Latest news-in-brief from the county and region...
Blow to UK Auto as Polestar Exits UK R&D Operations
The Swedish premium EV maker has shut its two UK R&D facilities in Nuneaton and Ansty, making 130 roles redundant as engineering work is consolidated at its Swedish headquarters. This follows job cuts elsewhere in the Geely Group, including with Geely in China, Volvo Cars in Sweden, and group businesses Lotus and LEVC in the UK.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/aerospace-specialist-launches-multimillion-pound-test-facility-backed-by-1.5m-funding-package
Warwick Aerospace specialist launches new test facility - with £1.5m funding package
A Warwick aerospace specialist which maintained the engines for the late Queen's Flight has launched a multimillion-pound test facility. CFS Aero said its new test cell is one of only nine such facilities in the world and the only one with advanced digital technology, allowing customers to view live test runs remotely and access real-time data and diagnostics. The facility, which has been developed with the help of a £1.5m loan from Frontier Development Capital, will allow the company to offer a service repairing auxiliary power units (APUs), an auxiliary engine that starts the aircraft's main engines and provides air and electric power to the aircraft. CFS Aero expects to double its 35-strong workforce over the next four years as a result.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/aerospace-specialist-launches-multimillion-pound-test-facility-backed-by-1.5m-funding-package
Swedish group swoops for Rugby laser manufacturer
Nilario has announced its acquisition of Litron Lasers Ltd, which is based in Rugby and is a partner to customers across semiconductors, advanced research, defence, materials science and wider industrial applications.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/swedish-group-swoops-for-west-midlands-laser-manufacturer-deal-supported-by-notable-advisers
Major deal completed in expansion of Europe’s largest automotive R&D hub
The expansion of one of Europe's largest automotive research and development hubs - where the Prime Minister launched the UK Industrial Strategy - has taken a step forward following the completion of a landmark deal. Evans Randall Investors, together with HORIBA MIRA, has completed the acquisition of a further 40 acres of development land, sealing the last phase of the £500m North Site masterplan of Nuneaton's MIRA Tech Park. The acquisition brings the total North site to in excess of one million sq ft.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/landmark-deal-completed-in-final-piece-of-the-puzzle-for-expansion-of-europes-largest-automotive-rd-hub
Deal struck for 130,000sqft Ricardo plc R&D and manufacturing campus
Hortons has snapped-up the campus-style development, located off the A425 Southam Road at Radford Semele, which comprises 132,569 sq ft across three buildings, including a manufacturing facility, a hi-tech warehouse unit and an office building, occupied by the engineering and manufacturing company Ricardo Plc.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/deal-struck-for-130k-sq-ft-leamington-spa-manufacturing-campus-the-site-is-occupied-by-ricardo-plc
University of Warwick Science Park looks to attract life sciences firms with new labs complex
The University of Warwick Science Park is hoping to attract some of the UK's most innovative life science companies with a £6m refurbishment to create a new lab and office complex. It is set to transform the Vanguard Centre, a longstanding space within the science park, into a commercial building featuring approximately 13,600 sq ft of dedicated lab space, 8,000 sq ft of office space along with modern meeting facilities and collaborative communal workspaces.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/university-of-warwick-science-park-looks-to-attract-innovative-life-sciences-firms-with-new-lab-and-office-complex
Greenpower Park project takes step forward as first phase plans backed
Works to enable the development of Greenpower Park, which aims to be a groundbreaking location for battery research, industrialisation, manufacturing, testing, recycling and electrified logistics, have been approved. Outline permission was approved in March 2022 for the development of a battery manufacturing facility at Coventry Airport. Coventry Airport Ltd and Coventry City Council sought to bring forward this development through a series of phased reserved matters applications.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/landmark-greenpower-park-project-takes-step-forward-as-first-phase-plans-backed
National lingerie retailer reports continued strong performance under new ownership
Leamington based lingerie and swimwear retailer Bravissimo, which employs hundreds of people across the UK has said it is "well-positioned" after reporting "strong and sustainable profitability" for the financial period in which it was acquired by a Japanese group.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/national-lingerie-retailer-well-positioned-amid-strong-and-sustainable-profitability-and-new-ownership
Power company to create jobs with new Warwick industrial unit
A power company is to create jobs after agreeing a deal for an industrial unit in Warwick. Generator Power Ltd, a supplier of generators for emergency use, events and long-term hire, is the new tenant of Unit 16 Harriott Drive, on Heathcote Industrial Estate. The Warwick location is the latest for the Wakefield-based company which already has depots in Inverness, Glasgow, Durham, Kendal, Cumbria, Warrington, Newport, Reading, Stevenage and Okehampton.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/power-company-to-create-jobs-with-new-warwick-industrial-unit
Coventry University spin-out in wearable tech targets international Expansion
A wearable technology specialist which is a spin-out from Coventry University and is backed by a host of notable investors such as former HS2 chair Sir Terry Morgan is targeting revenues of £8m and international expansion. Feraru Dynamics' founders, brothers Andrei and Vlad Feraru, are setting their sights on £8m of global sales for their HAV-Sentry system, a glove to defend against Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, by 2030 after experiencing significant demand from construction companies, manufacturers, landscapers and utilities firms keen to protect their workers while also boosting productivity.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/wearable-tech-specialist-targets-international-expansion-supported-by-string-of-high-profile-backers
Coombe Abbey Hotel stars in the Celebrity MasterChef semi-final
The 12th century Coombe Abbey Hotel has played a starring role in the Celebrity MasterChef semi-final.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/coombe-abbey-hotel-stars-in-the-celebrity-masterchef-semi-final
Afternoon Tea Room is latest venture of husband and wife entrepreneurs
Husband and wife coffee connoisseurs Lisa and Rafael Hernandez, from Warwick, are building on the success of their Caffeine Project coffee house and deli in Binley Woods, with a new Afternoon Tea room.
https://chalmersnewspr.co.uk/new-afternoon-tea-room-is-latest-venture-of-husband-and-wife-entrepreneurs/
Mercia Asset Management reports robust first half performance
Profits have risen at Henley-in-Arden based investment firm Mercia Asset Management in a "robust first half performance". The listed company generated pre-tax profits of £2.5m in the six months to 30 September 2025, up from £2.4m in the first half of the prior financial year.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/mercia-asset-management-reports-robust-first-half-performance
Enviromena secures approval at appeal for North Warwickshire solar farm
Berkshire-based renewables developer Enviromena has got the green light for a proposed 40MW solar farm in North Warwickshire. The approval comes following a planning inspector's decision to overturn an initial refusal from the borough council. Fillongley Solar Farm will generate enough clean electricity to power more than 16,500 homes a year, avoiding around 10,000 tonnes of CO₂.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/enviromena-secures-approval-at-appeal-for-north-warwickshire-solar-farm
HS2 completes UK-first M6 bridge installation
HS2 engineers have completed what is believed to be a UK-first by sliding a 4,600-tonne viaduct across the M6 on the Warwickshire/ Birmingham border, without closing the motorway. The 17-hour operation marked the final stage in installing the 315-metre east deck of the M6 South viaduct, which will carry high-speed trains towards Birmingham and further north.
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2106637-hs2-completes-uk-first-m6-bridge-installation
Insolvency activity falls in the Midlands but December key to understanding trend
According to the Midlands branch of R3, the UK's restructuring, turnaround and insolvency trade body, levels of debts owed by businesses in liquidation in the Midlands fell by 27 per cent in November compared to October, while insolvency activity, which includes administrator and liquidator appointments as well as creditors’'meetings, dropped by 22% in the West of the region and by 24 per cent in the East.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/insolvency-activity-falls-in-the-midlands-but-remains-to-be-seen-if-december-will-provide-boost-or-final-blow