University to lead Business Training and Technical Support in £15m Manufacturing Growth Programme

The University of Wolverhampton will play a central role in a new £15 million programme aimed at transforming the West Midlands manufacturing sector, helping businesses adapt to emerging markets and drive inclusive economic growth.

As part of the WM Investment Zone Supply Chain Transition programme, the University will support SMEs through applied innovation, process improvement, and digital manufacturing adoption, helping regional businesses strengthen resilience and competitiveness in emerging sectors. 

The University’s Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills (ECMS), working alongside academic and professional colleagues delivering Executive Education at the University of Wolverhampton Business School, will deliver an integrated model of leadership, management, and technical training, enabling businesses to develop skilled workforces, adopt new technologies, and seize growth opportunities in key sectors such as

• Health tech and med tech
• Smart energy systems
• Aerospace
• Modern and low-carbon construction and other green industries
• Electric light vehicles and battery manufacturing

Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

“Through this collaborative programme, the University of Wolverhampton is proud to be supporting the next wave of manufacturing innovation in the West Midlands.

Our leadership and technical teams have developed a leading programme of support to help SMEs respond to market shifts, build resilience, and unlock new growth opportunities.
This investment reflects our commitment to regional business development through applied research, industry engagement, and workforce transformation.”

The programme is part of the wider West Midlands Investment Zone, led by Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which aims to create 30,000 jobs and attract £5.5 billion in new investment across three key sites: Coventry-Warwick Gigapark, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, and Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor.

Delivered by the Supply Smarter West Midlands consortium, the programme brings together C&W Business Solutions, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), WMG at the University of Warwick, and the three partners of the West Midlands Combined Universities Partnership: Birmingham City University, Coventry University, and the University of Wolverhampton.

SMEs can now apply to join the programme via the Business Growth West Midlands website and access fully funded support, including practical advice, R&D grants, and advanced management training. The programme will be delivered between 10 March and 10 April 2026.

For more information, visit: www.wmca.org.uk/west-midlands-investment-zone