Please see below events, updates and support available
Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26
Women founders or co-founders of UK registered SMEs can apply for a package of support that includes a grant of up to £75,000 and bespoke business support, to further their ambitious growth plans.
The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards support trailblazing women entrepreneurs to maximise the impact of their innovative ideas, accelerate business growth, and contribute to pressing societal, environmental and economic challenges.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is offering up to 60 Women in Innovation Awards to women founders and co-founders of micro, small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK.
Free online Marketing webinars delivered by Northern Media
Social Media Workshop: What’s new, What’s next & how you should be approaching
Date: 16th March, 10.30am
SEO & AI Workshop: The latest on how AI is affecting search
Date: 19th March, 9am
Google Analytics: How to use Google Search Console & GA4 to improve your marketing
Date: 30th April, 9am
Upcoming Women’s Health Afternoon – Free Community Event
A Women’s Health Afternoon will take place on Monday 9th February 2026, from 1:00–2:30 PM at the Apna Staying Well Hub, Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre in Halifax. The event, led by Dr Amna Anwar, offers a relaxed and informative session focused on healthy weight and women’s wellbeing, with free private BMI and blood pressure checks, support from Calderdale Council’s Better Living Service, a healthy food swap stall, sugar awareness display, a live food demonstration, and goodie bags with dates for Ramadan. Women can book for free via Eventbrite, and are encouraged to share the opportunity with others who may benefit.
The Future of Digital Manufacturing in West Yorkshire, 12th March
A landmark event to celebrate the continued success of the Made Smarter funding programme.
On 12 March 2026, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will host a landmark event at Unity Hall in Wakefield about the future of digital manufacturing, in partnership with techUK and Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber. The event will celebrate the continued success of the Made Smarter programme—and mark the exciting renewal of funding from April 2026 onwards. Running from 9:00-12:00, this event forms part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, celebrating digital adoption in the region and how it leads to innovation.
The event will bring together manufacturers, technology providers and public sector business support teams to explore how Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity are reshaping the region’s industrial landscape. Attendees will hear the latest insights on UK manufacturing, learn about the next phase of Made Smarter support, and engage directly with experts in Industry 4.0 tech.
With a strong focus on West Yorkshire’s manufacturing strengths and future ambitions, the event will showcase real-world success stories, practical pathways to digital adoption, and the opportunities unlocked by renewed funding, advice and training. It’s a chance for SME manufacturers to connect, learn and be inspired about what comes next.
Peer support group
A free peer support group for female founders and women in business in and around Huddersfield. This is not a place to generate sales or for structured networking, rather it is a safe space to be human together, share experiences, support and learn from each other.
First meet: Friday 13th February, 10:00
Then: every 6–8 weeks on a Friday
Where: Huddersfield,
How to engage: Reply to melaniecox@thriveinmind.org to RSVP and for full details. Please include name, business, role, and any access needs. Feel free to share with other female founders.
Leeds Trinity Business Network (LTBN) Seminar will be taking place on Thursday 12th February 10:00 – 12:00 at our city campus. The event is open to all and is free!
The title for this seminar is ‘Business Design Essentials: Creating Customer Value Through Quality.’ One of LTBN’s members, Martyn Jupp, is running this seminar.
In this session, we’ll dive into how smart small-business design can drive customer value — with superior quality as your secret weapon. We’ll break down what truly shapes customer value and how it fuels every buying decision. You’ll learn how to define your value creation strategy and use people-centred operational design to deliver excellence — consistently, efficiently, and with impact. The result? Products and services that earn trust, build reputation, and keep customers coming back for more. We’ll wrap up by showing how Malo Consulting can help you build the business you’ve always envisioned.
There is always plenty of time to network with other business professionals before and after the panel. Book your place using the link below.
Small Business Britain
Small Business Britain is delighted to welcome back the free Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, designed to support sole traders and micro businesses as they grow.
Running from 2nd February, this six-week online programme offers practical guidance, expert mentoring and the chance to create a clear growth plan for the year ahead, delivered in partnership with Xero and ARU Peterborough. With flexible, online learning, it’s open to small business owners across the UK, wherever you’re based and whatever stage of your business journey you’re at.
Two hours of 1-to-1 mentoring – Two 1-hour sessions of personalised mentoring to help build your plan for growth.
Live weekly online sessions – Learn from experienced trainers, with recordings available so you can catch up anytime.
Practical weekly worksheets – Apply what you learn each week directly to your own business, whether you’re just starting out or growing.
Join a thriving network of small business founders – Connect with a wide network of past participants, share experiences, ask questions, and build relationships that could last well beyond the programme. Sign up here
Discover Co-ops
Business for Good WY are running 2 x Discover Co-ops sessions in February which are online, free and open to anyone who wants to find out more about starting or running a co-operative.
Delivered by Co-operatives UK in partnership with Business for Good West Yorkshire (BfGWY) and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, these sessions introduce the co-op model and feature real stories from people who’ve done it.
Discover co-ops: Community Shares & Ownership – webinar
Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026
Time: 10:30-12:00
- Learn how communities are saving pubs, venues, community centres and more
- Understand community shares: a powerful, democratic form of investment
- Hear from successful West Yorkshire co-ops building local resilience: Co‑op Culture’s Mark Simmonds, talks about how community ownership has transformed the future of Heptonstall Post Office and The Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge; and Alan Beswick shares the story of Headingley Development Trust in Leeds.
Discover Co-ops: Workers Unite! (Worker Co-ops) – webinar
Date: Tuesday 24 February
Time: 10:30-12:00
- For freelancers, worker-owned businesses and those exploring employee buyouts
- See how worker co-ops create fairer, more secure jobs
- Hear real stories from local worker co-ops – Leeds Environmental Design Associates’ (LEDA) Jim Wild and Leeds Community Sauna’s Amani Talheth-Fell.
Employee Ownership Workshops
As part of our BfGWY programme for 2025/26, our partner Stir to Action has completed some research into Employee Ownership and the support landscape in West Yorkshire.
In support of the research paper, Business for Good, West Yorkshire will be hosting an online Workshop in early February.
The workshop is free and open to those working in West Yorkshire who want to understand more about Employee Ownership and will cover the following topics:
Workshop 2: In depth discussion with an Employee Owned Business and regional EO support provider
Wednesday 4th February, 9:30 -11:00
- This workshop provides an opportunity to develop greater understanding of some of the opportunities and challenges with both the transition to being an EO Business as well as experience of running an EOB through facilitated conversation and discussion.
The booking link for the workshop is here Employee-Owned Business Workshop registration – Airtable.
Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair 2026, 11th Feb
You’ll have the chance to talk to major employers from a wide range of sectors, including accounting, business and administration, catering and hospitality, construction, creative design, care services, digital, education, engineering, finance, hair and beauty, health, law, protective services and many more.
Over 100 exhibitors will be there on the day offering information, advice, guidance and live vacancies. You’ll have the opportunity to find out about apprenticeships, including what they involve and how they work, as well as higher and degree apprenticeships. Everyone is welcome and the event is free to attend.
https://www.universe.com/events/leeds-apprenticeship-recruitment-fair-2026-tickets-N0DH7X
Offshore Wind Growth Partnership Opens Innovation Grant Round
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership Innovation Grants are designed to support the delivery of new products, services and technologies into the offshore wind market. The support is intended to help UK businesses develop near-to-market or market ready solutions with ambitions for growth in the sector.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that address future needs in offshore wind. The current call targets future cables and electrical systems, along with next generation installation, operations and maintenance technologies. The purpose is to assist the development of new products and services that respond to key challenges across the UK offshore wind supply chain.
Applicants may receive support for eligible project costs of up to 50% of the total project budget. Awards range from a minimum of £25,000 to a maximum of £200,000. Eligible costs include equipment, materials, subcontracting, labour, travel and subsistence.
UK-based supply chain companies of any size can apply, provided they are already active in offshore wind or seeking to diversify into the sector. Businesses from onshore wind, renewables, aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear, automotive, marine, defence and manufacturing may also be eligible. Proposals from other sectors must show alignment with the competition themes and a clear business case for growth in offshore wind.
The deadline for applications is 20 March 2026 https://owgp.org.uk/programme/innovation-grants/
Netflix Seeks Filmmakers for New Documentary Production Round
Netflix is accepting applications to its Documentary Talent Fund, which provides financial and professional support to help emerging filmmakers in the UK and Ireland produce short documentary films. The support is designed to assist five selected teams in developing and completing films of 8 to 12 minutes in length under the theme of ‘Change’.
Each selected filmmaker will receive a budget of £30,000, with an equivalent amount provided in euros for recipients in Ireland. The funding is intended to cover the full production of the short film, with teams required to ensure that everyone involved in the project is fairly paid.
Projects must be aligned with the programme brief and will be produced under the guidance of Netflix and external filmmaking professionals. The support is aimed at helping participants develop their ideas into finished documentaries scheduled for release in 2027 on Netflix UK’s social channels. Filmmakers retain full ownership of their copyright.
Eligible costs relate to the development and completion of the documentary, including all production related expenditure required to deliver a finished film of the specified length.
The deadline for applications is 12 February 2026 https://www.netflixdocfund.co.uk/
Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Opens for UK Energy Networks
The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Discovery Competition has opened for collaborative projects led by licensed energy network organisations. The competition is operated by Innovate UK in coordination with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Discovery is the first phase of a three phase process, followed by Alpha and Beta. It supports early-stage development of projects that aim to contribute to net zero delivery at lowest cost to consumers while enabling innovative businesses to grow and scale.
There are seven challenges in the Discovery Phase:
• Challenge 1: Advanced Energy Transmission and Networks
• Challenge 2: Dynamic Modelling
• Challenge 3: High Energy Demand Point Integration
• Challenge 4: Consumer Centric Grid Expansion
• Challenge 5: Enhanced System Visibility and Control
• Challenge 6: Green Gas
• Challenge 7: Whole System Optimisation
Applicants must plan development through to live testing in Alpha and large-scale demonstration in Beta. Successful Discovery projects may be invited to apply for the next phase.
A total funding allocation of up to £30 million is available for Discovery Phase activity across the four challenges. Individual projects can request no more than £150,000.
Applications are open to collaborations only. To lead a project, the applicant must be an Ofgem licensed electricity or gas distribution network, transmission operator or Electricity System Operator.
Partners may include start-ups, SMEs, suppliers, academics, research organisations, independent researchers, disruptors and other licensed energy network companies. Support can be used for project development activities linked to the stated challenges.
The deadline for applications is 25 February 2026 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2346/overview/e172ee7c-3050-4d47-bf11-235cfe76c1e1
Yorkshire & Humber Tender Opportunities
https://yortender.eu-supply.com/ctm/supplier/publictenders?B=YORTENDER
This information was collated and circulated by Chris Mitchell, Business Manager for the AD:VENTURE programme. Funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Partners.
AD:VENTURE – Business Support
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