Alan Ball, business information officer

Meet Alan, one of our team of High Street specialists. He’s regularly out and about in his patches- the City Centre, City Road, Attercliffe Road, Tinsley, Page Hall, Totley and Dore.

Sean Clarke - High Street Business Advisor

Meet Sean Clarke, recent recruit to our High Street Business support team looking after all things on the High Street.

Sean Marven

Sean Marven, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon

Torrell Ewan - Sheffield Hallam graduate

As part of his computer science for games course, Torrell Ewan developed a piece of software to help run breakdancing competitions. It was so successful that, with the help of our Enterprise Team, Torrell turned his idea into his own business, Woosh.

Dean Hughes - Service Manager

Dean works with investors on preparing briefs and presentations. He’s an expert on Sheffield’s commercial property market & development pipeline. Better still, he’s here to provide impartial advice to help you find the most suitable office or premises for your business.

Dan Wilkinson, business information officer

Meet Dan, one of our team of High Street specialists. He’s regularly out and about in his patches- Darnall, Page Hall, Sharrow, Nether Edge, Ecclesall Road and Abbeydale Road.

Dear Evan Hansen

Step into the spotlight for Dear Evan Hansen; the ground breaking, heart-stirring musical that has captivated audiences around the world. Follow Evan, a lonely teenager whose small lie becomes a soaring phenomenon, pulling him into a story bigger than he ever imagined.

Sheffield’s Business Response Group launch Business Recovery Plan

Sheffield’s Business Response Group have launched a new Business Recovery Plan that brings together civic, city and business leaders to address the impact of Covid-19 on Sheffield’s businesses and jobs.

The 7 Steps to Marketing Success - Implementing your Plan

Marketing is like a slow-running tap filling a bucket with a small leak—it requires consistency to keep your business growing. Learn why regular, manageable marketing efforts are essential to retain customers and maintain stability, and discover practical tips for implementing a sustainable marketing plan

Sheffield Steelers v Glasgow Clan

The Sheffield Steelers play the Glasgow Clan.

Sheffield Steelers v Glasgow Clan

The Sheffield Steelers play the Glasgow Clan.

Sheffield Steelers v Glasgow Clan

The Sheffield Steelers play the Glasgow Clan.

The 7 Steps to Marketing Success - Develop a Strategic Marketing Plan

Creating a marketing plan starts with defining SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Learn how to set clear objectives, choose effective strategies, and map out actionable steps for growth. This guide will help you build a customized plan to keep your business on track and moving forward.

Autumn walks in the UK City with more trees than people

Sheffield has the highest number of trees per person than any other city in Europe and so, there are some impressive natural displays in city through the seasons, especially during the autumnal months of the year.

Tony Ryan OBE

Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Sheffield

Creating a Marketing Plan

We’ll walk you through the entire process of crafting a strong marketing plan. Using a series of guided, hands-on exercises, we’ll explore your business goals, define your strategies, identify the most effective tactics, and much more. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a laser-focused plan in place, ready to direct your marketing activities with precision.

Mean Girls

Meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but high school is a whole new level of savage.

How Sheffield's students can make themselves at home

Things are far from normal for everyone, so it’s certainly a strange time to be a fresher in a new city. Louisa from Benchmark Recruitment, offers a warm welcome and tips for students experiencing Sheffield for the first time…

Stick Man

Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is coming to Sheffield for Christmas!

Andy van Vliet Ceramics

Andy van Vliet is a contemporary studio potter living and working in Walkley, Sheffield. He produces one-off handmade pots for sale; sculptural objects that retain a functional purpose.

Dan Wolstenholme & Irene Mabbott

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

How Everyday Skills Can Make You a Great Entrepreneur

Discover how your everyday skills—like managing finances, making decisions, and persuading others—can help you start and run a successful business. Business Sheffield’s advisors share insights into transferable skills for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Ian Gillan 'Talking Gib'rish Tour'

 Legendary Deep Purple Frontman Ian Gillan Announces  'Talking Gib'rish Tour' in 2027

Britain's Strongest Man 2027

Britain's Strongest Man returns to Sheffield's Utilita Arena on Saturday 6th February for an unmissable night of raw power and spectacle.

Sidney Charles, Luuk Van Dijk & More | Groovebox at SteelYard

Groovebox presents Sidney Charles, Luuk Van Dijk & more. 26th September 2026

Raga pianist Utsav Lal to perform in Sheffield for Yorkshire Silent Film Festival

A trailblazer in the worlds of jazz and raga, Utsav Lal will improvise a unique live score for Carl Dreyer’s emotional masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc at the atmospheric Abbeydale Picture House in Sheffield on 15th May

Big Strong Man

Four Northern lads face the impossible task of fixing the men’s mental health crisis in a single night. A raucous cabaret-comedy featuring song, dance, game show parodies, and a bear.

The Witching Tale, Jan Doyle Band & The Greystone Sisters

Sheffield General Cemetery Trust are delighted to present a mysterious, spellbinding Halloween show at the Samuel Worth Chapel, featuring The Witching Tale.

Toranj International Halal Supermarket Case Study

Mohsin Farmanieh and his wife Fatemeh opened Toranj in the Moor Market in June 2021. COVID-19 made it a challenging time to open a new business, but far from being held back, the pair were keen to expand into a high street shop front.

Dovestone Tor

High on Derwent Edge, Dovestone Tor has a wilder feel than most crags in the area. The longer walk in, and the fact that the sharp, gritty rock can sometimes be green, mean that it’s rarely busy up here – a perfect place to escape the crowds on a dry, sunny day.

Businesses and the Cost of Living Crisis

ERF - Spotlight On

The Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) ran between February 2021 and April 2025. It was a unique, innovative grant fund that aims to support local economic recovery in local high streets by empowering local groups of businesses to implement changes themselves.

Sheffield retains ‘Real Ale Capital of the World’ title

Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire region is now home to 58 breweries, more per head of population than anywhere else in the country, producing around 1,800 different beers every year.

Luke Cleland - student at the University of Sheffield

"Sheffield has an amazing mix of shops, restaurants and cafés that mean that everyone's individual shopping preferences are met!"

Amici and Bici Case Study

Julian Gjini bought his café on Abbeydale Road when there were hardly any thriving businesses in the area, and has watched the independent business community grow to the point where Tesco is almost the only chain store on the street.

Yvonne Asquith - Head of Service

With 30 years’ experience in economic development, Yvonne leads the Business Sheffield Service, delivering a citywide offer that helps businesses start, scale, innovate and invest. The service supports more than 2,500 businesses and entrepreneurs a year and plays a central role in delivering the Council’s Growth Plan by strengthening Sheffield’s business base, driving innovation, improving productivity and positioning the city for future growth.

The 7 Steps to Marketing Success - Maximise Your Existing Customers

Did you know it costs 5 to 10 times more to acquire a new customer than to sell to an existing one? Loyal customers also spend around 67% more per order. Learn the 3 essential steps to maximize your existing customer base: staying connected, expanding business share, and showcasing your full range of offerings. Treat your current customers like the valuable assets they are

How to Start a Street Food Business in Sheffield: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Starting a food business in Sheffield? Download our free step-by-step checklist covering food business registration, street trading consent, food hygiene requirements, insurance and licensing for food carts, street food stalls and mobile catering businesses.

Katie Keates - Business Advisor

Meet Katie, part of our business support team looking after young start-ups, SMEs and everything in between.

Digital and Productivity Grant - Bullion Case Study

Thanks to support from the UKSPF Digital and Productivity Grant, Bullion, a local bean-to-bar chocolate maker, doubled their output and scaled up their business!

Bullion Chocolate

Crafter of single origin chocolate from bean to bar.

Sheffield to host UK’s largest active travel event

The two-day Cycle City Active City event will take place on 5 and 6 July at City Hall and Barkers Pool, and will see more than 800 active travel professionals welcomed to Sheffield.

Families

Discover family-friendly things to do in Sheffield. From parks and museums to animal adventures and great food, plan your perfect family getaway today!

Daniel Ponting - Business Advisor

Are you an entrepreneur with a great idea but not sure how to turn it into a viable business? Or are you already running a business and looking for support to secure funding, scale your operations, or develop a solid plan for growth? Speak to us at Business Sheffield.

Comprehensive support for businesses on all our high streets.

Business Sheffield is here to support retail and hospitality business on each of our 40 local high streets.

Outdoor Citizens: Looking after our world

We have 61% greenspace within our borders, we have more trees per person than any other city in Europe, we have over 800 managed greenspaces across 4,000 hectares of land, and it’s recently coming to light that we have more peatland bog than any other city too (which tops the charts for carbon capture). These facts are a source of great pride, but come with a duty to look after what we have.

Ferrio

Ferrio help businesses of any size and tech capability level connect their software applications and data.

Help for local businesses

We know businesses of any kind need help, and Business Sheffield have the experience to do just that. We've been doing this for over 30 years and have helped more than 3500 businesses in one way or another.

Chapmans Case Study

Agricultural components manufacturer Chapmans has seen plenty of changes and challenges on its 30-year journey.

Marianne Hawksworth, investment manager

Marianne supports existing Sheffield businesses in relocations and expansions, as well as businesses from outside the city that are looking to invest here. You can chat to her about property or site locations, liaising with agents and organising itinerary for viewings, and signposting businesses for staff relocation support services which include securing accommodation and establishing roots in the city.

Ekspan: £1m turnover increase supported by a Productivity Grant

At Business Sheffield, we support manufacturers across the city to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and grow through targeted investment. Through the Productivity Grant, we help businesses invest in equipment, technology and processes that strengthen operations and increase competitiveness.

Europe's largest purpose-built food hall, Cambridge Street Collective opens in Sheffield

The newest chapter in Sheffield’s story as a thriving food destination – this venue is way more than just another food hall, complete with dedicated BBQ, sushi and counter-top dining spaces, four vibrant bars, AR Darts, children's play area and outdoor rooftop terraces, while also incorporating a cookery school and community kitchen.

Ella Bradley - Sheffield Hallam University graduate

While studying at Sheffield Hallam, Ella won a competition ran by the University's marketing society to pitch a PR campaign to creative agency, Rise at Seven who have their headquarters here in Sheffield. This helped her secure a graduate role as a junior social media executive at the agency.

Bare Alternative

An aspiring entrepreneur who turned his back on a lucrative career in software development in a bid to do his bit for the environment has embarked upon a one man mission to transform the way we purchase everyday goods by banning plastic packaging from his eco-friendly shop.

Sheffield’s City Farms

If you're looking for a great family outing or you're just an absolute animal lover, Sheffield has some fantastic farms in and around the city, where you can visit and meet a host of furry friends.

Plans revealed for over £200m of investment in Sheffield's Olympic Legacy site

Major new health care, regeneration and sporting projects totalling more than £200m – including a National Centre for Child Health Technology and ground-breaking diagnostic imagery research hub – are set to place Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park at the heart of the nation’s future health.

Road cycling

In a lot of cities you have to chuck your bike on a roof rack or get on a train to get some decent cycling in. The fact that 1/3 of our city is in the Peak District means that you just clip in out the front door - so for those looking for a weekend away where you can make the most of city life and the outdoors, it doesn't come much better than Sheffield.

How Business Sheffield Helped Tranquil Escape Start Their Business and Attract Customers

Place Making and the Sheffield Food Connection

What is ‘Place Making’ and why should it matter? Place making is all about turning spaces into places people feel proud of and part of every day.

Anne Brennan, HR Business Consultant

Meet Anne, HR Business Consultant. With 20 plus years’ HR experience in the private sector, Anne offers pragmatic advice and practical support.

Transform your business with the Business Productivity Programme

Do you have a big idea to jump-start productivity in your business? Maybe you can see your productivity has room to grow, but need some guidance to get there? Don’t miss the opportunity to get the help you need through the Business Productivity Programme!

Yoga My Life Case Study

Farah-Naz Khan, a renowned holistic yoga therapist, trainer and social entrepreneur has dedicated her career to enabling people to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing.

Bullion Chocolate Tasting at Cutlers' Hall

Celebrate National Chocolate Day at Cutlers' Hall with an indulgent evening celebrating Sheffield's bean-to-bar chocolate makers, Bullion.

About The Economic Recovery Fund in Sheffield

The Economic Recovery Fund supported local businesses and organisations to get people visiting and spending money in their neighbourhoods. That meant anything from delivering events for businesses to connect with customers; creating exciting new features to draw people in; making the high street a nicer place to spend time; or something completely different. Solutions are designed by local people for local people, using their insight into what would work on their high street.

Lucy O'Neill - University of Sheffield student

One of the principal concerns many students have about university is whether university is an affordable option for them. Whilst money worries are an understandable concern, Sheffield can be a great place for low cost student living!

The 7 Steps to Marketing Success - Staying Competitive

In a constantly changing world, standing still can leave your business behind. Learn how regular SWOT analysis and market research can help you stay competitive and anticipate industry changes. Discover practical tips to keep up with customers, competitors, and market trends for ongoing success.

The Buzz for Sheffield's Food Scene

Is Sheffield the UK’s most exciting food city? Quite possibly, as an increasing number of the city’s restaurants and bars have been popping up in national listings and awards. Here we take a look at those attracting the attention...

Abby Abrames - Social Media Advisor

Abby is friendly, approachable and hands on, having spent more than two decades working across advertising and marketing—on both traditional and digital platforms. Abby is the owner of Valley Marketing, a Sheffield based marketing consultancy dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes grow. Work ranges from shaping long term strategy to running day to day social media campaigns—whatever’s required to get results.

The Lemonheads

The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but now based in New York City. The primary (and only consistent) member is Evan Dando.

Typical cost of a night out by Ella Duncan, biochemistry and genetics student at the University of Sheffield

Student life in Sheffield is great. You can go out partying and still be able to drink, travel and eat within budget.

The Sapiens Project

Futuristic 3D games studio in Sheffield city centre where visitors aged 18 and over can take part in a 10 minute 3D photo scan, earn £40, and help build the next generation of video game avatars.

Papermill Case Study

As David puts it, “You know when you’re struggling with formatting in Word or Google Docs, and you end up wanting to throw your laptop out of the window in frustration? Papermill lets you focus on the content: you write what you want to, drop in other bits like images, tell Papermill what you want it to look like, and it does the rest.”

£30,000 Low Carbon Grant helps Cutting & Wear reduce monthly energy bills by 40%

See how Cutting & Wear used a £30,000 Low Carbon Grant to invest in solar panels and reduce monthly energy costs by 40% with Business Sheffield support.

Pitch Decks: What’s The Big Deal?

Every different type of business has its own favoured route for presenting itself in the best light. Whereas traditional retailers might spend hours crafting the perfect ‘shop window display’ or product brochure, in the digital era, attention and resources are lavished on perfecting websites or indeed carefully curating an Instagram feed with on-brand imagery.

Partnership & collaboration

Relocating and expanding your business into a new city can be complex. The team at Invest Sheffield have vast experience in simply being there to help you with every step, providing tailored support and advice.

Transforming Sheffield City Centre

Sheffield City Centre is undergoing significant change.With so much regeneration happening, it can be hard to keep up with all of the exciting developments, so here you'll find the latest news of what’s new and what's happening next.

Andy Sorsby, growth advisor

Known for his pragmatic and practical advice Andy worked with hundreds of businesses during the pandemic to help with immediate cash flow issues and is now helping businesses to look at productivity, performance and digital challenges. He provides expert support on those tricky grant funding applications too.

Steve Carroll - Growth Advisor

Meet Steve. One of our growth advisors. Steve knows that business owners are great salespeople, engineers, technologists etc. but that they don’t necessarily have experience in running a business. He’s here to help.

What is Sheffield Inspires?

Sheffield Inspires is the new way of talking about Sheffield, to raise the city's profile, perception, reputation - and ultimately grow the economy. you can find out more about exactly what it is, how it was made, when and where you can use it or see it, and generally be part of championing why this is such a great city.

Meet the conference team

The city’s conference team should be every event organiser’s first point of call. We know what a big deal organising an event can be. Luckily we’re a dab hand at organising the support and expertise you’ll need whether this is your first look at Sheffield or we’re welcoming you back.

The Winter Garden and Peace Gardens

Few cities can boast a public space like Sheffield’s Winter Garden and its outdoor companion the Peace Gardens.

Jane Gregory, sales advisor

Jane has worked with local business from start-ups to multi £m turnover concerns for the last 15 years, giving practical, no nonsense advice, training and guidance.

Gigs

From big names to hidden gems, see what’s playing live in Sheffield and plan your next night out.

Womanthology

Womanthology is a digital magazine and professional community for women of all ages and backgrounds as they progress through their careers. It is powered by female energy and ingenuity. The platform champions positive female role models by sharing good news stories, best practice and wisdom from everyone, regardless of gender, collaborating to create a gender positive experience in the workplace.

Relocate your business

Get in touch with the team at Invest Sheffield who can help with everything from site and office searches through to aftercare and key account management.

Top things to see walking around the city centre

Sheffield City Centre has a huge variety of architecture and public spaces to enjoy, so you can wander round with friends and a coffee and have a really nice day without spending too many of those precious pounds.

Sheffield’s Child Health Technology Conference builds global community

Sheffield is set to deliver an exciting follow up to the UK's first-ever Child Health Technology Conference in May 2022, with a host of international speakers set for the second edition.

Start or grow a business

Sheffield is a great place to start a business because it's big enough to feel like there's opportunity, but small enough to feel that you can make a difference. We have a strong business community with a genuine appreciation of local independents, a tech sector positioned for great collaboration and a rich manufacturing base.

Protecting Your Ideas: A Simple Guide to Intellectual Property

This workshop explains the rights available to businesses and how you can use them to your advantage. The benefits intellectual property rights can give are more than just protection to your ideas. They can also impact taxation and even immigration.

Sheffield brand guidelines, toolkits and assets

There are a number of documents, toolkits and assets that help you to use the Sheffield brand and visual identity, which you can find out more about and download to use.

EdTech in Sheffield

Sheffield has been a nationally significant centre for online learning and educational technologies since even before the decision to site the University for Industry here in 1998. Since then, there has been a steady stream of talent and new businesses born of this activity, developing resources and platforms for learning across many different industry verticals.

Hillsborough Vape Lounge Case Study

When Roger first visited Hillsborough Vape Lounge to offer his support, owner Steve Mansfield said thanks but no thanks. “Being me,” says Roger, “I said something like ‘Well, I bet you I could help make it even better!’” Later that day, Steve found himself stuck with something and decided to give Roger a call.

Jon Denton, key account manager

Jon Denton works within the City Growth department of the Sheffield City Council looking after key employers in the Sheffield area. He maintains long term relationships with key companies, supporting their strategic growth objectives, with a strong track record of securing investment and being a key point of contact for them within Sheffield City Council. 

Street Art

There are a number of street artists who live in Sheffield and make our walls into something beautiful for the city to be proud of. Their variety of styles can be seen here, as well as all over the world - and we have plenty of guest murals painted by artists who have visited Sheffield to create their own mark too.

Tourism brought £1.85 billion boost to Sheffield’s Economy in 2024

Sheffield’s visitor economy reached new heights in 2024, generating a record-breaking £1.85 billion – a 10% increase on the previous year and a full recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Climb - whatever the weather

If you climb outdoors you will always have one eye on the weather. A little local knowledge can help you find the right crag in and around Sheffield, and get a good day’s climbing whatever the weather.

Meet our team

The Business Sheffield team is made up of our permanent staff and a wide array of specialists who you can speak to directly to get support, advice and help. You can take a look at more information on any of the advisors to see what they specialise in and how to get in touch.

Orchestra Baobab

Founded in 1970 in Dakar, Orchestra Baobab is more than just a band—it is an institution, a cornerstone of African music.

Whirlow Hall Farm

The Barn is open, with a fantastic Cafe and Shop that make the most of everything the Farm produces. It doesn't get more local than this!

Sheffield’s JORO Wins a Michelin Star

JÖRO’s huge success marks the end of a decade‑long wait for Michelin recognition to return to the city and helps fill a long‑acknowledged gap in starred restaurants between London and Scotland.