Aimed at: SME owners (or the person responsible for digital strategy within a business) with the appetite to enhance sales through an increased online presence.

AIM for the Black Country is a service being offered to SMEs to enhance their growth and competitiveness. Through a partnership arrangement between the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Black Country Growth Hub, Local Authorities, Black Country Consortium and the University of Wolverhampton you will be able to access a coordinated approach to a range of business support, advice and workshops. You can enter the programme through any of the aforementioned partners who will then manage the process from start to finish.

Workshop objective: Increase your marketing reach by enhancing your digital marketing channels.

Workshop Trainer: Calloway Green Ltd – Chris Green

This workshop is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and there is no cost to eligible SMEs taking part. There is a small amount of paperwork required to assess eligibility and evidence actions and outcomes.

Venue: TBC

To express your interest please phone 0121 569 2121.

Find out more about the AIM project here.

On  Thursday 17 August  the Black Country Chamber invites you to attend a tour of Jaguar Land Rover's Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton.

Discover how the advanced new ingenium engine is carved from three humble blocks of metal. From drilling to dyno-testing, get to know the inner workings of this artful, hi-tech and highly sustainable production line.

The tour will include:
After a warm welcome from your host, you'll start your journey in the machining hall. Here, engine blocks, cylinder heads and crankshafts are drilled, ground and polished with 3-micron precision by over 173 different machines.

Next you will see how aluminium and steel swarf (waste) is collected, recycled and exported. You will learn about the cutting edge heating, lighting and rainwater-harvesting systems, and the solar roof whose 21,000 panels generate 30% of the site's energy.

Then onto the assembly hall, where you'll witness the birth of the ingenium. The trio of main components are joined; high-speed robots fit bearings, pistons and balance shafts; craftsmen add oil and fuel pumps. Every 39.8 seconds, a radiant four-cylinder, 2.0-litre, low emission engine leaves the production line.

Pose your questions to the experts, and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of Jaguar Land Rover engineering.

Click here to visit Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre

Venue: Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre, Engine Manufacturing Centre, Innovation Drive, Coven, Wolverhampton WV9 5GB

Free to attend - open to manufacturers only

If you would like to attend you can follow this link to register

On Thursday 24, 31 August and 7  September, the West Midlands Manufacturing Club will be hosting a rail tender supplier readiness programme at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre.

WMMC are looking for 10 SMEs who currently supply, or have the potential to supply the rail sector, to take part in their free, three-day pilot rail tender supplier readiness programme, ‘Get on track’ during August & September.

Expected to cost up to £3000 when it officially launches in November this year, this hands-on, practical programme will help your business capitalise on the bid & tender opportunities arising from HS2 and other public procurement.

It will be delivered by rail tender experts, Thornton & Lowe, whose rail supply chain clients enjoy a success rate in the sector in excess of 75% and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Venue:Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, WV10 9RT

Free to attend

To express your interest in participating in the ‘Get On Track’ pilot, email: wmmc@businesssolutionscentres.co.uk