Information for current, new and potential business within Wolverhampton. This includes business rates, training and opportunities.

Coronavirus Support and Guidance
For support and guidance including Government Grants, Testing for Businesses, Environmental Health support and how to become COVID Compliant please visit Coronavirus - Support for Businesses.

Wolves in Business, a local economy support package. We’re making millions of pounds of grant payments available and are developing new measures in partnership with business groups across the city.

We’re determined to keep Wolverhampton’s business community vibrant and resilient by being on the side of our local businesses, their employees and those who are self-employed.

What we do - through 50 examples

We may be a small team but like our small business community we believe we have made a big impact. We hope this booklet gives a flavour of what we can do; and how we have adapted through the pandemic to ensure our support is tailored to the changing needs of the business community. Working together we continue to have a big impact on the Wolverhampton economy.

Small Business - Big Impact Issue 4

Advice & Guidance
Business Rates and Relief
GRANTfinder
Supplier Support
Employment and Workforce Development

These are unprecedented times for us all, however we are committed to continue to provide the best support we can to businesses and jobseekers. We are here to help you plan your current and future workforce needs as you navigate the current COVID-19 situation. Our consultancy services are fully funded and over 600 businesses have accessed the support in the last three years.

Wolves at Work business services are ready and available to offer support to businesses looking for assistance on the following:

  • Recruitment - we can advertise and promote your vacancies and assist with sourcing new talent through the highly successful Wolves at Work project
  • Redundancy support
  • Advice on upskilling your workforce to meet future business needs
  • Information on the Job Retention Scheme and links to training for furloughed staff
  • Useful connections to further business support

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for recruitment or workforce support: recruitment@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Or call the Business Support line: 01902 290242 between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Thursday or from 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays

Useful links

Job Retention Scheme
Claim for wages through the coronavirus job retention scheme.

It will allow you to retain your staff and ensure your business can resume quickly when re-growth occurs.

There are also several useful websites to further explain the support available to businesses and their employees:

A useful tool for further support are the following webinars on employment topics:

Useful links

Black Country-specific advice and support for businesses is available through the Black Country Growth Hub.

The Federation of Small Businesses has also published guidance on what you can do to protect your business and employees.

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce have also published a number of interpretative and advice documents on the Government support schemes.

Guidance for food businesses reopening and adapting their businesses during COVID-19 can be found on the Trade with Confidence website.

The University of Wolverhampton Business School has a range of courses for managers and a dedicated COVID-19 Business Support Hub.

Relight Business Programme

City of Wolverhampton Council is looking to engage up to 200 City-based businesses into a free package of intensive short term and long-term support, including 12 months free membership of either the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), or the Black Country Chamber of Commerce; and free digital and financial reviews by professional consultants.

Apply for the Business Relight Programme

The scheme, thought to be a first in the country, focuses on improving financial management; encouraging product, service and market reviews; and improving digital awareness and application – and is designed to help build the capacity to survive and grow in the Covid-19 hit economy. Businesses who complete the initial Business Review and the subsequent Digital and Financial Reviews will then be able to apply for a grant to support one of the eligible recommended actions.

“As a member of the first cohort of the Relight Business Programme, I have found the package of support that has been put in place for businesses to be very useful.  The timing of the programme has been perfect for my own business as I look to evolve and explore different opportunities to sustain and grow in difficult conditions. The optimism and enthusiasm of the Business Development Team to support local business owners is palpable and the programme has really boosted my own confidence and outlook.  The external specialist support and membership of the FSB provided as part of the programme is brilliant for a small business like mine which has little extra capacity to focus on all of those areas of the business which are so vital to success.  I am really enjoying the opportunity to challenge my own perceptions of my business with the support of experienced and helpful professionals. Russell Stanley - Owner, Health and Well Being in Schools"

The Programme is open to sole traders, micro and small businesses from across a range of sectors.

The basic eligibility criteria include:

  • employing no more than 50
  • turnover below £50m 
  • primary trading base in the Wolverhampton local authority area

There is an application process, and assessments are based on:

  • commitment to a digital and a financial review 
  • signing up to the Wolves@Work pledge
  • evidencing ambition and passion 

There is an open application window, and a decision on whether a business is accepted onto the programme or not is final.

New Products or Services Pivot - Webinar 1

New Markets Pivot - Webinar 2b

Relight Business Support Newsletter

Issue 10 - July 13, 2021

Read Issue 10 here

Issue 9

Issue 8

Issue 7 - May 14, 2021

Read Issue 7 here

Issue 6 - April 29, 2021

Read Issue 6 here

Issue 5 - April 1, 2021

  • Business Testing Scheme Grant Open
  • Exporting with a Clean Growth Agenda
  • Registering for Work Testing Kits Extended

Read Issue 5 here

Issue 4 - March 19, 2021

  • Gearing up to opening up!
  • Relight Business Support Cohort 2 - Application deadline: 31st March
  • Register for Free Rapid Flow Tests
  • Response to Redundancy
  • Final Call on Grants

Read Issue 4 here

Issue 3 - March 5, 2021

  • Important Reminder Covid-19 Testing and Business Grants
  • Join Relight Business Support  - Cohort 2
  • Help to Grow Campaign
  • Clean Growth and the Green Economy Wind Turbines
  • End of Lockdown: Challenge or Opportunity

Read Issue 3 here

Issue 2 - February 18, 2021

  • A message from Councillor Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy
  • COVID-19 Grants
  • Relight Programme Registration
  • Business Survey

Read Issue 2 here

Issue 1 - February 11, 2021

  • Are you ready for Brexit?
  • COVID-19 Test Centres
  • Relighting our city survey
  • National Apprenticeship Week 8th - 12th Feb

Read Issue 1 here

Relighting Business - Webinars and Surgeries

Through the summer we ran a series of 7 webinars and 5 surgeries with the support and involvement of a number of businesses that represented a cross  section of business sectors, sizes and structures. Our thanks go to our Economic Growth Board members John Wood, Director at the Liberty Group, Scott Thompson, Managing Director at the Thompson Group, Matt Weston, Director at Stones Throw Media, Anna-Maria McCauliffe, Director of the McAuliffe Group, Maria Posiwnyncz, owner of The Accountancy Firm; Sham Sharma, owner of Zuri Coffee; Henry Carver, Managing Director of Carvers; and Russell Jones, General Manager Marketing and Commercial Growth at Wolves FC.

The titles of the webinars were:

  • Cut Costs and Streamline Processes to Improve Productivity and Efficiency  
  • Plan ahead and Plan for Success
  • Lead and Don’t be Led
  • Innovate and Diversify
  • Invest and Identify New Customers and Market Trends

View the webinars here

Our thanks too to Maqq Rafique, Director of Airguard Filters; and Keith Milford, owner of PrintDot. Maqq and Keith successfully pivoted their businesses early this year to respond to the needs of the NHS and essential businesses, securing AIM for GOLD grant support to implement investment in new machinery. They shared their stories in 2 of our recent growth planning webinars:

  • Growth Planning – the creative sector
  • Growth Planning – the manufacturing sector

Contact us...

Email: business.development@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Twitter: @investwolves

BREXIT
AIM for GOLD - Business Support Programme
Business Week – Watch again!
Contact us

Anyone with any business support grant queries should call the Business Support Line between 9 am and 5 pm from Monday to Thursday or from 9 am to 4.30 pm on Fridays.

Successes/Case Studies
SMALL BUSINESS:BIG IMPACT 4 – COVID-19 Champions

Time for another ‘Small Business:Big Impact’ booklet...you bet, and you could be part of it!

Maqq Raffique (centre of second row) from Airguard Filters pictured with staff at University Hospital Birmingham – Airguard diversified its business away from manufacturing air filters for power generators and into making PPE for the NHS over the summer

We’ve already showcased over 50 Wolverhampton businesses in our first 3 editions so now it’s on to the fourth - and a bumper edition this time!

It’s been an incredibly challenging time, but we have been amazed and immensely proud of the numerous companies that have developed new products and services, entered new markets and in some cases changed their business model completely through the year.

There were those who responded to the call to support the needs of the NHS through the spring and summer. There was some quick repositioning, re-engineering and re-prioritising to provide a range of equipment from ventilators through to PPE. Productive capacity was re-focused and scaled up and much needed vital equipment is now with local hospitals and care workers.

Many others responded to the changing environment in which we are living our lives – supplying safety barriers to shops, restaurants and pubs; and others still have pivoted, developed new products and services, entered new markets and changed their business model.

If you are proud of what you have achieved this year and want to share your business story in our next booklet please email business.development@wolverhampton.gov.uk

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