Featured News
Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival will put region on the national stage
A prestigious new event will enter the local business calendar in November with the holding of the inaugural Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival.
From 20 November to 1 December, the festival will stage an exciting two-week programme of business events across the entire region.
The Festival, which will become an annual event, has been developed by the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub to stimulate business growth in the area.
The fortnight of events will create opportunities and time for topical discussion, enabling the region to come together once a year to interact, engage, promote, support, learn and discuss business under one banner – the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival.
An expected 50-75 seminars, lectures, workshops and conferences will take place within the two-week window, attracting an anticipated attendance of between 5,000 and 7,500 visitors, of whom around 15-18% will come from outside Coventry & Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Council will be heavily involved and head of transport and economy Mark Ryder believes the festival will be a tremendous showcase for both the county and the region.
"The county council is delighted to join with our partners across Coventry and Warwickshire to help deliver an event which will truly show how much our region has to offer," he said.
"With thousands of visitors expected we will host a number of events at various locations to showcase the skills and innovation which underpin this region's reputation as a go-to place for business."
At a prestigious launch event at Warwick Castle, business and political leaders heard how the festival will put the region’s business on a national stage on an unprecedented level. Run by businesses for businesses, the Festival will highlight Coventry & Warwickshire’s place as a renowned centre for knowledge, commerce, culture and innovation - and a fantastic area for new companies to invest.
Jonathan Browning, chair of CWLEP, said: “The business festival aims to raise the profile of Coventry & Warwickshire to a local, regional and national audience in a way that’s never been done in this region before. It will provide a spectacular platform to show how our businesses can unite to be a driving force in commerce, innovation and culture. We want to use the festival to demonstrate how Coventry & Warwickshire is the ‘Knowledge Capital of the UK’ and show the rest of the UK Coventry & Warwickshire’s strengths, opportunities and potential as a beacon for investment.”
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are very keen to be part of this exciting development in the annual business calendar and we want to involve as many businesses in our network as possible, from SMEs right through to the many global brands that are based here.”
Any business or organisation of any size can apply to run an event. Events can take any shape from a small networking meeting, workshop or seminar to a large trade show or a national conference.
Events will be structured into sectors to drive the region’s position as a global hub of knowledge-based industry. With strengths in many sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, engineering & technology and gaming, many local and nationally recognisable brands and speakers, from global blue-chip companies to SMEs, will be involved.
For more information, or to get involved - including applying to run an event, visit www.cwbusinessfestival.com or contact hello@cwbusinessfestival.com
The first Warwickshire Food and Drink expo is on the way
Businesses are being encouraged to look closer to home when it comes to choosing catering suppliers, as Warwickshire County Council and Shakespeare’s England partner up to present the first Warwickshire Food and Drink expo.
On Wednesday 22nd November, the event will take place at the Warwickshire Golf and Country Club. It will showcase the variety and quality of the county’s food and local producers to regional and national hospitality businesses.
The event is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Business Festival; a fortnight of business events for the region, taking place in November. Attendees will be given the opportunity to discover local suppliers, as well as the chance to meet and listen to industry experts.
Warwickshire Food and Drink is looking to engage approximately 200 local businesses across the supply chain, including high street retail buyers and hotel chains. The event will also feature visitor attractions and an independent stockists. Attendees will be able to engage with all manner of Warwickshire caterers, from breweries, to cheesemakers, chocolatiers and patissiers.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said:
“We have a thriving food and drink industry in Warwickshire and this event is a fantastic opportunity to show what they have to offer.
The expo will prove that businesses don’t have to travel far for world class ingredients and suppliers; they are available right here in the county.”
Helen Peters, Chief Executive of Shakespeare's England said:
“Shakespeare’s England is delighted to be partnering with Warwickshire County Council to host the Warwickshire Food and Drink expo.
Our region boasts an exceptional range of local food and drink suppliers and this event is an ideal platform for suppliers to showcase their products and produce. It’s also a great opportunity for buyers to get a real taste of the best of Warwickshire.”
For more details about Warwickshire Food and Drink Expo please visit www.warwick-food-drink.co.uk or contact Laura Taviner at Tourism@warwickshire.gov.uk
Steve recognised among the elite of European inventors
Warwickshire's reputation as a global leader in engineering innovation was further strengthened by the nomination of Steve Lindsey among the finalists for the European Inventor Award.
Steve, managing director of Napton-based Lontra, was the only UK-based inventor among the finalists for one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes.
The 15 finalists came from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the US - and Napton!
The award, run by the European Patent Office andpresented at a lavish ceremony in Venice, honoured individuals and teams of inventors whose pioneering work provides answers to some of the biggest challenges of our times.
Steve was also the only finalist whose work focused on mechanical engineering -an innovative, energy-saving rotary air compressor design. And his nomination, while a notable personal achievement, was also a great endorsement for Lontra and for UK/Midlands engineering and manufacturing as a whole.
“Just to be selected as a finalist from a worldwide entry was a great honour not onlyfor myself but everyone who works at Lontra and for Warwickshire as a region," he said."I didn't realise until I arrived in Venice just what a big event it is. People were referring to it as the Oscars of Technology and one of the other finalists was tipped for a future Nobel Prize!
"It was just a privilege to be among inventors of such calibre. It was a brilliant opportunity to talk to them and I certainly made a number of contacts which will be of great value in the future."
Lontra's growth has been supported by the University of Warwick Science Park and also by funding from Warwickshire County Council, through the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network. And that funding was vital to his company's growth, says Mr Lindsey.
"The council grant was enormously helpful towards us helping achieve the growth that we have enjoyed so far," he said. "We now haveplans for significant further growth, including a substantial manufacturing facility in the UK, hopefully in Warwickshire, so hopefully will benefit from some of the further support.
"As our technology moves into large-scale production we hope to make a significant impact on UK and worldwide energy usage through the increased efficiency of our compressor which can be used in a really broad range of industries.
"We expect our manufacturing facility to create 220 jobs internally while creating around 1,200-1,500 in the supply chain."
QES reveals strong and buoyant economy in Warwickshire
Manufacturing in Coventry and Warwickshire is thriving – and it’s not just major companies such as Jaguar Land Rover that are seeing the benefit.
That’s the key finding of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) which it produces in partnership with Warwickshire County Council’s Economy and Skills team.
The survey feeds into the British Chambers of Commerce’s national QES and is used as a barometer for the whole economy.
Business confidence among manufacturers across Coventry and Warwickshire rose to a remarkable 82.9 – up by 6.9 points from the first quarter of 2017. In the service sector it dropped by 3.2 points to 75.6 but that is still way above the balance score of 50 which would mean there were an equal number of companies believing the economy was going to better or worse.
In manufacturing, companies are reporting rising orders domestically (up to a score of 69.9 from 61.3) and in exports (from 67.5 to 70.2) in the past quarter.
Domestic orders fell slightly in the service sector but held up better when it came to exports.
Dave Ayton-Hill, who heads Warwickshire County Council’s Economy and Skills team, said Brexit and the resulting fall in the pound had impacted on the regional economy.
He said: “The depreciation of the pound appears to be pulling the economy in two directions. On the one hand, businesses in the manufacturing sector are seeing strong growth both from overseas markets and on domestic orders.
“Those domestic orders could be increasing because their clients are seeing an upturn in exports.
“The service sector does, however, appear to be feeling the pinch slightly as price inflation is pushing past income growth and, therefore, reducing the spending power of consumers.
“The overall economic outlook index for the region is down slightly but is still significantly higher than regional and national comparators which means the Coventry and Warwickshire economy remains strong and buoyant.”
More findings and an economic outlook will be presented at an event at the Holiday Inn Kenilworth on Tuesday, July 25 between 8am and 10am. Speakers include Dave Ayton-Hill and David Bharier, of the British Chambers of Commerce, as well as Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Louise said: “With more than 500 responses to this QES, it’s fair to say it’s a very accurate barometer of our regional economy.
“The results make fascinating reading and it’s great to see that manufacturing is growing in this area and is confident about its ability to grow in the future.
“The likes of Jaguar Land Rover are a big part of that but what we are seeing is many other manufacturers thriving in our area and growing their order books.
“We are very much looking forward to the event on July 25 which will feature expert speakers who will provide context for these results.”
For more information or to book go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/the-warwickshire-business-outlook-breakfast-july/
County council-backed funding programme helps companies move to next level
Two high-end Warwickshire manufacturing companies have won vital backing in their plans for expansion.
Guthrie Douglas, a world-leading manufacturer of tension blind systems based in Warwick, and NEJ Stevenson, a designer and maker of fine furniture based in Church Lawford near Rugby, are both investing heavily in their future and have received support through the Business Ready programme.
Guthrie Douglas is ploughing significant investment into its growth plans to more than double its turnover in the next four years, which will see the company increase its staff to 20.
Part of that plan is the purchase of a new machine that will allow the company to make more parts in-house - and has been supported a £35,000 grant through Warwickshire County Council to buy the equipment.
Likewise, NEJ Stevenson, which has a Royal Warrant for its products and has made furniture for, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has doubled in size in two years and needs to grow further.
It is extending its current base in Church Lawford and is also buying new machinery, supported by a grant of £35,000 towards the costs through the county council.
In both cases, the funding is supporting the companies to grow more quickly, create new jobs and help to drive the manufacturing sector in the region.
Andrew Kitching, of Guthrie Douglas, said: “The grant is a huge help and will, genuinely help us to grow the business. It will allow us to develop a new product range and will bring great improvements for existing customers as well as helping us push into new markets. We already sell to over 40 countries, exporting 85 per cent of what we make, and this grant, along with our own investment, means we can grow more quickly.
“When we were first told about the grant by the team at Business Ready, we assumed it would be at a lower level, but £35,000 is a big support for a small manufacturer.”
Business Ready, delivered by the University of Warwick Science Park, part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
Neil Stevenson, of NEJ Stevenson, added: “It’s simply stunning to get this level of support. To be perfectly honest, we’d given up on grants because over the years we have applied and have found it very difficult or just didn’t qualify. This grant, through Warwickshire County Council, was much more user-friendly and will help us to grow.
“What we do requires a high level of skill and craftsmanship but there isn’t a huge amount of margin in each commission so this support will mean we can expand, which has to be good for the local economy.”
Janette Pallas, of Business Ready, said: “Guthrie Douglas and NEJ Stevenson are great examples of some of the high-end, high-quality manufacturing going on in Warwickshire. They supply to everyone from royalty to museums and are renowned for the quality of their manufacturing.
“It is great to hear that both found the process of applying for the grants through Warwickshire County Council straightforward and that it will have a positive impact on their growth, on jobs and the economy of the region.”
- To find out more about, or to apply for, the Business Ready programme, please contact UWSP on businessready@uwsp.co.uk or call 02476 323121
- To find out more about the range of support available to grow your business, please contact the Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Midlands Engine very much open for business
The Midlands Engine is very much "open for business" - that was the message from the Railtex event held to showcase the region's rail sector to visitors from around the world.
Warwickshire County Council was among the Midlands Engine partners who came together with the DIT, Rail Alliance and Rail Forum to host the major event at the NEC Birmingham.
It was held to highlight the opportunities presented by the fast-evolving landscape of the UK rail sector - with the Midlands the perfect place for businesses to locate to for the benefits of HS2 and the many other rail projects in the pipeline in the next 15 years.
This is a time of great opportunity for businesses in, and connected to, the rail sector - and those in Warwickshire have the expertise and experience to seize those opportunities. The region is a focal point of rail Research & Development with Warwick Manufacturing Group, based at the University of Warwick, and Quinton Rail Technology Centre (at Long Marston) which is the UK’s rail-facility for testing, trialling and product development processes.
Warwickshire County Council inward investment officer Steph Williams said: " The UK's rail infrastructure is in a prolonged period of investment and that will attract inward investment while HS2 also represents significant infrastructure opportunities and cross-sector working.
"Warwickshire is well-placed to take those opportunities and remain at the forefront of the rail industry after years of sustained investment in training and development which has ensured the next generation of engineers and technicians and that stands.
"We were delighted to be part of the Railtex event which gave us a great chance to promote the county's strengths in rail and explore foreign direct investment opportunities presented by HS2, infrastructure and low carbon developments."
Delegates at Railtex included many representatives from the academic world, trade associations and innovation communities. There were also presentations from organisations making a difference today to the skills and competences of railway workers.
The headline presentation was given by from Gordon Wakeford, managing director of Siemens Transportation (UK) and chairman of the Rail Supply Group. He identified the Midlands Engine supply base as both highly respected for its capabilities and, importantly, exciting in terms of prospects for the future supply of goods products and services to the UK railway and abroad."
With presentations from the Rail Forum East Midlands and others during the two days, the profile of the Midlands Engine was well and truly raised - and it was clear to see that the Midlands Engine is very much open for business.
Meanwhile, Rail Live, the leading trackside event in the UK, returned last month to the QRTC (Quinton Rail Technology Centre) at Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon.
The event attracted thousands of delegates and exhibitors from across the UK, as well as international visitors and all aspects of the rail industry were in focus - from traction & rolling stock, rail plant and infrastructure, electrification and signalling demonstrations to displays of engineering, rail maintenance materials & product development/testing safety, digital products and innovation.
The QRTC is a major rail asset to the county, as one of the few mainline rail linked rail test sites in the UK. It features 2.4km of test track and 20km of rail storage, and hosts a number of specialist rail companies. These include Viva Rail, who have developed a new commuter shuttle train based on former London Underground rolling stock, known as the D-Train. The new train ran for the first time with passengers, operating a one-off shuttle between Honeybourne Station and the Long Marston Site.
This is an exciting time for the rail industry in the UK with £100bn of spending promised by government by 2020, and major rail infrastructure projects promised including HS2 and Crossrail 2. Across the country, local and regional schemes similar to Midlands Connect and the Coventry & Warwickshire NUCKLE are also in development, and up to 5,500 new rail carriages are promised.
This unprecedented recent level of investment provides significant opportunities for Coventry & Warwickshire businesses to access the rail supply chain. It is also an opportunity to attract new rail led inward investment to Warwickshire.
The inward investment service Invest in Warwickshire, has been working with colleagues at the DIT (Department for International Trade) Investment Hub in Birmingham, and LEP area colleagues from across the Midlands Engine area, to research the local and Midlands rail supply and develop marketing materials to promote the Midlands Rail industry offer to potential investors.
The Midlands Engine Opportunities in Rail brochure can be found here, on the Midlands Engine website.
JLR investment is "excellent news" for county
Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to recruit 5,000 new staff to power an expansion of its autonomous and electric technology projects.
Many of those jobs will be at the company's sites at Gaydon in Warwickshire and the neighbouring West Midlands.
And with 1,000 of the 5,000 new staff set to be electronic and software engineers, the expansion is excellent news for Warwickshire in particular.
That recruitment target area dovetails perfectly with the county's workforce which is already recognised as a world-leader in that sector, says Dave Ayton-Hill, Warwickshire County Council's Economy and Skills Group Leader.
"Every year there is a greater overlap between the digital sector and the manufacturing centre and that is great news for Warwickshire," said Mr Ayton-Hill. "Our digital sector is world-renowned and as a leader in low-carbon technology and autonomous vehicles, the county is perfectly placed to benefit from the this new investment from JLR.
"That one of the biggest companies in the world clearly sees Warwickshire as a desirable long-time location is excellent news in itself."
JLR, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, employs more than 40,000 people globally and has indicated that half of all its new models will be available in an electric version by the end of the decade, necessitating new skills among its staff.
Warwickshire is well-equipped to meet the challenges of delivering that objective, believes Mr Ayton-Hill - to the benefit of the county's economy as a whole.
"With the reputation for skills and innovation we already have in the sector, allied to all the training and apprenticeships which are developing the next generation of engineers, the future looks very bright," he said. "It is no surprise that companies, large and small, from all over the world are finding Warwickshire a highly attractive prospect as a business base."
More than 60 businesses sign up to Employability Charter
More than 60 firms now carry the prestigious Employability Charter from Warwickshire County Council after six more were recognised for their commitment to supporting young people to succeed in the workplace.
The Employability Charter is awarded to businesses for activities which encourage and facilitate employability skills among young people.
It is a key part of the county council’s £2.4 million Skills for Employment programme to improve the employability skills and attributes of young people so that businesses can recruit more readily to address skills gaps.
Arlington Automotive (Coventry), Hilton Warwick/Stratford-upon-Avon, Infinite Pixel (Southam), REPL Digital (Henley in Arden), Seco Tools Ltd (Alcester), Sunshine Recruitment Group Ltd (Southam) and Chapter 1 (Nuneaton) received their charters from Warwickshire County Council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe.
They joined 58 other businesses which have already received the Charter since it was introduced in 2015.
Chapter 1, a Nuneaton based furniture re-use company has worked closely with Exhall Grange School and The George Eliot School.
Nat Kidd, service manager, for Chapter 1, said: “Our 2nd Chance project is proud to be able to work with Warwickshire County Council towards our shared aims of addressing youth unemployment. We believe that by engaging with younger people and providing them with the opportunity to learn, gain confidence and skills, a tangible change in their outcomes can be achieved.
"Via the volunteering and training opportunities that we provide both for individuals and groups, we have seen a shift in attitudes which has genuinely helped to change lives one by one.”
Hilton Warwick/Stratford-upon-Avon earned the Employability Charter having worked with Southam College as a result of a £3,000 grant awarded by the county council’s Skills for Employment programme. The project involved ‘mock’ interviews of pupils who created CVs and letters of application for specific jobs.
Hilton HR manager Vicky Martin said: “It’s very important that we work with local schools and colleges to help us recruit the people we need in a range of roles. We are aiming to increase this activity in the next year.”
REPL Digital, Henley in Arden, has worked with Alcester Academy as a result of the Build a Business network grant of £3,000 from the Skills for Employment programme. The business has pledged to work with the academy on a range of activities and provide insight into jobs available at the company.
Dan Haywood, group resources manager at REPL, said: “Helping the development of young people is a personal passion so I’m delighted to be involved in improving the employability skills of tomorrow’s workforce.”
Infinite Pixel's partnership with Southam College involved work-experience placements. Their operations manager Alex Foster said: “We are delighted to provide work experience opportunities for pupils from Southam College and hope to recruit one later this year.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council and portfolio holder for Economic Development said: “We are delighted to award the Warwickshire Employability Charter to these innovative Warwickshire companies for their commitment to working with young people. Partnership projects like this one are invaluable in helping more of our young people on the path to gaining the skills and expertise they need to succeed in the workplace. We hope more organisations will be inspired to take up the challenge and consider working with local schools on other worthwhile projects.”
Businesses and education providers interested in finding out more about Warwickshire County Council’s Employability Charter or any other aspect of the Skills for Employment programme visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/skillsforemployment
"Buzz of excitement" in Nuneaton and Bedworth
Business leaders and entrepreneurs from Nuneaton & Bedworth gathered at a breakfast meeting to explore new opportunities for economic growth across the borough.
The well-attended gathering at Nuneaton Golf Club was organised by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub.
Almost 100 guests heard presentations from a range of speakers including Terry Spall, commercial director of MIRA Technology Park, and Lisa Garley-Evans, chief compliance officer of health food giant Holland & Barrett which has its headquarters in Nuneaton.
The meeting was also addressed by West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, who shares the ambition to make the region the fastest-growing economy in the UK.
Mr Street praised the West Midlands region as "the most innovative area in the whole country" and outlined the scope of further potential growth ahead, including £8 billion of contracts to be awarded in connection with HS2.
"There is a real buzz of excitement across the whole of the West Midlands and it's really strong here in Nuneaton and Bedworth," Mr Street said. "The borough is well-situated within the logistics golden triangle and has great business links. It is a superb business location."
Warwickshire County Council's Inward Investment Manager Ian Flynn added: "This is a time of great opportunity for the borough. It is located a short distance from the new HS2 station at Birmingham Airport/ NEC, we heard at this event from Terry Spall about the unprecedented growth of MIRA Technology Park to the north of the town and the 1500-plus additional engineering jobs to come from new and existing automotive global brands, and we’ve heard how companies like Holland & Barrett are growing their investment and employment in the borough. This event is a great opportunity to showcase the borough’s appeal to existing and new inward investors”.
"At the county council we work constantly, in partnership with the borough council and CWLEP, to promote the area and listening to all the presentations at this meetingwas just a reminder to us all of how impressive the the local offer is."
Gareth Edwards, Business Mentor and Account Manager at CWLEP GrowthHub was delighted with the strength of support for the event.
"We have some major high-profile businesses within Nuneaton and Bedworth so it's wonderful that our event has been so well-supported," he said. "There's lots of support for business here too; we work closely with the borough and county councils to provide targeted, specialist supportto both established businesses and start-ups."
The event included an expo of the business support services available to local businesses, with stands from the Federation of Small Businesses, the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, the University of Warwick Science Park and the Coventry & Warwickshire Innovation Programme.
Among the many excellent speakers and exhibitors, perhaps the star of the show was the quietly spoken fully electric Dynamo Taxi, developed by local Bedworth company ADV Manufacturing, based on the Nissan NV200 van. It is the first fully electric hackney carriage, and was launched recently at a national taxi show. Delegates were able to meet representatives from the company and to test drive and ride in the taxi.
For businesses interested in accessing any of the support available, the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub provides a free and impartial diagnostic and brokerage service, listening to SMEs and helping them to identify the most appropriate support for them. Gareth and his colleagues can be reached by calling 0300 456 3565 or visiting www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk.
Centenary Business Centre is perfect home for British Forces Resettlement Service
A Nuneaton-based social enterprise is smoothing the way for business to benefit from the vast range of skills held by former military personnel.
Last year more than 15,000 people left the armed forces - collectively making a huge array of skills and expertise newly-available to the job market.
But for some ex-members of the forces, despite them being well-equipped to offer much to potential employers, the process of readjusting to civilian life after, in some cases, many years in the military, brings its challenges.
So, British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS), based at the Warwickshire County Council-run Centenary Business Centre in Nuneaton, has been set up to connect ex-military personnel with potential employers - to their mutual benefit.
The social enterprise, which is not-for-profit with all revenues ploughed back into the business, is the brainchild of founder Harry Dean who himself served in the army for 30 years. Originally from Hertfordshire, he was first posted to Gamecock Barracks in Nuneaton in 1968 and has since served his country all over the world, including in Northern Ireland and the Gulf.
So when BFRS' growth demanded bigger premises, he was pleased to find the perfect solution virtually on his doorstep at the Centenary Centre.
"It is a very good base for us," Harry said. "We have 12 staff now so needed somewhere bigger and better-equipped and the Centenary Centre is just the job.
"Lisa Smullen and her team are really helpful and look after us very well and of course Nuneaton is so centrally-located that we have great access to the transport network which is very important as we hold quite a lot of roadshows and exhibit at events around the country.
"Basically we are here to provide an all-embracing, easy-to-access focal point where the Armed Forces Community and the commercial world can engage. Businesses locally have been very receptive to what we do but there is an awful lot more that can be done for the benefit of both the businesses and the ex-military personnel.
"I think there is still a perception in some quarters that people coming out of the military are only qualified to work in security. That's miles from the truth.
"In the forces people are trained to a very high level in all sorts of specialised areas like engineering and I.T. They have loads of transferable skills and also the disciplines that any employer wants from his or her workforce - punctuality, reliability, commitment.
"What they do not have is that background in the wider business world so that's where we come in. We show them the options while also bringing their talents to the attention of the business world."
BFRS services are open to Service Leavers, reserve forces, veterans and civilian MOD employees as well as partners and families - irrespective of for how long or how long ago they served.
Thousands visit Rail Live at the QRTC
Rail Live, the leading trackside event in the UK, returned last month to the QRTC (Quinton Rail Technology Centre) at Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon.
The event attracted thousands of delegates and exhibitors from across the UK, as well as international visitors.
All aspects of the rail industry were in focus at the event - from traction & rolling stock, rail plant and infrastructure, electrification and signalling demonstrations to displays of engineering, rail maintenance materials & product development/testing safety, digital products and innovation.
The QRTC is a major rail asset to the county, as one of the few mainline rail linked rail test sites in the UK. It features 2.4km of test track and 20km of rail storage, and hosts a number of specialist rail companies. These include Viva Rail, who have developed a new commuter shuttle train based on former London Underground rolling stock, known as the D-Train. The new train ran for the first time with passengers, operating a one-off shuttle between Honeybourne Station and the Long Marston Site.
This is an exciting time for the rail industry in the UK with £100bn of spending promised by government by 2020, and major rail infrastructure projects promised including HS2 and Crossrail 2. Across the country, local and regional schemes similar to Midlands Connect and the Coventry & Warwickshire NUCKLE are also in development, and up to 5,500 new rail carriages are promised.
This unprecedented recent level of investment provides significant opportunities for Coventry & Warwickshire businesses to access the rail supply chain. It is also an opportunity to attract new rail led inward investment to Warwickshire.
The inward investment service Invest in Warwickshire, has been working with colleagues at the DIT (Department for International Trade) Investment Hub in Birmingham, and LEP area colleagues from across the Midlands Engine area, to research the local and Midlands rail supply and develop marketing materials to promote the Midlands Rail industry offer to potential investors.
Colleagues from Invest in Warwickshire exhibited at Rail Live with Midlands Engine area colleagues and a number of inward investment leads were generated. The group were also at Railtex at the NEC in May, where a lunch event was held with existing and potential investors.
The Midlands Engine Opportunities in Rail brochure can be found here, on the Midlands Engine website.
Employers encouraged to help job seekers Accelerate their journey into work
Employers across Coventry and Warwickshire are being encouraged to get involved with the Accelerate project which aims to work with over 900 participants who are currently unemployed to develop their skills and confidence and find meaningful employment.
With more than 350 individuals already accessing the programme, local employers are invited to partner with Accelerate by offering work experience and employment opportunities to help participants achieve their goals.
Employers can assist in a number of different ways by:
- offering work experience placements, as this can often by an effective route into work
- offering work trials for any vacancy an employer might have
- advertising any job vacancies to participants via Accelerate.
Participants will have the support of a Journey Guide to support them through the work experience/into employment and the potential benefits to employers of being involved with Accelerate include:
- assistance with filling vacancies
- many participants will have had relevant training and support to enable them to become job ready
- an opportunity to offer work on a trial basis before appointing staff permanently
- fulfilling aspects of corporate social responsibilities
- access to a motivated and engaged potential workforce
Accelerate aims to:
- help those furthest from the labour market towards and into employment
- provide the means through which disadvantaged people become job ready
- assist participants to access learning, qualifications, training and job opportunities
- enable participants to overcome barriers to employment
The project is being led by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA and delivered by 22 partner organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire, all of whom are able to offer individualised support and training to participants to help them overcome the barriers they are facing and become more “job ready”.
For more information about the project or to speak to someone about how you can get involved please see our website www.accelerate.org.uk, by email to info@accelerate.org.uk or by calling Jon Clugston at CWCDA on 02476 633911.
Warwickshire Towns Network Wins national award
The team at Warwickshire County Council responsible for supporting economic growth in town centres across the county has won a prestigious award in the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) Annual National Awards.
The team, under the banner of 'The Warwickshire Towns Network,' scooped the 'Partnership of the Year' accolade, beating off Sheffield City Centre and Monaghan Town Partnership in the final short-list.
The Town Centres and Tourism Team established the Warwickshire Towns Network as a means of helping towns across Warwickshire to come together to share ideas, best practice, issues and develop solutions and joint initiatives to support each other.
Its programme of support has been wide-ranging, including delivery of digital, footfall and partnership training to retailers in a number of towns across the county. It is also leading master-planning and large-scale regeneration initiatives, in particular in Nuneaton while the Network hosted a successful towns conference in March 2017.
It has also supported the installation of free public WiFi in a number of towns and set up a Warwickshire crowdfunding page and place-making fund in partnership with Spacehive - a national civic crowdfunding platform.
The Awards showcase the achievements of town centre managers, local authorities, Business Improvement Districts, community organisations, and place-making partnerships of all shapes and sizes across the UK & Ireland. They are instrumental in providing recognition for the valuable programmes and projects that are being delivered by dedicated professionals to improve our high streets and town and city centres.
Award winners in the other four categories were Falkirk, Norwich, Derby City Centre and Aberdeen.
For more details please visit our webpage (https://warwickshire.gov.uk/towncentres)
Innovation on our High Street
Sarah Windrum gives the latest from Tech Central
Tech Central was thrilled to see the Warwickshire Towns Network win Partnership of the Year Award at the recent National ATCM Awards.
Smart Towns have been on our agenda for a while and it's great to see Tech Central members like RNF Digital working with the Warwickshire Towns Network on projects like town centre beacon navigation.
Technology has often been blamed for the decline of the high street with online shopping and out of town retailers offering Click & Collect. But Warwickshire Towns Network, in association with Tech Central, are helping spread the word of the Digital High Street and how technology can reinvent and redesign our town centres.
So, when it comes to Smart Towns, what are the key issues that technology - and our Tech Central members - can help with?
Accessibility
Navigation is crucial in our town centres for both the resident and the visitor. Even more so if you have accessibility requirements. Developers like DisabledGo have a fleet of applications allowing users to tailor information to their personal needs. Add to that the award-winning navigational work of RNF Digital on beacons and geo-fencing and we can create easy to access town centres for everyone.
The Digital Experience
Leamington Business Improvement District is piloting a national Digital High Street programme called #WDYT or 'What Do You Think?'
The premise is to engage with visitors to our town centres using social media. I visit a shop I like, buy something, take a photo, and upload it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat using #WDYT. My photo is then entered into a prize draw.
It has successfully increased footfall and customer engagement for retailers in Gloucester, Tewkesbury, and Cirencester where it has been crucially combined with digital marketing training for independent retailers.
And this is only the beginning. With 'Playable Cities' becoming the new buzz and our thriving gaming sector in Silicon Spa, the sky really is the limit. Augmented reality, holographic computing, recognition software are all coming together to construct our high streets of the future.
Town Centre WiFi
Alcester is Warwickshire's most recent town to be 'switched on' to WiFi on 19th May this year. Town Centre WiFi provides crucial infrastructure for the Digital High Street. Without internet access, none of the innovation is possible. Global statistics predict an eight-fold increase in mobile data consumption by 2020, emphasising how important digital engagement is for business.
Data Platforms
If I use the phrase 'place as a platform' it probably means very little but trends across the world in Smart City planning are to build open data platforms to collate and share management information across all stakeholders.
Bristol are piloting it here in the UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority are talking about it. Practically, it allows data about traffic flow to inform decisions about the urgency of pothole repair for example; and socially and culturally there are great possibilities too. Digital Communities, designed in a similar way to the social media platform StreetLife.com, could help prevent social isolation especially in our more rural towns. Communities could be responsible for sharing their own content and interacting with other communities. Local software companies like Black Pepper Software specialise in systems for large corporations that enable the flow of data and emphasise usability, perfect for our 'Warwickshire as a platform.'
Tech Central was founded to showcase the incredible talent we have in the digital sector across Warwickshire. Digital High Streets is just one area our members and their innovation could be utilised.
Please come to our Hack the City event at Warwick Arts Centre on 20th July at 6.30pm to discuss more about how technology and our town centres can work together. You can register here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tech-central-presents-hack-the-city-tickets-35752492668
To be kept up to date with other events from Tech Central, please sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/pcXaX8WiBDoNBYkx1
Opening the door to Positive Futures for young people
Warwickshire County Council has thrown its weight - and £275,000 of funding - behind a new scheme to help the most difficult-to-reach young people into education, training or employment.
The Positive Futures programme is now up and running with the objective of helping 15 to 24-year-olds who are categorised as NEETs (not in education, employment or training) or are at risk of becoming so.
Delivered by highly-renowned independent training provider Pet Xi, based at Westwood Business Park, Positive Futures aims to have had 780 youngsters under its supportive wing by the end of 2019.
More than 60 young people are already in the programme, receiving the input of specially-trained mentors with a view to gaining qualifications and employability skills to help them into traineeship, apprenticeship, further education or employment.
The Department of Work and Pensions were looking to part-fund new projects so the county council's Skills for Employment team backed Positive Futures with £275,000, which along with similar investment from Pet Xi, has unlocked £550,000 from the European Social Fund.
"We were very pleased to support this because Positive Futures is an excellent project which is filling a real gap in support for young people aged between 15 and 24," said Glenn Robinson, Warwickshire County Council's Skills for Employment programme manager.
"We know there are about a thousand young people in the county in this age-range who have, for various reasons, drifted outside education and employment and there are probably many more out there that we just don't know about.
"Pet Xi is a successful, dynamic organisation with the ability to deliver in this field so we saw a real opportunity to access funding which allows us to address this issue."
While delivery on the ground is carried out by Pet Xi, the council remains closely involved as a strategic partner.
"We are there to help and advise where necessary and also ensure that the funding we have put in derives best value and is deployed most effectively," said Mr Robinson. "Our role is also to make the community as aware as possible that this free support is available.
"We have written to all headteachers in the county to flag up Positive Futures because, while most of the young people supported will be beyond school age and enter the project through contacts made at places where young people go such as sports centres and chess centres, about ten per cent are still at school."
* Positive Futures is part-funded by the European Social Fund, with additional funding from Warwickshire County Council.
North Warwickshire opportunities discussed at Chamber event
Companies in North Warwickshire have been told how they can benefit from grant and business support to help drive their growth plans.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce held a networking event at Atherstone Golf Club where firms of all sizes and sectors got the chance to discuss potential business opportunities with one another.
The event was teed off by MP Craig Tracey and businesses also heard from Helena Bassett and Arpinder Bansi, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on the support available both for established businesses and for those starting up under the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund with further support from Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council. The Warwickshire start-up programme is funded by Warwickshire County Council and the district and borough councils.
Helena said: “The Chamber can offer support in a whole host of ways and it’s important that we continue to get that message out there.
“One of the topics we touched upon was the grant support that’s on offer to companies of all sizes and sectors.
“Of course, we have to caveat that by saying that there are always criteria to be met and terms and conditions to adhere to, but if businesses are investing in their growth, there is very often help available.
“In the past 12 months, we’ve helped companies access grants on everything from extensions and fit outs through to new machinery and equipment to help them grow.
“We’ve also helped several businesses access grants of up to £50,000 towards the costs of new premises.
“Further to that, businesses can benefit from one-to-one coaching through to help with business planning in order to aid their growth – they just need to ask.
“Support is there for established companies that want to grow but Arpinder also outlined the help that’s available to individuals who want to start their own business from scratch or those businesses in their first year of trading.”
Craig Tracey said it was vital the companies made use of the help on offer.
He said: “It’s great to hear that the support is available and that it’s for start-up and established companies.
“Once companies get started, it’s very important that they are given the help they need to scale up so they can make an even greater contribution to the economy and, hopefully, become the big businesses of the future.”
For more information on support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce call 024 7665 4321 option Business Support, email supportyourbusiness@cw-chamber.co.uk orlog onto www.cw-chamber.co.uk
The Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme is receiving £6.3 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for the ERDF. Established by the European Union ERDF, funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
Business Ready offers perfect safety net for Michelle
Michelle McHugh, director of Contrect Ltd, can vouch from first-hand experience that the Warwickshire County Council-backed Business Ready business support programme is the perfect "safety net" for anyone taking the bold step of starting their own company.
Michelle successfully launched the Contrect Portal, a contracting site which connects freelance ‘change’ contractors (including programme/project managers, business analysts and organisational development specialists) with clients, cutting out the need for recruitment agencies.
The Portal was launched in March and is already building up a strong customer-base.
It was last year that she decided to start her own business for the first time and she was confident that she was well-qualified to do so after 15 years working in the public sector, most recently as Head of Transformation Delivery at Staffordshire County Council.
A big part of her role there was engaging change-based contractors to support the council’s ambitious transformation programme. Michelle became increasingly aware that she was overly reliant on recruitment agencies to provide visibility of the contracting market. That was unnecessarily time-consuming and expensive, so a business idea formed.
But while she possessed all the relevant expertise in her field, many of the practicalities of running a business were new to her. And that's where the Business Ready programme, based at the University of Warwick Science Park, offered priceless help.
"I was confident that I had a good idea and the knowledge to back it up," she said. "But it is still a huge step to start up your own business. The support I received from the Business Ready Programme has been fantastic."
Business Ready, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, forming part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, supports tech-based and innovative businesses with high-growth potential based in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Michelle explains: "Everyone who starts a business has the passion, the idea and the knowledge and experience in their field, but there is so much more to running a business. I have never worked in a small business, let alone run one and it is a huge change from working for big organisations. Suddenly, it's all down to you, from forming company strategy and managing bank accounts to sorting your IT problems.
"Business Ready is a safety net. The advisors flag up things you wouldn't even think of and you can access to all sorts of advice and support, on aspects like business planning, marketing, accessing financial support and website development.
"I have been given a Digital Marketing Mentor which has been immensely helpful. It's an area I had never been involved in before but it's really important to a small business in 2017 in order to build credibility and attract customers. I have been given loads of practical and hands on advice and support which has been key to the early successes Contrect has had in attracting contractors and client organisations."
Dirk Schafer, a Business Ready advisor from University of Warwick Science Park, commented: "Business Ready is an innovative business readiness support programme for businesses with the characteristics and ambition for growth. With a bold mission to transform the UK contracting market, Contrect clearly meets this criteria. We are excited to support such an innovative local start-up."
- For more information or to apply for Business Ready support please email businessready@uwsp.co.uk or call 02476 323121.
- To find out more about the range of support available to grow your business, please contact the Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Booming electric vehicle ecosystem attracts FDI to Warwickshire
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is flowing into Warwickshire as the county's reputation as a centre of automotive and engineering excellence attracts companies from around the world.
Warwickshire's automotive sector, and that of the Midlands as a whole, continues to flourish at the front of the fast-evolving world with a real push on new energy vehicles and demonstration projects for autonomous pods.
And that reputation is attracting a strong flow of FDI as firms large and small seek to harness the Research & Development skills, testing facilities and expertise of the region.
Recent arrivals in Warwickshire include EDAG Engineering (a German- owned company working with premium OEMs), Baro Vehicles (an Argentinian company set up in the UK to produce semi-autonomous luxury golf buggies with plans for full autonomy by 2020) and United States-owned Lightning Hybrids (producers of hydraulic systems to recover energy from fleet vehicles).
Alongside these recent arrivals in the county sit many FDI expansion projects such as Geely London Taxi Company opening their first electric vehicle production facility at Ansty and Jaguar Land Rover’s investment in R&D facilities at Gaydon and Whitley, along with their development of the electric iPace.
Detroit Electric have secured Chinese investment to develop a high end electric car while Liberty Vehicles have unveiled exciting plans to invest £10m to expand their manufacturing capability with a new facility in Leamington Spa. Their next supercar model (T1 Evo) will make a debut in the town base while Liberty’s Trillion Cycles range will launch a new premium product there.
Stephanie Williams, an inward investment officer with Warwickshire County Council, believes it is fantastic to see how Warwickshire and neighbouring Coventry have become prestige locations for developing low carbon vehicle projects.
"It is no wonder we are attracting companies from around the world as this region more than pulls its weight to add to the UK’s competitiveness while help the local eco-system and creating new jobs for the economy," Stephanie said.
"Our central location provides great connectivity up and down the UK and easy access to skilled workers, specialised engineering training centres and cross industry collaboration. Supporting the OEMs with these new developments and challenges is a technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing-led supply chain, supported by our forward-thinking universities and research centres."
Business Dream turns Bryan's dream into reality
The Business Dream programme is designed to help and support SMEs as they set up, become established and grow. Project manager Sheridan Sulskis explains...
"Our offer is a long-term business support service featuring locally delivered group workshops and access to relevant resources and start-up finance. We believe that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution when starting a business - that is why our unique approach aims to provide clients with specialist support tailored to their needs.
"We believe that what clients can learn through our support can always be applied to their own business venture, job search or indeed any other activity they choose. If any budding entrepreneurs would like our help turning their dream into a living and breathing startup, we are here to support them and applying for the programme is simple. Just call our ‘Dream Team’ on 07494 442869 or email us at galya.dimitrova@cwrt.uk.com and we will take you through the process."
*The IEP, part-funded by ERDF, is run by Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), a not-for-profit specialist finance provider committed to supporting businesses and individuals primarily based in Coventry and Warwickshire. CWRT has partnered with The Women’s Economy (WE), and Warwickshire County Council, to offer specialist business support in Warwickshire through the new and unique Inclusive Enterprise Programme.
Among those to benefit from the programme is Bryan Thorpe who has set up a hog roast business. Here, he explains his pathway into business - with the help of Business Dream
- Tell us a bit about yourself. You used to be in the army before you settled in Nuneaton – what was your life like before you decided to pursue a business idea?
I was mainly working for agencies, warehouses, labouring, and served in the army for quite a bit which I enjoyed. I worked for two years in a restaurant, and went to a Chinese cooking academy for a year. I enjoy cooking for friends and family so thought I’d turn my passion and hobby into something that could potentially earn some money.
- What business are you hoping to set up and how did you arrive at this idea?
I want to set up a ‘hog roasting’ business. I did a lot of research into festivals and fairs and what people enjoy and found that food was very popular at these events. I just want to be able to offer a good quality, local produce that makes my customers happy. I have already asked by one of the other clients on The Business Dream to do a hog roast for her child’s Christening so it’s a positive start so far!
- Why hog roasting? Is it because you enjoy outdoor activities within the community?
Yes,I am definitely more of an outdoor person so this business suits me well.
- What are the next steps towards launching your business?
The next is the hardest thing! I don’t know a lot about finance. I will try to apply for some of the grants so that I get the equipment that I need. I don’t want to jump into anything big straight away but just get the basics – website, advertising, equipment. The more work I do, the more I will be able to upgrade and reinvest the money back into the business.
I have already spoken to a lot of festival organisers about what they want and expect. So I have a lot of things in my head and work with the mentor towards breaking it into manageable chunks.
- Why did you sign up for The Business Dream?
As per your advert, you may have an idea for business that to you is crazy, quirky or out of the norm but until you explain it to others you will never know whether it is a good idea or not. You never know until you try and make it become reality. I would definitely recommend the workshops, even if just to see evaluate if starting a business is for you, plus you get the chance to meet a lot of people, pick their brains and get their support.
- So far, what has been the most useful part of the support provided to you?
All the workshops I attended I found really useful! Michelle, my mentor, is really helpful, amazing and knows a lot of things. I have scheduled more appointments with her and will see how to move onto the next steps of obtaining finance and getting the business launched.
- How have the mentoring sessions helped you so far?
Michelle knowing other people that she recommends me connect to. Through her, I had so much help from other people. Another programme client, Maxine will help me find a place for a photo shoot once she sets up her photography business. I am looking forward to the programme’s networking events as well. It is good for us to give ideas to each other. Some might work some might not but the more ideas you have the better.
- Would you recommend the programme to other ex-servicemen and why? -
Absolutely because you meet people in everyday life, in employment or not. With your own business you have your own freedom. Some ex-servicemen find it hard to adjust to civilian life because they have a very structured life. But when you leave the army, there is no one to tell you what to do but you don’t know what to do, either.
From my point of view, it might be a big thing with the festivals. It could be a bit daunting and nervous in the beginning, but the more you attend, you will have people come to you. People might ask you for other events, I might have to travel to weddings, etc. That is more work and it will be like a chain reaction.
I can’t wait to set up!
- Anything to add?
If you have an idea and you are not sure, big or small, just go on a workshop, give it a try. I definitely recommend them. I didn’t know which way to go down but with hard work it will happen. The gaps will be filled. And don’t forget to ask other people questions about your ideas!
Free guide for businesses is refreshed and available
The Coventry & Warwickshire Business Guide has recently been refreshed for 2017-19 and free copies are available for businesses and organisations.
This useful guide to the area as a business destination includes a helpful overview of the leading local business sectors, including Automotive, Aerospace, Rail and Creative and Digital, and the local R&D infrastructure with information on the Manufacturing Technology Centre and local colleges and the universities.
The guide also features a list of key local development sites for potential investors, from across the Coventry & Warwickshire sub-region.
The guide was commissioned by the inward investment services of Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council, and was paid for from advertising included in the guide.
Copies are available to organisations who can make use of it. It’s an ideal publication to keep in reception areas or to pass on to clients who would like more information about the area.
A digital version of the guide can be viewed here.
Copies can be sent to interested businesses and organisations free of charge. Requests for single or multiple copies (up to 100) can be sent to by email to invest@warwickshire.gov.uk or by calling 01926 41 2140.
Green Business Network: Low Carbon Project
Grants, one-to-one support and free workshops are available to SMEs which are developing products, technologies and services in the low carbon sector in Coventry and Warwickshire as part of the Green Business Network's Low Carbon Project
SMEs can also take advantage of workshops focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability in construction and building refurbishment.
A recent attendee at one of the Sustainable Building and Refurbishment workshops, Parminder from local small business Drawing Desk, foudnd it immensely useful.
“The workshop was excellent," Parminder said. "It showed ‘lean’ construction principles using real world examples. The range of renewable technologies and live project examples was useful to make economic comparisons with other products.
"Overall this was an insightful workshop held in an inspirational building and made contacts both within the university and other construction professionals”.
Meanwhile, grants are available to support SMEs in the development and commercialisation of Low Carbon products and services. These can be used to access third-party support for activities such as Intellectual Property protection, certifications, licensing and prototype development. The project is currently supporting grant applications that will enable local SMEs involved in Waste to Energy and Renewable Energy sectors to protect their IP and those in the Electric Vehicle supply chain to access manufacturing consultancy.
For more information take a look at http://www.cuebusinesssolutions.com/c-w-low-carbon-programme/ or come and find out more at the Green Business Network Launch https://green-business-network-launch-event.eventbrite.co.uk
Advice on Ransomware
Following the high profile cases in the media in recent months, this edition of Warwickshire Means Business looks at ransomware. Here are the ways in which you can best protect your business.
Ransomware is a form of malware which gives criminals the ability to lock your computer, often demanding a ransom in order to supposedly get your data back. The ransom is normally requested in ‘bitcoin’, a form of digital currency. Some examples of ransomware include WannaCry and CryptoLocker.
There are a number of ways in which your computer may become infected including:
- Opening an attachment or clicking a link in an email
- Inserting corrupt USBs or DVDs
- Visiting corrupt websites
In order to protect your business network from ransomware it is important to:
- Keep regular offsite back-ups, not just using the ‘cloud’
- Keep your software up to date
- Ensure you have anti-virus software always running
- Most importantly – educate your staff. To avoid human error, instil an ethos of caution when it comes to unexpected emails, attachments and visiting websites which you would not normally visit
Resources Update
The Business Crime Advisor still has copies of The Little Book of Big Scams: Business Edition and also counterfeit note pens which are used to identify any fraudulent notes. If any businesses would like copies of the book or a counterfeit not pen, please email alexcharleswilliams@warwickshire.gov.uk
Warwickshire Business Watch Update
Warwickshire Business Watch consists of the website, social media account and the two alert systems – the Police Community Messaging Service and the Warwickshire County Council Keep Me Posted Alerts. Both messaging systems continue to grow and send similar alerts and crime prevention messages out to businesses across the county.To sign up to the Keep Me Posted Business Watch alerts visit the link below and enter your email address.
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWARWICKSHIRE/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKWARWICKSHIRE_22
To access the Warwickshire Business Watch website and sign up to either of the alerts visit: www.warwickshirebusinesswatch.co.uk or use the Twitter address @WarksBusiness.