Small businesses in Sheffield to benefit from fully funded training

Self-employed people and sole traders impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic are being offered help and support to get their businesses back on track.

Small businesses in the Sheffield City Region can access fully funded courses under the Pathway to Recovery Success programme.

The course runs over six three-hour virtual interactive seminars and business coaching sessions.

Highly qualified and experienced professionals will guide participants through all the skills and strategies needed to re-focus and adapt businesses to the post-Covid environment.

The six modules include: Business Resilience; Cashflow, Finance and Budgeting; Business Promotion and Lead Generation; Reactivating Customers and Diversification; and Digital Marketing.

The course, which will include practical advice and quick-win techniques, will take place between November and February on dates to be confirmed. Expressions of interest must be made before November 3.

Tina Brown, CEO of development and training company Alternative Partnership, said the courses would provide vital support for small businesses and sole traders, some of whom had been worst affected by the economic downturn.

“While there has been a lot of financial help and support for larger companies, freelancers and the self-employed have often slipped through the net and it’s been a stressful time as people have feared for their businesses and their livelihoods.

“When you are self-employed it can often feel like you’re on your own and there’s no one to turn to for help and advice or just someone to bounce ideas off.

“This course is fully-funded for eligible businesses and can help the self-employed and sole traders to look at their business with fresh eyes and re-focus on how to adapt and go forward.

“There will be lots of practical ideas to take forward and, just as importantly, lots of techniques to re-energise the individuals who are the driving force of these small businesses.”

To qualify, participants must be self-employed or be a sole trader with a business registered in the Sheffield City Region – Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley or Doncaster postcodes.

They must be HMRC registered and have been trading for at least nine-12 months at the start of the course.

To apply go to www.alternativepartnership.co.uk/online-training/