Business, professional and technical services Archives - Page 4 of 6

Read the Sandwell Business Growth Plan

Posted on 28 November 202328 November 2023 by Marie

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

Get Connected in Sandwell business breakfast in December: ‘Social Value Matters’

Come and network at our free business breakfast event on Wednesday 13 December. We’re hosting this at our new Sandwell Start-Up Hub, alongside Sandwell College and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. It will have a social value focus.

Our third Get Connected in Sandwell event is called ‘Social Value Matters’. Two special guest speakers will talk about the importance and potential impact of social value in our communities, and how it can help your business when bidding for work.

Michael Wragg is our Senior Social Value Officer here on the Business Growth Team. He’ll tell you what social value means for Sandwell.

And Kim Fuller is Growing Participation and Volunteering Mentor at SCVO. Kim will take a practical look at social value, corporate social responsibility, and employer-supported volunteering.

At the free event, you will also learn about funded courses, grants and business support available for your organisation.

Bacon, sausage or veggie option?

You will also get a free breakfast (with bacon, sausage or vegetarian options). And, of course, the opportunity to network with other businesses.

The breakfast event is taking place at Jack Judge House in Oldbury, from 7.30am to 9.30am. There is free parking available nearby in Sainsbury’s car park for a maximum of three hours. (If you need to stay longer, download the Horizon parking app and book your space.)

When you arrive, please enter the building via the rear entrance and press the second floor intercom for a council officer to let you in.

Why not bring your laptop, stay on afterwards and work from the Sandwell Start-Up Hub? You just need to book your desk:

Grow Global export programme 2024: apply now

Posted on 16 November 202316 November 2023 by Marie

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.

Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme launch webinar

The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme is launching with a webinar on Wednesday 15 November. Attend the online event to hear how the programme can give your business information, expert advice, energy audits, support and grants.

The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme is to help businesses in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and the Black Country cut down on their carbon emissions and energy costs. The West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering it with support from Aston University, the Black Country Industrial Cluster and Coventry City Council.

It is part of wider West Midlands business support activity, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Join the team to learn how this government-funded initiative can make a real difference for your business, helping it to become more eco-friendly and financially sustainable.

Learn about:

The support available to businesses
Grant support
Energy audits and how having one could benefit your business
Eligiblity criteria
How to apply for the programme.

Learn more about the Decarbonation Net Zero Programme.

Also: find out how, through the programme, you can get free energy-efficient assessments and possible funding for your Sandwell business.

Free energy efficiency assessment and funding for your Sandwell SME

Posted on 9 November 202311 November 2023 by Kate Christie

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

Posted on 7 November 20237 November 2023 by Marie

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’ at The Hawthorns

We are launching the Sandwell Business Growth Plan and our latest Top 50 report at a morning event on Thursday 23 November. We would love you to join us!

At the breakfast event we will be launching the Sandwell Business Growth Plan, alongside Sandwell’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Index 2023. It takes place at The Hawthorns (home of West Bromwich Albion FC) on the morning of Thursday 23 November.

The event will give you the opportunity to find out how Sandwell Council supports local businesses to grow, thrive and prosper. You can also network with likeminded businesspeople.

Come along to hear from representatives from some of the fastest growing businesses in the region. Find out how they achieved success and get tips to help your business grow.

The Sandwell Business Ambassadors will also be there to talk about how they are working with Sandwell Council to support businesses in the borough.

The event is open to both start-ups and well-established businesses. It starts at 7.30am, in the Richardson Suite.

Spaces are limited so register today!

Sandwell’s Growth Event: sign up today

Posted on 2 November 202311 November 2023 by Marie

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

Posted on 31 October 202330 September 2024 by Kate Christie

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.

‘How to become a disability confident employer’: workshop from the Department of Work and Pensions

On Wednesday 22 November (10am), the Department of Work and Pensions is hosting a webinar to help you become empowered, as an employer, to improvement your recruitment, retention and development of disabled people in your workforce.

It won’t be recorded, so sign up and attend on the day.

Sandwell welcomes six guests from Hangzhou, China

Posted on 26 October 202326 October 2023 by Marie

This week, Sandwell Council welcomed six delegates from Hangzhou in China.

Our guests came as part of a wider four-day, self-funded research trip to the UK. They visited Sandwell to see how a UK local authority functions and how it provides social services for residents. As deputy directors for municipal departments looking after veterans’ services, they especially wanted to learn about veteran welfare services in our area.

In turn, we were keen to build on our established relationship with our Hangzhou visitors’ region of China. We are always looking to raise Sandwell’s international profile and explore further ways to establish cultural, economic and academic links between here and the rest of the world.

About Hangzhou, China

Near to Shanghai, Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province. It borders the Yangtze River and has hills to the west.

The Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone became a national development zone in 1993. It has five pillar industries: machinery and electronics, biology and pharmaceutical, high-tech chemistry, textile and chemical fibre, and food processing.

The visit to Sandwell

The Sandwell Business Growth Team was responsible for hosting our guests’ visit to Sandwell Council. In preparation, we engaged with partner organisations Black Country Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Defence, as well as our council colleagues involved with homes, communities and public health. We also carried out fact funding into local support for ex-force personnel and veterans, to help our visitors get useful information from their visit.

Xu Huashui, Wang Jiang, Xu Jianxiang, Lu Qiliang, Liu Hongyin and Lan Hongxing came to see us at Sandwell Council House on Tuesday 24 October. We hosted them in the Mayor’s Parlour where Shokat Lal, chief executive of Sandwell Council, held a welcome speech. Jenna Langford, our Regeneration Manager, was among the people to make a presentation. She focused on Sandwell Council’s business support, our borough’s regeneration pipeline, and inward investment. We also heard from representatives from the Armed Forces Covenant and Stepway, organisations supporting military veterans in civilian life.

Our visitors from Hangzhou with Sandwell Council colleagues in the Sandwell Council chamber, Oldbury

Previous visits from China: a timeline

2015: Sandwell Council welcomed its first Chinese delegation from Pengzhou City.

2016: We had our first visit from delegates from the city of Jinhua. Jinhua Municipal People’s Government Mayor, Ji Junmin, and the Leader of Sandwell Council signed a Friendship Agreement. This is to promote friendly exchanges between the two regions and an exchange of cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology, culture, education, sports, health and personnel for the good of common prosperity and development.

2017: In May 2017, delegates from the Shanghai municipal government made a visit to the borough.

2018: In 2018 we had a return visit from the city of Jinhua to strengthen our business and friendship links.

2019: In July 2019, Sandwell hosted a visit from two Jinhua schools. St Michael’s CE School in Rowley Regis and one of our Q3 Academies welcomed school children and their teachers. They enjoyed activities together that included a visit to Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre and Sandwell Valley Park Farm.

[Feature picture: Xu Huashui from Hangzhou exchanges cultural gifts with Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Leader of Sandwell Council.]

Your social enterprise in 2024: new support from SWEDA

Posted on 24 October 202324 October 2023 by Alex Taylor

SWEDA, SEBFWestMids and DCMS are partnering to offer a raft of new support opportunities for social enterprise entrepreneurs in Sandwell and Wolverhampton.

The West Midlands Social Enterprise Boost Fund (SEBFWestMids) is a programme that aims to accelerate social enterprise in the region. The fund offers a range of grants and targeted business support to help new and existing social enterprises start up, scale up and grow.

There are three main strands of support:

Fired Up – a series of sessions for new social entrepreneurs, to answer common questions about organisation structures, markets, costings and stakeholders.

FUSE – a twelve-week course designed to take local entrepreneurs from idea to launch and beyond. It includes masterclasses, confidence building and a live pitch-up event. It will run on Thursdays, from 10am to 1pm, starting on Thursday 11 January 2024.

Social Enterprise MOT – a programme aimed at more established social businesses that are ready to expand. The sessions will cover topics such as business development, people management and governance. The programme will run on Tuesdays, and starts on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

One-to-one support available

SEBFWestMids also offers one-to-one business support, networking opportunities and the chance to apply for up to £10K of grant funding.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, and to register your interest, visit the website or email sweda@sweda.org.uk.

‘Creating impact through enterprise’ from SCVO

SCVO is hosting a Sandwell-focused event called ‘Creating impact through enterprise’ on Wednesday 15 November. It is part of this year’s Social Economy Drive from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Social Economy Drive includes a whole week of showcase events across the West Midlands. It celebrates the achievements and potential of the social economy in Sandwell, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

SCVO’s ‘Creating impact through enterprise’ event explores the opportunities that social enterprises offer the local community. It focuses on what can make a difference in Sandwell, specifically what support is available to nurture, enable and resource new initiatives in the borough.

The event is aimed at budding entrepreneurs, new or fledgling social enterprises as well as established charities and not-for-profits that want to expand and develop their services through trading.

The event will cover:

An introduction to social enterprise and what the social economy landscape looks like across Sandwell and the West Midlands region
How to access local incubator support for new enterprises – to benefit from coaching or to secure funds and resources to pump-prime your organisation or project
Ways in which established organisations can look to diversify their funding through traded services, highlighting examples of sustainable activity in Sandwell.

There will also be an opportunity to network with other delegates and meet support providers face-to-face.

West Gate Plaza: retail business opportunity in West Bromwich

Posted on 19 October 202319 October 2023 by Kate Christie

A ground floor commercial property has come up for sale at the popular West Gate Plaza in West Bromwich.

Commercial property agent Bond Wolfe is inviting offers based on £695,000 for the long leasehold on the retail property in West Gate Plaza.

The property is an investment opportunity in a popular retail parade, with residential accommodation above. It is situated on the ground floor opposite the police station at 4 Moor Street, West Bromwich.

The 939 square feet property is let to a regional pharmacy for 25 years from July 2007 at a passing rent of £54,120 per annum. This reflects a net initial yield of 7.4 per cent after usual purchaser’s costs.

Next to the Lyng Medical Practice, its appeal is enhanced by being surrounded by residential properties. It is also conveniently located a short walk from both the tram and bus station.

For more details, visit the Bond Wolfe website, email jmattin@bondwolfe.com or call James Mattin on 0121 525 0600.

‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ Awards entries open in November

Posted on 17 October 202326 October 2023 by Kate Christie

The Department for Business and Trade’s 2024 ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ Awards will open for entries on Friday 10 November.

The Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards recognise and celebrate the global trading success of SMEs from across the UK.

The opening entry date for the awards is Friday 10 November, during this year’s International Trade Week (6 to 13 November 2023).

Award categories

There are ten award categories and this year’s categories are:

Agriculture, food and drink
Consultancy and professional services
Creative industries
Education and edtech
Financial services and fintech
Healthcare
Infrastructure and engineering
Low carbon energy
Manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and construction
Retail and consumer goods.

There will be one winner from each category and up to three highly commended businesses.

To find out more about the awards and read about 2023’s winners visit the Made in The UK, Sold to the World website.

Entries for the 2024 awards close on Sunday 14 January 2024.

‘Cutting costs and improving productivity through customs’ workshop

We’re holding a series of international trade workshops for Sandwell businesses. Join us for the third one in the series on Thursday 23 November at our Sandwell Start-Up Hub.

We (the Sandwell Business Growth Team) are holding a series of international trade workshops covering:

How to improve your import, export and customs procedures
Ambition to export: mapping and accessing new markets
Cutting costs and improving productivity through customs
Reviewing Brexit: customs compliance and audit for UK importers.

The third workshop in the series takes place on Thursday 23 November at Jack Judge House in Oldbury. It’s called ‘Cutting costs and improving productivity through customs’.

We (the Sandwell Business Growth team) are hosting the international trade workshop and experts from Falsum Consulting Ltd will deliver the session. It’s a whole-day event from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

It will provide an understanding of international regulatory laws (handling tariff classifications, valuation issues, country of origin, customs audits, duty minimization programs, AEO status and so on).

The workshop will look at how to develop, implement and manage various branches through the EU and worldwide and how to establish performance metrics (KPIs), administer internal audits and maintain compliant record keeping.

The session will provide information and guidance fully updated after the implementation of UCC and the EU referendum vote, such as:

International trade compliance techniques – MSS, EORI, VIES, MRN, ECS, ICS, EAD, CFSP, NES, AEO, TFA, UCC
Brexit – review current international trade activities and the impact on your business of the UK no longer being in the EU
Rules and regulators – where can I find the rules/ who are the regulators I need to work with? 
Tariff classification – the importance of tariff classification of goods (commodity code numbers)
Valuation of goods rules – what is included in the value for duty and VAT payments and what can be excluded?
Duty reliefs – how to save money on imports by using legal and HMRC approved regimes
Origin and preference – what are the rules and when are these declared?
Audits – customs, DIT-ECJU and internal perspectives – what is expected? How should you react? Setting up internal audit programmes, logging results and setting up improvement plans
Authorised Economic Operator – what is it? Are there benefits/ negatives? Should we become an AEO? Will AEO be relevant when the UK has left the EU?
Intercompany transactions – do we have sister/ parent companies in the UK, EU or worldwide? Should these differ from normal import/ export activities? How to work between internal departments (HR/ finance/ purchasing/ sales/ production/ logistics)
Record keeping – what information and documentation you should keep, performance metrics, documented procedures, computer system support
Working with HM Revenue & Customs, suppliers, customers, freight agents – documented processes/ service level agreements
Compliance culture – how to set up an internal/ external compliance culture
Export controls – how are you affected by export controls compliance?

This workshop will be ideal for compliance managers, finance leaders, business heads and logistics management.

Four workshops in AI innovation: how to sign up

Posted on 12 October 202312 October 2023 by Kate Christie

Digital Catapult is holding a series of AI innovation workshops between October 2023 and January 2024. The workshops are designed to empower AI developers and adopters within the agriculture, creative, transport and construction sectors.

The AI innovation workshops will encourage collaboration, explore responsible innovation, dive into data excellence, and uncover investment opportunities for AI-driven start-ups. There are four workshops in the series, each focusing on a different element of AI innovation.

What is Digital Catapult?

Digital Catapult is a UK authority on advanced digital technology. It is dedicated to accelerating industry adoption and driving growth and opportunity across the economy. It is part of the Catapult Network, a network of leading technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK.

Its goal is to accelerate new possibilities for businesses. To achieve this it aims to break down barriers, open up markets and responsibly shape the products and services of the future.

Workshop 1

Cultivating synergy: strategies for effective AI startup – industry partnerships

When: Friday 20 October or Wednesday 29 November, 9.30am – 4pm

Where: Digital Catapult Offices, London

About the event

This workshop looks at partnership value and co-creation, addressing barriers that hinder collaboration. The aim is to help bridge AI capabilities and industry needs. There will be interactive activities offering insights into sustainable growth through partnerships.

Attendees can explore how startups’ innovations meet industry players’ demands, shedding light on AI’s dynamic interplay between supply and demand.

Who should attend?

AI Developers: Startups, micro and small enterprises with AI-relevant products or services. Those seeking to enhance their understanding of collaboration with industry end users and interested in establishing potential new partnerships
AI Adopters: Medium and large organisations (industry end users) looking to integrate AI solutions into their operations, collaborate with startups, micro and small enterprises, and explore innovative solutions and partnerships to enhance the company’s offerings.

What you’ll gain

Leverage industry expertise while connecting with agile partners to spark innovative collaborations.
Explore a variety of partnership models aligned with your growth objectives, ensuring the perfect fit for your strategy.
Acquire practical strategies for overcoming technical and business challenges, from regulatory compliance to scalability.

Workshop 2

Minimum viable ethics: An introduction to responsible innovation

When: Wednesday 4 October or Tuesday 16 January, 1pm – 3.30pm

Where: Digital Catapult Offices, London

About the event

This two hour workshop will explore the risks associated with AI. It will uncover responsible innovation solutions through creative and hands-on exercises.

The aim is to empower attendees with the knowledge and tools to make strides in maximising the benefits of socio-technical systems. It will provide an opportunity to grasp the fundamentals of AI risks and responsible innovation in a creative and interactive environment.

Who should attend

AI Developers: Startups, micro and small enterprises with AI-relevant products or services. Those seeking to enhance their understanding of collaboration with industry end users and interested in establishing potential new partnerships
AI Adopters: Medium and large organisations (industry end users) looking to integrate AI solutions into their operations, collaborate with startups, micro and small enterprises, and explore innovative solutions and partnerships to enhance the company’s offerings.

What you’ll gain

Grasp the significance of responsible innovation in today’s fast-paced digital landscape
Develop the ability to systematically identify and address the pertinent risks associated with responsible innovation
Ensure your projects are both ethically sound and effective
Acquire an introduction to the world of Responsible Innovation interventions and solutions – equipping yourself with actionable knowledge that can positively impact your AI-driven initiatives.

Workshop 3

Digital transformation: Data excellence and data ethics

When: Wednesday 4 October or Tuesday 16 January, 9am – 12.30pm

Where: Digital Catapult Offices, London

About the event

This workshop focuses on digital transformation, data maturity and readiness. It looks at how to adopt AI in the right way.

The session will explore the potential of AI, its advantages, and the hurdles faced in its adoption. It will answer questions such as:

What is digital transformation?
Why do most AI projects fail?
What are the right steps towards AI adoption?

The session will include interactive discussions and activities. It will explore how data-driven technologies can augment products or services and identify the data readiness and maturity levels needed to achieve data excellence.

Who should attend?

AI Developers: Startups, micro and small enterprises with AI-relevant products or services. Those seeking to enhance their understanding of collaboration with industry end users and interested in establishing potential new partnerships
AI Adopters: Medium and large organisations (industry end users) looking to integrate AI solutions into their operations, collaborate with startups, micro and small enterprises, and explore innovative solutions and partnerships to enhance the company’s offerings.

What you’ll gain

Immerse yourself in an engaging and practical workshop environment that encourages active participation, making the learning experience dynamic and enjoyable
Acquire access to a comprehensive approach for successful AI adoption that spans across digital transformation, data excellence and ethical considerations
Join a vibrant community of fellow AI adopters and developers. Foster networking opportunities and connections that extend beyond the workshop to enrich your professional journey.

Workshop 4

Fundraising for AI driven startups

When: Thursday 26 October or Tuesday 21 November, 2pm – 5pm

Where: Digital Catapult Offices, London

About the event

This workshop will explore the fundraising landscape for AI-driven companies. It will cover relevant funding opportunities in the UK and beyond, as well as looking at key considerations to weigh up when selecting the best investment option for your business.

The aim of this workshop is to provide businesses with the tools to confidently approach fundraising activities. It will provide top tips for approaching a fundraising process and pitfalls to avoid.

Who should attend?

This workshop welcomes participation from early stage AI-driven SMEs, founders and startup operators within the agriculture, creative, transport and construction sectors who are thinking about selecting the right funding growth engine for their business.

What you’ll gain

Develop the skills and knowledge needed to confidently approach fundraising activities
Gain a clear understanding of which funding route aligns best with your company’s goals
Gain valuable insights into the investment landscape and dynamics of the AI market
Explore the pros and cons of various investment routes. Gain the knowledge to weigh the benefits and drawbacks which enable you to make strategic choices that best suit your business growth aspirations.

Birmingham Tech Week 2023 is nearly here

Posted on 10 October 202310 October 2023 by Alex Taylor

Birmingham Tech Week is the UK’s largest regional tech festival and conference. This year, it takes place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 October, with online, in-person and on-demand sessions.

The event will feature over 100 speakers across five days, including Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, Paul Scully MP, and leaders representing dozens of high-profile tech companies. Sessions include dinners, social events, discussions, networking and presentations on a wide range of tech-related topics, including:

Sustainability
Training and education
Championing start-ups
Data in real estate
New developments
Pitching
Investment
Global growth
Health care
Women in technology.

The programme culminates in an awards dinner on Friday 20 October.

Prestigious venues for Birmingham Tech Week

The in-person sessions will be held in a variety of Birmingham locations including HSBC headquarters, Birmingham Rep, BT, University College Birmingham, Albert Schloss restaurant, iCentrum, The Exchange, the Ivy, X+Why, The Bond, Shakespeare Martineau, STEAMhouse, BGF, Enterprise Wharf, the ICC, NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub and Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

For more information, and to sign up, visit the registration page. Fill in your contact details then click ‘next’ to access the full list of sessions.

Reviewing Brexit: customs compliance and audit for UK importers workshop – new date

We’re holding a series of international trade workshops for Sandwell businesses. Join us for the fifth one at our Sandwell Start-Up Hub. Please note that the date has changed from Thursday 22 February to Friday 22 March.

We (the Sandwell Business Growth Team) are holding a series of international trade workshops covering:

How to improve your import, export and customs procedures
Ambition to export: mapping and accessing new markets
Cutting costs and improving productivity through customs
Reviewing Brexit: customs compliance and audit for UK importers.

The fifth workshop in the series takes place on Friday 22 March (new date!) at Jack Judge House in Oldbury. It’s called ‘Reviewing Brexit: Customs compliance and audit for UK importers’.

We (the Sandwell Business Growth team) are hosting the workshop and experts from Falsum Consulting Ltd will deliver the session. It’s a whole-day event – from 9.30am to 4.30pm – that will review Brexit for UK importers.

As HMRC is putting more responsibility on traders and expects greater awareness and compliance within companies, this workshop uncovers how companies can self-audit to remain compliant.

It provides a practical guide to understand origin and preference, classification, valuation and how to read customs entries.

Knowing what information HMRC will want to look at during an audit is critical to a successful audit. Attendees will learn what HMRC considers the essential areas of a customs audit and how to react when you are under the spotlight.

It will also cover customs special procedures and provide detailed information on what each of the procedures is and what HMRC looks for. Within this section, you will look at authorised economic operator (AEO), the benefits and pitfalls of using AEO, and how a customs audit on an AEO trader could have serious consequences when being audited, such as:

Customs audits – what are they?
Meeting AEO conditions
Understanding your responsibilities
Record keeping requirements: Imports, exports and EU trade
Writing procedures, internal guidelines and self-auditing

The workshop will also cover topics such as:

Planning for an audit – providing company information to the auditor
Who should lead the audit?
Management support and awareness
Responsibilities of freight companies
 VAT evidence of export
Classification of goods
Valuation issues
Preference at export and import
Intra-community Trade Statistics (INTRASTAT) linking physical movement of goods within the EU to VAT returns
Special customs procedures IP, OP, CW, EnU, TA and AEO conditions.

This workshop will be ideal for compliance managers, finance leaders, business heads and logistics management.

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

Sandwell: a great place to do business

Resources and expertise

Sandwell Business Growth Plan

Come and network at our free business breakfast event on Wednesday 13 December. We’re hosting this at our new Sandwell Start-Up Hub, alongside Sandwell College and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. It will have a social value focus.

Bacon, sausage or veggie option?

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.

Household names

Criteria for applying to Grow Global

The Decarbonisation Net Zero Programme is launching with a webinar on Wednesday 15 November. Attend the online event to hear how the programme can give your business information, expert advice, energy audits, support and grants.

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

Grant funding

Energy intensive engineering

Register now for your energy efficiency assessment and subsequent funding

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.

Have your say

We are launching the Sandwell Business Growth Plan and our latest Top 50 report at a morning event on Thursday 23 November. We would love you to join us!

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.

About the event

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.

One-to-one international trade support

International trade workshop series

This week, Sandwell Council welcomed six delegates from Hangzhou in China.

About Hangzhou, China

The visit to Sandwell

Previous visits from China: a timeline

SWEDA, SEBFWestMids and DCMS are partnering to offer a raft of new support opportunities for social enterprise entrepreneurs in Sandwell and Wolverhampton.

One-to-one support available

SCVO is hosting a Sandwell-focused event called ‘Creating impact through enterprise’ on Wednesday 15 November. It is part of this year’s Social Economy Drive from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

A ground floor commercial property has come up for sale at the popular West Gate Plaza in West Bromwich.

The Department for Business and Trade’s 2024 ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ Awards will open for entries on Friday 10 November.

Award categories

We’re holding a series of international trade workshops for Sandwell businesses. Join us for the third one in the series on Thursday 23 November at our Sandwell Start-Up Hub.

Digital Catapult is holding a series of AI innovation workshops between October 2023 and January 2024. The workshops are designed to empower AI developers and adopters within the agriculture, creative, transport and construction sectors.

What is Digital Catapult?

Workshop 1

Cultivating synergy: strategies for effective AI startup – industry partnerships

Workshop 2

Minimum viable ethics: An introduction to responsible innovation

Workshop 3

Digital transformation: Data excellence and data ethics

Workshop 4

Fundraising for AI driven startups

Birmingham Tech Week is the UK’s largest regional tech festival and conference. This year, it takes place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 October, with online, in-person and on-demand sessions.

Prestigious venues for Birmingham Tech Week

We’re holding a series of international trade workshops for Sandwell businesses. Join us for the fifth one at our Sandwell Start-Up Hub. Please note that the date has changed from Thursday 22 February to Friday 22 March.

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