Featured News
Rural Growth Network will leave long-lasting benefits for Warwickshire
A vibrant event to celebrate the achievements of a £5m pilot project which provided advice and support to rural businesses in Warwickshire took place at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, in December.
The Warwickshire Rural Growth Network (RGN) was one of just five pilots in the country and ran from October 2012 to December 2015, led by Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership. It was funded by Defra, the EU's Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), Warwickshire County Council and partners.
The RGN provided drop-in clinics, specialist advice, one-to-one mentoring, coaching, small business loans, grant funding and business premises.
Warwickshire continues to benefit hugely from the RGN and its legacy. It provided a catalyst to explore new ways of supporting businesses in rural areas, linking urban and rural areas, and it has drawn together the work of a wide-range of specialist organisations and partners in support of the rural economy.
The celebration event was attended by 125 delegates, including many small businesses who had engaged in the programme. Organised by Warwickshire County Council and Pera Consulting - which managed the RGN’s Start-up support and Business Growth programmes - the popular event gave participants the opportunity to share their experiences, network and hear about the future plans for business support in the county.
Some RGN successes by September 2015 include:
- More than 790 existing businesses supported.
- 533 jobs created or safeguarded.
- 171 businesses created of which 111 were women-led.
- Rural Innovation Centre at Stoneleigh Park, developed in partnership with La Salle, has been fully occupied since the early days of the RGN programme and LaSalle are now investing in a second phase of the successful centre.
- RDPE grant programme: support for micro enterprises in the county considered so successful that additional RGN funding was allocated to the scheme.
The economic benefits of the RGN will continue to emerge across the county, well into 2016 and beyond. WCC is also working with partners to develop a new comprehensive business support service for the county, using local resources matched by European funding. The new programme, set to be worth up to £40 million over the next three years across the sub-region, will include dedicated support and mentoring for anyone in Warwickshire looking to start their own business along with a programme of support and finance for businesses looking to grow.
Pictured above (foreground) are Steph Stardling of Othen Creative and Teresa Andrews of Steer Marketing who first met at an RGN business planning workshop and have since been working together productively to attract new clients.
Thousands of students benefit from Skills for Employment grants
Warwickshire County Council's Skills for Employment programme has awarded £3,000 match-funded grants to 26 schools and colleges across Warwickshire to develop the employability skills of young people and promote joint-working with business.
Evaluation reports submitted by schools and colleges show that more than 4,500 students benefited from the grants which were awarded in February 2015.
With £81,808 total funding, the approximate cost of helping each individual student was around £18. Among the students benefiting, there were more than 100 identified as at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) while more than 300 had secured week-long work experience placements and eight had commenced apprenticeships.
A further 36 grants of £3,000 worth more than £104,000 were awarded in October.
An example of the diverse range of activities taking place as a result of the funding is Studley School which has provided a wide range of activities for pupils from Year Seven, Nine, 10 and 11.
One of the activities included raising awareness among 118 Year Seven students of the importance of English and Maths grades and how to access careers advice resources. 151 Year 10 students attended a Raising Aspirations Event where pupils interacted with 20 employers to explore different career paths.
Thirty pupils at risk of becoming NEET went to a further education provider for a tour around classrooms and other learning facilities. Students also received support in post-16 decisions - eight pupils secured apprenticeships while all other students secured further education or A level provision.
Meanwhile, in a separate strand of funding, in June 2015, the Skills for Employment programme awarded more than £320,000 to ten partnership projects between businesses and education-providers that focus on developing the employability skills of young people and helping solve the skills shortage.
Among those to benefit were sixth-formers at Round Oak Special School in Warwick. The students have set up a mobile baked potato business which they are hoping to operate for the rest of the academic year.
Supported by job coaches, the students from the school for those with additional learning needs and disabilities, will be in charge of all elements of running the business. The school says this excellent initiative is proving to be “life-changing” for the pupils involved.
Picture courtesy of the Leamington Courier.
Warwickshire in the spotlight at London Olympia
Members of Warwickshire County Council's Invest in Warwickshire team are busy following up leads from connections made during their visit to The Business Show at London Olympia.
Last month the Invest in Warwickshire team seized the chance to promote the county as a business base at The Business Show 2015 - the UK’s largest exhibition for anyone looking to start-up or expand their existing business.
Warwickshire has got much to offer those businesses so the Invest in Warwickshire team spent two days in the capital getting that message across to more than 25,000 visitors to the exhibition.
With over 350 exhibitors at the show, there were plenty of opportunities for businesses to network and make new contacts, picking up hints and tips from the many seminars, keynote speeches and master-classes. There were also numerous opportunities for companies to participate in “speed-networking” sessions, maximising the opportunities to hear from new people and make strong contacts.
With thousands of business people seeking the latest help and advice, it was a not-to-be-missed chance to showcase the region as a place for businesses to settle. And Invest in Warwickshire were one of only a small number of teams at the show selling opportunities associated with their specific geographic area.
Many companies visited the Warwickshire stand to learn more about what the county could offer and the team is now in dialogue with a variety of them, including companies looking to invest from overseas, retail manufacturers and start-ups looking for an alternative to locating in London.
Warwickshire County Council's Inward Investment Manager Sackie Somal said: “It is really important for the team to have a presence at shows such as this. Many of the individuals who attend the show are just at the point of making a decision about where to locate – so it is crucial to be able to demonstrate to them why Warwickshire could be the perfect location for them.”
The show also had a key emphasis on how to expand a business's world-wide presence with the “Going Global” element of the event dedicated to exporting overseas. UK Trade & Investment have a prominent role in supporting UK businesses with their global ambitions and were there throughout the show to give help and advice to companies attending on exporting and breaking into overseas markets.
The ever-expanding export market offers huge opportunities to businesses in 2016. And the message from Sackie's team to the thousands of visitors at The Business Show was clear: There is no better location from which to establish and grow your business than Warwickshire.
New research shows Warwick District still leading the tech sector
Warwick District continues to lead the way nationally in the technology sector, topping the table for companies in the industry, according to new research.
The West Midlands' tech sector grew by more than eight per cent in the past year, headed by Warwick District where tech firms account for 14 per cent of businesses, according to the latest KPMG/Markit Tech Monitor UK Survey.
The survey revealed that the number of technology businesses in the West Midlands region rose by 8.4 per cent between 2014 and 2015, with figures surging by a quarter since 2010.
Nationally, the region was ranked fourth on the list of areas with the greatest proportion of tech sector companies, behind London, the south-east and the east of England.
Powered by the world-renowned gaming cluster in Leamington "Silicon" Spa, Warwick District's tech firms made up 14 per cent of businesses in the area, followed by Coventry (12 per cent), Solihull (11 per cent), Telford & Wrekin (9 per cent) and Redditch (nine per cent).
Warwick District also experienced the fastest increase in enterprises since 2014.
Mike Steventon, Midlands regional chairman for KPMG described the figures as "hugely encouraging."
"It is important that the UK has a strong tech sector and vital for the West Midlands to be at the forefront of innovation," he said. "So it is hugely encouraging to see our region’s tech industry grow by 25 per cent in just five years.
"Perhaps more importantly, we are carving out niches in the region, building on our region’s heritage in areas such as automotive and manufacturing, but doing so in a modern and innovative way.
"This creation of tech centres of excellence will create a virtuous circle of attracting global investment and acting as a magnet to the best tech talent."
How little Leamington became a global player in gaming
Leamington Spa has achieved world-renown status as a leader in the gaming industry with the sector now a significant factor in the economy of the town and the county of Warwickshire.
Here, in an article first featured in The Guardian newspaper's Small Business Network, Ollie Clarke, the founder of Modern Dream, reflects upon the rise of "Silicon Spa" and the challenges facing it now and in the future.
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Approximately 75% of the digital media companies in Leamington are gaming companies. It is known as the Silicon Spa. 
This games cluster grew out of the success of games developer and publisher Codemasters – which really was a trailblazer – and then Blitz Games Studios. Other companies moved or set up here to be near those companies. As the businesses thrived, some staff left to set up on their own but stayed local.
I moved to Warwickshire in 2002, when it was still very early days for the video games industry. Much of what I knew was self-taught, but there was already a developing industry cluster in Leamington, and I was offered a job with Blitz Games.
It was a great place to work – the two founders were passionate game makers and they encouraged us to make good games and to keep high professional standards.
When the company folded in 2013 and 175 staff lost their jobs, everyone was devastated.
At the time we were making a game for Sega called Typing of the Dead, so I decided to see if we could carry on. I spoke to the lawyer who acted for Blitz and he said “no chance.” But, in the best British tradition, we went down to the pub and he told me I could approach them.
I met with Sega in Leamington the next day. They had faith and understanding and said to finish the game. Those of us who had been developing the game at Blitz worked at my flat, split the budget and got the game out.
And that is how the cluster here in Leamington has developed. In many ways the demise of Blitz made various people sit up and take notice of the sector in this area, its value to the economy and its economic potential.
Warwick District Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership have all realised the importance of gaming. The rise of a thriving creative sector, especially in a town known for its independent retailers, is good for attracting younger people and retaining graduates.
There are almost 1,000 people working in the video games industry now, with more than 40 companies in and around Leamington, which for a town of less than 50,000 people is incredible.
Local firms range from large studios such as Codemasters, Sega Hardlight and Freestyle Games, to small micro studios such as Monster and Monster, my own Modern Dream and Midoki .
As well as support from the LEP and the councils, our local MP, Chris White is the chair of the all-party group on video games and has pushed the interests of the industry very hard.
People come to Leamington to learn how to make games and that means a bit of the town’s DNA is in the industry. People in every major games studio in the world have started or developed their careers here.
In 2014 a group of us set up Arch Creatives, a not-for-profit studio space in a converted railway arch, where people pay a monthly fee for a desk.
There are regularly 15 or so developers working here on five invested games and we have doubled our space in the first year.
At Arch Creatives we have seen councils, LEPs and the government make huge steps forward to support a growing games industry in the UK. However there is more to do.
The recent video games sector report, published by the games industry trade body UKIE, offers five solid recommendations to encourage the industry to reach its full potential. One of those is that regional growth, foreign direct investments and exports are supported across the UK. This would enable the whole country to benefit from a vibrant games industry.
These clusters are vital for the future of video games production in the UK and need continued support.
Skills Conference to be held on 24 February 2016
Following the first Warwickshire County Council Skills Conference, held last year, there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the question of whether there should be another - 100% of respondents said 'yes' and so a second Skills Conference will be held on Wednesday 24 February, 2016.
The conference will build on the success already achieved and provide the inspiration, know-how and networking opportunities to allow many more businesses, schools and training-providers to get together to share innovative ideas and boost the employability of the county’s young people.
The conference will feature some of the business partners in projects which the county council is funding, including Alumet Systems UK, Aston Martin and Triton Showers. Senior managers from these companies will highlight why they are involved and the benefits to the business.
Another firm, Totem Learning, will demonstrate the ‘serious’ employability game they are developing for Warwickshire schools to use at no cost this year. Schools involved in projects will describe the enhanced skills which students are gaining and the new opportunities available to them. There will also be a roundtable discussion session for business and education leaders to consider how joint-working can be further developed to improve the employability skills of young people.
Strong relationships between local firms and schools are vital if the county is to continue to get better at matching young people with the right opportunities - a truly win-win situation for all.
If you would like to attend the conference, between 8 and 10am on February 24th at the Trident Centre, Poseidon Way, Warwick, please contact Warwickshire County Council’s Economy and Skills Group on: Tel: 01926 418027, email: skillsforemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk
Kenilworth set to improve visitor experience thanks to county council grant
When the Kenilworth Town Centre Partnership (KTCP) identified an opportunity to investigate how to improve the town's appeal to visitors and tourists, Warwickshire County Council backed the project with a £5,000 grant.
KTCP brings together key stakeholders from the public and private sector to work collaboratively with a view to preserve and enhance the character of the town and make it a great place to live, work, shop and enjoy leisure time.
Kenilworth attracts visitors all year round and they come for many reasons; to experience a day at Kenilworth Castle, enjoy an afternoon at Abbey Fields or spend time shopping in the town or dining in one of the many restaurants and cafes. The Town Partnership felt, however, that there was a need to look at whether the visitor experience could be improved further to ensure that visitors get the most from their visit to the town - and to ensure the local economy is benefiting from tourism.
To obtain a fresh perspective of the town’s visitor experience, the Town Centre Partnership commissioned a consultant to undertake an independent visitor audit of Kenilworth. Funded by the £5,000 grant, the audit will include an assessment of the town’s online presence as well as an assessment of the town’s daytime and evening offer for visitors.
A facilitated half-day workshop will give the KTCP the opportunity to discuss a report identifying opportunities to further improve the town for the benefit of visitors and local businesses. The funding will also support the KTCP's implementation of a number of the actions arising from the consultation.
The project is due to be completed by the end of March 2016. It is hoped that key benefits will include improved visitor-satisfaction, increased visitor-spend, longer stays, more repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth recommendations - which altogether will drive greater visitor expenditure and jobs in the local economy.
Start Up and Micro business advice available at Growth Hub open day
Start ups and micro businesses will be able to gain access to free specialist advice at an Open Day organised by Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub in January.
The event is backed by Warwickshire County Council and will be attended by a range of key local organisations which are able to provide support.
Anybody involved in a start up or micro business is invited to the open day at the Growth Hub offices at Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road, Coventry, on Thursday 21st January, between 9.30am and 4pm.
The event offers a great chance for any new small business to access numerous aspects of business support in one hit, as opposed setting meetings up separately.
On offer will be free drop-in sessions for visitors to access professional business advice from Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Start Up Team, Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, the Federation of Small Businesses and HMRC's Small Business Strategy Team.
To register your interest and let the Growth Hub know in which area you require support, please visit contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk.
For further information about the open day please visit http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/event/open-day-free-drop-sessions
Some top tips on exporting...
Are you an SME thinking of starting to export or expanding the export side of your operations? Here, the Federation of Small Businesses offer their Top Export Tips for Small Businesses.
Countless opportunities can arise from selling your business's products or services overseas, but there are also many issues and challenges you need to be sensitive to when exporting. From local customs to local regulations, small businesses need to think about how they can best operate in other countries.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is working with the government to encourage more small firms to look for opportunities abroad, and has put together a number of steps firms can take if they are considering exporting.
1. Know where you are exporting
It is important that you are confident that there is demand for the goods/services your business offers, but also do your homework on competition and prices. Different countries have different rules concerning marketing, advertising and promotion; what works in the UK may not work overseas. Documentation for tax and travel can also be different. Take the time to check with an international marketing expert, or look at the services UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) offers, such as the Passport to Export scheme which helps first-time exporters.
Each country has different customs and attitudes to business. Get to know these because it will give you an advantage over your immediate competition and larger firms. If possible, speak to other companies that have done business in your chosen country. You can use exporting clubs (based around the UK), speak to other businesses and research online. HM Revenue and Customs has also produced a guide that offers advice to small firms.
2. Consider how you want to sell abroad
Small firms can sell in new foreign markets in a number of ways.
To a distributor: The distributor will then sell your goods to customers in that market for a percentage of the total sales value.
Through a sales agent: These individuals will either sell products for you or find customers for you on a commission basis. This can help ease you into the local customs and regulations.
By entering a joint venture with a local business: This will provide you with a lot of local knowledge of customers and regulations. For complete control, open an office or employ staff in the new foreign market.
Know your customers: Make sure you know the relevant customs and the commercial deadlines to which your customers work - Saturday and Sunday are not weekend days everywhere. Importantly, understand their culture; what are good manners in the UK might not be elsewhere. In some countries, personal relationships count for more than a slight price competitiveness.
It's also important to know if your new foreign customers can pay for the goods and services you will send to them. If you have concerns about this, ask for pre-payment or an export Letter of Credit, both of which assure payment. These can be sourced from all major banks. If you are just starting out, it might be easier to have some local help, but firms should consider all options.
3. Financing your export venture
You may need financing to produce the goods or fund other aspects of a sale, such as promotion and selling costs, engineering modifications and shipping. Here are some considerations when thinking about finance:
Costs: The cost of borrowing, including interest rates, insurance and fees, will vary. The total - and its effect on the price of the product and profit from the transaction - should be well understood.
Terms: Costs increase with the length of terms. Different methods of financing are available for short, medium and long-term borrowing. You need to be fully aware of financing limitations to secure the right solution with the most favourable terms.
Currency: Being based in the UK means you will want to convert sales into pounds sterling. However, as currencies fluctuate in prices, you will need to consider if opening a bank account in the trading nation is necessary, especially if it is a major trading nation for your business, and even 'hedging' to lock in prices. This will depend on how often you trade abroad and where you trade.
Risk management: The greater the risks associated with the transaction, the greater the cost will be. The creditworthiness of the buyer will directly affect the likelihood of payment to an exporter, but it is not the only factor to think about. The political and economic stability of the buyer's country are also important when costing finance.
4. Questions the banks may ask
Can the exporter perform? They will want to know that you can produce and ship the product on time and that the product will be accepted.
Can the buyer pay? They want to know the buyer is reliable with a good credit history. They will evaluate any commercial or political risk.
If selling goods, make sure they are insured when you transport them to the host country.
If a lender is uncertain about the exporter's ability to perform - or if additional credit capacity is needed - UKTI and UK Export Finance can help with their lending schemes, and provide local knowledge in most major trading nations.
All of the major banks offer a range of advice, products and services for small businesses.
For more information on the FSB please visit http://www.fsb.org.uk/
For more advice on exporting, the International Trade Team at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce are also able to help. Ajay Desai and his team of International Trade Advisor's can be contacted on 024 76 654321. Alternatively, visit the UK Trade & Investment web-site: www.ukti.gov.uk which contains a wealth of information on exporting.
Venture House offers perfect base for new and small businesses in Stratford
Start-ups and small businesses can soon take advantage of a newly-transformed business centre known as Venture House, located on Avenue Farm Industrial Estate just off the Birmingham Road in Stratford-on-Avon.
The centre, which will open its doors in spring 2016, is owned and managed by Stratford-on-Avon District Council, has been supported and funded by WCC and enabled as part of a Growth Deal with Central Government. It has been designed to provide the best possible base for new businesses starting up, small businesses wishing to grow and businesses making the transition from a home-based environment into commercial premises.
Supported by a £450,000 grant from Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), Venture House provides 2,500 square feet of business space over two floors. It offers hot-desking, co-working space, self-contained offices, reception meet & greet, superfast broadband, business support, mailbox facility, photocopying, on-site parking, cycle shed, indoor and outdoor chill-out zones, refreshment facilities, meeting space, small conferencing facilities, competitive rates, easy in easy out terms and more.
Councillor Dave Riches, portfolio holder for Enterprise, Housing & Revenues at Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “We are looking forward to welcoming businesses to this new facility which we hope will provide a centre for inspiration, creativity and excellence, supported by business experts.
"Our ambition is testimony to the recognition by government ministers of the district council's desire to support new business and business growth in our district and that this is seen as a priority.”
Nick Abell, a board director at the CWLEP, believes the opening of Venture House will be an invaluable benefit to business start-ups in Stratford.
“The transformed building will provide hot-desking and flexible working space which is ideal for small and micro businesses,” he said. “As well as providing fantastic facilities, entrepreneurs will have immediate access to advice and support from Growth Hub advisers and business coaching support which is really important in the early stages of start-ups.
“Providing this kind of business support will also encourage new businesses to stay in the area since everything they need will be here."
Businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups wishing to find out more about Venture House can see the film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUegxGknsyw&feature=youtu.be or contact Nancy Singleton on 01789 260803 or at nancy.singleton@stratford-dc.gov.uk
How you can safeguard your business from cybercrime
Damage caused by cybercriminals can be devastating for an SME and, in 2016, as the criminals become more and more sophisticated, there is no room for complacency - the threat of such an attack is very real.
Here, Warwickshire Trading Standards outline the measures which SMEs can take to help stay secure from cyber-attacks.
According to a recent report by The Centre for Economics and Business Research, cybercrime could be costing British businesses a massive £34 billion a year.
The number and severity of attacks on small and medium-sized businesses continues to rise as cybercriminals use a variety of means to penetrate IT systems. Weak security systems and a lack of staff training, awareness or vigilance can all contribute to a company falling victim to cyber-attacks.
The consequences for an SME can be devastating. Websites can be crippled, customer data stolen or destroyed and consumer confidence in the business wrecked.
Warwickshire Trading Standards (supported by funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner) has been working with Warwickshire SMEs to help them negate the cybercrime threat. The service has already run two ‘Phish and Chips’ cybercrime prevention seminars for small and medium-sized Warwickshire businesses in Warwick and Nuneaton. Another event is planned for Spring 2016 in the Stratford-upon-Avon area.
Businesses which attend the seminars receive an overview of the dangers posed by cybercriminals with advice from industry experts on the practical measures they could take to protect their IT systems and train their staff. Successful cybercrime attacks don’t always result from the activities of hackers exploiting weaknesses in business software - untrained staff downloading a virus hidden in an innocuous email can easily open the business up to a cyber-breach.
At the seminars businesses are also treated to a ‘live hack’ by experts using tools readily available on the internet to gain access to the website of an audience member.
To register your interest for Phish and Chips Stratford, please phone Warwickshire Trading Standards on 01926 414016 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or email tradingstandards@warwickshire.gov.uk, marking your email ‘Phish and Chips’.
Warwickshire Trading Standards has also produced and distributed a top ten tips to avoid cybercrime and has encouraged businesses to become ‘Cyber Essentials’ Certified. ‘Cyber Essentials’ is a Government-backed and industry supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber-attacks.
Cyber Awareness information for business was also circulated to all Warwickshire Businesses via Business Rates invoices.
Follow our ten tips and make a start toward protecting your business from online fraudsters.
- Ensure the computers you use have a firewall that is turned on and anti-virus software that is up to date. Businesses may wish to consider using software designed specifically for business, as opposed to that commonly used by consumers. Secure your wireless network.
- Keep all your software up to date. When companies find vulnerabilities in their software, updates are used to patch these security holes. Keeping the software running on your computers up to date will help you to protect yourself from malware.
- Back up all your data so it can be easily restored if something goes wrong.
- Use strong passwords. All passwords should be at least eight characters long and should incorporate both letters and numbers. Use different passwords for each account, and change them regularly. Do not share passwords or write them down where other people could access them.
- Limit staff access to online accounts to only those who really need it.
- Train your staff. Many frauds happen because staff fall victim to phishing and similar scams, allowing fraudsters to download malware on to a business’s computers. Malware can then automatically capture passwords and credit card numbers. Have clear and concise procedures for email, internet and mobile devices. Staff should also be kept up to date on the latest scams.
- Security test your business website on a regular basis.
- Ensure your business has a contingency plan if it falls victim to cybercrime and test these regularly.
- Keep your business computing and personal computing separate. Do not allow your staff to use using your business computers for personal use, for example accessing social media websites, checking personal emails or surfing the web. We are all likely to be less vigilant when using computers for personal use, increasing the threat of a successful cyber-attack.
- If you are using cloud services to carry out your business, check the provider’s credentials and the contract you have with them.
There is further advice and information on the Internet.
Warwick centre will train engineers of the future
A major step towards tackling skills shortages facing employers in the engineering sector has been taken with the opening of a new £3million training centre at Warwick Trident College.
Nick Rogers, Group Director Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, officially opened the centre which has been purpose-built to train hundreds of advanced and higher apprentices in the manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, electronic, automotive and product creation sectors.
Over 200 apprentices from firms ranging from Jaguar Land Rover to SMEs are already enjoying facilities which include engineering workshops, teaching and computer labs and specialist engineering technology labs tailored to courses offered by the college.
The building was part-funded by £1.3m from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the first skills capital project funded by the Growth Deal.
The opening ceremony also saw Warwickshire College Group officially announced as a partner in the Jaguar Land Rover Academy, alongside the University of Warwick and manufacturers' organisation EEF. This new Academy defines career development programmes for all employees and aims to provide the skills the company needs.
Angela Joyce, Group Principal and CEO at Warwickshire College Group believes the new centre will provide the perfect springboard for the careers of aspiring engineers.
“Our role as a college group is to support the local economy and to meet the skills and educational needs of our localities - and apprentices are key to this," Angela said. "We now have even more capacity to train the engineers of the future that the country needs.
“I am also delighted that we are now a partner in the Jaguar Land Rover Academy. As a partner, we can bring our expertise in apprenticeships, education and training to help support the JLR staff at all stages of their professional development.”
Richard Hutchins, board lead of the Jobs & Skills Business Group at the CWLEP and director of Jaguar Land Rover Programmes at WMG, said: “The Growth Deal is investing in schemes across Coventry and Warwickshire and the opening of Warwick Trident College will help to improve the skills of the next generation of apprentices in the area.
“Improving technical and engineering skills is one of the CWLEP’s key strategies and the skills the students learn will prove beneficial in their careers as well as providing employers with work-ready employees.
“The facilities at the college are fantastic and will further enhance Coventry and Warwickshire’s reputation as a world-class area in advanced manufacturing and engineering.”
Warwickshire College Group offers a range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information call 0300 456 0049 or go to www.warwickshire.ac.uk.
More rural businesses to gain access to CSW broadband
Many more Warwickshire businesses are to benefit from a major extension of a superfast fibre broadband scheme in the county.
More than 43,000 homes and businesses are already able to access faster fibre broadband thanks to the Coventry Solihull and Warwickshire Broadband partnership.
Now a multi-million pound expansion of the Warwickshire County Council-backed programme, which will open up access to fibre broadband to another 14,600 homes and businesses, has begun.
The high-speed technology will become available for the first time in areas of Aston Cantlow, Avon Dassett, Edge Hill, Farnborough, Fenny Compton, Great Alne, Norton Lindsey, Little Kineton, Oxhill, Radway, Ullenhall and Upper Tysoe.
Engineers from Openreach – BT’s local network business – began installing the new network this month. The first premises will be able to access fibre broadband from this summer, reaching 3,600 additional homes and businesses by the end of 2016 and the majority of the remainder by the end of 2017.
During this period, the CSW Broadband programme will also be extended in parts of Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon, Brailes, Claverdon, Furnace End, Harbury, Haseley Knob, Pailton, Rugby, Snitterfield and Southam. At the same time, the technology will be made more widely available in areas of Coleshill, Curdworth and Wellesbourne.
It is around 18 months since CSW Broadband started connecting the first premises in Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry to faster fibre broadband. Since then, Openreach engineers have installed more than 220 new roadside cabinets, making fibre available to almost 50,000 homes and businesses.
Councillor Alan Cockburn, deputy leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “It’s great news that the first communities to benefit from the additional roll-out of the fibre network can now see where they are in the pipeline. Further announcements regarding the roll-out will be made in April next year, and then quarterly thereafter.”
“The CSW Broadband team has been working on new mapping which now goes right down to property level. This shows the results of the property-level data that has been collected, and we believe CSW Broadband is the first broadband project in the country to have mapping to this level of detail.”
To find out more visit the project website www.cswbroadband.org.uk.
Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director of next generation access, said: “Our project teams are working hard to make fibre broadband available to as many communities as possible, as quickly as possible, especially in the harder-to-reach parts of Warwickshire.
“Every day we’re seeing how this technology is changing the way people communicate and do business for the better. Whether it’s families trying to connect different devices to the internet at the same time, or firms needing to share information with their customers or suppliers.”
Sudden Impulse bringing sustained benefits to Nuneaton
Attracting visitors is a vital component of the economy of any town. Visitors bring business and generate revenue for all sorts of traders so the battle is always on to attract tourists - and give them a reason to keep coming back.
A big player in the business of bringing people to Nuneaton is forward-thinking theatre company Sudden Impulse which has just been supported by a Tourism Event Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
Here is the story of how Sudden Impulse, created by the community and now very much part of the community, has become such an asset to Nuneaton, both culturally and economically.
When four Nuneaton residents were chatting away one day in 2004, the conversation got round to what a shame it was that there was no longer any active theatre in the town.
The Abbey Theatre still existed, of course, in Pool Bank Road where it had been since 1969 when it was converted from the old Territorial Army drill hall. But by 2004 it was hardly used. An empty home. A theatre without players.
That was sad, agreed the four friends. But rather than leave it at that – a lament about something precious lost to the town – they decided to do something about it. They set up a theatre company.
Sudden Impulse was born.
Twelve years on, the small independent company is not only still going but going from strength to strength – and will continue to do so in 2016 backed by a Tourism Event Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
It is exactly the sort of project – attracting visitors to a town and providing an experience which, to the benefit of the town’s economy, makes them want to return – the tourism event grants are designed to support.
The £9,750 will support Sudden Impulse’s work in two ways. It will go towards a series of events for families and children which the company will hold during February half-term.
Meanwhile the grant will also help significantly spread the word. It will enable the production and distribution of promotion materials to ensure the message gets around the town and to others nearby that theatre is alive and kicking in Nuneaton.
Sudden Impulse is a success story set to run and run, all because of the passion and skills of those four friends, two of whom – Simon Winterman and Philip Malkin are still involved 12 years later.
During that time the company has evolved far and its appeal has spread. Sudden Impulse has performed around at venues across the country, flying the Warwickshire flag at the Buxton Fringe Festival and in Edinburgh, where the company will return in 2016.
"We have a very exciting programme lined up in 2016 during which we will take works by two of Warwickshire's greatest writers - Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and a new adaption of George Eliot's Felix Holt - to Edinburgh." said Simon.
"The Tourism Event Grant from Warwickshire County Council will greatly help to us deliver our 2016 programme and continue to try to make Nuneaton a place that people want to visit."
Sudden Impulse performs at The Abbey Theatre in the town and also delivers a unique brand of pub theatre at Crown Inn. And with its audiences comes spending in the town.
The company does not just perform in the town – it has brought the town into the company. Its ethos is entirely inclusive with 65% of parts cast in the last 12 months given to new company members
Anyone of any age with a passion for theatre is welcome with extensive training available for young people. The academy provides classes in acting, singing and dance for ages seven upwards with academy students from having recently graduated to be involved in recent productions of The Sound of Music, Whistle Down The Wind, The Pied Piper and Lord of the Flies.
Michael Corbidge, a professional voice coach and associate practitioner with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has coached at Sudden Impulse and is a friend of the company.
Sudden Impulse’s success is a real tribute to its creators and all those who have got involved along the way.
Many theatre-going visitors to Warwickshire head, for obvious reasons, to the south of the county. Sudden Impulse gives them a very good reason to also look to the north.
Jake's energy driving his new business onward and upward at Eliot Park
A serious injury is always a cruel blow for a talented young footballer, especially near the start of a season, but for Jake Brown there is a silver lining - all the more time to devote to growing his business.
Jake's input to Atherstone Town's midfield is over for the 2015/16 season, courtesy of wrecked knee-ligaments.
But whereas boredom is a big problem for some young footballers when they have a long-term injury, that is far from the case for 21-year-old Jake.
He now pours his energy and enterprise into his business, Avro Energy, at Eliot Park Innovation Centre in Nuneaton.
Warwickshire County Council-run Eliot Park is home to dozens of small businesses - and a great springboard for a start up. So when, last summer, Jake was looking for somewhere to base Avro Energy, it was the perfect fit.
The business, which specialises in cutting customers' energy bills, moved into Eliot Park in July and has since gone from strength to strength. In terms of employees and customers, it is expanding all the time.
The idea, which has been germinating since Hinckley-born Jake was studying law at the University of Birmingham, is now blossoming. He gained his degree, obtaining a 2:1 – but it was in his business idea, rather than the field of law, where his future lay.
"I had the idea while I was still at uni," he said. "In fact I probably neglected my law studies a little bit, but I was very passionate about getting things in place to start the business so I used some of that time to research and get all the necessary licences.
"Basically, what we do is offer customers the simplest and cheapest possible home energy supply. We are the cheapest supplier anywhere in the Midlands and have achieved that by keeping our own overheads to a minimum.
"That's where Eliot Park has proved the perfect base - somewhere for us to meet customers and with all the facilities we need.
"In terms of my football it is a bit of a frustrating time at the moment with the injury, but it just means more time for the business. Things are going really well, we are expanding the workforce and there is enormous scope for further growth with 25 million consumers out there."
Find out more about Avro Enegy at http://www.avroenergy.co.uk/Contact.aspx. For more details about Eliot Park Innovation Centre, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/epic.
Another accolade for Eliot Park tenant
Almond Care, a specialist care-provider based at Warwickshire County Council-run Eliot Park Innovation Centre in Nuneaton, has again been recognised for excellence in its field.
Julia Senah, director and clinical nurse specialist at Almond Care, won the Entrepreneur category when sector consultancy specialist Laing Buisson hosted its 10th annual Awards programme.
The full spectrum of independent healthcare was celebrated at the ceremony hosted by presenter and former politician Michael Portillo in central London,
The accolade for Julia, pictured accepting her award from Mr Portillo, "highlighted the importance of new blood and energy in the sector," according to the awards citation.
For details about the services offered as a business base by Eliot Park Innovation Centre visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/epic
Commercial property deals bring inward investment
A property, risk and facilities management company has witnessed a substantial uptake in commercial stock with occupancy levels rising to 96 per cent.
The Wigley Group, which owns and manages several business and industrial parks across the Midlands, has let around 200,000 sq ft of space across 10 different lettings through Coventry-based commercial property agent Bromwich Hardy.
The deals signal the returning strength of the local commercial property market, bringing fresh inward investment to the area.
The largest transaction for The Wigley Group included the letting of 88,000 sq ft premises, located off John Wigley Way in Foleshill, Coventry, to London-based recycling and haulage firm Dancebuy.
Other deals include the letting of 4,537 sq ft of space to Italian manufacturing firm Atlantic Fluid Tech and 4,320 sq ft premises to Interserve Fire Services at Henley Park Industrial Estate, in Hall Green.
James Davies, director at The Wigley Group which is based at The Cobalt Centre in Siskin Parkway East, said: “We are very pleased to have witnessed a hive of activity over the last 12 months with substantial demand for high-quality office and warehouse premises.
“Henley Park Industrial Estate has become a hub for large international companies looking to open in the UK."
Bromwich Hardy is at the forefront of activity, having won the 2014 Estates Gazette Award for Warwickshire and finished top of Commercial Property analyst’s listing for Coventry and Warwickshire with 112 leases, sales and purchases over the past 12 months, almost double its nearest competitor.
James Brookes, of Bromwich Hardy, added: “We have been successful in attracting a variety of businesses to several estates across Coventry with the premises on site suitable for industrial and warehouse use."
Meanwhile a new business and trade park developed in Coventry - Vantage Park, just off the A444 near the existing Gallagher Retail Park - has attracted two major retailers, creating 40 jobs.
F1 Autocentres has announced it will occupy new 5,000sqft premises at the site creating 20 jobs and Magnet, the UK’s biggest kitchen retailer, will open its new flagship store incorporating a kitchen showroom, trade counter, warehouse and offices.
Two businesses in running for 'Rural Oscars'
Two Warwickshire businesses have made the short-list of finalists for the 2015 Countryside Alliance Awards - also known as the 'rural oscars.'
Barford Village shop has been nominated in the Village shop/Post office category while Lower Clopton Farm is in the running for the Local Food category.
It is an excellent achievement by the two businesses to be short-listed for the awards which are held to celebrate high levels of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage at rural small businesses.
Lower Clopton Farm is among the ten finalists based whose geographical spread stretches from Cornwall to North Yorkshire in the north in the Local Food category.
In the Village Shop/Post Office category, the competition for Barford Village Shop will be just as fierce as they share the short-list with finalists from Suffolk, Kent, Gloucestershire, Dorset, North Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Cornwall, Herefordshire, Devon and Berkshire.
Awards director Jill Grieve said: "We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year, so for Barford Village Shop and Lower Clopton Farm Shop to get this far is a huge achievement for them.
"Both are very good examples of all that is best about local businesses. The secret to the Rural Oscars' popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their products or services. The awards exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep out communities and rural economy ticking, but don't seek the spotlight."
The award-winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in London on April 27. To find out more about the Countryside Alliance, visit www.countryside-alliance.org
Strategy drawn up to promote Nuneaton and Bedworth as a business base
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is compiling its Economic Development Strategy to prove to businesses that the borough is the place to work.
And a key part of that strategy is a Local Discount Scheme offering discount Business Rates to businesses and start-ups either locating to or expanding in the borough.
The Economic Development Strategy, currently in draft format, is drawn from ongoing stakeholder and employer research and will give the borough the flexibility required to help businesses with the key challenges facing them.
The associated Action Plan will plot the involvement that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council's officers, along with stakeholders from the wider business community, will use to boost productivity within the borough. It will also offer residents better opportunities through future employment potential.
The strategy will complement the Borough Plan, which is currently in a submission version, and will provide developers and residents with information on where and how permitted development can take place.
The Local Discount Scheme offers a discount in business-rate payment in order to create local jobs. To be considered for the discount the applicant needs to be a new business setting up in the borough, an existing business relocating to the borough or an expanding business within the area.
Cllr Danny Aldington, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Planning and Development, said: “I encourage all businesses to consider Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough when looking to set up or expand operations. We believe that the borough is the place of choice to live, work and visit and we aim to help your business to grow and flourish together.
"With our new Economic Development Strategy and Local Discount Scheme, we are offering businesses the opportunity to realise their potential within Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough through a flexible Strategy and cost-saving Local Discount Scheme.”
More details on the Local Discount Scheme and the application form can be found through the borough’s website, www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk and searching for the Local Discount Scheme in the search bar. If you have any queries please contact either (024) 7637 6490 or econdev@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk
Warwickshire College Group welcomes new deputy principal
Warwickshire College Group have welcomed Andrew Cropley as their new Group Deputy Principal (Curriculum).
Mr Cropley, aged 49, was most recently the Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Business Development at The Sheffield College and Chair of the UTC Sheffield Governing Body and Academy Trust.
In his role at Sheffield College, he led the college’s response to policy changes and challenges, developed new streams of income and achieved rapid and sustainable growth in apprenticeships. He also managed the college’s reputation with stakeholders and positioned the college as a “thought leader” in response to developing Government policy.
Mr Cropley led on the opening of a new, employer-led university technical college for 14-19 year olds in Sheffield in partnership with businesses and universities – the first in Yorkshire and the Humber - sponsored by The Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. This greatly enhanced employer engagement with The Sheffield College.
Prior to his most recent role, Mr Cropley was Local College Principal and Executive Director at The Sheffield College for three years. In this role he managed a large team dispersed across two sites in addition to managing Student Services across the whole college.
“I’m thrilled to have joined Warwickshire College Group as their new Deputy Principal," he said. "Warwickshire College Group has an outstanding reputation for teaching and learning and some amazing facilities that provide a first-class experience for thousands of students and apprentices each year across Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
"I am looking forward to working with the team to ensure that the Group is well placed to meet the challenges faced by the further education sector.”
Group Principal and Chief Executive, Angela Joyce, said: “We are delighted that Andrew has joined us. He brings much experience and will be a great addition to the team here at Warwickshire College Group.”
Before joining The Sheffield College, Mr Cropley served for 21 years in the Royal Navy in roles including Commanding Officer at the Defence School of Languages and Staff Officer for Personnel Development at Fleet Headquarters. He is married and has two children.
Chance to showcase and network at Leamington Business Show
Leamington Business Show, a B2B Expo showcasing the businesses of the region and the services and products they offer to other businesses, will take place at Leamington Town Hall, The Parade, on Friday 4 March, 2016.
The event will run from 9am to 4pm and be preceded by a pre-show free networking breakfast between 8am-9am.
In addition to the chance to showcase products and services, the Businesss Show will offer an excellent networking opportunity for local business people to meet and start building those vital business relationships.
There will also be seminars on a range of business topics, starting every hour on the hour from 10am to 3pm.
The Invest in Warwickshire team will be exhibiting at the show. So if your business is looking to expand or relocate this year or your lease is coming to an end, visit us to find out how we can assist you with your search for commercial premises.
For more details and to book stands at the event please visit http://www.leamington-business-forum.co.uk/news_item.php?wnID=3757.
Help from Warwickshire for flood-ravaged Carlisle
A Warwickshire firm stepped in to offer more than just sympathy when its counterparts in Cumbria were hit by severe flooding.
Stratford-upon-Avon-based DCS Group sent a large lorry full of cleaning products to Carlisle, the first city to be devastated in the wake of Storm Desmond.
DCS Group has close business connections with Carlisle and company chairman Denys Shortt OBE said they had no hesitation in sending the assistance, which included products worth several thousand pounds.
"We decided to help because lots of families were made homeless and had their lives ruined by the flooding," said Mr Shortt.
"Our contact in Carlisle works for Carlisle Vineyard and is helping people get back on their feet. I would like to say a huge 'well done' to Andy Fearon of Carlisle Vineyards and their teams who have worked tirelessly since the floods hit."
The help from DCS and many others has been hugely-appreciated, insisted Mr Fearon.
"The response from near and far has been overwhelming," he said. "We have been amazed at the generosity and practical help so many have given to Carlisle. The donation from DCS was a huge help and made a real difference."
Survey will help build business strategy in Stratford
Stratford District Council is undertaking a detailed survey of local businesses to help compile its Business & Enterprise Strategy.
One of the priorities in the strategy is to engage with businesses so that the council can better understand the state of business in the district and the needs of the business community.
A survey was last sent out in 2013 and now a fresh one has been distributed.
The views of all businesses are important to the council as they can help to influence, shape and inform the development and delivery of current and future plans and strategies.
The council is also interested in receiving comments on the way they administer National Non-Domestic (Business) Rates and on the best ways of supporting businesses in the future.
Paper questionnaires were sent to all businesses in Stratford District on the Business Rate Register in the first week of January. There are spare copies available from the district council - please contact Simon Purfield on 01789 260118 or Claire Haines on 01789 260129 to obtain one.
Alternatively you can visit https://www.stratford.gov.uk/council/business-survey.cfm and complete a form online by Wednesday 3rd February.
All businesses which complete the form will go into a prize draw for two £50 shopping vouchers.
The full report from the survey will be available on the Stratford District Council website by the first week of April.
Customer service is key to EEF Venues' continuing growth
Following incremental revenue growth of five per cent year on year for 2015, EEF Venues is forecasting further similar growth for 2016 with a projected annual turnover target close to £6 million for this financial year.
Over the last two years the group behind three AIM Gold-accredited venues, including Woodland Grange in Leamington Spa, has achieved 19% consolidated growth, adding £900K to its turnover over the two-year period.
David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, attributes this performance to the company's focus on customer service.
He said: ”While price was a driver throughout the recession, we have seen an increased appetite from buyers to select on the basis of value rather than price. This is indicative of companies being more solvent and wanting a more quality experience for their staff.
"An improved business landscape means there is a growing demand for business travel so we expect further strong growth in our business residency sales at Woodland Grange.
“2015 has also seen us penetrate new markets such the associations sector and we have seen tangible improvement in the Christmas party market – again an indication of a more confident corporate scene.”
The group’s sales and marketing strategies have also impacted on performance, added David.
”We have invested in sales and we been fortunate to attract many awards and accolades throughout 2015, such as winning the Business Tourism category of the Visit England Awards for Woodland Grange, but that doesn’t mean we rest on our laurels.
“New business doesn’t come on a plate; you have to go hunt for it so we will be seeking entry into new business markets to diversify our client-base. As ever, our critical focus will be on serving the customer. Achieving ‘world class customer service’ is a target across the business and we see this as being built into our DNA. We are constantly innovating and developing to meet the changing needs of our customers.”
Staffing will continue to be an issue for the wider hospitality sector, David believes.
He said: ”2016 will continue to be a candidates’ market so our goal is to retain our staff by incentivising them to be the very best at what they do to protect our standards, consistency of service and quality - and to provide succession planning.
“We view investing in talent as key to our on-going success and will continue to appraise, develop, mentor and reward our teams to encourage loyalty and performance. I firmly believe that we have an obligation to help people to grow. Happy staff mean happy delegates. In return, we get greater stability, consistency and loyalty which impacts positively on our business performance.”
EEF, the parent company behind EEF Venues, has set a rolling capital investment budget of £500K for 2016/2017 to support the group’s aspirations ahead.
David Vaughton concluded: ”We will continue to invest in what we see as the three most important core elements for any delegate: leading edge technology, great food and people as these have most influence on our business.
“Given our growth over the last two years, we are confident that 2016 will be another great year for EEF Venues.”
Traditional town shoe-shop steps online
When Matthew Gardner bought Haswell Shoes last February, he knew he had acquired a shop with great tradition.
Haswell Shoes had been serving customers in Newdegate Street, Nuneaton, for 70 years. It is part of the town centre fabric with a loyal customer-base, much of it passed down through generations appreciative of the expertise and friendliness of the small, intimate shop.
Matthew was well aware that, while preserving the traditions which embedded the store in the town, he also had to look to the future: to embrace the way people live in the second decade of the 21st century. And that meant going online.
When founder Albert Haswell created the business in the 1940s, the nearest anyone got to going online was queueing up with their ration-books. The inventor of the internet, never mind the internet, hadn’t been born.
But now Haswell Shoes, in many ways the archetypal, traditional shop, has made the leap online – a vital move for a small business in 2016, reckons Matthew.
“It was something I really wanted to do when I bought the business,” he said. “The shop has a great reputation in the town and we have carried that on in the same way.
“But the online operation - shoesforyou.co.uk – complements that perfectly. Online we have 18,500 lines available, far more than we could ever keep in a small shop premises, and we can stock every type of footwear; from ballet shoes to wellies and flip-flops to fishing waders.
“We are very proud of the service we provide in the shop and will always retain that, but the fact is, as a business, you have to tailor what you offer to the way people live these days. Many people don’t want to, or haven’t time to, shop between 9am and 5pm. So a retailer has to be available to them whenever they want, whether it’s 10pm on a Sunday or 5am on a Thursday.”
Nuneaton breathed a sigh of relief last February when Matthew stepped in to buy Haswell Shoes, which was threatened with closure due to the retirement of Karen Little, who had run it since 1990. One of the great old town traders was saved.
Matthew, an accountant, had a personal reason to take an interest - his mum Marlene has worked in the shop for 15 years. But his investment was not sentimental. It was about buying a strong business to make it stronger.
He is adamant that the online presence is crucial to that.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the business to grow and expand in the coming years,” he said. “We launched online in November and it will take time for word to get around but we have that presence now and hopefully it will snowball."