Latest News - Business Gateway Growth Hub

11 February 2026

Innovation: What It Really Means for Your Business?

Article by: Altaf Ahmed, Business Support Manager, Leicester City Council As a Business Support Manager, I often hear business owners say, “We’re too small to innovate” or “Innovation is not for businesses like ours”. That’s not true. Innovation is...

9 February 2026

Why Apprenticeships Matter for SMEs: Building Skills, Driving Growth

As National Apprenticeship Week begins, it’s a timely opportunity SMEs to reflect on the role apprenticeships play in building stronger, more resilient businesses. For many SMEs, growth is driven by people. Having the right skills in place — now...

6 February 2026

Free Cyber Security Training for SMEs

Cyber-crime increasingly targets small and medium-sized businesses, often exploiting simple weaknesses such as phishing emails, weak passwords or outdated software. A small investment of time in cyber security training can significantly reduce the risk of data loss, fraud, disruption...

2 February 2026

A Simple, Free Way for SMEs to Strengthen Employee Wellbeing

Supporting employee wellbeing doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. The Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire & Rutland Accreditation offers small and medium-sized enterprises a free, practical and flexible way to improve workforce health — while strengthening engagement, morale and productivity....

27 January 2026

Working with Defence: Opportunities for UK Businesses

Many businesses assume that working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is out of reach due to security requirements or perceived barriers. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Today, thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)...

16 January 2026

What the New Disability Confident Overhaul Means for SMEs

The UK government has announced an overhaul of the Disability Confident scheme, aimed at raising workplace standards for disabled people and making the scheme more effective — particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). What’s Changing? The updated scheme...

12 January 2026

UK Government Cuts Electric Lorry Costs to Boost Business

The UK government has announced an extra £18 million in funding to extend and increase the Plug‑in Truck Grant, reducing the upfront cost of new electric lorries by up to £120,000 for hauliers and fleet operators. The scheme, part of...

8 January 2026

Working Safely in Cold Conditions: What SMEs Need to Know

The recent spell of very cold weather is a timely reminder for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to check that staff are adequately protected while at work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that employers must ensure a...

6 January 2026

Why SMEs Should Apply for Apprenticeship Funding Now

Apprenticeships offer small and medium-sized businesses a cost-effective way to grow skills, boost productivity and build a future-ready workforce. Under the UK apprenticeship funding system, SMEs do not pay the apprenticeship levy. Instead, the government covers 95% of apprenticeship...