New Regional Business Support Service

Businesses across the West Midlands can get advice on funding and growing their companies from next month as a new regional business support service launches.

‘Business Growth West Midlands’, co-ordinated by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and funded by a £42 million investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, launches on 1 April.

As well as personalised advice on expanding their businesses from expert advisors, SMEs will also be able to get further help to decarbonise, reduce energy costs and make them more sustainable.

There will also be the chance to apply for grants that support business change and new growth opportunities for companies.

The service will be delivered by the seven local authorities in the region: Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Council and City of Wolverhampton Council.

These services have until now been supplied by Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) co-ordinated Growth Hubs, but this work has been transferred to the WMCA following a government directive.

The new arrangement will ensure a consistent level of support for businesses across all areas of the West Midlands.

• The Black Country LEP and Growth Hub close on 31 March 2023 and all enquiries transfer to the new service
• Birmingham and Solihull LEP continue to operate until the end of the year meaning businesses can still access their Growth Hub as usual
• Coventry and Warwickshire LEP also closes end of March, but the local Growth Hub will continue to operate independently, meaning businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire can access support via the existing Growth Hub or Business Growth West Midlands

These services form part of a suite of activities to support business in the region, delivering on the region’s medium term growth strategy to 2030, Plan for Growth, and including programmes such as the recently announced Innovation Accelerator, Made Smarter WM and a forthcoming Investor Readiness programme.

Businesses can access the new service from 1 April via: www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk