Luton Council’s Business Support Programmes Has Arrived

The next highly anticipated business support programmes focused on the Luton Energy Doctor and the AI Hub have now launched with Digital Marketing and Vauxhall Business start-up support on the way!

Following the success of the last year, Luton Council is introducing new business support programmes that are mainly funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) designed to support businesses from Luton, to drive local economic recovery and growth.

Each support programme will focus on specific topics that are crucial for our local businesses to thrive and addresses needs highlighted by recent local surveys.

Further details about the new programmes can be found below.

Current and Upcoming Business Support Programmes

Small businesses and charities in Luton can access free energy efficiency advice and support through the Energy Doctor programme, delivered by environment charity Groundwork East in partnership with Luton Borough Council.

The Luton Energy Doctor will provide free support to enable businesses and charitable organisations working within Luton to identify quick wins and longer-term energy efficiency actions, and to signpost to funding and further support.

This support will help businesses make informed decisions about which energy efficiency solution is best for them.

Through the scheme, businesses will receive energy audits and assessments with the aim that they can use the information to make quick, practical and tangible savings whether in operational energy consumption or energy costs.

This free support is available until 31 May 2025.

To register your interest in the Luton Energy Doctor scheme please click here.

For general questions about the support available please email netzeroluton@groundwork.org.uk

The AI Business Transformation Programme is a fully funded initiative, delivered by the University of Bedfordshire in partnership with Luton Council. The programme seeks to engage and support local businesses in the journey of AI transformation by providing tailored support and resources.

This will include immersive workshops, bespoke consulting and advice clinics that aim to empower businesses at various readiness levels to understand adopt AI tools in their business.

To sign up for the Luton AI hub please click here.

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is giving an opportunity to any ex Vauxhall employees who want to start their own business. They will provide 100 hours of 1:1 expert business support along with a free 12 month membership for the Chamber of Commerce which provides a wide array of benefits.

For more information click here.

This programme will expand upon the previous Digital Marketing support and will deliver on how businesses can continually engage with their customers to drive consumer spending in store and make online sales. Marketing experts will be provided to help businesses learn on how to best grow your business with digital marketing and what will best suit their needs and skill gaps for digital marketing.

If you are interested in Luton Digital Marketing please email  invest@stepforwardluton.co.uk

 

Previous Business Support Programmes

Our businesses should continually engage with their customers to drive footfall and spending in store as well as support online sales. Marketing experts Let’s Do Business Group delivered the Luton Online: Digital Marketing Launchpad which delivered:

  • Free face to face workshops, webinars, on-demand learning that businesses could choose from to best suit their needs and skills gaps for digital marketing.
  • 1:1 mentoring on how to best grow your business with digital marketing.
  • A chance to apply for 1 of 20 £500 grants to be used for developing your business.

This business support programme concluded in March 2025.

Sustainability has become an important worldwide issue in the past decade with many countries, business leaders and residents taking up different forms of action. Luton Council has the goal of becoming a net zero town by 2040 to support sustainable growth and a healthier environment. The award winning University of Bedfordshire has provided business support such as:

  • 1:1 support to help implement net zero actions.
  • Helped develop of effective travel plans to reduce the impact on the environment.
  • We have given access to expert-led workshops to develop green marketing strategies & implement lean thinking methodologies.

This business support programme concluded in March 2025.

These interactive workshop’s looked at the practical issues on growing a high growth potential SME with external funding and helped businesses explore the following areas:

• Angel money or VC and what they would look for in businesses

• Other Sources of potential funding – ie Bank Finance, grants,

• Alternatives to external funding – organic growth from accelerating sales & improved account management

• What to look for in external funding, ie what should a pitch Deck or Business Plan contain?

• Fundraising best practice and key mistakes to avoid

• Valuation of their business and terminology

This business support programme concluded in January 2025.

In partnership with Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, the 1:1 sessions they were able to provide gave tailored support to businesses that helped them overcome trade barriers and explore new markets through understanding the following areas:

• Understanding the practicalities of international trade

• Support the development of a marketing roadmap to help attract international clients to their website

• Support with dedicated documentation and customs declaration service

• Training to ensure companies are up to date with Incoterms, VAT implications, rules of origin, commodity codes and more

• Access to Chamber Finance Finder to mitigate the risk of trading in foreign markets

This business support programme concluded in March 2025.

Success Stories

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to develop a strong sustainability plan and are grateful for the insights gained along the way. Already, we’re putting it into action, making meaningful changes that align with our long-term goals”

Gavin O'Brien , Co-Founder & CEO, Clearhead

“It was a pleasure to work with the University of Bedfordshire on this, to share skills and expertise on how we can tackle these issues in a practical way”

Nuala Ely, Office Manager & Social Activities Lead, Luton Irish Forum

“Attending the University of Bedfordshire’s workshop was a great opportunity to see the initiative supporting Luton businesses in promoting sustainability, driving renewable innovation, and reducing costs for a greener, more efficient future”

Eddie Doherty, Managing Director, Renewable EDtricity Services LTD

“I found this was a great free course for local businesses and really helped us to think about how we can improve on our own corporate sustainability and find ways of reducing our company’s environmental impact”

Matthew Tiller, Head of Technical Services, Thermal Economics Limited