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West Midlands

See details of local industry events, support and networks 

Business support services

Black Country Growth Hub

Black Country businesses can access a wide range of support and expertise to help them improve competitiveness and grow through:

  • a single point of contact
  • funding and finance options
  • export opportunities
  • innovation and product development guidance
  • skills and training
  • incubation/start-up support
  • legal/regulatory support
  • premises and relocation information
  • assistance in developing your growth plan
  • specialist advice and consultancy.

Contact

The region is undergoing a period of significant inward investment, with many millions of pounds being spent on a number of important infrastructure projects, including the arrival of HS2, the Midland Metro expansion and the Midland Metropolitan Hospital to name just a few.

There will be thousands of business opportunities available within the HS2 supply chain alone, with significant contracts available across all sectors. Spread over a number of years, the work will require a wide range of capabilities and will be suitable for suppliers of all sizes.

https://www.bcgrowthhub.com/supply/

Funding to help you grow

Midlands Engine Investment Fund offers four different funding options to help your business grow, ranging from small business loans to fund start-ups, to later-stage equity investment that allows established businesses to continue growing.

See MEIF Website for details 

WMCA – Commercial Investment Fund

The West Midlands Combined Authority Commercial Investment Fund (WMCA CIF) supports the acceleration of commercial property developments within the West Midlands area. It is a revolving fund that aims to underpin the region’s long term growth and stability. Created by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) the fund is open to property developers within the WMCA geography, including the Black Country. Eligible projects include: commercial, light industrial and residential regeneration opportunities (residential as part of a mixed scheme), with investments from £1m to £7m.

See Frontier Development Capital website for details 

Heritage Enterprise

Heritage Lottery Fund supports all kinds of projects, as long as they make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities. Their funding is used to record the diverse stories of your community, breathe new life into a historic park, create vibrant town centres, and much more.

A range of different grant programmes is available with grants from £3,000 to over £5million.

See Heritage Fund website for details 

Training groups in your area

There are two training groups at present for the Black Country:

Midlands Construction Training Group

Area coverage: Construction Employers based in the Midlands
Key contact: Debbie Westwood

Tel: 07748 300796
Emai:  

Midlands Roof Training Group 

Group Training Officer: Paul Harper

Tel: 07968 505161
Email: 

Contact your local advisor

Lorna Banks

Lorna Banks, CITB Advisor Black Country

I have always had a passion for construction, starting in my parents’ home as an inquisitive 14-year-old, 'helping' install the central heating system - I'm a great pipe bender! Having spent thirty years in Apprenticeships, Education and training, as a National Training Manager. I joined CITB in March 2017, originally as an Apprentice Officer before being promoted to the Advisor role.

My main focus is ensuring that employers know about the full range of CITB grants and funding that are on offer and how this can help businesses grow and thrive. I also support the many construction stakeholders in the region through partnerships and relationship building.

Tel: 07866 786443
Email: 
Twitter: @LornaBanks@CITB1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-banks-3247547a/

What's happening in your area

There are currently no events taking place in your local area. Please contact your adviser Phil Warwick (see below) for more details.

Business support services

Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub
                                                                      
Launched in 2014, the Growth Hub has created approximately 2,400 jobs, added £89m in gross value and secured more than £65m in private sector investment for business. The Growth Hub also offers invaluable mentoring, financial advice, growth planning and networking opportunities all at no cost, and with the company’s commercial objectives firmly in mind.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

 The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce can provide free coaching and advice to individuals looking to start their own business, or those businesses in their first twelve months of trading. Support and advice includes:

  • Free workshops providing insight into business planning, finance and marketing.
  • Advice and guidance on aspects involved in setting up a business.
  • One-to-one mentoring from a Business Adviser.
  • Support on sourcing and securing financial assistance.

Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme

The Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme provides one-to-one and one-to-many support activities, targeted at new start-ups and established businesses with growth potential. The support is provided by a range of experienced local providers and includes:

  • support to people looking to start a business
  • support to help established businesses address barriers to growth
  • specialist sector support
  • workshops, events and seminars to provide networking and supply chain opportunities

Funding to help your business grow

Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) funding

The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership offers a comprehensive package of grants and loans to businesses.

Local businesses with investment proposals are invited to complete an expression of interest form. The CWLEP and its partners will then work with you to identify the best fit. This could be one of the CWLEP’s funds or it might be a programme delivered regionally or nationally. Regardless, you will be guided through the process and, if your proposal is suitable, you will be helped to complete an application form.

Find out more on the CWLEP website

Business investment in Coventry

Support for new and existing businesses, start-ups and small, medium and large companies.

Contact:

Warwickshire County Council - small capital grants

We offer small capital grants to small businesses with growth plans. The funding is part of a £2 million package of business loans and grants agreed by the county council to support Warwickshire’s businesses. Grants - of between £5,000 and £35,000 are available to micro and small businesses for capital projects.

For information and to apply for a grant contact the Business Investment Team

Training groups

There are no training groups specifically for the Warwickshire area. You may want to contact a nearby group.

Midlands Construction Training Group

Area coverage: Construction Employers based in the Midlands
Key contact: Debbie Westwood

Tel: 07748 300796
Email:  Website: http://mctg.co.uk/

Contact your local customer engagement advisor

Phil Warwick


I started my career in construction as a trainee consultant engineer where I soon became one of the leads on designing the electrical schematics for new builds for the Burton Group.

I changed careers in the 1990s and entered the world of advice and guidance. The last 20 or so years have then been primarily in this field working across a variety of environments including DWP, schools, colleges and training providers.

I then chose to re-engage with the construction industry and utilise my skills in this area as well as my advice and guidance skills to become the CITB Advisor for Coventry & Warwickshire.

Tel: 07776 226051
Email:
Twitter: @PhilWarwick4
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/phil-warwick-4b6a8930

Details to be confirmed.

Support to grow your business

Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub

For business support in the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire area please contact the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce believes that they can help all the people of Staffordshire be more prosperous and have more opportunities, by helping business through membership of the Chambers, to be successful and together make a difference.

Staffordshire Business & Environment Network (SBEN)

The Staffordshire Business and Environment Network aim to raise awareness, train employees and provide you with the tools to implement environmental initiatives within your own business and make the necessary changes for continuous improvement.

Financial support and services to help you recruit and train Staff

Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub

The Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub is a unique project part-funded by the European Social Funding (ESF) which is designed around offering a brokerage service for all local based employers to find out about training and funding in the area.

Training groups

Staffordshire Construction Training Group

Staffordshire Construction Training Ltd (SCTL) is a member organisation made up of around 30 construction companies based in Staffordshire.  The group is funded by way of grant provided by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) with the aim of promoting training, careers and best practice within the Construction Industry.

Employer success stories

Traction Equipment Limited is a plant hire business based in Stafford that employs 16 people.  The company’s director Peter Jennings believes strongly in training and developing his staff, and the business actively claims CITB grant support for the training it carries out. 

As part of the business’s longer-term development, Peter has also looked at the CITB Skills and Training Fund to address specific skills related issues, and the company has been successful in securing Skills and Training Fund money in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The company is also an active member of the Staffordshire Construction Training Group, which is funded by CITB.  Peter attends the training groups’ quarterly meetings and is very involved in organising any events that the group hold.  This year the group are hosting a work experience programme for schools across the Staffordshire County.

Peter is very passionate about encouraging younger people into the industry and has recently become a CITB Construction Ambassador.  In his role as an ambassador Peter attends events at local schools where he talks to students about different roles in the industry, focusing on job roles that can be found both within his business and the wider industry in Staffordshire.  He spends time with each student and talks to them about the application process as well as what would be expected from them if they came to work at Traction Equipment.

Contact your local customer engagement advisor

Patricia Hicks

Prior to my role in CITB I worked for two major contractors in the UK construction industry. I spent 11 years working on construction sites, starting as a Graduate Construction Supervisor and then working as a Construction Manager and Assistant Project Manager. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Building.

During my time on site I learned that the construction industry is a fabulous industry to work in. My role at CITB allows me to support the industry today but also allows me to help build the industry for the future

Contact:

Phone: 07818529563
Email: 
Twitter: @PatriciaCITB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-hicks-deane-mciob-07861567/

Support to grow your business

A unique area consisting of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, the Marches is part of the Midlands and officially one of the most enterprising regions in the UK.

The Marches Growth Hub 

Your gateway to business support in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

​The Marches Growth Hub offers a single point of access to information and guidance on business grants, loans, support and advice available to enterprises across the region, regardless of sector or size of development.

The Marches LEP

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership works with the business community to eliminate barriers to growth and identify opportunities for development.

Chamber of Commerce

Help to grow

Take your business to the next level with Help to Grow – two complementary programmes designed to help you learn new skills, reach more customers and boost your profits.

Financial support and services to help you recruit and train Staff

Talent View

Talent View Construction is for Employers looking for new talent:

  • Showcase your business to talented new recruits
  • Promote your training, apprenticeship and first job vacancies
  • Search for suitable local candidates
  • Make contact with schools, colleges and training providers

Construction Talent Retention Scheme

The Construction Leadership Council’s Talent Retention Scheme helps talented individuals showcase their experience and expertise while helping businesses find the skills they need.

Kickstart

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

Government incentive payments for hiring an apprentice

Incentive payments for employers who hired a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021.

Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF)

Midlands Engine Investment Fund offers small business loans of between £25,000 and £150,000.

Training groups

Training Groups receive funding from CITB to support levy registered employers identify and access high-quality cost-effective training. They provide advice and guidance on mandatory and skill specific training, offer support to plan training needs, and help employers access high quality and cost-effective Approved Training Organisations.

  • Cost effective training
  • Ease of identifying training
  • Time and resource saving for employers
  • Advice, guidance, and support
  • Future planning
  • Networking
  • Provide help to give small and micro employers a voice to CITB and wider industry

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Construction Training Group

This group supports construction employers based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Shropshire Construction Training Group

This group supports construction employers based in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

Contact Debbie Westwood by emailing

Contact the Chair of the group Colin Kemshead by emailing .

Contact your local customer engagement advisor

Trevor Oakley

My passion for construction began at an early age. I grew up on a farm and built my first brick wall at age 15. My career pathway started as an Agricultural Apprentice but on completion, decided to leave the milking of cows behind and follow my passion for wood and train as a Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and Antique Restorer.

Having run my own business and passed on my skills through teaching I became very poorly and had to look at a career change. I became involved with Apprenticeships and Careers Guidance but finally, my opportunity to reconnect with the construction industry presented itself by way of the CITB Marches and Worcestershire Advisor role.

Contact:

Tel: 07827358406
Email:  
Twitter: @Trevor_O_CITB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-oakley-318093105

Worcestershire is a varied and diverse county that blends industrial and economic strength with awe-inspiring scenery and sites of key historic significance.

Support to grow your business

Worcestershire Growth Hub

The Worcestershire Business Central Growth Hub core aim is to support high growth SMEs to further grow and develop. The support helps businesses to develop their internal capability in order to improve their productivity, grow and create jobs. The Growth Hub acts as a Business Champion and supports more and more Worcestershire businesses to grow and succeed each year.

Contact:

The Worcestershire LEP

The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership is responsible for creating and delivering economic growth and jobs in the County, through a partnership approach with business, local government, the third sector and higher and further education working together with a common, shared purpose.

Contact:

Chamber of Commerce

Help to grow

Take your business to the next level with Help to Grow – two complementary programmes designed to help you learn new skills, reach more customers and boost your profits.

Financial support and services to help you recruit and train Staff

Grants and funding

Grants and funding are available from Worcestershire Apprenticeships. 

Talent View

Talent View Construction is for Employers looking for new talent:

  • Showcase your business to talented new recruits
  • Promote your training, apprenticeship and first job vacancies
  • Search for suitable local candidates
  • Make contact with schools, colleges and training providers

Construction Talent Retention Scheme

The Construction Leadership Council’s Talent Retention Scheme helps talented individuals showcase their experience and expertise while helping businesses find the skills they need.

Kickstart

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

Government incentive payments for hiring an apprentice

Incentive payments for employers who hired a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021.

Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF)

Midlands Engine Investment Fund offers small business loans of between £25,000 and £150,000.

Training groups

Training Groups receive funding from CITB to support levy registered employers identify and access high-quality cost-effective training. They provide advice and guidance on mandatory and skill specific training, offer support to plan training needs, and help employers access high quality and cost-effective Approved Training Organisations.

  • Cost effective training
  • Ease of identifying training
  • Time and resource saving for employers
  • Advice, guidance, and support
  • Future planning
  • Networking
  • Provide help to give small and micro employers a voice to CITB and wider industry

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Construction Training Group

This group supports construction employers based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Contact your local customer engagement advisor

Trevor Oakley

My passion for construction began at an early age. I grew up on a farm and built my first brick wall at age 15. My career pathway started as an Agricultural Apprentice but on completion, decided to leave the milking of cows behind and follow my passion for wood and train as a Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and Antique Restorer.

Having run my own business and passed on my skills through teaching I became very poorly and had to look at a career change. I became involved with Apprenticeships and Careers Guidance but finally, my opportunity to reconnect with the construction industry presented itself by way of the CITB Marches and Worcestershire Advisor role.

Contact:

Tel: 07827358406
Email:  
Twitter: @Trevor_O_CITB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-oakley-318093105

You may also be interested in...

Find out how local employers can benefit from taking on an apprentice for a short duration in our Shared Apprenticeship Scheme

Find out more about the National Skills Academy for Construction, led by CITB and approved by industry

Contact a local CITB advisor

CITB Advisers can support you in diagnosing skills gaps, advising on apprenticeships, legislation and training, as well as signposting you to other sources of help and advice.

Contact a local adviser