As we reported earlier this month, applications are now open for this year’s Aston Programme for Small Business Growth, a free scheme that helps businesses from a range of sectors to build targeted growth strategies.

The programme will run from January to June 2017 and provides workshops, one-to-one support and networking opportunities. It is fully funded by Aston University and the European Regional Development Fund. The scheme is open to SMEs with an operational base in the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire or Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP regions.

As well as this programme Aston University offers other business support through a variety of programmes and workshops, including the Advanced Services Programme for SMEs. This is a five module course designed to help manufacturing and technology-innovating SMEs grow their revenues and improve their competitiveness.

The programme is fully-subsidised and provides 75 hours of personalised one-to-one support by a dedicated transformation manager and strategy experts. For further information on this programme visit Aston Business School’s website.

Aston University also offers recruitment support for local businesses of all sizes through its employer team and a scheme called Graduate Advantage.

The employer team is on hand to help businesses with various recruitment needs, from reviewing job descriptions to coordinating interviews, while the Graduate Advantage scheme is a partnership between Aston University, Birmingham City University and Coventry University, offering a free recruitment service to local businesses to access graduate skills as a cost-effective and flexible solution to local business recruitment needs.

For more information on any of the programmes or services mentioned, or to download an application form for the Programme for Small Business Growth, visit the Aston Business School’s website or contact the team at centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk.

Don’t forget that Think Sandwell also offers a range of support services for SMEs in the borough. Visit our ‘Growth for small businesses’ page to find out what we can do for you.