£220,000 in grant funding to support the city’s tourism economy

Published: Wednesday, 11th October 2023

Work to support Stoke-on-Trent’s visitor economy has been given a £220,000 boost as Stoke-on-Trent City Council has today (Wednesday, October 11) launched a new grant programme.

Visit Stoke-on-Trent: A City of Imagination is an exciting initiative powered by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) that will support Stoke-on-Trent’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2022-2027. The strategy aims to transform the city into one of the region’s most important cultural tourism destinations within the next five years.

Grant funding of between £1,000 and £10,000 has been made available to businesses and organisations across the city. The grants will cover revenue items such as staff, hiring of equipment and marketing and, alongside other business support initiatives funded through the project, will be used to support the revival of the area's leisure, hospitality and tourism service industry.

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: “Our city is one full of culture, heritage and creativity and we have high ambitions for our visitor economy. Through this new grant funding we hope to create further vibrant and exciting cultural tourism; I strongly encourage local businesses and organisations to apply.

“This money is ring-fenced external funding. It is separate to the difficult financial challenge facing the authority, and will be used for the good of businesses and supporting the city economy.”

Applicants are actively encouraged to take advantage of the £220,000 available before the programme ends in March 2025. 

Visit Stoke, the city’s dedicated visitor economy service, is administering the programme and will guide eligible businesses through the application process, advising on programme delivery and UKSPF compliance.

For further information and to apply, visit www.visitstoke.co.uk/cityofimagination.