Week shows city means business

Councillor Peter Bilston, the city council's regeneration chief, said: "Our slogan for Business Week was 'Wolverhampton means business' – and all the evidence shows it's justified."

Beginning on Monday last week with the launch of a report predicting that Wolverhampton's economy is set to outperform the rest of the UK over the coming years, the city's first ever Business Week also saw on line sports retailer, Wiggle, select Wolverhampton as its new national base, while city has also been chosen to host the Midlands' biggest aerospace industry conference.

The city also welcomed contractors Balfour Beatty onto the site of Interchange 10, the latest phase of Wolverhampton's Interchange project.

Councillor Bilson said: "Our investors' conference on Thursday attracted a full house of commercial and residential developers, letting agents and construction companies, wanting to talk to us – and to each other – about what Wolverhampton has to offer.

"The Global Trade Fair allowed Wolverhampton's businesses to tell their stories in a dozen countries, while the city's Autumn Jobs Fair gave local people access to over 600 jobs and support from training providers.

"None of this would have been possible without the strong partnership that exists here between businesses, the public sector and in further and higher education.

"Together, we've shown that Wolverhampton really can make it happen – for business, for industry and – above all – for local people.

"The pay-off will be a better future for the city and something that everyone who lives and works here wants to see – prosperity for all. Be in no doubt – this is Wolverhampton's time."

The week also saw major progress in the creation of a business improvement district in the city, which would see hundreds of companies pay extra tax to raise more than £3 million towards improvement work.

The council has agreed to the idea in principle and it is now up to 700 city centre firms to have the final say with a vote.

The Wolverhampton business improvement district (BID) ballot will run from October 15 to November 13. If a majority vote is passed, businesses paying £10,000 rateable value or above will pay an additional tax levy, based on 1.5 per cent of their business rates.

Mr Bilson said: "We feel that this will secure Wolverhampton's future as a thriving and vibrant city. The BID would help to reinvigorate the centre of the city. We are encouraging businesses to back the BID and indications so far have been very positive."

Business Week was organised by Wolverhampton City Board, a partnership of key private, public and voluntary sector partners with the job of delivering a long-term plan to encourage enterprise and business and reinvigorate the city.