Wolverhampton businesses are invited to submit 'Expressions of Interest' for the West Midlands SME Grant, and the West Midlands Net Zero Grant, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). 

These are competitive grant programmes where successful applicants will need to show a strong business case and economic or environmental impact. In this round we will prioritise grant support to significant capital equipment investment projects, and will not be able to support applications from the retail sector.

To date, over 20 companies have been supported with their growth and low carbon plans via grant support - successful projects have included a chromic acid extraction system, a tube forming machine, a vertical turning lathe, air source heat pumps, and solar panels.

Details of the grant programmes can be found here

Please ensure you read the detailed information and guidance notes section before completing the Expression of Interest (EoI) form.

The link to the EoI can be found here

What do we mean by innovation, how can your business be more innovative, what difference does an innovative mindset make, what support and funding is available? To answer these questions and more we are working with Innovate UK Business Growth to deliver a programme of free workshops and one-to-one sessions.

Join us for the latest in our programme of free breakfast workshops on Friday 19th July at 9am at the Technology Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park, WV10 9RU. For more details and to book a place please click here

This event will demystify the funding packages available to support product and service development, and will help you develop a roadmap to underpin your innovation journey. You will learn about their funding programmes, how they facilitate collaboration between business and academia, and the resources available to help your ideas reach their full potential. A great opportunity to hear first hand about the support available, connect with Innovate UK advisors, and network with colleagues.

This free interactive taster session gives an overview of the funding options available to businesses and help to demystify the world of funding for 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.

There will also be access to bespoke online resources that will help bosses better understand key measures, financial forecasting, cashflow needs and creating pitch decks to entice potential investors.

To book a place please click here

Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) organise a programme of business support workshops and webinars - here are a couple coming up later this month.

West Midlands Resource Reuse Network (WMRRN) - Resource Matching Workshop

Wednesday 17th July 2024      9:00am - 1:00pm

A resource matching workshop brings together businesses with a common goal in mind – to save money by improving the way they manage resources and waste materials. The unique WMRRN event aims to enable businesses to identify new opportunities between delegates at the event through the matching of resources, including waste, energy and water.

This FREE in-person workshop will help your business to:

• Improve resource efficiency
• Reduce your cost and carbon footprint
• Identify new opportunities
• Network with other businesses

The WMRRN team will facilitate a lively and interactive session that will allow companies to exchange details about waste streams they have on-site or want as a resource input. Remember to bring details of resources you wish to share or discuss on the day.

To book a place please click here 

Understanding Your Website Visitors Using Google Analytics

Thursday 25 July 2024    10:00am - 11:30am

Whether you're new to Google Analytics or looking to deepen your understanding. Get the insights you need to make smart decisions about your digital marketing and improve your online presence.

You will 

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of setting up Google Analytics and Tag Manager.
• Learn to interpret major reports to boost website traffic, enquiries, and sales.
• Understand key metrics for accurate data interpretation and performance assessment.
• Master URL tagging for precise measurement of traffic sources from various marketing channels.
• Develop strategies to optimise website performance based on insights gathered from analytics and reports.

To book a place please click here 

For details of all BGWM events please click here

Learn how to improve the performance and resilience of your business by joining a growing number of business leaders taking part in the Help to Grow: Management Course. The course is 90% funded by UK Government, so the cost is only £750 per person!

The next cohort of the Programme, based out of Aston Centre for Growth and delivered through a hybrid of online and face-to-face sessions, begins on 8th September, and applications to join it close on 16th August

For more information and to register your interest in joining the next cohort please click here

This practical course offers 1-1 support from a business mentor, peer learning sessions and help in developing a business growth plan. It focuses on giving you the tools to improve performance across a range of key areas, including strategy, innovation, financial management, marketing, employee engagement and digital adoption.

Businesses across all sectors can apply, including social enterprises and to be eligible for the course, your business must employ between 5 and 249 people, and have been operational for at least a year. 

Whether you’re new to exporting or looking to develop your international trade knowledge further, there is an event for you and your business. Customise your learning journey at a pace that suits you, all designed and delivered by specialist trade experts. Over 18,000 businesses across the UK have already joined their free training programme. Just register here to access more than 25 webinars every month. Either grow your export knowledge with their Essentials sessions or build on your existing skills with their Masterclasses, Sector and Market events. 

StartUp UK is a pioneering scheme by Enterprise Nation to provide free tailored support to the next generation of start-up entrepreneurs. Backed by the UK government and high-profile firms HSBC UK, Intuit QuickBooks and Curry's Business, the programme provides free tailored support and delivers initiatives such as e-learning, online training, national events and flagship annual conferences throughout the UK. For more details and to register click here and for a free start up kit click here

If you have any queries relating to business support, growing your business, or some of the challenges you are facing then please call the council's Business Support helpline on 01902 555572 or complete the online enquiry form here

To support your business enquiry and growth our team is more than happy to carry out a free business diagnostic - to ensure we can connect you quickly to the right support.