West Midlands House, the flexible workspace and coworking centre in Willenhall, has been awarded a £5,000 grant by Walsall Business Support to expand its coworking space and welcome more local businesses.

Based in a converted lock factory, West Midlands House has supported local businesses since 1993. The building combines historic character with modern facilities, offering private offices, meeting rooms, coworking desks and virtual office services for businesses of all kinds.

The grant will fund the next phase of the centre’s coworking suite, which opened last year. It will pay for additional bench desks with privacy screens, new chairs, extra power points and the electrical work needed to bring them into use. The expansion will allow West Midlands House to grow its coworking membership and diversify its income beyond traditional private office lets, helping secure the long-term future of the centre.

Centre Manager Jeni Sellick said: “West Midlands House exists to support Walsall’s small business, start-up and entrepreneur community, and this grant allows us to do even more of that. “Since we launched our first coworking desks over a year ago, demand has consistently outstripped the space available. More desks mean more local freelancers, sole traders and early-stage businesses can access affordable, professional workspace with reliable power and connectivity. For many people working from home, that is the first step towards formalising and growing their business. “Every new coworking member is invited to join our community programme, which includes networking, walking and talking groups, leadership sessions and fundraising. Growing our desk numbers extends the reach of everything else we do.”

The coworking space is also open to local charities, giving Walsall’s voluntary sector free or low-cost access to workspace they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Walsall Business Support was formed by leading local business figures to distribute funds from the legacy of Walsall Chamber of Commerce. It awards grants to projects that enhance business life in the borough. Board member Rob Colbourne OBE said: “We are pleased to see West Midlands House benefit from this funding. The 130-year-old building has a long history of supporting local people from Walsall and the wider Black Country. It has a vibrant community atmosphere where businesses can start, grow and flourish.”

To find out more about West Midlands House, visit westmidlandshouse.com.