Businesses backed by E&S fund get behind the scenes tour

Senior managers from companies that have benefited from the job-boosting Fund were given a guided tour of publisher Midland News Association's head office in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, as well as presentations on business to business marketing, media promotion and social media.

The Green Shoots Fund was set up with the University of Wolverhampton to distribute £1.4 million from the Government's flagship Regional Growth Fund.

So far, 14 businesses have been awarded £461,300 between them to create 53 jobs.

Companies with fewer than 250 employees and based in the Black Country are eligible to bid for up to £50,000 each, which must be used for expansion and job creation.

Others can still apply if they are based within Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell or Walsall.

The party included Dean Adey from Longwear Alloys, in West Bromwich, Dave Bytheway of Bytheway and Co Accountants, in Sedgley, and Chris and Gary Burke of Wolverhampton removals company Burke Brothers.

They were accompanied by Green Shoots investment manager Martin Nicholas, from the university's Business Solutions Centre.

The group were able to see all aspects of the Express & Star operation, including a visit to the newsroom to watch the editorial team behind the Regional Press Awards newspaper of the year in action.

Deputy business editor John Corser gave the group a talk on how businesses can promote themselves through editorial coverage, before head of digital editorial Mike Woods provided the visitors with insight into the MNA's use of social media.

Dave Bytheway said the visit had been beneficial, particularly the talk on Twitter and Facebook. He said: "I discovered that the possibilities to use social media to enhance the visibility of our business to a different audience that we currently market is endless with minimal cost to our company.

"The visit highlighted the immense history of the Express & Star as a company and the size of the MNA brand as a whole.

"The funding from Green Shoots is giving other businesses a chance to create opportunities for others that would be difficult to provide in without their help."

Brand and communications manager Chris Leggett, who organised the visit and provided the marketing talk, said: "It was superb to meet the representatives of the Green Shoots companies and

"The Express & Star is proud to support the growth of local businesses and looks forward to following how the companies put their grants to good use."

To find out more about the Fund grants, contact Martin Nicholas on 01902 323884.