Business Support Drop-In on Smithdown Road

If you're planning to start or grow your business, come and chat to Liverpool City Council's Business Support Service to see what help is available, including:

• Business Growth Workshops: all companies in Liverpool are welcome to attend our free workshops focusing on key areas such as strategic planning.
• Start-Up Support: workshops covering essential topics to equip people with the knowledge they need, alongside an online hub providing a rich resource of information and templates.
• Specialist Advice: offering intensive business growth support to eligible companies through fully-funded expertise in areas such as marketing, bidding, HR, lean, strategic planning and exporting.

To celebrate the launch of the new Liverpool European Partnership Business Network, we are delighted to be able to have this session at Sips & Stories – showcasing local European entrepreneurs and inviting people along to support this independent business. Speciality coffee shop Sips & Stories opened on Smithdown Road earlier this year, led by Anestis Gaitanidis and Dimitrios Samaras who were keen to bring some of their Greek café culture to Liverpool. With an accompanying delicious menu of freshly baked savoury goods and sweet treats, this new venture combines their love of coffee, community and connection.

Their new café has been warmly welcomed by the local community and neighbouring businesses, already building a strong customer base and receiving very positive feedback – but they are acutely aware that this is a challenging time for the hospitality industry.

“We reached out to the Business Support Service at Liverpool City Council ourselves to see what help was available to us as a new business operating in the current difficult economic climate. It’s so important for entrepreneurs to be able to access guidance and advice, so we’re delighted to be able to host the Council’s team at our venue and welcome in local residents & businesses to explore the support available” - Dimitrios Samaras.

“As Greek entrepreneurs running a business in Liverpool, it was great to hear from the Council about the new Liverpool European Partnership Business Network. There are many fellow Europeans who have made Liverpool their home and are growing their businesses in this fantastic city – so I’m sure there will be lots of interest in this new network” - Anestis Gaitanidis

People are welcome to drop-in on the day without booking, but if you are able to book through Eventbrite to let us know you'll be joining us, that would be appreciated.

This session is delivered through the Business Support Service at Liverpool City Council which provides fully-funded support to existing businesses based in Liverpool and also to Liverpool residents looking to start-up a new business. We reserve the right to cancel tickets for those to whom this does not apply. Confirmation of your place on the session will be provided as soon as possible after you register and we will share any joining instructions with all those eligible nearer the day of the session.

Please note, this session and any of our other sessions (in person or virtual) may be photographed. By attending this session, you have agreed to the following statement: 'I give permission for Liverpool City Council to use my photograph and other media such as film and quotations, on promotional material and publications, for which it may be suitable.'

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority. Read our privacy notice which tells you how we use your data.