MG Rover - Support for Businesses

Emergency Support for Suppliers

Further to the announcement the Government, through the DTI and Advantage West Midlands have made support available through the Accelerate unit at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

As a supplier of components to MG Rover vehicles or Powertrain either directly or indirectly through the Supply Chain you may be eligible for support for your business.

The initial package of support is designed to enable companies to understand the effect of the loss of sales to their business and help create a revised strategy and business plan . It will also provide short term financial assistance towards retaining employees. The objective is to give some breathing space for companies to consider the variety of options available to them.

The package will facilitate:

• A specialist Business Advisor to assist in a business review and help create an action plan for the future with particular focus on seeking new business and developing new products.

• At the same time the business may also receive support for employees who are affected by the loss of Rover business to enable them to be kept on. Companies will need to make employees who are affected available for off the job training to be eligible for a wage replacement package based on £50 per employee per day.

• Once the Plan is complete, suppliers will be able to apply for further funding towards its implementation. Details of this will be announced shortly.

If you wish to request support under the package , please contact the Rover Hotline 0121 607 0121, Accelerate or your local Business Link (see telephone numbers below).

Support Currently Available to Companies within the West Midlands.

• Automotive Component Suppliers – As an automotive component supplier based in the West Midlands you may be eligible for support under the Accelerate programme. Individual company aid grants are available for up to £30,000 to complete business reviews and improve business performance. For further information please go to the Accelerate web-site at http://www.accelerate.uk.net/ or contact Accelerate on 0121 607 0123.

• Manufacturing Companies Diversifying into New Products and Markets – As a company looking to diversify into new products and markets away from the automotive sector you may be able to access grant funding to develop your project. A maximum of £30,000 is available. For further information please contact your local Business Link (numbers detailed below) or Accelerate on 0121 607 0123.

  Business Link Birmingham 0121 607 0809

  Business Link Black Country 0845 113 1234

  Business Link Coventry & Warks 02476 654321

  Business Link West Mercia 0800 104010

  Business Link Shropshire 01952 208200

  Business Link Staffordshire 0700 220 2122

• Investment Readiness (R2i) and Access to Finance - The Investment Readiness Service is available to assist companies to understand the range of financial products available and prepare plans so they can raise finance to support business growth. The Access to Finance e:portal web-site provides details of sources of finance available to companies. Further information can be found on http://www.westmidlandsfinance.com/

• Skills for the Workforce – A significant number of funded training programmes are available throughout the region. Further assistance is available through your local Learning & Skills Council, Business Link and Skills4Auto.

  Learning and Skills Council - 0845 019 41 43 - http://www.lsc.gov.uk/

  Skills4Auto - 0121 717 6644 - http://www.skills4auto.org/

• Starting a New Business - If you are looking to start your own business, assistance is available through the Business Link network. A start-up programme of support is available through enterprise agencies. Please contact your local Business Link.

• High Growth Start Up – If you are looking to start a fast growing business, support is available through the Mustard programme in the form of a consultancy grant. Up to £5,000 worth of high quality consultancy is available to help you exploit your ideas and start the business. For further information please go to the Mustard web-site at http://www.mustard.uk.com/ or contact on 08001 69 59 67.

• Manufacturing Advisory Service – The Manufacturing Advisory Service provides guidance for manufacturing companies. For further information please visit the MAS web-site at http://www.mas-wm.org/

• Opportunities Overseas - Companies looking to diversify their business through international trade or joint venturing overseas should contact UKTI who can provide a range of services, including the Passport to Export programme that gives new exporters the training, planning and ongoing support they need to succeed overseas. Market information tailored specifically to a company’s individual need can be produced with the assistance of commercial officers at British Embassies and help can be provide to understand language and culture issues, to ensure that companies make the most of opportunities they identify. Further details on these and the full range of advice and support provided by UKTI are available from the Rover Hotline (see above) or by contacting the International Trade Team within your local Business Link/Chamber of Commerce..