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Gather LCR are opening the next round of fully-funded support for digital, creative and tech businesses across the Liverpool City Region, with three ways to get involved depending on where you’re at:

OptimiseAI 🤖
For businesses ready to move beyond AI hype and start applying it to real operational challenges, from workflow automation to smarter decision-making and scalable growth.

One-to-One Advice 💬
Need focused support on a specific challenge? Get matched with an experienced growth consultant for tailored, practical guidance across three dedicated sessions.

Beyond 🚀
When you have a clear focus, an aligned team and the right support, you’re unstoppable. Beyond delivers you the bespoke support you need to achieve this and maximise your growth potential.

What you can expect:
◌ Practical support through expert advisors
◌ Focus on your real business challenges
◌ Outcomes that you can actually implement
◌ The ability to unlock sustainable business growth

Visit www.gatherlcr.com for more details

Baltic Ventures have opened their latest Accelerator Programme for digital and tech start ups across the Liverpool City Region:

• Accelerator 2026 is a 3-month in-person programme open to digital tech startups
• Up to 12 companies will be supported with an initial £25,000 investment.
• Applications close on 29 May 2026.

Find out more or apply for this programme here

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is gathering insights from across England, to build a clearer picture of how small businesses access and experience business support. Input from small businesses is crucial as the findings enable the FSB to provide informed recommendations on what business support should look like in the future.

The survey can be found here

On the 11th & 12th May we are running some free, expert led social media workshops for businesses. The workshops are designed to strengthen your digital presence and will be led by Lizzie Barnett from Studio Nine.

The workshops will cover:
– How to stand out online
– Which platform is best for your business
– What & when to post
– How to link posts to upcoming large scale events in Sefton
– Practical tips for beginners to more experienced user

The workshop will be held at Formby Hall and there is a choice of 2 dates and times:

Monday 11th May 6pm- 8pm OR Tuesday 12th May 10am- 12pm

Visit our event page to book your place. Alternatively you can email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk or call 0151 934 3452.

Music Futures have launched a few of opportunities.

PPL Momentum Accelerator is a targeted scheme to support the development of outstanding artists and bands who are writing their own music, https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/prs-foundation-ppl-momentum-accelerator-liverpool/

The Future Fan Experiences R&D Challenge for up to £25K https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/future-live-fan-experiences-call/

Our IP Clinic – for free legal & IP advice to regional music businesses- https://musicfutures.co.uk/ip-clinic/

MusicFutures also have a few other funding opportunities opening up in the next few weeks (innovation funding for SMEs and Freelancers). Join the mailing list to be the first to hear https://musicfutures.co.uk/contact/

On Wednesday 29^th April we hold our first Financial and Professional Business Networking Group meeting of 2026 at Southport & Birkdale Sports Club.

Our networking group for the sector has been running for over 10 years, meeting twice a year across the Borough to bring businesses together.

As well as networking, we will have presentations from:

• Paul Benson, North West Cyber Resilience Centre – how businesses can prevent cyber-attacks and building resilience
• Nigel Wilcock, Mickledore – economic development in the Liverpool City Region

The event runs from 8.15am to 10am with breakfast included, followed with an opportunity for networking. It will take place at Southport & Birkdale Sports Club, Trafalgar Road, Birkdale PR8 2HF.

To secure your free place please book online or call the team on 0151 934 3452.

Liverpool Law Society presents the foundation’s series for young professionals in the first five years of their career across Professional Business Services. The Foundations series offers an engaging programme focused on developing the core professional skills and soft‑skill capabilities needed to succeed early in a career.

They are excited to share the first session on the 4^th June from 4pm to 6pm, exploring how genuine career momentum is built through purposeful, in‑person collaboration. This interactive session will explore why showing up, connecting face to face, and building genuine relationships both within your organisation and across the wider professional community can fast‑track your growth and open doors you didn’t even know were there.

Chaired by Sarah Mir, DWF Liverpool Managing Partner, and James Mannouch, Immediate Past President of Liverpool Law Society and Supervising Solicitor & Pro Bono Coordinator at The University of Law, the session brings together a panel of experts from across business services who will share valuable insights and real‑world experience.

Attendees also have the chance to take part in dedicated networking opportunities designed to help you meet new people, exchange experiences, and expand your professional circle in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

This session is part of an exciting new series focused on core areas of professional development, supporting you to build the confidence, capability, and connections essential for long‑term career progression.

Registration link: https://www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk/training-courses/management/successful-careers-are-built-through-in%e2%80%91person-collaboration/

The Big Top Festival is coming to Southport for some of the best circus performers in the world on 2-3 May!

With incredible acrobatics, spellbinding live shows, the chance to learn your own circus skills and lots of people being very silly, this totally free event builds on Southport’s history as a renowned home for circus and clowning.

With shows happening across five different spaces in the town centre, audiences can pick and choose what they watch while exploring the shops, cafés and restaurants.

You don’t need a ticket — just grab your family and friends, find your funny bone and prepare to be dazzled!

Visit the Southport 2026 website for more info on the event, and the InvestSefton Southport 2026 page for details on how your business can get involved with any of the Southport 2026 events.

The Asda Foundation has launched its 2026 Local Community Spaces Fund, offering grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 to UK-based charities and not-for-profit organisations that manage community spaces.

The initiative aims to help community organisations repair, maintain and improve community venues that encourage social interaction and deliver vital local services. This includes youth clubs, village halls, community cafés, food banks, and homeless shelters.

Applications are accepted from registered charities or CICs with an annual income of between £40,000 and £400,000.

Applications open on 14 April and close on 28 April 2026, although the fund may close earlier if demand if oversubscribed.

Funding decisions will be announced by the end of August 2026, and successful projects must be completed by December 2027.

Local Community Spaces Fund | Asda Foundation

Caremark are supporting projects that benefit local areas and make a positive difference to people’s lives. £3,000 grants are available. The competition is open to charities, community groups, schools, pre-schools or community-run or local authority-run projects.

For more information, click here Community Care Fund | Caremark

InvestSefton would like to invite you and your team to an energising & interactive workshop.  Led by Andrew Kemsley of 10 Hospitality, a specialist in creative, thought-provoking training for some of the UK’s most respected hospitality brands, this workshop will inspire businesses to take their guest experience to the next level – transforming everyday interactions into memorable moments and reasons to return.

Whether you are new to hospitality or have a wealth of experience this workshop is not to be missed!  

Andrew ran the workshops back in January and we had fantastic feedback so we asked him to come back 😊 the final workshops are being delivered, email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk to book your place.

Louise & Paul, Hoghton Lounge Bar – “We absolutely loved the series of workshops… full of tangible advice, ideas and information to help us grow and link in with Southport’s exciting events.”

Jeanette, The Bold Hotel – “The hospitality workshop stood out… Andrew Kemsley was an outstanding speaker with practical and motivating insights.”