A round-up of latest Warwickshire news-in-brief...
Leamington games publisher adding to staff numbers despite lockdown
Leamington-based games publisher Pixel Toys has been thriving so much during lockdown that it has recruited 30 new members of staff and is looking for even more. https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/people/leamington-games-publisher-pixel-toys-adding-staff-numbers-despite-lockdown-2886536?itm_source=parsely-api
Codemasters release strong financial results
"Despite the wider macro-environment being hampered by Covid-19, we have seen minimal disruption to our business and I am confident in our growth prospects for the coming year, supported by a strong pipeline of game releases and investment in the sector." https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/pre-tax-profits-jump-at-listed-games-developer
Cyber Security and Hacking Lab for WM Region
School and college students are set to learn vital digital skills through the region’s first cyber security and hacking lab, thanks to funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority. The WMCA is funding £100,000 to create an ethical hacking, computer network and security challenge centre in the West Midlands, to increase the number of young people developing cyber security skills and raise awareness of the range of careers in the sector. https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/productivity-skills/hacking-lab-tender/
Further key new appointment at Aston Martin Lagonda
The longstanding chief financial officer of Jaguar Land Rover has taken on the same job at Aston Martin Lagonda. Kenneth Gregor will report to the executive chairman Lawrence Stroll and to chief executive Tobias Moers. Moers is set to join the Warwickshire-headquartered company on 1 August. Gregor has been CFO at JLR since 2008. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/former-jlr-cfo-joins-aston-martin
Geely LEVC at Ansty returns to production
London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has begun a phased return to work at its Ansty manufacturing facility. More than 100 new processes have been put in place at the electrical vehicle factory to ensure the safety and well-being of all staff upon their return. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/levc-to-start-phased-return-to-work
Britishvolt appoints Isobel Sheldon from UKBIC
Battery manufacturer, Britishvolt has announced the appointment of battery industry expert Isobel Sheldon of UKBIC, as chief strategy officer and head of the Advisory Board, to support the construction of the UK’s first large scale cell gigafactory. https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/uks-first-gigafactory-appoints-new-chief-strategy-officer/#.Xuiqo6ZpH1s.twitter
MAA - rescuing and recovering aerospace
The Midlands is home to one of the few aerospace superclusters, with over 300 companies forming one of the largest regional networks internationally. The region is a leader in advanced aerospace manufacturing and its growth was fuelled by demand for high-technology aero engines, complex aircraft systems and precision-engineered components from global giants such as Airbus and Boeing. In May, the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) announced plans for a five-point rescue and recovery plan for aerospace. They recently invited supply chain companies to participate in an in-depth survey to help us identify the priorities so we could tailor the plan accordingly. https://www.midlandsaerospace.org.uk/MAA-survey-results
Vivarail on track for further growth with new funding
Vivarail Limited, the Stratford-on-Avon designer and manufacturer of modular trains, has secured a £1.5m loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners. The firm will use the finance boost to pursue new growth by relocating to a larger manufacturing site in Southam, which will enable it to scale up operations. The firm is also expanding its workforce, with five jobs set to be created. https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/vivarail-to-fast-track-new-growth-after-1-5m-investment-loan/
Local agent study casts light on recent Warwickshire property market
Coventry-based Bromwich Hardy reveals the figures in its new 2020 Lockdown Barometer and says it is seeing the first green shoots of activity across the region as restrictions start to ease. https://bromwichhardy.com/News/Award-winning-commercial-agent-clinches-deals-despite-lockdown
DL Property launches 'new normal' £12m Warwickshire office HQ scheme
Warwickshire-based developer DL Property & Development Strategies has unveiled proposals for an £12m office HQ, designed to dovetail with the demands of working life after Covid-19. The 42,000 sq ft building will be part of the second phase of 150,000 sq ft of Grade A space on the Abbey Park office campus, located in Stareton, near Kenilworth. No significant office space has been built in the Warwick Office Submarket in more than two years. With vacancy rates in the submarket currently at a five-year low at 3.75%, the developer thinks the time is right to bring forward the office development. http://www.commercialnewsmedia.com/archives/101904
Morgan Sindall Construction to build new school at Rugby Houlton
Local construction company Morgan Sindall has been appointed to transform a historic grade II-listed radio station building into the centrepiece of a £39m secondary school in Warwickshire at Houlton, the new community being developed on the outskirts of Rugby. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/contractor-named-to-transform-listed-radio-station-into-school
Businesses urged to prepare now for EU exit
Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire which trade overseas have been given a stark warning to prepare now for the final exit from the EU – deal or no deal. The advice came during a video call with the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Brexit Club which included experts from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) as well as businesses at the sharp end of import and export. Ian Harrison, Head of Exports (Midlands) at the DIT expressed confidence that a deal could be done between the UK and EU before the transition period comes to an end on the final day of 2020. https://www.cwlep.com/news/stark-warning-firms-cw-prepare-now-final-eu-exit
WMCA delivers kickstart blueprint to Government
A blueprint to kickstart the West Midlands economy has been submitted to the Government by WMCA. The authors of Kickstarting the West Midlands Economy: Our Investment Case to Government says the report sets out the immediate actions needed to stimulate economy in the short term, “in ways that will also support a long-term sustainable recovery that is both green and more inclusive”. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2041665-3.2bn-plan-to-reset-rebuild-and-recharge-west-mids-economy-launched?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WestMidlands_23rd_Jun_2020_Daily
Coventry University among to universities in the world for international students
Coventry University has been named as one of the top 30 universities in the world for international students in the 2021 QS World University Ranking table. The QS rankings rates universities based on measures such as academic reputation – including teaching and research quality – their global outlook, and how highly regarded the institution’s graduates are among employers. https://www.coventry.ac.uk/news/2020/qs-world-university-ranking-table/
BMW announces reduction to global team
The BMW Group has announced plans to cut around 6,000 jobs as it bids to recover from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. BMW said the "planned workforce reductions" would be achieved through attrition, voluntary agreements, and not renewing temporary worker contracts. BMW says the moves "mainly" affect its workforce in Germany. https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/bmw-struggles-cut-5000-jobs-may-increase-incentives