The Business Link (Opens in new window) regional advisory service for business in England will continue to offer advice and support until it closes in November 2011.  From 25th November 2011, on-line information about starting, improving or growing a business will be available from www.businesslink.gov.uk (Opens in new window).

There are still opportunities for businesses to supply London 2012 Olympics contracts.

Responsibility for management of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in the West Midlands has now transferred from Advantage West Midlands to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) (Opens in new window) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Opens in new window), respectively.

Responsibility for economic development and regeneration in England has passed to a number of successor bodies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and central Government departments.

Contact details for the six Local Enterprise Partnerships covering the West Midlands:

LEP Area

Contact Details

Greater BirminghamKatie Trout
Birmingham City Council
katie.trout@birmingham.gov.uk
0121 303 9867
Black Country (Opens in new window)Sarah Middleton
sarah_middleton@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk
01384 471102
Coventry and Warwickshire (Opens in new window)Roger Dowthwaite
LEP Support Team
roger.dowthwaite@cwlep.com
07768 688567
The Marches – Shropshire and Herefordshire (Opens in new window)Nick Webster
Herefordshire Council
(01432) 260000
Stoke and Staffordshire (Opens in new window)Peter Davenport
Staffordshire County Council
peter.davenport@staffordshire.gov.uk
01785 276630
Worcestershire (Opens in new window)Gary Williams
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
garyw@hwchamber.co.uk
0845 641 1641 ext 218

Your Advantage West Midlands contact

Please contact the switchboard on 0121 380 3500 for assistance