Expert support to fast track businesses in Sheffield City Region

Sheffield City Region entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses are being encouraged to apply to take part in an intensive business programme of free expert support, development and one-to-one mentoring.

The Y-Accelerator programme is offering the city region’s business leaders of tomorrow the exclusive opportunity to benefit from a 12-week, fast-track development package and will see participants take advantage of expert advice and mentoring, access to a network of industry experts and specialist workshops.

The deadline for the programme is on Sunday 15 September, so businesses, individuals and teams are being encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible. Apply through the Sheffield City Region Hub Portal here – https://www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk/

Concluding the 12-week project, which runs from October 2019 to January 2020, each business or entrepreneur will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to an audience of potential investors. UK Steel Enterprise is offering a £1,000 prize to the best pitch on the night.

Led by business experts from both the public and private sector, the project is facilitated in partnership by Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) and a resident entrepreneur from Sheffield engineering organisation Gripple Ltd. on behalf of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.

The businesses chosen to take part will have a bespoke programme of one-to-one support designed for them, delivered on a part time basis. Businesses will also benefit from a series of informative workshop style session delivered by industry specialists.

After the September deadline the Y-Accelerator team will select 10 projects to join the programme. They will be supported in building a strong customer proposition and financial model, as well as learning to effectively communicate their business value to potential customers and investors.

Dinnington-based healthy food and drink company ‘The Food Circle Supermarket’ took part in a previous Y-Accelerator programme and operations director James Barthorpe strongly recommends any business start-up to apply.

James said: “Initially, we found the business start-up the most challenging – building a retail model, finding marketing that worked to seek out our customers, and the programme helped us to find their footing.

“The Y-Accelerator allowed us to refine our business idea quite a lot – we were able to properly focus on what our business intentions were and raise it to the level.

“We’d definitely recommend the Y-Accelerator programme to other businesses – as beginners we were given an outsider’s perspective and your business is put through key processes you may not already know about.

“The programme encouraged us to use a set of structures to put our ideas through, helping to add value for our customers – we found that it eliminates time wasting on unnecessary ideas.”

Amanda Parris, business growth manager for RiDO, said: “The Y-Accelerator programme is a truly fantastic, unique initiative and we offer a very bespoke package for the people we work with. As well as a great idea, we want to work with people who think differently and who will soak up our specialist advice to create a viable, scalable business.

“People from all industry sectors are encouraged to apply, although logistics, manufacturing, and automation are especially of interest. We are delighted to run the programme for the sixth time, and we are looking forward to working with some more exciting businesses.”

The Y-Accelerator 2019/20 is inviting applications until 15th September through the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub portal. For more information, please email: [email protected], visit www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk/y-accelerator or call 0333 000 0039.