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City launches even bigger business programme to attract new investment

Wolverhampton is gearing up for its biggest-ever business event with a string of meetings, conferences, briefings and factory tours lined up for the end of this month.

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Tim Johnson, managing director of Wolverhampton counci l– business programme is "an opportunity to restate our ambitions for the future"

Now in its fifth year, it has outgrown its original Business Week format and will now run from Sunday, September 23, to Wednesday, October 3.

It comes as work is finally getting under way on a series of long-awaited major developments across the city centre, with cranes set to start appearing on Wolverhampton’s skyline in the coming months.

Work on the Interchange and the new railway station is already in progress, while building of the new i9 office block nearby will start later this year. The council is also hoping that developer Urban & Civic will be able to start work on the £55 million Westside leisure project by the end of this year or early in 2019. That project has been delayed to enable changes to the plans.

An update on progress across the city will be provided at the keynote Business Breakfast event, on Thursday September 27, when BBC business presenter Steph McGovern will be acting as compere and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ managing director Laurie Dalrymple will be talking about the impact of Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League and the ambitions of the club’s Chinese owners, Fosun.

The council will also be hoping to make some major announcements during the 11-day programme, although details are being kept firmly under wraps.

Council managing director Tim Johnson said: “At a time of economic uncertainties it is an opportunity to restate our ambitions for the future. It is an opportunity to reflect on the growth and transformation of our city and on what has happened over the last 12 months.

“The success of Wolves has provided a great stimulus for the city and we need to build on that alongside the other progress we are making. We are seeing real interest from outside investors in coming to the city and we need to make sure we understand what they are looking for from us.”

One of the most important events will happen behind closed doors, in Birmingham, where council chiefs will meet with landlords and developers to discuss plans for buildings around the city. Mr Johnson said they would be encouraging landlords to ensure empty buildings were being brought back into use.

“We want people to see Wolverhampton as a city they want to do business in, but we are aware that is not just a case of having the sites but also ensuring they can access a workforce with the skills they need. That is why the focus of much of our work is on improving those skills.” said Mr Johnson.

“As the world becomes more digital, it is important our people have those digital skills. When a company is considering basing itself here it will want to know it can recruit the people it needs. We have to make sure we can meet those needs.”

The string of free business events promoting investment in Wolverhampton kicks off on Sunday with a Housing Fair at the city's Art Gallery, aimed at boosting home ownership.

Estate agents, the Citizens Advice Bureau, lawyers, builders and a range of businesses and organisations offering support and advice are expecting to see around 600 people pass through the doors between 11am and 3.30pm.

It is followed on Monday by Small Business, Big Impact, a lunchtime event offering small and medium sized businesses with the chance to find out about finance, grants and marketing as well as the support on offer from the city council, the EU and the Government.

On Tuesday an event at the GTG Training and Conference Centre in Willenhall will be providing practical support to help businesses win contracts by learning how to write quality tenders. The day will also see a lucky dozen business people getting a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the city's most cutting edge companies - the Moog aerospace engineering plant on the i54.

The evening will see the annual City of Wolverhampton Skills Dinner, this year hosted at The Chancellors Hall at the University of Wolverhampton. The event is aiming to encourage firms to take on apprentices, promoting the business benefits of the scheme.

One of the Business Programme's major events takes place on the Wednesday, when world-leading manufacturers including Samsung, Honeywell, Bosch, Casio and Sharp will be demonstrating the benefits of the latest innovative technologies to businesses at Wolverhampton Racecourse for Technology 2018, from 8am to 3.30pm.

More than 40 exhibitors will be showcasing the latest systems, providing information and advice on the operational and financial benefits available, and offering solutions on security, life safety, audio visual and commercial technology.

City business Thompson Group is organising the event and managing director Scott Thompson said: “Technology 2018 is a fantastic showcase of the latest unified communications, security, audio visual, fire & life safety systems from world leading manufacturers and many others; who will all be demonstrating how the professional installation and integration of the latest innovative technologies can offer operational and financial benefits to organisations of all sizes and from all sectors.

“The free event is all under one roof for one day only - with presentations and practical demonstrations on throughout the day, there will be something for everyone at the biggest and best event yet.”

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, added: “Making use of the latest technology can help businesses thrive.

“I would urge businesses in Wolverhampton to go along to this free Business Programme event to find out cost-effective ways they can use technology to improve their business.”

The day will also see a Women Entrepreneurs Lunch, for both existing female entrepreneurs and women thinking of starting up their own businesses. Those attending will be able to tap into free business advice, hear from successful women and network with existing entrepreneurs. The event, funded by Access to Business, includes refreshments and a light lunch at the Art Gallery's Georgian Room.

One of the busiest days in the programme, it will also see site visits at Banks's Brewery and at one of the Liberty House engineering sites at Willenhall.

The keynote event of the programme takes place on Thursday, September 27, with the Premier Business Breakfast at GTG, hosted by broadcaster and business journalist Steph McGovern. Around 300 people have already signed up to attend the event, to hear city council managing director Tim Johnson and Wolves MD Laurie Dalrymple speak about the benefits of foreign investment and the opportunities available in the city for business.

The following day, a Meet the Buyer breakfast event will offer companies the chance to find out about future work opportunities in the area from some of the largest public and private sector organisations in the city at Molineux Stadium.

Later Wolverhampton Business Champion Professor Ian Oakes will be hosting a visit to the University of Wolverhampton Science Park, including a look at the new state-of-the-art Science Centre.

Events continue into the following week with an early morning business networking session, with Black Country Chamber of Commerce, at the city's Grand Station venue on Monday, October 3. It will be followed by a presentation on infrastrucutre and construction work in the Middle East from the Department of International Trade.

Tuesday will see the focus turning to staff wellbeing, with an afternoon session at the Citizens Advice Wolverhampton offices in Snow Hill.

In addition, throughout the day, there will be sessions on food hygiene, offering an insight into a brand-new service to assist food premises in boosting their food ratings. Taking place at the Light House, in the city centre's Chubb Buildings, there will be the opportunity to learn how a good food rating can increase the volume of customers to your premises and improve business reputation as well as understanding the importance of customer reviews and becoming more confident and better prepared for food inspections and complying with legislation.

Another early morning event is a construction industry 'meet the buyer' session at the GTG centre, organised with the CITB – Construction Industry Training Board – to provide information on upcoming building and development work and how CITB grants and funding can support construction skills and training.

For more information and to register for the Technology 2018 event please visit www.technology2018.co.uk. For details of all the events taking place during the Business Programme, go to www.investwolverhampton.com.