Wolves in Business

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

The City of Wolverhampton Council is looking to engage up to 200 City-based businesses into a free package of intensive short term and ongoing long-term support to be delivered in collaboration with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

The scheme, thought to be a first in the country, will focus 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.

Importantly the package includes free membership of the FSB or the Chamber of Commerce for 12 months – two key business support organisations active in the City, each of whom provide a comprehensive package of support available to their members.

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

The basic eligibility criteria include:

• employing no more than 250
• turnover below £50m 
• primary trading base in the Wolverhampton local authority area
• not a member of the FSB or the Chamber within the past 6 months
• not a participant in a Council Business Support Programme within the past 6 months (excludes government Covid-19 related grant schemes)

There will be an application process, and assessments will be based on:

• commitment to an initial Business Review 
• attending a series of thematic and membership offer webinars
• signing up to the Wolves@Work pledge
• evidencing ambition and passion 

We are running 5 cohorts of 40 businesses in the period up to March 2022; each cohort will reflect a cross-section of business sectors and sizes, and a decision to be accepted or not will be final.

The programme went live in January 2021 and applications are now being invited for cohort 2. A key part of a successful application will be to show ambition and passion about the business and programme – and the package being offered will be worth on average £750 to each participating business. 

Apply for the Business Relight Programme
 
Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Members for City Economy noted: “These are incredibly difficult times for our small businesses, and we are constantly looking at new ways we can support them and help them bounce back from the current crisis. Through our work in administering thousands of vital business grants during the Covid-19 pandemic we have identified where some small businesses need more than just financial support. The Relight Business Programme provides more tailored support from business professionals that will help build capacity in some of our smallest, but most ambitious businesses.”

Membership of the Federation of Small Businesses or the Black Country Chamber of Commerce comes with the package - as does a financial health check, and focused support on funding, financial management and cashflow; and product, service and market reviews.

Karen Wooley, West Midlands Development Manager at the FSB commented, “It is challenging to run a business in the best of times, but the past 8 months have presented incredible challenges for our local entrepreneurs and we want to support them in whatever way we can. The economic disruption caused by Covid-19 calls for some new thinking and what we have here is, I believe, a first for the City. The offer of Wolverhampton Council to provide businesses with a 12-month FSB membership, along with a wrap-around programme of support, is an example of the Council’s commitment to nurture and protect its small businesses with a robust suit of immediate, on the ground advice and resources to help them through the crises and beyond - enabling them to not only survive, but to thrive.”

The Council believe there is real value for a business in being a member of a business support organisation and equally believe that this can be significantly enhanced through an intensive package of focused support to build resilience and capacity – and the package being offered will be worth at least £750. 

Corin Crane, Chief Executive at the Chamber of Commerce added, “The Black Country Chamber of Commerce has been helping local business over the past two centuries and, during COVID-19 have turned to us to help them navigate the challenges which many now face.  Participating businesses will have to commit to actively use their membership and participate in this intensive programme of support and the cohort, account management, and focussed support on offer will give many businesses a means by which to navigate these very challenging times.”

New Products or Services Pivot - Webinar 1

New Markets Pivot - Webinar 2b

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

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

Anyone with any business support 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.

• Telephone: 01902 290242
   
• Email: business.development@wolverhampton.gov.uk