News in Brief
Get your business on board with National Apprenticeship Week
Businesses across Warwickshire are being encouraged to support Apprenticeship Week from Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March 2015.
Apprenticeship Week is a national initiative that celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact that they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Apprenticeships not only equip people with the skills that they need to prosper in their lives but they also deliver real benefits to the economy and help businesses to grow their own talent. Research from the IMI (the Institute of the Motor Industry) for example, shows that apprentices typically generate a return on investment between 150% and 300%.
Apprenticeships are thriving in Warwickshire and the county council will use the week to launch a major campaign to encourage small businesses to take on apprentices, as well as promoting the range, breadth and success of apprenticeships locally.
Warwickshire's Apprenticeship Hub is the county council's free advice service for businesses, supporting firms in recruiting apprentices and explaining how an apprentice can be suitable for your business; if an apprenticeship is not the right option, we will tell you that as well.
The Hub has already engaged with more than 270 businesses creating over 110 apprenticeship opportunities with small businesses across Warwickshire. This is in addition to creating 60 apprenticeship opportunities with the county council.
If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships, get involved in the week, or share an apprenticeship success story with us then please contact us at the Apprenticeship Hub by emailing apprentice@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 412649. You can also find out more by visiting http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/getanapprentice
National Apprenticeship Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service - visit http://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for more details.
Monica Fogarty on Skills for Employment
Warwickshire County Council has invested £2 million in a programme to stimulate economic growth and add value to business and education collaboration. Here, Monica Fogarty, Strategic Director of the council’s Communities Group speaks about Skills for Employment.
Last year saw the economic outlook continue to improve in Warwickshire and the sub-region and that should have the consequence that many businesses will be looking to expand both their operations and their workforces this year.
Alongside that, we also had a record number of young people leaving further education and looking to take their first steps on the career ladder.
Through our work with businesses we know that hiring skilled staff can be a major challenge. We also know that our schools and colleges are keen to ensure their students fulfil their potential when they leave education.
As they say, where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity.
Our aim is to position the emerging workforce to take advantage of the opportunities that we are creating with our inward investment, attracting companies to the area and encouraging those already here to grow.
We have spoken with businesses and one of the things that comes up repeatedly is the gap between the skills young people have and those that are needed when they start full-time employment. If we are going to address this, we need to encourage stronger links between schools and colleges and the business community.
Warwickshire County Council has invested £2million in the 'Skills for Employment' programme which aims to add value to existing business and education collaboration. We can all benefit from matching the skills to demand; employers and employees alike. We will look at a range of ways in which we can increase the vocational skills of our young people, ally them to their academic skills and put them in a position that they are ready for the workplace when the time comes for them to enter it.
On March 6, we are holding a major skills conference for business leaders, schools, colleges and other providers to launch the first part of the programme. Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, the aim of the conference is to develop how we work together to address skills shortages and prepare our young people for the world of work.
We expect a high turnout of head teachers, college principals, businesses and key partners such as the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Employer Partnership and would urge anyone who can join us to do so and play their part in this important work.
We will provide more details on the programme in future newsletters as well as on our website. If you would like to find out more about Skills to Employment or attend the conference on March 6, please contact Glenn Robinson in the county council's economic growth unit at glennrobinson@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 412566.
New boss for BMW Hams Hall engine plant
BMW Plant Hams Hall sees in the New Year with a change of leadership.
BMW Group has appointed Dr. Markus Fallboehmer as the new plant director at the company's Hams Hall engine production plant in North Warwickshire.
Markus joins the plant this New Year from the company’s headquarters in Munich. He has a 14-year career in the automotive industry to date, working for BMW Group since 2001 holding positions within the powertrain division, firstly as a long-term planning specialist before moving on to senior management roles in production and more recently as head of planning and production of BMW’s electrified powertrain division.
Married with two children, Markus, 45, was educated at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at University in Aachen, Germany.
He succeeds Nick Spencer who, after three years as managing director at Plant Hams Hall, moves on to pursue other career opportunities.
Markus arrives at Hams Hall during an exciting phase of development. Alongside the continued production of current engines, including three-cylinder power units for the BMW i8 hybrid plug-in sports car, volume production of next generation engines is to be launched later in the year.
Tourism boost for 2015
VisitBritain predict record spending levels by overseas visitors this year.
In 2015, spending by tourists visiting the UK is expected to exceed £22bn and the number of visits by people from overseas is expected to increase by 2.5% on last year.
Stratford-upon-Avon continues to be one of the UK’s top tourist destinations outside London and tourism contributes to more than one in ten jobs in south Warwickshire.
Overall, tourism accounts for 40,000 jobs in Coventry and Warwickshire which is 8.5 per cent of total employment.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) has recently launched a new culture and tourism group to help grow the tourism economy, bringing additional jobs and visitors to the area.
The new Culture and Tourism Business Group will be chaired by Catherine Mallyon, Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a CWLEP board director, with other members made-up from leisure, culture and tourism sectors across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Councillors’ fact-finding mission at Silicon Spa
Politicians from Warwickshire County Council have taken part in a fact-finding mission to learn more about the digital gaming industry.
Councillors visited Leamington Spa’s Arch Creatives, a not for profit organisation, which provides low-cost working space for games developers and other digital creatives.
Known as Silicon Spa, the area including Leamington, Southam and Warwick is home to the UK’s third biggest gaming cluster. There are more than 30 studios employing over 1,000 staff. Local firms range from large studios such as Codemasters, SEGA Hardlight and Freestyle Games to small micro studios such as Monster and Monster, Modern Dream and Midoki.
The Arch Creatives project, which has received funding from the county council, aims to provide a co-working space where games developers can work, share ideas, seek mentoring, training and business support.
Local ward member Cllr Matt Western said: “I am very proud of our local success in the UK gaming sector and it is great that Arch Creatives are helping to bring together and develop local talent.”
Councillors were invited on a tour where they met local games developers including Jonathan Evans designer of the hugely successful Lumo Deliveries game. Jonathan told councillors how his game, which was developed at Arch Creatives, received over a million downloads within 8 days of its launch.
The group also learned more about skills development in the digital sector, which is essential to the area’s ongoing success.
Warwickshire County Council cabinet member and deputy leader of Warwick District Council councillor, Les Caborn said: “Through innovation and creativity, our local gaming cluster is making a major contribution to the local economy. We want to ensure that entrepreneurs have spaces to set up so this important sector continues to flourish”.
Ollie Clarke, owner of the studio Modern Dream and one of the Arch Creatives founders, added: “It’s great that councillors are taking such an interest in our work which is helping to shape the future of the digital gaming industry. It’s thanks to support from the county and district councils, plus firms such as SEGA, that we were able to get this idea off the ground.”
Over the last 18 months Warwickshire County Council, along with Warwick District Council, have been working alongside local gaming businesses to support the sector. This includes showcasing local businesses nationally, supporting the Backspace Festival which provides careers events and workshops and the creation of 26 HT - a new incubator facility for start-up gaming companies – situated at Hamilton Terrace in Leamington.
Based in a renovated Victorian railway arch in South Leamington, Arch Creatives opened in May 2014. For more information on Arch Creatives visit http://archcreatives.com
First phase of improvements between M40 Junction 12 and Jaguar Land Rover
Warwickshire County Council is pleased to announce that construction of the first phase of improvements between M40 Junction 12 and Jaguar Land Rover has started.
The aim of the whole project is to improve safety on the M40 and surrounding roads and unlock further economic growth in the area. This first £10.1 million phase comprises construction of a new dual carriageway to replace the B4100 and B4451 link from the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon Warwickshire to the M40 at Junction 12. New signalised junctions will be constructed to provide safe junctions with the existing roads and the new Heritage Motor Centre/ Jaguar Land Rover access.
The £10.1 million scheme is funded equally between the Warwickshire County Council, DfT Pinch point fund and the Regional Growth Fund via the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP). It is the first phase of a number of improvements in the area which, when complete, will reduce congestion, improve safety and unlock a number of proposed major new development sites at Gaydon and the immediate area.
The construction contract has been awarded to Geoffrey Osborne Ltd and work started on Monday 8th December and will take 13 months to complete.
Cllr Peter Butlin, portfolio holder for transport and planning at Warwickshire County Council, said: “This scheme has been recognised for some time as important and I am delighted that work is about to start. The project will provide vital safety improvements on the motorway and surrounding roads and that is essential as the situation needs to be addressed to keep road users safe. We recognise that the road, as it is currently, is dangerous for road users.
“But as well as protecting drivers and road users, the work will enable more road users to travel safely and with less delay and make the area a greater proposition is of regional importance because of the economic benefits it will bring.”
Cllr June Tandy, Warwickshire County Council’s representative for transport on the board of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The improvements to this junction are critical to the economic development of the county and will greatly improve access for workers at the Jaguar Land Rover site and other proposed development sites in the area. We need to make sure that the area is easily and safely accessible by road; these works will do much to achieve that.”
Warwickshire wins £100,000 award for youth employment
Warwickshire County Council’s performance in improving public services while reducing costs to taxpayers has won the authority £100,000 of funding to help young people get into the workplace and continue to drive the costs of public services down.
The Government’s Transformation Challenge Award supports the best performing councils and aims to give local authorities more control over how they spend public money in their area while setting an example for others to follow.
Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins announced Warwickshire County Council, which put in a bid jointly with Coventry City Council, as one of the successful bidders to the Transformation Challenge Award after the authority set out how it will improve young people’s job prospects, reducing welfare payments and increasing revenue in taxes to the treasury.
As well as boosting economic growth, Warwickshire’s Youth Transition Partnership will reduce the demands made to public services by those not in education, employment or training. The project will look to reduce incidence of anti-social behaviour and crime, improve levels of physical and mental health while directing young people towards more positive outcomes.
In a recent study, undertaken by Deloittes, the national cost to the treasury of young people who are not in work was estimated at £4.8bn in welfare payments as well as £10.7bn in lost output, ie income tax that is not being paid, as a result of not being in full time employment.
For many, there is no incentive to take short-term jobs so whilst the number of young people claiming jobseekers allowance might be low (in the Coventry and Warwickshire area it is 2,330 young people between the ages of 18 and 24) the actual number of young people not in work or full time education is much higher (the figure for Coventry and Warwickshire has been estimated at 17,800 young people out of work).
The TCA funding will be used to commission a comprehensive study into how to make such young people more employable. Early engagement within the education process, leading to more young people leaving with a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, will lead to more entering full-time employment. A cost benefit analysis applied to the potential outcome of the transition work estimates that this could yield a net benefit to the public purse of nearly £2.4million, a 1,600% return on the investment.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said:
“A key part of Warwickshire’s bid was the fact that we could provide evidence of effective partnership working. The county council is already doing a lot of work to reduce the numbers of NEETS – those not in employment, education or training – and this award will support us in this hugely important task.”
Cllr Richard Chattaway, Chair of the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Warwickshire County Council, welcomed the improved employment prospects for some of the county’s more disadvantaged young people, adding:
“Once established, the Youth Transition Partnership will aim to improve outcomes for those who are at risk of being lost to the system and help them to contribute positively to our society. We recognise that there is a considerable challenge ahead.”
Warwick fifth best in UK for economic vitality
Warwick has been ranked in the top five UK destinations outside London for economic growth, according to new research.
Warwick has been awarded overall fifth place for having the best prospects for economic growth in the UK Vitality Index by commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH). Warwick is the only contender in the West Midlands to reach the overall top ten and jumped up three places from last year’s index.
The Vitality Index, which provides a thorough view of the health of the local economies of the UK’s main regional towns and cities, identifies which destinations are best placed to support future economic growth and provide opportunities for businesses to expand.
The survey judged towns and cities on six different categories - most productive, fastest growing, most entrepreneurial, best educated, greenest and most affluent.
Autosport show at NEC
Gus Bhandal of the county council's inward investment team represented the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub at the Autosport Show, which was held at the NEC in Birmingham recently.
The show brings together hundreds of advanced manufacturing and engineering companies to promote their products and services before all the major motorsport seasons commence later in the year.
The Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub exhibited in the 'Autosport Engineering' section, which is the trade-only element of the show, to promote its business support services for advanced manufacturing and engineering firms in the local area.
The Growth Hub was also represented at the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) Awards Dinner which took place after the first day of the show, which was an opportunity to network with over 600 industry executives.
New business club launched in Alcester
A new business club has been launched at Minerva Mill in Alcester, Minerva Business Exchange (“MBE”).
MBE will hold a series of monthly events from late January 2015, with topics including a mix of practical business ideas (social media, SEO etc.), social (wine appreciation) and entertaining (including caricatures). Guests are also invited to contribute their ideas on future subjects.
MBE will offer a range of benefits to members, including discounted meeting rooms and secretarial services, free use of the business lounge (The Bubble), free Wi-Fi and discounted food and drink from the on-site facility Nino’s Kitchen.
Minerva Mill is home to 30 companies, including nationally known businesses such as the National Trust (where it is a regional hub), Helping Hands, Cal Gavin, Bodhi and CAB. In addition, there are a large range of smaller businesses covering such professions as accountants, designers, book publishers and holiday villas. In addition to office space, it also offers hot desks and telephone and post facilities for virtual tenants.
The building itself was formerly known as Minerva Works and was primarily built as a needle mill. It has subsequently been used to manufacture a range of products including golf balls, ironing boards and automotive products until current owners Impetus Limited acquired the site in 1998.
Under the leadership of Martin Gough (pictured), the building has been transformed into small units providing workshop and office space. It has been granted Grade 2 listing and an architectural award by the Alcester Civic society was in recognition of outstanding innovation of new ideas yet keeping the character of the building unimpaired.
Helping businesses to grow in North Warwickshire
Businesses from around North Warwickshire flocked to Grimscote Manor in Coleshill last month to hear how to grow their business.
Over 60 people attended the event to hear from a range of different experts about the funding, finance and business support available to them and to network with other businesses operating in the area.
Steve Maxey the Assistant Chief Executive from North Warwickshire Borough Council set the scene for the evening with a brief summary of the local economy and the key opportunities for the future. This was followed by presentations from Rachael Delich from the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, Elaine Weston from Warwickshire County Council together with Warwickshire Rural Growth Network partners, Nicolas Garnier from Pera Consulting Ltd., and Tim Powell from the University Of Warwick Science Park who together explained the support and funding opportunities that are available. It was acknowledged that the setting up or expanding of a business can be a confusing process and that these organisations are designed to help and guide people through it.
One person who has already been through the process is Mark Dodsworth from Greenwood and Dodsworth. He concluded the formal proceedings of the evening with a brief presentation about ‘his journey’ and the financial support and advice that had greatly benefitted his business.
Attendees went away from the event inspired and armed with a range of information and contacts to help them in the future.
Any business operating in North Warwickshire who missed the event but would like to know more are encouraged to contact Emma McKay, Leader Development Officer at North Warwickshire Borough Council on 01827 719356 emmamckay@northwarks.gov.uk
Rural Innovation Centre Goes Commando
A former Royal Marine recruit instructor has set up camp at the Rural Innovation Centre and sees the move as a springboard from which to grow his fitness business.
Lee Stuart created Go Commando Bootcamp in September 2010 with the aim of delivering challenging physical training sessions which are also enjoyable, varied and effective.
Go Commando Bootcamp sessions are based around the same type of exercising that Royal Marine recruits through when they first enter basic training.
Participants do a combination of circuits, shuttle runs and bodyweight exercises so they can achieve a basic level of physical fitness to suit their current abilities.
Business owner Lee says: “I was already renting a desk with another company at Stoneleigh Park and saw the adverts for the Rural Innovation Centre at the main gate.
“I think the Centre is excellent. It is very modern, warm and clean and has great facilities including a meeting room, photocopier, kitchen, toilet and shower facilities.
“I also love the fact that I can bring my dog into work and so do not have to worry about finding someone to look after him during the day.”
Lee feels that basing his business at the Rural Innovation Centre has been a great move.
“The Centre has benefited my business by providing an excellent working environment for my staff and I,” says Lee. “I feel that people are more motivated and productive when working in an environment that they are happy in.”
Lee is planning to start selling Go Commando Bootcamp franchises in 2015.
“I needed a quality environment in which to meet with potential franchisees,” says Lee. “I believe the Rural Innovation Centre provides this.”
The Rural Innovation Centre is part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network (RGN), funded by DEFRA and led by Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The building was refurbished by LaSalle Investment Management as part of its on-going revitalisation of Stoneleigh Park and opened in September 2013.
The Centre’s light and bright offices have been appointed to a high standard and are set in the peaceful and picturesque Stoneleigh Park.
A number of small businesses are already benefiting from being part of the Stoneleigh Park community, where everyone works as a team to boost business and productivity.
For more information please visit http://www.ricoffices.co.uk
Phi Lighting lets premium space on Kineton Business Park
Phi Lighting has taken a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse and office building at Brook Business Park marketed by Drake Howard Property and Brown & Co.
The Kineton business park has proved to be a popular rural destination for businesses, with high specification buildings near the Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin plants as well as the M40 motorway.
Phi Lighting has been engaged in the design, development, manufacture and sale of high-quality, design-led lighting products and systems since 2003. The move to 9 Brook Business Park is the result of continuing growth for the company.
Managing director Jon Dale said: “We have seen significant expansion in recent years and the move to bigger premises is a reflection of our success in developing new lighting products and a strong order book.”
Welcoming Phi Lighting to the estate, Martyn Howard, director of managing agent Drake Howard Property also congratulated the developer/owner MI Limited, on maintaining 100 per cent occupancy over the past ten years, at rents equivalent to prestige commercial developments in Warwick, Leamington Spa and Coventry.
Mr Howard added: “These units were built to the highest specification to provide a real alternative to established estates in the sub-region. Brook Business Park carries significant benefits of fast broadband, low business rates and congestion free roads - Phi has definitely found the perfect location.”
Grant helps to build TinyWood homes
A grant for small businesses has had a big impact for TinyWood homes, who design and build miniature houses for the Glamping Industry from their base in Long Itchington near Southam.
The company's design criterion is to combine practical living spaces with a truly tiny footprint. With the increasing popularity of the glamping industry, TinyWood felt it was time to expand and sought out support to enable it to make the next step.
With less than ten employees, TinyWood meets the criteria for micro-enterprise grants which have been helping small companies in rural areas working engineering/advanced manufacturing, digital media and low carbon technologies sectors.
Micro-enterprise grants are funded by DEFRA who awarded £500,000 from the Rural Development Programme for England through a bidding process by the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network to deliver grants to micro enterprises in the RGN areas. Tinywood Homes initially received a Micro Enterprise Grant of £20,000.
Aidan Reeve, who owns and runs Tinywood Homes, said: “My accountant sent me a link to the Rural Growth Network website. I checked out the link when I had an idle moment.
“I was thinking that it was unlikely to come to much, but after reading the website I got directly onto the phone and spoke to the team. It was quickly established that my proposed business would qualify for support and I began the form filling process. Help was provided with this task which was very much appreciated.”
Aidan says: “This grant money empowered me to develop my product and allowed me to embark on a serious advertising campaign. The advertising campaign culminated in Tinywood Homes taking an entire finished house to the CLA Game Fair where 18,000 people set foot upon our stand.
“The 'word of mouth' advertising that was generated by this is still astounding. Potential customers from all over the country have contacted me with regards to our product, and quite often they say that their friend had seen us at the CLA Game Fair.”
A second event called The Farm Business Innovations Show held in London at the end of November saw the Tiny Houses showcased in front of 6,000 visitors - at least 1,000 of whom showed a direct interest in the product.
"This was a very important networking exercise for Tinywood Homes, as representatives of the industry as a whole saw our products for the first time,” says Aidan.
“The grant money allowed me to take a few directions with the product that would have otherwise been impossible on the constraints of the original budget. Not only were we able to embark on the advertising campaign mentioned above, but we were able to turn every stone over on our journey through the development stages.
“A prototype house was constructed where every complication encountered was resolved. Without the additional grant money it would have been impossible to answer all of these problems with a suitable solution. Some ideas would have had to been abandoned all together.
Aidan concludes: “I am very grateful for this financial support for my project and the results of this support are apparent in the quality our final product.”
For more information about the Rural Growth Newtwork visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ruralgrowthnetwork and for more information on Tinywood Homes, visit www.tinywoodhomes.com
Supporting people with disabilities into employment
Warwickshire County Council’s WEST (Warwickshire Employment Service Team) is a county wide service supporting people who have a learning disability or are on the Autistic Spectrum into paid employment.
WEST supports both those people looking for employment and the employer. They do this by:
- Working with employers to match the right person to the right job.
- Provide a job coach for new workers
- Provide travel training
- Provide on-going support for the duration of the employment
- Provide disability support and advice for employers.
Employing someone with a disability can make a real difference to their lives. It gives them independence and confidence to do the things they want in life. As an employer you often gain a loyal and enthusiastic employee who is willing to their best to fulfill their role.
Below are some examples of people that have gained employment through WEST:
Chris works at Kram sheet metal a small engineering company in Nuneaton. Andrew his employer says he is impressed with his work ethic, attendance and time keeping, saying "he is just one of the lads."
David works at Dairy Crest a large dairy distribution centre in Nuneaton. Phil, David’s supervisor, said "David does an important job in the rewind section of the warehouse, he is always reliable and punctual you can count on him to be here on time every shift."
Richard works at EXD an Exhibition and Display company in Exhall. His manager said he turns up on time for every shift and just gets on with his work; he is part of the team and does a great job.
Ian works at Ingleby House in Bedworth, His manager said when Ian is on holiday everyone misses him, he is reliable and works really hard, his time keeping and attendance are excellent and he would be hard to replace.
All four men have been supported into employment by WEST and they have all have been employed for over five years. They all have paid jobs and are now working and living independently in the community with minimum support.
When each of the four men started to receive a service from WEST, they all lived at home with their parents and could not travel independently. They did not have ‘friends’ and they were part of a group with carer support.
Thanks to travel training also provided by WEST not only do they now all travel independently to and from work, they also go from their homes to Nuneaton bus station once a week, where they meet for a coffee before walking to Attleborough social club for a game of snooker.
With the support that WEST provides, these four individuals now live, work and socialise in their community. They do this with minimum cost from independent living services and no support costs from day services. They also no longer need a support worker to enjoy leisure facilities in their community.
For more information please contact WEST on:
Phone: 02476 385200
Email: west@warwickshire.gov.uk
Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/west
You can also keep up to date with latest news at:
Facebook.com/wcc.west
Twitter.com/WCC_west
Supported living development in Bedworth
A new residential centre for supported living is being created in Warwickshire following a £2.5 million investment.
The new development will provide a safe environment for local adults in Bedworth and Nuneaton with enduring mental health needs. It will allow them to live independently and give them the freedom to manage their own home, budgets and lifestyle with support where needed.
Altrincham-based HB Villages has purchased Beada House, on Newtown Road, from Warwickshire County Council, which was advised by commercial property agents Shortland Penn and Moore.
HB Villages, which was advised by Corporate Property Partners, has been successful with a planning application to extend and change the use of the property from offices to residential.
That will mean a total of 16 supported living units will be available with a target of August 2015 for the opening date.
David Penn, managing director of Shortland Penn and Moore, said it was a positive move.
He said: “We were instructed by Warwickshire County Council to find a buyer for Beada House – a well-known office property in Bedworth."
“There was strong interest but HB Villages was very keen to secure the purchase to create a new supported living residential centre."
“We are delighted to assist the council in the sale of the property and all parties are pleased to see that it will be put to such good use."
Malcolm Brymer, of Corporate Property Partners, said: “It’s a good deal all round and will see a much-needed facility provided for the North of Warwickshire."
“With the extension and the fit-out, HB Villages is looking to have it up and running by August next year.”
Jonathan Wrigley, managing director of HB Villages, said: “This new development will promote personalisation for vulnerable adults in the Bedworth and Nuneaton area. It will give them the choice to live where they want to, independently and in a safe environment.”
Warwickshire County Councillor Jose Compton, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care said: “I’m delighted that our positive relationships with partners are now delivering this exciting new accommodation in Bedworth."
“This scheme, which is making fantastic use of county council land, will benefit vulnerable adults with enduring mental health needs to live independently by giving them more choice and control about how they live their life."
New round of grants - Warwickshire Rural Growth Network awards another £200,000
Following the success of the Micro-Enterprise grants, a £500,000 funding stream made available by Defra through its Rural Development Programme for England, Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the Local Enterprise Partnership has announced that it has approved an additional £200,000 of grant funding for small rural local enterprises.
Seven new enterprises have received funding between £6,000 and £25,000 to help them expand whilst two further companies, who have previously received grants, have been successful with other bids to enable them to continue to expand and create more jobs.
In all, it is forecast that the funding will help to create nearly 20 new jobs, and safeguarding more. The grants are directed towards small enterprises, those with less than ten employees, primarily in the manufacturing, digital media and low carbon technology sectors which are priorities for the Coventry and Warwickshire economy.
Among the beneficiaries are organic food and drink specialists, web designers and an aviation engineering company.
The previous round of micro-enterprise grants created around 80 jobs in the county and played a vital role in expanding small enterprises in rural areas. This latest round of grants takes that figure near the 100 mark.
The grants are part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network programme for businesses looking to start and grow. If you would like to find out more, call 01926 412709.
13 small rural businesses are set to receive grant funding. These include:
- Angstrom Engineering of Alcester,
- IT specialists OCM Communications of Shipston-on-Stour,
- Manufacturer of beauty appliances and natural skin care products Sparcana of Alderminister
- Online petfood supplier Petshopbowl of Hatton Rock, near Stratford
- Digital company Greenwood and Dodsworth of North Warwickshire
- Manufacturer, Newfield Fine Homes of Southam
- Alpaca yarn manufacturers, Toft Alpacap Shop of Dunchurch
- Naturally Good Foods, a food business based in Bretford
- Lontra, an engineering company based in Napton.
Trading Standards offer food businesses advice on new streamlined food laws
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service is offering Warwickshire businesses help and advice to implement the new Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC) which came in to force on 13th December 2014.
Warwickshire County Councillor Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Warwickshire Trading Standards are here to help local businesses make sense of any new rules and regulations that might affect them. I would strongly urge local companies to take advantage of their expertise.”
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Chattaway, Chair of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, added: “The new regulation seeks to help food manufacturers, suppliers and retailers by combining and streamlining existing laws on food labelling and nutrition, ensuring greater consistency across Europe.”
“Consumers will benefit too from labelling that is clear, comprehensive and consistent.”
Some aspects of the regulation are being implemented now, whilst others will be introduced over the coming two years. The regulations will affect food business operators at all stages of the food chain, from manufacturers to caterers.
Businesses that sell non-prepacked foods, including restaurants and take-aways will need to declare if any of 14 allergenic ingredients are present in the food they make or serve.
Drinks with high caffeine content will have to be additionally labelled as not recommended for children or pregnant and breastfeeding women, with the actual caffeine content quoted
The types of vegetable oil used in food, such as palm oil, must be stated. Added water in certain meat and fishery products will need to be shown in the name of the food if it makes up more than 5% of the final product.
Depending on the type of food, consumers will continue to see ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates on pre-packed foods. The latter will be more tightly linked to food safety. Where appropriate i.e. for meat and fish, there will also be a date of first freezing shown on food labels.
A minimum font size for the mandatory information on most food labels will aid clarity.
From April 2015 the country of origin requirement will be tightened and also extended to fresh and frozen meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry. Information on the place of rearing and place of slaughter for these meats will also be required.
In 2016, nutrition labelling ‘back of pack’ information will become mandatory on the majority of pre-packed foods. It will also be possible to provide voluntary nutrition information in the ‘front of pack’ format on food sold loose (e.g. on deli counters) and in catering establishments. In addition, there remains scope for businesses to use Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) based on reference intakes specified in the regulations and (subject to certain conditions) additional forms of expression and presentation.
Alcoholic drinks will be exempted from mandatory nutrition labelling, but it will be possible for manufacturers to provide energy information on a voluntary basis.
There is more information and advice for consumers and businesses on the Food Standards Agency website: www.food.gov.uk
Businesses can also contact Warwickshire Trading Standards Service for help and advice on 03454 040505.
Don't miss out on Growth Vouchers
Aston Business School is pleased to announce that applications for the Small Business Charter Growth Vouchers Programme are STILL LIVE.
This evolution of the Government’s Growth Vouchers Programme, delivered by six leading business schools holding the Small Business Charter, will allow small businesses to access strategic business support from university institutions with a reputation for excellence in guiding small businesses in their growth. For an opportunity to take part in the full programme, businesses can apply via the online portal www.sbcgrowthvouchers.co.uk. There is £3,000 of Government match funding on offer, providing access to the kind of high quality leadership and management training needed to serve as a firm foundation for growth.
To find out about whether your business is eligible, or to apply, visit www.sbcgrowthvouchers.co.uk. Or for the personal touch, contact the team via growthvouchers@aston.ac.uk or on 0121 204 4822 for more information.
Broadband update
New CSW Broadband cabinets have been announced and the map has been updated.
The latest iteration of the rolling 12-month plan is now available on the project website. This includes 38 new cabinets across the project area, which will start to go live from now. Remember, though, that each Phase can take up to 6 months to complete! The rolling 12-month plan can be found here: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/where-when/rolling-12-month-plan
We’ve also updated the rollout map which now contains a very healthy coverage of green – indicating those areas where the cabinets have been upgraded. The mapping is generated using postcodes, and telecoms infrastructure does not follow postcodes so one cabinet may cover many postcode areas or one postcode may contain many cabinets. For a more accurate understanding of what connectivity is available to your own property and to establish which cabinet your property is connected to please use the DSL checker (www.dslchecker.bt.com). For the best results you will need to be able to enter a BT landline number for your property. Otherwise you can use your address, but it may be less accurate. Do not use the postcode checker, as noted above, that covers too wide an area to be of any use.
PLEASE NOTE: The new map shows the rollout under Contract 1 only. We will not be able to map coverage under Contract 2 until the spring – see below.
The tender for Contract 2, Part 1 is now being evaluated and we hope to be in a position to sign contracts by the end of January. We can then start to map the information, and that should be available during the spring.
Contract 2 is going to be in a number of parts, as funding becomes available. In part 1 we have the rollout for £3.68m Warwickshire County Council funding, plus £380k from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. These amounts are matched by BDUK, giving a total of £8.12m to be modelled for Contract 2, Part 1.