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.
American Express and Shop Small commissioned research with GlobalData to reveal the top 10 UK high streets for independent shops, with Sheffield's Division /Devonshire Street placing second.
A former builder who dreamed of the good life has transformed the forgotten underground vaults of Kelham Island into a haven for producing organic edible produce after calling on help from Launchpad, a unique programme which provides business support to new and aspiring entrepreneurs based in the Sheffield City Region.
Sheffield has been named as the UK Food Capital of the UK, according to a report by hospitality provider, Accor, as they reviewed the very best locations to indulge your taste buds and identified the best spots for different cuisines.
National newspaper, The Sunday Times, once again released their annual guide of the best places to live in the UK and Sheffield's Nether Edge was listed as one of only eight Northern residential areas to make their 2024 list.
It's been a trying time to start a new business; and Rob and Nikki have really valued the support of Sally Pepper, Business Information Officer with Business Sheffield.
The Launchpad Pop-Up Store 2025 brought new life to Sheffield city centre by turning an empty unit into a festive retail space. Over four weeks, local makers were supported to test selling in a physical store for the first time. Thirty-one Sheffield businesses took part, many representing diverse communities. More than 8,000 people visited the store and supported local traders. The pop-up showed the value of creating low-risk opportunities for independent businesses to grow.
Sheffield is celebrating after being named on the longlist to become UK City of Culture 2029 – important recognition of the city’s ambition to showcase its creativity, talent and identity on a national and international stage.
An annual ranking of the Top 25 Cities in the UK (outside of London) for starting a business, the Startups Cities Index is the most exhaustive research project of its kind. Sheffield was revealed as the ultimate winner, thanks to the city’s strong performance across business support, talent attraction, low cost of living, large working population and fantastic transport links.
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
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.
One of the UK’s most prestigious art events, British Art Show will return to where is all started, when the landmark tenth edition tours to Sheffield in October 2027 through a multi-venue partnership between Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Museums, Site Gallery, Yorkshire Artspace and Arts Catalyst.
The train line that links Sheffield with Manchester was completed in 1894 and is still going strong 125 years later. Part of its route runs through the beautiful Hope Valley in the Peak District National Park, offering not just stunning views from the train windows but also ease of access to a host of pretty peak villages and breath-taking scenery.
The cycle routes are located in Stocksbridge, Wharncliffe, Loxley, Rivelin and Redmires. To celebrate the launch of the routes, Trek Sheffield Fox Valley have added their support and are giving a free t-shirt to people who ride all five.
Feeling overwhelmed by marketing? Our 7-step guide for small business owners will help you start strong and target your ideal customers effectively.
Airing on German Breakfast show programme, ZDF’s Volle Kanne, the 13-minute city piece was broadcast in two segments and took German viewers on a whistle-stop tour or Sheffield’s key attractions, vibrant places and green spaces.
Having been named one of the 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world by TimeOut last year, Sheffield's Kelham Island continues to attract more positive press, as The Sunday Times has now named it one of their Best Places to Live in the UK in their 2023 guide.
At a time when many businesses are feeling the impact of the pandemic, Vivid – the establish Sheffield-based integrated brand and marketing agency – is building its team with a new Performance Marketing function. The move puts the agency, says founder and managing director Gerry Arcari, in a position to offer clients a truly integrated, results-driven service that is designed to perform.
Sheffield City Council is working with the team from Steel Yard Kelham to create the hub which will be made out of shipping containers and feature food vendors, shops, toilets, living walls, outdoor seating and a big screen.
The stunning mural, which adorns the side of the Cubo building, overlooking Pound's Park in Sheffield City Centre, was unveiled last month and has been praised by Sheffielders and will now be entered into Street Art Cities' Best Global Street Art of Year, for 2024.
Learn how to craft key messages, authentic copy, and compelling images that resonate with your audience. Discover how to communicate your brand’s benefits, avoid clichés, and create visuals that truly reflect your brand’s personality. Need guidance? Our Beginner’s Guide to Marketing workshop covers this and much more.
The first digital media piece by Sheffield-born, renowned artist Corbin Shaw, celebrating the spirit of this brilliant city.
Meet Morgan. He lives and breathes tech. Morgan knows what he’s talking about because he’s an an ex-tech founder himself, with 20 years’ experience in starting and growing multiple businesses of his own.
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.
There are two things Sheffield is world famous for: our greenspace, and our beer. We thought it was worth celebrating this by giving you some top places to run, walk or ride AND find a proper pub to start, end, or break up your adventure.
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.
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…
A University of Sheffield spin-out company has secured major investment from leading deep tech investors to bring its high-performance infrared sensors to the mass market.
Digital agency The SEO Works has been chosen to manage the organic search strategy for leading CBD brand fourfivecbd, co-founded by International rugby union players George Kruis and Dominic Day.
Agricultural components manufacturer Chapmans has seen plenty of changes and challenges on its 30-year journey.
Struggling to define your target market? Understanding your brand values, mission, and identity is essential. Learn how to pinpoint your audience by asking the right questions and discover why appealing to everyone is never the goal. Join our free branding workshop to build a brand that truly resonates with your ideal customers.
We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the Tech Scale Up Advisors programme by Business Sheffield, aimed at supporting tech businesses across South Yorkshire. This initiative, funded by TECH SY, will extend this service to Doncaster, Rotherham, and Barnsley, providing invaluable support to local tech startups and growing companies.
Sheffield has been listed at No.1 by TimeOut magazine as the most underrated city break in the UK. The feature which included 12 cities such as Glasgow, Durham, Bristol and Liverpool, sited Sheffield's affordability, travel time from London and best-of-both-worlds offer as major perks.
While Sheffield is home to a plethora of amazing cafes and coffee shops right across the city, there are some that are particularity unique in their offer.
Meet the team and find out more about their specialisms and which major businesses they have helped.
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.
There are few cities in the world as synonymous with electronic music as Sheffield. For half a century the city has been producing a steady stream of game-changing music that has gone on to impact and shape the way electronic music sounds all across the world.
Showcasing 27 small businesses, the Launchpad Pop-Up Store celebrates Sheffield’s independent spirit, bringing together early-stage makers to showcase their work and connect with the community. You’ll find handmade gifts, sustainable products and unique items perfect for the festive season.
"Sheffield has an amazing mix of shops, restaurants and cafés that mean that everyone's individual shopping preferences are met!"
Following the recent extensive archaeological research, including unearthing evidence of former steel works dating back to the 19th century and the remains of Sheffield Castle itself, the project is now moving into Phase 2 which will see redevelopment of the park and events space.
What better way to find the top trails than from inside knowledge from Ride Sheffield. Check them off your list.
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.”
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 prestige of McLaren choosing our city is humbling and speaks for itself, but importantly for Sheffield it has also created approximately 200 jobs and will provide an estimated £100 million of GVA (gross value added) benefit to the local economy by 2028.
Despite getting to ride the world over, Sheffield is still my favourite place to ride. Why would I live anywhere else? Look at it. The people. The mountain bike scene. The trails. Sheffield is the best place in the world to ride a bike.
It’s no longer about the big beating the small, but the fast beating the slow. And Razor are certainly at the front of the pack when it comes to digital transformation in the North.
Sheffield inspires the development of one of the fastest growing sports in the world. From the roots of UK rock climbing in the 1880s, through to creating the routes for the inaugural climbing event at the Olympic Games 2020. We are 'home' for the originators of the sport, current Team GB Climbing athletes, designers and manufacturers, making us the Climbing Capital of the UK.
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...
"After living in Sheffield for three years, I’ve realised that the best part about it is how diverse and well-connected each neighbourhood is because it makes it so easy to explore the city and its surrounding areas. There are so many things to do and visit, from independent coffee shops and vintage stores to museums, parks, and the Peak District, which is a must-see for everyone who’s got a day off and wants to relax and explore."
Business Sheffield is here to support retail and hospitality business on each of our 40 local high streets.
The son of a legendary Sheffield designer, Corin tells us what the city means to him.
Get in touch with Marketing, Business, Conference or Invest Sheffield
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.
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!
The spirit of independent brewing in this nation has been shaped by Sheffield, inspiring a movement that has given us one of the best reputations in the world, for a sector that is also worth £1.8 billion to the UK.
On the first two weekend of May each year, Open Up gives people the opportunity to visit artists, creatives, studios and inventive people at the places where they work in neighbourhoods across the city and beyond.
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.
Housing an exciting variety of inspiring world food vendors under one roof, Cambridge Street Collective promises a truly unique food hall experience in Sheffield, with 20 independent food partners.
Five Sheffield businesses have made it onto prestigious lists compiled by Tech Climbers, recognising the top-performing IP-rich, product-led tech businesses driving innovation in dynamic and expending regions across the UK.
Hear from Sally Pepper on how the shift towards shopping local presents some challenges for retail businesses to tackle.
This particular walk is a superb short stroll, suitable for families with young children (although bear in mind that it’s not pushchair friendly) or for those who are looking for a leisurely amble with a café stop en-route. It also works well as a trail run and, if you’re looking for something more challenging, it’s easy to add extra miles via exploring the myriad of paths around the Burbage moors.
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.
Unsure whether to bid for a tender? Our comprehensive checklist helps business owners assess deadlines, delivery capacity, and strategic fit—ensuring you invest in the right opportunities. Learn key factors to consider before submitting your tender bid.
Conference Sheffield and a selection of our fantastic venue partners, at various national and international exhibitions throughout the year. They would love the opportunity to tell you about our wonderful city and all it has to offer your next event!
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.
Augmented reality brilliance along the top of Sheffield Hallam University's Owen Building, in the centre of Sheffield.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape with the kids, a culture‑packed short stay for two or a food‑fuelled getaway with friends, Sheffield delivers big‑city experiences with plenty of space to breathe.
Augmented reality brilliance on top of the Diamond - the University of Sheffield's school of Engineering, in Sheffield city centre.
Business Sheffield shares impact of Launchpad 3 programme. We’ve helped ambitious entrepreneurs set up and run successful businesses, supported SMEs under three years old, and micro businesses of any age, to take the next step and grow.
The Sheffield tech ecosystem has developed significantly over the last few years with more tech businesses relocating and scaling in the city - in fact, in 2022 Startups has ranked us the best city in the UK to start a business.
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.
Tim tells us why Sheffield is a place where start-up independents have a chance.
Rails is one of the largest UK suppliers of quality new and second-hand model railway stock.
Given all the hills in Sheffield it’s no surprise that many of our favourite parks find themselves incorporating a steep gradient or two. In these cases, there are some stunning views to enjoy across Sheffield and beyond.
The redeveloped Grade II* Listed Leah’s Yard on Cambridge Street has now opened its doors to the public, providing a contemporary city centre hub for some of Sheffield’s finest independent businesses.
At Business Sheffield, we’re committed to helping local organisations become more efficient, sustainable and resilient. Through our Low Carbon Grant, we support Sheffield businesses to lower their energy use, reduce running costs and reinvest their savings where it matters most.
This is Pete McKee's first foray into the world of augmented reality. Full of nostalgia and perfect to celebrate the football history of Sheffield, with some new characters, a dash of retro music, and a nod to the 'Soccer Kid' hit computer game developed here.
TV presenter and Co-Founder of The Outdoor Guide, Julia Bradbury grew up in Sheffield and learnt to love walking right here in the city. Like many Sheffielders, she used to spend her weekends out in the Peak District with her Dad, just a stone’s throw away from the city limits, so she knows a lot about the beauty that exists right here in The Outdoor City.
Sheffield has a number of distinct assets within the Sport, Health and Wellbeing arena and, thanks to the rich heritage in medical technology development, the city is home to one of the UK’s largest Medical Devices clusters. Our manufacturing expertise means we also have one of the largest concentrations of orthopaedic, medical device and surgical instrumentation companies in the UK.
The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) spans the border of Sheffield and neighbouring town of Rotherham, and was the first of it's kind in the UK. This 2,000 acre, already decade-old cluster of inventiveness, alongside the world-leading heavy industry and engineering expertise still present in the city, inspires and powers the future of a £200 billion sector in the UK alone.
Kirsty Smitten, 28, Sheffield, awarded for founding spin-out company making first new class of antibiotics in over 35 years
The first ever net zero transatlantic flight will take off from the UK next year as part of a pioneering research project to fly across the pond using solely sustainable aviation fuel.
A new major contemporary artwork is set to be installed along the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal this September, as international artist Alex Chinneck unveils an impressive looping canal boat structure measuring 13 metres long and six metres high.
Business Sheffield's Business Information Officers are a team of successful business consultants, working to help Sheffield’s high street businesses thrive.
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.
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.
Centrally located in South Yorkshire, Sheffield is the UK's greenest city, where nature and vibrant culture seamlessly intertwine. Search for things to do, places to go and find out what's on, to make the most of your visit.