The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the impact of the Launchpad a dynamic digital skills and incubation hub created as part of the £21.3 million Bloxwich Town Deal investment and to hear from users, partners and local leaders about how the facility is helping to shape economic and community opportunity in Bloxwich and across the borough. Since opening its doors, over 1,100 visits in just 16 weeks, supporting 400+ residents with ongoing help. Our business space also supports 37 local entrepreneurs who use the hub as their regular base, with a further 99 entrepreneurs having received business support. The Launchpad offers residents free access to digital resources, training sessions, flexible working space and collaboration areas designed to foster innovation, learning and business growth. “ It’s been inspiring to see the West Midlands Mayor engage with the success of Bloxwich launchpad. Since opening in September, the centre has become a real community asset, welcoming hundreds of people through its doors and providing vital support to help them build skills and grow their ideas. This visit underlines our commitment to investing in facilities that deliver real outcomes for local people and businesses right here in Bloxwich. “ Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader Walsall Council The Mayor of the West Midlands praised the Launchpad’s achievements to date, highlighting its role in supporting inclusive growth, digital inclusion and local enterprise. “ It’s been great to see first-hand the real difference this hub is making. Speaking with users, entrepreneurs and business owners who are supported by the launchpad gives me a great sense of pride in the work being done here. Places like Launchpad are vital for helping people gain skills, start and grow businesses, and drive opportunity right across our region. “ Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands Bloxwich Launchpad sits at the heart of Walsall’s broader regeneration programme, which saw major improvements delivered across the borough in 2025 from community facilities to parks and enterprise spaces all designed to create opportunity, support learning and enhance wellbeing for residents. Bloxwich Launchpad is located on Market Place in Bloxwich Town Centre and is open to the public Monday – Friday between 9am and 5pm. Find out more or view upcoming courses and sessions on the Launchpad website.

Walsall Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering high-quality adult social care services following the publication of an assessment report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

The overall rating for Walsall Council is ‘Requires Improvement’.

“ We are committed to providing our residents with the best possible adult social care services.

“We welcome this report from the CQC. Whilst we don’t recognise everything in the report and the resulting score of this assessment is disappointing, it highlights many areas of positive practice and performance across the service and provides us with valuable reassurance that our current areas of focus for improvement are the right ones.

“We take the results of this report very seriously, and I’d like to reassure our residents that we have a clear vision for change. An improvement action plan is already in place, and I’m confident the service will deliver improvements quickly and efficiently for those areas which need focus, as well as strengthening areas of good practice

“Our dedicated workforce remains our greatest asset, and we value their commitment, professionalism and compassion. We are committed to supporting, developing and investing in our workforce, and we will continue to build on our strengths, tackle challenges and drive continuous improvement in the outcomes we deliver for people who draw on our services.

“These are challenging times, and like other local authorities Walsall is under pressure due to rising demand for adult social care services. This is an important step in our journey of continuous improvement, and I am proud of the improvements we have already made since the assessment took place. I would like to thank all the staff, providers, partners and residents who took part in this CQC assessment and who are working with us to help us improve and fulfil our ambition to deliver the best possible services we possibly can for the borough. “

Councillor Keir Pedley, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Walsall Council

This CQC assessment took place in August 2025, and the assessment team measured how Walsall Council supports residents using nine quality statements spread across four themes (how the local authority works with people, provides support, ensures safety in the system, and leadership) to assess how well the authority is meeting its responsibilities.

The team spoke to people who draw on the council’s adult social care services, family carers, providers, staff and other care professionals and checked council policies and processes before giving their final rating.