Featured News
Skills for Employment launches
Warwickshire County Council was joined by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, members of local businesses and senior representatives from local schools and colleges today at Stoneleigh Park to launch the Skills for Employment programme.
The county council's £2million investment, committed up to 2018, will bring together the business world with education and training to ensure that young people enter the workplace with the requisite skills.
An employability charter was considered by all delegates to agree what businesses and schools could do together to increase young people's employability when they leave education.
Among the speakers was Jonathan Shaw, formerly a pupil of Round Oak School, who spoke about his experience with the Employability scheme, run in conjunction with National Grid.
Jonathan, who suffered from a mild learning disablility, spoke about the confidence he has gained in all walks of life from being in the working world. He made connections during the conference to get into schools and speak to young people about the benefits he has enjoyed since engaging with National Grid.
The Skills for Employment programme will encourage higher levels of work experience, and at getting teachers short term placements into businesses. There is also a drive to encourage business leaders to go into schools and deliver motivational speeches.
Councillor Colin Hayfield portfolio holder for education and learning, said: "The conference was well represented by both sectors. This was not a one off event, though. The county is in this for the long haul and the project has the full support of all parties within the county council."
Councillor June Tandy, Warwickshire County Councillor and board member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "The skills conference was extremely interesting. There was an excellent mix of businesses, schools, colleges and there was a lot of discussion, notably about how we can look to get young people as young as year 7 engaged with the business world."
The county council has been encouraging schools to apply for small grants that will help them to enhance their careers service. So far, 29 schools and colleges have received around £80,000. There are plans to offer a similar grant later in the year.
Laura Kisby, of Laurence Sheriff School, successfully applied for the grant which enabled the school to broaden its careers advice programme and increase opportunities for work placements. She said: "The grant was perfect as it allowed us to do what we couldn't have budgeted for."
Monica Fogarty, strategic director for Communities, urged companies and schools and colleges alike to get in touch. She said; "We welcome approaches from everyone - schools, colleges, businesses who can improve the journey from education to full-time employment. It is an investment in the region's future that we cannot afford not to make."
To see if your school, college or business can get involved in the Skills for Employment programme, call Glenn Robinson on 07825 317414 or email glennrobinson@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Apprenticeships - Good for Warwickshire businesses
Increased productivity, higher staff retention and ensuring a skilled workforce for the future are just some of the key benefits that are being highlighted to local businesses during Apprenticeship Week from Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March 2015.
The county council’s Apprenticeship Hub is using the week to launch a major campaign to encourage small businesses to take on apprentices, as well as promoting the range, breadth and success of apprenticeships locally.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, said: "Apprenticeships not only equip people with the skills that they need to prosper in their lives but they also deliver real benefits to the economy and help businesses to grow their own talent. We would urge local businesses to find out more by visiting www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice."
The Apprenticeship Hub offers free support and advice to local firms who may be thinking of hiring an apprentice and is able to help find out whether apprenticeships could be right for their business. The hub has created more than 120 apprenticeship opportunities with small businesses across Warwickshire, in addition to creating 60 apprenticeship opportunities with the county council.
In Warwickshire hundreds of organisations are realising the benefits of apprenticeships, six of which are being featured in the Apprenticeship Week campaign. The businesses cover a range of sectors including advanced manufacturing, retail, engineering, hospitality, forestry and sales.
Executive Chef Matthew Parsons, of EEF Venues’ Woodland Grange Conference Centre in Leamington Spa is currently mentoring his sixth apprentice and says: "Apprentices can bring untold benefits to the business including increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force."
Cllr Richard Chattaway, Chair of the council’s Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee added: "Apprenticeships give employers a great opportunity to train and develop their workforce for the future."
Find out more from the Apprenticeship Hub by emailing apprentice@warwickshire.gov.uk calling 01926 412649 or visiting www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice
Apprenticeship Week is a national initiative that celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact that they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. For more information visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
Local businesses set to thrive with £200,000 in Rural Growth Network Grants
Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the Local Enterprise Partnership has announced that it has approved an additional £200,000 of grant funding for small rural local enterprises. The new round of awards were made available following the success of the Micro-Enterprise grants, a £500,000 funding stream made available by Defra through its Rural Development Programme for England.
Seven new enterprises have received funding between £6,000 and £25,000 to help them expand while two further companies, who have previously received grants, have been successful with other bids to enable them to continue to expand and create more jobs.
In all, it is forecast that the funding will help to create nearly 20 new jobs, and safeguarding more. The grants are directed towards small enterprises, those with less than ten employees, primarily in the manufacturing, digital media and low carbon technology sectors which are priorities for the Coventry and Warwickshire economy.
Among the beneficiaries are organic food and drink specialists, web designers, a gin and whiskey distillery and an aviation engineering company.
The previous round of micro-enterprise grants created around 80 jobs in the county and played a vital role in expanding businesses in rural areas. This latest round of grants takes that figure near the 100 mark.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council and board member of the LEP, said: “The new round of awards is an indication of how successful the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network has been. Economic growth across Warwickshire has improved greatly and if we can encourage small businesses through grants to expand then this will benefit the local community through new jobs and greater business productivity.”
Councillor Richard Chattaway, Chair of Communities Overview & Scrutiny said: “Many of these small and rural businesses are still trading in difficult economic conditions so I am encouraged that this grant system is ensuring growth and benefitting the local community in all parts of the county.”
Sean Farnell, a board member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is great to hear the grants from the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network are making such a significant difference in our area. The diversity of the businesses who have benefited highlights the tremendous entrepreneurial spirit which exists in Coventry and Warwickshire and we hope more businesses will apply for grants when applications open for the next round of funding.”
The grants are part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network programme for businesses looking to start and grow. If you would like to find out more, call 01926 412709.
Rugby's shops 'come alive after five'
1st Thursdays will see Rugby town centre ‘come alive after five’, with shops opening their doors and putting on special promotions on the first Thursday of every month.
And at an official launch party for the scheme, held at Albert Street shop Cinnamon and Marmalade, Mr Mark Pawsey MP praised the organisers and said it was great to see an initiative like this which will bring people into the town centre.
The plan is to bring a party atmosphere to Rugby town centre one evening a month when the shops will remain open until 8pm, and there will be street entertainment and street food on offer to visitors.
A large number of retailers and businesses have already pledged to open and a street food market for the very first time in Rugby, and there will be around 25 performers around the town to entertain shoppers.
Funding for the first evening is coming from Warwickshire County Council, with further backing for subsequent events from Rugby First.
The scheme has real potential to become a regular and popular event in town.
The later opening of shops will also help attract further investment into the town, bringing more of what people want to see on their High Street.
Warwickshire promotes its creative gaming quarter
The burgeoning digital gaming industry in Warwickshire will be making its presence felt on the international stage at the world’s largest commercial property show.
Leamington, Warwick and Southam, which has earned the title Silicon Spa, is one of the largest clusters of gaming studios in the UK.
Over 30 gaming studios are based in the area in and around Leamington including established names such as Codemasters, Exient, SEGA Hardlight, Full Fat and Freestyle Games
Warwickshire County Council will be promoting the new Creative Quarter in Leamington, which includes digital media companies who focus on games development, digital design and publishing, at MIPIM in Cannes in 10 March 2015.
The county council is attending the world’s largest commercial property development and investment show as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM 2015 Partnership which promotes development opportunities in the area.
Warwickshire officially teamed up with Coventry at MIPIM three years ago and continue to promote the sub-region.
Nifty at being thrifty
Following the success of Small Business Saturday last December, local businesses are once again reminding people to 'Keep it Local' during the forthcoming Thrift Week from 21-29th March 2015.
The week will be used to promote the thrifty message and give people lots of inspiration and ideas. Customers can get great value by using their local High Street and find all sorts of ways to make their money go further.
Upcycling furniture, trading in IT equipment for refurbished items at a reduced rate, customising old clothes and repairing household items to give them a new lease of life, or buying second hand items from a charity shop to support local causes are just some of the ways consumers are adopting a thriftier lifestyle.
There are many independent retailers who are only too happy to pass on their thrifty knowledge and product ideas to customers, which are helping people to become more inventive, whether it's reusing, repairing or renovating.
Jacki and Russ Ward's Chalk and Linen in Coleshill is just one of the businesses backing the campaign. Jacki and Russ offer free advice and guidance on how to update homes and furniture using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™.
Jacki says, "It's important that people stop throwing things away and see the value in everyday items," she says. "Upcycling is a perfect way for people to make their home unique and save money."
Warwickshire Thrift Week is now in its second year and helps people to identify how to make their money go further, help the environment and get great value from local businesses.
For further information on Warwickshire Thrift Week visit www.thriftweek.co.uk
Secretary of State visits Kenilworth Station site
Warwickshire County Council’s £12 million construction project of the new Kenilworth Station was visited by the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin on Monday 23 February to see the benefits that rail investment is bringing to Warwickshire.
The Minister was met by Jeremy Wright MP for Kenilworth, Warwickshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Alan Cockburn, and Mayor of Kenilworth, Councillor John Cooke.
Warwickshire County Council is constructing the new £12 million station, for which the Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded nearly £5 million towards the cost of construction, following a successful bid to the New Stations Fund. It’s part of £38 billion being invested to modernise the UK’s railways over the next few years.
The project is being managed by Warwickshire County Council and SLC Rail. Demolition work on the site will begin shortly, with construction due to start early next year for a planned opening of the station in December 2016.
The building of Kenilworth Rail Station is part of a major rail enhancement scheme designed to encourage economic regeneration between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa. A new rail passenger service from Coventry to Leamington will mean that Kenilworth passengers will be able to access a wide number of destinations with just one change.
Councillor Alan Cockburn, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “I was delighted to welcome the Minister to Kenilworth so he could see for himself our plans to construct the new rail station, which will be a great asset for the people and businesses of the town.
“Improving transport infrastructure in the county is a key priority for Warwickshire County Council and we’re extremely pleased that the Department of Transport invested in this project.
“It is an indication of their confidence in Warwickshire County Council and the new station will bring numerous benefits to Kenilworth, attracting visitors and improving the local economy, while enabling people living in the town to reach a wide range of destinations by train within just one change.”
Councillor John Cooke, Mayor of Kenilworth, said: “As the largest town in the country without a rail link, Kenilworth residents are delighted to welcome the building of a new station exactly 50 years after the closure of the previous one.”
It is anticipated that Kenilworth will be a town centre ‘destination’ station, encouraging tourists and retail customers into town, while also providing a new community facility with good links to other transport services and on-site facilities.
Warwickshire County Council has a strong record of rail investment, with other current projects including the building of a new station at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton. Other recent projects include the opening of the £6.9 million Stratford Parkway Rail Station in 2013.
Flood recovery trailer visits towns across Warwickshire
Residents from across Warwickshire are encouraged to speak with experts from the Environment Agency, the National Flood Forum and Warwickshire County Council about how to be better prepared for flooding.
From Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March, between 11am and 6pm, representatives from the three organisations will be visiting communities across Warwickshire with a flood recovery trailer. They’ll be visiting:
- Polesworth, Grendon Road (North Warwickshire Borough Council Car Park) B78 1HA on Monday 9 March
- Nuneaton Sainsbury’s Car Park, Vicarage Street, Nuneaton, CV11 4XS on Tuesday 10 March
- Rugby Sainsbury’s Car Park, 385 Dunchurch Road, Rugby, CV22 6HU on Wednesday 11 March
- Waterside, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6BB on Thursday 12 March
- Homebase Car Park, Myton Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3NY on Friday 13 March
At each event they will give out essential flooding advice as well as hints and tips on how to prepare and what actions to take when flooding occurs.
Warwickshire has a history of flooding, with approximately 11,000 properties at risk of fluvial flooding. Large parts of the county were affected by flooding in winter 2012.
Councillor Les Caborn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio for Community Safety, said: “These events are crucial to continue to raise awareness of risk flooding poses to many homes and business in Warwickshire.”
Floods can damage or destroy your home and business, knowing your flood risk is the first step to protecting your family and property.
In many areas of Warwickshire affected by fluvial flooding we are able to provide specific flood warnings, to check if you are at risk from flooding and register for this service please visit https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood or call the floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Talking business matters at spring roadshow
The Business Matters Roadshow events offer a great opportunity for existing and new businesses to find out what help and support is available. In an increasingly competitive market you want to stay ahead of the game. If you need some advice on a particular subject, the roadshow will be tackling access to finance, funding and grants, exporting, apprenticeship opportunities, business growth, networking opportunities to business mentoring. Places are still available at the remaining two spring events taking place on Wednesday 11 March, 7.30am - 9.30am, at Warwick House in Southam and on Tuesday 21 April 2015, 5.00pm - 7.30pm, at Minerva Mill, Station Road, Alcester.
Register for one or all of the events – a great opportunity to network and meet with businesses in other parts of the District. Register online at:
Minerva Mill: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-matters-at-minerva-mill-tickets-14873421805
Warwick House: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-matters-at-warwick-house-tickets-14755326579
Plug your rural business into electric vehicle scheme
An electric vehicle scheme which is helping rural businesses save money and the environment, is offering more firms the chance to get into the driving seat.
Warwickshire’s Rural Electric Vehicles project provides £2,000 grants towards the contract hire costs of an electric van and installation of charge points on business premises. The scheme also offers a free review to help people decide whether electric vehicles are right for their business, both financially and technically.
One of the latest businesses to benefit is food retail store and supplier Taste of the Country in Shipston-on-Stour, which has grown significantly in recent years supplying a vibrant local market as well as big names such as the Natural History Museum in London.
In order to expand and increase their product range, Taste of the Country moved their kitchen to a nearby industrial unit. The business received a £2,000 grant towards an electric vehicle to transport products between their new kitchens and shop each day, as well as their weekly wholesale delivery round. The firm, which now has a charging point at its industrial unit, has made significant fuel cost savings which are being reinvested back into the business as well as improving the company’s ‘green credentials’.
The project is part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network funded by Defra and led by Warwickshire County Council, on behalf of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Grant funding is available to other rural businesses for electric vehicles through the Warwickshire Rural Electric Vehicle project – with a focus upon support for electric vans. Contact Greenwatt Technology on 01789 761367 or by email transport@greenwatt.co.uk for more details: http://www.greenwatt.co.uk/WarwickshireRuralElectricVehicleProjectWREV.htm
Each company will also benefit from 12 months of project support, vehicle monitoring and an eco-driving training opportunity designed to optimise the use of the vehicle. Dedicated charging points have also been provided at each company’s premises.
For more information about the Rural Growth Network please visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ruralgrowthnetwork
Cheese making business matures
Fowlers are the oldest cheese making family business in England and are continuing the traditions of handcrafted cheeses at the dairy in the lush pastures of Earlswood, Warwickshire.
The same care and traditional skills used in Derbyshire and handed down since before 1840 to the 14th generation are producing its Gold and Silver award winning cheeses today.
It manufactures and sells its cheeses at various farmers’ markets across the UK, stockists and online farmer’s shops.
Fowlers Forest Dairies are traditional cheese makers who produce authentic cheese from its own milk for a niche market. The business found out about the grants by ringing Shire Hall and speaking to an officer from the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network Programme. The dairy received a grant for £15,000 from the Rural Growth Network for new dairy and cheese-making machinery.
It is thanks to the grant that Fowlers are now able to increase its employee numbers by one full-time person and by the end of 2016 it will employ another member of staff. The dairy already has part-time members of staff but the number of full time personnel has now risen to seven.
Adrian Fowler said: “We take pride in our environment and ensuring high standards of animal welfare that produces great milk and even better cheese. The benefits will be long lasting for the dairy and will provide greater health and safety for employees as well as continuous production and continuity in presentation enabling sustainable growth. The grant from the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network has made a huge difference to my business already.”
New £10.73m broadband deal
Around 17,000 more households across Solihull and Warwickshire are now able to get high-speed fibre broadband following a new £10.73 million contract.
CSW Broadband partnership roll-out began connecting the first homes and businesses to faster fibre broadband last April.
The new deal spearheaded by Warwickshire County Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council contributed an initial £3.68 million and £0.38 million. BT provided an additional £2.61m and a further £4.06m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Superfast Extension Programme (SEP). It’s the first project in the West Midlands to be extended with SEP funding.
When complete, it will increase the percentage of homes and businesses able to access high-speed fibre broadband in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to nearly 94 per cent when combined with the first phase of the CSW Broadband roll-out already underway and the private sector investments of companies like BT.
Aston Cantlow, Berkswell, Eastcote, Over Whitacre, Sambourne, Tysoe and Willoughby are among the more rural communities to benefit from funding, making fibre broadband available to them for the first time.
Planning and surveying on the new phase will begin next year, and engineers from Openreach – BT’s local network business – will start connecting the first premises towards the end of 2016. The upgrade work will continue during 2017, 2018 and into 2019.
Residents and businesses choosing to upgrade will be able to get download speeds of up to 80 megabits per second (80Mbps) and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps*. Because the Openreach network is ‘open’, people will have a choice of who they take their service from, with more than 140 fibre broadband providers currently operating in the UK.
Ben’s the BWF’s apprentice of the year
A Rugby College joinery apprentice is celebrating after being named the British Woodworking Federation’s Apprentice of the Year at a ceremony in London.
Ben James, 20, from Daventry, has worked at Tompkins Joinery for four years, starting as a work experience student before going on to join as an apprentice. He has progressed from a Level 2 apprenticeship to a Level 3 apprenticeship - he currently studies one day a week at Rugby College, with the rest of his time spent working for his employer.
Ben has already completed a few high profile projects of his own, including the joinery for Dallas Burston Polo Club, the prestigious polo ground based in Southam, Warwickshire.
Ben attended the awards ceremony in London with his family and said, “When I heard my name read out it was a shock, but I was really happy. It was great to be nominated by my employers as it shows they have faith in your ability.”
Warwickshire College Group offers apprenticeships in a wide range of subjects. For more information go to www.warwickshire.ac.uk/apprenticeships call 0300 456 0049.
To find out more about apprenticeships in Warwickshire and if they could be right for your business visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice
Cotswolds Distillery fermenting nicely
Cotswold Distillery founder, Dan Szor was a hedge fund manager in London and a native New Yorker. He gave up city life for a more relaxed rural lifestyle with his wife and young daughter. After catching the distilling bug from visits to the island of Islay and purchasing whiskey from the Bruichladdich Distillery, he decided to set up his own business in the village of Stourton near Shipston-on Stour.
The business produces English single malt whisky, Cotswolds Dry Gin and other premium small batch spirits and liqueurs.
The distillery accessed the grants through Warwickshire Rural Growth Network and The University of Warwick Science Park. Cotswold Distillery was granted £22,000 which it has used to purchase more fermentation vessels (whisky distillation equipment) and recruit a new apprentice distiller.
The grant has enabled the company to double the amount of fermentation vessels resulting in twice the amount of whisky production capacity. Dan Szor said: “The financial benefits have accelerated business growth all within Cotswolds Distillery’s first year of business and are making a huge difference. It will enable more spirit down in cask, increasing its stocks of ageing whisky so that more will be released in the future.”
Cotswolds Distillery is committed to ensure that all stages, from the growth of raw ingredients, to the malting, mashing and distilling take place in the Cotswolds. The barley it uses comes from farms very close by and its malt being hand-made is less than 50 miles from where it is based.
Expanding Warwick automotive company moves to new premises
A rapidly-growing Warwick company is set to move into its third premises in just over 12 months to meet demand for its automotive services in the UK and overseas.
Sino International Products provides engineering and product design, prototypes and product development and supplies products from its bases in Warwick and Shanghai in China.
The company, which was established by Rob Coles and Antony Ward in January 2013 from a small office in Budbrooke, aims to reach £3.5 million turnover in 2015.
The firm works closely with automotive giants Jaguar Land Rover in Gaydon and Shanghai as well as BMW and Aston Martin and supply products as a Tier 1 supplier to customers in Croatia, Slovakia and Germany.
The business has also signed exclusive agreements with companies in Holland and Portugal to sell their products and services to the UK market.
After moving to 1,500 sq ft premises in Benford Court, Lower Cape, Rob was approached by the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub to explain the services on offer to businesses in all sectors in the area.
Growth Hub account manager Carolyn Reily put Rob in touch with Warwickshire County Council’s Inward Investment Team who sourced a new unit at nearby St George’s Business Park for Sino International Products.
Carolyn also set-up meetings for the company with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to achieve the quality management ISO 9001 accreditation and UKTI to consider exporting to new markets.
Food Box Discovery steps up its game
Business and life partners, Sarah Jolley and Martin Jarvis came up with the idea for a gourmet food business after their initial success with retailing cakes online.
Food Discovery Box simply evolved from selling cakes to more artisan and rarer products. The business partners scour the UK to bring members ultimate food finds. The products are stringently selected for taste and guaranteed to be made in small batches by independent producers.
But it was down to a boost from receiving a Micro Enterprise Grant, part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network funding programme which enabled the business to really grow. Martin Jarvis works full-time on the business and Sarah fits it around her busy full-time job. They started their first business after extensive travelling across the UK, visiting farmer’s markets, independent producers and food fayres. Food Discovery Box was awarded with a grant of £8,500 and 40% of this was used to develop a more user-friendly website.
The grant has made a huge difference to the business, because Food Box Discovery is now able to develop its online shop. This enables the SME to streamline the website so that customers can easily access its shop front. Due to added features, members are now able to choose which products they would like to try from a different short list every month. Previously members could not select chosen products historically but with new ‘Add-ons’ this will no longer be a problem.
Sarah Jolley said: “This will really make a huge difference to our productivity and will increase sales due to having a consistent audience who have tried the products previously. We have done our research and no other subscription organisation enables its members to pick specific items each month. The unique selling point will be the online shop front on a website.
“Importantly, the website’s back door for our business will be the warehouse and we will be able to extract information from the website and manage stock levels. The new website will also be less restrictive to the number of members it has and enable the company the opportunity to grow the business.”
Food Discovery Box is based at the Innovation Centre at Stoneleigh Park and the information about the grants were available to all its tenants. Jolley concludes: “Stoneleigh Park is a real hub of rural enterprise and having received a Micro Enterprise Grant, it will now enable us to recruit further staff in the near future, and take our business to the next level.”
Getting the right base for your business - property
Getting the right base is critical to success and as well as being well connected to other parts of the country, Warwickshire hosts a wide range of sites, premises and business parks to suit every business including county council owned business centres to help new start-ups and grown on space. We have vibrant towns centres as well as a thriving rural economy.
The county council's Inward Investment team provides all the help that companies need for a successful move and over the last five years, has assisted over 2,000 companies with their search for commercial premises, resulting in over 200 successful relocations.
The team can provide a tailored service that will help find the best property solution for your business and is free and confidential. Contact the team on 01926 412140 to discuss your requirements or alternatively search for commercial property online by visiting http://invest.warwickshire.gov.uk/commercial-property-warwickshire/
Top tips in avoiding the pitfalls when leasing a commercial property
Local property agent and lease specialist Martyn Howard MRICS of Drake Howard Property gives an insight to critical sections of the commercial lease and consequences to business costs.
According to Martyn, while the tenant does not invest in the long term future of the property, they should be equally, if not more, diligent in assessment of cost implications of occupation covenants in the lease contract:
1. Repair and Yield Up covenants are of key importance. Landlords will press for full repair responsibility to pass to the tenant. To do so, the premises should be in good tenantable repair and condition. If not, it is reasonable for a prospective occupier to record the disrepair and either, insist on remedial work, take a greater financial incentive to cover the cost of the work, or seek an indemnity against return of the property to the landlord at the end of the lease term in ‘perfect condition’.
2. If the tenant intends to alter the premises to suit the business, so long as alterations do not materially affect the structure or change the character of the building, it is worth investigating the landlord’s willingness to forgo the usual requirement for reinstatement of the works at the end of the lease. This will be an expensive undertaking and add to the alterations outlay. If the proposal is raised early in negotiations the pressure for acceptance is usually compelling.
3. Dilapidations are a growth area of litigation and can easily run into six figures for medium and larger sized properties. The wording of repair covenants must be properly considered from the outset and the cost of remedial work constantly reviewed and not underestimated. The repair liability will include mechanical and electrical service installations at the building and may catch out the unwary as ‘repair’ can extend to replacement. More often than not, the M&E element forms a substantial part of a dilapidations claim and certification provided by a landlord, via responses to legal enquiries, should be closely scrutinised. For certainty, engage a qualified engineer to check the condition and predict the useful life of plant and equipment, over the lease term.
4. Rent Review frequency, gearing and assumptions establish the mechanism for calculation of future rent payments and in the case of dispute, a third party determination procedure. There are modern alternatives to established review formats to explore. Gearing to market value is no longer set in stone and the rent can be linked to economic indices, business performance or other formulae. If the basis is to arrive at Market Rental Value, the tone of ‘assumptions’ and ‘disregards’ explicit in the clause, will determine the outcome. Softening the tone can secure a measurable reduction in the rent under review and clarity of wording will avoid expensive independent determination costs.
5. Service Charges if the scope of services and charging arrangements are reasonable a service charge gives benefits to the tenant. The landlord provides services for which the tenant would otherwise be directly responsible and a landlord, or agent, will be able to achieve scale discounts from contractors employed at larger, multi-let properties, or estates. The rub lies in the ‘reasonableness’ of the clause format and efficiency of management. The expert trained eye will focus on shortcomings, having regard to both the RICS Code of Conduct to which regulated Chartered Surveyors adhere and, decided cases of excessive expenditure by unscrupulous landlords.
6. Break Clauses offer businesses flexibility to terminate a lease early, if for example, the company has achieved growth beyond that predicted at the commencement date, or if the overheads are no longer competitive in the market. The tenant will be able to walk away, except where critical conditions imposed on the break are not precisely adhered to. There are many examples of law suits filed where a tenant is thought to have failed to strictly perform on these conditions.
7. Other letting terms where value savings can be negotiated before the ink is dry include conditions on assignment and under-letting, the scope of buildings insurance cover and the reinstatement period, empty rates liability at the end of a lease and the terms of release of a rent deposit.
Sign up to Growth Vouchers
The Government’s Growth Vouchers Programme is being delivered and run by six world-class business schools. This is a ten module programme with additional mentoring support from experienced, real-world business mentors.
Aston Business School is tasked with helping 200 small businesses in the West Midlands to grow. With a reputation for excellence and impact, Aston Business School has a track record of guiding small businesses in their accelerated growth. Businesses can complete the short ten minute application online.
This programme is worth £5,000 and the UK Government will pay £3,000 leaving the £2,000 contribution from businesses (paid in manageable instalments) all at a reasonable price for this high quality leadership and management training.
The journey to faster growth starts with a free diagnostic workshop and one to one mentoring session.
The next diagnostic session is running in central Birmingham on 24th February 2015.
To find out about whether your business is eligible, or to apply, visit www.sbcgrowthvouchers.co.uk. Or contact the team via growthvouchers@aston.ac.uk or on 0121 204 4822 for further information.
College promotes business case for apprenticeships
Employing an apprentice can reap real returns on investment for your business and this is the message from Fiona Baker, Group Director of Employer Partnerships for North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and South Leicestershire College.
Fiona discussed the topic at a recent employer event, during which she presented the Business Case for Apprenticeships.
Baker said: “After the training period, an apprentice’s productivity will exceed their wage. The payback period will of course depend on the type of apprenticeship but is a strong indicator that choosing to employ an apprentice should definitely be a business decision.
“Employing an apprentice can result in many tangible benefits. For example, recruitment costs are much lower; by working with education providers such as us, you can seek help in advertising and managing your vacancy.
“You can also address issues associated with an ageing workforce and the lack of skills available in the external jobs market. By working closely with the College to design the apprenticeship programme, you can directly address skills gap and develop a strong, valuable workforce.
“With 67% of apprentices staying on with their employer after completing their qualification, businesses also benefit from a low labour turnover and loyal workforce. In fact, 80% of employers feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover (gov.uk).”
If you are interested in employing an apprentice and would like to find out more, contact the College’s Business Development Team on 024 7624 3222 or email business.development@nwhc.ac.uk
You can also find out more about apprenticeships in Warwickshire and if they could be right for your business by visiting http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice
Kick-starting SMEs in Nuneaton and Bedworth
Coventry and Warwickshire’s Chamber of Commerce has been organising events to help people in Nuneaton and Bedworth to take the plunge starting up a business.
The Chamber has helped more than 100 people start up their own business since 2012 in Nuneaton and Bedworth. It is hoping that, with the region increasingly becoming an attractive place for businesses even more prospective local entrepreneurs will continue to access its ongoing support.
Events have been supported by Warwickshire Country Council, who fund the programme along with the European Regional Development Fund, and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
One company which has benefited from the Chamber’s help is The Tyre Company which was started up at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton by Kuljit Pahal, himself a former investment banker.
The company employs three staff and serves around 300 motorists each month. Kuljit is now adding further storage space to enable the business to stock more products and also to add another fitter to the team.
He said: “I am very grateful for the support we have received from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, particularly my business mentor, Margaret Bull.
“Even when you have worked in industry, it can be daunting to set up on your own and having someone there to bounce ideas off and to be able to tap into other support is extremely useful.
“I’d recommend anyone who wants to start up a business to get along next week and meet someone from the Chamber.”
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council said: “Changes in the infrastructure of the borough are happening at a fast pace, including improvements to the road network and train connectivity. Now is a good time presenting real opportunities in Nuneaton and Bedworth for potential businesses.”
“There are ongoing events held across the borough and they are a good starting point for individuals who are considering establishing their own company”, added Cllr Tony Lloyd, portfolio holder for Planning and Development at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
Councillor Richard Chattaway, Chair of Warwickshire County Council’s Communities Overview and Scrutiny, said: “The start-up support comes in many forms – it can be anything from sitting down and helping to draw up and amend a business plan to knowing where grants may be available or applying for funding.”
General support is available across the year from Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce by calling 024 7665 4321, e-mailing info@cw-chamber.co.uk or logging onto www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Strength of the region's automotive sector to be debated at international conference
The strength of the automotive sector in the West Midlands and how it can bring further investment to the region will be the topic of a major debate at an international conference.
Coventry and Warwickshire has teamed up with Birmingham and the Black Country to showcase the region’s world class automotive and engineering capability at the MIPIM property development and investment show next week.
Around 30 per cent of people in the UK who work in the automotive industry are based in the West Midlands, while, according to UKTI, about 20 per cent of everything the UK exports to China is from Jaguar Land Rover.
This session, held on the Thursday of the show, will look at how the region is the driving force in the renaissance of the UK automotive industry, combining cutting-edge research and development, leading academic excellence supported by an extensive skill base and supply chain.
That combination of capabilities has helped the region perform strongly in attracting inward investment and offers exciting opportunities for international and UK companies.
Success is sewn up
Lime Tree Embroidery and Print was set up by Sarah Walkden after seeing a gap in the market to start her own business providing embroidered clothing, gifts and accessories to clients in the local area. Sarah needed to test the waters before developing her idea into a viable business by doing some market research starting with promoting her product. After using an external supplier to complete the embroidery this resulted in many orders.
The initial test was successful and proved there was an opportunity for an embroidery and printing business. Sarah’s business would be local, cost effective and provide a personal service.
To obtain additional support she made contact with the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network and was put in touch with Tanya King, a business coach from delivery partner Pera Consulting. It was agreed that Sarah would benefit from coaching on how to develop and grow the business and also receiving assistance on to buy an embroidery machine.
She received one to one coaching from Tanya and attended a number of workshops provided by WRGN. Sarah also applied for, and received, a start-up grant to help buy the required machinery.
The business has been established, a marketing campaign has been put in place and the website developed, all through the coaching programme.
Lime Tree Embroidery and Print is now receiving regular orders each week, repeat orders and even referrals from satisfied customers.
Nico Garnier, project manager at Pera Consulting, said: "This was an excellent contact for Pera to make. We helped Sarah establish her business needs and pointed out how she might gain access to funds and now we're delighted to see that she has prospered."
For further details on how Pera Consulting can help businesses, call 01664 501587 or email nicolas.garnier@peraconsulting.com
For more information about Lime Tree Embroidery visit http://www.limetreeembroidery.co.uk
Aston Martin unveils new model
Warwickshire based Aston Martin has unveiled its new luxury but practical DBX Concept car.
The luxury car manufacturer unveiled its new model at the Geneva International Motor Show, marking a key change in the brand’s thinking. The idea behind the new car was to present a lifestyle that is not only stylish and luxurious but family friendly and practical too. According to chief executive, Andy Palmer the new car will extend the high luxury Grand Tourer (GT) sector but is more environmentally responsible, lowering carbon footprints. The prototype coupe will be available for an estimated £130,000 price tag when it goes on sale within three years.
Motus Training gets even healthier
Motus Training has its own purpose built premises providing consulting rooms and a training suite. Its range of trainers, coaches, nutritionists and sports therapists are available to meet customer requirements. With all this in place, Motus Training needed to consider its next steps.
Owner, Darren Putt became involved with the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network (WRGN) at the end of 2013. An initial meeting was set up with Tanya King, a business coach employed by Pera Consulting - the partner delivering the business coaching element of the Rural Growth Network in Warwickshire.
Through coaching sessions and additional workshops provided by Pera Consulting, a marketing strategy was put in place covering regular e-mail campaigns, use of social media and networking. As a result Darren secured a regular column for personal training and nutrition in Cotswold Review Magazine and is now their key author for the Health and Fitness section.
The increase in marketing activity has led to more people using the centre, raising capacity levels by up to 30%. Motivated by his sessions with Pera, Darren was keen to develop the centre's website to offer wellbeing diagnostic tools and online coaching for individuals and businesses.
Warwick University manages the Innovation Funding for the Warwickshire RGN programme and Tanya put Darren in touch with them. Through the university’s support, Darren was able to access funding to assist in the development of the centre's website.
Another key benefit of the coaching was a review of the staff, enabling Darren to put strategies in place to manage them more effectively. The business was restructured and, due to the growth, it has now taken on three additional staff with the potential for recruiting a fourth new member in the pipeline.
Creative England gives local business start-up a boost
Creative England has been awarded £8m funding from the Regional Growth Fund to invest in, support and develop businesses across the games, television, film and digital creative industries.
This includes companies such as Leamington Spa-based Mad Fellows which, since the development of its game SineWave, has secured in excess of £100k follow-on funding for their next console game.
Since the Deputy Prime Minister launched the RGF fund in 2010, a total of £400m has now been invested in 74 projects across the West Midlands. The Government has claimed these will create or safeguard around 119,000 local jobs and attract around £3.1bn of further investment from the private sector.
Engaging with charities
If a company wants to improve its corporate social responsibility, then one of the best places to start is to support local or national charities. Businesses can get involved with charities in a number of ways and build a mutually beneficial relationship to help demonstrate commitment to issues that are very important to the local community.
Fundraising at work can boost staff morale because it’s fun and helps everyone feel good about helping a worthwhile cause. Employees often start by organising a work bake sale, having a dress down Friday, or taking a collecting tin for reception.
Businesses can also choose to support a charity for more than just one off events by talking to them about a long term partnership such as Charity of the Year. Although many businesses are finding that better results come from working as partners with a charity for longer than a year.
The SMA Trust, based in Atherstone on Stour in Warwickshire, is the only UK charity solely dedicated to funding medical research to find treatments and a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is an inherited neuromuscular condition which is currently incurable and untreatable. More babies die from Type 1 SMA than any other genetic condition in the UK today. It has worked with various businesses over the years and would recommend Warwickshire businesses to work with charities as it provides many shared benefits.
Ginny Cullen, Corporate Fundraiser at The SMA Trust, says: "Charities can help you with your team building needs. Why not take on a challenge event either as an individual or as a team? Many charities will have a range of events such as trekking abroad, night cycle rides or moonlight walks closer to home.”
Visit www.smatrust.org/get-involved/fundraising/corporate-support or email Ginny Cullen ginny@smatrust.org or call 01789 801155 if you and your company would like to get involved with The SMA Trust.
Stop Press: Microentrepreneurship awards
After competing against 65 other responsible lending organisations, Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) were declared joint winners of Citi Bank’s 2016 Microentrepreneurship marketing award at their Awards dinner held on 4 March in London. CWRT provide commercial loans to businesses which cannot get finance from the high street banks. www.cwrt.uk.com
Apprenticeship Case Studies
Apprenticeships - Good for Warwickshire businesses
Increased productivity, higher staff retention and ensuring a skilled workforce for the future are just some of the key benefits that are being highlighted to local businesses during Apprenticeship Week from Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March 2015.
In Warwickshire hundreds of organisations are realising the benefits of apprenticeships, five of which are featured in the case studies below:
The Apprenticeship Hub offers free support and advice to local firms who may be thinking of hiring an apprentice and is able to help find out whether apprenticeships could be right for their business. Find out more from the Apprenticeship Hub by emailing apprentice@warwickshire.gov.uk calling 01926 412649 or visiting http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice
Apprenticeship Week is a national initiative that celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact that they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. For more information visit http://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
A recipe for success – Chef Apprenticeship
“Recruiting the right people is a major challenge for the hospitality industry,” says Executive Chef Matthew Parsons, of Woodland Grange Conference Centre in Leamington Spa.
“Our approach is to take staff on young and invest in them for the long term,” explains Matthew, who has been shortlisted nationally for his work developing young people.
“Apprentices can bring untold benefits to the business including increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force.”
Part of EEF Venues, Woodland Grange is an award-winning conference centre where a team of 14 prepare up to 500 meals a day and to the highest quality. Ninety-five per cent of the food served is made from scratch by Matthew’s brigade, which is an indication of the training apprentices receive in classical culinary skills.
Mathew has mentored six apprentices to date at Woodland Grange, two of whom are full time members of staff and continue to progress. Jemma Hall started as an apprentice two years ago when she was just 16 years old and now works as Commis Chef. John Williams joined Woodland Grange seven years ago as a kitchen porter and, after becoming an apprentice, has risen through the ranks to become Demi Chef de Partie.
In an industry where staff turnover is notoriously high, good quality apprenticeships are an effective way to retain as well as train staff.
“People who feel invested in feel more engaged and motivated, which helps productivity as well as quality,” says Matthew who is also finding that apprentices are helping his more senior staff to develop.
“It can be a big ask to get other chefs to train apprentices and share their knowledge but it is a key part of their professional development. If my staff want to become an Executive Chef one day, they have to be able to show people how to do things well and do them right.”
Matthew is currently mentoring two apprentices: Ailish Griffin and Ewan Shakespeare.
Eighteen year-old Ailish, who started her apprenticeship in October 2013, has been trained in all sections of service including larder, sauce, grill and pastry. She has also gained essential technical skills such as the specifics of butchery, knife utilisation, presentation standards and food hygiene.
“School wasn’t for me and I wanted to get into the workplace, earning money and learning skills,” says Ailish. “An apprenticeship is giving me the experience in the kitchen as well as the qualifications for my job. I go to Stratford-upon-Avon College once a week where I am working towards my Level 3 in Professional Cookery. It is hard work at first but an apprenticeship will benefit you in more ways than you think.”
The partnership with Stratford College is one that Executive Chef Matthew regards highly.
“By working with the college we are getting the best out of our apprentices. If there is a problem area they will work on it with the student, they will also adapt the course to suit the business.”
So what advice would Matthew give to other businesses considering apprenticeships? “Like many other industries sadly, we are facing a huge shortage of skilled staff. Apprenticeships give staff the training and skills to drive your business forward,” says Matthew, but he is keen to point out, “what you get out of apprenticeships very much depends on what you put in.”
Career mobility – Customer Service Apprenticeship
"Apprenticeships allow us to train people the right way for our business,” says Suzanna Vandervelden, Director of Rent Mobility Ltd.
The Rugby based firm runs two stores selling, renting and repairing mobility aids which make a difference to people’s lives, either helping people to get around or making everyday tasks around the home easier.
Giving the customer the right advice and good service are absolutely essential to the business, and it can take many years to learn about the range of products available.
“Apprenticeships give us the opportunity to take someone on, train them and give them the time to build up very specific product knowledge,” explains Suzanna.
“There are a wide range of aids available and it’s vital that we not only know what the product can do but also if it’s suitable for the customer. As a family run business it is important that we send our customers away with the right product.”
Suzanna says that apprenticeships and the training opportunities that come with them have brought benefits to her business, which employs six people.
“It is a cost effective way of training new staff - as a small firm we would have struggled with the costs of getting someone up to speed - but apprenticeships should never be regarded as cheap labour. You have to commit yourself to ensuring that the apprentice gets as much out of it as possible too.”
For Rent Mobility’s latest recruit, twenty-year-old Lauren Vick, an apprenticeship has enabled her to earn and learn while establishing a career.
“I knew I wanted to get qualifications and work experience behind me but I didn’t want to be in a school environment,” explains Lauren.
Thanks to a partnership with Heart of England Training, the Rent Mobility team are gaining NVQ qualifications as part of their work-based training.
Apprentice Lauren is currently studying for an NVQ in Customer Service and is looking at what options to study next, director Suzanna is studying for a Level 5 in Management and former apprentice Sean has completed his retail qualification.
“The NVQs are a good way to prove what you can do,” says apprentice Lauren. “I didn’t think I’d be good at office management but I have surprised myself. The fact that I can study at my own pace has made me more confident as a learner.”
In fact Lauren’s confidence has grown across the board and despite feeling shy at first on the shop floor, Lauren has established a good rapport with customers.
Suzanna says proudly, “People come in and ask for Lauren because they know they will get good customer care and advice.”
Suzanna’s advice for any business considering an apprentice is to be flexible and to think about the long term. “Although you may have a specific job role in mind, it’s important to discover the talents that your apprentice may have. Remember that you are training apprentices up for a proper career, not the odd jobs like washing up.”
She adds, “And don’t miss out on the training opportunities. NVQs, which we get funding for, add value to the business and make our staff feel valued too. The NVQs have also brought the team closer together as we are supporting each other while we study.”
Reaching new heights – Aborist Apprenticeship
Encouraging staff to aim higher is the norm for the County Council’s Forestry Section, where apprentices are not only sent 40 feet in the air to maintain trees but are also supported to progress in the workplace.
“Apprentices are an integral part of the team and are helping us to grow,” says Jason Tombs, Operations Manager of the Forestry Section at Warwickshire County Council.
The Forestry Section is one of the council’s business units providing tree management services to internal departments such as County Highways, as well as to other local councils, schools and landowners. In addition to the physical tree work, the service also provides professional advice on tree-related matters. The team has grown over the last 15 years and currently employs 23 staff.
“We run the Section as a business and we expect everyone to put in the hard graft. Within three to four months we find our apprentices are really contributing to the team,” says Jason.
He adds, “Apprenticeships are a highly respected route into tree work and we are delighted that one of our former apprentices, Kevin Tobin, is now a Senior Arborist.”
Jason advises businesses to treat each apprentice as an individual and to always focus on their employability. “We do have to invest time on training and coaching but our staff enjoy passing on their skills and it makes good business sense. If we train our staff with the right skills and in the right way for our business we can provide a quality service to our customers.”
As there is so much to learn in the role, the team’s partnership with Warwickshire College is vitally important. The tutors work closely with apprentices to give extra support where they might be struggling, as well as helping to develop and build upon their strengths.
Jason says, “The main challenge for new apprentices is probably the transition from full-time education to the world of work. Tree work is physically demanding and it has to be taken seriously because we are working in potentially hazardous situations.”
Since 2009 the forestry section has taken on six apprentices, of which three have been taken on by the council and work for the Forestry Section. A further three apprentices are currently working for the Section at various stages into their course.
One of the newest recruits is 19-year-old Matthew Quinn, an Apprentice Arborist who started in January 2014. Mathew is training in all aspects of arboriculture and is working towards professional qualifications with Warwickshire College.
As well as regularly using a chainsaw over the past 12 months, Matthew has got to grips with a wide range of machinery including tractors, wood chippers, grinders and firewood processors. His role has also involved working in trees from a rope and harness and being part of a team using a crane in a large tree dismantling project.
One of the most valued parts of his apprenticeship Mathew says is “team working and learning from experienced members of staff.”
Matthew says, “Apprenticeships are a great way to learn a recognised trade in the workplace and receive a salary. I am really grateful that I have been given this opportunity.”
The nuts and bolts of a great career – Sales Apprenticeship
“I joined the company 17 years ago as a modern apprentice and now I work as Company Operations Manager”, says Jim Carter of Rugby-based company, Apex Stainless Fasteners.
Since opening in 1991, the firm has become one of Europe's leading suppliers of stainless steel fasteners providing everything from bolts for motorway bridges to screws for the automotive industry.
The firm prides itself on a worldwide reputation for product range, excellent service and specialist support and much of that is down to its staff.
“The business has grown significantly and apprentices have played a key role in our success,” says Jim, who firmly believes employee development results in a motivated workforce and increased productivity.
Having risen through the ranks himself, Jim is committed to Apex’s tradition of growing its own talent. Apex currently has two apprentices in training and a further ten members of staff who have completed apprenticeships and continue to progress within the company.
“Apprenticeships have had bad rap and for too long they have been seen as cheap labour,” says Jim. “Here at Apex we see apprentices as an investment and we pay ours a fair wage, provide training and instil a work ethic for the future.”
Jim is also keen to point out the equal treatment and value placed on apprentices. “We don’t hang a label around our apprentices’ necks, they are part of the team from the beginning.”
Apex’s apprenticeship success is also owed to a strong working relationship with training provider Heart of England, who help the company to find good candidates for apprenticeship roles as well as co-ordinating NVQ qualifications, assessment and training.
One of Apex’s newest recruits is 17-year-old Michael Westley, who started his sales apprenticeship a few months ago after leaving school last year. As well receiving on the job training, Michael is working towards an NVQ in Business Administration.
“I wanted to start learning for myself in the workplace rather than being stuck in a classroom and I am really glad I chose an apprenticeship,” says Michael of taking on his role.
“There is a lot to learn and every day is different. The biggest challenge was learning hundreds of codes for products but now I am able to select and check all the items for our orders. One of the things I enjoy the most is speaking to our customers from around the UK, who might be from Cornwall, Scotland or Wales.”
Michael says he would recommend apprenticeships to other young people. “I’d say go for it and get the experience while earning your own money. I’ve been lucky because everyone, in the sales team and the warehouse will always help me.”
One person who helps Michael is Dean Foulds, a Sales Executive, who started as an apprentice eight years ago. Dean says, “I couldn’t fault the help that I received when I started my apprenticeship. In fact, the Managing Director trained me when I started and was always there for support.”
And for any other businesses who are considering an apprenticeship, Operations Manager Jim concludes, “Don’t be frightened of apprentices and make sure you see them as staff members. They may not be 100% work ready to begin with but if you invest in them, communicate with them and train them your way they will be a great asset to the company.”
The right road for a career - Technical Apprenticeship
“I began my career nearly 40 years ago as a highways apprentice after seeing an advertisement in the local paper,” says Bryn Patefield, Highways Manager for Warwickshire County Council.
Bryn is one of many managers in Warwickshire who are enabling young people to take on apprenticeships within a team. As well as believing passionately in giving local, young people the opportunity to enter the workplace Bryn is keen to point out the benefits that apprenticeships bring to business.
“Apprenticeships provide a different solution to a changing recruitment market and we view them positively. Businesses must adapt to succeed in today’s current climate and we feel apprenticeships meet our changing needs.”
The Highways Team at Warwickshire County Council are very busy and look after the highway network within the county. “We undertake many tasks such as repairing and building new bridges, maintaining street lighting, undertaking winter gritting and repairing roads, footways and highway drainage systems. Other aspects of the role include new road adoptions and highway safety inspections and all the legal issues involved highway matters within the county.”
Bryn feels that apprenticeships are the way forward to shape the future workforce. He says, “We need to invest in young people to ensure that we have continuity and we can pass on our knowledge and expertise.”
James Ward is a Highways Maintenance Technical Apprentice and is already six months into his traineeship, which is proving to be a valuable experience. James who is 21 and from Warwick says, “There is good progression and challenges within engineering and I wanted these challenges within my career.”
He adds, “I like apprenticeships and think they are a very good idea, but there are not enough of them to be fair for all the young people who want them. Apprenticeships provide a chance of getting a good qualification as well as working within an organisation and learning and gaining more work based experience.”
The Highways teams within Warwickshire in his words, ‘ have boundless knowledge and experience ’ but they also welcome a fresh approach from the apprentices and especially their excellent IT skills. The apprentices get all the benefits of established experience from colleagues and other training possibilities. “I have done training on all aspects of highway engineering and other really interesting areas. I’m also doing a BTEC in Civil Engineering within Construction and the Built Environment. This is a day release for one day at week at college and also I am doing an NVQ in Contracting Operations.”
The courses are funded through Warwickshire County Council and are closely monitored by CITB so they are aligned to the needs of the business.
So what advice would Bryn give an employer who is debating whether to take on young people through the apprenticeship route? “Be open and honest with what you want from the apprenticeship, look at the benefits and look to the future.”
“In many ways, it is a fresh approach, we are dealing with young people who have finished school and decided not to go to university. I think apprentices bring a different set of skills to the table and our four apprentices are an asset to us. What we look for in choosing an apprentice is ‘work friendly’ attributes such as numeracy and literacy skills.
“We need young people who are confident with the public and have the ability to grasp technical knowledge. By investing in the young person and looking at the apprenticeship from a long-term perspective and not just the short-term then employers will be rewarded in all aspects of their business. It has really made a difference to how we work, providing a fresh look and insight into how we do things.”
James hits the nail on the head with his views on why apprenticeships are good for our young people. “I would definitely say go for it and apply because they give you the chance to get a foot in the door of an organisation and start learning and doing skills that are applicable to what you want to do, now.”