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LCE Fund passes £1.2milion awarded in first year
"To pass £1million in loans is a fantastic achievement and shows that the LCE has made a significant difference to many businesses and the families and communities they support around Warwickshire."
A funding scheme created by Warwickshire County Council to provide much-needed support to businesses in the wake of the pandemic has awarded more than £1.2million to Warwickshire-based SMEs.
The £10million Local Communities & Enterprise Fund (LCE) was launched in the spring of 2022 to fill a gap in the loans market at a time when mainstream lending was difficult to access.
Delivered for the council by Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), the LCE has now awarded £1,226,701 to 25 businesses from a diverse range of sectors since its launch in 2022. Following the loans, these 25 businesses are predicted to experience an almost 50% increase in estimated turnover, totalling a staggering £15.2 million.
The fund is open to all sectors, with priority given to those particularly significant within the Warwickshire economy, including Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Digital Creative, Culture, Tourism & Hospitality and Low Carbon Technologies.
Among businesses to have received LCE funding is Leamington Spa-based software company CAE Tech whose director Peter Harman said the support had been invaluable.
“As an SME our finance needs combined cash flow, capital expenditure and investment in growth,” said CAE director Peter Harman. “Our experience with banks is that these mixed needs are not considered - luckily CWRT has a more considerate and holistic approach. The Local Community and Enterprise Fund was the perfect solution for our situation and is helping us to expand our existing projects and put our growth plans into practice.”
CWRT chief executive Sheridan Sulskis said: “Within a year of delivering the LCE fund, we have achieved this incredible milestone. Not only has the LCE been instrumental in providing financial support, it has also helped these businesses in the creation of 89 local jobs while safeguarding a further 113 as the investments are made.
“It has been a privilege to play a part in supporting a range of micro and small businesses to obtain the finance they need to get started and to support established businesses to put their growth plans into action. Our team of local trusted experts are looking forward to supporting more local businesses to start-up, diversify and thrive.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson said: “The LCE was created to deliver vital support to smaller and early phase businesses and social enterprises at a very challenging time and it has resoundingly achieved that. To pass £1million in loans is a fantastic achievement and shows that the LCE has made a significant difference to many businesses and the families and communities they support around Warwickshire.
“I would like to thank CWRT, who have managed the Fund with such excellence. Their skill and passion has ensured that our investment in it is benefiting the maximum number of businesses.”
To enquire about LCE funding please call 02476 551 777.
The LCE is part of the county council's £100million Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund (WRIF), created to aid the economic recovery of the county post-Covid.
Work trials lead to interviews and paid employment as WSES takes flight
"One customer completed a work trial at Studley Castle and has been offered paid work starting next month...the employer gave him a chance when others wouldn’t."
A service launched earlier this year to help jobseekers with learning disabilities and/or autism into the world of work has assisted more than 160 customers in its first four months.
Warwickshire Supported Employment Service helps customers with learning disabilities and/or autism who aspire to paid work and also provides in-work support to those already in employment. It has hit the ground running by securing paid employment and arranging work trials for job seekers throughout the county.
A work trial is the opportunity to complete tasks involved in the job and be observed completing them rather than just talking about them. A job coach can attend a work trial where needed to help the employee meet the required standards, but the job coach’s input gradually reduces until the employee is working independently - essentially trained on the job. A customer featured in May’s WMB proved such a success on his work trial that he has been offered paid work at Studley Castle and the team is looking forward to supporting his progress in the new role.
Moving across the county to Leamington Spa, a customer’s work trial in Stratford at the Travelodge ended with an offer of paid employment. And finally in Nuneaton, a work trial for a cleaning role saw the candidate shortlisted - a massive achievement for this customer who was unable to complete the interview process until supported by WSES.
These successes would not have been possible without a series of industry tours arranged by WSES’s supported employment journey guides. These tours, hosted by Fair Chance employers and other Warwickshire companies, showcase what working for them might look like in the future.
In May a group from Rugby explored Draycote Hotel, where they learned about potential careers and also tried their hands at perhaps the most important skill of all to master in the hospitality sector - pulling a pint! The Mallory Court hotel also opened their doors to seven customers who had identified hospitality as a sector of interest after their trip to Studley Castle and took the opportunity to explore the sector further. The customers enjoyed learning about the transferrable skills between a cleaner and housekeeping assistant and enjoyed a wonderful tour of the grounds. To visit an employer to whom they could independently travel also enabled the career-seekers to plot how they would get to work there if required.
Delivery Lead for the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service, Charlotte Smith, said: “It was great to see customers who attended Studley Castle getting excited about visiting the Mallory Court hotel. Some of our Leamington Spa customers pass Mallory Court on the bus on the way to their sessions in the library and were really excited to get inside and see what goes on.
“One customer said it was the first time he has eaten out in nearly three years which, in itself gives an insight into the social barriers our customers face. He went home smiling with renewed hope for a paid job in the future as well as having enjoyed a day eating out with friends in their local community. You can’t put a price on the experience and the confidence this gives our customers.
“We have more tours planned soon including one of our own ICT department at Shire Hall. We can’t thank enough employers who are going the extra mile to show us behind the scenes and taking the time for us in their busy schedules to break down barriers and encourage inclusive recruitment for all.”
Please click here to see the inclusive tour of Draycote Hotel.
Holly Walk House offers impressive new home for small businesses in Leamington
Small and medium-sized businesses in Leamington Spa have an attractive new option for office space following the completion of a £1.5million conversion of Warwickshire County Council’s Holly Walk House on Brandon Parade.
Holly Walk House was originally two Grade II-listed, semi-detached buildings dating from the mid-19th century which were joined and converted into offices in the 1970s. The latest refurbishment has protected the historic nature and charm of the property while creating modern flexible workspaces.
The project has transformed approximately 5,500sqft of office accommodation over three floors, previously occupied by the County Council’s Adult and Children’s Services, into high-quality office suites. The work was supported by £500,000 from the Government’s ‘Getting Building’ Fund, through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, with additional funding of £500,000 from the County Council.
The new office space is a very welcome addition to Leamington’s vibrant town centre which continues to be a magnet for businesses in the creative industries. The town is home to the largest cluster of video game developers, by economic value, outside greater London according to national trade body Ukie, with a core of 50 businesses anchored around the town. In the last 18 months alone, studios have created around 500 new jobs in the region.
Holly Walk House, which has 15 individual spaces from four to 25 desks, is designed to accommodate growing businesses in fully-managed, highly flexible office space with a community focus. Tenants will be able to access business support, networking, meeting rooms and be part of the wider Warwickshire Business Centres community.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “Holly Walk House has been transformed into a heavily-modernised, premium flexible workspace and will be a huge asset to the Leamington business community.
“Everyone who has been to see it has been very impressed with the finished product and I am delighted that the first tenant has been signed up and the council is in advanced discussions with other companies to take space.”
Future Careers Fund powers workshop at Avon Valley School
"This activity demonstrates the difference a 'meaningful' conversation with an employer can really have and we hope to build on such highly effective activity in the future."
Students at Avon Valley School, Rugby, benefited from a bespoke Careers and Employability workshop delivered with support from Warwickshire County Council’s 2022 Future Careers Fund.
Avon Valley was one of 25 schools across the county which took up a Future Careers grant from the council's Warwickshire Skills Hub.
Secondary schools have faced significant challenges caused by the pandemic and lockdowns in particular, in terms of offering students work experience and having face to face interaction which had to be postponed.
However, supported by the £3,000 Future Careers Fund grant, Avon Valley worked with Career Seekers Direct to develop the workshop day which reintroduced a range of activities into the school to help the students. The activities designed by career leaders were encouraged to demonstrate themes of future careers and reflect the skills needs of Warwickshire’s employers across a blend of industries.
Year 9 students enjoyed the many strands to the day, including making vegan honey, Minecraft career talks and hearing different people’s careers journeys. Talks were given by members of Warwickshire College Group's IT department, The University of Warwick's IT department, a games design company and a music technology company. The talks addressed which skills are valued and needed in the organisations and the range of career paths available to young people.
In the skills session, the students developed their knowledge of employability and meta skills. They then took part as small teams in tasks addressing some real business issues where they put these skills into practice. “It was good to work with my friends and share our thoughts on what jobs we would like to do and learn more about which qualifications we would need for particular jobs,” commented one student.
Lisa Owen, Careers Lead at Avon Valley School said: "Students were very positive about the event and enjoyed their learning. The Future Careers Fund was invaluable in allowing us to work with Careers Seekers Direct and give our students this opportunity to work with professionals in the digital sector."
Eva Harrison, CEO and Founder of Careers Seekers Direct, said: “The enthusiasm and engagement from the students were brilliant throughout the day. Sessions like these are invaluable to the students as they make their educational and career choices.”
The aim of the Future Career Fund was to support education settings to build highly engaging, innovative, and aspirational activity.
WCC Careers and Employability manager Chloe Millage said: “It’s always great to see our local employer network supporting careers activity and businesses helping to develop and influence their future workforce is always time well spent.
“We received such positive feedback from students who said the opportunity to meet employers increased their awareness of the world of work. Being able to ask questions around the different routes into careers and earning potential really did raise aspirations. This activity demonstrates the difference a 'meaningful' conversation with an employer can really have and we hope to build on such highly effective activity in the future."
- If you are a business who would like to offer a careers talk, a tour of your workspace or support mock interviews then please do get in touch with the Warwickshire Skills Hub on skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk
Crown is resplendent after Project Warwickshire support
"We also discussed recruitment and retention issues and Russell made a referral to the Warwickshire Skills hub, who have been very helpful and has led to us taking on a new member of staff."
A south Warwickshire pub has shown its resilience and enterprise by reaching pre-Covid sales levels following a five-figure investment and business support.
Mark Peggram, the landlord of The Crown in Tiddington, says around £50,000 has been invested in the popular venue on internal and external décor as customer levels have started to increase.
The work has been carried out in conjunction with Stonegate Pub Partners and Wensleys building contractors.
The pub has been a microcosm of the issues facing businesses in the region, with Covid restrictions, energy prices, food inflation and working from home all having an effect on the bottom line.
Mark has tapped into support on offer through the Project Warwickshire business support scheme delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, to help boost trade. It led to one-to-one support from Chamber business adviser Russell Grant who has helped Mark and the team create a marketing plan to drive more customers to the pub.
The team has also attended social media workshops in a bid to raise the pub’s online profile.
Mark, who has recently employed a new head chef, said he was more confident about the future after a tricky period for the pub trade having been running the Crown, with his wife, Claire, for 12 years.
He said: “There is no denying that the past three years have been a challenge and even before that pubs were facing a range of issues.
“We’ve had lockdowns, rising costs and, also, changing habits to contend with.
“This is the first spring and summer where we’ve been able to operate without restrictions since Covid and we wanted to give ourselves the best possible chance of getting more customers through the door.
“We have invested in improving the overall look and feel of the pub with decoration and signage to make it feel really welcoming.
“When the Chamber got in touch to say there was support available too, we decided to apply because we saw it as a real opportunity to make sure we were doing everything we could to market ourselves.
“Russell has been really helpful and assisted us to create a bespoke marketing plan, which we are now using to grow the business. The workshops have made us much more active on social media, which is so important these days.
“We also explored grant funding opportunities and Russell referred me to the Warwickshire Business Green Recovery Grant Scheme. We also discussed recruitment and retention issues and Russell made a referral to the Warwickshire Skills hub, who have been very helpful and has led to us taking on a new member of staff.
“We’re now back up to pre-Covid levels and I am confident we can go beyond that. As more people return to local offices, that increases our lunchtime trade and we have a caravan park opposite which drives business our way.”
Project Warwickshire, which was set up by Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme, is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has been delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Russell Grant, business adviser at the Chamber, said: “We are thrilled to have supported Mark and the team at the Crown. The pub industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and was already under huge pressure before that, so to see the Crown performing so well and to have hit pre-pandemic levels is great news.”
Councillor Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy with Warwickshire County Council, said: “The county council has a range of funding streams that support businesses so that, when we work with partners, we are able to provide a wide range of support and solutions.
“I am delighted that The Crown is seeing such an upsurge in business. The knock-on effect of its progress, which is one of the important criteria when we assess applications for support, is greater opportunities for employment in and around the local community.
“This, in turn, provides a great boost to the local economy and is great news for the entire area.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Joe's powerful presentation earns standing ovation at the Wellbeing Forum
’Source, Train and Retain’ was the theme of the third Coventry & Warwickshire Workplace Wellbeing Forum which took place at Nettle Hill, Ansty.
The theme was extremely timely following a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce which revealed that firms are facing the highest level of recruitment difficulties on record – news which reflected what local Economy and Skills teams are also reporting.
Businesses from across Coventry and Warwickshire were invited along to the forum to hear from services and teams supporting recruitment, training, and wellbeing opportunities for employees. The day was split into the three areas and, during the ‘source’ section, guests saw presentations discussing recruitment support from Warwickshire Skills Hub and Coventry Inequalities and Migration teams, aS well as external presentations from Thrive into Work and TSOS.
Moving into the ‘Train’ section, guests heard from Warwickshire College Group, Coventry Jobshop and North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College talk about apprenticeships, training and distance learning opportunities.
The final section ‘retain’ held a spotlight on wellbeing and the benefits to having a happier and healthier workforce. Delegates heard about the opportunities to join the Corporate Games and sign up to the Thrive at Work workplace wellbeing accreditation award. The final presentation was a spotlight on Warwickshire County Council’s approach to menopause and how they are supporting employees affected.
The highlight of the event was hearing first hand from Joe Early who is a junior content creator one day a week with TSOS and is at college the rest of the week completing an IT course. Joe shared with the delegates some of his life story including losing a parent and being diagnosed with autism and ADHD, but he refused to let it define him and talked passionately about how a meeting with TSOS changed the path he was taking. Joe’s powerful story affected everyone in the room and as he ended his talk, he was given a standing ovation...a fantastic example of how investing in ‘Source, Train and Retain’ has benefits to employers and residents across the region.
Improvements to business centres will heighten their economic impact
Warwickshire County Council’s Business Centres are undergoing a wide-ranging improvement programme which will leave them far better-equipped to bring greater benefit to the county’s economy.
Enhancements to the 14 business centres, home to a total of over 250 small businesses around the county, will increase their comfort and efficiency for tenants and visitors alike.
For the first time, all the managed sites will have designated communal spaces to enable more community-building to take place amongst businesses there. The refurbishments also include the fitting of new toilets and kitchens in a work programme which will continue for several months and enable the council to significantly increase the performance of its business centres.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson said: “These works are a key part of our plans to improve the commercial performance of our businesses centres and increase their economic impact. It will radically increase the quality of the accommodation that we provide to local businesses.
“The main aim of this work is to improve the first impressions that our sites give and to create communal spaces to allow us to build and strengthen the communities within, and around, our centres.
“This is a huge step forward in terms of the economic impact that Warwickshire Business Centre can have across the county.”
Warwickshire's Strategic Economic Plan opens for public views
The County Council is asking for the help of businesses in Warwickshire in identifying what the future economic priorities are for the county.
The council has developed a summary of where it feels the priorities are, focused around ambitious, inclusive and sustainable growth. It has also identified areas on which any action might be focused.
This new Economic Strategy, once developed, will be a Warwickshire-wide strategy, bringing together a variety of partners to deliver on the county's ambitions and realise its potential. To ensure this strategy is one everyone can get behind and support, the council wants to hear the views of Warwickshire’s residents and businesses. Once the survey closes, on July 30, the council will consider the feedback provided and utilise it to develop a final strategy.
To highlight the plans for the economic strategy, the survey will use Warwickshire’s Strategic Economic Plan - an abridged document that highlights the work that the county and its partners are doing with three key pillars to developing an economy that:
· is fit for the future
· will grow and create jobs for all of the county’s communities
· will be sustainable and contribute to the county’s net zero carbon emission targets.
The abridged plan and accompanying survey is open for engagement through an accompanying survey here.
So, what are the three pillars?
The Ambitious Growth pillar encompasses supporting businesses with high growth potential to start or scale ie grow organically at a manageable rate and a future economic strategy will seek to increase the numbers of businesses accessing finance. It highlights how the county council will continue to foster research and development.
The infrastructure of the transport system and digital connectivity and ensuring that land supply meets the needs of growth are key aspects.
Talent – attracting and retaining it with high-quality employment – is integral to Warwickshire’s growth and there are plans to work with the Department for Business and Trade to investigate potential for exporting.
The Inclusive Growth pillar will target support for employment and will look to work on the outstanding success of the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service which has made such strides in the months since its launch in engaging some of the county’s residents who have previously struggled to find employment with businesses. It will also bring together local partners such as the Growth Hub and the Chamber of Commerce and national partners including the Department for Work and Pensions.
Raising aspirations in low output areas of the county and developing clear career pathways will be among the targeted support for employment, as the strategy seeks to level up opportunities across Warwickshire. Regeneration of priority areas and empowering communities will be key to achieving this. The strategy will seek to encourage enterprise in such areas as well as in under-represented groups such as women or minority ethnic backgrounds.
The developing jobs market is another core focus of the county’s planning with schools and colleges being supported to develop career activity that is relevant for the needs of the future.
Finally, Sustainable Growth, which will underpin businesses’ transition to net zero, makes up the third pillar. Supporting low Carbon tech businesses and encouraging new ones while ensuring there are the skills in the job market to make the transition is key to the plans for the strategy. Key partners will be assisted in decarbonising transport across the county. Businesses will be supported to reuse, recycle and reduce materials. Residents will be encouraged through various means across a range of council services to increase the use of active travel; businesses will be supported in a move to using sustainable freight.
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “This engagement is absolutely vital to helping us to plan for Warwickshire’s future economy. We need to know that what we are thinking is what is on our residents’ minds, be they businesses, school leavers and jobseekers, people looking to change careers or people who might be wondering what mitigation we are making so that our businesses do not adversely affect our environment.
“I would like to think that all those people will be reassured when they read the plan but that is not to say that it is complete. With more input, we can create and refine a strategy that best suits not only our ambitions for Warwickshire's economy but also those of our residents and businesses that live here now or who will live here in the future.”
CWRT aiming to support even more businesses after year of significant growth
"The work that the Trust is doing with the County Council on the Local Community Enterprise fund is making a huge difference to our communities with the support being provided to local groups and businesses."
A specialist finance and business support provider has revealed a new look after helping individuals and businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire access vital funding for nearly 20 years.
Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) has been supporting individuals and businesses primarily in Coventry and Warwickshire since it started operating in 2004.
It has rebranded and unveiled a new-look website after an especially successful last year of growth.
CWRT lent £1.8 million over the last year through the Recovery Loan Scheme after being accredited by the British Business Bank to businesses in need, and won a £10 million contract to deliver the Local Communities and Enterprise Fund (LCE) – which was a new finance strand from the Warwickshire Recovery Investment Fund launched by Warwickshire County Council in June 2022. To date, CWRT has lent over £1.2million to new and existing businesses through the fund.
During the last year, it has also taken on additional members of staff to meet the demand for business loans and support in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Sheridan Sulskis, CEO of CWRT, said: “This is an exciting time for CWRT, especially with our rebrand. We wanted to make sure that our brand better reflects our values, mission and ethos. Not only have we improved our image, but we have also improved our application process to further help break down barriers for start-ups and businesses who need to access the right support and finance.
“In addition, the incredible achievement of lending £1m through the LCE Fund has been a great achievement. We’ve supported a range of micro and small businesses to obtain the finance they need to get started and also established businesses to put their growth plans into action.
“The team at CWRT is looking forward to supporting many more SMEs across Coventry and Warwickshire and together, helping to boost the local economy.”
LCE has supported a variety of business projects including developing a fitness app, industrial hardware, supporting cashflow, covering start-up and legal costs of business operations along with many others.
CWRT recently invested in vision planning for the organisation to help define their values and vision for the next three years through Emma Cowling from Excellence Executive, who provided coaching, training and facilitation to leaders and executives to transform the business.
Emma said: “Their collaboration, problem solving and appetite for a future for the people they serve is impressive to say the least, and I am excited to see the future CWRT creates from this firm foundation, and the change and opportunities they bring to those that need them most.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, said: “These are very exciting times for CWRT and I am delighted to hear of its development. The work that the Trust is doing with the County Council on the Local Community Enterprise fund is making a huge difference to our communities with the support being provided to local groups and businesses. I look forward to some of the case studies appearing on the website and showing what is happening, or what could happen, in our local communities through the fund.”
To learn more about CWRT’s services and how they could help your business grow, please visit www.cwrt.uk.com or call their friendly team on 02476 551 777
Opportunities for Warwickshire businesses from HS2 supply chain
"The Warwickshire advanced engineering and manufacturing supply chain is well-placed to support the delivery of these new trains."
Warwickshire businesses have a supply chain opportunity as HS2 seeks more UK-based companies to help build its fleet of new high speed trains.
In 2021, the Hitachi/Alstom joint venture was awarded the £2bn contract to build Britain’s next generation of high speed trains at their factories in Derby, County Durham and Crewe. Two-years on, the train-building giants are teaming up with HS2 to find new suppliers who can play a part in the interior fit out of the state-of-the-art trains.
The Warwickshire advanced engineering and manufacturing supply chain is well-placed to support the delivery of these new trains. The county, alongside the city of Coventry, with the wider West Midlands, form the largest vehicle development and manufacturing cluster in the UK, employing over 50,000 in Coventry & Warwickshire alone.
Coventry & Warwickshire is home to the Coventry VLR programme, an innovative mass-transit solution that has brought technologies like light-weighting and battery propulsion into rail from the automotive sector, and the programme promises to deliver a more affordable mass transit solution for small and medium-sized cities in the UK and overseas. Elsewhere, train technology company Porterbrook, from its local base at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre near Stratford-upon-Avon, working with the University of Birmingham, delivered the UK’s first demonstration of hydrogen propulsion in rail.
Earlier this month the annual Rail Live event took place at Long Marston. The largest UK trackside and rail technology event of its kind, this year showcased HS2 opportunities for the first time, with record attendance from exhibitors and delegates.
HS2's construction is already supporting around 30,000 jobs and to date 3,000 UK-based businesses have won work on the project. Now, for the first time, the project in decades is getting ready to launch tier two contract opportunities, linked to its fleet of 54 trains, on the open market.
Ruth Todd, HS2’s Chief Commercial Officer said: “My advice to businesses of all sizes is to think outside of the box, as these contract opportunities aren’t limited to companies already working in the rail sector.
“If you’re supplying storage solutions for motor homes, windows for aeroplanes or internal panels for office buildings then we want to hear from you. These contracts present a real opportunity for growth over the next five years, and we want to see more UK businesses thrive as a result of HS2’s construction.”
HS2 is holding a ‘Meet the Contractor’ event in Manchester on Tuesday 11 July to showcase the upcoming opportunities. The event gives business owners the chance to meet one-to-one with Hitachi/Alstom to discuss their bespoke requirements and understand more about the upcoming procurement process. Businesses that specialise in the supply of exterior coatings, decals, emergency equipment, high voltage cables and electrical cubicles are also encouraged to attend.
As contracts will vary in size, value and duration, HS2 is encouraging small businesses to seize the opportunity to break into a new sector and capitalise on the multi-million pound opportunities.
In addition, the latest iteration of the Innovate UK First of a Kind (FOAK) Programme, includes now HS2 for the first time, which also creates opportunities for those companies in design and innovation. Winning projects will be awarded a share of £5.3 million of Department for Transport funding and, for the first time, this year’s competition is partnering with HS2 Ltd, which will also offer £1 million of funding for innovations to speed up or cut costs of high speed rail.
Ian Flynn, Future Mobility Specialist at Invest Coventry & Warwickshire, said: Contract opportunities to date have been around infrastructure and civils, but this is the first time that the production of the actual train cars has come up, since the main contracts were awarded to Hitachi/ Bombardier. This opens up new opportunities for SMEs in the engineering supply chain in and around Warwickshire. There’s also the Innovate UK FOAK Programme, that is also worth looking into."
Opportunities in Rail
More information about the HS2 supply chain event, which is being held on 11th July at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, can be found on HS2’s website or at https://ow.ly/Y6kw50OIKpu
Businesses can express an interest in becoming an HS2 supplier at any time by registering their details on CompeteFor. For information and advice about becoming an HS2 supplier, read HS2’s Supplier Guide.
For Coventry & Warwickshire companies interested in getting into the rail industry supply chain can seek information and support from industry groups like Rail Forum, and supply chain focused business support programmes at BCRRE, Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education, part of University of Birmingham, and the largest UK university rail department.
Cutting-edge companies again have the chance to receive government funding in the First of a Kind (FOAK) competition, now in its seventh year, in a bid to improve Britain’s railways. Winning projects will be awarded a share of £5.3 million of Department for Transport funding and, for the first time, this year’s competition is partnering with HS2 Ltd, which will also offer £1 million of funding for innovations to speed up or cut costs of high speed rail.
Contract opportunities linked to the design and build of HS2’s fleet of high speed trains include:
- Exterior Coating
- Skirts (incl. bogie covers, underframe, roof)
- Fabrications
- Electrical Cables and Cabinets/Harnesses (incl. high voltage cable, electrical cubicles)
- Electricals (incl. electrical cubicle)
- Interior assemblies (incl. handles, rails, walls, luggage racks, ceiling modules, decals)
- Insulation, emergency equipment, hoses and pipework
Big shift to home-working will benefit the Warwickshire economy
"Hosting such an abundance of remote workers can bring tangible benefits. Remote workers tend to be highly qualified and concentrated in thriving and well-paid sectors."
The working from home revolution that began at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic will have a lasting impact on the UK economy - and Warwick District is well-placed to reap benefits from it.
Research by St. Andrews University, which has been supported by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s head of policy, Sean Rose, highlights statistics from the ONS’s Census 2021 on the proportion of people working from home.
Nationally, around one third of people were working from home at the time of the census and the areas with the biggest proportion were in London. Research shows, however, that Warwick District was in the top ten per cent – with 44.7 per cent of workers basing themselves at home. In some areas of Leamington, that rose to more than 50 per cent.
Across the county, there were major differences between individual areas and individual wards. Rugby Borough saw some areas under the 20 per cent mark yet Dunton, Stretton-on-Dunsmore and Marton was at 43.6 per cent.
In the north of the county, the proportion of people working from home was relatively low, with many areas of the Nuneaton & Bedworth area below 20 per cent. In areas such as New Arley & Fillongley, a third of workers were based at home.
In the south of Warwickshire, the numbers were much higher with several areas of Stratford and the surrounding district above the 40 per cent mark.
Dr David McCollum, at the University of St. Andrews, noted: “Nearly all of the top areas for working from home were in London and its hinterland. However, Warwick District is an interesting exception to this pattern. Here 44.7% of workers worked from home, easily placing it within the top 10 per cent of local authorities within England and Wales for remote working.
“Hosting such an abundance of remote workers can bring tangible benefits to Warwick. Remote workers tend to be highly qualified and concentrated in thriving and well-paid sectors. Attracting and retaining these kinds of professionals can boost the demographic balance and socio-economic profile of areas and stimulate economic regional growth.
“More people spending more of their time in their local area can also have positive impacts on the vibrancy and cohesion of local places.”
Sean Rose, head of policy at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “While the data has been taken from a Census in March 2021, there is no doubt that Covid-19 has changed working patterns forever and it is interesting to see which parts of the region have been affected most.
“At the time, there were still some Covid restrictions in place so the numbers might be skewed slightly but there is absolutely no doubt that for many businesses and many individuals that working from home is here to stay.
“There’s also a wider impact on the economy. It has seen the creation of new co-working spaces and more ‘café’ workers and while it has brought new challenges for businesses, it also presents new opportunities too. It is something that we continue to speak to members about because there is a balance to ensuring that the new way of working benefits both the individual and the business and that is why we are seeing so many hybrid models introduced by companies.
“And, with recruitment proving to be so difficult for firms, it’s no wonder that those businesses that can offer that kind of model are doing so.
“Covid-19 certainly changed the way so many of us worked at the height of the pandemic and it’s clearly going to have a lasting impact.”
Undergraduate fledges into entrepreneur with Business Ready support
"Chris is exactly the sort of talented young entrepreneur that Business Ready, with its team of highly experienced and expert advisors, is designed to help move to the next level."
A 20-year-old University of Warwick student has turned his love of videography from a side-hustle to a bona fide business with rapid financial growth.
Chris Haywood, a second-year Politics and International Relations undergraduate, founded Haywood Media after finding that his video production hobby could make him some money during his studies.
Haywood Media produces a variety of video content for clients, and mainly focuses on short-form videos designed to reach as many people as possible on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
“I’ve loved being behind a camera from a young age, and as I got older many people I knew were interested in the films I could produce for them," said Chris. “This led me to realise I could earn decent money from my hobby, which led me to set up Haywood Media. I had initial success with projects for a vodka company, e-commerce firms, and others.
“I have good knowledge of how social media platforms’ algorithms work so I could produce videos that were viewed by lots of users. But it was never anything more than a side project to begin with – my work was very much coming in peaks and troughs.”
After contacting the University of Warwick’s ‘Warwick Enterprise’ programme, Chris was put in touch Gaynor Matthews of business support programme Business Ready.
Business Ready delivers support to expanding companies managed by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.
Gaynor helped Chris refine his business to focus on quality, not quantity, to help him keep clients on with a retainer, as well as detailing what is involved in running a business.
“She talked me through all of the little things, such as drawing up contracts, how to process payments, and helping manage expectations of clients,” Chris added. “I’m more of a creative and I’d had no experience of that side of things, so her insights were incredibly useful.
“But the biggest thing Business Ready was able to do was improve my network. Previously I’d only really had my friends’ and family’s connections to rely on, which wasn’t bad to earn a bit of money during my studies as a freelancer, but not to base a whole business on.
“Through Business Ready, I was put in touch with beauty business, Counter Culture, and we spoke about the services I could offer them and how it could grow their profile. The talks went well and Counter Culture became my first retained client, which has resulted in a sustainable business model with substantial income.
“I’m now seeing Haywood Media as a viable option for me after I graduate, which I never thought would be the case when I founded it. I have Business Ready’s guidance to thank for that.”
Gaynor said: “Chris was clearly a very skilled videographer when he came to Business Ready, but the key for him was to make his offer attractive enough to keep clients on instead of constantly doing ad-hoc work.
“We’re delighted his meeting with Counter Culture resulted in a retainer for Chris, and we hope it’s a stepping stone for him to grow his business even further.
WCC Business Growth & Support Programme Manager, Gillian Dale said: “I am delighted that Haywood Media is helping Chris to turn his lifelong passion into a vibrant business. Chris is exactly the sort of talented young entrepreneur that Business Ready, with its team of highly experienced and expert advisors, is designed to help move to the next level.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Green Sheep thrilled by King's Award
"The King’s Award is highly regarded on both a national and international platform and will have a significant impact on the future of our business."
His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, is encouraging Warwickshire-based companies to apply for the prestigious King's Awards for Enterprise, which is now open for applications.
The King’s Award is is the highest accolade available to UK businesses, offering exposure and credibility to its recipients, as well as inspiration and pride to a company’s employees.
Green Sheep Group in Stratford-upon-Avon is the latest company in Warwickshire to receive an Award for Enterprise in the category for International Trade, and is one of the first companies in the UK to receive the newly named Kings Awards for Enterprise.
Green Sheep Group is a leader within the nursery industry and best known for its brands Snüz and The Little Green Sheep. This is the firm’s second Royal recognition, following a Queen’s Award for Innovation which was awarded to the company in 2018.
Roger Allen, Chief Executive of Green Sheep Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised with this prestigious award specifically for our endeavours in International Trade. The King’s Award is highly regarded on both a national and international platform and will have a significant impact on the future of our business. I am so proud of our team and all the work they put into the business – this is their award.
“Over the past three years our turnover has grown by 142% and our international sales by over 198%, and our Queen’s Award in 2018 undoubtably contributed to our overall success. We have restructured our entire sales operation to better support our valued UK partners. And we can now move forward with further investments in International. The timing of our Award is outstanding news.”
Successful businesses are able to fly the King's Award flag at their main office and use the emblem on marketing materials for up to five years. In addition, they are invited to a Royal reception and presented with their award by the Lord Lieutenant, who is The King's representative in the county.
The King’s Awards are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievements in four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). They provide a range of benefits, including the opportunity to break into new markets, attract new investment, raise awareness of brand and products, attract new talent, and boost employee morale.
Monica Fogarty, Warwickshire County Council’s Chief Executive, said: "Celebrating our local businesses' achievements and promoting their growth is a key priority for us. The King's Awards for Enterprise are a great opportunity for Warwickshire-based companies to showcase their innovative and sustainable practices and to gain national recognition.
"I strongly encourage all eligible businesses to apply for this prestigious award and make the most of the benefits it offers."
The Warwickshire Lieutenancy team has prepared a locally focused brochure on the benefits of these awards and the appropriate steps that can be followed to apply. The brochure is available online at:
https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-1980322935-2072
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, said: "I encourage all Warwickshire businesses to embrace the opportunity to showcase your company's excellence and apply for The King's Awards for Enterprise. As the highest honour available to UK companies, it not only brings unparalleled prestige but also offers great exposure and credibility to your business”.
To find out more about The King’s Awards for Enterprise, please visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise
Warwickshire Welcomes Breastfeeding scheme
The Warwickshire NHS Infant Feeding Team has introduced a new scheme for businesses in the county that will enable and empower parents to breastfeed in public more freely.
The scheme aims to support parents in their breastfeeding journey and break down barriers.
How to get involved…
Businesses in Warwickshire are asked to sign up to the Warwickshire Welcomes Breastfeeding scheme to support local parents. By signing up to the scheme, you are agreeing to provide a welcoming environment for parents to feed their baby, with friendly, considerate service from your staff.
The scheme will enhance your business profile and provide free publicity as parents will share their positive experience with others. The scheme ensures that businesses and staff are aware of the law. Parents are protected by the Equality Act 2010, which states it is unlawful for a business to discriminate, harass or victimise a parent for breastfeeding a child of any age.
Breastfeeding: The facts
Breastmilk has significant health and well-being benefits which research has shown to provide long-term positive effects on families. However, here in the UK, we have one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. Whilst breastfeeding is an informed choice, parents face barriers such as lack of support, conflicting advice, limited exposure to role modelling, and isolation from family and friends.
The Warwickshire Welcomes Breastfeeding scheme aims to raise awareness of breastfeeding, being the biological norm, and the more we can support parents to develop their confidence to breastfeed out and about the greater we can all work together to protect and nurture our families and our communities.
Interested in signing up?
By clicking the link https://forms.office.com/e/dQqqx2QgfE you can register your business with the Warwickshire NHS Infant Feeding Team. Within the link, you can choose from posters or stickers to display in your window. Your business details will then be uploaded to our online interactive map.
Help to Grow courses available
A 12-week leadership course targeted specifically at SMEs - and 90% government funded - has been designed for busy small business leaders.
Taking time away from running a business can often be seen as a barrier to personal development and growth. But investing in leadership, and the resilience and performance of a business, is time well spent.
The Help to Grow: Management Course is a leadership course designed for SMEs by entrepreneurs and industry experts from world-class business schools. In just 50 hours across 12 weeks, small business leaders will gain the knowledge, support and confidence to scale an SME to the next level.
Help to Grow: Management includes:
- Modules including strategy and innovation; employee engagement; vision, mission and values; building a more sustainable and agile business; and improving operational and financial efficiency
- 1-to-1 support from a business mentor to tackle business challenges
- Peer learning and discussion sessions
- Assistance in developing a tailored Growth Action Plan.
Designed to fit around existing work commitments, the training is delivered via a blend of webinars, peer networking calls and face-to-face workshops in over 50 locations across the UK, including in Coventry and other cities across the West Midlands. The course is 90% funded by UK Government, with a one-off registration fee of just £750.
Leaders from SMEs registered in the UK, with between five and 249 employees, and trading for more than a year can participate.
Visit the Help to Grow: Management website to find out more about the benefits and locate the nearest course.
Flexibility is key to tackling recruitment challenges in hospitality sector
"Many businesses in the hospitality sector need more staff to enable them to continue to operate viably and provide the highest-quality service. Upskilling and reskilling are key to making sure this happens."
Hospitality venues will need to become even more flexible to help resolve current challenges faced in recruiting, training and retaining staff, according to a new report.
The hospitality sector in Coventry and Warwickshire is the theme of this month’s SmartRegion report which contains findings from the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub’s business engagements, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and other business support organisations.
Fleur Sexton, CEO and co-founder of PET-Xi Training and PET-Xi Restaurants, has urged more businesses in the sector to look beyond traditional routes, such as recruitment agencies, as ways of finding staff and to be more creative in their searches.
She said: “The general lack of staff means that the hospitality sector must be more flexible in both its approach and its offer. Venues need to train managers to be more accommodating in taking on neurodiverse employees, the over-50s, those with gaps in their career, or people who have previous convictions, as well as those who have restricted availability due to childcare or caring responsibilities.
“The Second Chances Charter, The Care Leavers Covenant, and Disability Confident are all charters which encourage guaranteed interviews to people who need more support to help them enter the workforce.
“These are great ways forward in helping resolve an issue which needs tackling urgently as the sector promotes itself as a rewarding, fulfilling, and professional career for people to want to get into.
“Training is a key factor alongside the professionalisation of the industry. We’re working on a national pilot with UK Hospitality to create a recognised training package that will be transferrable across the sector.”
Fleur believes the new regional Devolution Deal will be vital for the under-resourced hospitality sector.
She said: “The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is investing a huge amount of money to address training challenges. Many businesses in all parts of the hospitality sector need more staff to enable them to continue to operate viably and provide the highest-quality service. Upskilling and reskilling are key to making sure this happens.
“The Government needs to continue providing a source of funding and grants for training schemes, such as at colleges and training providers, and empowering regional organisations to take a lead on growing the sector. The WMCA is making a big push on upskilling, as well as increasing communications between training providers, colleges, and employers to move the process along more quickly which involves working alongside the region’s Local Authorities.”
Craig Humphrey, Chief Executive Officer at Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said hospitality had been very severely hit by the pandemic compared to other sectors which had recovered more quickly. This issue is now exacerbated by rising cost-of-living which is changing consumer demand and behaviours.
He said: “Hospitality businesses have had to find numerous ways to offset rapidly growing operational costs, such as passing on increases in costs to their customers, scaling back menus, reducing opening hours, and being more innovative and creative, such as through sourcing more local produce to save on food costs and to ease pressure on supply chains. Longer term, when the cost-of-living crisis eases, those businesses that have shown resilience by giving their customers a great experience should reap the rewards with repeat and new business.”