West Midlands Mayor Richard ParkerA major new initiative has been launched to help small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) across Coventry and Warwickshire recover from recent supply chain disruptions and pivot into high-growth sectors. The West Midlands Investment Zone — Supply Chain Transition Programme, backed by a £12.5 million investment from the
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is being led by
C&W Business Solutions, part of the
CW Growth Hub Group.
The programme is designed to support hundreds of SMEs in the region, particularly those affected by recent cyberattacks on regional OEMs such as Jaguar Land Rover. It aims to strengthen and diversify supply chains by helping businesses tap into emerging markets including aerospace, electric light vehicles and battery storage, future housing and ‘green’ industries, med-tech and health-tech, smart energy systems, and digital capabilities.
The Supply Smarter West Midlands Consortium, which is delivering the programme, brings together a powerhouse of regional expertise including the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), WMG at the University of Warwick, and the West Midlands Combined Universities — a partnership of Coventry University, Birmingham City University, and the University of Wolverhampton.
SMEs participating in the programme will benefit from a comprehensive support package that includes capability audits, intensive one-to-one technical advice, leadership and management training, and access to research and development grants of up to £200,000.
Craig Humphrey, CEO of
C&W Business Solutions, said: “This programme is being launched at a vital time for many SMEs facing challenges in traditional manufacturing which have been highlighted by the shutdown at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), but this is not just for the JLR supply chain, this is to keep the region at the cutting-edge of manufacturing as it enters a new era.
“We are taking an industry-first approach by bringing together world-class expertise to de-risk innovation and investment for SMEs. This is about real, practical support that helps companies across the West Midlands win work, grow, and create high-value jobs to support the region’s Growth Plan ambitions. Our region’s SMEs already have the skills. This programme will give them the roadmap, the tools, and the backing to diversify, innovate, and succeed in future-focused sectors.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Manufacturing is still the beating heart of the West Midlands economy, it is in our DNA. But we are ever evolving as technology transforms what we make and how we make it. It is essential to modernise production, upskill our workforce, and support business leaders with the training, funding, and guidance they need to be at the cutting-edge of 21st century clean and high-tech industries.
He concluded: “Opportunities are coming in this new era for manufacturing; and we are making sure businesses and local people are ready to seize the moment so we can protect and create more high-quality jobs. This is a chance to reclaim our status as the workshop of the world.”