Featured News
LCE passes £5million milestone
"The LCE demonstrates our commitment to supporting micro, small and medium businesses and social enterprises. The £5million lent so far has supported the local economy in a broad range of sectors across the county and represents a sound and far-reaching investment in the businesses and communities of Warwickshire."
A Warwickshire County Council scheme which was created to support start-up, micro, small and medium businesses has distributed £5million of loans in funding in two and a half years.
The
Local Communities and Enterprise Fund (LCE), part of the Warwickshire Investment Fund, was launched in June 2022 to provide loans to businesses who were struggling to access lending by the usual High Street banking routes.
It was originally designed to offer support in the wake of the pandemic but has continued to go from strength to strength. The LCE, which is delivered by
Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Fund (CWRT), continues to support businesses across the county and by December 31, 2024 had lent £5million.
The scheme has supported more than 80 businesses, safeguarding 384 jobs, while helping to leverage another £4.5million in private sector investment. It has also helped towards the creation of 33 businesses, 16 environmental initiatives and 22 innovation initiatives.
The LCE has also supported 48 businesses to integrate new products, processes or services and this has led to the creation of 13.5 jobs created with another 41.5 jobs forecast to be created over the next 12 months.
Businesses throughout the county have been supported by the loan fund. They include:
Aspire and Thrive - Hartshill
Aspire and Thrive provides mentoring, engagement inclusion and relational support for children and young people who are at risk of or have been excluded from education. They have utilised LCE to establish essential infrastructure including HR, payroll, recruitment and communications systems, enabling smooth business operations. The loan also supported the development of key partnerships, notably helping the business complete the tender process for Coventry’s Alternative Provision Collaboration.
Love Writing – Leamington
Love Writing was formed in February 2019 to help children enjoy writing from early years, making it fun, engaging, and easier for children to learn to write as this is one of the fundamental building blocks of a child’s development. The business provides an array of products including writing tools, handwriting books, downloadable packs and has left-handed friendly resources. The funding enabled Love Writing to relaunch its website, strengthen retail and B2B marketing efforts and refinance short-term, high-cost debt. The loan supports the expansion of their product range featuring globally licensed Paddington Bear and Paw Patrol resources into retail and educational sectors. With improved stock availability, the business aims to boost sales, enhance customer experience, and drive growth in both UK and international markets, safeguarding four jobs and creating one.
Posture and Poise – Stratford-upon-Avon
This wellbeing and massage company provides a range of treatments tailored to each client, with a focus on sharing knowledge and making an informed choice. They also offer classes and workshops including Yoga, Pilates and meditation.
Posture and Poise used the LCE funding to refinance existing debt, launch a specialist training academy, expand their retreat offerings and recruit additional staff. The loan supports the business’s growth beyond its current capacity, enhancing services in physical and mental wellbeing for the local community. By diversifying into training and retreats, Posture and Poise aims to strengthen its business model and create two to three jobs over the next two years.
Fiesta Farewell – Rugby
Fiesta Farewell is an information service where customers can access information about end-of-life arrangements. Through an exclusive directory, customers can access information directly from service providers. To provide a full service, not just a directory, the website will be built so that customers can create an account and save all their wishes in one place. Loved ones will be able to access their wishes either before or after death and deliver the desired celebration directly from the account.
Fiesta Farewell used the funding to cover start-up costs, including website development, initial marketing and copywriting. The business aims to improve access to end-of-life services across Coventry and Warwickshire, creating two jobs while offering a user-friendly platform for thoughtful and informed funeral planning.
Wicked Cookies – Leamington and Nuneaton
This cookie company has a real focus on the dietary requirements of its customers. They have a store in Leamington, developing their bakery in Nuneaton and have a range of corporate customers such as Warner Bros Polar Express experience.
Wicked Cookies used the funding in various ways including working capital and purchasing the most eco-friendly equipment possible. As a result of this loan, three jobs are due to be created and several more safeguarded.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The LCE demonstrates our commitment to supporting micro, small and medium businesses and social enterprises. The £5million lent so far has supported the local economy in a broad range of sectors across the county and represents a sound and far-reaching investment in the businesses and communities of Warwickshire.”
Sheridan Sulskis, Chief Executive at CWRT, said: “The LCE has proved instrumental in enabling many businesses to start-up or grow despite the challenges of recent years. We have had the privilege of managing this fund for WCC and seen how much it has helped businesses in all corners of the county. To pass £5million in loans is a notable milestone taking into consideration all the business, employees, families and communities that have benefited from that support.”
- CWRT supports businesses that may have not accessed finance for their business before or maybe facing barriers in receiving support. To find out more about funding options, contact CWRT at cwrt.uk.com
Made in Nuneaton - and proudly still growing
"The training has been brilliant, in many cases tailored exactly to our business."
A small business which started in Nuneaton more than three decades ago and continues to grow there is well-equipped for further growth following staff training funded by the Skills Escalator programme.
MES Systems Ltd is a true Nuneaton success story. Created by Andy Morgan in his home 35 years ago, it continues to thrive at its premises on Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate with Andy’s son Richard now Managing Director.
The business, which install and maintains security and life safety systems such as CCTV, fire alarms and automated gates, began in Andy’s kitchen. As it grew, it moved into an office in the garden, then a unit at Centenary Business Centre which proved the perfect incubator, nurturing it to a point where it had to expand again, into the current premises in Watling Court.
Now MES Systems employs 21 people, four of whom recently underwent a variety of training funded by the Skills Escalator programme, delivered by Warwickshire Skills Hub and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in partnership with the county’s district and borough councils. The courses covered a range of IPAF and Health & Safety training.
“The funding enabled us to get some staff trained up and others to go on refresher courses much sooner than would otherwise have been possible,” said Richard. “Training like this is so important because, these days, most customers, especially the bigger ones, demand assurances that staff are trained to a high degree. Thanks to the Skills Escalator funding we can say they absolutely are.
“We also had some earlier funding from the Skills Escalator because we were part of the pilot scheme in Nuneaton & Bedworth. As a whole, the training has been brilliant, in many cases tailored exactly to our business - for example the risk assessment training that our sales surveyor undertook.”
If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk and one of our Business Support Advisors will be in touch.
MES Systems’ business trajectory remains very much upwards in Attleborough Fields where it has been since first moving into the Warwickshire County Council-run Centenary Business Centre in 2010.
“We moved into the Centenary Centre when my mum suggested it was time the business moved out of the house!” said Richard. “That move gave us space to expand and the business centre was perfect for us, enabling us to grow to the point where we had to move again to our current base.
“We love it in Nuneaton. The town and especially the location at Attleborough Fields are ideal.”
Louise Stolz, Future Skills Business Support Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “MES Systems is a great example of a small Warwickshire business which has the skills and enterprise to grow and succeed and it’s fantastic to see how much the business, and individual employees within it, have benefited from the Skills Escalator training.”
* If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk and a Business Support Advisor will be in touch.
Community benefits from Laura's move "home"
“This excellent small business, driving the local economy and community, is exactly the type which our Small Capital Grants programme, and the County Council’s business support as a whole, is designed to help and support to achieve ambitious and inclusive growth in Warwickshire.”
A Coleshill businesswoman has “come home” after setting up her own pool for her business, Laura’s Swim Academy, to the benefit of both the local economy and community, supported by a Small Capital Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
Laura Doig has run Laura’s Swim Academy at various locations across the region for 20 years, hiring pools and associated facilities at each to provide invaluable swimming lessons to people of all ages and abilities. Alongside helping local schoolchildren to achieve their national curriculum to be able to swim 25 metres safely, the academy provides public leisure swims and aqua fit sessions, as well as private hire for pool parties.
The Academy, which has nearly 900 customers a week, still operates at four sites but now has a long-term central base with a pool and facilities of its own in Coleshill where Laura lives.
She spotted an empty unit and took the plunge by transforming it into an intimate, well-equipped venue with an above-ground pool, modern changing and shower facilities, a shop, cafeteria and dedicated staff areas. The conversion has created a warm, clean, and friendly environment where everyone can enjoy the benefits of swimming.
It was a major investment for Laura, supported by the £35,000 Small Capital Grant, but the advantages of the business having its own premises are numerous and substantial. The Academy, on Coleshill Industrial Estate, Roman Way, has hit the ground running, or rather taken adroitly to the water, at its sparkling new location.
“This was a huge investment for us,” said Laura. “The place was just an empty unit so we started from scratch but, in a way, that helped because we could shape it exactly the way we wanted. We are really pleased with it.
“We wanted every aspect to be high quality and the grant from the County Council ensured that is the case. It enabled us to go the extra mile for the comfort and safety of our customers.
“We are proud that we can offer the personal touch. We have customers of all ages and abilities and they can choose the environment they want; the water temperature, the music, the level of training. It is great to see how much people enjoy coming here. One regular visitor said, ‘it’s the best thing I do each week.’ That’s nice to hear.”
“It is lovely to be in the heart of my community. It does feel like the business has come home!”
The Academy has also created job opportunities, offering full-time positions to swim instructors and support staff, and continuing Laura's successful apprenticeship scheme for young swim instructors.
Laura’s Swim Academy is one of more than 100 businesses to have benefited from the County Council’s Small Capital Grants scheme. The programme, which has so far supported the creation of 291 new jobs, is expected to open again to new applications in the new financial year.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “I am delighted that the Small Capital Grant proved so valuable to Laura’s Swim Academy and helped Laura to provide a top-quality resource that is at the heart of her community.
“This excellent small business, driving the local economy and community, is exactly the type which our Small Capital Grants programme, and the County Council’s business support as a whole, is designed to help and support to achieve ambitious and inclusive growth in Warwickshire.”
* 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
Training is spot on for Rugby business
"
For us, training is not just a tick-box exercise. Any training has to be useful and suitable and this absolutely was."
Customers at a forward-thinking small business in Rugby are receiving the most polished service after staff training funded by the
Skills Escalator programme.
Orscheln Products Europe, which employs 16 people at its premises in Pelham Road, has clients in more than a dozen countries across Europe as well as in the UK.
Keeping those clients content, informed and satisfied is crucial to the growth plans of the business, which specialises in control-based systems. So five employees underwent training delivered by Coventry Chamber of Commerce and funded by the Skills Escalator.
Paul Turner, Manufacturing Engineering & Health & Safety Manager at Orscheln, said: “Customer service is so important to us. We have a great sales team that wins us the orders but then we also have to provide a really good ongoing relationship with all our customers. We have always prided ourselves on doing that but are now better equipped than ever after the Skills Escalator training.
“For us, training is not just a tick-box exercise. Any training has to be useful and suitable and this absolutely was. Among other things, it covered customer service essentials, time management, understanding stress and managing customer excellence. We also previously accessed funding for some forklift truck training. The Skills Escalator support has been brilliant.
“We are not a huge business so want people to be as adaptable as possible. We believe in being as prepared as can be, which means taking a proactive approach. Next month, myself and Saj Sayed, our Quality & Environment Manager, are attending a course with a view to making us better-equipped to deal with some big orders that are coming down the track across Europe.”
The Skills Escalator Fund, delivered by Warwickshire Skills Hub, is funded by UKSPF in partnership with the county’s district and borough councils, in the case of Orscheln, Rugby Borough Council.
Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: “Orscheln is one of many great small businesses in Warwickshire which enjoys a high reputation with its customers across Europe. I am delighted that the training funded by the Skills Escalator was so valuable and will enable them to keep proudly flying the Warwickshire flag far and wide.”
Cllr Louise Robinson, Rugby Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Growth, Investment, Digital and Communications, said: “Orscheln Europe employs a relatively small team in Rugby but has a growing customer base across the continent, and the company recognises the key role staff have to play in realising its ambitions.
“Thanks to the Skills Escalator, we have been able to support Orscheln to invest in its most important asset – its workforce – and deliver training which both strengthens the resilience of the team and puts the company in a great position to grow the business moving forward.”
* If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk and a Business Support Advisor will be in touch.
Coleshill business eyeing up big league
“It has made me think in a more business-orientated way...more organised and focused on priorities within my business.
An ambitious performance chef has found a recipe for success after gaining invaluable support for his business.
Having attracted the services of players from Aston Villa Football Club and several other professional footballers, Alex Taylor knew he was on to a winner with Pro Game Nutrition.
But he’s taken the company to a different level entirely since approaching Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for business support in March last year.
Pro Game Nutrition, which is based in Coleshill, supplies ready meals for professional athletes in a range of sports. The meals are all bespoke and adjusted to the macronutrient needs of the athlete.
Alex launched Pro Game Nutrition on the back of a chance meeting with Aston Villa’s nutritionist that came about when he was forced to switch from working in a restaurant to serving in a deli during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He said he needed some help because the club was struggling to get the right food and meals for the players,” Alex said. “I came up with the idea for ready meals and personalised shopping for the players and it grew from there.
“We were asked to help a player with their recovery from an operation. They needed high protein and a diet that had a lot of anti-inflammatories. For instance, we provided a curry with a lot of turmeric and black pepper in to help the anti-inflammatory work.
“We avoid things like deep frying and we’ve helped Premier League players to get more vegetables into their diet. It’s the guidance of a nutritionist, but with a chef’s twist.”
Professional footballer Taylor Gardner-Hickman, who plays for Birmingham City on loan from Bristol City, and former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith are among Pro Game Nutrition’s many high-profile clients.
Keen to access targeted marketing support for the company, Alex approached Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on the advice of his angel investor.
“I explained everything on the phone and was told I could get free support,” the 35-year-old added. “They linked me up with Business Advisor Cathy Homer who gave me her expert opinion on the business’ strengths and weaknesses.
“The original business got a bit confused because there were two strands with Elite Eats - an events and private catering business - forming a second part of it. So, with Cathy’s help, we completely rebranded and that’s helped the business massively.”
Alex attended a series of online workshops on business growth and marketing, including social media and networking, as part of the Chamber’s Business Support Start Up Programme.
The Start-up Programme forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils.
“It has made me think in a more business-orientated way,” Alex said. “I’m more organised and focused on priorities within my business. And, whenever I go to a meeting, I always make sure I have business cards with me.”
Cathy said one particular element of the free course paid dividends immediately.
“I took Alex to a networking event and that’s where he met a branding specialist,” she said. “We worked with another local business to do the design and printing for the packaging and the website has been redeveloped too.
“Alex implemented the support so quickly - he absorbed everything. The change within three or four months has been phenomenal. And not just with his business. When I first met Alex he was really nervous, shy and struggling with his self-confidence. Personally, it was nice to see him shine and take his product to the next level.”
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Business Start Up Support programme offers one-to-one business coaching and workshops to help new businesses grow and develop their fundamental business skills. The programme offered ProGame nutrition tailored support to help them utilise tools and strategies to support their business growth, including building their marketing skills, social media skills and networking skill.”
Cllr David Wright, Leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council, “Support for local businesses is one of the three priorities for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund so I am delighted that this funding has been able help a small business based in North Warwickshire receive the bespoke support needed to create success.”
This programme is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
To find out more about Pro Game Nutrition, visit the new website at https://www.progamenutrition.co.uk/.
*To find out what business support is available to your business, please call the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visit the Coventry Warwickshire Growth Hub website.
Why tourists flock to Warwickshire...
"The tourist and visitor sector is an integral part of Warwickshire's economy and we are truly fortunate to have such a fantastic visitor appeal, from our country parks and other attractions to a vibrant and diverse food and drink offer."
Warwickshire is a county of literary greats, culinary brilliance and iconic heritage. It is also a place for an unforgettable short break or relaxing day out. For the family craving some outdoor adventures or a couple looking for a restorative weekend away, Warwickshire is waiting.
English Tourism Week (March 14-23), a national campaign led by VisitEngland, is an annual celebration of the vibrant tourism industry, highlighting its importance to local economies and promoting the innovation, quality and range of products and services on offer to encourage more domestic breaks.
Warwickshire has much to celebrate and its attractions are brought together by the Visit Warwickshire website which is a go-to resource for Warwickshire’s visitors and residents all year round. The county’s diverse range of towns are showcased in the ‘towns and villages’ section which brings together the hyperlocal town websites such as the Love Shipston website, launched for English Tourism Week 2024 to enable Shipston town centre to make the most of its role in the strategic visitor economy.
The latest figures for the economic impact from tourism in Warwickshire reveal that £1.26 million was spent in the area from 14.6 million trips (Tourism EIA 2023) while 22,645 local people are employed in the tourism sector in the county.
This year’s English Tourism Week theme is ‘Supporting people and places to drive growth’ which aligns perfectly with Warwickshire’s Economic Growth Strategy focused on ambitious and sustainable growth. The business community, including hotels, theatres, restaurants, cafes and camping, within the leisure and hospitality sector is key to that strategy.
To support these businesses, assistance is on hand through Warwickshire County Council’s scheme Project Warwickshire which is delivered by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, working with partners including Shakespeare’s England . Project Warwickshire offers help with marketing strategy, recruitment and retention and business planning. Further information on local tourism support for businesses, including news of the formation of a new Local Visitor Economy Partnership, is available here.
Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: "The tourist and visitor sector is an integral part of Warwickshire's economy and we are truly fortunate to have such a fantastic visitor appeal, from our country parks and other attractions to a vibrant and diverse food and drink offer. English Tourism Week gives us a chance to celebrate all that attracts people to our wonderful county and makes it such a great place in which to live. Warwickshire County Council, along with our partners, will continue to do all we can to support the businesses which power this crucial part of the local economy."
Further business support is available from Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub, which offers one-to-one advice and ongoing support to businesses in the region. Providing a ‘front-door’ to the vast range of business support initiatives and programmes on offer locally and nationally, the Growth Hub's team of experienced business advisors work closely with each business to identify the best resources for each business.
Visitors to Warwickshire’s parks and greenways can enjoy a host of concessionary businesses, including food and drinks caterers, ice cream vans, bicycle hire, and ‘pay to play’ bouncy castle and trampolines. Well-renowned local business, Farmers Fayre, became the new café operator at Ryton Pools Country Park last March which has seen a 26% increase in visitor numbers since the café started operating. The County Council also installed its first roof-mounted solar panels with 30 Photovoltaic (PV) modules to the café which is expected to fulfil 20% of the park’s energy needs and save around 2.63 tomes of CO2 emissions each year to support the council’s ambition of a sustainable future and become a net zero organisation by 2030.
During 2023/2024 a number of activities to support health and wellbeing, and protecting the environment were introduced, including Friends of Kingsbury Water Park selling 4,002 bags of duck food to fund park improvements; hosting the Midlands ‘Spring into Fishing’ event with the Angling Trust to teach new anglers safe, sustainable fishing; and volunteers from Butterfly Conservation helping to launch “Let’s Create Wild Spaces” projects at Ryton Pools, with 19 mini projects supporting specific moth and butterfly species.
Cllr Watson said English Tourism Week was a perfect opportunity to highlight the wide variety of vibrant attractions for visitors to enjoy at Warwickshire County Council’s green spaces throughout the county.
“We have worked hard over the past 12 months to build our commercial partnerships to enhance visitors’ experiences and to generate vital income to make our country parks and the service we offer the best they can be,” he said. “Warwickshire is a place to do business that provides economic opportunities tailored to business needs while meeting the county's sustainable and inclusive ambitions which are reflected in the businesses operating from our country parks.
“To have reached just under a million visitors to our country parks in 2023-24 shows that we are providing the amenities that people want and that more and more people appreciate the benefits of visiting country parks for their health and wellbeing.”
For further information, please visit https://visit.warwickshire.gov.uk/ and https://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/
WCC celebrates Apprenticeship Week
Warwickshire County Council celebrated National Apprenticeship Week from 10 to 16 February. Apprenticeships are a crucial part of workforce development at Warwickshire County Council (WCC), offering individuals of all ages the chance to gain valuable skills and experience. National Apprenticeship Week highlights the positive impact of apprenticeships and celebrates all who are involved in making them a success, including the businesses that hire them.
Since its launch in 2019, the WCC Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme has been highly successful in helping businesses cover the costs associated with apprenticeship training. This initiative addresses skills gaps and shortages in various industries to support business growth.
The unique programme enables the Warwickshire Skills Hub team to work with businesses, helping them explore suitable apprenticeships, identify local apprenticeship providers, and access WCC's levy funds. These funds can be shared with small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2024, over £1m was donated via the WCC levy share programme which supported 99 apprenticeships across 41 businesses in a range of skills and sectors.
Businesses can leverage this programme to invest in future skills through apprenticeship training, whether by recruiting new talent or supporting existing staff in expanding their workplace skills and knowledge to achieve nationally recognised qualifications relevant to their job roles.
The Business Skills Advisors at WCC collaborate with businesses to conduct a free, comprehensive review of their training, skills, and recruitment needs. This helps identify appropriate qualifications and training pathways with approved training providers.
In addition to apprenticeship support, the programme can unlock a variety of business services from WCC’s partners, including staff training, business growth funding, property search, tender opportunities, and network expansion.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson said: "The Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme has been a game-changer for businesses in Warwickshire. By providing access to essential training funds and resources, we are helping to bridge the skills gap and drive economic growth in our region. I am incredibly proud of the positive impact this programme has had on our local businesses and workforce, and it is always nice to reflect on that success during National Apprenticeships Week."
For businesses interested in taking on their first apprentice or upskilling existing employees, Business Skills Support Advisors offer a free review of training and recruitment needs to identify the best apprenticeship route. Go to www.skillshub.warwickshire.gov.uk for more information.
BRG programme gives Gibutech impetus
“It’s fantastic to see the practical advice and support offered by the Business Resilience and Growth Programme yielding results for small businesses, allowing them to grow and sustain their business in the area.”
A Warwickshire electronics business is on target to double its turnover after plugging into support in the region.
Gibutech, which is based at the Space Business Centre, Warwick, was established by Ernest Boateng in 2022. Armed with previous experience in sales and marketing for a range of large, multi-national companies, he decided to set up on his own, offering consumer electronic products from phone chargers to powerbanks and from in-car adaptors to phone cases. All are sold online via his own website and also through platforms such as Ebay and Amazon as well as social media sites, including a new TikTok shop.
But Ernest felt Gibutech was at a crossroads in 2024 and decided to reach out for support through the Business Resilience and Growth programme, delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils.
Chamber adviser Jason Barnes met Ernest and helped him to come up with a growth strategy and plan for the future. He also advised on the use of social media and marketing to help generate more sales and Ernest took part in workshops to help him to raise the profile of Gibutech. Jason also put him in touch with CWRT and the company secured a Duplex Fund loan to help develop its own products and has now launched wireless earbuds to the market.
Gibutech has already surpassed its 2023/24 turnover and is forecasting that it will almost double by the end of this financial year, thanks to the support.
Ernest said: “I was at a crossroads with the business. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be profitable and I was unsure what to do next, so I decided to look for support and the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub put me in touch with the Chamber. As soon as Jason came to see me, I could feel the energy coming back into the business. He gave me great advice, great ideas around how to plan for growth and also lots of support around social media and digital marketing.
“I now employ a consultant to provide support on social media which gives me time to plan and strategise for the business. It is working really well, and I can’t thank Jason enough. The figures for last year were triple the first year and we are looking to double turnover again for 2024/25. The additional finance has also helped us to launch our own branded products and that is an area of the business I want to expand.”
Jason said: “I am delighted to see Gibutech growing strongly and I am so pleased to see the impact the support has had. We help with planning, with sales and marketing but also, in this case, working with Ernest to take a step back and think about what he wanted from the business and what the next steps were. I offered the advice and help but Ernest has done all of the hard work in putting that into practice and it’s great to see him getting the rewards for that.”
Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It’s great to see the support the Business Resilience and Growth programme has provided to Gibutech. The programme provides tailored support to businesses and, in the case of Gibutech, the programme has supported them in the creation of their growth strategy and to develop their social media and marketing skills all with the aim of helping them to build and grow their business.”
Councillor Ella Billiald, portfolio holder for Arts, Culture & Economy at Warwick District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see the practical advice and support offered by the Business Resilience and Growth Programme yielding results for small businesses, allowing them to grow and sustain their business in the area. I’d encourage any small businesses looking to grow, to get in touch and find out how the programme can help.”
The Business Resilience and Growth Programme is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (via Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils) and Warwickshire County Council.
To find out more about business support programmes available via the Chamber and your business' eligibility, please go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-resilience-and-growth/
To find out more about other Business Growth Warwickshire programmes, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ukspf
Still time to enter for prestige Foodie Awards
Entries for the 2025 Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards are off to a strong start with entrants across nearly all categories.
It has also been announced that both Stratford BID and Rugby BID are sponsoring special categories for businesses within their towns to complement the other Food and Drink events they hold throughout the year.
Aaron Corsi, new manager for Stratford-upon-Avon BID said “Stratford has an amazing culinary offer, ranging from Michelin star celebrity chef dining experiences to themed and everyday café offerings which support visitors both by day and at night.”
Linda Lowne of Rugbyfirst says “We have an established Food Festival which now takes place twice a year due to high demand and is very popular with foodies from around the region. This helps to promote the town and raise its profile as a go-to destination for hospitality. We have a massively diverse offer including Turkish, French, Asian and wider European specialities which reflects our amazing diverse community and complements our thriving arts and cultural scene.”
Businesses who want to enter the awards still have until the end of March to complete the online form at Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards | Food Award. Judging will then take place, culminating in an awards ceremony in May.
Further information can be found at Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards | Food Award
Info session for rural and farm businesses
The Rural Enterprise Hub - Minerva Mill Innovation Centre is inviting their local farming community based in and around Alcester, Bidford and Studley for a free, relaxed and informative session on Monday March 17th.
The event will offer valuable guidance and free access to business resources and support tailored to the local rural and farming businesses and community, and further insights from Wright Hassall Solicitors on Farms and Estates.
During the session, guest presenters will provide details on how to access fully funded business support as a local farming business. There will also be information about Linking Environment and Farming, Wellbeing and Sustainability, Support for the Farming Community.
Organised by the Rural Enterprise Development Officer, Vicky Griffith, the session will take place at Minerva Mill on Monday 17th March from 11am until 2pm.
Guest Speakers include:
- Rural Enterprise Development Hub - Minerva Mill – Providing access to FREE business support for our local rural businesses & farming community
- LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming)- Find out about LEAF Open Farm Sunday - a fabulous opportunity to connect farmers and the public to discover the crucial work farmers do producing food whilst protecting the environment for future generations. Also discover training and support available for farmers wanting to deliver educational visits to local schools.
- Warwickshire Rural Hub - Wellbeing and Sustainability, inspiring its members to embrace change
- Addington Fund – Information on support for retiring farmers, grants for farmworkers and helping first generation farmers to get into the industry
- Wright Hassall LLP - Farms and Estates, Commitment to our Community
Attendees will also have chance to ask further questions and speak to the individual teams in a relaxed but confidential setting in the Bubble/Café at Minerva Mill.
Registration for the event is FREE so anyone interest can sign up here: bit.ly/3Qo1rYK or contact Vicky Griffith for further information: Tel: 01789 761334 or email: vicky@minervamill.co.uk
FSB Bootcamp will offer tips and inspiration
A Business Bootcamp and Networking Event, delivered by the Federation of Small Businesses, will take place on Monday 24th March at Coombe Abbey Hotel, Warwickshire.
This FREE to attend interactive event will provide the opportunity for small businesses to share tips with their counterparts and hear from inspirational speakers with a view to helping develop and grow their businesses in 2025.
This year’s theme is ‘Ignite Your Business’ and the event offers a chance to hear from expert speakers who will provide top tips and advice that can be implemented in businesses straight away. The event will also offer plenty of opportunity to network with other local businesses during the day. For more information, please visit here
How to achieve The KAE...
Business founders and company representatives from across Warwickshire recently attended a special presentation event about how to submit a successful application for The King’s Awards for Enterprise (KAE).
The event took place on Friday 31 January at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK in Coventry, and was sponsored by KPM-Marine.
Representatives from both the Warwickshire and West Midlands Lieutenancies delivered informative talks packed full of useful advice and guidance about what the KAE application process involves, the benefits of the award, and how to submit a strong application. The Lieutenancies also answered questions and spoke with individuals about how they can support businesses with their applications before and during the official application round which is open from May to September 2025.
The King's Awards for Enterprise recognise business excellence across four different categories - Innovation, International Trade, Promoting Opportunity and Sustainable Development - with recipients permitted to fly the King's Awards flag at their main office and use the emblem on their marketing material for five years.
A record eight King's Awards for Enterprise were awarded to Warwickshire businesses in 2024, and Warwickshire Lieutenancy is keen to support even more businesses with preparing award applications this year.
The Lord Lieutenant for Warwickshire, Tim Cox, said: “The King's Awards for Enterprise offer unparalleled prestige, exposure and credibility to successful companies. I encourage as many Warwickshire businesses as possible to consider applying, and the Lieutenancy is here to support local businesses of all sizes in their journey to achieve this special award”.
Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the highest accolade available to UK businesses and help them to showcase dedication and excellence to both current and prospective customers. Companies that achieve this award also help to boost Warwickshire’s reputation as a great county for innovation and enterprise, as well as our ongoing commitment to promote sustainable economic growth across the county”.
The Warwickshire Lieutenancy team has a locally focused brochure on the benefits of these awards and the appropriate steps that can be followed to apply. The brochure is available online at https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-1980322935-2072
For Warwickshire-based companies interested in applying for an award and would like more information, the Warwickshire Lieutenancy can be contacted at lieutenancy@warwickshire.gov.uk.
To find out more about The King’s Awards for Enterprise, visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise
Young entrepreneurs share their stories
Business professionals and entrepreneurs gathered at the University of Warwick Esports Centre earlier this month for Coventry & Warwickshire Champions’ Next Generation event, to hear from three young entrepreneurs who shared their journeys, from their education through to building their own successful businesses.
Graphic designer, Katie Jones, discovered her passion for creativity while studying for an HND at part of, Warwickshire College Group. Following her studies she decided to set up her own freelance graphic design business and build connections along the way. One of her projects involved a media company based in Wales, who were working on a short film and required Katie’s services to create DVD covers. Katie is based at 1 Mill Street in Leamington and is continuing to build her business.
She said: "Being a part of the CW Champions Next Generation panel was an amazing opportunity to share my personal business journey. As a graphic designer and motion designer I spend a lot of time behind a screen thinking deeply about the work I'm creating for my clients. In the past 6 months however, I have started thinking more like an entrepreneur and considering what the future of my business could become. The opportunity to share my journey and my experience of running a business as a creative and female founder, was amazing. I hoped to share the high and lows in a real and positive way. To summarise, work hard and do what you love!
“I had some really positive and inspiring chats after the panel discussion, making new connections, which were invaluable. I came away from the evening feeling proud and inspired."
Connor Gladwin and his childhood friend Harry set up the Coventry Coffee Company in 2020, just before the COVID Lockdown in the UK. He said: “It was great to meet like-minded people and business owners on a similar journey to us.
“Listening to the other stories gave us some ideas for our own next steps. We look forward to attending more CW Champions events in the future.”
Mitchell Barnes, CEO of RYSE 3D, who won the King’s Award for Innovation in 2024, said: “Participating in the CW Champions Next Generation Event was an incredible honour and it is a privilege to be recognised as an innovator, influencing the future of our region.
“Events like this are essential for championing SMEs and technology sectors, which are crucial for driving our nation's growth and development. I suggest the business community continue to support this event and provide the necessary backing to shape our region.”
CW Champions Next Generation was first formed in 2019,as a platform to showcase the region’s young talent and for entrepreneurs and business leaders to network in an informal environment, and build new connections. CW Champions is a subsidiary of the CW Growth Hub Group.
To find out more about CW Champions and upcoming events visit www.coventry-warwickshire.co.uk
Mobile coverage checker launched
Residents and businesses in Warwickshire will benefit from a state of the art, accurate mobile coverage checker that shows the signal strength of all major mobile operators in their area.
The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR), of which Warwickshire County Council is a member, partnered with Streetwave, who have developed a web-based tool for residents and businesses, allowing them to enter a postcode, and receive information on the best networks for their area.
The tool allows users to see results based on real data, collected locally by partners, and enables them to make a more informed decision on their choice of mobile operator, as this is a known point of interest for many residents in the local area. This is opposed to standard mobile operator coverage maps, which are usually based on algorithms, and therefore may not give the most accurate and up to date information.
Residents and businesses that may be relocating, purchasing new mobile contracts, or looking to improve their access to mobile networks will benefit from the tool. One of the innovative ways that partners have been bringing strength to the partnership, is in the mapping of coverage strength. Each residential road in Warwickshire has been mapped out thanks to expert surveyors, Streetwave. Surveyors installed equipment in local Warwickshire bin lorries, to gather the most comprehensive street-by-street information possible, with minimal cost and disruption to the roads.
This method of mapping has not only kept costs down by reducing vehicles, drivers and fuel, but also helps towards the wider council goal of achieving net zero, as no extra vehicles have been added to the road, and no unnecessary miles driven.
Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It’s important to stress that Warwickshire County Council has no affiliation with, or preference to, any mobile network providers - this tool simply illustrates which provider would offer the best solution for local residents and businesses. The way in which they have gathered data, working with our partners at district and borough councils, by using their refuse vehicles, is an exemplar in working together, keeping costs and emissions down, whilst providing the best possible service for our residents and businesses.”
To check connection strength by postcode through the RSPAWIR survey visit: https://app.streetwave.co/coverage-checker/60."
Growth push is badly needed, says FSB
Business confidence hit its lowest recorded point outside the COVID pandemic in the fourth quarter of last year, according to
Federation of Small Businesses' Small Business Index (SBI).
The headline confidence reading fell from -24.4 points in Q3 to -64.5 points in Q4. This is a fall of 40.1 points, and the lowest reading on this measure since the -143.4 points registered in the first quarter of 2020, when COVID first broke out in the UK. In the West Midlands confidence stands at -61.2 points in Q4.
The confidence score is calculated by giving double weight to responses which express stronger confidence or pessimism, before summing up all responses to give an overall impression of how small firms view their prospects over the next three months.
Such a low confidence reading at the end of last year underlines how much the Government’s push for growth, as outlined by the Chancellor in her recent speech, needs to be implemented as soon as possible, and built on with an ambitious Small Business Strategy followed swiftly by legislation.
The confidence tumble was recorded across all major sectors, with none managing to register a positive confidence score. Accommodation and food services was the least optimistic major sector, with a confidence reading of -111.0 points, followed by the wholesale and retail sector at -94.2 points, while firms in the professional, scientific and technical activities sector were the least pessimistic, at -40.1 points. Construction saw the largest decline in confidence between Q3 and Q4, going from -26.6 points to -76.8 points.
Revenue performance hit a record low over Q4 among small firms, with the one in five (21.8%) who said that their revenues had grown more than offset by the over half (53.9%) who said they had worsened, a net revenue growth balance of -32.1% (Q2’s net balance was -13.8%). Just as concerning, net revenue predictions for the coming quarter fell significantly to -25.9%, with just a quarter (24.0%) of small firms forecasting a rise in revenues in Q1 and half (49.9%) predicting a fall.
While the domestic economy (cited by 65.3% of small businesses) was once again the top barrier to growth identified by small firms, the tax burden jumped upward into second place as a cited concern, with over two in five small businesses (43.1%) raising it as one of their top barriers.
Labour costs were in third place, cited by 42.0% of small firms, and slightly higher in the West Midlands at 44.6%, while consumer demand – usually in second or third place in the rankings – slipped to fourth place, cited by 28.0%.
2025 could see lower levels of expansion among small businesses, with two in five (43.4%) saying they believe their business will grow over the next 12 months, down from over half who said the same thing in the previous survey (51.2%).
The proportion bracing for contraction, meanwhile, jumped to a quarter (24.2%), its highest-ever level outside the pandemic, and a notable increase from 14.6% in Q3.
Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, said: “The fourth quarter blues reported by small firms underline how urgently the Government’s growth push is needed. Small firms are understandably nervous about their prospects as 2025 gets underway.
“The upcoming Employment Rights Bill is a major source of stress for small firms, with nine in ten business owners saying they are concerned about its introduction, and this is undoubtedly a major cause of the very subdued confidence levels seen in our research.
“On the plus side, the Government’s plans to reduce late payment – a perennial source of financial pain and misery to small firms – cannot come soon enough. Improving small firms’ cashflow will relieve countless headaches, and free up the mental space for them to make plans to invest – based on reliable cashflow predictions, rather than subject to the whims of their customers.
“The Government has called for regulators to put forward ideas to nurture growth, while we sent our own list of suggestions targeted at helping small businesses, which we look forward to seeing adopted within the regulatory system. We would encourage the Government to extend this push to more of a pro-growth mindset to HMRC as well. Small firms collectively spend £25 billion and 280 million hours on tax compliance each year; reducing those amounts even by just a few percent would be great news for productivity, and for stress levels among small business owners."
Special Feature
Warwickshire is globally renowned for innovation and manufacturing
While the county of Warwickshire is associated with car makers like Aston Martin Lagonda, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and London EV Company, maker of the iconic London Taxi, the area is rich in other innovative manufacturers. Here we take a wider look at manufacturing in Warwickshire and the products that can be found in Shakespeare and George Eliot’s county.
The city of Coventry and the county of Warwickshire are known around the world for innovation and manufacturing, from bicycles to engines and transmissions to four-wheel drive and amphibious technologies to driving simulation and battery chemistry to software management systems.
Today it is home to two great universities in the University of Warwick and Coventry University, two advanced manufacturing catapult centres and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), as well as Greenpower Park, the West Midlands site for a new battery cell plant.
The manufacturing sector is extremely important to the government’s plans to grow the economy, with the imminent new Industrial Strategy. The UK is currently the 12th largest manufacturing nation in the world, although it has been placed as high as seventh in recent years.
The manufacturing sector supported 2.6 million jobs, with an annual contribution to the UK economy of £217bn, according to figures published by Make UK in 2024.
The West Midlands is home to the largest manufacturing cluster of any UK city region, with its 300,000-strong manufacturing workforce accounting directly for 11.2% of all local employment. This is well above the national average of 7.6%.
However, while Warwickshire is the home of global automotive giants Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin, it is also the base of other cutting-edge manufacturers who are designing and innovating new products which are attracting highly skilled people to the area as well as those just starting out on their careers. Some of these businesses can trace their roots back decades while others are more recent arrivals.
Dennis Eagle, part of the Terberg Environmental Group, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of refuse collection vehicles and manufactures over 1,000 vehicles every year for local authorities in the UK and private sector contractors from its headquarters and manufacturing base in Warwick, where it employs 460 staff, including 32 apprentices.
The company can trace its roots in Warwick back to 1907 and the Eagle Engineering Company, an agricultural and general engineering firm. It made oil and petrol internal combustion stationary engines and some small agricultural equipment. It provided municipalities with refuse vehicles and road sweepers and tower lorries built on Dennis chassis. It came together with Dennis in 1971 as part of the Hestair Group.
Most of the refuse vehicles seen on British roads come from the company – it currently holds over 70% market share and in 2020 it launched the e-Collect, the only OEM designed, fully integrated, 100% electric Refuse Collection Vehicle. The company has a continually expanding customer base overseas, including in continental Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and the US.
Keith Day, Manufacturing Director of Dennis Eagle, said: “We are very proud of where we are today in this demanding marketplace. We look to maintain this share while helping our customers navigate the new simpler recycling legislation and other market changes, while educating customers and stakeholders in the area of decarbonisation and electric vehicles, demonstrating our range of Refuse Collection Vehicles.”
The brand JCB is known all over the world for construction excavator equipment, but it is Warwickshire that leads in the UK for site dumpers. Thwaites has been manufacturing in Cubbington since 1946. Over in Bedworth, Mecalac UK can trace its roots to the Benford brand to the 1950s in Warwick, moving north as part of Terex in 1999, and becoming part of French company Mecalac in 2016.
The 81,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Bedworth houses the national production of its site dumper and compaction roller operation which includes the manufacture of its new innovative Revotruck, the only dump truck in the world with 360-degree visibility from the cab.
The Bedworth premises are the most environmentally-friendly, sustainable site within The Mecalac Group, featuring air source heat pumps, internal and external LED lighting, rooftop solar panels and rainwater harvesting.
Remi Tourtet, Global Sales Manager at Mecalac UK, said: “We started production of the Revotruck in 2024 and its biggest feature is that the cabin can turn 180 degrees so you have much better visibility when you are on-site or on the road so it is a massive health and safety improvement.
“The R&D was mostly executed by our engineering department based at the factory, and the production is also fully carried out here. We are very closely located near our suppliers since Warwickshire and the West Midlands is a hub of SMEs that supply most of our components.”
Another local manufacturer with a global impact is Godiva, a world leading provider of fire pumps for the emergency services.
The company began life as part of Coventry Climax, the manufacturer of engines which diversified into fire pumps in the 1930s. It was the creation of a powerful, light-weight fire pump engine in the 1950s that caught the attention of F1, and during the 1950s and 1960s, Climax became synonymous with British motor racing success around the world with Lotus and Cooper.
After Climax became part of British Leyland in the late 1960s, Godiva was merged into the Iso-Speedic Company in Warwick, where it remains today.
Now, US-owned Godiva is launching a new Blaze Warrior 10/10 portable pump in Spring 2025 which has been designed to deliver 1,000 litres of water at ten bar pressure in a small, lightweight package.
Guy Jackson, Product Director at Godiva, said: “In the fire and rescue industry, the Godiva name and brand is synonymous with both vehicle mounted and portable fire pumps. The need for portable fire pumps is as important as ever because they are used to deal with both flooding and wildfire events.
“Our talented design engineers have delivered a product design that meets a critical performance standard in the most compact and lightweight package on the market.”
Vitsoe is a more recent arrival to the county. For more than 65 years it has been Vitsoe’s goal to make long-living furniture, based on the classic designs of former Braun designer Dieter Rams.
The company actively chose to move into headquarters and production to Leamington Spa to an iconic factory building on the entrance to the town, to continue making high-quality furniture which it has built a world-wide reputation for since 1959.
Managing Director Mark Adams said: “We should have moved here 20 years ago but we hung on for longer than we should have in London.
“The majority of our suppliers are within 90 minutes of our building which is important for the assembly of our furniture since every order is bespoke to our customers who are in 90 countries.
“We sell to every EU country, every week. When our suppliers come here they tell us all the time how they are proud to work with us and that they love our building. It is amazing how short our supply chain is because most of our components are from the UK.
“We have 75 employees and our retention rates are higher being in Leamington Spa than in Camden in London. We have a high percentage of employees with families who can make a long-term commitment to the business because they love bringing their children up here.”
Invest Coventry & Warwickshire works with a range of businesses to support their search for sites and setting up in the local area. More information about their work can be found at www.investcw.co.uk and how they can help companies be here and part of this long manufacturing tradition.