High growth support programme boosts SME investment and turnover

A support programme to turbocharge the growth of businesses across the West Midlands is to continue for a second year after a pilot scheme put 50 SMEs on track boost investment and turnover by £20m.

The High Growth Accelerator is funded by Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and delivered by economic development consultancy, Gateley Global, part of the professional services group Gateley.

Among the first-year cohort were SMEs in automotive, telecoms and IT, design and manufacturing, consulting, technology and marketing. Key participants included Liquid, Paragon Engineering, Maybe Tech, L&S Engineers, ASRA Smethwick, Leopard and Tribera.

The Mayor said: “When businesses succeed, we bring in opportunities that mean everyone can succeed. And that’s why I pledged to break the cycle of sluggish growth and back them all the way to lead our great region into a new era of prosperity.

“We’re already getting results. The High Growth Programme has turbocharged 50 ambitious local businesses, helping them to overcome barriers and seize new opportunities.

"They’ve already won £4 million in new investment and together, they’re on track to add another £15 million to their turnover.

"That’s good for business and transformative for local people. We’re creating career opportunities and giving them the skills they need to grab them. That’s how we’re going to deliver real change and better futures for everyone.”

On 10 April 2025, this year’s cohort of 50 companies that participated in the programme, and representatives from WMCA and Gateley, gathered at Gateley’s Birmingham office to celebrate the programme’s achievements.

Speeches were delivered by Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley, and Paul Edwards, head of economic development and delivery at WMCA.

The programme was developed to offer businesses based in the West Midlands tailored support from Gateley Global to overcome their barriers to growth and manage it sustainably.

The cohort of 50 businesses had access to over 100 service offerings, including intellectual property (IP) valuation, leadership development and cultural change, access to finance, digital marketing, public procurement, new market entry, R&D, capital allowances and commercial contracts.

The first edition of the programme has had great success, with an expected 11-to-1 return on investment for the programme expenditure.

Rebecca Bekkenutte, managing director of Gateley Global, said: “The programme has been a vital resource for participating businesses, providing the tools and support needed to help them grow and succeed. Its alignment with the region's focus on SME development has been a key factor in its success.

"We’ve seen results for all businesses around productivity, job creation, revenue growth and expansion through investment and trade, and we’re thrilled to begin the second year of the programme with the next cohort as of 1 April 2025.”

The High Growth Accelerator Programme entered its second year on 1 April 2025, with funding provided by the Mayor, the WMCA and delivery managed by Gateley Global for the next cohort.