Through 2025 the Council will be introducing a programme of start-up support and drop-in sessions at Ignite. Further details will be provided in due course. Ahead of that here are a number of sites and organisations that can provide start up support:

Government support

If you are considering starting a business then there is plenty of support and information on the Government website:

Banks

The banks are a useful source of information with the following available for the High Street Banks:

 

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is delighted to provide services for new and growing businesses on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council as part of the local authority’s drive to build the city economy. With funding from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund the start-up programme will run until September 2025, after that the programme will come to a close. The Chamber also provide a discounted membership scheme for start ups from £32 a month  

The Start-Up Business Club is the place to make new connections, learn from industry experts and develop the skills and understanding required to take your business to the next level.

Other support

Sector, trade and activity specific business plan examples can be found here.

Here you will find over 500 examples, along with other useful start up information.

The King’s Trust is also a good source and has useful information on typical business plan templates:

The British Business Bank site also has useful templates for managing the start-up phase of a business including the managing cashflow element which is key to any business start-up:

There is also Enterprise Nation which has useful information:

Events

To help raise awareness of your business, build useful business contacts, and potential customers and suppliers it is probably beneficial to factor in time to attend networking events. Whilst some of these are chargeable many are free, and a good source for finding details on these is Eventbrite.

This allows you to identify all types of events by theme, location and date - and most of the business support workshops the City of Wolverhampton Council run are advertised there.

The Federation of Small Businesses run networking and business support events, providing a range of information on their website, and, whilst it is a membership organisation, there is some information and events available to non-members.


I have been hot-desking at IGNITE since the new year and I can’t recommend their services enough. Previously working from home, I have established better working habits coming into IGNITE being able to differentiate my work/life balance and still having the flexibility to work from home. Working alongside other businesses in the same situation, it's great to bounce ideas off one another, ask for a fresh set of eyes and the social aspect of being in an office setting. I have found the use of the two meeting rooms very beneficial meeting new and existing clients.

Rebecca Moorhouse
Remote Business Support

IGNITE has given me the perfect environment to gain confidence in my business. It is a great place to work, easy to access and a place where I am extremely proud to invite clients meetings and collaborative discussions. Moreover, here I have found support and fresh ideas on how to implement my marketing strategy to reach clients on a wider scale.

Ramona Mensah
Architect at Mensah Studio

Ignite provides onsite business support and space for me to work, meet new people and also creates opportunities to work collaboratively. I enjoyed working from home but I really missed being in the office and collaborating with others. Ignite is a great space for our business community to flourish and also learn from each other. This could be helping someone develop their creative portfolio for a job or just teaching a new skill.

Navi
Creative Director - Sodium

It is a venue that is reflective of my design ethos, which is all about collaboration and togetherness to create amazing user experiences for all. It also facilitates the opportunity to create an organic network with other entrepreneurs. Conversations around the coffee bar can throw up all kinds of opportunities for shared wisdom, and further connection. Starting out on your own can feel a little isolating and times, and a facility like this is a true gift.

Rebecca Lewis-Knight
Interior Designer - Ivy Rose Interiors

When I first started my business, I was looking for a space where I could grow & develop my ideas. Fortunately, I came across Ignite, a dynamic & inspiring space that is perfect for businesses of all sizes. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with this fantastic work environment, which has been instrumental in helping me getting my business of the ground. So if you're looking for a supportive & inspiring workspace that will help your startup thrive, look no further than the new ignite startup business centre

Sonny

IGNITE is an invaluable asset to the city of Wolverhampton. It will allow start-ups to meet clients in a professional working space without the need to pay high fees for an office- which most start-ups simply cannot afford to. It will provide entrepreneurs with the support and guidance they need and is going to enable start-ups in Wolverhampton to thrive.

Olivia Simpson

I came to the IGNITE workspace in search of a space to regularly come and work whilst building up my business. I have been pleasantly surprised to find a thriving community of likeminded, hardcore entrepreneurs in all sorts of niches. It’s warm, it’s full of energy and most of all it has fast internet, honestly couldn’t recommend it enough if you are serious about building up your business/start-up.

Julio
Marketing Manager

IGNITE has been super helpful for me. I've always wanted to start my own business but needed to figure out where to start. I work full-time and need that income, so that's also been challenging. However, coming to IGNITE and being around the other entrepreneurs has been incredibly valuable. I've now developed a clear concept for my coaching business, and I'm just about to go out for clients. I got to this point with the inspiration, advice and guidance I received by coming to IGNITE.

Jay
Coach at Gear up