WMG at the University of Warwick has boosted the West Midlands economy by £450 million – with every £1 invested into WMG’s small and medium enterprise (SME) programmes, around £22 has returned to the local economy.

West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, today (23 January 2024) visited entrepreneurs who have taken part in the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator at The University of Warwick to hear how the expertise it provided has helped them to grow their businesses.

A university programme which helped SMEs reduce energy consumption by 32% has been nominated for a national sustainability award.

An independent report from innovation and investment consultancy firm, Beauhurst, reveals how the University of Warwick is helping to drive the West Midlands’ position as a powerhouse for innovation, which is in turn supporting growth in the local economy.

With transport being the largest carbon emitting sector in the UK, a partnership between NatWest and WMG at the University of Warwick has led to the launch of the Clean Transport Accelerator. It will support businesses which are part of the mobility sector to develop products and services that will play their part in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals.

Loqski is a pocketable device locking skis and poles together, WMG at the University of Warwick have helped them manufacture the locks affordably and sustainably

The WMG Skills Centre launched today, the 17^th January. The Centre provides the opportunity for businesses to respond to challenges through a range of innovative short courses which will equip workforces with the latest technical skills.

NatWest and the University of Warwick are opening a new business Accelerator hub on the University’s campus, with the focus on supporting and empowering students, local entrepreneurs, and local business owners to grow their businesses. Applications are now open for local businesses and students to join the first cohort, starting in January. 

One of the first companies to sign up to the MadeSmarter programme to improve the digital capabilities of smaller businesses has officially opened its new company headquarters and factory in Sandwell, thanks to the help they received from WMG at the University of Warwick.

Made Smarter has launched a £1.9 million digital adoption push to drive growth in West Midlands manufacturing and engineering SMEs and help them boost productivity.

The programme delivered by the SME Group at WMG, University of Warwick has been a major success in the West Midlands over the last 2 years, helping over 100 companies, develop 71 new products and processes, from automation and productivity plans through to the zero emission technologies of tomorrow. The team have been awarded a further £6m from to take them through to March 2023, meaning the team has gone from a 2 year £5m programme, to an £11m 5 ½ year programme. This extension will enable the team to operate from Wolverhampton and Worcestershire in the West, to Loughborough and Luton in the East Midlands.

Small and medium-sized enterprises or charities looking for someone to run a short term project or business idea can now apply to this year’s University of Warwick Summer Internship programme (WSI).

The future of Biomedical Engineering (BME) was the focus in Brussels today by the European Parliament Interest Group (EPIG) - looking at the future of medical equipment and how to regulate hospitals in Africa.

The University of Warwick is one of the leading Coventry and Warwickshire organisations joining together on a major project to support businesses across the region with education and training.

Lampposts could be the answer to electric vehicle charging, thanks to help from researchers at WMG, University of Warwick in bringing a new brand of charging points to market – some of which are powering electric vehicles on the University campus.

Purity Brewing Ltd is a small brewer based on a farm between Studley and Great Alne not far from Stratford upon Avon.  Sales continue to boom, which means constantly balancing the production of their beers with growing customer demand. The company turned to the SME team in WMG at the University of Warwick to help develop data systems to manage this complex operation while they get on with brewing the beer.

West Midlands sportswear company SafeJawz have said thanks, or rather Fangs, for the help that WMG researchers at the University of Warwick have given them in the development of their new range of self-fit mouth guards which are designed to make gum shields a desirable piece of sports equipment as opposed to a nuisance item that can hinder performance. As it’s Halloween there was really only one obvious design to go with to mark this successful collaboration which is why Nile Dacres and Waitu Setu from Coventry RFC rugby team are sporting Fang-tastic new mouth guards.

The University of Warwick is joining forces with the region’s first Coventry and Warwickshire Business Festival to showcase its range of business support services to SMEs on Monday 20th November.

A technology demonstrator for a new type of electric delivery vehicle – which could make the courier industry greener and more efficient – has been developed by WMG at the University of Warwick and Warwickshire-based design company Astheimer Ltd.

Donald Trump's shock election as President of the US could have economic repercussions for the global economy. Here Stephen Roper, Professor of Enterprise and Director of the Enterprise Research Centre, reveals what it could mean for the UK's 5.2 million small and medium-sized companies.