Featured News
Adam's "massive decision" is a winner thanks to support from Centenary Business Centre
"The Centenary Centre has everything you need as a small business, but also has an intimacy that makes working there a pleasure. It felt like the team at the CBC were part of our team!"
If you are looking for ways to spend more time with your young family, then starting a small business would probably not be top of the list.
Creating and establishing an SME is a tough, time-consuming process with plenty of hard yards and long hours. But when Adam Bartram started up ElevAero at the Centenary Business Centre, in Nuneaton, in 2011 he had a good plan.
Armed with decades of experience of the aerospace and defence industries, he felt he had the expertise and contacts to go it alone. It was, Adam admits, a "massive decision" - but eight years on that decision has been totally vindicated.
ElevAero (derived from 'Elevation in Aerospace') is growing in reputation and size and is continually recruiting, while Adam is still managing to see plenty of his young family, which has itself grown, having two daughters, now aged nine and six.
It is a heartwarming success story in which a big factor has been the "perfect" base offered by the Centenary BC until last November when ElevAero, having simply grown too big, moved across Nuneaton to Bermuda Park.
"We had adopted our first little daughter and basically I wanted to spend time more with her," said Adam.
"After many years working long hours for other businesses, I was just keen to work equally hard but, where possible from 9.00 to 5.30, enabling me to spend invaluable time with my family.”
"It was a massive decision, but I had the belief and the determination and with the on-going support of my wife Paula and then later, a long-time friend/business partner Duncan Morris as Operations Director, we felt the potential was there to create a successful business with a unique offering.
"At first, I just needed a base and I knew about the Centenary Business Centre having attended a meeting for a company I worked for previously. I met with Lisa and Julie there and we were soon moving into Unit Six.
"Initially, there was basically just a desk, a white-board, a filing cabinet, one plant, me and my laptop! Then, over the years we expanded from Unit Six to Unit Eight, then we added Unit Ten and, in 2015, moved to Unit 56. Finally, last year, we had to leave. We were sad to go in many ways but the business had simply just grown too much and we needed the additional space as we introduced CNC manufacturing to further enhance our sourcing and supply offering."
Not that it has been a tale of smooth, stress-free success. Running an SME is rarely like that - and that is where the staff and facilities at the centre showed their true value.
"We went through a difficult time in 2015," he said. "We were struggling to grow as quickly as planned and had a turnover of just £160,000 but we knew we were close so we chose to borrow funds to keep us going. That was a tough time because there are plenty of pressures in setting up and running a small business anyway, so it was fantastic to have the centre's support to ease some of those pressures.
"Lisa and Julie are great, taking in deliveries, welcoming visitors and arranging the meeting room etc. The Centenary Centre has everything you need, as a small business, but also has an intimacy that makes working there a pleasure. It felt like the team at the CBC were part of our team!"
The decision to ‘stick it out’ and borrow paid off.
"Last year our turnover was £875,000 and this year we are looking at over £1.5 million - and the centre has been a big factor on our journey."
With a growing number of aerospace clients in the UK and with low cost supply chain partners in India, China and Eastern Europe, as well as many throughout the UK, ElevAero's journey is far from over. Meanwhile Adam's number one objective - time with the family - has also been achieved.
"It has been great for us to be able spend time with our two girls by getting the work/life balance just right," he said. "The business is targeting further growth and acquisitions in 2019 and beyond and we are also about to employ our first apprentice.
“The Centenary Business Centre was the perfect springboard for the business and I thank the team there for helping us embark on our exciting journey.”
* To find out more about the range of accommodation available within Warwickshire County Council's business centres, please call: 02476 796400 or email: eliotpark@warwickshire.gov.uk
Acupuncture Academy growth continues despite Beast from the East!
"Jagdish Soor and Louise Richardson from the council's Economy & Skills team were great to deal with. They were so lovely and there with us every step of the way."
Leamington Spa's longstanding reputation as the home of acupuncture in the UK is in safe hands as the Acupuncture Academy continues to grow in the town.
Founded by Julie Ann Reynolds and Jennifer Winter, The Acupuncture Academy recently occupied newly-refurbished premises in Hamilton Terrace. The town-centre base is in an excellent location for the blossoming business - and rather more comfortable for both practitioners, students and patients than the old prison cells they formerly occupied in the old Justice Centre in High Street.
The business's co-founders both trained at the world-renowned College of Traditional Acupuncture, set up by acupuncture pioneer Jack Worsley, first in Kenilworth and then Leamington. Julie and Jen were among thousands of students who studied there from the 1980s onwards.
They are now passing on their own expertise in a spacious property, once home to the Leamington Spa Courier newspaper, which they extensively refurbished and equipped with the help of a small capital grant from Warwickshire County Council.
Their journey has not been without complications. Early last year their move into Hamilton Terrace was delayed by flooding caused by the Beast from the East. That left the project more expensive than envisaged, but the small capital grant, along with some good business advice, from the council helped provide a perfect base from which they can continue to meet the high demand for their skills.
"We needed to grow the business and, first and foremost, needed more space," said Julie. "The old prison cells were not the most welcoming and were just too small and overcrowded. We were juggling commitments all the time and it got to the stage where we were having to turn students away.
"We had to expand and as soon as we saw the premises in Hamilton Terrace we knew that would be perfect for us. So it proved - it took a bit longer than we thought because of the flooding, which was very frustrating and upped the cost, but we are thrilled with the end-result.
"The grant was a huge help and, all through the process, Jagdish Soor and Louise Richardson from the council's Economy & Skills team were great to deal with. They were so lovely and there with us every step of the way. The flooding delay was quite a stressful time and we were worried we might lose the grant but, all the way through, they just said, 'don't worry, whenever you're ready.' They were brilliant."
Now the Academy is going from strength to strength. Alongside running a low-cost community clinic, it is training many more mature students on the honours degree level, fully accredited professional acupuncture course, both in class sessions at Hamilton Terrace and via integrated e-learning which means students can train pretty much wherever they are in the world.
"We have students from all over the UK, across Europe and even further afield," said Julie. "The other day I took an inquiry from South Africa. It is wonderful to have this perfect base where students can come for the ten practical weekends per year and learn in comfort with all the facilities we need.
"Everyone around us has made us really welcome and we love it here in Leamington."
- The Access to Finance advice for the company was delivered as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support
Programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council
- To find out more about the range of support available to grow your business, please contact the Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Transforming Nuneaton programme already showing benefits
"Nuneaton has so much to offer - working together with all stakeholders in the town, our vision is to fully maximise that offer to make Nuneaton a great place to live and work in and visit."
Nuneaton is well on the way to a vibrant future to go with its proud history as the Transforming Nuneaton programme kicks in to enhance the town centre.
The programme, driven by Warwickshire County Council and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, is designed to deliver the transformation of Nuneaton town centre as a place of the future in terms of living, business and play.
It is very much a collective effort. Although Transforming Nuneaton is delivered by the two councils, they are engaged in ongoing open dialogue with all key stakeholders in the town - health, education, housing and transport sectors - to bring them on the journey and look at opportunities.
Nuneaton town centre, like all town centres, has faced its challenges in these uncertain economic times as retail and shopping trends evolve, but the positive effects of Transforming Nuneaton are already visible.
The programme was initiated last autumn with £7.5m of funding from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership. That enabled the acquisition of land for future development to enable regeneration while funds from the two councils have acquired the former Co-op department store in Abbey Street, a key town-centre site.
The funding from the CWLEP, which recently held its Place Board meeting in the town, will also expedite the redesign of the ring road while traffic flows into town have been improved by a £3.7million upgrade of the historic Coton Arches junction.
Additionally, Nuneaton last year received a loan from the Government to advance plans for a ballot on establishing a Business Improvement District in the town, while recent investments locally include the construction of an £8m scheme of new retirement apartments by McCarthy & Stone.
Supporting the visitor economy is also integral to Transforming Nuneaton's vision for the future. Nuneaton has a rich history and heritage with many gems of significant interest to visitors, both in terms of places (the Abbey Theatre and Museum & Art Gallery) and people (George Eliot, Ken Loach, Larry Grayson, George Reader - how many other small towns have produced a great novelist, a great director, a Generation Game host and a World Cup final referee?).
Catherine Marks, Warwickshire County Council's programme manager for Transforming Nuneaton, said: "In partnership with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, through its many roles including land owner, investor, highway and strategic transport planning authority, is proud to be driving change in this great town.
"Nuneaton has so much to offer and working together with all stakeholders in the town, our vision is to fully maximise that offer to make Nuneaton a great place to live and work in and visit."
Jonathan White, Head of Town Centres and Marketing at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said: “The Transforming Nuneaton programme is already having great impact in the town. There’s a crane on the horizon and hoardings can be seen on Church Street, Queens Road and Abbey Street as redevelopment work progresses.
“We have a solid, long-term vision that will underpin Nuneaton’s future prosperity. Having worked strategically with our partners for many years to bring that vision to life, it’s rewarding to see so much visible progress being made.”
A detailed presentation on the Transforming Nuneaton programme will be given at the Nuneaton & Bedworth Business Expo 2019 on July 5th.
'Fantastic' Sir Frank Whittle Centre gives business the winning edge
"The Sir Frank Whittle Centre is such a fantastic base. The staff are really helpful and we have everything we need here to help drive our growth"
An award-winning SME in Rugby is continuing to grow after harnessing not only its own expertise but that of fellow businesses in the town.
Edge DPM, based at Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre, recently won the Best Small Business of The Year accolade in the Pride of Rugby Awards.
The award recognised the steady growth of the business which specialises in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of commercial catering and laundry equipment.
Incorporated in October 2012 by Kevin Geehan and Mark Shentall, Edge DPM first operated out of Worthing in West Sussex and a small office in Rugby. It moved into the Warwickshire County Council-run Sir Frank Whittle centre three years ago, since when the business has gone from strength to strength.
The burgeoning business has a client-list, including 71 care homes and more than 100 hotels, stretching from Inverness to Jersey. Its reach and reputation are widespread - established thanks principally to skills delivered over a long period of time in the industry both nationally and internationally.
"It was fantastic for the whole team at Edge DPM to be recognised with the award," said Kevin. "We based our entry on our growth over the last three years but also the way that we incorporate our business as much as possible into Rugby.
"Two businesses in other units at the Sir Frank Whittle Centre are working for us on care homes, another two are working on other projects and our accountants are in Rugby, so we have pulled six business together.
"I think there is a lot of expertise and skills on our own doorstep that people do not realise are there. One of the care homes we service wanted a fire alarm system and the company next door to us installs fire alarms. I know and trust them so passed on the contact. If people are in the neighbourhood they are not going to let you down, it’s all about working together.
"It has also really helped us that The Sir Frank Whittle Centre is such a fantastic base. The staff are really helpful and we have everything we need here to help drive our growth. Centrally located and easy for our clients to visit and understand our business".
Edge DPM's client-list is as diverse as it is far-flung. While many of its customers are care homes or hotels, there are also restaurants and retailers, a pharmaceutical centre and a castle - the magnificent Dunnottar Castle, one of the most spectacular places in the UK, in Aberdeenshire.
"We were asked by a company we deal with in Scotland if we would assist and design a new kitchen for Dunnottar," said Kevin. "We developed a new kitchen layout for them and used both 3D visuals and 2D plans to present our design and ideas to them.
"We have great designers, but plans are all very well for designers and architects to understand - customers want to be able see what they will be getting. That's why we have invested in software to give customers 3D visualisation of the designs and Dunnotar were an example of that.
"It s great for the business to have customers throughout the UK but we are also very pleased to have a strong local customer-base and are very keen to help more business and establishments in Warwickshire with their new kitchens or laundries."
* To find out more about the range of accommodation available within Warwickshire County Council's business centres, please call: 02476 796400 or email: eliotpark@warwickshire.gov.uk
Have your say in shaping Warwickshire’s Careers Strategy
“We want to enable all our residents – whatever their age – to access the education and skills they need"
Educators, businesses and local residents are encouraged to have their say on shaping a new Careers Strategy for Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Council has embarked upon a public consultation from 19 June – 26 July, to allow a wide variety of voices to give feedback on the Council’s draft Careers Strategy.
Effective careers and employability advice and support are critical components of a successful local economy. They can help people gain the skills needed by local employers, and pursue careers that match their talents and interests, as well as support those who want, or need, to change occupations. Good careers advice can also facilitate social mobility by raising aspirations and highlighting career pathways individuals may not have thought of.
With the number of vacancies posted online in Warwickshire growing, and the ratio of vacancies to working age population almost double the national regional average, according to Office for National Statistics figures, an effective careers strategy for the county is vital.
Key audiences for the consultation include residents - particularly, vulnerable groups such as care leavers; young people, parents and adults looking to retrain; businesses; education and training providers. The County Council will be running a series of formal and informal meetings and consultations to reach these groups across the county with the help of schools the Local Enterprise Partnership, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council says:
“Warwickshire has a strong and growing economy which the County Council works hard to support. It’s vital that the skills and aspirations of the local workforce match the needs of that economy. Through our Careers Strategy we want to expose Warwickshire students, their influencers and educators to careers in local growth sectors and increase the number of people taking up further education and higher value employment in those sectors.
“We also want to enable all our residents – whatever their age –to access the education and skills they need to secure fulfilling, appropriate, sustainable and well paid employment throughout their lives, which supports the growth and prosperity of Warwickshire’s economy. We’d like to hear from as many voices as possible during this consultation period, to ensure our strategy takes into account the needs and views of all sectors of our community.”
To take part in the online consultation follow this link: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ask
To request a hard copy for return by pre-paid envelope provided by the Council, please e-mail: skillsforemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 418027
* Warwickshire County Council’s new draft Careers Strategy is based on the principles set out in the Government’s National Careers Strategy of December 2017 which highlights the merits of timely careers and employability support in terms of sustainable employment and higher lifetime earnings.
Warwickshire County Council’s draft Careers Strategy has five key priorities:
- Raising the awareness of the range of career and employment opportunities locally, inspiring residents of all ages to develop their education and skills as far as possible
- Building the capacity of our education providers to deliver effective and sustainable Careers support and advice
- Providing targeted support and help to our most vulnerable learners
- Improving alignment of demand and supply of skills, now and in the future
- Encouraging and enabling businesses to recruit from a richer and wider talent pool
Kate's passion for healing turns into vibrant small business
"Owning my own business has been like a therapy in itself - I absolutely love it."
A Warwickshire woman who started a beauty and treatment business six months ago says being her own boss has proved to be therapy in itself.
And Katie Evers, who runs the Kianna Treatment Centre in Coleshill, has urged those wanting to establish their own company to follow their dreams and make the most of the support that is available.
Katie started the business in November following a consultancy project with Jaguar Land Rover. She now has a diary full of appointments for her range of treatments which include everything from semi-permanent make up to massages.
She had support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s start-up team to help realise her ambitions thanks to a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It forms part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale Programme, also funded by Warwickshire County Council and the district and borough councils.
Katie found the support and advice from business mentor Rita Booth invaluable.
“I really wanted to do something for myself and that I could work around my two daughters," she said. “I’ve always been into treatments and healing so went on a specialist course to ensure I had the right skills to launch the business.
“I absolutely love how I make my clients feel. Some of the treatments, such as semi-permanent make-up help them to get their confidence back and it’s a great feeling to have helped another woman achieve that.
“For me, owning my own business has been like a therapy in itself and I absolutely love it. I’ve been working with charities too, to help give something back, and I have just agreed a partnership with Lauren Elizabeth’s Beauty in Nuneaton to provide treatments they don’t currently offer. So it’s all going really well.
“Rita, my mentor, has been absolutely amazing. She has helped to keep me focused,commercialise the business and give everything a professional look and feel to help me market what we do.
“I also enrolled on the Facebook and Instagram masterclasses, delivered as part of the Chamber’s business start-up programme, because what I do is very visual and is perfect for getting the message out on social media. On top of that, I attended the Chamber’s expo and got lots of business leads on the back of that.
“So I can’t thank Rita and the Chamber enough and I would encourage anyone who is thinking of starting a business to follow their passion and make sure they tap into this kind of support.”
Rita said: “It is great to see the success that Katie is having with The Kianna Treatment Centre. She had the courage to follow her passion and start a business and I am delighted that we have been able to help her to achieve her aims.
“So many people out there want to establish a business and aren’t sure where to start so it is important that they know there is help available.”
For more information on start-up support please call 024 7665 4321.
There is also a range of masterclasses and workshops taking place in North Warwickshire for business start-ups including Business Vision & Strategy, Winning & Keeping Customers, Business Planning, Instagram For Start-Ups and Building Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Venues include North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, the Centenary Business Centre and Atherstone Town Hall. Please visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk for more details.
Sustained growth means businesses must move on from Warwick Innovation Centre
The success of two businesses supported by the University of Warwick Science Park is being celebrated as they prepare for the next chapter of their business ventures.
Evolyst and We Are Digital have been based at The Innovation Centre at Gallows Hill, Warwick, since their inception.
Throughout their time, the companies have been aided through several programmes including Ignite, Minerva and Business Ready – but both businesses are now moving to pastures new as their success means they need larger premises.
Jane Talbot, Centre Manager at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Innovation Centre, said both companies were fantastic examples of what could be achieved with a combination of their own hard work and support from the science park.
“Although we are sad to see Evolyst and We Are Digital leave the park, we are so pleased of all their achievements and the fact that they are proving to be so successful,” said Jane.
“It’s companies like these that the Science Park can support from the very beginning. Their moves are testament to them and staff at the Science Park, with its associated programmes, and how well they work.”
We Are Digital was launched in 2012 under the name Silver Training with the help of the Ignite business start-up programme to provide computer training at home for the over-50s.
Supported further by a small capital grant from Warwickshire County Council, it has widened its business offer and now provides courses for housing associations providing tutoring for many areas of the community that experience ‘digital exclusion’.
Started by father and son, James and Matthew Adam, the firm employs more than 50 people, which is expected to increase with their move to Coventry city centre.
Matthew said: “We are sad to be leaving the Innovation Centre, but this is what it was created for, to give businesses like ours a start and somewhere to grow and develop.
“It is exciting to see the business expand and take it to the next level and the Science Park has been there for us from the beginning.
“What is great is the fact that we are staying in the area, which means that we can continue to get support and advice from the University through the Business Ready Scheme.”
Evolyst provides mental health and wellbeing software apps and has also been supported by the Science Park’s Ignite programme.
The company was formed in 2012 by Ben Skirth and Chris Golby and began trading in 2014. One of the reasons for its move to Birmingham has been the creation of Lumien, a mental health analytics software platform that allows organisations to support staff by building a positive mental health strategy.
The business is increasing its team, with numbers expected to reach 20 by the end of 2019 and 30 within the next three years.
Chris said: “We have had a number of different offices during our time at the Innovation Centre. The flexibility provided by the Centre has been a huge benefit, allowing us to expand and accommodate our growing team with additional business support provided throughout our journey.
“But now we need something even larger. As we make our move to Birmingham we shall miss the security of our contacts at the Innovation Centre but feel we have a strong business model to see our company achieve its ambitious growth targets of services, turnover and staff numbers.”
Dirk Schafer, a Business Ready adviser at the University of Warwick Science Park, added: “It is sad that we’re losing two fantastic businesses from the Innovation Centre, but this is the nature of what we do and we have provided each business with the platform to grow.
“The Science Park and its programmes are here to support start-up businesses. It’s testament to both companies that they have achieved their initial objectives and strategy and can build on the knowledge they have gained from the services we have provided.
“We wish both companies every success for their continued development and will be keeping track of their progress.”
For further information about the University of Warwick Science Park and its programmes visit www.warwicksciencepark.co.uk
* Some of the support for We are Digital was delivered as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
- To find out more about the range of support available to grow your business, please contact the Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Nuneaton meeting will hear how supported interns can have such a positive effect on business
Nuneaton Golf Club will host an event on Friday 12 July to share with businesses how providing supported internships to people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can not only help the young person but also benefit the business.
The Warwickshire County Council event, supported by the Careers and Enterprise Company and the DFN Foundationon, follows the successful inaugural Supportive Employers Forum which took place last month and was attended by more than 40 representatives from business.
These events are designed to create a network of businesses that offer work experience and also potentially offer apprenticeships to people with SEND. The events bring businesses together to share ideas and best practice on providing supported internships, as well as help employers understand the technicalities behind taking on a supported internship so that the intern’s needs are met and appropriate adjustments made to the workplace.
At the event on 12 July, businesses will hear how providing supported internships provides a pipeline of talent, with people with SEND consistently displaying great attention to detail, and a conscientious approach to duties and attendance. Supported internships also give businesses the opportunity to make efficiencies via job carving – identifying specific tasks that might be assigned to an employee with learning difficulties.
Furthermore, providing a supported internship has an overall positive effect on staff morale, increasing disability confidence in employees, enhancing staff skills and increasing the bond created within teams.
At the event, businesses will learn about:
- Managing the relationships between businesses and schools.
- Warwickshire County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy - £1.2m which will be used to support apprenticeships in the region.
- How to access support from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Businesses will also hear from a young person who who took part in a supported internship - what impact it had on their life, and how it led on to an Inclusive Apprenticeship.
If you would like to book a place at the event, please visit here.
For more details or for any skills guidance and advice for your business, please contact Fay Winterburn: faywinterburn@warwickshire.gov.uk
New business units on the way in Warwick
Work is underway on 30,000 sq ft of new business, production and warehousing units in Warwick.
Developers AC Lloyd has appointed Coventry-based Deeley Construction to complete the £6 million development which will see 15 new units created off Plato Close in Tachbrook Park.
Completion is expected in December 2019 and over half of the units have already been sold – with planning permission secured from Warwick District Council earlier this year.
The units are available for purchase or rent and cater for a wide range of industries including hi-tech, engineering and storage. It could attract 80 new jobs to the region.
AC Lloyd, which is also based at Tachbrook Park, has owned the 132-acre site since the 1980s. The development and investment company has previously worked with Deeley Construction on a similar successful project, a £9 million development at Kites Park in Princes Risborough.
Mark Edwards, managing director at AC Lloyd Commercial, said: “We are delighted to be working with a local company again in Deeley Construction to deliver this much-needed commercial development in Warwick.
“Work is starting on-site in difficult times but despite those wider economic circumstances, there is still a clear demand for units such as this in the region.
“Over half of the space had already been sold before we began construction and we have had significant interest in the remaining units.
“It is the next stage in the expansion of Tachbrook Park as more and more businesses are attracted to a hugely successful development.”
Martin Gallagher, managing director at Deeley Construction, added: “Our team has now set up on-site and work is underway on these important new units to address the need for more commercial space in the area.
“Creating business space such as this can only provide a boost to the local economy."
Rail Live '19 Returns to Warwickshire - a showcase for Rail Excellence
“The Midlands Region offers an unrivalled opportunity for international rail companies..."
Rail Live returned to the Midlands for 2019, showcasing the latest in rail and trackside technology.
The event, organised by Bauer Media in association with Rail Alliance, saw more than 250 exhibitors and more than 6,000 delegates visit the Quinton Rail Technology Centre in Long Marston, a short stop from Stratford-upon-Avon, to see the latest rolling stock technology and trackside and infrastructure development.
The UK rail industry is seeing unprecedented investment in the rail network across the UK. This includes major projects like HS2 and Crossrail, but also new rail franchises such as the £680m Abellio/Mitsui/JR East Japan and West Midlands Trains, bringing new rolling stock into service, and new stations such as Kenilworth and light rail extensions such as Midlands Metro.
This unprecedented UK rail investment is also driving new innovations in digital technologies and rolling stock, such as very light rail.
Invest Warwickshire, part of the Economies and Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council, joined the Department for International Trade Midlands Engine Investment Hub to promote this UK investment opportunity to potential inward investors. The team spoke to a number of potential investors on its stand ‘Midlands Engine Rail’.
The Midlands Engine has been touring leading European rail and advanced manufacturing shows to promote the UK rail investment opportunities. Invest Warks has joined them before, at Railtex in May at the NEC, and again at Rail Live at Long Marston.
Rail Live19 provides an ideal opportunity for the Midlands Engine to reach out to a captive and engaged audience interested in finding out more about what the region offers – both in terms of rail expertise and technologies in as well as the opportunities to establish business operations in the area.
The show was a great opportunity for local companies to showcase their rail technologies. Porterbrook and University of Birmingham BCRRE were at the show with a UK first, the Hydroflex, the UK’s first train to run on hydrogen. Rail Alliance, the business network group based at Long Marston, was recently absorbed into BCRRE and the university does much of its testing and development at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre at Long Marston. Meanwhile, Vivarail, who are based at Long Marston, ran demonstrations of its battery fuel cell train which can run as a diesel electric hybrid, or by battery or other power sources such as hydrogen.
PCAT, the innovative very light rail infrastructure system, which has a permanent demonstrator at QRTC, was also exhibiting at the show, as was Chrysalis Rail, who refit and renew existing rail carriages.
“The Midlands Region offers an unrivalled opportunity for international rail companies to be located at the heart of the UK Rail industry not to mention its excellent proximity for major future rail infrastructure projects,” said Mark Goldby, Midlands Engine/Department of International Trade.
Ian Flynn, Inward Investment Manager at Invest in Warwickshire, added: “Rail Live 2019 was a great place to see the future of rail and so much of the technology is being developed in the local area.
“There was also lots of support for business to access the rail sector at the show, from UKRRIN (UK Rail Research and Innovation Network) to the Digi-Rail Programme, as well as excellent business networks such as Midlands Rail Forum and the Rail Alliance. It’s a great opportunity for auto, aero and other advanced engineering and technology companies to diversify their sales base.”
Rugby-based business vouches for value of Business Festival
"It was a truly national event, with over 77 per cent of attendees travelling from outside the region"
Applications are now open for businesses interested in running an event at the third Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival from 11 to 21 November 2019.
Events can be about any subject or business challenge and can take any form, such as a workshop, debate, expo or event premises showcase.
Running an event at the Festival is a proven way for businesses and individuals to gain exposure as well as growing their business networks or supply chains.
Rugby-based Banksearch Information Consultancy reported excellent feedback from the event they delivered at the 2018 Festival. They ran a conference-style event which attracted more than 50 people. Entitled ‘Business Support - What Works?' the event focused on productivity challenges faced by the UK and explored how business support professionals can help to drive improvement and growth.
Amelia Armitage, Sales and Marketing Director at Banksearch said: “The feedback we received was incredible. One hundred per cent of respondents rated the event as good to excellent and said that they would encourage others to attend next year.
“It was a truly national event, with over 77 per cent of attendees travelling from outside the region and some coming from as far as Dorset, Blackpool and London.”
Craig Humphrey, managing director of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub said “The Business Festival is a perfect way for individuals and organisations to put themselves in the spotlight as a leader in their industry, by running events that may address common business issues or show great examples of innovation, products or services.
“We are looking for quality events that really enhance Coventry & Warwickshire’s enviable position at the forefront of commerce, culture, knowledge and innovation in the UK.”
“Clearly, being a part of the biggest business event in the region will provide outstanding profile-raising and business growth opportunities. The event application portal is already open on the website. I would encourage everyone to take a look and see how they can get involved.
The Festival was developed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub and it is headline-partnered by Inspire Insurance.
Partners include Warwickshire County Council, Coventry University and CU Enterprises. It is sponsored by the FSB and supported by Deeleys, Coventry City of Culture, Coventry City Council and the district and borough councils of Nuneaton & Bedworth, North Warwickshire, Warwick, Rugby and Stratford.
For more information please, visit www.cwbusinessfestival.com or email hello@cwbusinessfestival.com