, Mayor of the West
Midlands, has announced a major upgrade to the region's business
support offer - putting the focus on the firms that can power the
economy forward and create opportunities and jobs for local
people.
The overhaul of Business Growth West Midlands - the region's
business support service - forms part of the Mayor's wider West
Midlands Growth Plan, launched last week.
It will target fast-growing firms in sectors like advanced
manufacturing, tech, life sciences and clean energy - sectors
that can create the jobs and investment the region needs.
said: “We've had a business
support service that tried to do a bit of everything, but ended
up not being focussed enough in the right places.”
“That's changing. Our new Growth Plan is about backing the
businesses with the biggest potential to grow, create good jobs
and bring investment into our towns and cities. We must do it all
in a more joined up way.
“This is about fairness too because growth without opportunity
means nothing. I want businesses from every corner of the West
Midlands, and with real ambition, to feel this region is on their
side.”
Under the reforms, Business Growth West Midlands will:
- Refocus its support on high-growth potential businesses,
offering targeted help to scale quickly
- Focus on decarbonising businesses so more firms can cut costs
and go green
- Work more closely with universities, local councils and
national government agencies to offer joined-up, high-impact
support
- Deliver a new business scale-up programme for creative
industries, digital manufacturing through an expanded Made
Smarter
- Create dedicated health technology support for med-tech
scale-ups
- Support businesses into industries of the future with a
supply chain programme to exploit new opportunities in growing
areas of the global economy
- Focus on export support, connecting businesses with the
Department of Business and Trade
The updated service will go live early next year, with more
details to be announced in the coming months.
It builds on feedback from businesses and economic experts as
part of the Growth Plan's development.
Raj Kandola, acting deputy CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of
Commerce, said: “In our Business Commission West Midlands report
last year, local firms told us that the current business
ecosystem was too fragmented, complex and ambiguous to
effectively navigate. As a result, we called for greater
co-ordination between agencies and regional authorities to
recalibrate the system and create longer term simpler structures.
“We are pleased to see that the Mayor is using his devolved
powers to reshape Business Growth West Midlands so it will become
more agile and responsive to the needs of local firms and make
more targeted interventions that will help to unlock growth.
“We look forward to working with Business Growth West Midlands
and other key partners across the region to ensure that a greater
number of firms benefit as a result of these changes and are
supported to reach their full potential.”
Sarah Moorhouse, CEO at Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We receive a steady stream of feedback from our Black Country
businesses that it can be confusing at times for them to
understand the sources of support available that they need and
want to tap into, so we welcome the clarity of the service
Business Growth West Midlands will offer moving forward.
“The region's Chambers of Commerce have important roles to play
here too. From micro business to large corporate
organisations along with the all important start-ups to well
established firms, we remain truly committed to continuing our
support to all member businesses on their unique, growth
journeys.
“At the same time the Black Country Chamber team and I look
forward to working even more closely with the Mayor and Business
Growth West Midlands to aid in the delivery of added growth and
prosperity to the region.”
Business Growth West Midlands is a service coordinated by the
West Midlands Combined Authority and delivered in partnership by
local councils. It provides free tailored support from expert
business advisers to help local businesses to achieve growth
ambitions.
“If we want to grow our economy, we have to grow our businesses.”
Mayor Parker added.
“That's why this change is so important. It's the start of a new
era for business support in the West Midlands.”
