The following organisations offer support and a range of services (some subsidised or free) to the region's businesses.
Business Link West Midlands
To see how your business can benefit, contact your local Business Link . You can contact Business Link West Midlands through their Information Team on tel 0845 113 1234 (local rate) or email info@businesslinkwm.co.uk or request a callback from one of their business advisers.
Business Linkages Challenge Fund
Business Linkages Challenge Fund - businesses forming links with other businesses or international partners in developing countries may be eligible for a grant. Projects must demonstrate that the link formed will generate benefits for the poor, be sustainable and enhance the viability of participating enterprises. Projects may involve investing in skills, technology, supplies and access to markets.
Centre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (CSME) - The Centre staff organise external training for SMEs covering business growth, management development, key business skills, e-business and marketing. Most of the programmes are subsidised by local business links.
- The Competitiveness Centre at the University of Wolverhampton offers one central contact point for all of the University's services to external organisations, including the public and private sector businesses. To contact them telephone 0800 068 5023.
Connect Midlands - provides new and growing technology companies located in the Midlands with access to a peer group network, potential investors, technology transfer opportunities, enterprise events, investment readiness training and key skills workshops.
Contact - provides speedy and easy access for businesses to the wide range of expertise and specialist resources available in the West Midlands' Universities.
Coventry City Council - Business Support responsible for stimulating business investment; helping established businesses to grow, developing the local workforce, creating wealth and jobs and linking people with jobs and training opportunities.
Europartenariat - encourages cross-border links between small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mustard - Dynamic support for high growth business start-ups.
National Business to Business Centre (NB2BC) - The NB2BC ensures that new technology contributes to business and delivers real benefits.
Small Business Service - The Small Business Service (SBS) is one of the key driving forces taking forward the Government Action Plan for Small Business published in January 2004.
Small Firms Loan Guarantee - Provides guarantees on loans to small firms with viable business proposals that are unable to obtain conventional finance as they have a lack of collateral to offer as security.
Staffordshire University Services for Business & Industry - Programmes aimed at bringing real competitive advantage to businesses in the region.
Staffs Business Innovation Centre (BIC) - dedicated to provide advice and support at little or no cost to help encourage innovation.
UK Foresight Programme - scheme aims to increase UK exploitation of science. It can do this in two ways: firstly, by identifying potential opportunities for the economy from new science and technologies; or secondly, by considering how future science and technologies could address key future challenges for society