News & Case Studies

Care Services Business receives specialist support from the Growth Hub: Video Case Study

Kacey Akpoteni, Director of Pleasant Valley Care, received expert and tailored business advice from our Health & Life Sciences Sector Specialist, Andrew Shortt.

“We definitely recommend the Growth Hub services to any business, particularly small businesses like ourselves. Get in touch today, they’ll speak to you. Andrew listened and tailored the services and pinpointed them right down to exactly what we needed. I hope that we continue our relationship with the Growth Hub because it’s been an absolute lifesaver for a business at this time.”

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ENGINEERING COMPANY HAS BENEFITTED FROM GROWTH HUB SERVICES & PEER NETWORKS: VIDEO CASE STUDY

Rowan Precision Ltd, a Birmingham-based precision engineering company received support from the GBSLEP Growth Hub to achieve their growth and diversification ambitions. 

Glenn Aston of Rowan Precision stated: “You’ve got business owners and entrepreneurs willing to share their experiences with you and you can log into that. Be prepared to be open-minded and to share your business experiences. It’s not just solving your problems; it’s helping to solve other people’s problems that you may have incurred.”

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What the £1.6 billion Plan For Jobs means for employers

The Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs announcement in July 2020 offered a number of skills and training programmes some of which offer financial incentives, in recognition of skills development at the very heart of supporting the UK’s economic recovery.

A total of £1.6 billion will be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job. Young people, who are amongst the worst hit by the crisis, will benefit from this.

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COVID-19 is now a main factor in causing mental health absences from work

A new report shows that mental health issues related to COVID-19 were a more common factor for sickness absences at Midlands workplaces than issues related to in-work problems or physical health.

The Mental Health and Productivity Pilot (MHPP) is encouraging businesses to get in touch for advice on adopting a free mental health and wellbeing programme for workplaces, to help combat the problem.

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Sustainable Design & Manufacturing Company Receives Tailored Business Support

Foresso, a sustainable design and manufacturing company, has receive tailored business support from the Growth Hub.

Jake Solomon (Managing Director, Foresso) has really benefited from the relationship with his Account Manager – Christine Hancock, Growth & Resilience Specialist. “The GBSLEP Growth Hub does many different things and you’ll find out as you get an account manager and that relationship is the thing that will allow you to look at the landscape of what they can do.”

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Get your business achievements recognised with the Queen's Award for Enterprise

The Queen’s Awards are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses. Winners have reported that a royal endorsement gets their business noticed above and beyond the competition, as well as providing excellent marketing opportunities and press coverage for their business.

The four categories are: Innovation, Sustainable Development, International Trade and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility),

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Made Smarter: New Programme for Manufacturing and Engineering SMEs

Made Smarter has launched a £1.9 million digital adoption push to drive growth in West Midlands manufacturing and engineering SMEs and help them boost productivity.

There are potentially 14,500 SME manufacturers in the region who could benefit from the National Made Smarter Movement.

"The Made Smarter programme is an incredible opportunity for Greater Birmingham businesses to get top quality consultancy and be at the vanguard of the digital revolution in manufacturing, as well as potentially accessing other investment and expertise. I’d urge any manufacturing and engineering SMEs to register for Made Smarter" - Ian McLaughlan, GBSLEP Growth Hub Director

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Dragons’ Den's Piers Linney & The Apprentice's Camilla Ainsworth are guest speakers at “Strength in Numbers: Build your Business Through Collaboration”

Piers Linney (Dragon's Den) and Camilla Ainsworth (The Apprentice) will be speaking at the “Strength in Numbers: Build your Business Through Collaboration” event. This event will provide a platform for businesses considering joining the Peer Networks programme to hear first-hand accounts of the benefits of working with other business leaders.

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How Greater Birmingham SMEs have benefitted from Peer Networks: video case studies

In December 2020, GBSLEP Growth Hub first began recruitment for the pilot of Peer Networks; the fully funded national growth programme for SMEs with 5+ employees and a turnover of £100,000+. 

Our participants were thrilled with the impacts they saw on their businesses. Here the participants tell us why they recommend the programme to other business leaders.

“Peer Networks helped me take time out from the day-to-day running of our business and focus on my leadership skills and capabilities. My peer group had a good mix of knowledge and experience from a variety of sectors which became a trusted source of advice.”

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How GBSLEP is supporting the Kickstart Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month job placements for young people. It provides funding to employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

As well as supporting employers through our Skills Hub, GBSLEP is supporting the government's Kickstart scheme by creating new opportunities within our own teams. 

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