Staffordsheer Excellence: Taking your tourism business further

Staffordsheer Excellence is a programme designed and managed by Destination Staffordshire (the Staffordshire Destination Management Partnership). It provides bespoke support for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent small and medium tourism enterprises across areas of interest and relevance to the sector.

Among the businesses that have benefited from the programme are accommodation providers, which include B&Bs, hotels, holiday cottages and glamping; members of the food and drink industry including restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs; visitor attractions including family days out, sports venues and cultural amenities such as churches and museums; and arts and crafts businesses including photography and pottery, to name but a few.

The support is delivered by Winning Moves, a Midlands-based company appointed after a tender exercise. In consultation with the sector Winning Moves has devised a programme of seminars, workshops, networking events and one-to-one consultancy sessions designed to help tourism businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent start, develop and grow. Whether businesses want to attract more customers, encourage visitors to extend their stay or build the right team of staff, the support is on hand to help them achieve their ambitions.

The programme follows on from a previous support offer available between 2013 and 2015. This time around, more support is available for businesses in the form of an enhanced package including up to four days of one-to-one coaching, which is being offered alongside the core offer of webinars and seminars.

This programme, which runs until 2019, is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The balance of the costs is met by Destination Staffordshire with all participation free to the user. Currently, 50% of the funding pot to assist businesses has been allocated.

Any business wanting to find out more can contact Winning Moves on tourism@winningmoves.com or via 01784 827600.