Gurdip Thandi

A £50m Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund has opened for applications to help West Midlands automotive firms expand into the electric vehicle sector, offering match‑funded grants of £250,000 to £3m for new equipment, skills and production capacity. Funded through the UK government’s DRIVE35 initiative, the four‑year programme aims to strengthen domestic EV supply chains and support the region’s major automotive industry. Mayor Richard Parker said the investment will help secure the sector’s competitiveness as the UK moves toward its 2050 net‑zero target.

Targets for employment support and housing set for the West Midlands Combined Authority were exceeded, with more than 8,000 people receiving job help and over 7,200 homes approved. The region also surpassed goals for high‑growth sector jobs and business support, strengthening its case for greater devolved powers under a £389m settlement. Mayor Richard Parker said the results demonstrated the area's reliability and progress under his growth plan, preventing potential clawbacks of government funding.