Business support scheme creates 100 new jobs for Walsall

ALMOST 100 new jobs have been created in Walsall over the last 12 months by a programme dedicated to making businesses in the borough more competitive.

The £300,000 Winning Opportunities in Walsall (WOW) project has helped add more than £500,000 to the borough’s economy, helping more than 80 firms in the process.

Funded by Walsall Partnership through Walsall Borough Council, the initiative offers specialist innovation support through a mix of strategic one-to-one mentoring, interactive clinics and group support.

Despite cuts to Government-funded programmes, the scheme is still operational and has 80 places available for the current year.

Judith Bayliss, one of the managers behind the scheme, said: “Walsall has always boasted a strong tradition of ingenuity and what the first year has proven is that there is still an appetite to do things differently in the town.

“When we talk about innovation it doesn’t have to be just about launching unique products or services. Naturally that is a major benefit, but innovation can also be about the way you treat your customers, how you manage your supply chain and even how you look to take the waste out of your business.

“We’re about 20 companies ahead of schedule and so far have assisted organisations across twelve sectors, including distribution, hospitality, manufacturing, security and training.”

Each company taking part in WOW will receive a one-to-one diagnostic to work up an action plan and will then benefit from the in-depth assistance of a skilled mentor who will help them work towards meeting their objectives.

It is available to all Walsall companies regardless of size and sector and the programme has taken the support package one stage further by hosting a series of specialist seminars and interactive workshops that have attracted more than 200 delegates to date.

It has also strengthened existing relationships with universities, the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands and Designing Demand, as well as leveraging the expertise of private sectors partners such as InnovationXchange.

Cllr Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “In today’s current climate, we have to do everything we can to encourage business growth in the area and the WOW programme is playing a big role in helping us achieve this.”