Featured News
Strategic Economic Plan will shape county's economy and wellbeing
"Our mission is simple – to grow our economy, support our businesses to succeed, increase the prosperity of all our residents, safeguard our environment and accelerate towards a net-zero Warwickshire.”
A new Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) which sets out the direction and objectives for Warwickshire over the next ten years has been hailed as a springboard towards a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable county.
The SEP 2024-2034 was drawn up after close consultation between the County Council, districts and boroughs, partner organisations in the region and a range of other partners including businesses. It is designed to shape policy, attract funding and, most importantly, lead to actions which will enhance the economy and support communities across Warwickshire.
Endorsed by Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet last week, the SEP outlines priorities aimed at strengthening the county’s economy and thereby lifting the standard of living and the health and wellbeing of residents.
The plan lists three principal objectives for Warwickshire:
Ambitious Growth: To position itself as a dynamic and resilient economy, fostering prosperity, building on current sector strengths and supporting emerging sectors.
Inclusive Growth: To nurture a skilled workforce aligned to the needs of industries, collaborating with skills and education provision and developing an economy that works for all, tackling inequalities and ensuring that everyone benefits from a strong business base.
Sustainable Growth: To embrace green technologies, reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly practices across businesses and communities.
The SEP will build on the solid position already enjoyed by Warwickshire due to the diversity, quality and innovation of its business community, assisted by supportive local authorities. That backdrop enabled the county to be as well placed as possible to deal with the challenges of recent years, most notably the pandemic.
Warwickshire’s economy has a strong foundation with exciting developments ahead. The Coventry & Warwickshire Gigapark, at Baginton, is expected to create over 9,000 jobs and create economic growth of around £2 billion for the region as part of the county’s participation in the West Midlands Investment Zone. Meanwhile, Warwickshire is one of three county councils to have been awarded a Level Two Devolution Deal which gives the county increased powers to tackle two key agendas - levelling up and climate change.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “I am really excited by the Strategic Economic Plan and by the springboard it represents towards delivering a better, healthier and more inclusive life for our residents.
“I know how much hard work and expertise has been put into this plan by so many people and we want to build on this to ensure Warwickshire achieves its full economic potential. The plan considers all the issues, challenges and opportunities facing us in the short-term, but also the longer-term direction of our economy and sets a clear path to an ambitious, sustainable and inclusive sustainable future that provides benefit to our businesses and to our residents.
“We want Warwickshire’s economy to be one where every resident has the skills to secure fulfilling employment and one where businesses can start, invest and grow sustainably, innovate and adopt the newest technology. Our mission is simple – to grow our economy, support our businesses to succeed, increase the prosperity of all our residents, safeguard our environment and accelerate towards a net-zero Warwickshire.”
The new SEP covers Warwickshire alone but a separate SEP for Coventry & Warwickshire will follow later in the year as the connection between the city and county is a crucial element of the ecosystem of the region.
* An in-depth look at the Strategic Economic Plan for Warwickshire and what it means for businesses across the county will feature in the May edition of Warwickshire Means Business.
Visitors will sample 'The Taste of Warwickshire' at prestigious show
"In Warwickshire we are so lucky to have food and drink producers who are already renowned across the world for their range and quality. I am delighted that, through the Warwickshire Food and Drink stall, their produce will be showcased to a huge potential new audience.”
The Taste of Warwickshire will be sampled by thousands of visitors at the NEC Farm Shop and Deli Show next week – and producers from across the county are invited to be part of it.
Warwickshire Food and Drink will host a Taste of Warwickshire stand at the three-day show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from April 29 to March 1.
Warwickshire Food & Drink, the body created by Warwickshire County Council to promote the county’s rich offer in the sector, has taken a stall at the prestigious show to provide a platform for Warwickshire producers to reach a national and international audience.
The stall will feature stand partners - Cureights, Blabers Hall Wines, Warwickshire Gin and Brubl Beer - with a backdrop of produce which collectively makes up The Taste of Warwickshire – and any Warwickshire Food & Drink producer can have a presence on it. Any who would like to contribute a 'display only' sample of their produce for the backdrop is welcome to email Towns@warwickshire.gov.uk who will arrange collection (there will be space for only one of each item and empty packaging is acceptable where products are perishable or not visible within their packaging).
The stand will also have a special guest – an astroturf bear who will bring his very 'locally sourced ' picnic with him. Buyers will be able to share details if they are interested in finding out more about this and future items in the ‘Warwickshire Picnic.’
Overall, the stall will promote why Warwickshire is a great place for food and drink producers to locate to. It will also provide an opportunity for establishment buyers to see how the can source local food and drink produce while anyone looking for new, well-established or niche products for their tables or shelves could find a visit to the show invaluable for ideas about sourcing quality produce while reducing food miles.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “In Warwickshire we are so lucky to have food and drink producers who are already renowned across the world for their range and quality. I am delighted that, through the Warwickshire Food and Drink stall, their produce will be showcased to a huge potential new audience.”
- If you are a food or drink producer in Coventry or Warwickshire and would like to find out more about our food and drink producers network and keep update with opportunities to support the sector, please contact abiculley@warwickshire.gov.uk
For more information about upcoming events please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/homepage/222/food-and-drink-events
Innovative engineering company growing and recruiting in Warwickshire
“Our county is a hot-bed of innovation and talent, and FutureMotiv is a perfect illustration of the kinds of businesses within the automotive, engineering and technology sectors that we are attracting."
An innovative engineering company that located its UK headquarters in Warwickshire to take advantage of the region’s strong automotive industry is celebrating more growth and new jobs.
FutureMotiv, which is part of the world-leading RLE International Group, specialises in electric and hybrid vehicle systems and integration.
This involves working in the development of prototype and production systems at all stages of development including feasibility studies, design, integration and testing.
The UK subsidiary was launched six years ago and in 2021, the business moved to a new office and workshop facility at the American Barns in Banbury Road, Lighthorne, between Gaydon and Warwick, to accommodate its growing staff and be near its customers.
Mark Basten, Managing Director at FutureMotiv, said: “When we started, we moved into a small office but we struck a deal to create a new custom-built building with the necessary work spaces at American Barns. We are in a situation where we need more space which is a good problem to have because the automotive world is changing and we need to keep up with demand.
“Around 70 staff are now employed at FutureMotiv in Warwick, and the business has recently extended its operations to Detroit and Phoenix in America.”
Five further jobs are expected to be created this year after recruiting staff in vehicle integration and system testing this year.
Mark said the business was going from strength to strength as the automotive industry continues to focus on the move to hybrid and full electric vehicles.
He said: “We work with start-ups in electric vehicles as well as established automotive companies who are turning from traditional vehicles to electrical. We have experience in working with a lot of start-ups and we know the problems that can arise which we can then help them deal with these issues to get their ideas across the finishing line.
“Since our early days when we concentrated on pure battery electric vehicles, we are now looking at hydrogen fuel cell electric commercial vehicles. We were able to spot this quite early on after attending some of the dedicated trade shows in the industry so we are now working with customers on hydrogen projects which is really exciting.
“This location has really helped us expand because we are close to a lot of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry in the Midlands so this is a perfect hub.
“Our capabilities mean we can translate our skills to other industries such as the rail or aerospace sectors so we are well placed to grow even further.”
Mark Ryder, Strategic Director for Communities at Warwickshire County Council, added: “Our county is a hot-bed of innovation and talent, and FutureMotiv is a perfect illustration of the kinds of businesses within the automotive, engineering and technology sectors that we are attracting.
“It was fantastic to visit FutureMotiv and see first-hand their expertise and their ability to adapt to provide technical support for integrating electric, hybrid, and fuel cell technologies. The business has also played a role in bringing other businesses into the area, which is great.
“All this will also help towards meeting the country’s net zero targets by 2050 as the technology grows and the demand for these types of vehicles increases.
“It was also great to hear that the business had benefited from engagement with Warwickshire Skills Hub, which can provide advice and support to businesses around recruitment and skills development.”
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Skills Hub recruitment guidance helps 3P fully embrace innovation
"Our Skills Hub is working with partners to identify gaps and provide help and support, to make sure industry has the skills supply it needs so it can continue to grow, boost the local economy and provide opportunities for well-paid, rewarding work.”
A multi award-winning engineering company is working with Warwickshire County Council and Midlands universities to support its recruitment as the company grows.
3P Innovation is an engineering and automation company that designs, manufactures and supports top-quality production equipment and machinery, from laboratory-scale to commercial scale, working with famous brands from around the world.
Their team of 100 has 1,000 years of combined engineering experience. Many of the food, health and personal care products in homes throughout the UK will have seen 3P Innovation involved in their manufacture or product design.
3P Innovation’s success has been widely recognised including with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2020 and the Queen’s Award in International Trade a year later, as well as being awarded a Princess Royal Training Award 2021.
The company moved into newly-constructed 30,000 sq ft premises at Tournament Fields Business Park in Warwick last summer. This is a carbon copy of the HQ building next door as part of its plans to expand to more than twice its current size.
3P Innovation was established in 2006 by a group of like-minded engineers with a passion for high-performance machinery and innovation.
In 2020 they transitioned to employee-ownership to secure not only a long-term future for the company but for the benefits it provides for 3P innovation’s employees and customers.
The business has struggled to hire engineers to continue its growth. The Coventry and Warwickshire economy employs over 50,000 in engineering and manufacturing. The skills shortage is, however, being experienced throughout the engineering sector, where there is a high demand for skilled labour. The company is now receiving expert support from Warwickshire County Council’s Warwickshire Skills Hub.
The Skills Hub has referred 3P Innovation’s STEM ambassadors to the University of Warwick and Coventry University, and the Warwickshire Careers Hub is interacting with local schools to ignite the next generation’s passion for engineering and inspire them to work for companies such as 3P Innovation.
Dr Dave Seaward, one of the six founders of 3P Innovation and Projects Director, said: “Our biggest challenge is around recruitment of technical staff. We operate in a niche and highly technical market due to the custom nature of the equipment we design and develop for our customers.
“Truly innovative products don’t have standard machinery to make them, and a truly innovative product isn’t viable unless it can be manufactured at scale. This is where we come in. Our international clients approach 3P to make their product ideas become a reality.
“We met with Warwickshire County Council since they had spotted we are a high-growth business and they asked ‘how could you grow even faster?’ Our biggest constraint on growth is technical talent. Sadly, despite the rewarding roles available many young people simply don’t consider a career in STEM subjects including engineering.
“The problem is finding potential engineers, training them which takes a number of years and then you worry about retention. Part of the rationale behind becoming employee-owned was to aid with recruitment and retention. It always impresses candidates on interview as they become one of the owners when they join us.
“Eighty per cent of our staff are engineers and it is only a certain kind of engineer that can do what we do. Staff turnover has always been quite low, however we have noticed that it is increasingly difficult to find and retain staff who grew up in another part of the country.
“We need to find the local talent and as well as receiving help from the Warwickshire Skills Hub at Warwickshire County Council, our STEM Ambassadors are forging links with local schools. We are also developing deeper links with the University of Warwick, Birmingham University and Aston University ensuring that local graduates understand what a cool place 3P is to work.
“We have targeted 20% year-on-year growth with ambitions to double in size to fill our new building. It is however a challenge to train more than about 8% new engineering graduates each year. Growth is inevitably limited if we can’t find enough capable engineers to expand our successful company.”
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, added: “Warwickshire and the surrounding region is a global hub for design, engineering and manufacturing, with a rich mix of innovative SMEs and larger well-known blue-chip companies.
“We have excellent vocational training, further and higher education institutions, but as more engineering businesses expand or move to the region, our talent pipeline gets stretched, such is the demand for creative, design and engineering skills.
“To address that, our Skills Hub is working with partners to identify gaps and provide help and support, to make sure industry has the skills supply it needs so it can continue to grow, boost the local economy and provide opportunities for well-paid, rewarding work.”
Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
New library and business centre on the way for Nuneaton
“This will create some real momentum as work gets underway to bring an outstanding new library for residents and a prime facility and location in which businesses can prosper."
The Transforming Nuneaton programme has received a major boost with outline planning permission granted for the next phase of the programme.
Following approval by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s Planning Committee, Warwickshire County Council preparatory work can now start on a new library and business centre, along with up to a 65-unit housing development that offers town centre living.
Delivery of this this ambitious, mixed-use development in the town centre will act as a major catalyst for the regeneration of the town as part of the wider Transforming Nuneaton programme.
The new library and business centre will be sited on the location of the existing Royal Mail Delivery Office and act as an economic and civic anchor in a prominent position in the town centre, driving footfall through the town and delivering key services to Nuneaton’s residents and businesses. The existing library will remain open until the new one is ready to use.
Approval has also been given for the housing development on brownfield land east of the new library and business centre, between Justice Walk and Vicarage Street, to be delivered as a partnership by Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG) and the County Council. WPDG was formed by Warwickshire County Council in 2021 to deliver new homes and commercial space to realise the potential of the County’s development sites. This will comprise up to 65 family homes and include a pocket park linking to nearby Riversley Park.
Mark Ryder, Executive Director for Communities at Warwickshire County Council said: “This is positive news and will create some real momentum as work gets underway to bring an outstanding new library for residents and a prime facility and location in which businesses can prosper. The residential development will benefit the town by providing much needed, high-quality homes, increasing town centre footfall, creating opportunities for businesses and employment with the subsequent boost to the town centre economy.”
Stuart Buckley, Managing Director of Warwickshire Property and Development Group, said: “This mixed-use scheme will bring widespread benefits to the community, the local economy and attract new residents and businesses to Nuneaton town centre. This will deliver much needed new homes for the town centre, space for innovative businesses to grow and a high-quality facility for all of the community. We look forward to progressing this to the next stage.”
Deputy chief executive at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Tom Shardlow, said: "Approval of this planning proposal is further great news for the regeneration of Nuneaton town centre. This development will bring new homes and business into the town centre and will complement the exciting development at Grayson Place. This council looks forward to working closely with the county council and our other partners to make this development a reality."
More information about Transforming Nuneaton is available at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/transformingnuneaton
Big names booked for Interactive Futures
“Interactive Futures will give some of the best in the business a chance to promote what they do, right here in Leamington, and network with other creatives from across the UK."
Warwickshire’s standing as a powerhouse in the UK’s video game industry will be celebrated at a free networking and careers event.
Some of the biggest names in video games will make an appearance at this year’s Interactive Futures conference in Leamington.
Prestigious studios including Third Kind Games, The Sumo Group, Ubisoft and Playground Games will be exhibiting and talking all things games, careers and skills at The Royal Spa Centre on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11.
Friday will see the return of an ‘Industry Day’ aimed at connecting developers and like-minded creatives based locally and right across the UK.
The focus on Saturday will be students, their parents and those looking for prospective careers in the exciting video game sector. Day two will also give youngsters a flavour of what the industry has to offer as employers bid to inspire the next generation of talent.
Organised by Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council and the Warwickshire Games Collective, the event will be free to attend.
Councillor Martin Watson, portfolio holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the region’s vibrant gaming scene and showcasing a sector the town is now synonymous with. Interactive Futures will give some of the best in the business a chance to promote what they do, right here in Leamington, and network with other creatives from across the UK. It will also provide tonnes of insider information to students considering a career in gaming and young people interested in switching professions.”
Councillor Ella Billiald, Portfolio Holder for Arts and Economy at Warwick District Council, said: “We’re excited to see this inspiring event back in its original two-day format, giving our local video games community the opportunity to network and those with an interest in a future career the chance to gain valuable advice, information and insights. I strongly recommend you get the dates firmly in your diary.”
The full programme of speakers, sessions and attendees will be announced over the next few weeks. Tickets are set to be released in April.
Councillor Watson added: “The video games sector is a crucial part of the Warwickshire economy and it offers incredibly rewarding careers due to the variety of opportunities and skills required. 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.”
Any local studios or companies wishing to get involved should email invest@warwickshire.gov.uk. More information on the event can be found at https://interactive-futures.com/
Major battery tech event returns to showcase industry and opportunities
"The public and private sectors in the Warwickshire and Coventry area are bringing forward significant investment and opportunities for growth in net zero carbon propulsion technologies like battery and EV."
The UK’s leading advanced technology and innovation for the battery world returns to the NEC next month.
Battery Cells & Systems Expo is a free to attend exhibition and conference on the May 15 and 16. The show is an international showcase of manufacturers, users and the supply chain working to increase battery performance, cost and safety. It will bring together automotive OEMs, electric utilities, battery cell manufacturers, system manufacturers and integrators along with the entire manufacturing supply chain.
Co-located with Vehicle Electrification Expo, The Advanced Materials Show and The Advanced Ceramics Show, the event will welcome over 200 exhibitors and 4,000+ visitors across both days of the show. These four connected industries join for networking, lead generation and education all under one roof, and will feature global experts covering these four exciting industries’ latest innovations and developments.
Invest Coventry & Warwickshire will be returning for a third year to promote the city and county’s place as the UK’s centre for vehicle design, engineering, test and manufacture. The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Baginton near Coventry was a world first, and this will be the first show for us to take Green Powerpark, the new name for the West Midlands Gigafactory, and the wider Coventry & Warwick Giga Park Investment Zone. The InvestCW team will be seeking to meet potential inward investors and to also engage with local supply chains.
Spread over two days, Battery Cells and Systems Expo offers an unrivalled insight into current and future battery trends, with experts from all sides of the industry in attendance. This free-to-attend exhibition and world-class conference is dedicated to the development and application of high-performance battery technology.
Key conference sessions include “Advanced Digital Tools for Improving Battery Development and Performance”, “How Can We Navigate Evolving Regulations and What Are the Implications for UK Battery and EV Development?” and “Levelling the Playing Field in the Battery Industry: Accelerating Affordable Innovation with Smarter Testing.” The conference will welcomes some of the industry's finest experts from companies such as WAE, Agratas, Cosworth, AVL, UKBIC, Jaguar Land Rover and Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council said: "The public and private sectors in the Warwickshire and Coventry area are bringing forward significant investment and opportunities for growth in net zero carbon propulsion technologies like battery and EV. It is important that we reach out to the industry to help promote these opportunities to potential investors and the skills base."
"Automotive and the wider future mobility piece is a significant employer in Warwickshire and a driver of growth and wealth across the West Midlands, and this is an important time to build and grow the supply chain. The Battery Cells and Systems Expo provides the perfect platform to engage with industry."
Lana Fowler, Event Director for the Battery Cells & Systems Expo said: “The battery sector in the UK is undergoing an unprecedented level of growth currently driven by both government and private investment. Battery Cells & Systems Expo brings the global battery industry to a UK audience of buyers, engineers, integrators and developers from the automotive and power generation sectors as well as the entire manufacturing supply chain”.
The event includes modern battery innovation across industries including space/aerospace, automotive, energy, renewables, medical, electronics and defence.
Technologies on display will include the latest in battery management systems, power management, manufacturing and automation equipment, fire protection and insulation, separation and recycling solutions, test and measurement, lab equipment, pack manufacture, logistics, handling and more.
The event located at the NEC provides an excellent opportunity on the doorstep for Coventry & Warwickshire SMEs to learn more about and engage with the battery supply chain.
More information about the event and how to register for free can be found here https://batterysystemsexpo.com/
Invest Coventry & Warwickshire will be exhibiting at stand 1132.
Creative businesses target lift-off after Launchpad funding
"It is fantastic that the funding will support a wide variety of projects which will demonstrate the high level of innovate skills we have across the region."
Thirteen innovative companies have been offered a share of almost £1.8 million of funding through the Innovate UK Launchpad for Coventry and Warwickshire in the West Midlands.
The Launchpad provides innovation support and funding tailored to the local area’s strengths in the immersive and creative industries.
The Innovate UK Launchpad programme supports clusters of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and helps the most innovative businesses to progress their projects towards commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth. The Coventry and Warwickshire Launchpad has been developed through a partnership between Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, and Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
This first competitive round of investment attracted a large response from local businesses and innovators. The businesses funded are to develop innovative technologies such as mixed reality manufacturing environments, a 3D data visualisation toolset, or immersive gaming with educational and ethical benefits.
Isobel Woods, Head of Economy & Skills at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are thrilled so many innovative businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire applied for the Immersive and Creative Technologies Launchpad programme, particularly since there was a large number of applicants who had never previously applied for Innovate UK funding. It is fantastic that the funding will support a wide variety of projects which will demonstrate the high level of innovate skills we have across the region.
“We are really looking forward to seeing their projects come to fruition in the coming months and supporting even more businesses to access these grants as we focus on future rounds of funding.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m pleased to see funding going to Coventry businesses that will help them to deliver major innovation projects using creative and immersive technologies. This will provide the platform for creating new jobs and securing this rapidly growing sector right here in Coventry and Warwickshire."
The Launchpad partnership will announce the next round of funding soon.
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Bedworth stakeholders turn out in force for town centre meeting
Partnership working is key to developing a better Bedworth town centre, a meeting held in the town by the High Streets Task Force (HSTF) was told.
The meeting, addressed by HSTF expert Sonia Cubrilo, drew a large attendance of businesses and other stakeholders which underlined the passion and commitment within Bedworth to safeguarding and improving the town centre.
The objective is how best to harness that passion and commitment and move forward with a plan and, most importantly, action to help the town achieve its potential and tackle the challenges it faces.
The three main themes of the meeting were: Building wider ownership of Bedworth Town Centre; How to work together for the betterment of the town; Identifying champions to be place leads and develop an initial road map to next steps to result in a focused partnership.
Bedworth town centre is blessed with some wonderful buildings, not least glorious All Saints Church where the meeting was held, and that is a great platform to build a future vision for the town, the meeting heard.
Crucially, that vision will be supported by investment. Bedworth has secured £20 million Levelling Up Funding from the UK Government while Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council has approved £700,000 to upgrade Bedworth’s Market.
Warwickshire County Council was well represented at the meeting. In line with its Strategic Economic Plan, recently agreed by cabinet, WCC will always look to support Bedworth and all its towns in working together and creating solutions as to how they make the most of the changing economic landscape. Warwickshire is blessed with many great places and WCC sees partnerships as key in increasing social capacity in all these area.
At the meeting, Sonia Cubrilo explained how other town centres have been galvanised by partnership working. Bedworth already has a good foundation for the process as there are existing teams, groups and organisations working on specific aspects of the town. Sonia stressed that for Bedworth to really succeed, it needs to have a structure that draws all these strands together and coordinates action and delivery. To that end, a Partnership Board will now be appointed.
The HSTF report published following the meeting pinpointed the next steps.
“Regenerating a town centre is a slow process and can take up to a number of years. However, having held a successful workshop with the various stakeholders, it is important to establish a Partnership Board and capitalise swiftly upon the willingness of all parties to move this work forward using the High Streets Task Force 4R’s framework – repositioning, reinventing, rebranding and restructuring. This will provide the structure and strategic approach that is needed to stimulate the renewal of Bedworth Town Centre.
“The primary focus going forward for Bedworth needs to be on developing actions that address the restructuring and reinventing priorities. Though work on rebranding and repositioning will be necessary, this can be worked on once a partnership has been set up to build wider ownership and capacity for delivery of the action plan for the town centre.”
Global office brand arrives in Warwick after liaising with Invest Warwickshire
"Warwickshire is home to leading global tech and software brands, as well as some very dynamic tech start-up and scale-up companies, so it is great to see the commercial office market responding to this demand in innovative and creative ways."
Warwick is welcoming a new global office brand to the serviced office market in the county for the first time.
Regus is part of a collective of global and regional workspace brands that form the IWG network. These include Spaces, HQ, Signature by Regus and No18. For more than 30 years, Regus has been helping businesses find and create the perfect workspace for their people.
The new offices in Warwick open on June 24th and will occupy part of Nicholls House on Tachbrook Park, providing a base in a well-located, modern building with lots of parking, solar panels on the roof, electric charging and bicycle parking. It will be a brand-new latest spec Regus inside with flexible serviced offices from 1-40 desk, coworking, meeting rooms and a business lounge. The new centre will include licenced office space, co-working memberships and the provision of meeting space for hire.
The new centre is currently advertising for a manager to run the site: https://jobs.iwgplc.com/jobs/franchise-community-sales-manager-leamington-spa-united-kingdom
Thomas Abuaita, Director at AB Office T/A IWG, said: “More and more companies are starting to embrace flexible working. Businesses feel they can hire more people and that they will be more productive if they're working in a well-designed space that's nearer to where they live. It's also what employees themselves want, so we are delighted that we can bring this offer to Warwick, Leamington and South Warwickshire for the first time,”
Warwick and Leamington are already well-served with serviced offices, including University of Warwick Science Park Warwick Innovation Centre on Warwick Tech Park and Althorpe Enterprise Hub in central Leamington. The towns also have two Pure Offices, unusual in such a local geography.
The towns have also seen major new investment in office space at Bedford Street Studios, the former House of Fraser store; new office space from Warwickshire County Council’s Holly Walk House on Brandon Parade; a new serviced office 11 Waterloo Place from Wigley Group; the conversion of the former URC Church into The Fold, a flagship development on the Creative Quarter development, and most recently major redevelopments of the former IBM Campus in Warwick into The Woods and the latest addition, The Point next door.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: ‘We welcome the provision of more grade A and flexible office space into the office market here in Warwick and Leamington. Warwickshire is home to leading global tech and software brands, as well as some very dynamic tech start-up and scale-up companies, so it is great to see the commercial office market responding to this demand in innovative and creative ways. We look forward to the opening of Regus in Tachbrook Park, and the opportunities and flexibility it will create for businesses and entrepreneurs.’
Invest Warwickshire worked with the company in the early days to help identify local property options. Invest hosts a property portal where those looking for commercial property including offices like these can search and register for alerts for the specific space they’re looking for. https://coventrycommercialproperty.evolutive.co.uk/
Invest Warwickshire will also be attending UKREiiF, the leading UK property development and investment conference in the UK, helping to promote the range of development sites and commercial property across Warwickshire. For more information on UKREiiF please visit https://www.ukreiif.com/event/ukreiif-annual-event-2024/
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Trading Standards seek views from Warwickshire's business community
Business owners across Warwickshire have been asked for their views on the Trading Standards service.
Trading Standards in the West Midlands are looking to better understand the needs of businesses and how the service can better engage with the business community. A brief survey has been created to gain insights as the views of businesses are crucial as the service shapes its business engagement strategies.
The survey has 18 simple questions which take, on average, under four minutes to complete. All responses from business owners will be much valued and the anonymous feedback will guide the service future efforts.
To complete the survey please visit https://forms.office.com/e/iaUELwFTCq
Improved economic outlook for Coventry and Warwickshire
"The local manufacturing and service sectors show strong confidence that business is expected to improve over the next 12 months."
The economic outlook for Coventry and Warwickshire has improved after the first three months of the year.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) says the region is in better shape than it was at the turn of the year.
The survey, delivered in partnership with Prime Accountants Group, is analysed by the Economy & Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council. From the responses of businesses across the services and manufacturing sector, it gives scores out of 100 where anything above 50 indicates growth and anything below 50 is negative.
The overall economic outlook now has a score of 60.1 based on the survey results compared to 55.2 at the end of 2023. The outlook is calculated based on a range of questions around orders, both at home and abroad, employment prospects and investment and cashflow.
The survey showed that domestic orders in both the service sector and among manufacturers have risen significantly among those firms surveyed. However, it also revealed a dip in overseas sales. Employment prospects in both sectors was still in positive territory but remained fairly flat compared to three months before, which may suggest a cooling in businesses’ desire to hire new staff.
There was also a significant rise in the potential for investment and general cashflow with both the service sector and manufacturing moving above 50 having been below at the end of 2023.
Business confidence in the service sector hit 70.7 and although it fell in manufacturing in the region, it was still well above 50 at 59.5.
Todd Williams, Business Intelligence Analyst at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Quarter one at a national level improved slightly with continuing strong growth in services output, and early signs of a potential return to growth for manufacturing output. Meanwhile, the latest QES results show the local economy maintaining optimism alongside a significant reduction in spare capacity.
“The results show that the overall economic outlook index for Coventry and Warwickshire aligning with the national trend. Local services businesses are positive about the domestic market, however sentiment about the services overseas market have fallen. The local manufacturing business sentiment is solidifying around growth in both domestic and overseas markets.
“While there are local short-term concerns, especially around recruiting, labour costs and interest rates – both the local manufacturing and service sectors show strong confidence that business is expected to improve over the next 12 months.”
Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “When you consider that the national economy slipped into technical recession at the end of 2023, this survey would indicate that Coventry and Warwickshire is still in good shape.
“This area has always been a dynamic, forward-thinking place to do business and that remains the case despite a whole host of challenges that firms have faced over many years now.
“We know that there are aspects of our economy that need fixing to help businesses to grow – such as more land for employment, closing the skills gap and support to make the transition to net zero – and we will continue to speak up on those issues and also help to find solutions to them.”
Care business blossoms at Eliot Park Innovation Centre
"I knew I needed to present B24 with a professional outlook to our providers, service users and staff and, after looking at various premises, I chose Eliot Park Innovation Centre to aid our expansion plans."
A registered nurse who started a business in her spare room to provide domiciliary care for adults in their own homes has expanded at a Warwickshire business centre.
Barbara Akoachere established B24 Healthcare Solutions after the experience of caring for her sister-in-law, Anke Akoachere, who was diagnosed with cancer.
She moved from Reading to Nuneaton to help her brother look after his three children after Anke passed away, and with the vision of creating a leading domiciliary care provider within adult social care to supply experienced staff to provide high-quality care.
She began with one client in Whitestone in 2022 and, after gaining her first contract with Warwickshire County Council to provide packages of care, usually when people have been discharged from hospital, within a year she had found a permanent office setting at Eliot Park Innovation Centre in Barling Way, Nuneaton.
B24 Healthcare Solutions now has 65 staff and has moved to larger premises within Eliot Park Innovation Centre to continue its year-on-year growth.
Barbara said she wanted the business to become known for its bespoke care throughout Warwickshire and Leicestershire.
“When I was helping to care for Anke, the district nurses would often say I had done their job for them and to a high standard,” she said. “I wanted to bridge the gap between hospitals and the community to provide personal home care services focused on quality and providing the best possible training for my staff.
“I was given my first contract by Warwickshire County Council in August 2022 which involved eight people and they continued sending me more people to look after. I knew I needed to present B24 with a professional outlook to our providers, service users and staff, and after looking at various premises, I chose Eliot Park Innovation Centre to aid our expansion plans and we moved in last January.”
Tina Silk-Neilsen, who joined the team in July 2023 as Registered Manager, said her and Barbara had a passion for providing great care to people who were often frail and elderly.
She said: “We have had amazing growth over the last seven months, and have doubled the number of individuals we are caring for which is now more than 80 people.
“We soon realised we had outgrown our office space and after speaking with the team at Eliot Park, we started on our next chapter by securing a larger office space to meet our growth and needs.
“We have many visitors including Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors and commissioners from local authorities that we work with, and all have said how lovely the building is and how well Eliot Park caters for its clients.
“We have further aspirations of growing into an even bigger office to take on more staff and have the training space for our staff.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said it was brilliant to have played a part in B24 Healthcare Solutions’ continued growth.
“The business centres owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council are often a platform for start-ups and micro businesses to move from their home or garden shed into a more business orientated location,” he said.
“We have the space for businesses to start in a small unit and then move to a larger unit as they expand – just like B24 Healthcare Solutions.
“That’s exactly what Barbara, Tina and the rest of the team have achieved at Eliot Park Innovation Centre and it is fantastic that we are part of their future growth plans.”
For more information about Warwickshire County Council's Business Centres, please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businesscentres
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Make Good Grow is the bridge for business support to those in need
"To create long term change to people's lives, we need more funding and more support from local businesses and individuals."
A Leamington social enterprise that matches businesses and volunteers with local charities is calling on people from Warwickshire who are passionate about doing something worthwhile to step forward.
Make Good Grow (MGG) helps businesses and individuals to provide money, skills, time or products to good causes in South Warwickshire.
The organisation is currently working with 35 charities on more than 70 projects that require a total of £1m of investment of in-kind, in-cash and in-time donations.
There is no requirement for individuals or businesses to pledge support on an ongoing basis – projects are often short-term but impactful, helping to transform charities and thereby changing the lives of those the charities support.
Make Good Grow Co-founder, Nigel Shanahan says: “MGG is almost like a dating app for charities! And, like all good match-makers, we are careful who we introduce. We have established a process to ensure that business risks are minimised and that fit and alignment are right, before any action is taken.
“We are incredibly proud of our progress to date, but we know we can do more. To create long term change to people's lives, we need more funding and more support from local businesses and individuals.
“We forecast that that in the next five years, 1 million lives in our community will be positively impacted through MGG. But it’s not us doing this, it’s the local community - we are just Cupid!”
Nigel explains that the theme of passion runs throughout the ethos of MGG:
“We even have a ‘Passion Wagon’. It's a minibus that is available for use by charities on a free of charge basis to help with their projects.
“There’s nothing quite like doing something for someone else to put a smile on your face. We want people see our story, get curious, get inspired and come and join us!”
Since it was set up in 2018 by Nigel and his wife Dessie, MGG has worked with 250 charities. The projects range from re-fitting a derelict former bus to become a music department for a Special Educational Needs school, to smaller scale initiatives such as creating websites; delivering grief counselling; helping streamline recruitment processes; and giving leadership advice.
MGG has created the Pledge Marketplace - a digital space for individuals and businesses to make a pledge, and charities to express an interest in taking up that pledge. For example The Belfry donates its boardroom twenty times per year, while Amtico Flooring offers flooring to a set number of charities.
Another digital offering from MGG is the Social Impact Dashboard (SID). This piece of software tells the story of how an organisation has helped a charity and is available to integrate within the organisation’s own website to celebrate the story of the brand and its people.
MGG recently started running charity incubator programs where selected charities get coaching and skills development from a range of businesses relevant to the things that are holding them back from increasing their impact.
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, said: “I’ve had the privilege of visiting Make Good Grow a number of times. This is a wonderful project dedicated to fostering collaboration between businesses, volunteers, and local charitable organisations.
“I urge anyone who would like to make a positive impact in our community to get in touch with Make Good Grow. Whether it be through offering financial support, sharing skills and knowledge, providing training opportunities, or dedicating precious time, there are countless ways to contribute.”
Join the Network of Friends and be part of Child Friendly Warwickshire
Warwickshire businesses are invited to an event that will enable them to help shape the future of Warwickshire and be part of a network that is making it a Child Friendly Warwickshire.
The Network of Friends Celebration 2024 is an online event taking place from 2pm onwards on Thursday 16 May 2024. It is an opportunity for businesses to hear about the Child Friendly Warwickshire programme and its network of nearly 200 businesses and organisations in Warwickshire – and how being more Child Friendly not only benefits the county’s young people but also has great rewards for the businesses themselves.
Delegates will hear from the County Council’s Leader and Chief Executive – Cllr Izzi Seccombe and Monica Fogarty – about how Child Friendly Warwickshire has grown from its beginnings in 2021 to now, where its Network of Friends is now making links between businesses and the county’s young people across the whole of Warwickshire.
This is an opportunity for existing friends as well as potential new ones to come together to learn about Child Friendly Warwickshire’s achievements as well as future ambitions and how to get involved. Friends will also share why they support the initiative and the impact the partnerships have on the county’s children and young people as well as the benefits to businesses and organisations.
Chid Friendly Warwickshire is committed to supporting its Network of Friends; through promoting opportunities for work experience or apprenticeships, businesses can easily expand their reach to a whole new audience for recruitment.
It also uses its ever-growing reach to showcase organisations’ Child Friendly activities such as Barclays Digital Eagles which has hosted employability sessions to over 250 young people in Warwickshire.
By becoming a Friend, businesses can, in return, set inspiring examples, share information and encourage others to carry out Child Friendly activities.
If your business could benefit from being part of the Network of Friends, join us on the day by booking your spot here: Child Friendly Warwickshire: Network of Friends Celebration 2024 Tickets, Thu 16 May 2024 at 14:00 | Eventbrite 
For more information for the programme visit the website: or download our brochure: WCCC-1980322935-2665 (warwickshire.gov.uk)  
Partners come together at UKREiiF 2024
Warwickshire County Council, Invest Warwickshire and Warwickshire Property Development Group (WPDG) are coming together with a number of public and private partners to promote investment and development in the county of Warwickshire at the UK leading property and investment event, UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Investment Forum, also known as UKREiiF 2024.
The event is now in its 3rd year, and is expected to attract over 10,000 delegates to the annual event in Leeds, from 21st – 23rd May, at Leeds Royal Armories.
Invest Coventry & Warwickshire will be hosting a stand within the West Midlands Pavilion, where the Invest team together with WPDG we will be promoting a strong pipeline of live and future commercial property development, available to meet delegates interested in expanding into the Coventry & Warwickshire area. An updated version of the Invest Coventry & Warwickshire Investment Prospectus will launch at the event.
The West Midlands Pavilion will be showcasing a portfolio of transformative development opportunities and regenerative schemes worth more than £20 billion across the West Midlands area, including MIRA Technology Park South Site; Transforming Nuneaton; Coventry & Warwick Giga Park Investment Zone, incorporating Greenpower Park; Rugby Town Centre; Creative Quarter Royal Leamington Spa; and University of Warwick Innovation Campus, Stratford-upon-Avon.
On Wednesday 22nd May, from 9am-10.30am, Warwickshire County Council will be hosting a panel session in the Midlands Engine Partnership Pavilion, titled ‘Warwickshire Creating Places’, looking at the transformative role that key sectors and partnership play in bringing forward commercial development. Warwickshire is well known for key sectors like automotive and aerospace, and in more recent years video game development and e-commerce. Partners speaking during the two panel session event include CDP, Countryside/ Vistry, HORIBA-MIRA, Prologis, Stoford, Tritax and WPDG.
Global property advisors CBRE will also be there to talk about their insights from promoting the Property Infrastructure Fund, or PIF, an innovative £64m fund that Warwickshire County Council launched last year as part of the Warwickshire Investment Fund (WIF), to help unlock commercial property development in the county area to benefit local SMEs and supply chains.
Sarah Windrum, Future Mobility Cluster Lead at HORIBA MIRA will join the panel and will update on the recent start of construction on Plot 9 of the MIRA Technology Park R&D campus, and about the wider masterplan that includes 2.3m sq ft of advanced manufacturing space, which has recently received planning approval, for the campus’ next phase of growth. The South Site will deliver high-quality, large scale manufacturing and industrial facilities that are complementary to the extensive R&D facilities and campus at the existing MIRA Technology Park site. This major expansion is expected to create 2,500 highly skilled jobs, and progress on site will be supported by major power and road infrastructure investment, creating an environment conducive to growth with a range of building sizes from 250,000 sq ft to suit tenant requirements.
Jo Russell, Planning Director from developer Stoford, one of the UK’s leading property developers specialising in occupier led development and strategic land promotion, will share insights from the company’s success in bringing forward developments in the Warwickshire area. Stoford have delivered over 2 million sqft of market-leading industrial and office schemes in the area over the last ten years. This includes the recently completed industrial scheme Spa Park in Royal Leamington Spa, Redditch Gateway, which includes 446,356sqft of spec built space over two units next door to a new Amazon facility, the new Carbon 302 re-development at Middlemarch near Coventry & Warwick Giga Park, and the promotion of a further 6 million sqft of future schemes through the development plan process, which has the potential to deliver significant new jobs and investment.
Joe Skinner, Development Director at Tritax Symmetry, Tritax Big Box REIT’s logistics developer, will be there to talk about their flagship Tritax Symmetry Park Rugby scheme, and the second phase of spec build development that is now under construction. The three high quality logistics units ranging from 170,473 sq ft up to 390,694 sq ft will be built to net-zero carbon in construction standards and will target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+, providing state-of-the-art logistics space and are set to complete in Autumn 2024. The phase 2 speculative development follows Tritax Symmetry’s successful pre-letting of one million sq. ft. of industrial space to Iron Mountain for its UK Campus, which was named Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Deal of the Year (over 250,000 sq. ft.) 2023. Situated on the M45/A45 strategic highway link, the site is located at the heart of the logistics ‘Golden Triangle’ network, an established distribution and manufacturing location, and the site forms part of the wider South West Rugby Urban Extension, which is due to provide up to 5,000 new homes.
For more information on UKREiiF, visit: https://www.ukreiif.com/
If you’re attending UKREiiF and would like to join ‘Warwickshire Creating Places’, register here: https://Warwickshire-Creating-Places-UKREiiF24.eventbrite.co.uk
News in Brief
A round up of latest news-in-brief from around the region...
Plans to put UK at centre of the green industrial revolution take major step forward
Britain's green industrial revolution ambitions have taken a significant leap forward with the launch of Greenpower Park - the UK Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy. With the West Midlands Gigafactory as its anchor tenant, the ambitious project, designed to foster world-leading collaborations between industry, major academic institutions and stakeholders to drive the UK's ambitions in leading the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, has unveiled plans to create an end-to-end electrification and clean energy ecosystem at its Greenpower Park campus on Coventry Airport.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/plans-to-put-uk-at-centre-of-the-green-industrial-revolution-take-major-step-forward/
Cycas Hospitality to manage UK’s first Fairfield by Marriott hotel
Cycas Hospitality has been appointed to manage the UK’s first Fairfield by Marriott hotel, a part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands. Introducing Marriott’s midscale hotel brand to the UK market, this 142-room new-build property is scheduled to open its doors in early 2026. Situated just off the M40, the hotel is expected to attract both leisure and business travellers. The area surrounding the new Fairfield by Marriott is a hub for the UK’s automotive industry, with the hotel’s immediate neighbours including Jaguar Land Rover’s global research and development centre and Aston Martin’s world headquarters.
https://www.hotelmanagement-network.com/news/cycas-hospitality-manage-fairfield-hotel/
LTS Global Solutions deploys first electric truck from Warwickshire hub
The fleet of logistics firm LTS Global Solutions has gained its first electric truck. Working within a 50-mile radius of the company’s 130,000 sq. ft site in Coleshill, Warwickshire, the Volvo FM Electric truck will be used primarily for collections and deliveries on behalf of LTS’ retail, automotive and construction customers across the West Midlands.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/esg/warwickshires-lts-global-solutions-brings-in-first-electric-truck/
BGF backs Warwick consultancy firm with £6m investment
Warwick-based Skewb, a provider of consultancy, digital transformation services and products to the energy and water sectors, hopes to expand its suite of products and services to meet the demands of an expanding customer base. The consultancy has seen significant financial momentum to date, growing revenue almost fourfold over the last three years. Skewb works alongside a large number of UK utilities and engineering partners and employs 170 people, or ‘Skewbers’ as they’re known, from its headquarters in Warwick.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2085084-bgf-backs-consultancy-firm-with-6m-investment
Finalists named for Inspirational Women Awards
High achievers from Coventry and Warwickshire have been named among the finalists in the sixth Ladies First Network Business and Inspirational Women Awards.
Coventry and Warwickshire finalists join Lionesses among those announced for sixth inspirational women awards | Chalmers News PR
Acoustics firm revolutionise in-car audio with £7m fundraise
Warwick Acoustics, whose patented loudspeaker technology is set to revolutionise in-car audio systems, has raised a further £7 million in a funding round led by Mercia Asset Management and including NFU Mutual and a range of private investors. The funding will enable the Mira Technology Park, a Nuneaton-based company, to invest in a new manufacturing facility and ramp up manufacturing capacity. It follows its success in securing its first production contract with a leading global luxury vehicle manufacturer.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/corporate-finance/acoustics-firm-revolutionise-in-car-audio-with-7m-fundraise/
Coventry Building Society in £780m merger talks with Co-operative Bank
Non-binding terms have been agreed for a potential acquisition of the Co-operative Bank by Coventry Building Society for a total cash consideration of £780 million. Though there is ‘no certainty at this stage’ that the deal will occur, and both parties await approval from financial services regulators, Coventry CEO Stephen Hughes told members that the society ‘believes it’s the right thing to do’.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/companies/coventry-building-society-in-780m-merger-talks-with-co-operative-bank-reports/
Warwickshire tour firm Go Cotswolds looks to make 10th year its best
A growing guided tour company in Warwickshire is hoping for a record year of business during its tenth anniversary after investing in new vehicles and expanding its workforce. Around 40 per cent of Go Cotswolds’ customers hail from the US and Canada. But since 2019, co-founders Tom and Lisa Benjamin have noticed a steady increase in visitors from India, who made up four per cent of their customer base last year.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/lifestyle/warwickshire-tour-firm-go-cotswolds-looks-to-make-10th-year-its-best/
Planning approved for Nuneaton town centre development
Following approval from the planning committee at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council can now begin preparatory work on a new library and business centre, to be built on the site of the existing Royal Mail Delivery Office. It’s hoped the mixed-use development, which would also include up to 65 family homes, will act as a major catalyst for regeneration of the town. The new housing is to be delivered by Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG), formed by the council in 2021 to deliver new homes and commercial space.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/planning-approved-for-nuneaton-town-centre-mixed-use-development/
Planning approved for extension to Prologis Park Coventry
Prologis UK has secured planning consent to deliver an additional 159,000 sq ft of space at Prologis Park Coventry, on the boundary with Bedworth at Keresley Village. Consent has been granted to deliver either a single unit or two-unit scheme on the site, depending on customer demand. Once complete, the scheme at Prologis Park Coventry will bring the total value of assets under Prologis management in the Midlands to over £3 billion. The business’ Warwickshire footprint will span about 5 million sq ft across its holdings at Hams Hall, Prologis Park Ryton and Prologis Park Coventry. https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/planning-approved-for-extension-to-prologis-park-coventry/
GMI Construction Group wins contract to deliver MIRA Technology Park R&D units
GMI Construction Group has been awarded a £16 million contract to deliver the next units on Europe’s largest automotive research and development cluster as well as new major infrastructure providing access to the new plots being developed. The project forms part of the major masterplan expansion of MIRA Technology Park (MTP), near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, by HORIBA MIRA and Evans Randall Investors, with the project delivery managed by Swanvale Developments.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/gmi-construction-group-wins-contract-to-deliver-mira-technology-park-rd-units/
University support boosts West Midlands economy by £450m
WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick has boosted the West Midlands economy by £450 million – with every £1 invested into WMG’s small and medium enterprise (SME) programmes, around £22 has returned to the local economy, the university has revealed. Celebrating 20 years of tailored business support, WMG has delivered manufacturing expertise to 15,000 SMEs in the Midlands. It has supported the creation of more than 13,000 jobs, 350 new businesses and 355 internships over the last two decades.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/companies/university-support-boosts-west-midlands-economy-by-450-million/
Coventry University Group opens sixth global hub in New Delhi
Coventry University Group has strengthened its longstanding connections with India by opening a global hub in the heart of New Delhi. The hub will house more than 70 employees in India to support Coventry University Group’s admissions, recruitment and partnerships portfolio in India and the region.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/recruitment-careers-hr/coventry-university-group-opens-sixth-global-hub-in-new-delhi/
Coventry University signs agreement with Kyiv University
Coventry University is hoping to help a second university in Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. Coventry University and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA) have agreed to explore KNUCA offering Coventry University degree programmes, as well as online summer schools and potential joint research between the two institutions.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/recruitment-careers-hr/coventry-university-signs-agreement-with-kyiv-university/
Half of UK SMEs are struggling to access finance, finds BCC
Many SMEs feel it’s become increasingly difficult to access the finance they need, according to new data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Around half of the 533 firms surveyed said securing funding had become more challenging over the past three years, compared with just 13 per cent which believed it had got easier. On top of that, 70 per cent have not accessed finance from an external provider in the past twelve months, though companies with more than 50 employees are more likely to have done so than smaller firms.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/corporate-finance/half-of-uk-smes-are-struggling-to-access-finance-finds-bcc/
Manufacturing minister needed as firms decry lack of government support
Nine in ten manufacturers are unhappy with the current level of government support for the sector, the latest Manufacturing Outlook Report from Crowe has revealed. Almost half saw ongoing global turbulence and economic conditions as barriers to growth – though nearly 70 per cent are nonetheless expecting a growth in sales this year. During a period of high inflation, political changes, and continued strained supply chains, the report – conducted in partnership with the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) – looks at the key issues impacting manufacturers.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/manufacturing-engineering/manufacturing-minister-needed-as-firms-decry-lack-of-government-support/
Economic outlook improving for Coventry and Warwickshire, finds survey
The economic outlook for Coventry and Warwickshire has improved after the first three months of the year, according to the latest quarterly economic survey from Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. The survey found that domestic orders in both the service sector and among manufacturers have risen significantly, though overseas sales have taken a small hit.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/professional-services/economic-outlook-improving-for-coventry-and-warwickshire-finds-survey/
Report reveals ‘True Impact’ of manufacturing is much bigger than thought
Manufacturing is having a far greater impact on the UK economy than first thought according to a major new report released today. ‘The True Impact of UK Manufacturing’ shows industry is worth £518 billion and supports 7.3 million UK jobs directly and across the supply chains/communities it operates in. This represents nearly a quarter of total GDP (23 per cent) and far bigger than the direct contribution of 8.2 per cent usually quoted by economists.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/manufacturing-engineering/report-reveals-true-impact-of-manufacturing-is-much-bigger-than-thought/
Construction sector on the up for first time in seven months, finds S&P Global
Activity across the UK construction industry has finally seen fractional growth following a six-month period of decline, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI. This March, the sector saw the strongest boost to new orders since May 2023, with input price inflation at a three-month low. Companies have reported a turnaround in their sales pipelines and a greater volume of new business enquiries as the national economic outlook improves and financial conditions stabilise.
https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/construction-sector-on-the-up-for-first-time-in-seven-months-finds-sp-global/