St Helens Business Launchpad

05/11/2026

How many local businesses are missing out on public sector opportunities simply because they assume contracts are only awarded to large organisations?

The reality is that councils and public sector organisations are actively looking to work with SMEs, start-ups, social enterprises and local suppliers. Yet many businesses don't know where to find opportunities, how the procurement process works, or what buyers are really looking for in a tender submission.

Join us for our Interactive Supplier Workshop: How to Do Business with the Public Sector, delivered in partnership with STAR

📅 Thursday 12 November, 9:00am - 12:00pm
📍 St Helens Town Hall

We'll cover:

- How public sector procurement works
- Where to find opportunities and register on tendering portals
- Social Value and its importance in procurement
- Practical tips for stronger tender responses

Whether you're a sole trader, SME, social enterprise or voluntary organisation, this event is designed to help you better understand the tendering landscape and build confidence in pursuing future opportunities.

🔗 Secure your place: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interactive-supplier-workshop-how-to-do-business-with-the-public-sector-tickets-2001059884983?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/11/2026

📅 What's On This November with St Helens Business Launchpad

This November, we're bringing you a range of workshops, networking opportunities, and business growth events designed to help local businesses learn and connect.

Automate the Tasks You Hate
📅 5th November
Learn how AI and automation can save time and boost productivity.

Grow Your Business with Apprenticeships
📅 10th November
Discover funding, skills support, and apprenticeship opportunities for SMEs.

Elevate: St Helens Business Bootcamp
📅 11th November
A full-day bootcamp packed with expert advice, planning, and networking opportunities.

Interactive Supplier Workshop: How to do Business with the Public Sector
📅 12th November
Learn how to win contracts and do business with the public sector.

Town Centre Connect
📅 24th & 26th November
Connect with local businesses and help shape the future of St Helens and Earlestown town centre.

📌 Browse all upcoming events and secure your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/st-helens-business-launchpad-90863753903

We look forward to welcoming you this November and supporting your business journey.

29/10/2026

What if you could strengthen your workforce, address skills gaps, and access funding to support your business growth?

In just a few day days, we're bringing together SME owners, managers, and decision-makers to explore how apprenticeships can become a powerful tool for developing talent, improving productivity, and supporting long-term growth.

Join us for a great session delivered by IN4 Group, where you'll gain practical insights into apprenticeship funding, levy transfer opportunities, and the support available to help your business invest in its people with confidence.

Whether you're looking to recruit fresh talent, develop existing employees, or better understand the funding available, this session will help you discover what's possible.

📅 Tuesday 10 November | 10:00am - 12:00pm
📍 NatWest, 5 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, WA10 1DR

🔗 Register your interest: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-your-business-with-apprenticeships-funding-skills-support-for-smes-tickets-1998957797583?aff=oddtdtcreator

28/10/2026

Help shape the future of business support in St Helens town centre.

Town Centre Connect has been designed to bring local business owners, managers and decision-makers together to identify the support, resources and opportunities that will have the greatest impact on our local business community.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

✔ Influence future business support activity
✔ Share challenges and opportunities
✔ Connect with local businesses
✔ Explore collaborative solutions
✔ Access follow-up one-to-one support

The outcomes from this session will inform future workshops, peer networks, specialist support and business initiatives tailored to local business needs.

📅 Tuesday 24 November
⏰ 8:00am - 10:00am
📍 St Helens Minster

If you're based in St Helens town centre, we'd love to hear your perspective.

🔗 Secure your place :https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-centre-connect-building-our-future-together-tickets-2003652372182?_gl=1*o6ka8q*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA1MDI1NDc2NS4xNzkzMDQ2NjM2*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3OTMwNDY2MzUkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTMwNDY2MzUkajYwJGwwJGgwJGRjZ21maHJnV3ItMndfdlNVS2EtRllfR2Y4T29USUIwd2N3&aff=ebdsoporgprofile

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

22/10/2026

What's the one task you wish you never had to do again?

For many business owners and professionals, it's the repetitive admin that quietly consumes hours every week.

Emails. Meeting notes. Reports. Customer enquiries. Data entry.

The good news? AI can now help automate many of these tasks, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.

Join us for Automate the Tasks You Hate, delivered by Dr Rodrigo Perez-Vega of Perez Vega Consulting and an experienced AI consultant, who will share practical ways to use AI to streamline everyday business tasks and improve efficiency.

During this practical online workshop, you'll discover:

✔ How AI can support your day-to-day work
✔ Which tasks are best suited to automation
✔ Real-life demonstrations of AI tools in action
✔ How to create your own reusable prompt library
✔ A practical plan to start using AI immediately

📅 Thursday 5 November 2026, 9:00am – 11:00am
💻 Online via Teams

🔗 Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-helens-workshop-automate-the-tasks-you-hate-tickets-1991778157085?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

👇 Tell us in the comments: What task would you automate first?

15/10/2026

"Public sector contracts aren't for businesses like ours."

It's something we hear regularly from SMEs.

But the truth is that councils and public sector organisations are actively looking to increase engagement with local suppliers.

The challenge isn't the lack of opportunity, it's understanding how to access it.

Our upcoming Interactive Supplier Workshop – How to Do Business with the Public Sector will provide practical insights into procurement, tendering, social value and what public sector buyers are looking for.

If your business has never considered public sector contracts before, this workshop could open the door to opportunities you may not have realised existed.

📅 Thursday 22 October | 9:00am – 12:00pm, St Helens Town Hall

Register your place today - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interactive-supplier-workshop-how-to-do-business-with-the-public-sector-tickets-2000391185886?aff=erelpanelorg

Free Supplier Workshop for Local SMEs and Micro Businesses

14/10/2026

It was fantastic to see so many like-minded professionals come together for St Helens Connect!

Yesterday's networking event brought together a diverse range of businesses, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and local organisations, creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere.

The morning was filled with valuable conversations, new connections, and opportunities for collaboration. It was inspiring to see attendees exchanging ideas, experiences, and insights that can help support business growth across the borough.

A huge thank you to our guest speakers Susan Trish, Oliver Perryman and Christine Pyke for sharing such valuable insights. Your contributions set the tone for an energising and forward‑thinking event.

Were you there? Feel free to share your highlights and takeaways.

📩 Interested in joining us next time? Follow us to stay updated, we’d be delighted to welcome you - https://www.eventbrite.com/o/90863753903?_gl=1*phqnpi*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk2MTkxMjkxOC4xNzkxOTc3NTA5*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3OTE5Nzc1MDckbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE5Nzc1MDckajYwJGwwJGgw

13/10/2026

Apprenticeships are more than recruitment. They're a strategic investment in the future of your business.

Whether you're looking to develop existing talent, address skills gaps, or access funding to support growth, apprenticeships can play a key role in helping your business succeed.

📅 Tuesday 10 November, 10:00am - 12:00pm
📍 NatWest St Helens

Join fellow SME owners, managers and decision-makers to explore:

- Apprenticeship funding opportunities
- Workforce development and skills support
- Local business support programmes

You'll also have the opportunity to network with businesses from across the borough and learn about the support available to help your business thrive.

Register your interest today and discover how apprenticeships could support your business growth - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-your-business-with-apprenticeships-funding-skills-support-for-smes-tickets-1998957797583?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/10/2026

Have you ever considered bidding for public sector work but weren't sure where to start?

Public sector organisations spend millions each year on goods, services and works, and they want to hear from innovative local businesses.

If you're an SME, start-up, social enterprise or voluntary organisation, our upcoming workshop will help demystify the tendering process and show you how to position your business for future opportunities.

You'll leave with a better understanding of:

• Where to find contracts
• How procurement processes work
• What evaluators are looking for
• The importance of Social Value
• How to improve your chances of success

📅 Thursday 22 October 📍 St Helens Town Hall, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Register today: 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interactive-supplier-workshop-how-to-do-business-with-the-public-sector-tickets-2000391185886?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/10/2026

Our latest Start Up Sips session was a fantastic opportunity for start-ups and entrepreneurs to come together in an informal and welcoming environment.

These sessions are designed to help people connect with like-minded individuals, share ideas, discuss challenges and build valuable relationships within the local business community. It was great to see attendees networking, exchanging experiences, and supporting one another on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Thank you to Jane Witter for speaking at the session and to everyone who joined us. We look forward to welcoming even more entrepreneurs to future sessions. If you're interested in joining future sessions, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch to find out more - [email protected]