Sarah Windrum

These are exciting times. Growth is strong and optimism is high. Our region is at the forefront of change and we are the place to be in the UK. West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been created to deliver an ambitious plan to drive inclusive economic growth in the West Midlands region and build a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous population. Made up of 18 local authorities and three Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and chaired by the Mayor of the West Midlands, WMCA is working together to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and its locally elected politicians, who know this region best. This is a place determined to make its mark, and it is succeeding. The West Midlands’ magnificent past drives the region’s future. Its cities are built on industry and are now perfectly positioned to re-invent the industrial revolution for the future. This is a place built on social connection, collaboration and progress. Key priorities include transport; productivity and skills; housing and regeneration; industrial strategy; finance and investment and public service reform. We are a region on the move. Our time is now.

The mission of UKSPA is to be the authoritative body on the planning, development and the creation of Science Parks and other innovation locations that are facilitating the development and management of innovative, high growth, knowledge-based organisations. A Science Park is a business support and technology transfer initiative that: encourages and supports the start up and incubation of innovation-led, high-growth, knowledge-based businesses.provides an environment where larger and international businesses can develop specific and close interactions with a particular centre of knowledge creation for their mutual benefit.has formal and operational links with centres of knowledge creation such as universities, higher education institutes and research organisations. THE HISTORY OF UKSPA Founded in 1984 by the managers of the eight Parks that then existed, UKSPA has gone from strength to strength. In the last forty years the number of Science Parks has grown significantly (from two in 1982 to around 150 in 2024). There is still a strong regional, and local focus to their establishment. What has continued to happen over the years is that many more UK Universities and centres of excellence in research have recognised the unstoppable trend, and inherent value of Science Park development and have created parks with associated management structures to help drive and technology up the value chain by supporting tenant companies across a wide range of activities. THE GROWTH OF UKSPA Over the course of the last forty years there has been continual growth in membership. In 2024 - the 40th Anniversary of the Association - over 140 locations were in membership, delivering facilities and support to over 6000 companies.

These are exciting times. Growth is strong and optimism is high. Our region is at the forefront of change and we are the place to be in the UK. West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been created to deliver an ambitious plan to drive inclusive economic growth in the West Midlands region and build a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous population. Made up of 18 local authorities and three Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and chaired by the Mayor of the West Midlands, WMCA is working together to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and its locally elected politicians, who know this region best. This is a place determined to make its mark, and it is succeeding. The West Midlands’ magnificent past drives the region’s future. Its cities are built on industry and are now perfectly positioned to re-invent the industrial revolution for the future. This is a place built on social connection, collaboration and progress. Key priorities include transport; productivity and skills; housing and regeneration; industrial strategy; finance and investment and public service reform. We are a region on the move. Our time is now.

The Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) is an alliance of private and public sector organisations working towards a common, shared purpose: to grow the local economy, attract new jobs and investment, and increase prosperity. Legally incorporated in 2011, CWLEP has become a powerful platform for achieving its ambitions. With strong links to the business community and considerable public sector insight and influence, we’re perfectly positioned to bring key influencers together to forge productive relationships and make things happen. In fact, the CWLEP and its regional advocacy partner, CW Champions, have secured more than £360m in public and private sector funding for the local area to date. This funding has allowed us to drive forward key projects in priority areas such as transport, small business support and skills training, and work closely with the region’s biggest employers to encourage further investment and expansion within Coventry and Warwickshire. It’s thanks to our partners that we’re able to continue this vital work - from local authorities and district councils, to universities and further education providers, and business groups tasked with improving business conditions in areas ranging from transport to funding. And though our focus lies firmly within the Coventry and Warwickshire region, our ambitions are informed by, and interlinked with, those of the Midlands Engine and West Midlands Combined Authority, ensuring that everything we do feeds into wider initiatives designed to propel this area from strength to strength.

The Emerald Group provide you with expert advice to ensure your business makes the most out of the technology available to you in order to increase revenue and improve efficiency. Our Business Communications division supports your mobile workforce whether that is a field sales team, engineers, logistics drivers, property maintenance, or lone workers. Our support keeps your team operational by dealing with day to day issues and we reduce your communications spend by regular audits, cost management reports, and tariff reviews. Our IT Support division offers a fully managed outsourced IT service for your SME business, particularly in the financial sector. Your network is pro-actively monitored to ensure any potential disruption is detected and dealt with, often before your business notices. Our expert knowledge in data security and data management means you know your business sensitive and critical data is 100% secure at the same time as being accessible to your relevant team members. Our IT Project Management team support your business during a relocation or IT network upgrade as well as planning for the worst with our disaster recovery team. We know how important data is to a business and how crippling data loss can be through hardware failure, power surges, flood, or fire without an effective and secure recovery plan in place.