The Black Country Chamber of Commerce has launched a new campaign to drive the region’s growth by helping local businesses to tackle the barriers limiting productivity. Its next event exploring the skills the region needs takes place on Wednesday 29 June.

Social Value Portal is holding a free webinar on Thursday 23 June to run through all the new updates to the National TOMs (themes, outcomes and measures) framework. Register your place to find out what’s been enhanced on the platform this year.

The Summer edition of the CEnTSA Trading Standards Business News (TSBN) is out! This edition reports on avian flu, overcoming food supply issues, tips for starting your own business, age restrictions for corrosive substances, rules surrounding nicotine products and fire safety advice.

Five hundred jobs are to be created in the region for the HS2 scheme. Balfour Beatty Vinci and HS2 are holding a drop-in event on Wednesday 15 June to share information about the project and upcoming jobs and training opportunities.

The first phase of works by the Wednesbury High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) to improve public spaces in Wednesbury town centre is on track to be completed by the end of July.

Sandwell Digital Donation – a scheme that refurbishes and redistributes unwanted tech equipment – has given 100 devices already to local community groups. Read the story so far, and see whether your business can help narrow the ‘digital divide’ in Sandwell.

The Federation of Small Businesses has launched an online resource for small businesses who want to remove workplace hurdles for disabled people and people with health conditions.

The Climate Solutions Partnership is inviting ventures to apply to its global programme to accelerate innovation in climate solutions, in particular those with proposed solutions for the fashion industry supply chain.

BEIS is sponsoring 100,000 free downloads of the new energy management standard BS ISO 50005.