Find the right funding path for your business
2026-07-01 09:30 - 13:00 UTC | Vulcan Works, 34-38 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1EW, United Kingdom
What’s the right funding path for your business?
Is angel investment the best route to fund my business? Or maybe a business loans is better for me?
From grants and loans to angel investment and equity finance, there are many routes to funding. For most businesses, it’s hard to figure out the best option.
Fuelling Innovation: Exploring funding options for growth, will give you the answers,
This interactive workshop brings together expert insight and real business experiences to help you navigate the funding landscape and determine the best route for your business.
Date: 1 July 2026
Location: Vulcan Works, Northampton
Time: 09:30 – 13:00
Book now: Fuel your growth: Find the right funding path | Semlep
Why attend:

Understand the difference between grants, loans, and equity investment
• Listen to businesses like you that have secured funding
• Connect with funding experts and support organisations
• Find out which funding option aligns with your business goals

What’s taking place:

Panel 1: Grants
Understand how grant funding can support innovation and growth
Panel 2: Loans
Explore lending options and what they mean for your business
Panel 3: Equity Investment
Learn how equity funding works and when it’s the right fit
Networking opportunities throughout
Connect with peers, experts, and potential collaborators

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your funding options and take the next step in your growth journey.
Book now: Fuel your growth: Find the right funding path | Semlep
This event is delivered by South Midlands Growth Hub, Barclays Eagle Labs, and the British Business Bank, and is part of this year’s Fuelling Innovation campaign in collaboration with the University of Northampton.

The SEO To-Do List That Fits on a Post-it Note
2026-07-23 10:00 - 12:00
Think SEO requires a 40-page strategy document? Think again.
Join SEO consultant Nikki Pilkington for a practical, jargon-free session that focuses on three simple fixes that can make a genuine difference to how your website performs in search engines.
Using real-world examples and straightforward advice, Nikki will show you how to improve your website without getting lost in technical SEO or endless checklists. You’ll leave with practical actions you can implement immediately—and an SEO to-do list that genuinely fits on a Post-it note.
You’ll learn:

Three SEO improvements that have the biggest impact.
Common website mistakes that are holding businesses back.
Real examples of what works (and what doesn’t).
Simple actions you can implement straight away.
How to prioritise SEO without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, marketer or manage your own website, this session will help you focus on what really matters.
Find out more about Nikki Pilkington and her practical approach to SEO at Nikki Pilkington’s website.

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day July
2026-07-31 08:30 - 17:00
Work Smarter. Discover Your New Workspace.
Join us for a Free Hot Desking Day at Vulcan Works and experience a vibrant coworking community designed for freelancers, startups, remote workers, and growing businesses.
Whether you’re tired of working from home, looking for a professional space to focus, or simply curious about coworking – this is your chance to try it completely free.
What’s Included

Free hot desk access for the day
High-speed Wi-Fi
Complimentary tea & coffee
Access to breakout and collaboration spaces
Networking opportunities with local professionals and creatives
A tour of the facilities and membership options

Who’s It For?

Freelancers & consultants
Remote and hybrid workers
Entrepreneurs & startups
Students & creatives
Anyone looking for a productive, inspiring workspace

Why Attend?
At Vulcan Works, we believe workspaces should inspire collaboration, creativity, and connection. Come and see why our community is helping local businesses and professionals thrive.

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day August
2026-08-28 08:30 - 17:00

Brush Lettering for Beginners Workshop
2026-09-01 18:00 - 20:00
No perfect handwriting is required, no pressure… just a gentle evening of ink, paper and some quiet creativity.

If you’ve ever fancied trying modern calligraphy but don’t know where to start, this workshop is for you!
Join Katie from Bluebell Lettering for a Brush Lettering for Beginners Workshop.
No perfect handwriting is required, no pressure… just a gentle evening of ink, paper and some quiet creativity.
You will be guided through the basics of modern calligraphy using a brush pen… step by step… with plenty of time to practice, play and make something lovely to take home.
The workshop will cover:

How to hold and use a brush pen
The basic strokes which build the calligraphy alphabet
Forming lowercase and uppercase letters
Connecting letters to create words and phrases
Tips for improving consistency, spacing and style
Simple decorative flourishes and finishing touches

Equipment
Each workshop attendee will get a beautiful pack full of worksheets, alphabet guides and practice pages plus a Tombow dual brush pen to take home to continue your calligraphy journey!
About Katie
For more information please visit www.bluebelllettering.com or find Katie on Instagram @bluebell.lettering

Dedicated Desk Trial Day
2026-09-08 - 2026-09-10
Curious about having a Dedicated Desk?

Join us at Vulcan Works for a free Dedicated Desk Trial Day on 8th, 9th, or 10th September and experience the benefits of having your own dedicated workspace.
Spend the day working from a fully equipped dedicated desk, enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi, access to shared amenities, and connect with our vibrant community of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses.
Whether you’re looking for a more productive place to work or considering a permanent dedicated desk membership, this is the perfect opportunity to see what Vulcan Works has to offer.
Spaces are limited, so book your preferred trial day early.

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day September
2026-09-25 08:30 - 17:00

Vulcan Works Networking Event
2026-09-25 10:00 - 11:30
Rethinking Apprenticeships: A Smarter Way to Build Skills, Retain Talent and Grow Your Business
More information coming soon…

Vulcan Works Macmillan Coffee Morning
2026-09-25 11:00 - 14:00
Vulcan Works will be hosting Macmillan Coffee Morning on the 25th September, 11:00am till everything has gone! It is a wonderful opportunity to come together, enjoy some delicious treats and raise funds for a fantastic cause.
If you would like to get involved & bring something you have baked or bought please can you add a list of allergens and let us know so we can add you to the list of providers! 😊
Cash and card accepted – this is such a worthy cause & we would be so grateful if you could participate 😊

Cyber Security with Ai adoption, controls and pre-requisites.
2026-09-29 10:00 - 12:00
How do businesses unlock AI’s potential while keeping company data secure? Discover the guardrails and security controls you need.

Discover how to unlock the power of AI in your business—without compromising security.
Join EquiTech, Northamptonshire’s award-winning IT, Security & Automation as a Service specialists based at Vulcan Works, for an insightful session exploring how businesses can safely adopt AI to improve efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and drive productivity.
We’ll cover:

How businesses are successfully implementing AI
The cyber security controls and guardrails needed to protect your data
Common risks and how to avoid them
Practical automation opportunities using tools such as Microsoft Power Automate, Teams, Outlook and AI assistants like Copilot and Claude
How a structured framework can ensure AI adoption is secure, compliant and delivers measurable results

You’ll also learn how EquiTech’s Automation as a Service programme helps businesses implement automation and AI through a fully governed project framework, including process discovery, security assessments, stakeholder accountability and success metrics—all available through a flexible monthly subscription model rather than significant upfront investment.
Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or looking to expand your existing capabilities, this session will give you the knowledge and confidence to adopt AI securely and effectively.

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day October
2026-10-30 08:30 - 17:00

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day November
2026-11-27 08:30 - 17:00

Vulcan Works Free Hot Desking Day December
2026-12-18 08:30 - 17:00
