Cheshire East Council

Business Vitality Programme

Business Vitality – Empowering Growth, Driving Innovation 

Who is it for?

The programme is for individuals who are:

  • ambitious business leaders and owners, looking to grow their business
  • looking to develop skills as a business leader
  • wanting to gain best practice knowledge to transform your organisation through innovation
  • looking to gain unique insights and experiences from other similar organisations on the innovation journey
  • wishing to build a trusted network of contacts to support you now and in the future
  • inspired by how other people are growing their businesses
  • wanting the opportunity to discuss your business challenges; recognise and act on new opportunities

Why apply?

By completing the programme, you will:

  • Overcome business challenges and recognise and act on new opportunities.
  • Build a trusted network of local business connections to support you now and in the future.
  • Improve your long-term personal and business performance.
  • Receive support to help you tackle the short-term issues that are affecting your business now.
  • Receive 1:1 tailored support from an expert business mentor.
  • Gain access to the wider business support hub team.

About the programme

The programme includes:

  • Interactive action learning
  • Expert business mentor with real-word, hands-on SME business leadership 
  • Small cohorts of non-competing businesses
  • Best-practice masterclasses
  • Focussed and flexible , real-world business topics
  • 1:1 mentoring and coaching support

Do I qualify?

Businesses must meet the following criteria:

  • based in Cheshire East
  • be a decision maker in the business
  • is a micro, small, or medium-sized SME
  • appetite to scale and grow


For start-up / early stage programme:

  • business founder
  • trading less than 3 years


For existing / high-growth programme:

  • be a decision maker in the business
  • trading for 2 years or more
  • annual turnover over £100k

Next steps

Apply online

Complete the questionnaire with details of your business and what you want to achieve from the programme.


You may also select a preferred cohort, including:

  • High-growth SME
  • Early-stage / start-up
  • Female leaders
  • LGBT+ leaders
Review and cohort selection

Our team will review your application and will allocate you to the best cohort of like-minded businesses. If you are not successful, we will refer you to other suitable programmes.

Access the programme

You will be assigned a business mentor, and start the programme of masterclasses, peer group action-learning and growth plan development.


Full programme timetable and details will be provided.


1:1 support from a dedicated business mentor and coach.

Ongoing support and collaboration

Access to a secure portal will be provided with all on-demand resources, guides and templates. You will access our business community network for further collaboration.