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Theme 4: Grow our vital local businesses

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Theme 4: Grow our vital local businesses

Businesses in the city are a key part of national and international supply chains with significant clusters in automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. We have a diverse and entrepreneurial local economy with 96% of all businesses in the city small or micro enterprises. The global marketplace is changing rapidly, we are committed to working with our partners to support businesses to adapt and innovate, to be resilient to changes in the economy. Our flagship partnership with eBay supported 67 small businesses in the City of Wolverhampton to bridge the ‘digital gap’ between the high street and online retail. In the first year of the initiative the collective turnover increased by £7 million, propelling growth, job creation and business expansion. We will use our recovery plans to ensure our business support offer is aligned to our ambitious future skills agenda and our commitment to tackle climate change, safeguarding the city’s environment for future generations and making our local economy more inclusive.

Some of the initiatives under this theme include:

  • Build on the financial support programme which has seen 3,800 local businesses access £43.5m in vital grant funding and £30m of business rates relief to protect jobs and livelihoods in the city.
  • Bespoke support for SMEs in the city through our AIM for GOLD programme which has supported over 300 local businesses with advice and support since it launched.
  • Exciting new business support framework which will offer advisory, financial and incubation support for existing or emerging businesses or organisations in target sectors. Supported by our new Enterprise Hub in the city center.
  • Launched a comprehensive economic package, through our Wolves in Business digital platform to help businesses, voluntary and community sector groups and the city’s residents access advice, funding and training opportunities.
  • Work with our city and regional partners to prepare and support local businesses to manage United Kingdom's transition from the European Union.
  • Delivering the City Charter to facilitate opportunities arising from business investment and local procurement to the residents and communities of the city.
  • Relight Business Programme - a scheme to support up to 200 sole trader and micro businesses with a years membership of the Federation of Small Businesses or the Chamber, as well as support to help improve financial management; encourage product, service and market reviews; and improve digital awareness and application.

    • For more information about our plans for this theme, please view the 'Additional materials' below.

    The questions below are about the Grow our vital local businesses theme. When you have completed the questions please click on the "View next proposal" button. You can also add comments to our Wolverhampton Heatmap after completing the survey sections.

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