Bloxwich digital skills hub on track to open within weeks

Up to £3m has been spent on transforming the building to deliver the Bloxwich Launchpad.

The facility, funded by the £25m Bloxwich Town Deal, will provide access to digital skills support and training, as well as business support for the people of Bloxwich.

The council bought the property following the relocation of the Post Office to the High Street in 2023.

Planning permission was approved for the development back in April 2024.

On the first floor, the incubation centre will feature meeting rooms and craft space to support entrepreneurs in creating or growing businesses.

The ground floor will be home to the digital access centre which will provide facilities for people to use the internet and learn IT skills.

As part of the agreement with Walsall Council, contractor Speller Metcalfe has been tasked with making sure that funds to deliver the project are spent as locally as possible.

So far, Speller Metcalfe has spent over £530,000 within the Walsall borough and £512,255 within a 30-mile radius of the project.

The company has also employed a number of local people, supported over 10 weeks of apprenticeships and made a donation to Bloxwich Community Partnership.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of Walsall Council, said: “It’s really important that we invest in local businesses so it’s great to see that the construction of Bloxwich Launchpad has generated such a huge amount of social value.

“Boosting the local economy is key to driving business and employment growth, and we want to make sure that local people and businesses benefit first and foremost from regeneration schemes like this.”