CHANGES to the region’s business support offer have been announced by the West Midlands Mayor.
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.
The Mayor, Richard Parker, said 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.
Richard Parker 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, focus on decarbonising businesses so more firms can cut costs and go green, create dedicated health technology support for med-tech scale-ups and 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 chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “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.”
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.
