Supply Chain Transition Programme
Diversify Your Supply Chain. Grow Your Business.
BCU is a delivery partner on the West Midlands Investment Zone Supply Chain Transition Programme, a fully funded initiative of support helping manufacturing SMEs win new orders in the region's fastest-growing sectors.
Fully Funded
100% free to eligible SMEs, funded through the West Midlands Investment Zone. Access expert academic insight and R&D 50% cash match-funded grants.
Support
Expert 1-to-1 technical support of up to 30 hours, mentoring and transformation roadmaps throughout your journey.
Collaboration
Direct connections with OEMs, Tier 1s, NHS Trusts, and Key Customers across the region to solve supply chain challenges.
SME focused
Designed exclusively for manufacturing SMEs with 10–249 employees in the West Midlands.
About Supply Chain Transition Programme
The West Midlands Investment Zone Supply Chain Transition Programme enables manufacturing SMEs to access a fully funded package of support to help explore, develop, and supply the region's OEMs and key customers across new and emerging sectors.
Birmingham City University is proud to be a delivery partner on this programme as part of the Supply Smarter West Midlands Consortium, bringing world-class academic expertise, industry connections, and innovation capability to two priority clusters: Health Tech & Med Tech and Modern and low carbon construction & other green industries.
Working with BCU's academic experts alongside partners including the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), Coventry University, and University of Wolverhampton, SMEs gain access to a comprehensive support ecosystem built to help them innovate, diversify, and grow.
Why join the Supply Chain Transition Programme?
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Access a wide talent pool: Tap into the consortium’s expert network and the region's world-class Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Catapults to develop your capabilities and explore new markets.
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R&D grant funding available: Access 50% cash match-funded R&D grants of £20,000 to £200,000 to support innovation in new products, processes, and services.
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Expert 1-to-1 support: Work directly with a dedicated Supply Chain Specialist who will develop a focused Action Plan tailored to your business goals and the opportunity ahead.
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Strengthen your pipeline: Connect directly with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, NHS Trusts, and housing developers, key customers actively looking for agile West Midlands manufacturers.
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Build long-term connections: Gain access to peer learning networks, Level 4 and 5 Leadership and Change Management training, and a lasting network of industry partners and academic institutions across the West Midlands.
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Future-proof your business: With leadership training, transformation roadmaps, and digital skills support including AI and automation, you'll be equipped to scale, adapt, and lead in emerging markets.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for support, your business must be a manufacturing SME with 10 – 249 employees, based in Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry, or Warwick District. You must be actively working on a new concept for a product or service intended to supply one of the programme's listed clusters, in a sector where you do not already have customers, and have capacity to contribute resources within a maximum 6 -month timeframe.
Partners
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C&W Business Solutions
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Manufacturing Technology Centre
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WMG at University of Warwick
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Coventry University
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University of Wolverhampton