills and drive business growth. Over six months, this programme covers key areas essential for your success, delivered by experts in their fields through a mix of workshops, coaching, and consultancy.
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| LEAD | Various | Ongoing | This programme is available to businesses in North Yorkshire. |
Finance
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| North Yorkshire Stars | Lifted Ventures | From October | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
| Smart Farm Business Planning | Agricultural Business Training | 4 February – Leyburn | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
Tourism
| Programme | Provider | Dates | Availability |
| BOOST | The Tourism Network | Ongoing | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
| Business Booster: Marketing Planning for 2025 | The Tourism Business | Scarborough – 13th November Harrogate – 19th November Northallerton – 20th November Leyburn – 26th November | This programme is only available to businesses in the North Yorkshire Council area. |
You can find more workshops and business support programmes on our Events page.
If you have any questions, want to find out more or want to register for any of the above programmes, please contact our Helpdesk inbox.
Articles
How Yorkshire Wargames and Hobbies opened its doors
Dan Jowsey opened the doors of Yorkshire Wargames and Hobbies in Northallerton, with support from the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
Owning a Business: An introduction to what you need to know
Owning a business comes with much responsibility and red tape. This workshop offers an insight into what these are, and how you can best deal with them to avoid getting into trouble. This workshop is aimed mainly at the owners of Limited Companies, but much of the content is relevant to other business formats too.
Financial Management – Do you know your numbers?
One of the most important things a business owner should know, is “their numbers”. Do you know how well your business is performing and in which areas? Do you know who you owe and who owes you? Can you afford to make upcoming payments and meet your financial obligations?
Events
20th January 202510:00 am - 2:00 pmFREE
Malton & Northallerton: Business Essentials for Holistic and Beauty Therapists
Starting in business or thinking of making the move and have 100s of questions? This course covering business essentials is for you. Designed for holistic and beauty therapists, and anyone setting up on their own in the service world (personal training, pet grooming, hairdressing).
21st January 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
Webinar: Bookkeeping for Business Owners
Are you looking to learn the basics of bookkeeping for your business? Discover how bookkeeping has evolved, the benefits of cloud-based tools, and the essentials of VAT. Learn key processes to get it right the first time and streamline your finances.
23rd January 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
Social Media Webinar Series: 23 January- Getting started on TikTok
As part of a six-part social media webinar series delivered by Caroline Wilson of Hot Toddi, this webinar look at how to best use TikTk for your business.
Resources
Webinar Recording: Pricing for Maximum Profit
Are you charging enough for your products/services to allow you to provide a service you are proud off and that allows you to not become a busy fool? Learn about pricing strategy in this webinar.
Webinar Recording - Navigating the Latest Budget: A Survival Guide for Small Businesses
The Budget announced on October 30th will bring substantial changes for many organisations, resulting in increased costs. So, how can we navigate our way through these changes and still have profitable businesses? Find out in this webinar.
Webinar: Inclusion Training for Hospitality and Retail Businesses
Join us for an essential webinar to boost your business by embracing inclusivity. This session will cover key areas like disability awareness, inclusive communication, the impact of the Equality Act, and the potential of the “Purple Pound”—a market worth billions in untapped spending power. This session, delivered by Rachel Barber of Living 4 Moments, serves as an introduction to inclusivity topics and how they can be applied to customer-facing businesses – supporting your customers, staff, and bottom line.
