Built for You.

Shaping the Future is the borough council's commitment to creating a stronger, more vibrant Newcastle-under-Lyme. Through collaboration with businesses, communities and local partners, we are delivering projects that unlock opportunity, support growth and improve life across the borough.

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So far, Shaping the Future projects and initiatives have driven real progress across the borough, supporting businesses to grow, helping people into work, strengthening communities, and bringing more people in, with momentum only continuing to build.

People reached through community programmes

Enterprises supported through business investment

People supported into employment through skills development

Increased footfall through cultural and regeneration activity

THE PROGRAMME

4 Pillars, 1 Borough

The Shaping The Future initiative sits under four pillars of the same ambition which is, a Newcastle-under-Lyme that is healthier, more prosperous, better skilled, and regenerating for the long term.

Community

Investing in the cultural identity, wellbeing, green spaces and voluntary spirit of Newcastle-under-Lyme, making this a place people are proud to call home.

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Businesses

Practical, funded support for local businesses of every size ranging from start-up coaching and enterprise, networking, partnerships and mentoring.

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People

Skills training, digital education, careers guidance and employability support giving every resident across the borough the tools to build the futures deserved.

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Regeneration

Transforming Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove through targeted capital investment, town deals, major projects creating lasting change.

Find out

Business Festival 2026

The 2026 Shaping the Future Business Festival brought together hundreds of businesses, creatives, innovators, and community leaders from across Newcastle-under-Lyme and beyond.

Five days. Five venues. One borough.

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The business festival was everything and more. learnt so much, connected with incredible businesses and figured out how to better scale my personal business. thanks to the organisers. absolutely can't wait for the 2027 edition.

Mary Caris

Shaping the Future Podcast

Built In The Borough

Every business has a story. Most of them you'll never hear.

Tune in to honest conversations with the people, businesses, and community projects building the future if our borough. Listen to the story around the failures, pivots, the times where nothing seemed to work, and what it took to keep going.

Recorded and produced in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

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