Black Country Growth Hub

Coronavirus Support

We are updating our Coronavirus support page regularly with the latest information and support measures as they are announced.

Find various links and resources here

Job Brokerage Service

As a response to the Covid-19 situation, the Black Country LEP is working with partners to create a Black Country-wide job brokerage service. We aim to match employees at risk of redundancy with new vacancies in sectors experiencing a surge in demand such as food retail, distribution and care.

Click here for more info

Planning for the future?

The UK has now left the EU, make sure you are considering this while making future plans concerning your business. Visit our support page below to find free online resources to help you.

Click here for support

Social Enterprise in the Black Country

Social care is a major, and growing economic sector. It contributed £4.2 billion (3.5%) to the West Midlands economy in 2015/16. The Black Country LEP is committed to supporting residential and domiciliary care providers to drive improvements in quality and meet requirements.

Visit the Social Care page

The Department of International Trade

The Department of International Trade have a dedicated team based in Wolverhampton who provide advice and practical support to businesses who want to export on an international level. They offer a variety of services, no matter the level your business is at.

Interested in exporting?

Follow Us on Twitter

Here are our latest updates about local business news, events and opportunities from in and around the Black Country’

Follow @bcgrowthhub

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Case Studies

Find out what we do from people we’ve helped!

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Latest News

£20 million to improve small business leadership and problem-solving skills in the wake of coronavirus

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis spurs British businesses to adopt new ways of working, the government is investing £20 million to improve s...

BT’s Small Business Support Scheme

BOOSTING CONNECTIVITY Funding ultrafast business connections: BT is helping small businesses fund the cost of an ultrafast business connect...

Government announces £10 million for small businesses to kickstart tourism

News story from GOVUK. Communities that depend on tourism will receive a major boost from a new £10 million Kick-starting Tourism Package, th...

Deadline announced for Government business grants

Eligible Wolverhampton businesses yet to apply for vital coronavirus grants are being made aware the Government has announced the schemes will close o...

Home-based businesses urged to apply for grant scheme

City of Wolverhampton Council is calling on the city’s home-based businesses to check if they are eligible for the second round of its Discretio...

How photonic technologies can help the agriculture industry to analyse food samples without contamination

ETICC is a project led by Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies and Aston Institute of Materials Research, which offers small and medium businesses...

£20 million in new grants to boost recovery of small businesses

More information on the delivery of these grants will be announced soon, be sure to follow our social media channels or sign up to our newsletter to b...

‘Jump-start’ for UK’s leading creative industries

Read the full article at the GOVUK website In a major move to jump start the country’s cultural and creative sectors following lockdown, the...

Midlands’ Pitch Up investment competition opens for applications

Applications to Minerva Birmingham’s Pitch Up competition are now open. Formerly known as “Pitchfest WM” and now in its 6th year, pa...

Growth Hub to connect Black Country manufacturers to the agricultural sector

Black Country LEP Growth Hub becomes members of Agri-Epi Centre in order to connect manufacturers to supply chain opportunities in agricultural and...

New rules on face coverings come into force

Face coverings must now be worn in borough shops – with certain exemptions. Coverings are compulsory in enclosed public spaces such as s...

Second round of grant scheme launching to help Wolverhampton businesses

City of Wolverhampton Council will launch on Thursday (July 23) the second round of its Discretionary Grant Scheme to help small businesses. Full d...

Second Round of financial help for Dudley businesses

Small businesses have a second chance to claim vital cash grants after more than £1million was given out in the first round of funding. The s...

Business events and conferences to resume in October

Read the full article at the GOVUK website Business events and conferences will be permitted to resume from 1 October provided rates of infection r...

Find your local Discretionary Grant Fund Scheme (Updated)

Updated: 23rd July 2020 The UK Government recently announced the Discretionary Grants Scheme, aiming to help small and micro businesses with f...

UK’s first 5G accelerator underway after virtual engage event

Following the launch of 5PRING – the UK’s first 5G application accelerator designed to ignite innovative solutions using 5G technology &nd...

Thrive At Work: Wellbeing Awards Programme

One in six workers experience mental health difficulties which has resulted in millions of lost work hours from sickness and presenteeism (where worke...

What is innovation? (IAWM)

We recently spoke with Jane from Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (IAWM) about all things innovation within the Black Country, she has kindly...

Eat Out to Help Out Scheme FAQ

Below you will find all the information you need to sign your business up for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The scheme has been created by the UK...

UNESCO Geopark status secured for the Black Country

There were huge cheers from around the Black Country today as the region became an official, world-famous UNESCO Global Geopark. After submitting i...

Traders consulted on safe shopping measures

Businesses in town centres across Dudley borough are being consulted on measures put in place as part of plans to keep people safe during the coronavi...

Shout it loud and proud – the Black Country is bostin!

It’s bostin’ being from the Black Country – and people are being urged to shout loud and proud about who they are and where they com...

Contractor appointed to build new Heath Town homes

City of Wolverhampton Council has appointed a contractor to build the first new council homes as part of a major transformation of the Heath Town esta...