On 13 October 2014, Sir Albert Bore Leader of the Birmingham City Council welcomed a number of West Midlands SMEs at the Symphony Hall gathered to celebrate their successful projects.

An extensive range of grant funds from both the European Community (ERDF) and Central Government (RGF) have been honed into deliverable and highly appropriate grant programmes that SMEs gathered at this event have benefited from.

The key active funds are Green Bridge, The Business Innovation Programme and Business Development Programme. The Business Innovation Programme is open for applications until March 2015.

Combined, these funds in total, are worth over £92 million grant which in turn has generated some £115 million private sector match. This has given a tremendous boost to the local economy and ensured that Birmingham, as the capital of the region, has secured a strong economic future for the Midlands.

Sir Albert Bore stated: I am pleased to be able to announce that The Business Development Programme has been awarded The Federation of Small Businesses Award for Collaborative working. This reflects on our delivery, which truly takes on board across the region working, with our close partners including the 6 regional LEP’s as well as the local authorities across the region”.

Distinctly Birmingham Team joins in the celebrations and wishes all SMEs further successes.