Start-up help from the hive in Weston-super-Mare is down to a basic service until March 2027, after a three-year scheme created 208 businesses and 226 jobs.
Council-funded help for people starting a business in North Somerset has shrunk to a basic service. The three-year Business Support Unlocked programme ended in March. The council says its ability to support start-ups is now “significantly restricted” without new outside money.
Its final figures are strong. The council says the programme created 208 new businesses and 226 jobs between April 2023 and March 2026 (North Somerset Council, 15 October).
The council has now put in about £20,000 so that the hive in Weston-super-Mare, which ran the programme, can keep a reduced service going until March 2027. The council’s own words are that this allows “only a basic level of service”, a “significant reduction” on what was there before.
What the programme delivered
Business Support Unlocked was paid for by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the government money that replaced EU regional funding. The hive delivered it on the council’s behalf. The council published these totals from the end-of-contract impact report:
| Measure | Total |
|---|---|
| New businesses created | 208 |
| Jobs generated | 226 |
| First appointments | 927 |
| One-to-one support appointments | 2,113 |
| Workshops | 70 |
| People on Starting in Business courses | 209 |
The programme worked with businesses facing digital change, money pressures, rural isolation and barriers to self-employment. It also ran dedicated support for:
- women starting businesses
- retailers
- creative businesses
- food and drink businesses
The council has not published the full impact report alongside its announcement, so the figures above are the ones it chose to release. It did not say how many of the 208 businesses are still trading.
Why the council is asking for money
The council is calling on the government and regional partners to fund “significant new programmes”. Councillor Mark Canniford, cabinet member for sustainable places, said: “The evidence is crystal clear.”
“We are now calling on UK Government and regional partners to invest in significant new programmes that can unlock future opportunities, strengthen our high streets and support long-term economic growth in North Somerset,” he said.
The impact report warns of what happens without that investment. It lists fewer new businesses, weaker high streets, more business failures and fewer opportunities for local people.
Angela Hicks, chief executive of the hive, said: “The results clearly show that targeted business support works.” She said start-ups “often face significant barriers to accessing support and finance”.
The council and the hive say they are waiting for details of any future business support through the West of England Combined Authority and other funding streams. No date has been given.
One business that used it
The council named one business that came out of the programme. Jen Layton set up JENergy, a personal training business for peri and post-menopausal women, in May 2025. The council says she got help with search engine optimisation, advice on saving money and support while she set the business up.
“The hive’s support was completely invaluable,” she said. “I’d be concerned if other start-ups and small businesses were unable to access that kind of support in the future.”
What it means for you
If you are thinking of starting or growing a business in North Somerset, help is still there, but less of it.
- The hive is still offering a reduced business support service until March 2027, paid for by the council’s interim funding. The council has not said which services the reduced offer covers.
- Weston-super-Mare retailers can use the hive’s Retail Accelerator Programme, worth £10,000 and funded through the national Let’s Celebrate Towns competition. Its event listings say the one-to-one appointments are fully funded and open to pre-start, new and established businesses in, or planning to set up in, the Weston-super-Mare postcode area (the hive, event listing).
- Win a shop: the council’s competition offering a small business a shop at the Sovereign Centre is open for applications until 30 November (North Somerset Council). We covered it in our round-up of new North Somerset companies.
Funding after March 2027 depends on decisions by the government and the West of England Combined Authority that have not yet been announced. We will report them when they are.
Sources
- North Somerset Council: council calls for renewed support for local businesses, 15 October 2026, for the programme figures, the £20,000 interim funding, the March 2027 date and all quotes.
- the hive: W-s-M Retail Accelerator appointments for the retail programme’s eligibility.
- North Somerset Council: win a shop at the Sovereign, 1 October 2026.
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