The West Midlands Global Growth Programme, a new Government-backed incentive package to bolster trade and investment between the West Midlands and global markets, launches today, and is now welcoming applications from West Midlands based companies. If you’re based in the West Midlands Combined Authority area, read on as this applies to you.
The programme, led by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) in collaboration with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and its export programme ‘Made in the Midlands, Sold to the World’, today launches an export support competition which will see 25 West Midlands’ based businesses receive fully funded, export-focused business development consultancy for five months. Aimed at SMEs which are ready to begin or scale exporting to international markets, the competition will be delivered by internationalisation experts, OCO Global. The bespoke service will identify and facilitate unique export opportunities for participant companies through strategy curation and business development delivery.
The Global Growth Programme will also facilitate overseas investment into the UK and has been designed to incentivise ambitious businesses to enter the UK market through a tailored package of free support. Companies will be selected for this accelerator programme to kickstart their international growth, which will be housed at the Innovation Birmingham Campus, part of Bruntwood Sci-Tech, the region’s leading digital tech campus in the heart of Birmingham.
A selected number of these companies will also receive an additional six-months funded market entry support, as well as dedicated business development consultancy delivered by specialist Entrepreneurs In Residence.
There is also an exciting opportunity for innovative technology companies to take part in the Scale Up Games which will take place in Birmingham at the end of July this year. This unique pitching competition will enable founders to take their businesses to the next level with the opportunity to pitch to investors and join a tailored five-day programme of meetings with potential clients.
The West Midlands Global Growth Programme is being delivered as part of the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), an initiative designed to create long-term economic legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, bolstering bilateral ties between the UK and Commonwealth markets.
This year is a sterling opportunity to seize the profile of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to cement the economic relationship between the UK and key overseas markets. The West Midlands was once the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, and today is brimming with innovative businesses that thanks to our Export Strategy will continue to grow and thrive. The Games, and the West Midlands Global Growth Programme, will help thriving enterprises access new markets, boost innovation and seize exciting trading opportunities.
– Mike Freer MP, Minister for Exports
As the UK’s largest regional economy, the West Midlands has so much to offer foreign markets and investors alike. The region has a long-standing reputation as the UK’s automotive capital, and today, is positioned at the vanguard of low carbon solutions. It represents the UK’s fastest growing tech sector and is home to the country’s only large-scale 5G testbed – offering innovative enterprises in particular, an exclusive proving ground for testing emergent technologies. This programme is a unique opportunity to support the international growth of exciting businesses in the region and offer ambitious international businesses access to our cluster of expertise. Applications are now open, and we welcome those who want to take their business to the next level to apply.
– Neil Rami, Chief Executive, West Midlands Growth Company
To express an interest in the export support competition and receive further information, please visit the Global Growth Programme website. The closing date to apply for the Global Growth Programme export support package is Friday, 4 March 2022.