Change Makers Hub Opens at Wolverhampton Train Station

Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID), in conjunction with train operators, CrossCountry and West Midlands Railway announce the opening of the Change Makers Hub on January 20. Following the successful funding award from CrossCountry’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund together with significant on-site support from West Midlands Railway, Wolverhampton BID have completed the fit out of a unit within the brand-new station building to create the Change Makers Hub.
The Change Makers Hub offers an accessible, bright and inviting space which will be filled with a programme of community and business activity to breathe life into the unit, encourage people to travel by rail to make use of the unit and supports a fruitful connection between the city centre business community and the station.

The facility, which has recently been fully fitted out, is located next to the Costa Coffee branch at Wolverhampton Station, which fully opened last year following a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
Activities already lined up for the hub include business start up and enterprise support from Access 2 Business, business savings finding days by Wolverhampton BID, training sessions from the DWP and community heritage arts projects.

The Change Makers Hub will officially open from the 20 January and is available for business and communities to use across a varied programme of events and enterprise support with all promotional activities associated with the Hub delivered to encourage rail use.

Cherry Shine, Managing Director of Wolverhampton BID said “The central focus of Wolverhampton BID is connecting city centre visitors and the business community, the Change Makers Hub offers us yet another way of strengthening these connections. The vibrant and inviting space will suit a range of business and community activities and provides a central location for pop up ventures, business and enterprise support, showcases, jobs fayres and community events. We are really looking forward to delivering a range of activities from the Change Makers Hub.

“Partnership has been the strength of this project with the BID team working closely with the teams at West Midlands Rail and CrossCountry with the aim of bringing a rich and diverse customer experience to all rail passengers and visitors to the city centre. We hope this provides a template for the creation of Enterprise Hubs in spaces at other stations.”

Nick Chadwick, CrossCountry Regional Director for the West Midlands and North West said: “CrossCountry are delighted to have funded and supported this project in collaboration with Wolverhampton BID and colleagues at West Midlands Railway. It’s a much-needed resource for local businesses and community groups and ideally situated at the gateway to the local transport network.”
Wolverhampton Station Manager, Mel Bryett from West Midlands Railway, said: “We pride ourselves on putting stations at the heart of our communities and it has been a real pleasure for us to work with the BID and CrossCountry in hosting this important new facility.

“In recent months our customers in Wolverhampton have seen the products of investment in a brand-new station building, a smart new train fleet and now a fantastic community facility for everyone to enjoy.”