1. Design as tool for growth

2. Engineering and design A culture of innovation? Image and recruitment Marketing R&D support Leadership and management support Implementation

3. Culture of innovation? 69% say they have a culture of innovation 64% have refined product design 51% collaborated on innovation – 36% with clients or customers 49% adopted new business models 43% have an R&D strategy in place

4. Image and recruitment Creative Alliance:2000 contacts across the West Midlands, 100 applications per vacancy Walsall College: 416 C&D, 156 engineering Walsall Works has – 393 young people for mfg & eng – 266 for creative & digital Graduate Placement schemes Walsall Works/Apprentice Grant for Employers

5. Marketing 78% of manufacturers cite competition as a barrier to growth 49% accessing new markets Creative and Digital Industries – 10% of all UK companies – Double the growth of average UK economy – Includes “design”

6. R&D support 46% of manufacturers say growth is due to R&D Technology Strategy Board grants – SMART awards – Innovation Vouchers – SBRI – Knowledge Transfer Networks Innovation 1 st, WMG SME support

7. Leadership & Management

8. MAS Growth Accelerator 10,000 Small Businesses SME Fast Track www.mentorsme.co.uk

9. Implementation Black Country LEP investment fund Equity funds Loan funds Dan_carins@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk 01384 471115 www.the-blackcountry.com