Telford Business Board

What Telford Business Board does

Telford Business Board (TBB) is a United Kingdom–based Community Interest Company (CIC) established around 2013 to serve as the central advocacy, networking, and support body for approximately 6,000 businesses across the Telford & Wrekin borough, roughly 5,500 of which are small or micro companies. The organisation is led by five volunteer Directors — Chair Will Westley, Vice Chair & Sustainability Lead Andy Whyle, and Directors Felicity Wingrove, Graham Guest, and Paul Inions — who oversee five core activities: Advocacy, Action, Education, Sustainability, and Research. TBB meets six times per year to discuss issues affecting the regional business community, sits on the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership board, and acts as a bridge between private-sector employers and Telford & Wrekin Council.

The organisation's core products are (1) its convening and representation services delivered through board meetings, partnerships, and public-facing communication, and (2) the Hello Telford platform — a bespoke B2B web application launched in October 2022 that enables local businesses to connect, collaborate, share recommendations, request support, and post news. TBB also operates a Sustainability Sub-Group with 18+ expert members that partners with Telford College, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), DENSO Manufacturing UK, Muller, McPhillips, and green-tech firms (AceOn, EVC Solutions, Zaptec UK) on manufacturing sustainability, EV systems, electrification, and apprenticeship programmes. TBB chairs the Telford Sustainability and Environment Committee (TSEC) and the Telford Electrification Network Group under the Telford Climate Action Plan, and supports the Gatsby Foundation-funded apprenticeship hub.

The business model is mission-led rather than commercial: core membership, advocacy, networking, and the monthly bulletin are provided free of charge to Telford & Wrekin businesses, with the CIC legal structure requiring any surplus to be reinvested in community benefit. GTM is community-led and geographically narrow — concentrated on the single Telford & Wrekin market — with reach generated through six annual board meetings, a free monthly email bulletin, LinkedIn, and website content. Funding sources are not disclosed; the organisation has no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or external capital rounds. Headquarters are at 8 Hollinswood Court, Stafford Park 1, Telford, Shropshire, with an employee headcount stated at 11–50.

Name

Telford Business Board

Legal name

Telford Business Board (CIC)

Website

https://telfordbusinessboard.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Telford Business Board is a UK Community Interest Company representing approximately 6,000 businesses in the Telford & Wrekin region. It provides advocacy, networking, sustainability initiatives, and skills development, and operates the Hello Telford B2B platform connecting local businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Telford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Advocacy Services: As a Community Interest Company (CIC), Telford Business Board provides support, insights, advocacy, and connections to businesses across the borough. They link big businesses with small, private sector with public sector, and supply chains with infrastructure partners. Services include free monthly bulletins and business intelligence gathering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Telford Business Board is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that convenes public and private sector organizations in Telford & Wrekin to advocate for, support, and represent the local business community. It provides free advocacy, networking, sustainability expertise, and business intelligence through six annual board meetings, a monthly bulletin, and the Hello Telford B2B web app.

Product overview

Telford Business Board operates as a Community Interest Company that provides business support, advocacy, and networking services to the Telford & Wrekin business community. The core offering includes the Hello Telford platform - a bespoke B2B web-based application launched in October 2022 that enables local businesses to connect, collaborate, communicate, share recommendations, publish requests, and upload news stories. TBB also provides direct business support, sustainability initiatives, and acts as a voice for the business community through six annual board meetings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hello Telford A bespoke business-to-business, user-friendly, web-based app that allows Telford businesses to connect, collaborate, and communicate. The platform provides an accessible dashboard for recommendation requests, support seeking, communications, and partnerships, with a comprehensive directory accessible to all and an innovative dashboard reserved for members. Launched free for Telford businesses.
• Business Advocacy, Networking and Representation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainability Sub-Group has 18+ experts contributing to driving sustainability across Telford businesses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Telford CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational hub partnership working to equip learners with manufacturing skills. Collaborating on targeted training modules with Telford Business Board's Sustainability Sub-Group to address digital and sustainability skills gaps in the manufacturing sector.
• Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and innovation partnership bringing cutting-edge expertise in digital technologies, engineering, and sustainability. Collaboration with Telford College ensures knowledge transfer from academia to industry.
• DENSO Manufacturing UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelford-based manufacturer partnering to address sustainability and competitiveness in the local manufacturing sector. Committing to integrate digital and sustainability skills into workforce development.
• MullercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelford-based manufacturer participating in skills gap identification and workforce sustainability development initiatives.
• Telford and Wrekin CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Telford Climate Action Plan commitment. TBB chairs and supports TSEC (Telford Sustainability and Environment Committee) and Telford College's Telford Electrification Network Group.
• EVC Solutions LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric vehicle systems integration company joining TBB's Sustainability Sub-Group to provide additional intelligence and expertise on EV systems and business sustainability.
• Telford and Wrekin Council (Invest Telford Business Support Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral support hub providing business support, corporate connections, signposting, advice, and grants to Telford businesses. TBB fully endorses and supports the Hello Telford platform.
• Marches Local Enterprise PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBB Chair Will Westley serves as Director representing private sector business interests of Telford & Wrekin.
• Gatsby FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Telford College's new apprenticeship hub, delivered in partnership with MRM Solutions Limited.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Power to Change: An independent charitable trust supporting community businesses and CICs across England. Comparable to TBB through shared CIC structure and community economic development focus, though Power to Change operates as a grant-funder rather than a direct service provider.
• Locality: The UK's national membership body for community-led organizations, including Community Interest Companies (CICs). Comparable to TBB through its CIC structure and community-led model, providing resources, advocacy, and networking for similar social enterprises.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Directors (IoD): UK membership organization for company directors and business leaders, offering networking, professional development, and policy advocacy. Comparable to TBB's role connecting senior business leaders and providing board-level expertise, though with a more selective, senior-level membership focus.
• British Chambers of Commerce: The national umbrella body for the UK Chamber network, providing policy advocacy and services to accredited local chambers. Directly comparable in mission to TBB's business advocacy role, but operating at national scale with a broader remit across 53 accredited chambers.
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI): The UK's premier business lobbying organization, representing employers across sectors. Comparable to TBB's advocacy and cross-sector representation role, though focused on larger employers and operating at national policy level. TBB's Chair Will Westley even sits on LEP boards that interface with CBI's regional activities.

Direct peers

• Shropshire Chamber of Commerce: A local Chamber of Commerce serving Shropshire-based businesses, directly comparable to TBB in mission, scale, and geographic remit. Both organizations provide advocacy, networking, training, and business representation to SMEs in overlapping West Midlands / Shropshire catchments.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): The UK's leading membership organization for small and micro businesses, providing advocacy, networking, training, and business support. Directly comparable to TBB's mission of representing the small/micro business community in Telford & Wrekin, though operating at national scale.
• Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP): A Local Enterprise Partnership covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin, focused on economic growth, skills, and infrastructure. Directly comparable to TBB through overlapping geography and shared focus on business representation, with TBB's Chair Will Westley serving as a Director.

Regional players

• Black Country Chamber of Commerce: A regional Chamber in the West Midlands serving Black Country businesses. Comparable to TBB's local business advocacy and networking model, but operating in an adjacent West Midlands geography rather than directly competing in Telford & Wrekin.
• Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce: A regional Chamber of Commerce serving businesses in the neighboring Herefordshire and Worcestershire areas. Directly comparable to TBB in model and mission, but operating in an adjacent geographic territory that does not directly overlap with Telford & Wrekin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tbb-telford-business-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Telford Business Board