
Regional support
Supporting our local communities is at the heart of what we do. We actively seek opportunities to help small businesses grow, connect, and flourish in today’s challenging landscapes.
Our staff regularly look for funding to help small businesses with training costs. When you apply for a course, our team will alert you to relevant funding, as well as provide guidance on your application and eligibility criteria.
We run events to help you network and build your connections. Events will be listed as they become available.
Business Scale Up development programme
We also support the Business Scale Up development programme, which helps small businesses to identify growth areas and access the support they need to thrive.

Discounted courses
As a specialist skills provider for this programme, we deliver discounted courses for small businesses located in York, North Yorkshire and East Riding.
The Business Scale Up Programme will provide funding to cover 30 per cent of costs for training courses. Some of our professional training can be discounted for businesses who meet the eligibility requirements.
Consultancy packages
As part of the programme, we also offer consultancy packages, advising you on specific business development areas. The costs are as follows:
- One-day consultancy package: £1,000 + VAT
- Three-day consultancy package: £3,000 + VAT
- Five-day consultancy package: £5,000 + VAT
The Business Scale Up development programme will cover 30 per cent of costs for these packages for businesses who meet their eligibility requirements.
Explore our consultancy packages:
Course content and delivery
This package will help you to understand the impact of mental health and wellbeing on organisational performance. Upon completion, you'll have the skills to create and sustain a positive culture of mental health and wellbeing in your organisation.
This course can be delivered in-person at the University of York or online.
Package types
All three package types will allow you to:
- understand your current business culture, future wellbeing goals and organisational design
- review your current wellbeing activities
- implement recommendations and a comprehensive mental health and wellbeing strategy.
The three-day package also includes:
- A wellbeing audit of your company to identify the current issues and support you need.
The five-day package also includes:
- Mentoring support for line managers
- Design of up to two training interventions to support your new mental health and wellbeing strategy.
Course content and delivery
This package will help you to identify talent of the future, learn how to develop talent, and address any expected talent gaps.
This course can be delivered in-person at the University of York or online.
Package types
All three package types will allow you to:
- understand your current business strategy, goals and organisational design
- identify the skills and knowledge needed to deliver your business goals and strategy
- review your current talent acquisition and development activities
- implement recommendations and a comprehensive talent strategy.
The three-day package also includes:
- Analysis of your current and potential workforce, including: numbers, skills, potential leavers and any succession planning
- Development of a talent map detailing current skills, what future skills are required, and identifying skills gaps in your organisation.
The five-day package also includes:
- Development of both a recruitment and learning and development plan to successfully recruit the talent you need
- Design of up to two training interventions to support your talent development strategy.
Course content and delivery
This package will help you to embed innovative practices in businesses, such as innovation in leadership, innovation through moving into a new market, or innovation in developing a new product or service.
This course can be delivered in-person at the University of York or online.
Package types
All three package types will allow you to:
- review your business strategy, vision and goals to identify what stage of innovation your business is currently at
- review SWOT and PESTLE analysis to identify where innovation would be most beneficial, and how to shape and embed this innovation effectively
- implement recommendations to embed innovation in your organisation.
The three-day package also includes:
- A plan for the innovation of new products and services
- A plan for how to grow and build a new market
- talent mapping for the growth of innovation in your organisation
- reviews of your sales and marketing strategies to increase your customer base for innovation.
The five-day package also includes:
- Ability to implement the first stages of the new sales and marketing strategies
- Support with embedding innovation into management teams
- Team cohesion planning to ensure everyone is engaged
- Leadership training.
Eligibility
Before booking training courses or consultancy packages, you should email us to ensure you meet the Business Scale Up eligibility requirements.
Once your eligibility has been confirmed, you can explore our training courses or email our team to discuss consultancy packages.
The Business Scale Up programme is due to end on on 23 November 2023.