FSB small business awards open for entries

It’s time to send your entries in to the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024. There are twelve categories, open to all small businesses and self-employed people from anywhere in the UK. There is even a brand new category for 2024 celebrating franchise businesses.

This year, the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) is celebrating 50 years of supporting small businesses in the UK. Winning, or being shortlisted for, one of its prestigious awards is a great way to gain national recognition for your business success. 

Sponsored by Tyl by NatWest and others, the awards are free to enter. Finalists get an invitation to a free networking event in March, and a free ticket to the awards ceremony. This takes place at the Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom in Blackpool on Thursday 9 May 2024.

Twelve categories to enter

There are twelve categories in the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards, which means twelve chances for your business to shine. The categories for this year are:

  • Sustainability award: for ethically, socially responsible and green businesses
  • Micro Business award: for businesses with 9 or fewer employees
  • Start-up Business award: for businesses under two years old
  • Family Business award: for businesses owned and run by at least two family members
  • Young Entrepreneur award: for people whose business success belies their age
  • Community award: for businesses that support their local community
  • Innovation award: for new business models and innovative products
  • Self-employed and Freelancer award: for people with tenacity and drive
  • Expansion and Growth award: for businesses with 10 to 250 employees
  • Diversity and Inclusion award: for putting diversity at the heart of a business or project
  • Service Excellence award: for first class customer service
  • Franchise Business award: for a high-performing franchise

Don’t miss this opportunity to get recognition for your work, raise your profile, gain new connections and celebrate your achievements. Get your entry in before the final deadline of Sunday 11 February.

Sandwell business support in 2024

Big things are happening in Sandwell this year. We’ve got a wide range of business support, guidance, networking and finance for companies both new and established. Here’s what’s going on …

Business support for start-ups

When Sandwell businesses thrive, they create jobs, raise aspirations, boost skills and generate wealth for our local economy. You’re Sandwell’s lifeblood – and so our Sandwell Business Growth Team is here to champion your business at every stage.

The Sandwell Business Growth Plan sets out Sandwell Council’s strategy for supporting businesses over the next two financial years. 

In 2024, we’re offering some amazing business support to help your dreams get lift-off.

Sandwell Enterprise Programme

This scheme is for people who are setting up a new business, or who have set one up in the last two years. In collaboration with business consultancy Aspire4U, it offers both group and one-to-one support, and is fully funded by the UK Prosperity Fund. 

‘Start Up in Sandwell’ grants

Businesses registered on the Sandwell Enterprise Programme are also eligible to apply for grants of up to £3K. This could help fund equipment, a website, leaflets, producing a new prototype, property refurbishment or improving systems and processes.

Learn about Start Up in Sandwell grants.

Business support for established companies

We’re going through some of the most difficult trading times ever. Our Sandwell business support extends to companies that have been around a while and would like an injection of knowledge, ideas or even finance to achieve their next stage of growth.

Sandwell Business Boost

Business consultancy Winning Moves is working with Sandwell Council to deliver this free programme of tailor-made support to help businesses maximise their growth potential. It is designed to help develop leadership skills and stronger relationships with clients, partners and employees. It is also a chance to build market insight, resilience and sustainability.

‘Grow in Sandwell’ grants

Grants of up to £20K are available for Sandwell SMEs that have been trading for over two years. The money can fund activities such as relocation, developing new market opportunities, promotion, capital investment and improving systems and processes.

Learn about Grow in Sandwell grants.

‘Net Zero in Sandwell’ grants

Achieving net zero carbon emissions is one of Sandwell Council’s seven economic priorities. Grants of up to £20K are available to help local businesses improve energy and resource efficiency through changing or updating things such as ventilation, heating, lighting, refrigeration, insulation and waste management.

Learn about Net Zero in Sandwell grants.

A banner to represent international trade showing a globe, planes taking off, container ships and lorries

International trade support

Sandwell Council has teamed up with experts at Falsum Consulting Ltd to provide one-to-one business support to companies with global trade ambitions.

If your business has been importing or exporting for at least a year, then you may be eligible for specialist advice, a customs review, and ongoing consultation.

We also have two international trade workshops coming up at the Sandwell Start-Up Hub in Oldbury, on Friday 12 January and Friday 22 February.

Support for all businesses

Sandwell Start-Up Hub

Nasteha, Helen and Carlene at the Sandwell Start-Up Hub launch - new co-working environment in Oldbury

Whether you’re new to business or highly experienced, you’re welcome to come and work from the Sandwell Start-Up Hub. It’s our supportive, innovative, co-working space in Jack Judge House in Oldbury (opposite Sandwell Council House), which offers free WiFi and networking opportunities).

Desks are free for start-up businesses for twelve months after they sign up*, with designated zones for collaboration and quiet working.

You can also hire space at the Sandwell Start-Up Hub for events. 

[*Free for twelve months following sign-up, and before March 2025.]

People to shout about how great you are

Sandwell Business Growth will be here throughout the year, writing news stories, promoting your successes and featuring local businesses through Made in Sandwell profiles. If you have something to celebrate, we’d love to hear from you at any time.

You can also follow us on X or LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.

Registration open for Venturefest WM 2024

Registration for Venturefest West Midlands 2024 is now open. The free event will bring together entrepreneurs, investors and innovators in the West Midlands.

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is sponsoring and co-hosting the Venturefest WM 2024 event at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Thursday 21 March. 

The all-day event offers entrepreneurs and innovators the opportunity to share ideas, particularly in the fields of science and emerging technologies. During the day there will be panel discussions, workshops and an exhibition of innovative products.

Sponsors of the Venturefest WM 2024 include:

  • ICure
  • Electric Revolution Skills Hub
  • Medilink
  • VWV
  • Natwest
  • Penningtons Manches Cooper
  • University of Birmingham.

Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up

Running alongside Venturefest WM will be Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up – a Dragons’ Den-style competition for business owners.  The competition provides a unique opportunity for businesses to raise their profile, both in the West Midlands and in front of a national audience of investors.  

Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up is run by the Centre for Growth at Aston University, BizzInn at the University of Birmingham and Minerva Business Angels, which is part of the University of Warwick Science Park. 

The programme has put over 200 entrepreneurs directly in front of investors over recent years. It has helped bring more than £65m of investments to the region’s small businesses.

The Pitch Up final will be held at Venturefest. The best business pitches will compete in front of a live audience of investors and entrepreneurs to win:

  • The best pitch award
  • Golden ticket to access Minerva Birmingham’s professional network of business angel investors
  • Potential future investment.

Applications for Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up 2023 are open. The deadline to apply is Friday 26 January.

Find out more and apply here.

What the Mayor had to say

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “I am delighted to once again see Venturefest WM back in the West Midlands. Our region is the fastest growing tech sector in the UK, a position it has proudly held for the last three years – headlined by the £15.3bn tech cluster in Leamington Spa.

“However, we cannot be complacent. Despite the successful path we’re on, there is still so much more to do to grow our tech economy and ensure local people can fulfil their career ambitions here.

“That’s why we’re pressing ahead with investments like our Innovation Accelerator and our Deeper Devolution Deal, and why having Venturefest WM return for another year is so important to us.”

What others had to say

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the WMCA’s portfolio holder for economy and innovation and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Venturefest WM signals our commitment as a region to our wider Plan for Growth. For how we can return our economy to an upward trajectory and with greater influence in key areas.

“We can give entrepreneurs and businesses better focus on growing the skills they need to grow their businesses. All of which are key to our future prosperity.”

Kevin Marks, Regional Research Commercialisation, University of Warwick, said: “It’s great to be part of Venturefest WM and Minerva Birmingham PitchUp again this year. It will showcase some of the exciting technology emerging from across the UK’s University network, supported under Innovate UK’s ICURe programme.

“It’s also exciting that the audience will be allowed to select the best pitch from the cohort presenting to enter the final of Minerva Birmingham PitchUp.”

Dr Ben Roberts, West Midlands innovation adviser at Medilink Midlands, said: “Medilink Midlands is proud to support Venturefest WM. We recognise investment as a pivotal element for our network’s growth and success, both within the West Midlands HealthTech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) and our broader ecosystem across the Midlands.”

Venturefest WM 2024 details

Venturefest WM will take place on Thursday 21 March at the Eastside Rooms, Woodcock Street, Birmingham from 8.30am to 5pm.

For more information about Venturefest WM 2024 and how to meet potential investors, visit the Venturefest website

To get more funding news and information for your Sandwell business visit our funding search page. You’ll find a searchable database of current EU, government and council grants, loans, venture capital funds and tax credit programmes.

Essential road maintenance works in Sandwell

Just to let you know: Sandwell Council will be carrying out essential road maintenance work on Dudley Street bridge in West Bromwich between Wednesday 3 January and Sunday 5 May.

The road maintenance works involve partial demolition of the outer edges of the bridge deck and their reconstruction. To keep disruption to a minimum, Sandwell Council has planned the work to the bridge to coordinate with planned stoppages on the Metro.

Once completed, the bridge will be able to carry full highway traffic. The existing eighteen-tonne weight limit on the bridge will be removed.  

Various closures and diversions will be necessary while the road works take place including: 

  • Temporary traffic signals and lane closures on Dudley Street from Wednesday 3 January 
  • A full road closure of Dudley Street from Monday 19 February to Sunday 5 May 
  • The closure of Jervoise Street at the junction with Dudley Street between Monday 4 March and Friday March

Pedestrians will be able to access to frontages throughout the work. Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place. 

The diversion routes for the closures are short. The Dudley Street closure will put additional traffic onto the A41 between the Swan and Albion roundabouts. The closure of Jervoise Street will put additional vehicular traffic onto Coppice Street and Claypit Lane.

Go to Sandwell Council’s page for the latest on road maintenance works in Sandwell.

Merry Christmas from Sandwell Business Growth

We’ll be back from Tuesday 2 January to bring you lots more support, guidance, opportunities and resources to help your Sandwell business thrive and grow.

In the meantime, merry Christmas!

If you’re working quietly on your business over the festive break, check out our current programmes:

For established SMEs in Sandwell

Net Zero in Sandwell grants
Grow in Sandwell grants
Sandwell Business Boost

For start-up businesses in Sandwell

Start Up in Sandwell grants
Sandwell Enterprise Programme

If you have questions, the Business Growth Team will be back on Tuesday 2 January to help you. See you in early 2024!

Have your say on the future of Sandwell Valley

Sandwell Council has opened a consultation on the implementation of the Sandwell Valley Master Plan. It is asking residents and businesses for their views.

The Sandwell Valley Master Plan plan covers the ten-year period until 2034. It brings together different aspects of the country park’s visitor services with the aim of making Sandwell a destination of choice. 

Sandwell Valley country park

Sandwell Valley is a large estate spanning over 1,800 acres of open countryside. It has strategic importance for the borough and already attracts thousands of walkers, runners and visitors every year. 

The country park includes a visitor centre, Forge Mill Farm, Sandwell Showground, Sandwell Valley Amusements, the King George V pavilion with changing room facilities, and Swan Pool. There are playgrounds and sites for various sports and leisure activities including mini-golf, high ropes, bike tracks and model flying.

The Master Plan

The Sandwell Valley Master Plan offers a proposal of improvements to the following areas: 

  • Connectivity and parking across all sites
  • Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre – including repairs, a retractable roof for events and activities, and an expanded cafe and shop offer
  • A new heritage discovery zone offering educational play and activities linked to the history and conservation elements of the area
  • A new watersports centre and cafe at Swan Pool to replace the current building, with expanded parking
  • A new food education and cooking barn to promote healthy eating and cooking in Sandwell for schools, families and parents.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism Councillor Charn Singh Padda said:

“Sandwell Valley Country Park is one the jewels in Sandwell’s crown. It is a place that many of us have been visiting for years for leisure, sport or just to relax. We want to make sure that it can be enjoyed by Sandwell residents for generations to come. This is why we are asking everyone to let us know what they think of the improvements we are proposing.”

You can have your say on the plan at https://consultationhub.sandwell.gov.uk/.

Paper copies will also be available at libraries and Sandwell Council House.

Did you know Sandwell Council is currently running a public consultation on its budget? This is running until Tuesday 2 January 2024. Learn more.

Provisional green light for Grove Lane funding in Smethwick

A regeneration project for Grove Lane in Smethwick has provisionally been awarded £18m in government Levelling Up Funding.

The government has identified the Grove Lane project in Smethwick as one of 55 successfully proposed projects nationally. It has provisionally awarded the project £18,063,128 from Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund.

In line with the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 submission, the funding will be used for land acquisitions to enable new housing around the Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital. It will also support the delivery of the Grove Lane Masterplan which Sandwell Council’s Cabinet approved in February 2022.

Funding methodology

In deciding the funding methodology for Round 3, government ministers had three primary objectives:

1. To prioritise places assessed as ‘in need’ according to metrics set out in the Levelling Up White Paper

2. To ensure a fair geographic spread so the Fund can benefit all areas of the country across its lifetime

3. To support the ‘pride in place and transport’ Levelling Up missions by focusing predominantly on regeneration and transport projects. (Please note that a smaller share of funding is going to transport projects this time compared to previous rounds, given recent wider government investment in local transport.)

The funding award is provisional and subject to project validation, subsidy control checks, and departmental sign-off. Sandwell Officers will be working through this assurance process with government civil servants.

Here in the West Midlands, Dudley Council and City of Wolverhampton Council also made successful bids in Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund.

Trading Standards Business News: winter edition

The winter 2023 edition of Trading Standards Business News is available online. It contains tips on how to stay warm and safe this winter, food safety and allergen advice, an XL Bully update, news on new laws around single use plastics and advice on Christmas lights safety, amongst other seasonal topics.

Trading Standards Business News (TSBN) is a digital magazine published by Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CEnTSA).

It is a collaboration between fourteen trading standards services within local authorities across the West Midlands – including Sandwell. Together they aim to maximise the impact that individual services have, supporting businesses in our region to trade legally and fairly while promoting economic growth.

CEnTSA’s Trading Standards Business News is full of advice to help you and your business thrive while staying on the right side of the law. Each edition covers a wide range of business sectors and signposts you to further information.

What’s inside the winter 2023 edition of TSBN?

The magazine includes articles for SMEs, food businesses, entertainment venues and dog breeders as well as information on seasonal safety and age-restricted sales requirements for retailers.

The winter 2023 edition of TSBN contains guidance on the strict new rules coming in for American XL Bully owners and breeders, the latest bird flu report, information for businesses about the single-use plastics ban that come into force in October this year – identifying banned items and outlining the consequences if they supply or sell prohibited items. .

There is a report on vaping, containing information on age verification checks and advice on what is legal and staff training. And information about food hygiene and safety, outlining the 4Cs – cleaning, cooking, chilling and cross-contamination. 

This edition also contains guidance on keeping your staff warm this winter despite soaring energy costs. It reminds employers that turning down the heating could directly impact the health and wellbeing of their staff.

There is information for retailers on how to beat thieves this festive season – the time of year when increased crowds make it easier for thieves to target businesses. There is also guidance for homeowners on burning authorised fuels and the consequences for breaching the rules.

Word from the editor

In her welcome to the final edition of TSBN of the year, editor Frances Darling said: “Once again, the hard working TSBN team has brought together a broad range of articles that will hopefully prove useful – so please do read on for the detail and feel free to circulate this and future editions to other organisations and your colleagues. Don’t forget to let us know if there are topics you want us to include in future editions.”

Where can I read the winter 2023 edition of TSBN?

You can read the latest TSBN in a browser on your computer or download the TSBN app for Apple and Android devices. The digital magazine content is interactive – so clicking on the web links will take you to the relevant page or website.

You can find past editions of TSBN here.

For information and advice from Sandwell Council on how to comply with trading standards – from labelling food, or selling age-restricted products to displaying weights and prices – visit our trading Standards page:

Will your Sandwell business #Pledge2Invest?

Through its #Pledge2Invest campaign, Sandwell College is encouraging employers to invest in their workforce and community.

Sandwell College is the West Midlands’ largest provider of 16-19 study programmes. As the video below explains, the college is asking local businesses to #Pledge2Invest: commit to at least one of three investments in order to improve the life chances of people in our communities.

Would you #Pledge2Invest by:

  • Offering an apprenticeship 
  • Upskilling existing staff
  • Offering a work placement?

Employers and entrepreneurs also have opportunities to come and speak to its students and inspire the next generation.

Improving life chances

The external engagement team at the college will collaborate with employers to offer operational support, and to advise on training options. Sandwell College also offers a free recruitment service for local businesses that want to take on new staff.

Sandwell College’s aim through #Pledge2Invest is to work with local businesses to help grow a talented workforce of the future. This will ultimately improve the life chances of people across the region.

Skills in Sandwell

Investing in your workforce is one of the most effective ways to nurture a thriving business. Alongside #Pledge2Invest from Sandwell College, learn about support available from Sandwell Council on our skills and training page.

NatWest Accelerator now open for March 2024 cohort

The NatWest Accelerator programme is now open for applications for the March 2024 cohort. The programme offers support to entrepreneurs and SMEs. It helps businesses to scale to the next level.

The NatWest Accelerator programme provides fully funded coaching and mentoring specifically designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs who want to grow their business, regardless of geographic location or sector.

Accelerator wrap-around support

NatWest recognises that every business owner is different and that the motivations for scaling a business can vary greatly. It also understands the power of being surrounded by a network of like minded individuals and specialists. 

The programme is free and specialises in wrap-around support. It provides:

  • One-to-one coaching with acceleration managers
  • A programme of thought leadership and events
  • Access to a network of like-minded peers, supported by Natwest ecosystem managers
  • Focused support with access to experts from every sector
  • The use of modern co-working spaces in one of Natwest’s nationwide hubs.

Programme timeline

The programme starts with an IGNITION event in the week commencing Monday 11 March 2024 and extends over six months with fortnightly events, opportunities and monthly one-to-one, peer-to-peer and group coaching sessions.

There is an option to reapply for up to eighteen months of support in total, with the first six months open to non-NatWest group customers.

Applications for this intake will close on Friday 16 February. Interviews will take place throughout the entire application window. Places are limited.

NatWest Accelerator Programme Download PDF

Discovery events

NatWest is holding some application discovery events for potential applicants. To find out more about the Accelerator programme and better understand what’s on offer attend either an online or a face to face event at your local Accelerator Hub.

For Sandwell businesses the closest hub is in Birmingham and discovery events are taking place every couple of weeks from Tuesday 12 December. Find out more and register via Eventbrite.

Find a virtual discovery event here.

To apply for a place on the Accelerator programme use link below then complete the short application form. Visit the NatWest website to find out about eligibility criteria, and terms and conditions.

Another opportunity: Clean Transport Specialist Accelerator

Transport is the largest carbon emitting sector in the UK, accounting for more than a quarter of emissions. The sector is therefore critical to climate strategy and achieving net zero goals through to 2050.

NatWest is working with the University of Warwick to create a Clean Transport Specialist Accelerator, combining coaching, thought leadership, community and access to networks with specialist support from members of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. 

Entrepreneurs will gain a unique opportunity to remove barriers, improve connectivity and receive support in realising their ambitions around clean transport. 

To find out more about the clean transport accelerator, download the flyer below:

Clean Transport Specialist Accelerator

Support in Sandwell

Visit our Sandwell Start-Up Hub if you are an aspiring entrepreneur or you have a growing business in Sandwell. Find out about the Sandwell Business Boost growth support we’re currently offering to your business.

Sandwell Council budget: have your say online

Sandwell Council is carrying out further consultation with the public on how to make savings to its budget over the coming years. As a Sandwell-based business representative, don’t forget to have your say in the online survey.

Sandwell Council held an initial budget consultation earlier this year. Now it is inviting residents, businesses and voluntary organisations to take part in a further consultation on areas where the council can save money.

Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Councillor Bob Piper said: “The council is facing similar pressure to residents from inflation and rising costs. The cost of living emergency is also creating more demand for some council services. This means that we need to make difficult decisions when the council sets its budget.

Making choices about delivering services

“We currently spend around £317 million each year on our day-to-day services, such as bin collections, street cleansing, running libraries and leisure centres. And around 60 per cent of our budget funds vital services for adult social care and looking after vulnerable children. We must meet our legal requirements, but we can make choices in how we deliver some of these services.

“Sandwell is no different to other councils – we all face significant financial pressures. Although we are in a fortunate position to have options to achieve a balanced budget, this still means we need to make difficult decisions. We need to use our limited resources as efficiently as we can, which means we have to work even harder to continue to deliver services and make the money go further for the years ahead.

“In the past two years, the council has worked hard to make savings of over £30 million.

“The council must make savings of £13 million to ensure we can balance our budget for the next financial year (2024/25). The majority of these savings must be sustainable – so we can continue make these savings over the coming years, not just next year.”

Understanding residents’ priorities

The council’s initial 2024/25 budget consultation, that took place over the summer, saw residents rank their priorities for how the council could achieve savings or increase income, as follows:

  • Selling or developing council buildings
  • Stopping or reducing non-essential services
  • Charging more for some paid-for services
  • Introducing more charging for non-essential services
  • Increasing council tax.

This further consultation will ask more questions about the areas where Sandwell Council can make savings.

Councillor Piper added: “It’s important to us that we consult residents on how the council makes these vital savings. When the consultation closes, we will consider the responses we receive and bring a further report back to the council’s cabinet, before setting the council’s budget in early 2024. The council’s budget will, of course, be influenced by the chancellor’s autumn statement in late November and the Local Government Finance Settlement later in the year.”

The consultation closes on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Young Planner of the Year 2023: congratulations to Sandwell Council’s Joshua Singh

Sandwell Council’s planning regeneration team leader, Joshua Singh, has won the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)’s national Young Planner of the Year 2023 award.

Josh received the Young Planner of the Year award last week at the RTPI’s Awards for Planning Excellence.

This national award follows Josh winning the West Midlands Young Planner of the Year in June this year. He was recognised for his commitment to making a difference to Sandwell’s residents and businesses. He was also commended for promoting career opportunities in planning to the region’s young people.

Awards for Planning Excellence

At the recent awards the judges commended Josh’s “outstanding commitment and passion”. They added: “As a role model for future young planners, he will benefit the profession and the communities he works within.”

More recently, Josh was part of the team that secured £67.5m of government Towns Fund investment for Sandwell. He lead specifically on the West Bromwich Town Investment Plan. This resulted in West Bromwich securing £25m of funding for six town centre projects.

Josh joined Sandwell Council in 2010. He worked in several planning areas before securing a permanent position in the planning regeneration team in 2015. He has helped to deliver multiple regeneration projects that have benefited the borough. These include leading on a council programme to tackle ‘grot spots’.

The projects ranged from high street upgrades to sustainable transport, with Josh leading on the Urban Greening programme across the town centre.

Making a difference in Sandwell

In addition to these projects, Josh champions engagement with local schools. He works with the council’s employment team to bring career sessions with professional businesses into primary schools.

He has also helped to establish an educational outreach programme to engage with local college students. His aim is to explain what a career in planning might entail.

Josh said: “I’m extremely proud to have won this award and to have this opportunity to represent young planners from the West Midlands region and across the United Kingdom.

“Working in Sandwell for the past fourteen years and raising a young family as a resident of the borough has made me passionate about delivering regeneration and positive transformation for local communities, residents, businesses and young people across the area.

“Winning this award gives me a platform to share this passion and experience. To put Sandwell on the national and international planning stage, showcasing the influential work we’re doing to raise ambitions and create a new story for Sandwell through regeneration and growth.

“I am very fortunate that Sandwell Council has recognised and supported my career, from starting on the main reception through to leading the council’s planning regeneration team. I have a fantastic team around me, and I thank the team of managers who put me forward for this award. Especially Jenna Langford whose footsteps I am following, as a previous recipient of this award in 2019. Two National Young Planners of the Year from Sandwell – we’re obviously doing something right!”

Support from Sandwell Council

Chief Executive of Sandwell Council, Shokat Lal, added: “Josh’s incredible achievement is well-deserved and testimony to his dedication to the people of Sandwell. It is wonderful that the council has been able to support him throughout his career.

“Josh also personifies the vision and ambition for the council and Sandwell as a thriving borough on a journey towards excellence. Josh is a credit to Sandwell, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.”

To find out more about regeneration projects across Sandwell visit www.regeneratingsandwell.co.uk.

Read the Sandwell Business Growth Plan

Sandwell Council has published its Sandwell Business Growth Plan, outlining how we will support our local businesses for the next two financial years.

We launched the Sandwell Business Growth Plan at a networking event at The Hawthorns on Thursday 23 November.

The plan updates Sandwell Council’s 2021 Action Plan and sets out our strategy for supporting businesses over the next two financial years, focusing on seven economic priorities:

Support in Sandwell
Start Up in Sandwell
Grow in Sandwell
Invest in Sandwell
Innovate in Sandwell
Social Value in Sandwell
Net Zero in Sandwell.

Sandwell: a great place to do business

As you probably know, Sandwell is a great place to do business. Our borough has a £6.4bn economy, with twice the number of manufacturing firms to the national average. It is home to fast-growing, high-employment, and high-turnover businesses. Sandwell also benefits from six interconnected towns, a tradition of locally focused small businesses and an economy driven by private-sector employment and growth.

More investment is coming to Sandwell. Our regeneration pipeline forecasts £2.9bn of investment by 2027 (see the Regenerating Sandwell website for more information). This brings the opportunity to make real improvements to high streets, public assets, skills provision and transport – all to ‘level up’ the borough.

In addition, Sandwell Council can support our businesses to meet the challenge of economic recovery, the carbon net zero transition, and rapidly changing global and local markets and supply chains.

Resources and expertise

This means focusing on doing the things that the council and partners can do to create the conditions for new jobs and skills, tackling inequality and keeping wealth local. Sandwell is part of the UK’s largest combined authority (the West Midlands Combined Authority), and with a range of partners delivering regional business support, our Sandwell Business Growth Team has the resources and expertise to deliver this plan.

Our overall ambition is to accelerate business growth, creating a wealthier Sandwell, gripping investment opportunities, and addressing long-term economic challenges to achieve our goal of “stronger businesses, thriving communities”.

Sandwell Business Growth Plan

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Sandwell Business Growth Plan

Last week, we also launched Sandwell’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2023. Have a look!

It’s live! Sandwell’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2023

We are delighted to have launched the 2023 edition of our Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index, at a breakfast event at the Hawthorns on Thursday 23 November.

The report lists Sandwell’s top 50 fastest growing companies, in turnover terms, in the past financial year. It’s the first one we’ve published since the pandemic.

By compiling the report (with support from The Economic Intelligence Unit), we thank Sandwell’s biggest-growth businesses for their huge contribution to our local economy and employment landscape. We celebrate their achievements. And we hope to inspire other Sandwell businesses to aim high with their own growth ambitions.

Thank you to everyone who turned out for the breakfast launch. More on that soon!

Read the 2023 report on our Top 50 fastest growing companies and:

  • See which Sandwell business topped the list – with amazing 158 per cent growth
  • Find out which business sector featured most frequently
  • Learn how four Sandwell businesses achieved their success, in their directors’ own words.
Sandwell's Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2023 Downloads in a new tab

You can download previous editions of the Top 50 report from this page.

Congratulations to A&M EDM on two big awards

A&M EDM has picked up two awards this month. The Smethwick manufacturer was named SME of the Year at the Make UK Midlands and East awards. It also took home the Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering trophy at the Black Country Chamber Business Awards.

Mark Wingfield and Arthur Watts founded A&M EDM in 2002. Initially a two-person start-up with one rented machine, the company now has over 80 employees across two sites and annual sales of over £7m. It provides precision manufacturing services to many sectors including aerospace, automotive, Formula 1 and motorsports, deep sea and space exploration.

About Make UK

Make UK is a membership organisation which champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Its holds annual Manufacturing Awards, regionally at first and then with a national final, to cast a spotlight on manufacturers’ achievements.

A&M EDM took the coveted ‘SME of the Year’ trophy at Make UK’s Midlands and East awards. According to Make UK, this award champions:

“Businesses with less than 250 employees who have blazed a trail within the manufacturing sector. They will have led by example and developed progressive best practice for others in the industry. They will have shown exceptional initiative, boldness and dynamism, as well as exemplary management practices”.

Sustainable growth and continuous investment in people and equipment

The Make UK judges praised A&M for sustainable growth, innovation, rapid response and continuous investment in people and equipment. In the last year alone, the company has invested £1m in new machines. It has also installed 66 solar panels at its Middlemore Road site and taken on four new apprentices.

The A&M EDM team will now go through to the Make UK national awards, attending a gala dinner at St Paul’s Cathedral in January.

Black Country Chamber Business Awards 2023

A&M EDM also won the Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering category at the Black Country Chamber Business Awards this month. These annual awards promote the “best of the region” and welcome 500 individuals to a ceremony which this year took place at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

Here at the Sandwell Business Growth Team, we want to say a huge congratulations to A&M EDM!

Grow Global export programme 2024: apply now

Calling all export-focused, aspirational scale-up businesses in Sandwell. Apply for the Grow Global export programme 2024 and have the chance to join the likes of Monzo, Brompton Bicycles, Mr & Mrs Smith and Bloom & Wild in reaching your global expansion goals.

Grow Global is a fully-funded, twelve-month export initiative for tech businesses looking to scale up. The West Midlands Growth Company and the West Midlands Combined Authority are delivering it, with a unique partnership with London’s investment promotion agency, London & Partners.

Grow Global 2022 was only available to businesses in the capital. Now tech companies in the West Midlands can access the support in 2024.

This is a unique opportunity for innovative, internationally ambitious SMEs from the West Midlands to grow and scale their businesses through export.

Household names

Grow Global has a proven track record of success, having helped over 1,300 scale-ups reach their global expansion goals. These include household names such as Monzo, Brompton Bicycles, Mr & Mrs Smith and Bloom & Wild.

Your Sandwell tech business could be among ten West Midlands businesses selected to benefit from the support in achieving international growth.

Criteria for applying to Grow Global

To apply for the Grow Global programme, your business must:

  • Be a West Midlands-based, UK-registered company operating in one of the following sectors:
    • Business, professional and financial services
    • Creative and digital technologies
    • Life sciences
    • Low carbon
  • Have at least ten full-time employees
  • Have UK headquarters, with a primary UK trading address located within the West Midlands areas: Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire or the Black Country
  • Be ready to begin or scale exporting to international markets
  • Have a current annual turnover that is greater than £1m and less than £40m. Alternatively, you may have secured £1m of external equity investment.
  • Be able to clearly demonstrate 20 per cent year-on-year growth with active projects (domestically or internationally).

Learn more and apply for Grow Global at the Invest West Midlands website (part of the West Midlands Growth Company). Do apply as soon as possible, as the application window will close on Monday 4 December 2023.

Free energy efficiency assessment and funding for your Sandwell SME

Get a free energy efficiency assessment for your SME. Eligible businesses can then apply for a grant to implement measures to reduce energy demand. 

We’re sharing details of a new government-funded scheme that is providing free energy efficiency assessments to SMEs across the Black Country. 

As part of the Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme, the scheme aims to help small businesses transition to net zero by improving competitiveness and energy efficiency and enhancing business resilience. It is being delivered in affiliation with the Business Energy Advice Service.

Grant funding 

After a free energy efficiency assessment, your eligible business will be able to apply for between £1,000 and £100,000 of 50 per cent net zero grant funding. The funding is available to enable businesses to implement recommended measures to reduce their energy demand and provide energy savings. 

These measures could include investment in new machinery and equipment, improved manufacturing processes, or LED lighting and insulation. 

Energy intensive engineering

Manufacturing experts will also be delivering specialist assessments for energy intensive engineering firms located across the West Midlands.

Register now for your energy efficiency assessment and subsequent funding

Many SMEs faced challenges last winter with rising energy bills, so don’t miss this opportunity to access support and funding.

To learn more about the Decarbonisation Net Zero programme, you may wish to attend this launch webinar on Wednesday 15 November.

You can also get more ideas for energy savings and efficiency on our climate resilience page:

Have your say on the draft Sandwell Local Plan

The Sandwell Local Plan is a document that plans for the future development of our borough. Sandwell Council would like to know your thoughts on the draft.

In the Sandwell Local Plan, Sandwell Council outlines where it expects to build the new homes we need up to 2041. It shows what land is required to accommodate new jobs.

Sandwell Council is holding a consultation so you can have your say on the sites it has proposed for development. Give your feedback on where development should or shouldn’t take place in Sandwell.

Sandwell Council has identified enough land to build more than 11,000 new homes by 2041. However, this isn’t enough to meet the expected housing needs of our growing population. Around 97 per cent of these homes will be built on previously developed or brownfield land. The Sandwell Local Plan protects the Green Belt and does not propose any new development within it.

The Sandwell Local Plan also sets out how we will address challenges like dealing with climate change, protecting our natural environment, supporting our high streets, and encouraging sustainable travel. It includes policies that will help the council to meet its target to be a carbon-neutral borough by 2041.

Have your say

Don’t miss your chance to have a say!

The consultation is now live and will end on Monday 18 December at 5pm.

All of Sandwell libraries have paper copies of the consultation documents and summary document, if you prefer to access it that way.

Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Peter Hughes, said:

“I would encourage all Sandwell residents and businesses to look at the draft plan and let us have their views on it. This is about our borough’s future so the more people get involved, the better the outcome for all.”

If you have issues accessing the consultation documents, or would like to arrange to speak to a Planning Policy Officer, email Sandwell_LocalPlan@sandwell.gov.uk or call 0121 569 4054.

Sandwell’s Growth Event: sign up today

Join us on Thursday 23 November for Sandwell’s Growth Event at West Bromwich Albion Football Club. We’ll be launching the Sandwell Business Growth Plan alongside Sandwell’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index.

At the Sandwell’s Growth Event, you can network with likeminded business people and find out how Sandwell Council will be supporting local businesses to grow, thrive and prosper.

We have exciting plans to help you – and this event will tell you more.

About the event

You will hear from some of our borough’s fastest growing businesses and learn how they have achieved their success. We are re-launching our Top 50 report, which charts the 50 fastest growing companies in the borough.

The Sandwell Business Ambassadors will also be there to talk about how they are working with Sandwell Council to support the borough and its businesses. They are a collective of business people using their voices and influence to support Sandwell, its people and communities, and the wider Black Country, to thrive.

Finally, you will hear how our Business Growth Team can support you and your business.

So whether you’re from a start-up or a well-established business, come along and find out more.

The event takes place on Thursday 23 November from 7.30am to 10.30am at The Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club in West Bromwich.

Spaces are limited so register today!

Don’t miss this: international trade support for your Sandwell business

If your Sandwell business is looking to break into new markets or expand its overseas customer base, Sandwell Council’s Business Growth Team can help you – with one-to-one international trade support and group workshops.

Update in September 2024: Please note that this in an archived news story. Details of the latest support will be available soon on our international trade page.

We’ve teamed up with Falsum Consulting Ltd to provide one-to-one specialist international trade support and workshops for Sandwell businesses with global trade ambitions and expansion plans.

One-to-one international trade support

We’ve designed the support to help you identify customs compliance issues, areas of increased or additional cost, and/or areas of process improvement. 

We’re offering the scheme to all Sandwell businesses that are already importing or exporting but who want to be certain of their global trade compliance and/or maximise their returns on trade. To be eligible for the support, your business must have:

  • Been operating for at least twelve months prior to application
  • Your principal place of operations in Sandwell 
  • Imported or exported in 2022-23.

Falsum Consulting will provide eligible businesses with:

  • Specialist customs and global trade advice and consultation
  • A customs data and document review with a specialist
  • Ongoing business trade support and advice.

International trade workshop series     

We’ve also been hosting in-person workshops to help your Sandwell business with importing and/or exporting. The workshops cover topics that are suitable for businesses new to international trade, as well as experienced importers and exports seeking to expand their market activities. 

We will add details of new workshops here.