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Project Warwickshire up and running to help hospitality, leisure and tourism sector
"We joined the programme at the end of last year and what we have learned so far has been invaluable at how we now look at our business"
A programme created to help small businesses in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector has hit the ground running and is supplying "invaluable" support.
Almost 100 businesses have already engaged with the Project Warwickshire programme, delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council.
Backed by £320,000 of council funding, supplemented by £230,000 of European Regional Development Fund money, it will enable the Chamber to implement a wide range of support through to March 2024.
Project Warwickshire has already received almost 100 enquiries and is actively working towards 33 assists with businesses across the sub-sectors. These include an alpaca farm, tipi parties and narrowboat hire but the majority of businesses are in the restaurant and drinks industry.
Among these are Sip ‘n’ Swig Mobile Bars and Stag Gin, in Stratford-upon-Avon. Giles and Jodie Stagg, who run Sip 'n' Swig, are looking ahead with renewed confidence after receiving expert input from Project Warwickshire advisor Marie Stephenson.
"We joined the programme at the end of last year and what we have learned so far has been invaluable at how we now look at our business," they said. "We have looked at it from outside as well as from inside and have seen many areas that we can improve...and have started already.
"We are looking forward to meeting further with Marie and joining the various workshops looking more in depth at how we can streamline our business and market ourselves better. We are sure this programme will help us grow our business."
Project Warwickshire is supporting a broad spectrum of businesses (both limited companies and sole traders) with turnover ranging from £23k to over £1 million. Challenges they have faced, and continue to face, include difficulty trading throughout the pandemic and consequent lost revenue and staffing issues including retention and sickness due to Covid.
Recurring themes for requested areas of support are around business strategy, marketing, social media, website management, assistance with funding and grant searches.
Project Warwickshire addresses these issues by providing a package of help across the sector, including 1:1 advice, networking and a range of masterclasses.
Louise Hart, of Hart Restaurants in Leamington Spa, has also engaged with the programme.
"I am super excited to begin the Project Warwickshire programme," said Louise. "It will ensure that, as a business owner, I take time out to view my business in a different perspective. It will give me the opportunity to run through my ideas with an expert advisor and get support on how to make those ideas a reality to grow my business.
"There is such a great selection of workshops it was hard to choose. This is a fantastic opportunity to get back 'in the classroom' and learn new skills. Learning has been put on the 'back burner' since starting my business so i am really excited to be able to have the opportunity to develop my skill set and bring it into 'the modern day.'"
Caroline Trainor, Project Warwickshire Programme Manager, said: “This programme is a brilliant opportunity to bring comprehensive support to this sector, post-pandemic. Our Business Advisors at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce continue to demonstrate how their practical advice and workshops are helping small businesses in the county to grow and thrive.”
WCC's Strategy & Commissioning Manager (Economy & Skills) Alison Robinson said: "I am delighted that so many businesses are accessing support from Project Warwickshire. Businesses in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector contribute so much to our county, both economically and in terms of quality of life, and it is great that WCC can enable this free support, accessed through the Chamber, to supply the help they need."
WCC business support clears the way to growth for Bake180
"The support we received from the county council's Survive, Sustain & Grow programme was a huge help."
A popular coffee shop is cosier than ever for its customers and set to recruit more staff after benefiting from a local business support programme.
Bake180 has been serving customers for more than a decade in the elegant setting of Middleton Hall on the northern edge of Warwickshire.
What began in 2009 as a hobby for Sarah Exall, with her lifelong passion for baking, soon turned into a thriving business. It moved into Middleton Hall in 2011 and has since grown to employ eight people.
Like all small businesses in the hospitality sector, it took a jolt during the pandemic when lockdowns forced it to close. But it pivoted enterprisingly as a delivery service of afternoon teas or other treats brightened up many a day for locked-down customers.
Just one longstanding obstacle remained to prevent the business from fulfilling its full potential. Due to a large front window in the converted barn premises, that part of the room was, to say the least, less than snug in the winter.
That obstacle has now been removed thanks to advice and a grant from Warwickshire County Council's Survive, Sustain & Grow programme.
"During lockdown we had to close our doors, but we quickly learned that there was a big market for deliveries," said Sarah. "People who couldn't get together for important dates like weddings and birthdays really enjoyed having something special delivered to them. We were really busy and that made us think about what we needed to do to take the business forward and keep it growing.
"The support we received from the county council's Survive, Sustain & Grow programme was a huge help. Our advisor, Andy Woodward, talked us through where the business is now and where we wanted it to go and how to get there. It was really useful to get that outside perspective from an expert.
"Andy also smoothed the way for us to get funding towards the vital structural work we needed. We are in an old barn and the front window was big and single-glazed and however much we tried with a log-burner and heater it was impossible to keep that part of the room warm on a really cold day.
"The SSG grant helped us replace that window, so the cafe is now much cosier and that will benefit the business for years to come. That's great news for our customers and our staff and, having made that improvement, we will create another one and a half full-time jobs soon."
The Survive, Sustain and Grow programme, now closed, was a £700,000 programme created by Warwickshire County Council to assist businesses micro and small enterprises in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors with their post COVID-19 recovery plans. It supported 243 businesses employing 790 people, helped safeguard 472 jobs that were at risk, and is forecasted to create more than 140 new jobs.
WCC Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Kam Kaur, said: "I am delighted that support from the Survive, Sustain & Grow programme has enabled Bake180 to create jobs and make improvements that will have benefits far into the future.
"The jobs safeguarded and forecasted creation in Warwickshire as a direct result of the Survive Sustain and Grow programme exceeded all our expectations, and we are delighted to see that so many businesses and their employees benefited."
£140million WRIF support package gathers momentum
"Accessing finance remains a particular challenge and the WRIF is an exciting dimension of the county council's commitment to supporting employers, employees and the communities of which they are an integral part.
Warwickshire County Council's £140 million programme to stimulate the county's economy post-Covid is gathering momentum with further funding to be rolled out during 2022.
The county council launched the Warwickshire Recovery Investment Fund (WRIF) last summer to support local businesses, create jobs and bring investment into the county.
Most specifically, it is designed to provide support for Warwickshire businesses which may be struggling with an unforgiving access-to-finance market. Such support has never been more urgently needed as businesses strive to cope with the ongoing pressures of the pandemic and restrictions.
The WRIF aims to distribute £140 million over the next five years, offering loans and other financial investments to existing and new businesses to help their long-term recovery and growth.
With much of the preparations now done, the three strands of WRIF support will advance during 2022. Warwickshire County Council has appointed two experienced members of staff - Hardeep Sandhu and Jo Smith - to lead the Business Investment Growth strand and has, after a procurement exercise, appointed highly-respected business consultant Jagdish Soor as lead access-to-finance advisor on debt finance.
The WRIF is central to the council’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan and comprises three main strands of support .
The Business Investment Growth strand (debt finance to medium and larger businesses) was launched in Summer 2021 and the Property and Infrastructure strand (investment in commercial sites and premises to encourage businesses to invest in Warwickshire and create jobs will be launched in 2022. The contract to deliver third strand, the £10 million Local Communities and Enterprise loans programme, has also now been awarded.
These small loans, aimed at small businesses, including start-ups and social enterprises will be launched in the coming weeks. Applications from under-represented groups, including female-led businesses, young people, and care leavers, will be particularly welcomed and given additional weighting when proposals are being assessed.
WCC's Strategy & Commissioning Manager (Economy & Skills) Alison Robinson said: "The business community of Warwickshire has reacted brilliantly to deal with the many challenges and pressures of the pandemic. However, accessing finance remains a particular challenge and the WRIF is an exciting dimension of the county council's commitment to supporting employers, employees and the communities of which they are an integral part.
"We are keen to support small business every step of the way and the Local Communities and Enterprise loans will go live over the coming weeks. I urge all small business to find out more and consider whether we can help them."
For more information and to register your interest please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wrif
Adapt & Diversify grant is a trump card for Ace Karting
"We knew the site needed to go to the next level and the grant has enabled that to happen so we are really grateful to the county council."
A go-karting business is refreshed, refurbished and ready to 'go to the next level' after accessing support from a Warwickshire County Council business support programme.
Like many SMEs in the leisure sector, Ace Karting took a big hit from having to close its doors for a sustained period due to Covid. The indoor track, based in Hartshill, Nuneaton, was effectively without income for ten months.
But the family-run firm showed the resilience to ride out the pressure and is now offering customers greater comfort and better facilities than ever thanks to funding from the county council's Adapt & Diversify grant scheme.
The Adapt & Diversify fund was launched last February to identify businesses most in need of support and get that support out to them as swiftly as possible. It awarded more than £1million, supporting 120 businesses, before closing last month.
Among those is Ace Karting whose director Ben Charlesworth explains:
"The track was created from old farm buildings about 15 years ago. We made a smart job of it but, over time, it had started to look tired. It didn't have a cafe area or central heating and needed a refresh.
"The Adapt & Diversify grant mean that we could upgrade the whole environment. We have made it more open-plan with somewhere for people to have a coffee, so parents are more inclined to stay around longer. It is a lot more hospitable now and redoing it has really kept us up with the times."
The business, which employs three full-time and two part-time staff, is now much better-equipped for the future, both short term and beyond.
"We were thinking about having this work done and knew it needed doing, but then were without income for about ten months so that made it tough," said Ben. "We knew the site needed to go to the next level and the grant has enabled that to happen so we are really grateful to the county council."
Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Kam Kaur, said: "The Adapt & Diversify fund has allocated more than £1million to businesses in less than a year to support them as they deal with the impact of the pandemic.
"I am delighted that the grant has been so beneficial to Ace Karting which is a great example of the many small Warwickshire business which have refused to buckle under the pressures of the pandemic."
Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant Programme
Under the Government’s latest round of COVID-19 support funding, announced on 21st December, the chancellor allocated a total of £700million to support businesses most affected by the Omicron variant with a one-off grant programme of additional discretionary grants.
These grants, amounting to £6.58million in Warwickshire, will be distributed by local district and borough councils over the coming weeks and links to the five district and borough schemes can be found at the end of this article.
Firms in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors, many of which have seen a decline in footfall and increased cancellations due to the Omicron variant, will be able to apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises depending on rateable value:
· businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above: £6,000
· businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000: £4,000
· businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below: £2,667
In addition, more than £100 million worth of discretionary funding is also being made available for local authorities to support other businesses in the hospitality and leisure supply chain as well as personal care services. This will be via the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund.
Most schemes across the county are live at the time of writing with all expected to be open within the coming weeks.
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant – for businesses with a rateable value:
North Warwickshire
Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough
Rugby Borough
Warwick District
Stratford on Avon District
Additional Restrictions Grant – for those unable to access the Omicron Hospitality & Leisure grant:
North Warwickshire Borough
Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough
Rugby Borough
Warwick District
Stratford on Avon District
Major HS2 recruitment drive offers wide range of opportunities
"The broad scope of jobs on offer reflects the diversity that a career in construction can bring."
HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), is launching a major recruitment drive to bolster its workforce ready to deliver its huge programme of construction works in 2022 and beyond.
Around 1.700 staff are already working at construction sites and in satellite offices across Warwickshire, Solihull and Birmingham and the company is now looking to welcome more recruits.
BBV expects to be one of the biggest recruiters in the region over the coming years. It is leading the construction of the 90km section of Britain’s new railway from Warwickshire into Birmingham city centre and on to Staffordshire. It expects to create around 7,000 jobs in total and is committed to ensuring that local people benefit.
BBV’s expanding workforce is reflective of the scale of works ahead. 2022 is shaping up to be a significant year in HS2’s construction programme, with tunnel boring machine ‘Dorothy’ set to become the first TBM on the HS2 route to breakthrough. Following her milestone achievement, which is expected in the spring, Dorothy will return to Long Itchington in Warwickshire to bore her second tunnel.
Work is also gathering pace at HS2’s two new station sites - Interchange in Solihull and Curzon Street in Birmingham - where preparatory works are underway to construct the series of viaducts that will bring HS2 trains into the city’s flagship terminus station.
The broad scope of jobs on offer reflects the diversity that a career in construction can bring. There are currently job vacancies for those seeking a site-based role including materials technicians, signallers, general operatives, traffic marshalls and engineering assistants. Office-based roles include opportunities in BBV’s procurement, transport planning, skills and education and finance teams.
HS2 and its construction partners are working closely with Warwickshire County Council and their Warwickshire Skills Hub team to support people who are out of work, or looking for a career change, into employment on the project. For more information about opportunities to work on HS2 in Warwickshire please visit hs2.org.uk/jobs-and-skills
Photography Studio fully equipped to keep treasured memories alive
"The support from the county council was invaluable," said Andy. "It enabled us to take the business forward in a way which will benefit our customers not just immediately but in the long term."
A Warwickshire-based photographer which pivoted during lockdown to give its customers the service they need is well-equipped for further growth after harnessing local business support.
Avon Studios, in Wellesbourne, expanded its video and cine film operation to a digital media conversion service which has blossomed during the last two years and is now available fully online.
With the innovative new service, customers throughout the UK can book in video and camcorder tapes online. These are then collected by a courier and, after transfer to USB or DVD at Avon Studios, the completed conversion is couriered back to the customer. There is an additional option for a digital download with cloud storage of the customer's videotape.
The business' expansion advanced after studio manager Andy Sheppard received support from Warwickshire County Council's Survive, Sustain & Grow programme. Andy received specialist advice on developing a COVID recovery plan for the business and also an SSG grant to fund a new website and refurbishment of the shop in Kineton Road.
Andy explained: “The studio has been transferring video and camcorder tapes for over 20 years, alongside our photography work, but during lockdown the photography work vanished overnight. But then with people spending their days at home tidying and going through attics finding video tapes of long lost memories, we started getting emails and calls asking about video transfer.
"So we organised a socially-distanced local doorstep collection service around Coventry & Warwickshire. People started talking about it on social media and before we knew it we were inundated with tapes and cine film to collect for conversion. We were soon getting people throughout the UK contacting us about our video and camcorder services too.
"The natural progression was to set up a dedicated website with online booking facility to either book in tapes or send to us or let our courier service collect it.”
The new website, funded by the SSG grant and built by Coventry-based CWN Design, and is now live.
"The support from the county council was invaluable," said Andy. "It enabled us to take the business forward in a way which will benefit our customers not just immediately but in the long term."
The Survive, Sustain and Grow programme, now closed, was a £700,000 programme created by Warwickshire County Council to assist businesses micro and small enterprises in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors with their post COVID-19 recovery plans. It supported 243 businesses employing 790 people, helped safeguard 472 jobs that were at risk, and is forecasted to create more than 140 new jobs.
Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy and Place, Cllr Kam Kaur, said: "Avon Studios is a great example of a small business which has shown the resilience and enterprise to meet the challenges of lockdown. I am delighted that support from our Survive, Sustain & Grow programme has left them strongly placed to help their customers keep precious memories alive far into the future."
For further information please visit www.avonvideotransfer.co.uk or contact Avon Studios info@avonstudios.co.uk or call 01789 470663.
Grade II listed church transformed into creative business hub
"This is a watershed moment, and we are excited at the prospect of seeing the long-awaited transformation of an underutilised area into a vibrant and innovative hub for our creative and digital industries."
Work has begun on the first project in the regeneration programme to turn Leamington’s Old Town into a magnet for creative industries, building on the town’s growing Silicon Spa reputation.
Regeneration specialists Complex Development Projects (CDP) has started work on the restoration of the Grade II listed United Reformed Church which will be converted to provide modern office space for creative/digital businesses. The character of the main chapel will be retained with a triple height central atrium, with the crypts transformed into break-out spaces and office pods.
Two further buildings facing Spencer Yard are also part of the project. The adjoining former nursery will be refurbished with a ground floor extension at the rear of its premises to provide more usable flexible office space with a rooftop terrace overlooking the church. A top floor extension will be added to the Dole Office which will provide space for smaller businesses.
The works are being undertaken as part of a funding package with a grant from the Future High Streets Fund as part of the Government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres – making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
CDP is Warwick District Council’s Regeneration Partner in the overall 10-year Creative Quarter Initiative and is working up several projects with the Council to galvanise creative activity in Old Town.
Sustainability is key to the project with Spencer Yard set to become more pedestrian friendly with less car parking and there will be more landscaping, lighting and a covered cycle storage area while air source heat pumps and solar panels are also being added to the buildings.
Cllr Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council, said: “This is a watershed moment, and we are excited at the prospect of seeing the long-awaited transformation of an underutilised area into a vibrant and innovative hub for our creative and digital industries. However, this is just the start of an ambitious Creative Quarter vision which will bring our town the massive boost and far-reaching recognition it deserves!”
Warwickshire County Council's digital creative lead Stacy O'Connor said: "I'm thrilled to see the transformation work begin at Spencer Yard. Seeing this currently under-utilised area of the town become a vibrant and active space is really exciting.
"This project will provide exciting, high quality spaces for businesses. It is a key development in supporting the continued growth of the creative industries locally and will make Leamington Spa and Warwickshire an even more attractive and vibrant place to be."
Katie Burn, Senior Development Executive at CDP, said Spencer Yard was already a creative area with current occupiers including Heartbreak Productions, Motionhouse and the Loft Theatre.
“Our consultation showed there was a shortage of space for the digital creative sector to expand or locate within the town and it’s a key industry in Leamington with ten per cent of the UK’s gaming sector working in the area,” she said.
“It is great to be finally starting construction work after many months of preparation. The initial works to the chapel will provide a new roof and will take place under a temporary roof to protect the fine interiors during the winter months. Demand is strong from occupiers and we are already talking to businesses that will bring jobs to the town and boost the local economy.”
University offers consultancy programme for SMEs and employers
Do you have a project that you never get a chance to get off the ground? Perhaps because of an assessment of an emerging market, a competitor bench-marking activity, some HR, Finance or Business Analytics work or the development of a long-overdue marking strategy? If so, Coventry University’s PG Consultancy Scheme could be the answer. Coventry University business development executive Sufyan Choudhury explains...
Coventry University are actively looking for organisations to benefit from our postgraduate talent pool through focused short-term projects.
As the opportunity to conduct the project is taken as part of our students’ courses, the opportunities we are seeking to provide are free. They consist of valuable 1-2-1 mentoring support from our host employer and an opportunity to work on a real-life industry project. Our students will complete a management report at the end of their project to add valuable reflections and insights to your business.
The project can be undertaken either remotely or with some contact time in your offices in line with current government guidance. You will also be able to contact the University’s Talent Team throughout, should you have any issues or questions regarding the student you have selected.
Coventry University currently has talented student available for a May 2022 start from the following courses.
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Sport Management
- Marketing Management
- Business Analytics
- Business /Business Management
- Project Management
The university is now taking expression of interest and if this is something in which you are interested, please contact Sufyan Choudhury (ac6016@coventry.ac.uk) or Pete Bains ab4703@coventry.ac.uk
New initiative will plug the gap in support for creative freelancers
"We are delighted to launch this exciting new initiative, which we hope will support our creative freelance community in a useful and meaningful way during these challenging times."
A new initiative to provide much-needed support to creative freelancers in Coventry and Warwickshire is to be launched next month.
Coventry & Warwickshire Creative Freelancers is a pilot project that aims to support the area’s freelance community following the devastating impact of the pandemic.
A new website to connect freelancers in Coventry and Warwickshire along with freelance communities ranging from television producers to performing artists and game developers to graphic designers is to be unveiled at Warwick District Council’s Spark event – which is being held at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington between 10am and 4pm on Friday, February 11.
Coventry & Warwickshire Creative Freelancers has been driven by the Digital Creative Business Group of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and Warwick District Creative Compact which was established to deliver Warwick District’s Creative Framework; a five-year strategy to stimulate growth of the area’s creative sector.
The initiative’s aim is to connect local freelancers and freelancer communities through networks, develop and deliver campaigns to showcase and highlight the area’s creative talent, support businesses to work with freelancers by producing tool kits, and promoting the importance and value of the freelance community within the creative sector and beyond.
Creative freelancers have been urged to get involved by completing a survey hosted on the website at www.CWCreativeFreelancers.org
Sarah Windrum, CWLEP Chair, said freelancers are a hugely important and valuable part of Coventry and Warwickshire’s creative eco-system.
“CWLEP’s Digital Creative Business Group identified ‘freelancer support’ as a priority area for its programme of work during the pandemic because we wanted to assist with the recovery and growth of the creative sector following Covid-19,” she said.
“We highlighted to the government the lack of funding and support that was missing for those who were self-employed, which affected the creative industry specifically.
“Following on from that, we have been working in partnership with Warwick District Creative Compact to launch a new website for freelancers who are the core of our varied creative industries in Coventry and Warwickshire.
“We hope this pilot programme will really connect the sector and that as many people as possible will complete a short questionnaire on the Creative Freelancers website so that we can gather intelligence to provide future support.”
Johnathan Branson, Warwick District Creative Compact Manager, added: “We are delighted to launch this exciting new initiative, which we hope will support our creative freelance community in a useful and meaningful way during these challenging times.
“We have included a questionnaire on the website because the more we know about creative freelancers in the area and the challenges they face, the better the programme of support will be.”
Amy Dalton-Hardy, freelance producer and project manager who is also involved in the initiative, said: “As a freelancer who is based in Warwick District, this initiative is much-needed and timely. The effects on mine and other freelancers’ ability to network or collaborate, find support such as funding or training opportunities, continue with artistic or creative practice as well as the ability to maximise earning potential; has all been severely impacted during the pandemic.
“I want to encourage fellow freelancers to take part in the survey as the collective freelance voice is vital in order to create change.”
The pilot project has also been supported by Fresh Seed, Earthen Lamp, Create Central, University of Warwick, Warwickshire County Council and Chaos Films.
2021 was a strong year for Inward Investment in Warwickshire
Warwickshire Inward Investment returned another strong year in 2021, reports Warwickshire County Council's Inward Investment Manager (Automotive, Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing Lead) Ian Flynn...
As January is well under way, it’s a good time to look back over the last 12 months, and another strong year for UK and FDI (foreign direct investment) inward investment into the Coventry & Warwickshire area.
Despite the pandemic, and in some cases because of it, the Warwickshire and Coventry area enjoyed another strong year of inward investment. The list below comprises some of the highlights of the year, announced in the press and online over the last 12 months.
Automotive and Future Mobility, and logistics and ecommerce continued to drive investment around the county, but there were also some major announcements around acquisitions in the digital creative sector, and games development studios in particular, which saw £2billion of overseas investment in a seven-month period.
Invest in Warwickshire, the inward investment service at Warwickshire County Council, together with partners across Coventry & Warwickshire and the Department for International Trade, supported on some of these projects.
The continued strong performance in the area is a credit to the local industry, commercial agents and property developers and planners, who continued to support investment during the challenging pandemic period.
Auto and Future Mobility
An all-electric Jaguar range and hydrogen propulsion for Land Rover were among changes announced by JLR CEO Thierry Bolloré and the ‘Reimagine’ Strategy.
Aston Martin announced a switch to hybrid cars over the next four years, with electric-only models from 2025, following a tie with Mercedes Benz
At BMW Hams Hall, V12 and V8 engines were added to the portfolio, and around 20% of engines built there in 2021destined for plug-in hybrids.
REE Automotive UK announced a new £66m Engineering Centre of Excellence at MIRA Technology Park, Nuneaton, creating 200 jobs.
Ox Trucks set up in Warwickshire after securing a range of funding to support the development of its electric truck for the developing world.
Croatian auto company Rimac set up a UK Technical centre at University of Warwick Wellesbourne Innovation Campus, stating that ‘British engineers are world-class in the field of electrification and future of mobility’
Viritech set up at MIRA Technology Park to develop a 1100bhp hydroge hypercar, aiming to become “the world’s leading developer of hydrogen powertrain solutions.”
Octopus Hydrogen, Octopus Renewables and MIRA Technology Park confirmed plans for a green refuelling forecourt, providing hydrogen and EV charging
Bladon Micro Turbine signed a 20-year lease on a 61,076 sq ft unit at Spa Park, Leamington Spa.
Maeving, Coventry, launched its practical electric bikes that “channel the best of British motorcycle design heritage into a new type of electric vehicle.”
TVS owned Norton opened a new 73,000sqft factory and tech centre in Solihull;
Mahindra backed Classic Legends relaunched the BSA Goldstar. A technical centre has already been set up in Coventry where a new electric model would be developed.
The Wells Vertige broke cover, with a factory in Bishops Itchington to manufacture the £40k sportcar.
Porterbrook, rolling stock owner and asset manager, added the 135-acre Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to its portfolio of railway assets.
A planning application for a Gigafactory at Coventry Airport was submitted, delivering 5.7m sq ft of space for production and recycling, creating 6,000 jobs. Planning permission was granted in January 2022
The Prime Minister officially opened the £130m UK Battery industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), a pioneering 18,500 square metre national facility, developed to support the UK battery industry.
And if you're heading along the M6 at Rugby...
MOTO Services at Rugby opened following a £40m site investment creating 120 jobs at J1 M6, featuring 24 ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points, the largest rapid charging site on the motorway.
Creative Digital
EA (Electronic Arts Inc.), a global leader in interactive entertainment, announced the completion of its acquisition of Codemasters based in Southam, valuing the business US$1.2 billion.
Mediatonic, who have a studio in Leamington were acquired by industry giant Epic Games in April 21 who are best known for titles such as Fortnite. Mediatonic are the development studio behind the hit sensation, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout which launched on the 10th August 2020 and by the 26 August 2020, more than 7 million copies of Fall Guys had been sold on Steam, and it was the most downloaded monthly PS Plus game of all time.
Tencent‘s £919m acquisition of Sumo Group revealed in 2021 recently got the go ahead as planned. Sumo Group comprises Sumo Digital as well as 11 other studios. Sumo and Lab 42 have studios in Leamington and are expanding locally.
Supersonic Software Ltd and its subsidiary Appynation Ltd, based in Leamington Spa, were bought by Miniclip, the Swiss headquartered world leader of market-defining mobile game titles.
Facebook acquired Unit 2 Games, the developer behind the free-to-play game creation and sharing tool Crayta. The social network said that the addition will help expand its categories of gaming content creators.
The TV & Film sector has seen strong growth locally, with more productions choosing to film in the region, a West Midlands commitment and investment programme from the BBC through the advocacy of Create Central and the establishment of a Sky Blue Studio in Coventry in the former Ikea building.
Ecommerce and Other Sectors
Off Grid Energy secured a £1.25m investment enabling the move to its new 30,000sq ft premises at Stepnell Park, Rugby, creating 30 jobs.
DB Shenker created 100 jobs with expansion at Centurion Park on the edge of North Warwickshire, with 153,064sqft of space
Chinese global logistics company will create 500 jobs at it’s new fulfilment centre at Dordon, on the spec built St Modwen TF321 site
E-commerce business Furnolic Co., the UK subsidiary of Ziel Group, has taken a 10 year lease at Prologis Ryton. The firm specialises in homeware, furniture and pet furniture. The 10-year lease for the 148,461 sq ft unit is Furnolic’s first physical site in the UK.
Royal Mail confirmed it is building a second parcel hub Prologis’ DIRFT III scheme on the outskirts of Rugby. The planned 840,000 sqft Midlands parcel hub will become Royal Mail’s largest parcel hub
The Amazon Sortation Centre at Redditch Eastern Gateway started operation this year and will create 200 new permanent jobs over two years.
Plastics company Berry Global announced a new plastics facility of 138,675 sq ft at Spa Park in Leamington.
Aluminium window and door maker Deponti is establishing its new UK base at Midland 42, Rugby.
CORE 42 Business Park, at Dordon, North Warwickshire, pre-let a new 25,000sqft unit to Marshall Fleet Solutions.
Over One million COVID-19 tests were processed at the new 223,000sqft Rosalind Franklin Megalab in Leamington Spa. Opened in June this year, the laboratory is part of the current Test and Trace network and is at the heart of the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) plans for managing coronavirus (COVID-19)
This year will also see a global focus on Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, including Coventry & Warwickshire, as it hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games, building on the national profile provided by City of Culture in 2021/22.
The Coventry & Warwickshire area looks ahead to another strong year for FDI and UK inward investment, with new opportunities as the economy adjusts to EU exit, reshoring and supply chain localisation, new zero carbon technologies and digital technologies. Access to local talent and supply chain continue to make this an attractive location for investment in in high value jobs and R&D.
Maybe* offers free help for businesses to make social media work harder
By signing up to Maybe*, businesses can improve their own visibility and also share the successful strategies of other businesses."
It is well-proven that running effective social media accounts can drive sales and increase footfall to businesses. An opportunity has now arisen for businesses to take an overview of their accounts, develop skills and understand the latest trends by taking a look at the new Maybe* Social Media Guide for Warwickshire.
A scheme funded by Warwickshire County Council offers 12 months free access for businesses to the social media platform Maybe*. It is designed to enable businesses to take their social media to the next level.
Maybe* is available to help Warwickshire businesses reach their customers digitally. The platform has been developed to provide High Street businesses across all sectors with access to social media tools and daily training on the main social media platforms. This can help increase sales and customer-base whilst helping businesses learn more about their customers and competitors.
The offer includes a social media guide for Warwickshire and guidance on how to replicate the formula used by other businesses to increase sales.
WCC Sustainable Communities and Places Officer, Julia Aratoon, said: "Maybe* is designed to help businesses who need to make their social media work harder for them. In the market place of today, social media is a crucial part of successful marketing with a big role to play. By signing up to Maybe*, businesses can improve their own visibility and also share the successful strategies of other businesses."
The digital guide for Warwickshire can be downloaded here: https://www.maybetech.com/warwickshire/
Gender inequalities need to be addressed
“We need to encourage women by addressing underlying gender inequalities in society around unpaid care and domestic work. This could be through paid parental leave, affordable access to childcare, and more flexible working options."
Women-owned businesses and women in the workplace need further specific business support to reach their full potential, according to a new report.
Women in the Workplace is the latest Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub SmartRegion report which gathers information from various sources including Warwickshire County Council.
Over 79 per cent of women aged between 16 and 64 are currently active in the labour market in Coventry and Warwickshire, higher than the proportions across the West Midlands and nationally. But earnings continue to differ by gender, with Gross Weekly Pay in Coventry and Warwickshire estimated at £534 in 2020 for women, and £699 for men.
The SmartRegion report says there are 18,000 self-employed women in Coventry and Warwickshire compared to 34,000 men.
Sheridan Sulskis, Executive Director at the Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), said there are excellent business support schemes available in the area but more could be done to specifically target and support women.
She said: “Business groups and organisations, stakeholders and CWLEP must continue to review the landscape regularly and adapt provisions to create a work environment where people are treated fairly and where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. We need to acknowledge and focus on how the workplace and business is changing – automation and digital trends have really accelerated during Covid-19.
“As the economy re-emerges from the pandemic, women’s opportunities for re-entry and re-ewngagement into the workforce could be made easier by a need to reskill or find new career opportunities. We need to encourage women by addressing underlying gender inequalities in society around unpaid care and domestic work. This could be through paid parental leave, affordable access to childcare, and more flexible working options.
“There also needs to be dedicated support for female business initiatives and future female employment in high growth sectors of the economy along with a focus on retraining and upskilling women to access jobs in growth areas such as digital, renewable energy, and the Green Economy.
“Financial support schemes for female entrepreneurs and female-led start-ups in these sectors would give women more financial independence and boost the productivity of the economy.”
Sheridan added: “As part of our response to support even more businesses through the pandemic, CWRT is investing in an exclusive support programme that has been designed by women for women in business called The Financial Fit. This is one of many up-and-coming initiatives that CWRT is dedicated to delivering to help retrain, upskill and boost the confidence of business owners.
“Our collective eco-system has a strong track record in strategy setting and delivery and we continue to use this strength to build a resilient and inclusive business support landscape in Coventry and Warwickshire.”
Autins will feel far-reaching benefits from Green Business Programme grant
“The main benefits of the switch will, of course, be more greatly felt in the long term in terms of emissions, but the aesthetic impact is very noticeable and gives the site a forward-thinking feel and is a reminder of the path that the company is taking.”
A leading automotive supply company in Warwickshire has slashed its electricity bills and emissions after it was awarded grant funding as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme.
Rugby-based Autins Ltd, which manufactures state-of-the-art acoustic material designed to reduce road noise, improve thermal insulation, has cut its carbon emissions by more than half and reduced its annual energy costs by thousands of pounds after fitting its head office and production facility with LED lighting.
The refurbishment was made possible after the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub put the business in touch with the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme which awarded Autins a £20,000 grant.
The programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, is being delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University, and Coventry University Enterprises Ltd to enable local businesses with fewer than 250 employees to implement low-carbon efficiency measures.
Autins, which trades on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and supplies to global companies such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and the Volkswagen Group, made the switch to LED lighting as part of a long-term plan to reduce its carbon footprint.
The group has been operating in Warwickshire for more than 50 years and became well known within the automotive sector for manufacturing parts for the original Mini.
The latest measures will reduce their lighting costs by an estimated 59 per cent, with a saving of 209,861 kWh providing an energy cost reduction of £27,052 per year, and a reduction of 53 tonnes of carbon per year.
Dean Trappett, Group Engineering Manager for Autins Ltd, said: “This project is part of a larger plan within Autins to reduce our carbon impact and the grant has helped us make good progress this year.
“We found out about the Green Business Programme after looking into the ways we could reduce our energy usage and discovered that LED lighting was an effective method and were impressed by the envisaged savings after installation.
“The main benefits of the switch will, of course, be more greatly felt in the long term in terms of emissions, but the aesthetic impact is very noticeable and gives the site a forward-thinking feel and is a reminder of the path that the company is taking.”
Adam Plumb, account manager for the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “The Green Business Programme was created to enable SMEs in the Coventry and Warwickshire area to utilise the latest developments in energy, waste, water and resource efficiency alternatives, with the cost savings then available to be reinvested.
“We are delighted to see that Autins has taken advantage of the programme not just as a one-off, but as a sustained plan to reduce its emissions, and we are encouraging all eligible business to get in touch and discover what funding might be available to support these incredibly important projects.”
For more information about the Green Business Programme visit: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/greenbusiness
Educational award for Warwickshire country parks
"Many activities offered at Kingsbury and Ryton Parks not only support the curriculum, but also teach important lessons such as leadership skills, environmental awareness, personal responsibility and teamwork."
Two of Warwickshire’s country parks are still ‘top of the class’ for educational visits after they have once again been awarded Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) quality badges.
The LOtC quality badge recognises both the quality of the learning outside the classroom, and also the safety of the setting.
Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield and Ryton Pools Country Park, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, first received the awards for excellence in outdoor education in 2011, but have continued to demonstrate that they meet the standards, as awards are assessed every two years.
The LOtC Quality Badge was launched in 2009 as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities for varied outdoor experiences as part of the curriculum.
The award is given after a rigorous assessment process to ensure six quality indicators have been met:
- A process is in place to assist visitors to plan their learning experience effectively.
- Accurate information is provided about the activities on offer.
- Activities, experiences or resources are provided which meet learner needs.
- The experience is reviewed and feedback is acted upon.
- The needs of visitors are met.
- Robust safety management process are in place to manage risk effectively.
Cllr Heather Timms, WCC’s portfolio holder for Environment and Heritage and Culture said:
“Educational trips are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life and there is a wealth of evidence to support the benefits of learning outside the classroom. We are passionate about developing young people and bringing adventure into learning in the outdoors to transform and inspire lives. We are delighted our hard work has been acknowledged with these awards and we are looking forward to welcoming more schools back to visit us.”
Many of the activities offered at Kingsbury and Ryton Parks not only support the curriculum, but also teach important lessons such as leadership skills, environmental awareness, personal responsibility and teamwork.
The Department for Education guidance on Health and Safety during educational visits recommends that schools look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing external providers of educational visits. Almost 1,000 organisations have already been awarded the LOtC Quality Badge including museums, adventure and field study centres, places of worship, art galleries, visitor attractions and farms.
To find out more about WCC’s country parks, or to enquire about organising a visit please visit:
https://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/countryparkseducation
To find out more about Learning Outside The Classroom award scheme visit http://lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/
Funding enables AmbaCare to continue supporting those who really need it
“The guidance provided has put AmbaCare in a fantastic position to continue supporting people living with dementia in communities that can sometimes be hard for us to reach. Warwickshire County Council is committed to supporting all our communities...this is a major step in us doing that.”
A community support company has been awarded grant funding worth around a quarter of a million pounds to support people primarily, but not exclusively, from minority ethnic communities living with dementia.
AmbaCare Solutions Community Interest Company (CIC), based in Shustoke, has been awarded £230,000 spread over five years to fund its dementia community operations after launching a successful bid to the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund.
The company specialises in facilitating the development and implementation of health, social care, and housing solutions, and uses health coaching to deliver projects which enable people throughout Warwickshire to improve their health and resilience.
The funding is being used to provide information and support services within local minority ethnic communities to improve the experiences of people living with dementia, their families, and carers, through AmbaCare’s Dementia Diversity Programmes – established to ensure that people affected by dementia can live their best possible life through the sharing of lived experience, knowledge, and skills.
AmbaCare received the funding thanks to support from Coventry and Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency (CWCDA), which provides free business guidance to social enterprises and community organisations in the region.
CWCDA, which supports more than 65 local community businesses with funding and planning every year, first assisted AmbaCare with an initial bid to The National Lottery to establish its Dementia Diversity Programmes.
The agency, which is funded by Warwickshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is also assisting AmbaCare with investment readiness preparation in support of their plans to develop culturally appropriate extra care housing that will enable self-care and independent living that includes access to AmbaCare’s health and wellbeing initiatives.
Dr Jay Chauhan, CEO of AmbaCare Solutions CIC, said: “The expert business advice and professional support provided by CWCDA has been vital in AmbaCare securing much-needed seed funding. Despite Covid-19 restrictions, the funding has enabled us to scale up our various health and wellbeing programmes and successfully bid for new contracts. Our delivery programmes are being rolled out to multiple minority communities across Warwickshire. With the continued input of CWCDA, AmbaCare is on course to achieve medium to long term financial viability.
“AmbaCare is committed to contributing to enhancing and enriching the lives of people in Warwickshire. Our heartfelt thanks to CWCDA for your contribution.”
AmbaCare Solutions was established in June 2015 to benefit communities in and around Warwickshire living with long term health conditions. Its target beneficiaries are primarily, but not exclusively, individuals and communities from minority groups.
Services include a Living Well Passport, therapeutic activities, Wellbeing Buddies to tackle social isolation, digital skills training, Health and Wellbeing at Work, ‘6 Steps to Shaping up 4 Surgery’, ‘Peer Assisted Learning’ Support Groups, and a range of interventions that address the needs of people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
Cllr Kam Kaur, portfolio holder for Economy and Place at Warwickshire County Council said: “The grant funding that AmbaCare has received is a great testament to the excellent work that CWCDA does with organisations in the local area. The guidance provided has put AmbaCare in a fantastic position to continue supporting people living with dementia in communities that can sometimes be hard for us to reach. Warwickshire County Council is committed to supporting all our communities. This is a major step in us doing that.”
For more information on the services provided by CWCDA or to book an appointment call 02476 633911 or email info@cwcda.co.uk
For more information about AmbaCare Solutions visit www.amba-uk.org or email admin@amba-uk.org