British Business Bank – Start Up Loans Programme

The British Business Bank has named Wolverhampton as the top local authority in the West Midlands for its Start Up Loans programme, with 464 loans successfully drawn down since 2012 worth £3.3m. Louise McCoy, commercial director at Start Up Loans, said: "It's wonderful to see Wolverhampton recognised in the West Midlands for its contribution to entrepreneurship. I'm always inspired by the stories of small business owners who have used the Start Up Loans programme to take the leap into business ownership". https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/

Digital Marketing Workshop

Date: 1st December 8.30am

Venue: Wolverhampton Science Park

Join us at our next interactive Workshop - for breakfast, networking and to hear some great tips, good practice and fresh ideas from some of our local digital marketing companies. This should help you review your digital awareness, adoption and use; and help you understand the digital strengths or weaknesses in your business, and provide a better insight to current and future digital opportunities.

To book a place please Click here

Meet the Mayor - Wolverhampton Business Forum

Date: 8th December 6.30pm

Venue: Carvers

The Forum invites you to a 'Meet the Mayor' event on Thursday 8th December at 6.30pm at Carvers, Littles Lane, Wolverhampton, WV1 1JY. A chance to join a conversation with Andy Street to voice your opinion and thoughts on how to build and grow a ‘Thriving West Midlands’. If you are interested in attending please confirm via email to wolverhamptonbf@gmail.com or WhatsApp to 07938 660108.

Wolverhampton Black Business Network 2022 Annual Business Conference

Date: 2nd December 5.30pm

Venue: Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills – Springfield Campus

This event will feature Graeme Chaplin, the Regional Agent for the Bank of England, as the keynote speaker – and is aimed at businesses who are keen to understand how the economic markets work and how they affect their day-to-day business in the form of interest rates and inflation. To book a place please click here

Federation of Small Businesses During our recent Business Challenges Workshop held on Thursday 3rd November the FSB noted a range of advice and information to help small businesses with the energy crisis. Please see the following links for further information https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/cost-of-doing-business-crisis.html https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/out-in-the-cold.html

Black Country Chamber of Commerce During our recent Business Challenges Workshop held on Thursday 3rd November the Chamber advised they carry out a quarterly survey of business issues and trends. Details of the survey can be found at  https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/campaigns-projects/quarterly-economic-survey/ And you are encouraged to participate in the current via the following link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/K5329GH The results are discussed with local MPs and key agencies, and are also fed into a national survey which is shared and discussed with Government Ministers

Business sponsorship opportunity - The Inspiration Awards 2022/2023

The City Council supports over 400 children and young people in Care and over 200 young adults who have left care under the age of 25. The approach we take to what we call ‘Corporate Parenting’ means children and young people in care are considered a priority for everyone in the City from our Managing Director down to front line staff, as well as Councillors and the wider City community, as if they were our own children and young people.

To show children and young people how important they are and how the city is proud of their achievements we host an annual award ceremony – with young people nominated by social workers, teachers, foster carers for their individual, independence, intelligential achievements with the top 3 receiving the ‘Inspiration Award’. 

The awards are due to take place on 27th January 2023 and we would welcome any contribution that local businesses could make in showing your pride in our children through sponsoring one of our entertainment provisions for the evening or even a prize for our Inspirational Award Winners.

Our Awards wish list includes…

For more information or to share how you could support the awards please email Hannah.finch@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Business Rates

We are aware of examples of firms adopting a less than professional approach in offering Wolverhampton companies help to get them a reduction in their Business Rates. We would encourage businesses to be very cautious in the first instance and for more information businesses can visit how to check and challenge your rateable value on Gov.uk website

You do not have to be represented to make an appeal. If you wish to be represented, check that they are knowledgeable, experienced and have appropriate indemnity insurance. Members of the following institutes are qualified and regulated by rules of professional conduct:

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and
• the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV)

If you are unhappy with any approach in this respect we would recommend that you report the incident to Trading Standards.