Latest News in Brief from the region...
Warwickshire hits new highs for start-ups
Figures just released show that more new businesses were established in Warwickshire during 2022 than in any previous year to date – making it one of the UK’s most successful counties. A total of 5,540 new formations were registered in Warwickshire during the last 12 months, an increase of 8.3% on 2021 when 5,117 were recorded. This brings the number of registered companies in the county to an all-time high of 42,564.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/warwickshire-hits-record-high-for-start-ups/
Warwick EV company secures £100million financing
Onto, a Warwick-based electric car subscription service, has raised a new credit funding line of £100 million. It follows the firm’s July 2022 equity raise of £45 million, and growth across last year of 300 per cent.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/warwick-based-onto-secures-100m-credit-facility/
Nuneaton’s Hello Fresh trials new fleet
Recipe box company HelloFresh is trialling its own delivery fleet, initially covering the West Midlands. The six-month trial is operated out of the Beehive distribution centre in Nuneaton and will cover Birmingham and the West Midlands.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/hellofresh-trials-own-delivery-fleet
Yellow Panther expands into new Leamington HQ
Digital studio Yellow Panther, which has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, has launched its new UK headquarters in Leamington on the back of rapid growth. Yellow Panther has become the fourth tenant to move into 11 Waterloo Place in the town centre since it opened last year following extensive refurbishment.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/digital-studio-yellow-panther-expands-into-new-leamington-headquarters/
Auto Design consultancy takes new office space in Warwick
Fast-growing automotive design and engineering consultancy Contechs has unveiled plans to build new design offices and create more than 125 new jobs in Warwick as its global business booms. Contechs plans to build a new two-storey design office next to Grand Union House – the company’s global headquarters in Budbrooke Road.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/automotive-design-consultancy-contechs-to-create-125-jobs-with-a-new-design-office-at-its-warwick-hq/
National Express £150m investment helps region to lead UK on zero emission buses
National Express West Midlands is investing £150 million in 300 UK-made electric zero emission buses, for delivery by the end of December 2024. The buses will be deployed across the West Midlands. This includes the Coventry Electric Bus City project which is replacing all 275 buses, across all operators, on the city’s streets by 2025. A further 124 electric or hydrogen powered buses, including 24 articulated vehicles for the Sprint route on the A34 and A45, will be delivered next year through the Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/national-express-west-midlands-invests-record-150-million-in-300-uk-made-electric-zero-emission-buses/
German machine tool company moves to Stratford
GROB Machine Tools UK, which currently employs 20 people, is set to move into the former Building Profiles unit on Timothy’s Bridge Road in Stratford and expand its team once a refurbishment of the site is complete. The company manufactures machines used to create components used in a wide variety of sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and energy.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/engineering-firm-moves-to-stratford-upon-avon-from-birmingham/
New site manager lands at Space Business Centre in Warwick
An experienced property professional has been appointed the first site manager of a new £5.5 million business and industrial park in Warwickshire which is due to open this month. Katherine Skerry has become property manager of the purpose-built 35,000 sq ft Space Business Centre Warwick in Tachbrook Park which is being developed by AC Lloyd Commercial. The 61 units, ranging from 285 sq ft to 840 sq ft, are nearing completion and are aimed at start-ups wanting to move from their home or garden shed into professional premises as well as more established businesses who are growing.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/space-business-centre-warwick-welcomes-new-site-manager/
New Conference and Events space in Southam
A former country house in Warwickshire has become an office, conference and events space following the completion of a £1.5m project. Works at Stockton House have created a two-storey extension, which features a conference and events facility for up to 120 people, meeting rooms, office space for up to 15 people, and The Stampings, a café for staff.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/country-house-transformed-in-1.5m-project
CROPTEC show puts down new roots at Stoneleigh Park
The CropTec Show has announced that it will relocate to the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre Stoneleigh for its November show after its previous venue, the East of England Show Ground in Cambridgeshire, announced its closure. The CropTec Show brings together growers, agronomists, advisors and technical experts over two days for seminars, discussion and networking across busy exhibition halls.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/croptec-show-to-relocate-to-warwickshire-after-previous-venue-closes/
Ansty Hall joins Exclusive Collection
Hospitality group Exclusive Collection has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of a 62-bedroom hotel in North Warwickshire. Purchased from Macdonald Hotels, Ansty Hall becomes the seventh country-house hotel in Exclusive Collection's privately owned portfolio. Ansty Hall sits in eight acres of landscaped gardens and dates back to the 17th century.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/exclusive-collection-acquires-warwickshire-hotel
Economic outlook improves according to Chamber survey
Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire began 2023 with improved confidence, according to new research. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce's latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) record an overall an overall economic outlook of 52.9 in the fourth quarter, up a point from the previous survey. The survey, which is developed in partnership with Prime Accountants Group, is analysed by the Economy & Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/economic-outlook-rises-in-coventry-and-warwickshire
Local commercial property agency launches latest property barometer
Coventry & Warwickshire property agency Bromwich Hardy recently launched their annual Barometer report, full of a wealth of facts and figures in the commercial property market in the area.
https://www.bromwichhardy.com/News/Bromwich-Hardy-launches-new-barometer-and-calls-for-new-development-vital-for-economic-future-of-region
£15billion of investment opportunities to be showcased by West Midlands
Representatives from across the West Midlands' public, private and academic sectors will be promoting more than £15bn of investment opportunities at MIPIM next month. The West Midlands' pavilion at the annual property conference will play host to a four-day programme of more than 30 events. It will showcase the region's investment opportunities to an audience of more than 20,000 property professionals and investors from around the world. They will be joined by senior representatives from a number of the region’s real estate firms, including Arcadis, Arup, Hammerson, Lovell Homes, MEPC, Mott MacDonald Muse and Stoford, as well as academics and leaders from Aston University, University of Birmingham and University of Wolverhampton.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/west-midlands-to-showcase-15bn-of-investment-opportunities-at-mipim