Business Growth Strategy - Walsall Business Support
Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, coordinates business support across the region. It funds and commissions support for businesses around innovation, high growth, prestart and startup, digital adoption, skills, energy efficiency and access to finance. As part of BGWM, constituent local authorities, including the Council’s Business Growth Team, provide Advisors to help local businesses to access the support from BGWM and other local and national support.
The creation of a new Economic Development Vehicle changes how business support activity is coordinated and funded, and will continue to evolve now that it is established. This Strategy provides a framework to respond to and shape the EDV provision in Walsall. The Business Growth Strategy and Action Plan reflects the importance of:
- Being able to evidence and prioritise the support requirements of Walsall businesses;
- Contributing confidently and positively to regional decision-making to ensure our priorities are reflected and to demonstrate how we can help the wider West Midlands by working in collaboration with other local authorities and partner agencies;
- Playing a key role in stimulating demand and take up for business support by Walsall businesses; and
- Looking for creative ways to fill gaps where support is not provided regionally, or where local needs differ from those in neighbouring areas.
Business Survey
A Business Survey was carried out to inform the Walsall Business Growth Strategy. Although the sample size was small, it found the following;
- Businesses found it difficult to access the support they need. 76% of businesses said it was not straightforward to access business support.
- Two thirds of respondents (68%) found the quality of start-up/business support services in Walsall as poor or neutral.
- Demand for support on business planning and strategy, investment, supply chains and digital adoption.