We are seeking your views to develop the City of Wolverhampton Council’s future economic strategy.
The strategy outlines the Council’s proposed approach to economic development and how we will work alongside our partners to support the local economy to grow. Our strategy is based on three interconnected themes and a central principle of ‘good growth’.
This means achieving both the right quantity and the right quality of growth; creating a strong, productive and resilient economy where a radical uplift in business competitiveness, productivity and profits goes hand in hand with access to good jobs that pay higher wages, and where all residents have access to opportunity and enjoy improved quality of life.
You can find a copy of the draft Good Growth Strategy here
You can find a link to the Good Growth Strategy consultation here
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The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme, funded through West Midlands Combined Authority, aims to provide information, expert advice and support to businesses, enabling them to make significant decarbonisation and money saving changes to their business. A key part of this support is a free energy assessment and you can book this assessment by clicking here Importantly this energy assessment will show you where and how targeted investment can reduce your energy costs and CO2 emissions – and it will be a requirement of the Net Zero grant programme that the Council will be inviting applications for in the spring. So, if you are thinking of applying for a Net Zero grant to support investment in energy efficiency measures then now is the time to register for your Energy Assessment.
And to help you better understand the journey to reducing your carbon footprint and becoming more energy efficient there is an in person workshop early next month. The Black Country Decarbonisation Net Zero Workshop: ‘Creating a resilient future for your business’ will take place on 6th February from 8.30am to 11.30am, at Walsall FC, Bescot Stadium, Walsall.
Hosted by Black Country Industrial Cluster this workshop will provide advice from expert speakers on energy efficiency and decarbonisation, as well as the opportunities that the net zero transition presents for Black Country businesses. There are limited spaces available, so register quickly here
This programme is part of the wider West Midlands Business Support activity funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). For more information, click here
There are also 2 webinars and a workshop being run with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority in the coming weeks.
RENEWABLE ENERGY – What are the costs and what are the savings
6th February 2024, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Online
Join this webinar to learn more about renewable energy options for small and medium-sized businesses.
We will discuss how solar PV work, how much they cost, and what kind of savings businesses in the West Midlands and Warwickshire can expect in terms of both carbon and money. We will also present information about grant funding opportunities for businesses based in West Midlands .
To book a place please click here
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Unlocking Apprenticeship Opportunities
7 February 2024, 10.30 am - 11.00 am
Online
Ever thought about hiring an apprentice but never had the support or the know-how to start?
Thrive at Work is pleased to host this 30-minute session during National Apprenticeship Week, informing you on how to source, fund, and work with your apprentice to develop a workforce with future ready skills.
The session will be led by David Tomalin from West Midlands Combined Authority and Sian Roberts from Black Country Chamber of Commerce, who will run this session. During this session, you will gain an understanding of
This session will include a 25 minute presentation and a 5 minute Q&A. For more information about the Thrive at Work Wellbeing Programme, please here
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Investment Readiness:Workshop for Wolverhampton Businesses
31st January 2024, 10am – 1pm
SPEED, University Of Wolverhampton Science Park, Technology Centre PA104 Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, WV10 9RU
These free interactive taster sessions will give an overview of the funding options available to businesses and help to demystify the world of funding your business, including:
- Debt finance & understanding interest rates
- Alternative Finance
- Grant funding – is it free?
- Crowdfunding – reward, social and equity
- Angel Investment & Venture Capital – when is it right for you?
- The importance of creating a Pitch Deck or a Business Plan
- Financial forecasting and why it’s the narrative you need
Further support will be delivered by the Access to Finance team through a combination of workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one mentoring by finance specialists, all of whom have years of experience in unlocking funding and helping firms grow. For more information and to register for the workshop please click here.
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 This is an opportunity for artists and creatives to build confidence, develop creative digital skills and access development support for a potential digital commission.
Theatre-makers, musicians, artists, writers, visual artists and community organisations are invited to apply to the Black Country Digital Firsts programme.
They are looking for projects that are bold, brave and imaginative - they may be personal or political, fact or fiction, intimate or epic; and could be a piece of music, visual art, dance, drama, documentary, poetry, prose or animation.
If your application is successful you will get bespoke mentoring; access to inspirational talks, masterclasses and written resources; and possible financial support to help you realise your project. And even for those whose ideas don’t make it this time, everyone taking part will be offered further learning and development opportunities.
For more information and to apply please click here
If you’re self employed, HMRC’s online support can provide the support you need. This includes a series of webinars with the following one on 1st March at 1.45pm
Business expenses for the self – employed
The webinar will cover
> What allowable business expenses are
> The most common business expenses
> Simplified expenses
> Record keeping
> Entering accurate figures on your return
To register for the webinar please click here
You can also choose from a selection of short videos on the following playlists – available on HMRC’s YouTube channel:
self employment tax return
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The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is looking for start-up businesses to sign up for support services to grow economic prosperity and employment opportunities in Wolverhampton.
Following a successful tender application, the Chamber is providing services for new and growing businesses on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council as part of the local authority’s drive to build the city economy.
Under the Council’s ‘Our City Our Plan’ strategy, the Chamber of Commerce team will offer local firms in the early stages of development a suite of activity to help them start up, scale up and thrive.
With funding from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund the start-up programme, which will run until March 2025, will provide support enabling Wolverhampton residents to engage and access skills to create the foundations for their business to prepare, start and ensure its survival.
To speak to the Chamber team about signing up for the programme, call 0330 024 0820
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Co-operatives West Midlands, Co-operative Futures and Co-operatives UK have teamed up to deliver a FREE Is starting a co‑op right for you? Workshop on Friday 2 February, from 10am to 1pm – with networking until 2pm – at the ChangeMakersHUB in Wolverhampton.
You’ll gain a deeper understanding of co‑ops as successful, values‑based businesses as well as their purpose and benefits. Find out if your business or community enterprise idea suits the co‑op model.
Completely FREE to attend, this session is part of the Business Support for Co-ops programme, which offers up to six days’ expert support to new and existing co-ops, delivered with support from The Co‑operative Bank.
To register for the workshop please click here
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