Blog: CW Growth Hub CEO Craig Humphrey explains why business support is more important than ever

In this blog, Craig Humphrey, Chief Executive Officer of Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, explains why there has never been a greater need for companies in the area to access business support.

“The Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub is starting a new chapter in its history -  but our commitment to providing companies in all sectors throughout our sub-region with the very best business support remains the same.

“The closure of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) on March 31 as part of a government re-organisation has meant our governance structure has changed and the Growth Hub Group now consists of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, Growth Hub Business Solutions, which is our commercial division, and C&W Champions.

“For 12 years, CWLEP was responsible for Coventry and Warwick’s economic strategic planning and a conduit for Government to allocate funding resources for infrastructure projects and was widely considered to be one of the best in the country.

“Those responsibilities have been transferred to Local Government and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

“But what hasn’t changed is the need to support businesses, and offer it through people who know business, understand the area and can access the right help quickly and efficiently.

“In essence, that is why Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub was established, and we will continue to do this backed by core funding from Central Government through the newly-named Department for Business and Trade.

“From chatting to businesses every day, it is apparent that there has never been a greater need for support than exists at the moment.

“The war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, the rise in energy bills and recruitment means that more and more companies are contacting our account managers.

“All these economic and world events mean it is a fragmented time at the moment, but at Champions, we talk about the importance of place and by that we mean that Coventry and Warwickshire is the jewel in the crown in the West Midlands economy.

“The good news for companies in Coventry and Warwickshire is that it is business as usual at the Growth Hub and we remain the front door for the business support system in our area.

“While Coventry and Warwickshire is an economically coherent area, Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub straddles all administrative boundaries which is vital as, to be frank, businesses are not concerned about where funding opportunities are delivered from as long as they are relevant and delivered at pace.

“They are not bothered which pool they are fishing in to access talented people, or R&D expertise, for example, and the same applies to our world-class innovation assets such as the University of Warwick, WMG and the MTC which sit across different geographies from a council perspective.

“The end of European funding and the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund means Growth Hubs  also no longer restricted to only provide 12 hours of support.

“CWLEP’s board had the wisdom to give us the autonomy to offer Coventry and Warwickshire businesses as much support as was required to resolve their issues whether that is one hour, 12 hours, two days or a fortnight, and we will be continuing with this policy.

“Louise Bennett, the former Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, had the foresight to say that our Growth Hub ‘hid the wiring’ because  she knew Coventry and Warwickshire businesses didn’t care where their funding was accessed from as long as they were able to secure support – and we will continue to work closely with the Local Authorities, Chamber, FSB and all the support providers to give the best possible business support.

“Coventry and Warwickshire has a long and strong tradition in partnership working and that gives our companies great access to a plethora of support delivered by people who really understand business.

“I would urge any business to get in touch to understand the help we can offer. As always, our door at the Growth Hub is open and any businesses needing help should contact our team on 0300 060 3747 or by email at support@cwgrowthhbub.co.uk and we will be in touch.”