A ground-breaking network of business support hubs that have helped grow 300 companies in some of the region’s most ethnically diverse communities is to expand thanks to new funding from Mayor Richard Parker.
A ground-breaking network of business support hubs that have helped grow 300 companies in some of the region’s most ethnically diverse communities is to expand thanks to new funding from Mayor Richard Parker.
Two new Community Business Growth Hubs have opened at Colebridge Trust in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, and The Savoy Centre in Netherton, Dudley, run by Black Country Housing Group in partnership with SWEDA (Skills Work and Enterprise Development Agency).
They will give even more local entrepreneurs the advice and funding they need to secure new investment, win more business and create jobs in their own communities with support extended to disabled and female-led businesses, and those in deprived neighbourhoods.
The new hubs will build on the success of the first five launched by the Mayor last year in Coventry, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Birmingham (two hubs).
The Mayor’s Growth Plan sets outs plans to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of people from all walks of life to help fire up the regional economy and raise living standards.
The region’s seven Community Business Growth Hubs are funded by the Mayor and run in partnership with trusted community organisations, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), and the region’s Race Equalities Taskforce.
They provide one-to-one expert advice, workshops and networking events, and direct links into regional and national support and funding programmes, as well as providing much-needed investment in the community locations in which they are based.
Establishing a network of community led hubs to break down these barriers to business success is also one of the key actions in the Race Equalities Taskforce’s first five-year strategy.
Sureya Gulzar, head of social business, Black Country Housing Group, said: “We are committed to supporting the growth of local people and local business.
“We are pleased to be working in partnership with SWEDA to establish the Dudley Community Business Hub at the Savoy Centre in Netherton, this important initiative supported by BGWM will ensure local business leaders have the support they need to grow and contribute to the local economy and beyond.”
All small and medium-sized enterprises in the West Midlands can access a whole range of business support from BGWM’s team of expert advisors, funded with £15 million from the Mayor.
BGWM was set up by the WMCA to help drive the Mayor’s plans to reignite the regional economy by providing tailored packages to help SMEs grow, decarbonise, adopt digital technologies, transition to new supply chains, and access finance.
Find out more about the Community Business Hubs and other support for SMEs can get through BGWM on the BGWM website.
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