New Initiative Boosts West Midlands SMEs with Supply Chain Opportunities

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 54 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: A successful West Midlands initiative, the Supply Chain Transition Programme, is helping SMEs secure opportunities in emerging industries such as electric vehicles and Very Light Rail.

A groundbreaking initiative aimed at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the West Midlands diversify and secure business in emerging economic sectors has been met with overwhelming success.

The Supply Chain Transition Programme, delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority in partnership with Business Growth West Midlands, supports SMEs in building robust local supply chains in the future mobility sector.

Connecting SMEs with New Opportunities

As part of the programme, C&W Business Solutions—a division of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub Group—has organised a high-profile Meet the Buyer event. Scheduled for 4 February at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) in Dudley, the event is designed to connect suppliers with key players in sectors such as Very Light Rail, Light Electric Vehicles, and Micromobility.

Backed by the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund and in collaboration with partners from the Finditin Network and the West Midlands Growth Company, the programme has helped traditional businesses embrace diversification to tap into growing industries.

Photo Credit: West Midlands Combined Authority

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, the event’s keynote speaker, will join other industry leaders, including representatives from Watt Electric Vehicle Company, Aurrigo, Midland Metro Alliance, and Simworx, to provide insights and procurement opportunities.

Seizing Opportunities in Future Mobility

The event will offer SMEs a platform to engage with buyers, industry experts, and leaders from both the public and private sectors. Attendees will learn about current and future procurement needs and gain knowledge about light vehicle manufacturing opportunities.

Mayor Richard Parker highlighted the region’s leadership in transport innovation:

"The West Midlands is a global leader in transport technology—from the pioneering Very Light Rail system developed at BCIMO to advances in electric vehicles and the upcoming giga-factory. Now is the time for local businesses to seize these supply chain opportunities, create future-proof jobs, and make the West Midlands the best place to do business."

A Transformative Initiative for Local Businesses

Speakers at the event include notable industry figures such as Angus Brummitt-Brown from Coventry Very Light Rail, James Black from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), and Rowan Crozier, CEO of Birmingham-based Brandauer.

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, underscored the importance of the programme in fostering collaboration:

"As a company growing rapidly in manufacturing automated vehicles, we rely on suppliers for everything from hydraulics to electrical parts. Events like these allow us to connect with local suppliers who can help us meet the demands of a constantly evolving automotive sector."

Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore BCIMO’s state-of-the-art engineering hall and test track, which supports the development and demonstration of future rail technologies.

While the Supply Chain Transition Programme is fully subscribed, SMEs interested in similar opportunities can contact supplychaintransition@cwgrowthhub.co.uk for future support.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun