Worcestershire.Business.Central: Worcestershire's Growth Hub
Worcestershire.Business.Central is a single point of contact for all Worcestershire business support needs - whether it be for start-ups, growing businesses, developing skills, finding property, networking or finance. With a dedicated web presence, helpline and enquiry system, Worcestershire.Business.Central brings all available business support into one place.
The Worcestershire.Business.Central website also offers an events calendar, an online business directory & business news to help businesses to network and take advantage of trading opportunities.
The first Growth Hub in the West Midlands
Worcestershire.Business.Central was awarded Growth Hub status in July 2014 – the first in the West Midlands – during a visit by Matt Hancock MP (Minister for Skills and Enterprise).
Growth hubs bring together public and private sector partners to promote, co-ordinate and deliver business support. They provide a mechanism for integrating national and local, public and private business support provision so it is easy for businesses to access. They are locally driven and locally owned.
Why was the service created?
Feedback from over 1,200 businesses led Worcestershire County Council (in conjunction with other partners) to create this 'one-stop-shop' to provide a simplified route to local and national support and information.
During the surveys, businesses had raised concerns that it was a time consuming and often frustrating task to search multiple websites to find useful business support and advice. They also noted their main needs and priorities for the county were:
Supporting businesses (start-up and grow), access to finance including loans and grants and information on business training and support programmes.
Inward Investment – including information of key strategic sites and a commercial property search facility.
Employment and Skills – support for employers focussing on recruiting staff, apprenticeships, leadership and management and employer training.
Maintain and develop key infrastructure – improving key road and rail services, getting better access to high speed broadband, and developing employment land and flexible workspace.
Improve communication and access to services - giving information to businesses which is clear and consistent, and simplifying processes to ease engagement with services.