High Growth Accelerator Programme

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has launched the High Growth Accelerator Programme and has appointed Gateley Global, part of Birmingham Headquartered Gateley Plc, as its delivery partner for the programme. 

Please note: The 2024 HGAP cohort is largely complete, but you can still register your interest for this and future initiatives.

Purpose of HGAP

HGAP will provide intensive and tailored support to selected high growth SMEs in the WMCA area, helping them to unlock barriers to growth and to manage growth in a sustainable way. Between July 2024 – March 2025 each firm will be provided with a dedicated Key Account Manager (KAM). They will work with them and a.) agree a growth ambition b.) baseline the current position and c.) identify key challenges.

Each company will get a tailored account plan, a map of the journey to success, that will detail activities, KPIs and interventions needed to achieve the desired growth target by the end of the programme. In addition to a dedicated KAM, specialist support may be accessed through workshops and events created to help participants on the roadmap to success.

Technical Support Available

Each participating company will benefit from a broad range of technical business growth support, including but not limited to the following:

• Development of a roadmap towards continued and sustainable growth
• Exploring and developing new strategies and/or business models to unlock unrealised value with data or technology
• Functional support such as Governance, Tax, Legal, Human Resources, Intellectual Property or Regulatory Advice and Consultancy
• Risk analysis, mitigation, prevention and planning
• Collecting and using data to inform strategy and operations
• Enhancing the capacity and/or capability of the management team and board of directors
• Marketing strategy development and execution (including overseas markets)
• Intellectual Property support such as discovery, audit, valuation, exploitation and protection
• Training: needs analysis and planning
• Where relevant, accessing research and development facilities and support via universities and catapult centres. 

   

Achieving Success

At the end of the programme success will be measured for each of the participating companies against one or more of a set of agreed measures:

•  A material increase investment in capital expenditure
• Increased value and volume of sales, including exported goods and services 
• Increased investment in training, including the development and/or capacity of the management team
• Increased investment in research, development and innovation (evidenced by an increase in receipt of or claims for research and development relief)
• Increased employment

Why should you enrol?

• It will not cost you any money. Access to the KAM or specialists is provided free by WMCA.
• We’ll help you get clarity about the direction of travel of your business. Much leadership time can be spent fire-fighting – HGAP will help you look at, envisage and shape your future trajectory.
• The structure and rigour in the approach means you will know what to expect because it has been surfaced and planned for. With risks known and mitigated, any fears you have can be overcome and your confidence built before you embarking on your growth journey