A brace of business bodies set up under the Coalition Government to support investment and job creation in the West Midlands have closed down.
Most of the services provided by Black Country and Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) will now be administered by West Midlands Combined Authority.
The move comes after the Government's announcement in last year's Levelling-Up White Paper that all 38 LEPs in England were to integrate into their local democratic institutions.
LEPs were created following the 2010 General Election, bringing together councils and businesses to determine local economic priorities and to support growth.
Combined authority chief executive Laura Shoaf said: "I would like to thank both Black Country and Coventry and Warwickshire LEPs for all their hard work over the years in uniting businesses, organisations and individuals across the region to drive growth and create opportunities.
"Both LEPs have been successful in bringing millions of pounds of government investment to support the West Midlands, enabling key infrastructure projects to become a reality and making a real difference to our region's economy."
A new body called Business Growth West Midlands is being launched which will offer free advice, support and funding and is being co-ordinated by the combined authority.
It is being funded by a £42 million investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and there will also be the chance to apply for grants that support business change and new growth opportunities. This will be delivered by the seven local authorities which make up the West Midlands country.
In Coventry and Warwickshire, its own growth hub will continue as a standalone organisation and will remain an independent business-led support service, funded by local councils in Coventry and Warwickshire.
In addition, networking and advocacy group Coventry & Warwickshire Champions will be integrated into the growth hub.
Chief executive Craig Humphrey said: "We will continue to be the front door to business support in Coventry and Warwickshire to provide one-to-one advice and ongoing support.
"We can now reach close to 10,000 companies in the area and regionally through collaboration the number rises to over 110,000 firms.
"That is due to the support of our partners throughout the region and the excellent partnerships we have developed with the West Midlands Combined Authority and our local authorities and district and borough councils which will continue to underpin our service.
"That is vital to ensuring Coventry and Warwickshire businesses continue to receive high-quality business advice and support."
Sarah Windrum, former chairwoman of Coventry and Warwickshire LEP, added: "By bringing together local authorities, district and borough councils, businesses, education and healthcare representatives across both Coventry and Warwickshire, we became one of the leading LEPs in England for our proactive partnership approach.
"Government and the economy are often cyclical and change is inevitable. We believe we have laid the foundations for Coventry and Warwickshire's future success over the last 12 years and the LEP has proved its value in many different ways."
Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP will continue to operate until the end of the year.
