In summary
As we wave goodbye to January, plans are well advanced for several Expos, events and stakeholder engagement for the remainder of 2025 which will provide excellent opportunities for our members to network and pick up essential advice on a range of business issues. We are also on the lookout for a new Regional Chair (info below), so if you would like to get more involved in FSB in the West Midlands get in touch.
Featured news and events
We are currently seeking nominations from FSB members in West Midlands to become our new, regional Chair with effect from 1st April 2025. Working alongside staff the regional Chair promotes and champions FSB to external stakeholders and audiences, supports our lobbying on issues important to local businesses and supports activity and membership growth within the region. To find out more, request a copy of the full role description, please contact [email protected] before Thursday 13th February. Selection will take place between 14th and 28th February.
Fancy a Cuppa…..?
We know the West Midlands is a great place to do business, so we are delighted to bring you this in-person networking event, in partnership with HSBC. Come and join us to meet other small business owners and grow your business.
It will be a relaxed event with an emphasis on making introductions, connecting with new contacts and meeting old friends. Whether you are a regular networker or new to these types of events, you will find a warm welcome and a nice easy atmosphere for making those valuable introductions.
HSBC will be sharing their ‘Strengthen your Business: A Financial Resilience Toolkit’, so it’ll be well worth popping along to access this valuable resource.
The event will take place on Wednesday 12th February 2025, 9.30 – 11.00 a.m. at HSBC UK, 1 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 1HQ.
For more information and to book your place, click here.
In other news
West Midlands Police Survey
West Midlands Police are seeking views of the business community as they carry out their annual engagement into how much people pay for policing. While we know that the business rates people pay locally don’t contribute to the police budget directly, it is still vitally important that we hear your views as someone who contributes to the economy in the West Midlands. The PCC will review the consultation responses and take them into consideration in future budgeting and capital programme discussions. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 6th March 2025.
Click here to complete the survey.
Get Set for Investment
The Investment Readiness (Access to Finance) programme, which is run by Business Growth West Midlands, provides guidance and support activities to enable growth within Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country based small and medium-sized enterprises. There is still time to book events taking place during February and March.
The programme helps SMEs demystify the world of business finance covering topics such as:
- Debt finance i.e., loans & overdrafts
- Asset Finance
- Funding and grant applications
- Equity
- Crowdfunding
- Creating forecasts and business planning documents
- Pitch decks
For more information and to register, click here
Still in the news
Suicide prevention in the workplace – free online session with guidance around training and sources of support
Friday 7 February, 10:30am-12:00pm
Aimed at businesses working across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, delivered by Worcestershire County Council Public Health Suicide Prevention Team. Find out:
- What suicide prevention training is available (including free options) and how to embed this within company culture
- Tools, local services, and resources to help maintain good staff emotional wellbeing
- How to reduce stigma around mental health in the workplace and promote help seeking behaviour
The team will be joined by the Band of Builders | National Charity for Tradespeople – Band of Builders Ltd whom provide practical, financial and wellbeing support to support members of the construction sector.
More news and activity near you
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire is Linsey Luke. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on x: @FSBSrpsHrfsWrcs
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.Shropshire.Herefordshire.Worcestershire