The Supply Chain Transition Programme is a new initiative, being delivered on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority and Business Growth West Midlands.
Helping SMEs across the West Midlands diversify their customer base by winning new orders in growing areas of the economy.
With the support of OEMs and Key Customers in the sectors of Electric Light Vehicles and Very Light Rail, C&W Business Solutions, alongside partners, The West Midlands Growth Company and the Finditin Network, will help businesses to develop their understanding of these sectors, learn about current and future procurement requirements within the sector, and access opportunities to become a supplier of the future for light vehicle manufacturing.
The Programme
Support will be provided through a number of activities, across the fully-funded, one-year programme, including:
- Early market education event to develop understanding of the technology and highlight current and future opportunities.
- Expert-led workshops, which will include intensive learning around sustainability, low-carbon technologies, sales & marketing, bid writing, accreditations & standards, change management, skills, training, and recruitment.
- 1:1 mentoring from a Supply Chain Specialist Account Manager.
- Meet the Buyer opportunities.
- OEM/key customer site visits.
Upon conclusion of the Programme, businesses will have developed a Supply Chain roadmap, tailored to their business, to enable them to supply goods and services to these sectors.
Other sectors
The Supply Chain Transition Programme is also being delivered to support the Aerospace & Space sectors through the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, and Micromobility sector, through WMG, University of Warwick.
Find out more
If you are an SME business based in the West Midlands who is already a supplier to these industries, or you would like to find out more about future opportunities to supply into these sectors, or if your business is an OEM or buyer operating in these sectors, please get in touch now, or register for our upcoming online event, "Road to Rail: Supply Chains for the Future of Light Vehicle Manufacturing".
For more information about the programme and the support available, please send us an email or complete our online form.
Market Education Event with Nicholas Owen, Journalist, Presenter & Rail Enthusiast, BBC.
The first FREE, online market education event: 'Road to Rail: Supply Chains for the Future of Light Vehicle Manufacturing' was held on Wednesday 10 July 2024.
Very Light Rail has the hugely promising potential to transform small city transport and create a connection between other modes of transport, whilst Light Electric Vehicles will transform how we move within and between local places. As towns and cities grow and environmental worries increase, finding affordable, sustainable and efficient transport solutions is more important than ever before.
Our VLR and LEV transport experts discussed the emerging technologies required for the future of light vehicle manufacturing and how the sectors are developing across the region, the UK and Europe.