Latest news in brief from around the region...
Planning approval secured for West Midlands ‘Gigafactory’ at Coventry Airport
In February 2021, Coventry Airport was announced as the preferred site for a West Midlands Gigafactory with Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd forming a joint venture partnership to bring forward the proposal. The application was submitted to both Coventry City Council and Warwick District Council because the application site lies within the administrative areas of both local authorities. Warwick District Council, whose planning committee met on 11 January and Coventry City Council, whose planning committee met on 13 January, have granted outline planning permission.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/second-approval-secured-for-coventry-airport-gigafactory
New ‘Ultra-Low’ Carbon Business Centre Coming to Warwick/ Leamington
Plans to create an 'ultra-low' carbon business centre in Warwickshire have gained planning permission. The development will provide a boost for SME businesses in the Warwick area, looking for new or grow on space in the area. Four single-storey blocks on vacant land adjacent to AC Lloyd Commercial's Tachbrook Park headquarters will create 61 units. The units will range in size from 200 sq ft to 750 sq ft for industrial, storage, distribution, commercial, business and is being built on one of the last plots available on the large Tachbrook development on the edge of Leamington Spa.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/approval-for-ultra-low-carbon-business-centre
Battery maker partners with UKBIC
Coventry-headquartered Britishvolt has unveiled a two-year multimillion-pound co-development framework with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to produce its next generation of battery cells. The agreement will initially focus on high nickel, increased energy density, materials to produce and test batteries with greater performance and range.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/britishvolt-partners-with-ukbic
Trading update sparks speculation at Aston Martin Lagonda
Tobias Moers’ future as CEO of Aston Martin was raised by Autocar magazine in January, following a recent trading update warning that the firm would miss its earnings targets. Speculation regarding Moers’ ongoing role at the firm follows indifferent financial results for the Gaydon-based luxury car maker, which was taken over by a consortium led by billionaire Lawrence Stroll in January 2020.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-finance-and-corporate/exclusive-future-aston-martin-ceo-tobias-moers-doubt
West Midlands leads post-pandemic manufacturing recovery as exports surge
The West Midlands is leading the post-pandemic manufacturing recovery according to new analysis from the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Ansty-based leading manufacturing and technology organisation. HMRC trade statistics show that manufacturing exports from the West Midlands rose 65 per cent in Q2 2021 compared to the same period a year earlier, the biggest increase of all the UK regions. It was followed by the North West and East of England, which saw gains of 62% and 58% respectively. The national average was 32 per cent.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/west-midlands-leads-post-pandemic-manufacturing-recovery-as-exports-surge/
Auto Power electronics company expands at Wellesbourne Innovation Campus
A power electronics manufacturer of highly efficient power electronics which works with Jaguar Land Rover and BMW has expanded to meet growing demand for its services. Lyra Electronics, based at the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne campus, has taken on an addional new office on the site which it will use as a design office, separate to its lab.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/power-electronics-company-takes-further-space-at-university-of-warwick-science-park/
Nuneaton’s Litecast aims to be UK’s first carbon neutral construction supply company
Precast concrete company Litecast Ltd has installed a 350kW SolarEdge PV rooftop system at its new £13 million production facility in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The company relocated to its new site earlier this month which has been 5 years in the making. The new production facility is powered entirely by renewable energy sources.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/nuneatons-litecast-aims-to-be-uks-first-carbon-neutral-construction-supply-company/
Plans to regenerate Nuneaton town centre backed by WMCA investment
Plans to transform the site of a former gas works in Nuneaton town centre into a bustling leisure destination are being backed by a £775,000 investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The site in Abbey Street is to be regenerated in two phases, the first being a 145-bedroom hotel creating more than 30 new jobs. The second phase is earmarked for a cinema, offices, homes and a public plaza. The WMCA investment will help cover the cost of demolition work and the clean-up of the land, needed so work can start on the £30m phase one. https://www.cwlep.com/news/plans-regenerate-nuneaton-town-centre-backed-wmca-investment
Pertemps wins funding to boost HGV driver training
Local recruitment agency Pertemps has been awarded a slice of Government funding to support nearly 700 drivers through HGV training and help ease the national driver shortage. PDT Fleet Training, a specialist driving division of Pertemps, successfully bid for the contract from the Skills Bootcamp, directly funded by the Department for Education, to upskill HGV drivers in the coming months. Working in conjunction with clients like Co-op, Biffa, and CLEAN, the training will take place at 129 different sites across England. https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/pertemps-wins-government-funding-to-boost-hgv-driver-training/
WMG Skills Centre launched to grow local technical skills supply
Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), part of Warwick University, has launch The WMG Skills Centre to offer businesses a range of innovative short courses which will equip workforces with the latest technical skills. The WMG Skills Centre is launching with courses covering digital manufacturing, energy systems, intelligent vehicles and manufacturing. Further courses will be added during the year to support the skills needs of business and industry.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/wmg-skills-centre-launched-to-bridge-the-technical-skills-gap/
Investment made to establish Coventry and Warwickshire as leading business tourism destination
More than £200 million is being invested across Coventry and Warwickshire to cement the region as a leading destination for national and international business tourism. This investment is being made in transport, the public realm and directly into conference and exhibition venues to improve the experience for organisers looking to bring their events to the region.
https://www.cwlep.com/news/investment-being-made-establish-coventry-and-warwickshire-leading-business-tourism-destination
Mixed picture for Coventry & Warwickshire economy according to latest survey
Confidence among businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire took a tumble at the end of last year – despite sales and order books looking healthy in the final quarter, a new survey has revealed. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) showed that fewer firms were looking ahead with confidence in the final three months of the year compared with the previous quarter, however the majority of business were still positive about the future.
The survey, which is delivered in partnership with Prime Accountants Group, is analysed by the Economy & Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council.
https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/mixed-picture-for-coventry-and-warwickshire-economy-according-to-latest-survey/
Chamber of Commerce and Institute of Directors both seeking new leaders
The chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has revealed plans to step down later this year. Louise Bennett will leave her post towards the end of 2022 after almost 20 years leading the organisation. Meanwhile, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has launched a search for a new chair of its Coventry and Warwickshire branch, as current chair Dean Kavanagh steps down from the role.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/chamber-chief-executive-to-step-down https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2022/01/04/iod-launches-search-for-coventry-and-warwickshire-chair