News in brief
First Rural Growth Plan published
Warwickshire County Council have published their first Rural Growth Plan.
The document places emphasis on: improving support for rural businesses, identifying and addressing skills gaps, achieving 98% broadband coverage, and improving information flow between research and development to businesses. All of which aim to lower the barriers to business growth and success in Warwickshire.
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ruralplan
Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey - 2018 - Q1
The British Chamber of Commerce have just released their latest economic survey for 2018.
It is the largest and most representative business survey of it’s kind and it gives businesses the opportunity to communicate their views on a wide range of issues that affect day to day activities.
The data from the survey is used by the Bank of England to inform interest rate decisions, by the Treasury to formulate overall economic policy through the budget and by international finance institutions to assess the state of the UK economy. To take part in the survey, follow this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GF38LVL
Video game developer Codemasters line up £250m floatation
One of the oldest names in Britain's video game industry is lining up City bankers to help launch a stock market flotation worth more than £250m, according to reports.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/video-game-developer-lining-up-250m-floatation
Garden design firm lays down roots at new home
Isola Garden Design has moved to Stoneleigh Park, which is home to a number of leading national organisations within the land-based sector including the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).
The company was founded by James Brash, from Leamington, in 2006 and over the years has worked on garden design and builds for private homes across Warwickshire, Solihull, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2014546-garden-design-firm-lays-roots-new-home
Global leader invests in first UK facility at MIRA Technology Park
Bharat Forge - India’s leading metal-forging company - has opened its first UK facility, the Electric Mobility Research and Development Centre, where it will be developing components and sub-systems for Electric Vehicles.
https://www.horiba-mira.com/news-and-events/2018/january/global-leader-invests-in-first-uk-facility-at-mtp
Prince William visits Nuneaton’s cutting-edge technology park
Prince William will be seeing first-hand how HORIBA MIRA provides pioneering engineering, research and test services to the transport industry
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/prince-william-visits-nuneaton-mira-14312626
Eight new appointments at Gallagher Estates
Warwickshire-based strategic land company Gallagher Estates has made eight new appointments.
Richard Edwards has been appointed planning director while Sarah Griffiths and Stuart Field have been named as associate planning directors.
Will Lombard and Bahadur Choongh are now strategic land managers while Will Neary has been made a project manager.
Richard Wilcox is now a business planning controller and Darren Mace has been appointed an engineering manager.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/eight-appointments-at-gallagher-estates
Aston Martin unveils new F1 car
The first Formula One car produced under the new Aston Martin-Red Bull Racing partnership has been unveiled.
The RB14 will compete in the upcoming 2018 season and its race-ready paint job will be unveiled at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/national/new-red-bull-f1-car-launched
Stratford tech firm handed £60k grant
More than £60,000 has been awarded to a technology company looking to improve the day-to-day experience for commuters in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Enable iD, a subsidiary of software development team Enable International based in Stratford-upon-Avon, has been handed £62,675 by the Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation Programme to help tailor its ‘MyJrny’ intelligent mobility system for regional deployment.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/tech-firm-handed-60k-grant
Aston Martin signs latest China partnership
Luxury car maker Aston Martin has revealed it is set to invest in a new design and innovation partnership with The College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University in Shanghai.
Aston Martin’s executive vice-president and chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, will become a visiting professor.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/aston-martin-signs-latest-china-partnership
Playground Games reaches Insider top 100
Leamington-based Playground Games who develop the hugely popular Forza series have reached the Insider Growth 100 companies, the only game studio to do so.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/fastest-growing-midlands-firms-revealed
Rapid electric vehicle charging points coming to Bedworth and Nuneaton
A company which is on a mission to make the UK an easier place to charge electric vehicles is installing two rapid charging points in Bedworth and Nuneaton.
Charging point operator InstaVolt is working with Cornwall Garage Group as part of a determined drive to roll-out more charging points across the country as the infrastructure to support electric cars grows.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/motoring/motoring-news/rapid-electric-vehicle-charging-points-14293395#ICID=sharebar_twitter
Britvic to create 80 jobs in Warwickshire
Britvic are creating the new jobs at its Rugby manufacturing site.
The roles are being created as part of expansion at the soft drinks company, which has seen the installation of three new production lines at the Warwickshire site.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/britvic-create-80-jobs-warwickshire-14237446
Another new game studio for ‘Silicon Spa’
The team behind Avakin Life has opened a new studio in Leamington Spa.
Lockwood Publishing says the aim is to attract console and PC developers as it looks to grow its hit mobile project.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-12-01-lockwood-publishing-opens-new-uk-studio-in-leamington-spa