Steph is getting to grips with the business of attracting investment to Warwickshire
In her spare time Steph Williams, who recently joined Warwickshire County Council as an Inward Investment Officer, practises Muay Thai, a combat sport known as "the art of eight limbs."
It could come in handy. In her wide-ranging brief, beavering away on behalf of the businesses of Warwickshire, Steph could do with four pair of hands.
The council's Inward Investment team, within the Economy & Skills Group based at Barrack Street, is devoted to supporting Warwickshire's businesses in all their considerable diversity - every sector, size and location.
It is a huge brief: From offering advice and support to businesses already established and keen to grow to attracting others to the county; getting the message out far and wide, nationally and internationally, that Warwickshire is an excellent business-base.
There is plenty for Steph to go at, then. And she could hardly be better qualified for the challenge, having joined the council's team in November after ten years with Warwick Manufacturing Group at The University of Warwick.
At WMG her duties included identifying funding opportunities, supporting business development, arranging networking events and opening up access for businesses to a broad range of technologies and research expertise. Add in two years at the National B2B Centre (within WMG) and Coventry-born Steph, who attended Heart of England School in Balsall Common, has heaps of relevant experience to bring to her current role.
"I really enjoyed my ten years at WMG," she said. "Part of my role was heavily business-facing as I co-ordinated a team which went out to SMEs and worked with them to improve their visibility in the market place via their websites and social media presence. I also worked with the research and business development office and found the research absolutely fascinating, delving into the detail and finding out how stuff really works.
"I also brokered relationships between industry and academia and there was quite a lot of horizon-scanning, looking out for funding opportunities that might be coming up from government agencies which is something that is very much part of my role now."
Having lived in the region all her life, Steph, who is also a keen runner, has local knowledge on her side as she relishes getting her teeth into a welcome new challenge.
"It was interesting work at WMG but I was ready for a new challenge. I enjoyed working there but there was nowhere to grow into from my role whereas at the county council I have got a lot of really interesting projects. They include promoting Warwickshire's fast-developing low-carbon vehicle sector which is something that WMG are deeply involved in.
"I am also tasked with attracting business to Rugby specifically, and getting UK business to relocate there. It was great to see a 12.6 per cent rise in the number of new businesses established in Rugby last year so we have plenty to work with.
“I will also be dealing with the Department of International Trade to increase the opportunities for foreign direct investment in Coventry and Warwickshire, helping to secure jobs and growth for the local economy."