Insider Media Limited

Staffordshire County Council is considering several options to help young entrepreneurs and start-up companies grow. Ben Adams, cabinet member for economic growth and enterprise, said the council was working with its local enterprise partnership (LEP) to establish strategies including mentoring and funding for university leavers willing to set up their business in Staffordshire. Adams told Insider the county was "some way down" on start-up businesses compared to nearby Warwickshire.

Adams said: "We're not expecting to change attitudes towards start-ups and entrepreneurs tomorrow, but we need to make some in-roads. A lot more jobs can come from young businesses than growth from established ones, and we really need to make the most of that."

He said the council was working with the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP to put into place strategies including offering funding and office space to entrepreneurs straight out of university with a business idea.

"We need to encourage our university leavers to stay in the county and make the most of the resources we have here – and with an increase in tuition fees next year, students will be expecting more and more for their money."

Other proposals being considered by the authority are a mentoring scheme with businesses in the region, and increasing its Enterprise Centre scheme, which offers low –cost office space to fledgling businesses.

"It's tough for the authorities to have to step up and try and fill in this funding gap which has been left – but we have to create new opportunities in a changing environment.

"As a body which can help local businesses, we have to think: which will be growing and employing tomorrow? That's why we have to put cash into growing businesses with real potential."

The council runs a loan service with the Black Country Reinvestment Society (BCRS), which lends small businesses up to £50,000.

Adams added that the one of the biggest values the LEP will bring is its contacts in the business world.

"The LEP will also really help sell Staffordshire as a destination not only to start up businesses, but to expand existing businesses into. Brands like Siemens and Michelin have offices here, and JCB is headquartered in the county.

"We have affordable employment and logistically, this is the best place to set up in the UK. JLR recently said it was planning to move into the i54 development in Wolverhampton – we can't really ask for a much better advert for businesses to set up here."