Mayor Richard Parker says automotive sector remains one of the greatest drivers of prosperity for the West Midlands
Senior representatives from across the UK’s automotive and mobility ecosystem met at the University of Warwick for the West Midlands Automotive Funding and Support Roadshow and the launch of the West Midlands Automotive and Battery Cluster.
Delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Zenzic, in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Growth Company and WMG, the event set out a clear, coordinated approach to accelerating the transition to zero-emission and connected and automated mobility (CAM).
This aligns with the national Industrial Strategy, the Advanced Manufacturing Plan, and with regional priorities.
A key moment in the programme saw the mayor of the West Midlands outline the region’s commitment to strengthening the automotive supply chain and supporting future growth, including backing for the DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness and Transformation (SRT) fund.
The £50m SRT provides capital grants of £250.000 to £3m to support businesses in the West Midlands to scale, diversify, and build critical capacity for EV supply chains.
Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker said: “The West Midlands is still the engine room of the UK motor industry. It’s one of our great economic strengths and why I put it at the heart of my Growth Plan to create skilled jobs with higher wages.
“This is a big investment by government because it knows how crucial the success of our region’s automotive sector is to the wider UK economy. It will help secure that success and make sure our manufacturers, suppliers and innovators stay ahead as the global market moves ever faster towards electrification.”
The roadshow brought together industry, government, and delivery partners to provide a comprehensive view of the funding and support landscape available to businesses, spanning both regional initiatives and more than £4bn in government-backed national programmes, including DRIVE35 and CAM Pathfinder.
A central focus of the day was building supply chain capability to compete at a global level.
Graham Zebedee, director for Advanced Manufacturing at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reinforced the importance of a joined-up national approach to supporting advanced manufacturing and mobility innovation.
In a statement on behalf of DBT, industry minister Chris McDonald said: “Through our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re delivering £4bn into zero emission vehicle manufacturing, marking the biggest investment into the car industry since the post-war era and driving economic growth and innovation across the country.
“Strengthening supply chain resilience is paramount, which is why we’re investing £100m in the North East and West Midlands to electrify manufacturing, boosting supply chains and securing jobs in local communities.”
Throughout the morning, businesses engaged directly with experts from APC, Zenzic, WMG and regional partners. They gained practical, tailored guidance on funding pathways through a combination of plenary sessions and interactive breakout workshops.
The roadshow also highlighted complementary regional initiatives designed to drive economic growth, including the recently launched £500m government Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF), alongside established business support programmes.
Businesses operating in the high growth clusters of advanced manufacturing can now submit expressions of interest (EOI) for research and development funding support from the £50m allocated to the West Midlands through the LIPF, led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
In the afternoon, partners launched the West Midlands Automotive and Battery Cluster: an initiative that brings together industry, local authorities, universities and innovators to harness the regional expertise and infrastructure to drive advancement and growth within the automotive sector and associated industries; building on successful regional models elsewhere in the UK.
Attendees benefitted from a guest talk on “preparing for finance” from the University of Warwick Science Park, which set the scene for coaching sessions aimed at better preparing businesses for funding and investment applications.
This included advice from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) on IP protection, and discussion of regional R&D and innovation.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate a coordinated approach to delivery, combining regional capability with national-scale funding and support. Reinforcing the West Midlands’ role at the forefront of the UK’s automotive transformation.