Boosting new business in Bromsgrove

Two more young businesses helped off the ground by Bromsgrove District Council’s Business Start-up Programme scooped “Million Turnover” awards at the annual Bromsgrove Business Showcase.

The eighth annual Showcase and awards, held Thursday June 3 at the Council House in Bromsgrove, saw a record number of businesses receiving awards for performance.

Speaking to assembled businesspeople and council members Chairman of the Council Cllr June Griffiths said that she was “proud of the Business Start-up Programme and pleased that it grows and improves year on year.” She went on to say “most of all we are proud of you - our new entrepreneurs who do so much to generate the commercial activity and prosperity on which we all depend.”

Leader of Bromsgrove District Council Cllr Roger Hollingworth said: “Government initiatives come and go but our home-grown Bromsgrove Business Start Up Programme has proved its value and stood the test of time by making a real difference to people’s lives. Through this scheme we have now assisted over 300 new businesses, which we estimate to have created around 750 local jobs – more than the number of Bromsgrove residents who were employed at either Rover or Garringtons when they closed”

“Million Pound Turnover” awards were scooped by language specialists Sign Solutions and 2009 “Fast Growth” award winners Pure Staff Ltd. This brought the number of local firms helped by the District Council’s Business Start Up Programme and making upwards of a million pounds a year to five.

Bromsgrove’s new MP Sajid Javid presented the new “Beating the Recession” award to Zed-Parts.com.

Also bucking the economic trend were two more businesses that received “Fast Growth” awards, design and technical services consultancy DTS Bromsgrove Ltd and the self-explanatory Fast Track Computer Training.

This year three budding businesses were recognised as “Promising Newcomers”, fitness studio and sports injury clinic Well-Fit, high street jeweller Elements Fashion Jewellery and training and personal development company Abfablife.

The Bromsgrove Business Showcase was sponsored by Lloyds TSB and United Business Centres.

Above: John Sutton of Pure Staff Ltd collects the Million Turnover Award from the Chairman of Bromsgrove District Council Cllr June Griffiths.