Video Transcript
Hello and welcome to the March edition of the Worcestershire Business Support Newsletter. As we make our way through March, the growth hub team are continuing to support businesses right across the county. Be that through our account managers meeting with businesses to discuss their growth plans, challenges and opportunities, or the wider team delivering events to tackle key business issues. The Growth Hub remain active and are out and about, helping local organisations.
One of our bigger event campaigns over the last few weeks was Worcestershire TechFest 2026. Working across our partners in BetaDen, Midlands Cyber and the Worcestershire County Council. We delivered 13 technology and innovation themed events across two weeks, supporting businesses, academia and individuals to engage with the growing innovation agenda in Worcestershire. It was a brilliant two weeks, with over 900 attendees engaged across all the events. But it doesn’t stop there. We will be continuing our push for the growth of innovation in Worcestershire. So stay tuned to our channels to find out more.
Hot on the heels of Worcestershire Tech Fest was the annual Skills Expo. Once again, the skills team, working with local partners, delivered a two day event where we saw over 70 local employers showcasing their businesses to over 4500 young people from schools right across the county. This two day event was supported by the growth hub in the first week of March, and if any businesses are interested in being involved in future events, please get in touch with the Growth Hub and we can put you in touch with the relevant contact.
Looking ahead to the new financial year. There are a couple of things that I would like to bring to your attention. The first being the upcoming changes to work experience for school age pupils. For employers we know that recruiting and retaining talent is a major challenge, but one of the ways to successfully combat that challenge is to engage with young people, to inform and inspire them about your organisation and the jobs and careers opportunities which may not be immediately obvious to young people. Which brings to mind a quote. ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ This was coined by Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist for the rights of children, and emphasizes the importance of visible role models for inspiring achievement. These changes have been brought into work experience by the government to replace the current single one week placement with a series of shorter, more meaningful experiences spread across a student’s education. This approach aims to reducing the singular pressure on employers, increases flexibility, and creates more impactful encounters, making participation accessible for organisations of any size or sector. To help employers understand how these changes will work and how they can be involved. The growth hub will be holding an event on the 13 May at the Worcestershire County Cricket club to help employers. Make sure to book your place at this event. To engage early and help influence tomorrow’s workforce, and join like minded businesses looking to invest in their future skills.
The Worcestershire LEP team have also just published their annual Worcestershire Economy Report for 2026. This report provides an update on key economic performance indicators across the Worcestershire economy, and serves as a useful reference document for businesses and local partners. This year’s report includes a focus on several local businesses to watch, and celebrates the diversity of our local business base across the county. For more information and access to the report, please see the newsletter.
And finally, as we enter the new financial year, there are opportunities available with new support programs, grants and projects becoming available. I’d like to encourage businesses to make sure you’re engaging with the Growth Hub team to learn about the new support as it becomes available. With often limited funding or capacity across the programs, by engaging early, you have the best opportunity to access the support. Use the contact details in the newsletter to get your appointment with the team, and be the first to find out more about the 2026/27 business support programs.
As always, there’s plenty more going on within the newsletter for you to find out about. And as always, no matter your situation, please make sure to contact the team to see how we can support your business. We’ll see you next time.
