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County Council approves £1.5million investment in apprenticeships
"We have shown by committing this funding for the next five years that we are dedicated to ensuring that the future workforce of Warwickshire has the skills needed for our local economy."
Warwickshire County Council has underlined its commitment to apprenticeships with a further investment of £1.5million over the next five years.
The funding will go towards new initiatives designed to strengthen support for businesses, organise more apprenticeship fairs, help over 50s to reskill and create more Inclusive Apprenticeships aimed at young people with SEND.
An annual investment of £300,000 in each of the next five years, will power a range of new projects:
- A dedicated Future Skills Advisor role to work with businesses to ensure that training provides apprentices with the right skills for the job market and to identify key trends and emerging opportunities.
- Future Skills & Apprenticeship Fairs: to provide at least one fair in each district and borough with the objective of engaging with over 2,000 students and job seekers across the five events.
- Employer Salary Grants to support small businesses with the salary cost of apprentices for the first three months of the apprenticeship as well as costs of specialists providing industry-specific training at colleges.
- Barrier Breaking: Labour market intelligence shows an increasing number of Over 50s who are unemployed and looking to explore new pathways into work and gain new skills. This project will work with at least 40 businesses to generating at least 50 apprenticeship opportunities each year.
- Creation of 25 Inclusive Apprenticeships each year in line with the council’s commitment to increase the accessibility of apprenticeships, particularly for young people and adults with SEND.
The new projects will supplement Warwickshire Skills Hub’s substantial existing programme of apprenticeship support which consists of:
- Free and unlimited apprenticeship support from a Business Skills Advisor
Warwickshire County Council’s Strategy & Commissioning Manager (Economy & Skills): Kim Fraser-Bell said: "We have shown by committing this funding for the next five years that we are dedicated to ensuring that the future workforce of Warwickshire has the skills needed for our local economy.
“Through these new programmes we will be supporting people from across our communities, including those with SEND and the over 50s where there is so much as yet untapped talent which can contribute to our economy.”
Grant and guidance made "massive difference" to Bake 180
“We employ ten people and, when you have that level of staff, you have a responsibility. It has never crossed my mind not to carry on."
A coffee shop owner who turned her passion into a successful business says support from Warwickshire County Council made “a massive difference” in enabling her to weather one of the toughest times ever for SMEs
Like all small businesses in the tourism sector, Bake180, at Middleton Hall in north Warwickshire was heavily impacted by the pandemic and then faced the ongoing challenges of rising costs.
But Sarah Exall, who started the business in 2009 and moved into Middleton Hall two years later, pivoted adroitly during the lockdowns by starting a delivery service of afternoon teas and other treats.
Then support from Warwickshire County Council's Survive, Sustain & Grow programme – advice from programme advisor Andy Woodward and a grant towards structural improvements – left Bake 180 well-placed to advance again post-pandemic.
The support gave the business, which employs ten people, crucial ballast through such turbulent times.
“As with everybody, we have been affected by the rising cost of living with the increase of material costs,” said Sarah. “We have had tough moments but are very happy with our footfall considering everything.
“Our wonderful location means we are in a fortunate position, so we are much luckier than others, and having the windows replaced made it a much warmer environment and made a massive difference. We employed an extra person as a result of the SSG grant and I am sure we would have employed more if it wasn't for the increased costs.
“We employ ten people and, when you have that level of staff, you have a responsibility. It has never crossed my mind not to carry on.
"The grant was a huge help and it's just great that these opportunities are out there for businesses like ours. I think smaller businesses can sometimes feel like they are a little bit left behind when the big companies are able to do so much. When you have support like we got from Warwickshire County Council, it helps a lot. It's really great in a practical way but also just by showing that there is help out there, because running a small business can be very challenging and you need that help."
WCC Business & Support Growth Programme Manager, Jon Stead, said: “It is great to hear that WCC’s business support has proved to be of such enduring value to Sarah and helped her to not only safeguard the jobs of her staff but recruit further.
“The Survive, Sustain & Grow programme, with its mix of expert consultancy and potential associated grant funding, was very effective in helping businesses make plans to reconsolidate and grow. We received a lot of very appreciative feedback from business and, while that programme has now closed, a wide range of business support remains available from us and our partners and I would urge all businesses to look at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business-support or CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 for details of other support.”
Craig finds fulfilling new direction and Brighter Future
“Watching the staff do their jobs and wanting to support the young people made me realise I wanted to help young people because of my own experiences.”
A young jobseeker has found a fulfilling career which enables him to help others after discovering his vocation during a Warwickshire Brighter Futures break away camp.
The Warwickshire Brighter Futures project, run by Warwickshire Skills Hub and funded by the Government’s Community Renewal Fund, aimed to help people aged 16-30 years who were unemployed or inactive to get closer to the job market through five strands of activities.
One of the strands was break away camps designed to create an opportunity for care leavers and other priority groups of young people to travel away from home for a few days. This would enable them to experience open spaces, build confidence and participate in immersive activities with other young people with similar life experiences.
Eighteen-year-old Craig Martin, from Nuneaton, attended one of these camps with the Outward Bound Trust in Aberdovey, Wales. It proved a life-changing experience.
The Warwickshire Skills Hub took 20 young people to Aberdovey for three days to explore skills through outdoor activities such as raft building, rock climbing and orienteering. Career Seekers Direct advisors also attended to deliver careers sessions for the young people to identify the skills they were using in the activities and how those skills could relate to the world of work.
Craig attended the camp with a couple of his friends to try some new activities and explore potential career pathways. During his time there, he found it so interesting how staff members wanted to help the young people around them and this inspired him to explore the idea of working with young people himself.
“Watching the staff do their jobs and wanting to support the young people made me realise I wanted to help young people because of my own experiences,” said Craig. “I don’t want others to face the same struggles I have.”
After the residential trip, Craig moved around jobs in retail but found they weren’t fulfilling his desire to help others. When he moved back to Nuneaton, he saw a job offer which could provide an opportunity to help others so, although he didn’t have the experience outlined on the advert, decided to apply.
He was successful. Craig is now working for P3, a Nuneaton-based service that provides a safe place for people who are homeless to live and a support package to tackle the root causes of their homelessness. He has been assigned to work with young people who are homeless, transferring them to housing, conducting assessments to see if they are suitable for the housing and organising independent living training and life skills training.
“It is a rewarding job and doesn’t feel like work, it feels like family.” he said. “I love being able to help others and use my own experiences to help them fulfil their potential.”
Niki Dhunna, Careers and Employability Programme Manager at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “The whole team at Warwickshire Skills Hub is thrilled to have been a part of helping Craig in his career journey and can’t wait to see what he achieves in the future. We are delighted that the Warwickshire Brighter Futures Break Away Camp proved to be such a catalyst for his exciting and rewarding new direction.”
- The Warwickshire Brighter Futures project received £509,333 from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. The UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22 which aimed to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invested in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.
Mill Street Exchange celebrates a highly productive first year
“The Exchange proved immensely popular right from its inception. I am delighted that so many businesses have benefited from its advice and signposting to access to funding and don’t doubt that many more will do so in the future.”
A project created to help small businesses access the support they need to grow is celebrating considerable success in its first year.
Twelve months ago, the Mill Street Exchange opened at 1 Mill Street, a vibrant co-working space in Leamington Spa.
Delivered in collaboration with Warwickshire County Council and the University of Warwick, the Mill Street Exchange enables businesses to create opportunities, make connections and expand their network whilst receiving expert, tailored support.
The Exchange aims to make local services which are already available more accessible and easier to understand and it has proved highly effective. In its first 12 month it has fielded enquiries from more than 100 businesses, half of them from the Digital Creative sector.
Clare Green, Creative & Digital Communities Manager at University of Warwick explains: “Collaborating on the Exchange is part of the University of Warwick’s commitment to the creative cluster in Leamington Spa and, as founding members of Mill Street, our aim is to increase opportunities for students, graduates and businesses by helping them find the talent they need.
"We are pleased to say that over the last year, 12 placements, interns and graduate trainees have joined teams in Mill Street member companies and the wider business community - all brokered through the Exchange.”
Exchange advisors have helped businesses to access a combined £140,000 in grant and loan funding from various sources including Warwickshire County Council’s Small Capital Grants scheme and the Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation programme.
Entrepreneurs have taken full advantage of the opportunity to speak to expert advisors from the County Council and University of Warwick in the informal ambience of 1 Mill Street. The Mill Street Exchange, based in the coffeehouse on the ground floor of 1 Mill Street, is open every Thursday between 10am and 2pm. Any business based in Warwickshire can drop in - you don't have to be based at 1 Mill Street.
Stacy O’Connor, Digital Creative Industry Specialist & Inward Investment Lead at Warwickshire County Council, said: “One Mill Street is a real hotbed of enterprise and business networking, such a positive place, and the perfect location for the Mill Street Exchange.
“The Exchange proved immensely popular right from its inception. I am delighted that so many businesses have benefited from its advice and signposting to access to funding and don’t doubt that many more will do so in the future.”
Jem Morey, Head of Marketing at 1 Mill Street, said: "It's with great pride that I say The Mill Street Exchange has proven itself an asset to not only 1 Mill Street members but the wider business community of Leamington Spa. Whether you're looking to find the right space to operate from, recruit top talent or access funding and grants, The Mill Street Exchange is doing great things to help local Leamington businesses overcome these challenges."
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Podcast explores the business support available in Warwickshire
“This podcast is a welcome dimension to raising awareness of how we are working in partnership to develop a thriving economy and places that have the right jobs, skills, education and infrastructure."
The broad offer of business and skills support available to businesses and education and training-providers is the subject of the latest Let’s Talk Warwickshire podcast by Warwickshire County Council.
You can listen to the latest Let's Talk Warwickshire podcast here https://letstalkwarwickshire.podbean.com/
The podcast is part of a series focussing on prominent issues facing Warwickshire communities and businesses, features Dave Ayton-Hill (Warwickshire County Council’s Assistant Director of Communities) and Sheridan Sulskis (Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust). As part of the podcast, they discuss the range of support available from the County Council and its partners and the thinking and ethos which underpins that support.
Key to the discussion is the support given to Warwickshire businesses during the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis and the importance of supporting Warwickshire businesses to diversify their income streams to survive and thrive. They also discussed the Local Community Enterprise Fund and the Duplex Investment Funds for high growth businesses who want to take their business to the next level. The podcast also covers how the available business support embraces the promotion of inclusivity, sustainable economic growth, successful business and good quality jobs and future skills.
Dave Ayton-Hill said: “I am immensely proud of the quality and breadth of business support that is available from Warwickshire County Council and our partners, and we are keen to do all we can to make businesses and education and training-providers aware of that support.
“This podcast is a welcome dimension to raising awareness of how we are working in partnership to develop a thriving economy and places that have the right jobs, skills, education and infrastructure. It was very enjoyable to talk it through with Sheridan. Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust does invaluable work to deliver some of our projects and help businesses to start up and grow.”
Sheridan Sulskis said: “We at Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust are delighted to play our part in delivering the business support and access to finance initiatives that is offered in the Coventry and Warwickshire region. It was a pleasure to join Dave on the podcast to talk about what we do as part of that.”
For more information on the support available for Warwickshire businesses visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business-support
Levy Share programme is tackling skills gaps
Looking to grow your business? Apprenticeships might well be the answer. Louise Stolz, Business Skills Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub, explains how Warwickshire County Council’s Levy Share Programme is helping businesses address their skills gaps through apprenticeships.
“We have had nothing but a positive experience with using apprentices. I would say to anyone thinking about the process to go for it, its quick, simple and straightforward and the rewards are fabulous."
Apprenticeships are a great way to give your business a boost. If you’ve identified skills gaps or areas of potential, you can use apprenticeships to recruit new talent or support existing staff who want to expand their workplace skills and knowledge. And that’s where we can help.
Launched in 2019, Warwickshire County Council’s Levy Share Programme has been specifically designed to help businesses cover the associated cost of apprenticeship training, enabling them to address those skills gaps and shortages in industry and support business growth.
Our Business Skills Advisors work impartially with businesses, undertaking a free, in-depth review of all their training, skills and recruitment needs, helping to identify appropriate qualifications and training pathways with our approved training providers.
Once the most suitable apprenticeship standard and training provider have been established, they then help the business access Warwickshire County Council’s own levy funds.
To apply for the funding, there is an application form with sections for both the employer and the training provider to complete. Once received, it’s submitted to the evaluating board for approval and we aim to have a decision for you within two working days. It really is that expeditious but don’t just take our word for it:
Tracey Coetzee, Legal & Compliance Director for TS Online Solutions Ltd said: “Applying for the Warwickshire County Council Levy Share Programme has been really simple. The team at Warwickshire Skills Hub are exceptional and make sure the whole process is really straightforward. TSOS have now been through the process a number of times and never had any issues.
Sally Titmus, Manager of Peter Pan Nursery & Pre School in Nuneaton said: “We have had nothing but a positive experience with using apprentices. I would say to anyone thinking about the process to go for it, its quick, simple and straightforward and the rewards are fabulous. Our industry isn't something that you can learn in college, not the practical side any way, being in the environment and getting stuck in is how you learn and the only way you can get it right is by watching others that are experienced and knowledgeable. All our apprentices have enjoyed their time with us. Some are still with us and others have gone on to other nurseries with a fabulous array of knowledge by learning first hand in real time.”
Warwickshire Skills Hub’s apprenticeship support doesn’t stop there though. If you are a business who wish to invest in your staff and build upon a previous qualification which contributes to the new needs of the business, you can also apply to the Warwickshire Apprenticeship Progression Programme.
Available to Warwickshire micro and small to medium size businesses, the programme offers a £1,000 incentive which is paid directly to the employer.
Apprenticeships really are a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.
If you’d like to know more, please contact Louise Stolz, Business Skills Advisor: louisestolz@warwickshire.gov.uk
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Interactive Futures: Gateway into Games opens on May 13th
“There are so many great sessions lined up to appeal to anyone interested in a career in this exciting sector."
Students, their parents, and prospective career changers can discover how to forge a career in one of the UK’s fastest growing industries when the Leamington Spa video games hub opens its doors next month.
‘Interactive Futures – Gateway into Games’ is a free one-day event taking place on Saturday 13 May at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington Spa. The day will be dedicated to inspiring the next generation to take a closer look at the multiple career opportunities and pathways the video games sector has to offer, with representatives from the ‘Silicon Spa’ cluster of studios including Lab42, Lively – a Keyword Studio, SEGA HARDlight, Sumo Leamington, Third Kind Games and Ubisoft Leamington all taking part.
This event is a one-day special, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of talent into the video game industry. It will build on the larger scale Interactive Futures showcase event held in Warwickshire since the inaugural event in 2019 and the area’s reputation as home to one of the largest video game development clusters outside of London with around 3,000 people employed locally in the sector.
Kim Fraser-Bell, Strategy & Commissioning Manger for Economy & Skills at Warwickshire County Council, said: “There are so many great sessions lined up to appeal to anyone interested in a career in this exciting sector. The video games sector is a crucial part of the Warwickshire economy and offers incredibly rewarding careers due to the variety of opportunities and skills required. This is why we want parents to join as well to find out more.
“We are really fortunate that so many of the video games studios in our area are willing to give their time to take part in this event and I know it will be great fun for everyone attending.”
Philip Clarke, Head of Place, Arts and Economy at Warwick District Council added: “We are so proud to once again be hosting this inspirational event and are thrilled that so many of our local video games studios have been involved in shaping the programme, to share their insights and experiences with the industry’s next generation. We would urge anyone with an interest in the sector to come along, it could be a life changer!”
Interactive Futures is being organised by Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council in partnership with local games studios and is entirely free to attend.
Those attending are asked to register for their free ticket by visiting interactive-futures.com. Local studios wishing to get involved should contact invest@warwiwckshire.gov.uk for more information.
Bedworth entertainment business bigger and better than ever after Project Warwickshire support
"Helena helped me look into areas I hadn’t even thought of and it was excellent to have somebody to bounce ideas off and talk things through with."
The show is definitely going on for a Bedworth-based entertainment business that has emerged from the challenges of the pandemic to become ‘bigger and better’ than ever.
Sarah Harding toured the likes of New York, Ibiza and Dubai as a performer before returning home in 2017 with a desire to set up her own business. After achieving success performing as a tribute to Elsa from the Frozen movies at children’s parties, Sarah launched D’May Entertainment - named after her grandmother Doreen May.
This swiftly grew into a brand that utilised its founder’s musical theatre background to write and produce shows for corporate clients, along with tribute shows and family entertainment. But this success was stalled during the Covid-19 outbreak as Government restrictions bring the entertainment industry to a virtual halt.
“It was really hard with Covid, as it threw a massive spanner in the works,” Sarah said. “We were told we couldn’t work any more and went virtual for a while.
“But since coming back I have completed my Masters Degree in Musical Theatre, passing with the highest grade of Distinction at Associated Studios Drama School London, as I really wanted to keep on top of my skills and knowledge. As the world has reopened we’ve really come back with a bang. The industry is growing bigger and better than ever before and so is the business.”
Key to D’May Entertainment’s revival was support through Project Warwickshire, a free recovery and growth business support programme to help companies in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the wake of the pandemic. Project Warwickshire is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council and delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Shakespeare’s England and Northern Warwickshire Tourism.
Chamber business adviser Helena Bassett worked with Sarah as restrictions were eased, providing support with business planning, writing bids, cash flow analysis and access to workshops.
With Project Warwickshire’s support, D’May Entertainment has not looked back, with a growing number of performers being added to its ranks who are contracted in on a gig-to-gig basis. In 2022, the business won a coveted contract with the Birmingham-based Commonwealth Games and, more recently, has added a freelance business and production co-ordinator.
“Helena really helped me with the business side of things,” Sarah explained. “I have studied business, so I had quite a good idea of what it entailed but she helped me look into areas I hadn’t even thought of and it was excellent to have somebody to bounce ideas off and talk things through with.
“We have achieved some excellent contracts at the likes of Twycross Zoo, Lichfield Garrick Theatre and the Midlands sites for Hickory’s Smokehouses. We want to keep growing from there.
“My passion is creative production shows, it’s what I absolutely love doing and want to continue producing creative and innovative entertainment solutions, working with top UK attractions and hotels.”
Helena added: “It was great to work with Sarah and be able to support her business as it re-emerged after the restrictions in place during the global pandemic were eased.
“Sarah’s passion for the industry and the business shone through and it’s great to see that with our help, D’May Entertainment is winning new contracts and taking on more people on a freelance basis too.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Contract and Project Monitoring Officer Hayley Lineker said: “The pandemic was such a challenging time for businesses in the entertainment sector and for D’May Entertainment to have come through it with such strength success is a real tribute to Sarah and all involved. I am delighted that the support from Project Warwickshire was of such high value.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
New centre in Warwickshire will train next generation for construction industry
A brand new training centre designed to supply the next generation of skilled recruits for the construction industry will open in Warwickshire later this year.
The Hercules Construction Academy will start taking shape on a 3.2 acre site off Avenue Road in Nuneaton next month with a view to taking its first students in the autumn.
With the construction industry facing significant skills shortages, the £10million investment in the centre is a huge boost for both the sector as a whole and the local economy around Nuneaton.
Hercules is a major supplier of skilled labour to Tier One construction companies including Balfour Beatty and HS2. Based in South Cerney, in the Cotswolds, they are opening a second home in Nuneaton to exploit the town’s excellent transport links and proximity to major projects.
A big part of that Nuneaton base will be an academy offering specialist apprenticeship training. Entrants will be welcome from Warwickshire and the West Midlands but also further afield to tackle skills shortages which afflict the sector nationally.
Paul Blakeman, Head of Training and Development at Hercules, said: “The Academy will take students on the whole journey into work. We will train them up and then give them access to jobs so they will filter into work and help address the huge skills gaps that currently affect the industry. It’s a win-win for the young people and employers on both a local and national level.
“We have acquired a really good site in Nuneaton. It is a great location with enough space to enable us to train our own workforce and help create the next generation of specialists in civil engineering, utilities, plant and infrastructure. The site will be extensively refurbished inside and out this summer with classrooms and outdoor training facilities which will include a plant training area and highways and motorway mock-ups, rail and other dedicated construction disciplines focused on where the skills shortages sit.
“The great thing about the Academy is that it will deliver the whole training to employment journey. We will train young people with today’s skills and then, when they have been upskilled, they can talk to our recruitment team who will be based at the academy. It will prepare students for the digital era of construction and then get them straight to work.”
Hercules are working with the team at Warwickshire Skills Hub to attract the first intake of students later this year. This entails visiting schools and colleges to get messages out to potential graduates…and their parents.
“Many young people don’t know much about construction and their parents’ perception is often very different to the reality,” said Paul. “Many people think it’s just about digging holes in a field in the pouring rain, but the truth is there are so many dimensions to the industry and so many opportunities – in maths, medicine, accountancy, design, law to name just a few.
“We look forward to really tapping into the potential of young people in Warwickshire and giving them the opportunity to make the most of that potential. We will also be employing locally and are particularly keen to tap into the range of skills offered by ex-armed forces personnel.”
Vicki Haslam, Senior Business Skills Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “We are excited to support Hercules in establishing themselves in Warwickshire as a specialist training provider. This is an excellent opportunity for Hercules as a new provider to enhance the skills landscape and support the development of a pipeline of skills into the rail construction industry.”
For more information please email Academy@hercules-construction.co.uk.
Forward-thinking schoolfriends aiming high with Business Ready support
“We are two first-time founders so Steve has been great at talking through some of the basics of being in business. He’s straight-talking, so when we meet he’s very good at asking all the right questions to make sure we are on track."
Two schoolfriends from north Warwickshire have combined their knowledge and skills to develop a new app that could revolutionise how products are launched in the engineering industry.
Tom Flude and Corey Faulconbridge both attended Nicholas Chamberlaine School in Bedworth but followed different career paths – with Tom going into engineering and Corey moving into digital technology.
It was during Tom’s time with Yaskawa, a global leader in robotics and motion control, that he spotted a major gap in the market that he believed needed to be filled with a new business.
It centred around the launch of new products which Tom believed could be taken to market more efficiently, using mobile app technology, rather than print, giving real time analytics to the manufacturer.
He approached Corey to see if he could develop a mobile app to speed up the process and started the long road of building the app in his spare time. It has taken almost three years of constant development and improvement to get to a point where Tom left his job to pursue the business in November 2022. After three years of putting together the framework for the app, it is now going through its final stages of beta testing before it is launched – with some added features that have been developed along the way thanks to feedback from the industry.
The pair have also been taking advice from Steve Tipson, of Business Ready.
Business Ready delivers support to expanding companies managed by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.
Tom said: “I worked for several years in engineering, and I found the way new products were launched to be extremely frustrating and outdated. Huge businesses, turning over billions of pounds, were solely reliant on printed magazines to get the message out there that a new product was available. Of course, there is a place for magazines to help publicise a product, but it shouldn’t be the only way for businesses to launch something new to market.
“I believed an app was the best way to go, to get potential customers downloading it so they could be kept up to date with new products that were coming to market. In undertaking the market research, it became clear that there was also no way for companies to be kept up to date if parts had become obsolete or changed or anywhere for manuals to be stored. This is something we are already working on.
“It has been great working with Corey and we are now both fully immersed in the business, and we’ve also had great support from Steve Tipson at Business Ready.
“When we initially spoke to him, he couldn’t believe that there wasn’t something like it already on the market! That was the feedback we got from most people and once they can see there isn’t anything else like it, they can see the potential for Engineers Insight as a business.
“We are two first-time founders so Steve has been great at talking through some of the basics of being in business. He’s straight-talking too, so when we meet he’s very good at asking all the right questions to make sure we are on track. It has been great to have him in our corner and to have someone with his experience giving us advice.”
Steve said: “I have enjoyed working with Tom and Corey at Engineers Insight. There is great potential for the business and, once launched, it could be scaled very quickly.
“The company is a great example of entrepreneurs bringing forward an exciting, new idea but just needing support in those areas of businesses that they would never have experience before – and that’s where Business Ready can be of help.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Lead Commissioner (Business and Economy), Matt Epps, said: “I am delighted that support from the Business Ready programme has proved so valuable to Tom and Corey. Their talent is typical of the acumen that makes Warwickshire such a renowned home of innovation and it’s inspiring to see that they have such determination to turn that talent into a successful business.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Saints project is another step towards Transforming Nuneaton
“This is a perfect example of what we are looking to achieve in the Transforming Nuneaton partnership...WCC is proud to support the work of Saints and the support they provide for the local community through this historic building.”
Work on the second phase to refurbish a beautiful Victorian building in Nuneaton town centre will get underway this year.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is working in partnership with the charity Together For Change (TFC), who are a charitable venture of the Coventry Diocese, and have completed the negotiations to acquire the former Conservative Club, which has been re-named ‘Saints.’
The project secured £1.8 million from the Government’s Towns Fund after signing a lease in 2020 and converting the empty premises and former ‘Saints No More’ nightclub into a training café with free children’s play area and training room.
Now that the entire building on the corner of Newdegate Street has been bought by the Council, the charity can move on to phase two to renovate the upstairs dance hall and balcony and create a kitchen and toilets.
Jet Jones, who leads the Saints project, and works for the diocese of Coventry as the Director of Regeneration and Community Transformation, and is also CEO of Together for Change, said renovations will look to begin this year.
“We are signing a long-term lease with the Council and some of the funding will enable us to go ahead with the renovation of the upstairs of St George’s Hall,” she said. “It has been mothballed for decades and used to be St George’s Hall, which hosted dances and events.
“Saints is keen to conserve the heritage of the building and there is a beautiful balcony area and a big Victorian wooden spring dance floor with a stage which will be refurbished. We need to install new heating, windows and a lift as well as re-decorate it in sympathy with the existing architecture.
“We are really excited about this next stage and we will be putting the work out to tender so we would be interested in hearing from contractors who would be happy to give a charity discount to help get the place up and running.
"We think the work will take nine months and it is my ambition for the project to be completed by the summer of 2024.”
Jet added: “It has been four years since we came up with the concept and decided to take on the building and even though we opened just before lockdown, the support we have received from the local community along with receiving the funding from the Towns Fund has been tremendous, and allowed us to support the community during a vital time where many need support.
“This latest development enables us to continue with our vision because it is amazing to see Saints buzzing with families and other members of our community.”
The downstairs community hub features a training café for young people to take part in courses to develop the skills they need for life or to find work. It also provides a space for courses and activities including Create and Connect groups, Mum’s Do Brunch and the Saturday morning Lego club.
Saints is also home to the Student Lounge initiative, providing free after school support and youth activities every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3.30pm-5.30pm.
Archdeacon Barry Dugmore said: “The Saints project recognises the significant contribution of Diocese of Coventry’s vision for community transformation working with other key stakeholders and community partners.”
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council was successful in its bid for an allocation from the Towns Fund following a major consultation to the Town Deal Board – which is made up of business representatives, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Councillors, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), Warwickshire CAVA, the health sector and community.
Cllr Kris Wilson, Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We are working hard to Transform Nuneaton and make our Borough a great place to live, work and visit. Many residents have fond memories of evenings spent at St George’s Hall. I can’t wait to see this project underway and the hall restored to its former glory.
“Great venues like this one, with strong links to the town’s past, really make a town centre come alive and will be a great addition to Nuneaton’s future.”
Mark Ryder, Strategic Director for Communities at Warwickshire County Council, added: “This is a perfect example of what we are looking to achieve in the Transforming Nuneaton partnership.
“The renovation of the building makes for a more vibrant town centre while the community, particularly young people, will be at the heart of the day-to day activity which is a tremendous outcome and bodes well for the town’s future.
"WCC is proud to support the work of Saints and the support they provide for the local community through this historic building.”
Warwickshire winners at FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards
Two Warwickshire businesses were among the regional winners of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.
The ceremony at RAF Cosford saw awards handed out in 12 categories and there was success for Nuneaton-based Nomad HR and Recruitment and Stratford-on-Avon-based Hoorays Gelato Kitchen.
Nomad HR and Recruitment were named West Midlands Community Business of the Year for the work they do in investing in the community through donations and pro bono work. This includes hundreds of hours of free mentoring to a youth homeless charity and helping to create opportunities for young people in the areas of employment, training, and homelessness across Warwickshire.
Hoorays Gelato Kitchen won the Family Business of the Year. The growth of Hoorays was assisted in early 2021 by a Warwickshire County Council Retail & Hospitality grant which was used to develop an outside seating area for customers,
WCC's Retail & Hospitality grant scheme, now closed, was created to help small businesses in that sector consolidate and grow again after Covid and awarded £215,000 in grants to 40 businesses.
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Ex-forces personnel can help fill the skills gaps in industry
Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to work more closely with the Armed Forces to exploit an as yet untapped bank of skills.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce held a joint event with the West Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (West Midland RFCA) at an Army Reserve Centre in Canley to discuss how firms could work collaboratively with the Armed Forces in the region.
The event heard how businesses can also encourage and support individuals who make up the Reserve Forces.
Richard Maybery of the West Midland RFCA, and Major Felicity Taylor, Executive Officer of 159 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, provided background to the event. This was followed by a panel discussion involving Kent Thompson from Pertemps; Colonel Delroy Tucker from Warwickshire & West Midlands (North Sector) Army Cadet Force, Private Tayyabah Husain and Major Jess Marengo, Officer Commanding 118 Recovery Company.
CW Chamber chief executive Corin Crane said: “As part of our work on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), we’ve spoken to over 1,000 companies in recent weeks and the message is stark. Recruitment issues are the biggest barrier to growth.
“Lots of over-50s have left the workforce, there are more mental health issues than ever in the under-30 age bracket and parents are being put off returning to work because of childcare costs. So, the pool of people that businesses can attract has shrunk and, yet, we have – quite literally – an army of workers who can offer incredible skills and amazing standards and values.
“On the other side of the coin, our Armed Forces need Reservists and they need the support of their employers to be able to commit to training opportunities and exercises. On top of that, there are personnel who are leaving the forces who would make incredible employees for firms and it’s yet another avenue to solving the skills and recruitment crisis.”
In the first instance, businesses are asked to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a pledge of support to the forces, including Reservists. From there, they are encouraged to have dialogue with West Midland RFCA around how they can work together.
Major Taylor said: “We are looking to build the capacity of our Reservists and, in return, those individuals get some incredible training opportunities that would, ordinarily, cost businesses thousands of pounds. The confidence, technical and leadership skills and the values and standards that emerge are a huge asset to any employer, and Reservists can take part in some amazing experiences and give back to the community and the country.”
The audience heard how Pertemps had established a specialist department to help place forces personnel into businesses. It also learned of real-life examples of how Reservists balance employment with their military duties and the standards they live by.
Businesses can find out more about supporting the Armed Forces community by contacting the area’s Regional Employer Engagement Director, Cat Suckling, on wm-reed3@rfca.mod.uk.
Warwickshire businesses urged to apply for King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024
"The King's Awards for Enterprise are a great opportunity for Warwickshire-based companies to showcase their innovative and sustainable practices and to gain national recognition."
His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, is encouraging Warwickshire-based companies to apply for the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise, which opens for applications from Saturday 6 May 2023.
This is the highest accolade available to UK businesses and offers prestige, exposure and credibility to its recipients, as well as inspiration and pride to a company’s employees.
The Green Sheep Group in Stratford-upon-Avon is the latest company in Warwickshire to receive an Award for Enterprise in the category for International Trade, and is one of the first companies in the UK to receive the newly named Kings Awards for Enterprise. The Green Sheep Group are best known for specialising in the design and manufacture of nursery baby products, and this is their second Royal recognition, following a Queen’s Award for Innovation which was awarded to the company in 2018.
Successful businesses are able to fly the King's Award flag at their main office and use the emblem on marketing materials for up to five years. In addition, they are invited to a Royal reception and presented with their award by the Lord Lieutenant, who is The King's representative in the county.
The King’s Awards are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievements in four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). They provide a range of benefits, including the opportunity to break into new markets, attract new investment, raise awareness of brand and products, attract new talent, and boost employee morale.
The Warwickshire Lieutenancy team has prepared a locally focused brochure on the benefits of these awards and the appropriate steps that can be followed to apply. The brochure is available online at https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-1980322935-2072
Monica Fogarty, Warwickshire County Council’s Chief Executive, said: "Celebrating our local businesses' achievements and promoting their growth is a key priority for us. The King's Awards for Enterprise are a great opportunity for Warwickshire-based companies to showcase their innovative and sustainable practices and to gain national recognition.
"I strongly encourage all eligible businesses to apply for this prestigious award and make the most of the benefits it offers."
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, said: "I encourage all Warwickshire businesses to embrace the opportunity to showcase your company's excellence and apply for The King's Award for Enterprise. As the highest honour available to UK companies, it not only brings unparalleled prestige but also offers great exposure and credibility to your business”.
For companies interested in applying for an award and would like more information, please email the Warwickshire Lieutenancy at lieutenancy@warwickshire.gov.uk.
To find out more about The King’s Awards for Enterprise, visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise
No short-term increase in unemployment, Bank of England predicts
Unemployment is unlikely to increase in the second quarter of 2023, a Bank of England official has told businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Graeme Chaplin, the Bank of England’s Agent in the West Midlands, met members of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on a virtual roundtable to update firms on the economy and to hear how firms in the region are faring.
He heard from a range of companies on their prospects for growth, cost rises, and recruitment and retention of staff to help inform the decision making of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.
Graeme said the UK economy has been subject to a sequence of very large and overlapping shocks but monetary policy will ensure that inflation will return to the two per cent CPI target sustainably in the medium term.
He said: “The UK is currently experiencing high CPI inflation, a tight labour market and subdued GDP growth. Global growth is expected to be stronger than we projected back in February and consumer price inflation in advanced economies has remained elevated. However, wholesale gas futures and oil prices have fallen materially.
“UK economic activity is likely to have been broadly flat around the turn of the year, but is now expected to increase slightly in the second quarter. CPI inflation is expected to fall significantly in the second quarter of 2023.”
Sean Rose, head of policy at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is always great to meet Graeme from the Bank of England as he offers members up to the minute intelligence on the economy and the latest information from the Bank. It’s also an ideal opportunity for businesses to explain the issues they are facing and talk about their own prospects for the months ahead.
“The details from the individual companies remains anonymous so they can talk openly and candidly to give Graeme the most accurate insight.”
* To find out what support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747