West Midlands Nature Investment Hub – Back Nature for a Stronger West Midlands

The West Midlands Combined Authority have launched their Nature Investment Hub – an online platform connecting mission-aligned businesses with local delivery partners in need of funding for their high-impact nature projects.

Our natural environment in the West Midlands region is a vital asset – supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, public health, and economic prosperity. The West Midlands Nature Investment Hub is born out of years of work to develop credible and investment ready nature projects that are attractive to businesses looking to enhance their reputation, their sales, their social value, and their staff wellbeing.

Designed for ease of use, the Hub gives instant access to a diverse range of local nature projects across the West Midlands. Some large, some small, but all focused on delivering positive outputs. Each project sets out clear environmental, economic and social impacts, which will be evaluated in an annual report commissioned by the WMCA. To minimise delivery risk, all delivery partners are screened and verified at both the organisational and project level. 

Partnering with the Hub isn’t just an investment in nature. It’s an investment in your customers, your people, and the economic growth and wellbeing of the West Midlands. By contributing, you’ll be supporting projects with a wide range of outcomes including nature restoration, accessible green spaces, flood mitigation and improved health and wellbeing. You’ll also benefit yourself in terms of working towards your own ESG goals and building greater brand awareness and market differentiation.

Why support local nature projects?

• Help deliver a real difference on your doorstep
  Whatever the scale of your support, your commitment will help contribute to a greener, cleaner and more inclusive West Midlands, as well as drive engagement with local people. 
• Drive measurable ESG and CSR impact 
  Your commitment to supporting the Nature Investment Hub is visible and traceable, enabling you to verify your involvement to regulators, investors and stakeholders. 
• Grow your business and reputation 
  Supporting rewarding nature projects in your own backyard quickly positions you as a business committed to driving positive change in the region. 
• Fund a project that fits 
  Gain instant access to an extensive pipeline of impactful nature-based projects that align with your organisation’s values and helps generate volunteering opportunities for both staff and local residents. 
• Share your involvement far and wide 
  With every investment comes clear reporting, impact metrics and all the storytelling assets you need to share your environmental commitment with a wider audience. 
• Giving back shows forward thinking 
  With thriving natural environments come more visitors and tourists, increases in commercial footfall and heathier communities and employees.

How does it work?

1. Visit the Hub and find a project
   Select projects that support your organisation’s priorities and values, while creating rewarding volunteering opportunities for staff and local residents.
2. Meet the project delivery organisation and commit your funding
   Meet the project owner and find more about the project before committing your funding.
3. Share the change you’re creating
   Once you commit your funding you’ll be able to publicly promote your support with assets provided by the Hub, to your customers and wider audience.
4. Receive updates and detailed impact reporting for your ESG
   With every investment comes clear reporting, impact metrics and all the storytelling assets you need to showcase your environmental commitment.

If you are interested in a conversation about investing in nature, feel free to get in contact with us at SWM for support, or apply straight through the Nature Investment Hub website.