BGWM Events & Marketing Team

In just over 12 months, Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) has transformed business support across the region delivering more than 200 events, supporting nearly 7,000 SMEs and unlocking over £4.5 million in growth funding.

Established to help SMEs start, grow and scale, BGWM’s small but powerful Events and Marketing Team built everything from the ground up brand, strategy, systems and partnerships ensuring every event was inclusive, high-impact and practical. From local business roadshows to region-wide campaigns, they reached new and underrepresented audiences, raised awareness and drove measurable business change.

Two standout achievements highlight the team’s creativity and impact. The Regional Business Support Programme delivered 106 events on critical themes like AI, finance, and leadership, resulting in 421 jobs created, over 1,200 business plans developed and £3.4 million in grants awarded. Strategic marketing campaigns drove 8M+ impressions, 5K+ newsletter signups and significant traffic growth across key areas.

The West Midlands Business Festival (WMBF), launched in just six months, united the region through a vibrant two-week celebration featuring 97 events, double the initial target. With 4M+ digital reach and 1,500+ businesses engaged, WMBF made headlines and changed businesses: 82% of attendees made new connections, 29% improved skills and 19% saw direct business improvements. Faced with tight budgets, no legacy infrastructure and ambitious targets, the team used digital-first marketing, in-kind partnerships and grassroots engagement to deliver standout results.

BGWM has proven that public sector events can be agile, strategic, and inspiring. With a bold vision and deep commitment to regional growth, this team has redefined what business support looks like and they’re just getting started.