Kathryn WagstaffInterim

Business Relationship ManagerEconomic Development Unit

Worcestershire County Council

What is Worcestershire. Business. Central?

Why do it?Who is it?What is it?

What 1270 businesses said…..

Who is involved?Worcestershire County Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wyre Forest District Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce , National Apprenticeship Service, Job Centre Plus and FE and Training providers etc etc etc etc ……

Businesses!

What is Worcestershire.Business. Central?

• Web based portal providing a single point of contact/access for all business support needs www.business-central.co.uk

• Business response desk 0300 123 1440 info@business-central.co.uk

• Business Account Management

Our response

Worcestershire. Business. Central

Our Services/products 1. Business Opportunities– FinditinWorcestershire,

link though to UKTI (Chamber).

2. Business Support – Business Start-up, Resource and efficiency, Business growth, Business grants and loans.

3. Inward Investment4. Worcestershire Property Search5. Skills Development - Graduate internship

Programme link with FE colleges and Training Providers, JCP, NAS.

Market testing

Worcestershire. Business. Centraloffers a number of interactive applications: • Events calendar • Online business directory• Property Search • Grant Finder• News section

Interactive applications - Events

Business Directory

The futureMonday 8th October went liveTuesday 20th & Friday 23rd November -Market Testing and customer feedback

Full Launch - End of January 2013www.business-central.co.uk

0300 123 1440info@business-central.co.uk

let us know what you think is good (and not so good!)

Our services/products1. Business opportunities

Why was Finditinworcestershire developed?• A networking and support project for

business – borne out of demand

• To support the local economy and sustain local employment

• To encourage trade between Worcestershire businesses, strengthen the supply chain

• To improve access to procurement opportunities – private and public sector contract opportunities are more visible• To help us develop better

relationships with businesses to be more responsive to their needs

What is Finditinworcestershire.com? 2 parts

1 Website – find a supplier, tender notices, business news, eventsPromoting business to business (B2B) trading:

• Providing a "match-making" service, linking buyers and sellers.

• Showcasing local businesses

• Highlighting contract opportunities• (Not a business to consumer facility)

2 Breakfast networking meetings – expert speakers

Key facts

• Launched by Worcestershire County Council in February 2011

• Over 3500 members to date

• Nearly 700 business opportunities

• Brought over £50 million worth of opportunities together in one place

• Average of 120 attendees at each Breakfast meetings

• Open to Businesses, public sector organisations and the voluntary and community sector can register

What next?

Register on Finditinworcestershire to find suppliers and promote sub-contract opportunities:

• Find suppliers for any of your projects (generate email alert)

• Register for you to hear about opportunities

• Get to know the local economy and companies to help you become aware of future development projects

• Come to our networking meetings

• If you have a major project locally we can organise an event for you to meet potential local suppliers

We can help you register and upload opportunity details. (Relevant local suppliers receive an automatic alert about the opportunity)

*It is all FREE*

Contact details

Worcestershire. Business. Central for help or information, contact

Kathryn Wagstaff kwagstaff@worcestershire.gov.uk 01905 766896

Finditinworcestershire for help or information, contact

Emily Marsh emarsh2@worcestershire.gov.uk 01905 766897

Any Questions?