This year-long initiative is tailored to assist scaleup businesses in these areas to enhance their international presence and maximise their global market potential.

The 2024 programme is notable for including companies from the West Midlands and Scotland for the first time. Among the participants from the West Midlands are the Wolverhampton-based cybersecurity company Goldilock and the Birmingham-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Maeving. Joining from Scotland are the allergen technology company Libereat and the property management firm Pillow Partners.

Formerly known as the Mayor’s International Business Programme, Grow Global offers a suite of services including international trade missions, workshops, and networking events. It also provides connections to key partners like GrantTree, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, Oury Clark, Taylor Wessing, and Wilson Sonsini. These collaborations are designed to enable participating companies to expand their networks and uncover new growth opportunities.

The programme's introduction to the West Midlands and Scotland reflects its success in London, where it has supported over 1,300 businesses since 2016. These London-based companies have created more than 5,000 jobs and secured international trade deals exceeding £6.5 billion.

In partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company and Scottish Enterprise, Grow Global aims to replicate this success in the West Midlands and Scotland, fostering economic growth and job creation in these regions.

The new participants will join 100 London-based scaleups, including the cybersecurity firm Glasswall and the air quality monitoring company Airly. This collaboration will facilitate shared learning, access to specialised workshops, and participation in joint international trade missions.

Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business, said: “It’s great to see this successful programme expand to support even more businesses in the UK. The Grow Global programme offers a wide array of services, events, and workshops enabling organisations to build their international presence, grow their businesses, and learn how to thrive in the global market. More than 1,300 London-based businesses have already benefitted from the programme, and its continuation will enable us to build a better, fairer, and more prosperous London for all.”

Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director of Grow London at London & Partners, said: “We are expanding our efforts to support businesses in the UK, particularly in the West Midlands and Scotland, to help them reach their full potential in the global market. Our Grow Global programme is designed to provide scale-up businesses with the necessary resources, connections, and tools to succeed. By doing so, we hope to promote economic growth and job creation not only in London but also in other regions, in line with the UK government's plan to transform the UK into a 'scaleup powerhouse'."

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Portfolio Lead for Economy and Innovation at West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “The West Midlands has long been a hotbed for innovation, nurturing scale-ups with the potential to shape the global economy. Through this unique collaboration with London & Partners, our region’s high-growth tech firms now have an ideal springboard to success in international markets. As Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, it’s also fantastic to see local cybersecurity firm Goldilock securing a place on this prestigious programme.”

Kerry Sharp, Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment at Scottish Enterprise, said: “By supporting these ambitious, scaling Scottish companies to participate in the newly expanded Grow Global programme, we’re helping them make important investor connections, access a peer network of around 100 fellow UK businesses and expand their customer base among London-based and in-market global firms. We want to enable Scottish businesses with strong growth prospects to reach their full potential and deliver maximum economic benefits by targeting overseas markets – building their resilience and creating high-value jobs in the process.”