Featured News
"Brilliant" support enables Nuneaton business to halve its energy costs
"The County Council has been brilliant and that reflects the support we have had in Warwickshire in the last few years."
A Nuneaton leisure outlet is on target to halve its energy costs after becoming the first recipient of a Green Business Recovery Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
Disco Bowl Nuneaton was awarded £45,020 towards the installation of new carbon efficient replacement pinsetter machines in its 24 bowling lanes. The rapid delivery of the grant means the work will be complete by the end of March, leaving the business, which employs 25 full-time staff, better equipped for both the short and long term.
Disco Bowl director Pete Terry says the grant is another element of the “brilliant” support that the business has received from local authorities in Warwickshire as they bounce back from more than a year shut due to Covid.
“We are genuinely very appreciative of the County Council’s support,” Pete said. “With energy costs going up 220% we had to think about how we maintain Nuneaton Bowl to make sure we can carry on.
“The pinsetter machines, which reset the pins for customers as they play, were traditionally mechanical with five motors on each machine. They were fascinating to watch but ludicrously inefficient and old-fashioned. The new way is with the pins on high-tension strings and we have installed this at our Banbury and Nottingham sites and seen a 50% saving in electricity costs.
“Nuneaton Disco Bowl has 24 lanes so, with a cost of £14,000 per lane plus VAT, that’s in investment of circa £400,000. So to have roughly ten per cent of that funded by the council makes a huge difference. All the major operators in the bowling industry are moving this way and now we can keep pace with them which is great because we have put a lot of investment into the Nuneaton centre and are very proud of it.”
Nuneaton Disco Bowl, which will not have to close during the work as some lanes will always remain open, is now well-placed for the future thanks to the backing of a scheme devised by the County Council to deliver support tailored to where businesses most need it.
Green Business Grants are there to help businesses make efficiencies on revenue costs to support and accelerate their recovery from the impact of Covid lockdowns. As part of the programme, Nuneaton Disco Bowl first accessed a free energy audit which identified key areas of the business that could be changed to improve annual carbon usage. This free energy audit is managed and delivered by Coventry City Council as part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme (funded by the European Development Fund).
“The County Council has been brilliant and that reflects the support we have had in Warwickshire in the last few years,” said Pete. “We have found different local authorities around the Midlands have different approaches but Warwickshire has been great and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council were brilliant with us. We love being in Nuneaton and we love being in Warwickshire.”
Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson said: “I am delighted that the Green Recovery Grant has enabled Nuneaton Disco Bowl to carry out such important work with huge economic as well as environmental gains. The scheme is part of the Council’s commitment both to green business and to helping our businesses bounce back from the challenges of Covid and rising costs.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Green Grants programme extended until July
The Green Recovery Businesses Grants Scheme, launched last October to deliver £300,000 in decarbonising grants for Warwickshire businesses, has been extended.
The scheme is part of Warwickshire County Council’s overarching Covid-19 recovery and investment programmes to support local economic recovery. It includes a free energy audit, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, under the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme, which is managed and delivered by Coventry City Council. This free energy audit provides the base of the application for the grant fund.
WCC is pleased to announce an extension to the deadline for application submissions to July 30th, 2023, with a view to businesses claiming the grant funding by December 31st, 2023. Businesses are urged to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
This extension has been approved following the very positive feedback gained from the programme to date. The first two grants allocated are expected to result in a yearly saving of 28.2 tonnes of carbon as well as helping the respective businesses reduce their energy costs.
Warwickshire County Council leader, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: "It is great news that the first two grants allocated under this scheme have proved so effective to the businesses, both environmentally and economically. I’m very pleased we have been able to extend the programme to support more Warwickshire businesses and would encourage all relevant businesses to find out about the scheme and consider applying so that they may benefit similarly."
For further information please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/greengrants or email Business@warwickshire.gov.uk
Boost for Digital Creative sector as County Council launches new investment
"The digital sector is a key employer within the county, particularly among young people, and already makes a strong contribution to our economy...this fund demonstrates that we are continuing to support that sector.”
Interest has already been strong in a new fund launched by Warwickshire County Council to support the growth of ambitious businesses looking for external finance in the Digital Creative sector.
The Warwickshire Digital Creative Co-Investment Fund is a new County Council initiative that will deliver over £200,000 in grants to support businesses across the county with recovery and growth,
The grants will assist in product development or key activities that lead to the businesses obtaining further private sector investment to accelerate their growth journey. It is part of the County Council’s overarching Covid-19 recovery and investment programmes.
The scheme, for which applications will be open until February 14, offers match funded grants between £10,000 to £30,000. The fund is open to small, and micro-sized businesses within the Digital Creative sector who have been in business for a minimum of two years. It has already attractive a lot of interest from high-quality small businesses and further applications are still being welcomed.
The programme is aimed at businesses that are already looking to raise finance to grow their business but are facing challenges in securing private sector investment or accelerate activities to put them in a position to raise additional finance. Businesses will be required to evidence their growth plans and demonstrate how the funding will bring them closer to achieving their ambitions.
The council’s Business Growth Team is on hand to facilitate initial discussions and other preliminary checks to ensure eligibility for the fund before businesses will be invited to full application.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy said: “Digital Creative business are often at a disadvantage to other business sectors due to their businesses and products being people centred. Whilst manufacturing businesses can benefit from capital grants to buy machinery to make products or make efficiencies, the Digital Creative sector is powered by digital input which more often than not is people.
“So creating products, or developing prototypes, is solely reliant on capacity of the organisation and can often take longer to get products to market, which in turn can stifle innovation.
“This issue has only been accentuated by Covid-19 due to the huge pressure on digital services and products to help pivot and support the transition to hybrid working and ensure the economy could continue to operate. This meant that the capacity for development of new products was static for two years and is only now beginning to be focused on. We hope this new fund provides the opportunity to accelerate business growth and get it back on track.
”The digital sector is a key employer within the county, particularly among young people, and already makes a strong contribution to our economy. It also increases our visibility, nationally and internationally, as a forward-thinking and innovative county, which can only help massively as we seek to attract inward investment. The council has long recognised its contribution. This fund demonstrates that we are continuing to support the sector.”
To register interest and book an initial discussion with the County Council’s business advisors, please email invest@warwickshire.gov.uk.
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Support helps Ukrainians into work in Warwickshire
“I was met by a wonderful lady and listened to the entire course of lectures and things became a lot clearer."
The Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire Programme was designed by the Warwickshire Skills Hub team to help Ukrainians to experience career opportunities open to them in Warwickshire.
Its objective is to provide direct access to jobs which local employers have shaped in conjunction with the Skills Hub's Fair Chance Employment Programme, which has proven to be an effective way to build inclusive jobs locally and boost engagement between Ukrainian jobseekers and employers who are tackling significant skills shortages.
Working in delivery partnership with CWCDA and the Warwickshire Community Skills Hubs (based in Warwickshire Libraries), the collaboration offers Ukrainian residents the opportunity to easily access employment workshops such as A Guide to Employment In The UK, CVs and Applications and Interview Techniques as well as English speaking classes.
Over 100 Ukrainians signed up to the programme with over 50 having now built CVs and working with the team to search and apply for jobs with much improved English skills from ESOL lessons. The UWWP employment sessions have been running at Warwickshire Community Skills Hubs in Rugby, Atherstone and Leamington.
Many supported by the programme have offered such positive feedback, including Nataliia, who has secured employment in a school.
Nataliia came to the UK with her six-year-old child under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme last June and lives with her sponsor. In Ukraine, she worked as a beautician in her sister’s business before moving to the UK where she worked as a seasonal fruit picker.
Nataliia was interested in working in the retail sector but her biggest barrier is language, so she attends weekly ESOL classes at her local community centre. She also needed a CV which she acquired after attending all the programme’s workshops; A guide to Employment in the UK, CVs & Applications and Interview Techniques.
The workshops gave Nataliia the tools to search and apply for jobs and a better understanding of UK employers’ expectations, interview techniques and information about starting a job and paying contributions. A CV and cover letter were created and uploaded to Indeed to enable her to start job searching.
Nataliia applied to become a cleaner in her local school and after an interview (using google translate) was offered the job. She is enjoying her new job which fits around her family life.
“I am very grateful to Leah and the programme,” she said. “I came from Ukraine and for a long time could not find a job, and then my sponsors advised me about the programme. I came and did not regret it.
“I was met by a wonderful lady and listened to the entire course of lectures and things became a lot clearer. Leah helped me put together the right resume and helped me fill out the documents. Now I have a job and I am very happy that I went on the scheme.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Strategic Director of Communities, Mark Ryder, said: “I am delighted that Nataliia has benefited from the scheme and found a job in which she is happy. The challenges that Nataliia, and everyone who has had to leave their homeland are facing, are hard for us to comprehend so I am proud that Warwickshire, as a county, has reacted in such a warm and welcoming way and that the Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire Programme has proved so effective.”
£14.2 million pumped into Coventry & Warwickshire economy
"We continue to be devoted to tackling local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions.”
A not-for-profit lender funded by Warwickshire County Council has provided a £14.2 million boost to the local economy to benefit the Coventry and Warwickshire region.
Thanks to Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust’s (CWRT) support, businesses across the region have been able to safeguard 339 jobs and forecasted a further 248 jobs to be created.
Throughout the last year, over £4.3 million has been distributed in loans as part of CWRT’s commitment to supporting SMEs, with almost £1million of this going to women-led businesses. CWRT has worked closely with Warwickshire County Council and local partners such as Coventry City Council, CWLEP Growth Hub and the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to ensure that the needs of local businesses were met.
The £4.3 million included £1.56 in loans from the Duplex Investment Fund of which £1.2m went to businesses in Warwickshire. The Duplex Fund also issued a £268,941 in grants (£230,417 in Warwickshire) during 2022. Meanwhile a total of £618,700 was loaned to Warwickshire businesses during the year through the Local Community and Enterprise Fund, part of the County Council’s Warwickshire Recovery Investment Fund.
As an extra bonus for the year, CWRT successfully gained accreditation by British Business Bank as one of the delivery partners for the Recovery Loan Scheme.
Sheridan Sulskis, CEO at CWRT, said: “We are delighted and proud that CWRT has been able to make a sizeable impact to the region’s economy during 2022. We continue to be devoted to tackling local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions.”
Not only has CWRT been providing vital access to finance support to businesses based in Coventry and Warwickshire, but they have also focused their efforts in supporting businesses and individuals through their specialised business support services.
One of those is the successfully piloted The Financial Fit, a free business support programme that assists women in business. Furthermore, in 2022 alone, CWRT has supported the creation of 40 new businesses through its Jumpstart workshops which are part-funded by Warwickshire County Council.
Sheridan added: “The JumpStart project has been instrumental in assisting those that continue to feel the effects caused by the pandemic by offering a specifically designed free workshops to those that have recently been made redundant, on less contracted hours, households that had a dramatic loss of income and need to utilise their skills or turn their passions into a business to generate a source of income.
“The workshops gave the opportunity for those considering setting up a business to meet in one space – learn together, share ideas and network.”
Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy & Skills, Cllr Martin Watson, said: "We are delighted to continue our support, backed by significant financial investment, for Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust and their excellent work to help small businesses in these challenging times. Our ongoing support for CWRT underlines our commitment to continue to do all we can to help small businesses across Warwickshire start up, become established and grow."
Alongside extensive efforts to support the local economy, CWRT has been able to almost double its workforce, recruiting an additional six new roles during the year 2022.
The new team have praised the organisation for its inclusive work environment. “CWRT is a small but diverse team, they have supported me in every way whether it’s attending specialised training or adjusting to demanding parenting schedules. It’s a brilliant company to work with, I have nothing but praise,” said Angele Gulbinaite, who joined as a Marketing Officer in May.
Alexander Vill who joined the team as a Loans Officer in January said: ‘’It’s great to be a part of a team that truly values its customers and always tries to support where they can. Having a hands-on approach when helping clients with their loan applications is really rewarding.’’
To learn more about CWRT’s finance offering, including financial support via WCC, and free business support services and the team visit www.cwrt.uk.com or give them a call on 02476 551777
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Business Ready support "priceless" to Purple Planet
“Working with Business Ready is helping to put things in place such as policies and procedures that we just didn’t have the awareness of before. You don’t know what you don’t know."
An award-winning business in the Coventry and Warwickshire region has urged fellow firms to tap into support available as it targets £4 million in turnover.
Purple Planet Packaging supplies sustainable food and drinks packaging to a range of sectors including schools, the hospitality trade, and directly to consumers.
The company, based at the Seven Stars Industrial Estate in Coventry, works with manufacturers and suppliers to ‘close the loop’ as the vast majority of the 450 products it supplies are biodegradable material that can be composted.
The firm was bought by husband-and-wife team Mark and Joanna Farr in 2019 as a lifestyle business but the Covid lockdowns – and the sudden demand for takeaway packaging – saw an immediate and unexpected boom.
The couple, who have two young children, had to quickly adapt despite having no prior knowledge of how to run a business.
They looked into what support was available within the region and are now working with Steve Tipson from the Business Ready programme as they look to reach £4 million turnover by 2024.
Business Ready delivers support to expanding companies managed by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.
“The support we’ve had from Business Ready has been absolutely priceless,” said Mark. “We had not long bought the business when we went into the pandemic and when demand increased we just had to roll with it.
“We did everything to fulfill our orders and make sure that we kept customers happy but we were working really long hours and it takes its toll, especially with two young children in the house.
“We’ve had great support from lots of organisations – it really is out there if businesses are willing to look for it and ask for help.
“Working with Business Ready is helping to put things in place such as policies and procedures that we just didn’t have the awareness of before. You don’t know what you don’t know.
“Not only that, Steve and the team have some amazing contacts so he has put us in touch with different advisers who have been able to give us information and advice on matters such as HR and IP.
“I’d urge any business out there to get in touch and find out what help is on offer.”
As well as receiving one-to-one support from Steve, the company has also accessed online workshops on social media, accessing finance, and marketing to increase its knowledge of how to run the business effectively.
Steve said: “Mark and Joanna are developing an amazing business and it is not unusual to see a start-up grow very quickly without having everything in place in the background.
“Business Ready is there to help businesses when they hit some of those roadblocks to growth and help them to get processes in place to overcome them. Not only that, it’s about giving the business owners the room to have an overview of what they are doing rather than rushing around day to day making sure orders are being completed and cash is coming in.”
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy with Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Business Ready support in this instance was bespoke as it addressed specific needs brought about by the Covid pandemic. As well as supporting a local business, it also ties in with the council’s commitment to sustainability as so much of the packaging produced is biodegradable. I’m delighted that our support has been so helpful."
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
CWLEP will leave impressive legacy, says leader
“I am incredibly proud that we have had a positive impact on every part of our geography and in so many sectors."
A business leader celebrated leaving a double legacy as her organisation held its final annual meeting.
Sarah Windrum, Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), told its last annual meeting that the group had left a strong track record in delivering schemes from North Warwickshire to Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry since it began in 2011 – and the Growth Hub it created would continue to provide support to businesses in the region.
CWLEP, of which Warwickshire County Council was a founding member, will officially close on March 31, following the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, after 11 years of bringing the public and private sectors together to drive forward the local economy.
In CWLEP’s 24-page celebration document, which was unveiled at the meeting, five infrastructure projects were spotlighted – the WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre at the University of Warwick, Coventry Station Masterplan, Completing the Cultural Capital in Coventry, the Commonwealth Games 2022, and Catalyst in Nuneaton – all of which received grants from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, Growing Places or Getting Building Fund.
Sarah said the organisation had worked tirelessly to boost Coventry and Warwickshire’s economy.
“I am incredibly proud that we have had a positive impact on every part of our geography and in so many sectors, including automotive, digital and creative, and culture and tourism,” she said. “We have brought £191 million of investment to Coventry and Warwickshire since 2011 which has been match-funded by £407.4 million.
“We have ensured value for money for every penny invested in capital projects and made sure skills and business support were at the forefront. I am also proud of the importance we have placed on improving the wellness of our communities.
“Evidence shows we have continued to perform at an exceptionally high standard when benchmarked with other LEP geographies, which has not been easy in the current economic climate. Our consistently strong performance has been thanks to the hard work and dedication of the past and current board members and the executive team working closely with our partners across the region.”
The Growth Hub has helped nearly 1,440 businesses with recovery from the pandemic and future growth plans.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said “The County Council was a member of CWLEP right from the start and has actively engaged with and supported it all the way through. We are proud to have contributed to its achievements.
“We are now working closely with the City Council and wider partners to find the best structures and approach going forward. We will continue to ensure a strong collective focus on the Coventry & Warwickshire economy and that the voice of our businesses will be heard where it matters.”
Advice on how to make the most of advanced technologies
A mentoring programme delivered by Coventry University Services has been designed to help entrepreneurs drive their businesses forward using the latest advanced technologies.
Massive advances in digital technology have taken place this century. When the pandemic hit, many businesses were able to pivot into remote working in a way that was unthinkable even ten years before. Technology is changing the way we communicate, do business and manufacture goods and with 5G this capability takes another step forward.
The Uxplore Technical Mentoring Programme (TMP) aims to help small businesses adopt and harness the benefits of digital connectivity. The technical mentoring team will help you identify the needs of the digital transformation, and how 5G connectivity solutions can be used to grow your business.
If you are thinking about the future of your business and have not yet started to look at the implications of 5G and Digital Transformation, now is the time to get started.
The TMP is a 12-hour technical and business support course offering delivered by industry experts at WM5G Ltd on behalf of Coventry University’s uxplore programme at our new Digital Hub.
This short series of workshops and 1-2-1 support, delivered by key subject matter experts with extensive knowledge of mobile technologies, will offer a deeper understanding of 5G digital connectivity, its current status and future direction.
You will also find out more about how the power of 5G could help improve business, whether you are:
- Looking to address your business challenges
- Exploring new ways of doing things to be more competitive in your market
- Developing new products or services that could benefit from fast, responsive, highly reliable and secure wireless data connections.
The programme also offers the ability for those businesses that have suitable products or services to test the performance of their offer over Vodafone’s state of the art (Standalone) Private 5G Network, before unleashing on the (public) commercial 5G Network.
To find out more, please visit https://uxploreproject.co.uk/technical-mentoring/ and to enquire email uxplore@cusltd.co.uk
Growth Pool looking to grow further after CDA support
A Kenilworth charity which does invaluable work with many families in need is growing to meet ever-growing demand…thanks to support delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA through the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme.
The Parenting Project is a dedicated and dynamic UK registered charity based in Kenilworth. It has been working across Warwickshire since 2008 to improve the life experiences and outcomes of children, young people and their families by providing services and support at a time when they are most needed.
Coventry and Warwickshire CDA met with the trustees of The Parenting Project in 2019 to discuss income diversification. Sarah Slater was subsequently appointed as Business Development Manager at The Parenting Project and has been supported by CDA to create a new Community Interest Company subsidiary called The Growth Pool CIC. A proportion of the profits from the subsidiary will be passed to the Parenting Project to support its operation.
CDA support was provided through the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support programme and covered a range of issues including feasibility, legal structure, incorporation and the terms of reference between the charity and the subsidiary. CDA is now providing business support directly to The Growth Pool to facilitate its further development.
The work of The Parenting Project and its new subsidiary is more important than ever. The Health Foundation are reporting that among those aged six to 16 in England, one in six had a probable mental health condition in 2021, up from one in nine in 2017. Three quarters of life-long mental health problems in the UK start before the age of 25 and today’s children and young people are considered to have worse mental health outcomes compared to previous generations.
The Parenting Project supports children and young people from 0-19 years (25 years SEND) and their parents/carers, providing individually tailored support, always with the wellbeing of the whole family in mind. Parents experiencing mental ill health often request support and therapy in their endeavour to mitigate against the impact of their emotional health on their children and yet, it is well documented that such help and support is difficult to access and insufficient. Referrals to The Parenting Project are currently increasing.
The Growth Pool provides personal and professional coaching and support, designed to prioritise mental and emotional wellbeing. It is on a mission to normalise the access of interpersonal wellbeing support and provide it to families, schools and organisations.
Soon to launch is its School Wellbeing Programme, which offers a consistent approach to supporting staff, parents and pupils. Services include supervision, coaching, counselling and group programmes and all focus on each individual feeling well supported.
The Growth Pool is seeking funding and/or sponsorship to deliver pilot support programmes in schools. If you are interested in supporting the delivery or are a school interested in taking part please get in touch. Coventry and Warwickshire CDA are currently supporting The Growth Pool CIC with identifying funding opportunities and publicity.
“The CDA have been integral to the research, development and set up of The Growth Pool CIC," said Sarah Slater. "By working with a consistent contact it has felt like we have had an extension of our team who is able to fill gaps in our knowledge and experience at the most crucial times.”
For further information about the Parenting Project and The Growth Pool CIC, please visit parentingproject.org.uk and thegrowthpool.com or email sarah.slater@parentingproject.org.uk
For business support from Coventry and Warwickshire CDA please visit www.cwcda.co.uk
Invaluable advice available from CUE workshops
A range of workshops and masterclasses will be delivered by Coventry University Enterprises in February.
Businesses with an eye on growth are encouraged to sign up to the following:
Tues 31st Jan/Wed 1st Feb
Innovation Masterclass
Face to Face/ In Person, 2-day workshop
9am-4pm
If you are an SME located within the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP area and are in the process of developing new products, services or technologies, or have aspirations and / or clear potential to do this then you can join us for our free 2 day workshop.
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/innovation-masterclass-support-in-bringing-new-products-or-services-to-ma-tickets-311391940677
Tues 7th Feb
Getting started on Instagram
Online
9.30-11.30am
In this session we'll be covering:
- Instagram introduction to users
- Tips and best practice for using Instagram
- Useful management tools, apps and websites
- How to measure the success against your business objectives using insights
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-started-on-instagram-tickets-411284441837
Weds 8th Feb
Getting started on Twitter
Online
9.30-11.30am
This introductory Twitter session covers:
- Twitter - introduction to the users
- Tips and best practice when using Twitter
- Useful management tools, apps and websites
- How to measure success against your business objectives using insights
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-started-on-twitter-tickets-411294893097
Thurs/Fri 16th/17th Feb
Are you Investment Ready?
In Person Workshop
9:30am-3:30pm
You will need to attend both days. This workshop is specifically targeted at later stage startups who are looking for seed investment or their first round of investment.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/are-you-investment-ready-tickets-470920143827
Thurs 16th Feb
Business Opportunity Spotting
Online
11am-1pm
If you are looking for profitable business opportunities but are uncertain about which are worth pursuing this webinar is for you.
Find out which opportunities are valuable and which ones are not in this two-hour workshop. You'll be surprised to find out how many chances you can have just by being more observant.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-opportunity-spotting-tickets-517639693257
Fri 17th Feb
Branding, logos and creating a strong visual identity
Online
9.30-11.30am
This session focuses on the importance of consistency in logos and branding. Touching on website branding, social media branding (cover photos and graphics) as well as other channels such as email marketing. Theory around font choices and colour choices will be shared - such as colour psychology and the nuances in perceptions around font choices.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/branding-logos-and-creating-a-strong-visual-identity-tickets-505974863437
Tues 21st Feb
Introduction to SEO and Blogging
Online
9.30-11.30am
SEO is something that a lot of small businesses have heard of, but very few are confident on what this actually means and involves. As such you can end up paying a lot of money on tasks that you could have done yourself or default to using Google Ads. In this session we’ll explain the principles of SEO with a focus on Google. We will share the importance of keywords, but also how to avoid pitfalls such as keyword stuffing that have no discernible impact on search engine performance. We will explain about page meta data such as page titles and descriptions and best practice to optimise these to increase clicks as well as ‘no click’ results.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-seo-and-blogging-tickets-411890053237
Thur 23rd Feb
What investors want
Online
11am-1pm
Are you a tech startup looking for investors?
Have you been unsuccessful in raising the seed funding you need for your venture?
Is it because you do not know exactly how investors think and what they want to hear from you?
Look no further. We are here to help. In this two-hour session, we'll explain how you should approach investors, how to talk to them, what language to use, what materials to develop and how to present them.
By the end of the session, you'll have a clearer idea of what you need to do to attract an investor's attention.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-investors-want-tickets-517770394187
Tues 28th Feb
Google Business profile optimisation and management
Online
9.30-11.30am
Google Business Profile (or Google My Business as it was known) can have a great impact on a business’ SEO local search values. For a free tool it‘s great find. We’ll help you to build a profile, optimise it and then use it like a social media platform to help support your SEO on the internet. It's socially valuable for gaining reviews and showcasing a physical business location. A must if you're targeting a local customer base.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/411241362987
Also coming up in March…
Thurs 16th March
1pm-3pm. Sessions run for 12 weeks
Help to Grow: Management course
In Person/Online - Hybrid
Coventry University are able to provide fully-funded places on the Help to Grow: Management course. The course involves 12 sessions as well as dedicated Peer to Peer sessions to network with businesses alongside 10 hours of 1-2-1 mentoring. Please follow the link below to find out more and register
Link https://smallbusinesscharter.org/h2gmcourse/coventry-wm-cohort-24/?_ga=2.80578452.2042761473.1673521270-538290910.1623661483
The positive impact of having on having an on-call firefighter on your staff
While Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service is an integral pillar of our county’s communities, on-call firefighters are an integral pillar of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service. On-call officers perform their duties alongside their working lives with the approval of their employers. But, far from disruptive to the workplace, having an on-call firefighter on the staff is positive in many ways. Matthias Idler, Finance Director of Stepover International, explains why the business is pleased and proud to have on-call firefighter Julian Benz on their staff at Bidford-on-Avon.
"Julian’s role does not affect business and if it does, tends to affect it positively. Who doesn't like firefighters?"
Matthias, tell us about the business...
StepOver has provided all kinds of products for electronic signature solutions for over 20 years. We offer a variety of native and cloud-based solutions which customers and partners can integrate in their processes, saving time and money by optimising processes and avoiding slow paper-based workflows. Furthermore, businesses can also reach their customers more easily and comfortably remotely without the need of physical attendance of signers.
What is Julian's role within the company?
Julian is a Senior Key Account Manager for our international business. He takes care of major customers and maintains and expands our international partner network. Our products require a good understanding of our customers' needs and an above-average level of consulting, so Julian covers these important tasks. We are very happy to have him in our team.
How does his role as on-call firefighter affect his role with the business?
Of course, there are situations during his on-call-times, when a meeting needs to be postponed or Julian has to leave unplanned. Our experience is that this does not happen too often and, if there are very important meetings, Julian will book off-call several hours prior to them.
Business relationships are essentially relationships between people and we see his activity as a firefighter as exciting and a positive contribution to society. Our customers and partners are frequently interested to know about it, so Julian’s role does not affect business and if it does, tends to affect it positively. Who doesn't like firefighters?
On-call firefighters are so important to the safety of our communities. Thank you for allowing Julian to take up the role. It is a very worthwhile way in which a business can support its local community isn't it?
Absolutely. And there is one more aspect. Our employees are the most important part of our company. It is very important to us that our employees can develop professionally and personally. Julian's wish to become an on-call firefighter was new for us, but, as already mentioned, also exciting and worth supporting.
Can you see any specific benefits to your company of having an on-call who serves local communities?
I think many partners and customers recognise activities like Julian's for the local community as an important value. Any kind of contribution like Julian’s in my perception is also supporting one of the principles of sustainability: ‘think globally, act locally!.’
I guess having an employee who goes above and beyond to serve their local community is a good news story, so can raise the profile and reputation of the company…
Today’s success depends on visibility and you need to reach potential customers with online marketing, SEO, SEA, etc. If Julian’s contribution can be future content for social media or on our Blog, then it’s definitely worth considering.
Like all on-call firefighters, Julian received WFRS training…does this have benefits for his his primary employment at Stepover?
Well, learning how to put out a fire or rescue people from the danger zone while wearing a breathing mask probably doesn't affect consulting for IT-products! However, many things you learn from WFRS training strengthen your general sense of responsibility and your ability to work in a team. I'm convinced it does.
What would you say to any business which has an employee interested in becoming an on-call firefighter?
I would say consider it seriously and, if the circumstances are feasible, support it!
South Warwickshire equipped to be a beacon of green business
South Warwickshire has the potential to become an exemplar in how to grow and encourage green business in the coming years, business leaders in the region believe.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s South Warwickshire branch discussed that theme during a meeting at Alscot Estate in Atherstone-on-Stour – where many green projects are already taking place.
Jonathan Thompson, Chamber Ambassador, explained how Alscot is looking to go carbon-neutral by 2050, and is already investing in biodiversity and green energy generation on its land. He also highlighted the potential for sustainable businesses to potentially move to Atherstone Airfield, which has been allocated for new employment land in Stratford District’s Local Plan.
Keynote speaker Doug King, CEO of sustainable rapeseed processing firm Yelo Enterprises - which is based on the estate and was recently announced as the new owner of Coventry City Football Club – then talked about how the region and the estate fitted his business’s vision when finding a home.
He said: “Since founding Yelo in 2016, we have built the business to a point where we process around 15 per cent of the UK’s total rapeseed crop – around 160,000 tonnes – and employ 60 people in skilled jobs.
“The Alscot Estate ticked all the boxes for our investment and building our processing plant there as it has been championing sustainable projects for a long time, grasped our initiative and had leased long term existing storage infrastructure alongside the facility.”
“Building a green-field processing and refining complex with a renewable heat plant took longer than anticipated and as always more capital than initially projected.
“However, after investing approximately £75 million, our facility and its renewable energy footprint processing only UK grown oilseed rapeseed is being increasingly appreciated by our customers. The direction of travel is clear on this subject and this early investment puts us in a strong commercial position.
“Huge change is coming to the industry, and buyers are already taking into account the sustainability and provenance of their refined oil when deciding on a purchase despite inflationary pressures.
“It’s great that we have successfully launched a new major sustainable business here in south Warwickshire, and I think the region and its focus on renewable energy shows great potential for new green businesses to have similar support leading to commercial viability in the near future.”
Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “The push towards net-zero is ever-increasing, so businesses with green ideas need to be able to make their dreams a success.
“South Warwickshire has real potential to host these kinds of businesses, with places like the Alscot Estate and Yelo Enterprises are already leading the way. And with allocations for sustainable employment land featuring prominently in Stratford District’s Local Plan, the area could soon set a national example in how to promote and attract green business, bringing great benefits to the economy and the environment.”
Toolkit launched to inform businesses about HS2 opportunities
HS2 has launched a new series of videos to give small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) more information on how they could get involved in Europe’s biggest infrastructure project.
The short videos are designed to help business owners understand where their business might fit in and find out more about the values behind HS2 and what is important to the organisation. This includes how HS2’s aims to improve the industry in terms of diversity, health and safety and education engagement.
The videos cover a range of topics including:
How to access HS2 Opportunities
How your business can use Skills, Employment and Education to help change the industry
HS2 and the Environment: Enhancing your bid through sustainability
For more details please visit here.
New fire safety regulations come into force
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging owners and managers of multi-occupied residential buildings in the County to make sure they understand new fire safety regulations which have now come into force.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were introduced on Monday 23 January. They are designed to keep the residents of multi-occupied residential buildings safe from the risk of fire.
These regulations are the next stage of new fire safety legislation that has been introduced as a result of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which was established following the devastating Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017. It follows the Fire Safety Act 2021, which came into force in early 2022.
The new regulations apply to all multi-occupied residential buildings that contain two or more sets of domestic residences, including mixed-use buildings such as flats above business premises. Responsible persons of these buildings must:
· Provide residents with relevant information about fire doors and their importance in the role of fire safety
· Provide fire safety instructions and place them in a visible part of the building. These instructions should cover the following: the evacuation strategy of the building, instructions on how to report a fire (e.g. calling 999, the correct address to give the fire and rescue service), plus any other instruction that tells residents what they must do when a fire has occurred.
The regulations also apply to multi-occupied residential buildings which are high-rise buildings, at least seven storeys and/or 18 metres in height. Responsible persons of such buildings now have to meet a number of requirements, including:
· Providing the local fire and rescue service with detailed floor and building plans, in electronic form and in hard copies stored on-site in secure information boxes
· Advising the fire and rescue service of any faults to firefighting equipment and lifts
· Providing details of the building’s external wall construction the fire service via the online reporting tool.
Warwickshire County Councillor, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Fire, Andy Crump said: “Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service welcomes the commencement of the Fire Safety Act and the implementation of the new regulations, which are important steps improving fire safety for residents across Warwickshire and beyond.
“We’re encouraging Responsible Persons – that’s usually the owner, site manager or occupier of the premises, who is responsible for ensuring and maintaining correct fire safety and procedures – to familiarise themselves with these regulations.
“I would encourage all responsible persons of multi-occupied residential buildings to work with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure their buildings comply to the regulations.”
For more information on the new regulations and what they might mean for you, visit our site at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/building-safety-information-upload.
A set of FAQ’s about the new regulations can be found on the National Fire Chiefs Council’s website here. You can also read the full guidance from the Home Office here.