Shaping the Future launches across Newcastle-under-Lyme with focus on business, skills, community and regeneration

A new borough wide initiative bringing together business support, skills development, community programmes and regeneration projects has officially launched in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

THE SIGNAL BRIEF

What’s new: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has officially launched Shaping the Future, bringing a range of economic development, community, skills and regeneration programmes together under one initiative.

By the numbers: The programme says its projects have so far reached more than 120,000 people through community programmes, supported more than 270 enterprises, helped more than 530 people into employment and contributed to increased footfall of 35,400 through cultural and regeneration activity.

Why it matters: Shaping the Future is designed to connect residents, businesses and communities with practical support while continuing investment in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has officially launched Shaping the Future, a programme designed to bring together work taking place across the borough around business growth, employment and skills, community life and regeneration.

The initiative launched on 29 September 2026 alongside a dedicated Shaping the Future website.

Led by the council’s Economic Development team, the programme works with delivery partners, community organisations and local businesses, with activity organised around four main areas: Community, Businesses, People and Regeneration.

At its heart is an ambition to create a stronger and more vibrant Newcastle-under-Lyme by connecting existing projects, support and investment across the borough.

Four areas shaping Newcastle-under-Lyme

The programme divides its work into four interconnected pillars.

Community

The Community strand focuses on the cultural identity, wellbeing, green spaces and voluntary spirit of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Projects include mental health outreach, the Creative Alliance, Volunteering for All and investment in the borough’s natural environment.

Work also includes developing the local hospitality and visitor economy, with activity involving hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars and visitor attractions.

Tourism work includes Discover Newcastle-under-Lyme and involvement with the Local Visitor Economy Partnership for Staffordshire.

Businesses

For businesses, the programme brings together practical support for companies at different stages of their development.

This includes start up support, networking, mentoring, partnerships and connections with wider business support programmes.

Among those highlighted by Shaping the Future are the Staffordshire Growth Hub, Connects Network, Business Catalyst and Honey Box.

The Business Catalyst programme connects innovation led businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme with academic expertise, student talent and research support through partnerships with Keele University and the University of Staffordshire.

Connects Network also holds regular informal networking sessions at venues around Newcastle-under-Lyme, giving businesses, community organisations and local projects an opportunity to meet and build connections.

Supporting people into skills and employment

The People strand focuses on employment, skills, digital education and career development.

The Shaping the Future Training Academy delivers employment and skills programmes based around the needs of local employers.

There is also technical innovation support through Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, alongside programmes covering digital skills and emerging technology.

Support is also available for care leavers aged between 16 and 25, with the programme aiming to build skills, confidence and pathways into education, employment or training.

Digital initiatives include practical training sessions in community spaces across the borough, covering subjects ranging from basic digital literacy to AI, data and emerging technologies.

Regeneration in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove

Regeneration forms another major part of Shaping the Future.

The programme brings together capital investment and major projects across Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove, including work intended to support town centres, businesses and local communities.

Projects referenced through the initiative range from Rye Park to Astley Place.

Some regeneration projects are complete, while others remain under construction or in the planning stages.

The programme describes the work as long term investment intended to create the conditions for businesses, communities and residents to flourish.

More than 270 enterprises supported

Shaping the Future says activity connected with the programme has already reached significant numbers of people and businesses across the borough.

More than 120,000 people have been reached through community programmes.

More than 270 enterprises have received support through business investment, while more than 530 people have been supported into employment through skills development.

The programme also reports an increase in footfall of 35,400 through cultural and regeneration activity.

Business Festival and local stories

The initiative also incorporates activity designed to bring the borough’s business community together.

The 2026 Shaping the Future Business Festival brought together businesses, creatives, innovators and community leaders across five days and five venues.

A further part of the programme is Built in the Borough, a podcast recorded and produced in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The series features conversations with local entrepreneurs about building businesses in the borough, including the challenges, changes and decisions involved along the way.

What is coming next?

Further events are already listed through the programme.

Connects Network and Shaping the Future Finance and Business is due to take place at Keele University on 26 November 2026.

A Connects Network and Shaping the Future Construction and Regeneration event is also scheduled at Keele University for 14 January 2027.

Residents and businesses can find information about the different programmes, available support and future events through the Shaping the Future website.