Support Schemes

Birmingham offers an extensive business support network and can offer your business access to local business networks that will help you start or expand your business in the city.

Local associates

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group is one of the oldest and largest Chamber groups in the country. It has been established for nearly 200 years, and, like the business environment over the decades, it has changed and adapted accordingly.

The group now comprises : 

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce 
Solihull Chamber of Commerce 
Burton & District Chamber of Commerce 
Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce 
Chase Chamber of Commerce 
Chamber Executive Club 
British American Business Council Midlands 
Institute of Asian Businesses

Today’s Chamber is a modern, innovative, membership-based business support organisation that exists to connect its members to opportunity.

The combined resources of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group enables it to be the voice of local business at local, sub-regional and national levels. The public policy and advocacy capability is unrivalled and will ensure maximum impact with key decision makers.

Birmingham Future

Birmingham Future is Birmingham’s leading membership organisation for young professionals working in the professional, financial and creative services sectors. The profile of our members is diverse, from associates and trainees to directors and partners.

Birmingham Future provides a range of networking opportunities for its members and is engaged in a number of initiatives in the city, including the Colmore Row Business Improvement District, the Big City Plan, Graduate Apprenticeand the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards.

The organisation has grown considerably since its inception in 1993 and currently has an active membership approaching 500 individuals.

Birmingham Forward

Birmingham Forward is an independent, inclusive, not-for-profit, membership organisation that was established in 1990. Their role is to promote the strength, range and depth of services that its members offer to the widest possible audience. At the same time they want to promote Birmingham, and the region, as an ideal place to do business.

Members come from 21 different sectors of business and professional services and represent a broad cross-section of the Birmingham business community.

Forward members have access to a wide range of events that both educate and inform the audience whilst at the same time providing excellent networking opportunities.

On behalf of its members Birmingham Forward lobbies on key issues that are important to its members or our city - often the two are closely linked.

Birmingham Office Market Forum (BOMF)

Birmingham Office Market Forum was established in 2007 to present a co-ordinated voice to investors, developers and occupiers about Birmingham city centre's office market.

The Forum, which brings together the city's leading office agents and Locate in Birmingham, produced the first Central Birmingham Office Map in 2008 - redefining the office core. Since its formation, the Forum has worked closely with Birmingham City Council on a number of inward investment projects, as well as promoting the city at conferences.

Business Insight

Business Insight is a comprehensive public business information service for starting, growing and developing your business, learning new skills and safeguarding your intellectual property.

Business Insight has more than 40 services to help you with your business information needs including a company formation service. Other popular services include:

Business start-up information and support
Business Advice sessions
Business Planning service
 Management skills training 
Mailing Lists 
Market Research
 Intellectual Property
Credit Checks
Patents
Marketing Resources 
Business Research

Regional schemes

WM-MAS

The MAS (Manufacturing Advisory Service) is one of the Governments Solutions for Business suite of offerings, jointly funded by BIS (The Department of Business Innovation and Skills) and the nine English Regional Development Agencies. The WM-MAS provides advice, support and business solutions for manufacturers in the West Midlands region. They deliver:

Immediate impartial manufacturing advice
In-company manufacturing reviews to highlight performance enhancing opportunities
A series of free to attend interactive best practice workshops that cover manufacturing, purchasing and international marketing
Subsidised in-depth project to resolve complex manufacturing issues
Access to technical expertise and sources of additional support

EMB Ltd

EMB delivers the Leadership and Management Advisory Service in Central England on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency.

Up to £1000 in grant funding is now available to help business leaders pay for training to grow their organisations. Through the Leadership and Management Advisory Service, senior leaders of businesses with the potential to achieve high growth have a great opportunity to develop their leadership and management skills. This offer is available to private sector businesses or social enterprises with:

• fewer than 250 full time equivalent employees

• at least one employee in addition to the senior leader

• the potential for high or fast growth

For more information and to apply, visit the EMB website, call 0845 894 8969 or email LMAS@embltd.co.uk.

National Schemes

UKTI

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government organisation that helps businesses invest and locate in the UK and grow internationally.

They help overseas companies, whatever their size and experience, at every stage of their investment, by offering:

Impartial advice on where and how to set up a business in the UK
Information related to funding, financing, staffing and operations (including tax, visas, property and R&D options)
Introductions to professional advisers and key contacts
Access, through their partnership programmes to a range of possible business partners, as well as a range professional services organisations (including solicitors, accountants and recruitment consultants)
Practical help on the ground, including visits to suitable locations, finding business partners and accessing financial incentives
An aftercare service, including advice on maximising investment in the UK, through domestic and international expansion.