Featured News
Gripper growing and recruiting after Small Capital Grant
“The grant has transformed the business...we can do everything on site which gives us massive savings in time and money."
An engineering business in Exhall has more than doubled its staff and is fully fulfilling its growth plans thanks to a Small Capital Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
Gripper Differentials, on Bayton Road Industrial Estate, is a small business with a big reputation. The company, bought by Adele Rogers and Scott Gilbody in 2022, is a real local success story. From its Warwickshire base on the edge of Bedworth, it supplies a highly specialist product – slip differentials for gearboxes – to individuals, businesses and motorsport teams across Europe.
The business needed to increase capacity, reducing the risk of delays with suppliers, and oversee quality control at their small factory to enable the necessary growth. The solution was a Small Capital Grant which helped purchase two new CNC machines which has allowed Gripper to bring all its manufacturing operations in house.
“The grant has transformed the business,” said Adele. “The new machines mean we can do everything on site which gives us massive savings in time and money. Without the grant we could have bought only one machine so would have had to move forward well below capacity, so this has been massive for us.
“The process of getting the grant was really quick and Louisa Smith from the County Council was brilliant in guiding us through the process.”
Gripper has taken on three machine operators and an office manager, and is looking to take on an apprentice, to satisfy an order book bulging with clients from across the UK, Ireland and Europe and stretching as far as China.
Many of Gripper’s customers have been attracted by reputation or word of mouth,
“Sometimes a customer from somewhere in Europe will come to us and we wonder how on earth they found us, a little company in Warwickshire!” said Adele. “But motorsport is quite an insular word so a lot of people talk to each other and it’s nice to know that word has got around about us.
“We do put a very high value on quality. When you supply parts with a lifetime warranty, as we do, you have to make sure that everything is spot on. The new machines, and the council grant, means that we can keep hitting those standards for many more customers.”
Gripper Differentials is one of more than 100 small businesses to have been supported by Small Capital Grants from WCC. The scheme is now temporarily closed but is expected to reopen later this year.
WCC Contract & Project Monitoring Officer, Louisa Smith, said: “It has been a real pleasure to work with Gripper and their fantastic growth shows what can be achieved by ambitious and knowledgeable people, such as Scott and Adele. They have shown that they have the skills, expertise and innovation that are admired far and wide.”
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
LCE Fund pumps £2.5million into businesses in two years
"The LCE demonstrates our commitment to supporting micro, small and medium businesses and social enterprises, particularly those who needed an extra helping hand following the pandemic."
A scheme launched by Warwickshire County Council to give a helping hand to start-up, micro, small and medium businesses has distributed nearly £2.5 million of funding in less than two years.
The Local Communities & Enterprise Fund (LCE) was started in June 2022 to provide loans to businesses who were struggling to access lending by the usual High Street banking routes. It has now distributed over £2,484,368 in loans between 44 businesses as well as social enterprises.
The funding is forecast to create 210 jobs in a variety of sectors, including retail, digital creative and digital technologies, culture, tourism and hospitality, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and low carbon technologies. This has also safeguarded 258 jobs and a further eight jobs have already been created.
The LCE Fund, which is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), is part of the County Council's £64 million Warwickshire Investment Fund (WIF), to boost the county’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
Cllr Martin Watson, the portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, said distributing nearly £2.5 million in loans emphasised the need for the funding scheme.
He said: “The LCE demonstrates our commitment to supporting micro, small and medium businesses and social enterprises, particularly those who needed an extra helping hand following the pandemic. To have allocated nearly £2.5 million to businesses throughout the county will make a vital difference to the owners and employees as well as boost our economy.
“To create and safeguard jobs not only benefits families but the communities in which they live and work. These businesses will, in turn, grow and the LCE is a great example of the support and help we are proud to deliver in Warwickshire.”
Sheridan Sulskis, CEO at CWRT, said the LCE has removed barriers which some businesses had faced in accessing finance.
“It is not always easy to know where to turn when your investment plans are turned down by mainstream lenders,” she said. “But the LCE has proved instrumental in negotiating that hurdle to enable those with sound plans to access affordable finance to start-up or to grow their business.
“The LCE has been willing and able to provide loans when mainstream lenders were hesitant because of the importance of supporting the economic recovery and future growth of Warwickshire.
“We’ve had the privilege of managing this fund for WCC and seen how it has helped a wide breadth of businesses in all corners of the county. We are looking forward to supporting even more businesses over the next few years.”
CWRT supports businesses that may have not accessed finance for their business before or maybe facing barriers in receiving support. To find out more about funding options, contact CWRT at www.cwrt.uk.com
Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Nuneaton and Bedworth SMEs can access the Skills Escalator
Business in Nuneaton and Bedworth can upskill and retrain their employees with support from a new funding stream.
The Skills Escalator Fund, delivered by Warwickshire County Council in partnership with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, is offering grants of £750 per person to enable employers to train, upskill and retrain staff members. Each employer can apply for grants for up to five employees from the scheme which is powered by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund,
The programme is designed to help small and micro businesses invest time and effort in improving their employees’ skill-sets to the benefit of all. The employees continue to build career paths, encouraging career progression and maximise their earning potential, while the gaps created by their elevation offer opportunities to others coming through.
Vicki Haslam, Senior Business Skills Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “The Skills Escalator Fund is a very welcome addition to the skills support available to SMEs in Nuneaton and Bedworth. It fills a gap which has existed for more than a year since the end of the ESF funding and I would urge all small businesses in the towns to consider whether they could benefit from it.”
For more information or to apply for the find, please contact skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk
Strong pipeline of new commercial space across Warwickshire
A study has revealed a healthy pipeline of available commercial space in Coventry and Warwickshire, but also indicated that supply is tighter in some locations than others.
Across Coventry and Warwickshire there are 54 industrial units that have been speculatively built or are just about to be completed, representing 2,959,034sqft of available space, while a further 1,830,678sqft over 17 buildings over the same schemes have already been let. This does not include older, used buildings that are coming back on to the market.
The new stock is split 396,128sqft over 43 units for SMEs (units less than 100,000sqft) and 2,562,906sqft over 11 buildings for larger requirements over 100,000sqft.
The SME-focused sites include the WPDG Sucham Park in Southam, Exhall Park in Bedworth, Holbrook Park in Coventry, Precision Park and Spa Park in Leamington. The sites with larger units include SEGRO Park Coventry Gateway, Redditch Gateway, Ansty Technology Park and Tritax Symmetry Rugby. Beyond this there is further supply of design and build options, primarily in the larger big box space, which isn’t included in these figures.
The office market was less active, typical of recent trends outside of major cities. The exception to this was the Warwick sub-market, where the 60,000sqft office and mixed use redevelopment of House of Fraser came online. The Creative Quarter in Leamington had a major boost when the major refurbishment of the former URC church was completed and occupier Cogent moved in, with creative skills provider SAE moving in next door.
Over in Warwick the former IBM Campus in Warwick saw The Woods building fully occupied by a mix of bpfs (business professional, financial services), med-tech and software companies. The building next door, now known as The Point, is currently finishing a significant refurbishment with Telent as anchor tenant.
While there is good supply of new commercial space for SMEs in some locations like Exhall, Coventry and Southam, there is less space in locations like Leamington and Rugby.
The study was carried out in March 2024 by the inward investment service Invest Warwickshire. The service provides soft landing support to companies setting up in the local area. Available property in the Coventry & Warwickshire area can be searched using the Coventry & Warwickshire commercial property search portal https://coventrycommercialproperty.evolutive.co.uk/
* This article was amended on April 18th, 2024. to revise a figure in the second paragraph. It should have stated '54' not '71' units. 71 was the total of 54 and 17 for available and recently let.
More than 70 visitors attend Supported Internships Fair
"There was a real buzz and it was heartening to hear the enthusiasm and passion in the conversations that were taking place."
Opportunities for some of the county’s young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) were showcased at Warwickshire County Council’s Supported Internships Fair.
Over 70 people came along to the drop-in event, at the Eliot Park Innovation Centre in Nuneaton, including young people with SEND, their parents, caregivers, local businesses, educational institutions, and support services, who gathered to explore and share the exciting possibilities of Supported Internships in Warwickshire.
Following a similar format to the inaugural event, held last November at the Compton Verney Art Gallery, the second fair provided another opportunity to showcase Supported Internships as a potential pathway for young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are looking at their next steps after education.
Not only can a Supported Internship help a young person with SEND to learn vital employability skills, but it can also help them grow in confidence, giving them greater self-esteem and independence. Successful Supported Internship programmes, such as those delivered by George Eliot Hospital and the Heart of England Forest which have resulted in young people gaining paid employment on completion of their internship, offered inspiration to those who attended.
Aaron, a young person who attended the fair to explore internships in the NHS, said he felt ‘reassured’ and ‘had confidence he will thrive in the future.' He found that people had been “very gentle and polite and they have been open to any questions.”
Parents also felt like they were leaving much better informed on what was available post-education for their young person, with one commenting there was “lots more information than I realised – really helpful” and another who found the “support services very helpful in explaining how things work [and] what I need to do next for my son.” Others expressed praise for the event, welcoming the chance to network and remarked the event had given “an idea of different steps, [and I now have] more insight into Supported Internships." Another attendee noted, "Excellent new information, great opportunity to network."
DFN ProjectSEARCH, a national organisation who work with businesses and colleges to deliver Supported Internship programmes, were on hand to share their advice and insight. Funto Awoyelu, Programme Specialist from DFN ProjectSEARCH, commented “It’s been great to meet employers who have probably never heard of Supported Internships but now they’ve come away thinking that it will be great for their business.”
Clare Barlow, Talent for Care Facilitator at George Eliot Hospital, said “We’ve had loads of teachers and colleges who have been really interested in finding out more to educate their students about Supported Internships.”
Reflecting on the event's success, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “It was fantastic to see so many attend the Supported Internships Fair in Nuneaton. There was a real buzz and it was heartening to hear the enthusiasm and passion in the conversations that were taking place.
“Our Supported Internships initiative has a crucial role to play in creating a more inclusive future for our young people with SEND, and I am encouraged by the optimism and reassurance shared by attendees like Aaron, who left feeling confident about his future prospects. Parents also left better informed, equipped with valuable knowledge about post-education opportunities for their children and crucial links were forged between education providers, businesses and support services.
“The positive feedback received underlines the importance of events like these in fostering connections and providing invaluable resources and I commend the efforts of all involved in making it a success."
Building on the momentum from the first national campaign in 2023, DFN Project Search is again aiming to put supported internships on the map with it's second National Supported Internships Day on 27 March 2024. The theme for this year is amplifying the voices of young people and it will include a planned programme of Parliamentary activity.
The campaign is also encouraging businesses to sign up for employer ambassador training. Whether you are already working with and supporting young people who are autistic or have a learning disability in the workplace, or you're passionate about encouraging others to do the same, this free online training is for you.
You will discover:
* To find out more about Supported Internship opportunities, whether you are a parent or carer, young person, business or education provider, then please visit the SEND Local Offer where you will find the new Supported Internship Guides, video testimonials and more information.
You can follow the Warwickshire SEND Local Offer Facebook page and sign up to receive the monthly Warwickshire SEND newsletter for the latest news and updates including future events.
County's Food & Drink offer to be showcased at major show
Warwickshire’s rich and diverse Food and Drink offer will be showcased at a prestigious show next month.
Warwickshire Food and Drink will host a ‘Taste of Warwickshire’ stand at the NEC Farm Shop and Deli Show at the National Exhibition Centre from April 29 to March 1.
The stand will provide a platform for Warwickshire producers to reach a national and international audience. Among producers from the county to be represented on the stand will be Blabers Hall Vineyard, Cureights Charcuterie, Warwickshire Gin, Windmill Brewery and Brubl Brewery.
The stall will promote why Warwickshire is a great place for food and drink producers to locate and provide an opportunity for establishment buyers to source local food and drink produce. Meanwhile, anyone looking for new, well-established or niche products for their tables or shelves could find a visit to the show invaluable for ideas about sourcing quality produce while reducing food miles.
Warwickshire’s producers are renowned for their quality which makes a big contribution to the economy of the county and region:
In Warwickshire:
- our cows produce more than 101 million pints of milk each year.
- we grow enough wheat to make 524 million loaves of bread each year.
- our farms generate £190 million for the regional economy, not including the contribution made by those working in allied industries and the wider food and drink sectors in our county and market towns.
- We have around 435 cereal farms, covering an area of 74,500 hectares, and 45 horticultural businesses covering over 1,700 hectares.
Warwickshire County Council’s Rural Policy & Commissioning Officer, Abi Culley, said: “The NEC Farm Shop and Deli Show attracts a national and international audience and Warwickshire Food and Drink is delighted to offer a platform for our producers to raise their profile and for the county’s great food and drink offer to reach such a large audience.”
For further details please visit here.
If you are a food or drink producer in Coventry or Warwickshire and would like to find out more about our food and drink producers network and keep update with opportunities to support the sector, please contact abiculley@warwickshire.gov.uk
For more information about upcoming events please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/homepage/222/food-and-drink-events
Leamington businesses invited to give their views on future of town centre
Leamington Spa businesses are invited to hear about more work to refresh the Vision for Leamington town centre and have their say on what should be included.
A drop-in session will be held at The Conservatory, Royal Pump Rooms, Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AA, on Thursday 11th April from 12 noon-2pm. A short presentation will be held at 12:15pm.
Businesses are encouraged to pop along to meet the team and hear more about the work being undertaken to shape the future of the town centre.
Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council and Royal Leamington Spa Town Council continue to work together on the future of the town through the Leamington Spa Transformation Board. Following discussions by the board, LDA Design has been appointed to help review the Vision for the town centre and to explore options for the future of Parade. The firm has experience of delivering a wide range of projects to improve streets and public spaces across the country.
This lunchtime drop-in session, specifically targeted to the business community, is the latest in a series of events to engage communities in Leamington in the development of a new Vision for the town centre. Work commenced at the Leamington Annual Town Assembly Meeting on 12th March which was attended by over 150 people.
The team is keen to speak with businesses within Leamington town centre on 11th April to gain their early feedback on refreshing the Vison for the town centre and hope this will offer a further opportunity to hear from businesses who may not have been able to attend the Town Meeting.
Further events for communities to have their say on the future of the town centre will be announced soon.
For more information or to join the mailing list for updates, please see visit www.transformingleamington.co.uk
Centenary Business Centre integral to BHR's growth
“Centenary Business Centre has been perfect for us and supported our growth, and we have been very lucky to be part of the community here."
A growing pharmaceutical company which has moved to a new home believes the support of a Warwickshire County Council business centre is one of the key reasons for its success.
BHR Pharmaceuticals, which saw its turnover grow by 28 per cent in 2023, has been based at Centenary Business Centre in Hammond Close at the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estates in Nuneaton for the last 30 years.
The business specialises in providing technically advanced products to enable GPs and pharmacists to diagnose, treat and manage a wide number of conditions and diseases.
But after occupying three units at Centenary Business Centre for its warehouse and office staff, the business has swapped its 3,500 sq ft premises for a new 7,043 sq ft base at nearby Hemdale Business Park.
Managing Director Ramesh Patel said the 21-strong business was continuing to grow at a steady rate and that they needed bigger premises.
He said: “We moved to Nuneaton because it was half-way between where I lived in Nottingham and my business partner in Birmingham, and it is a decision that has served us well.
“Centenary Business Centre has been perfect for us and supported our growth, and we have been very lucky to be part of the community here and to see it grow.
“Our first big breakthrough was in 2003 when Boots launched cholesterol testing at 800 of its pharmacies so that they could provide statins to specific customers (taking into consideration other clinically relevant issues) over the counter to combat high cholesterol. Boots carried out over one million tests that year.
“The NHS Health Checks Programme was initiated in 2009, and our handheld cholesterol testing device was used and it was the most cost-effective and easy to use product on the market.
“Over the years, we have added more and more products including the first to not only help diagnose, but also to monitor levels of drugs used to treat inflammatory bowel disease. The ProciseDX system is now being used by many hospitals including George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
“We had just outgrown our space and needed to take the next step, but we will really miss it.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy, visited the business to find out about its success.
He said: “BHR Pharmaceuticals is the perfect example of the kind of business that has benefited from being based at one of our business centres.
“They have taken on extra space as they have grown at a steady rate over the years and have also benefited from working with other firms at Centenary Business Centre such as a printing company and security firm.
“The first stage of our project to refurbish our eight business centres throughout Warwickshire is now complete and I hope businesses just like BHR Pharmaceuticals will benefit and continue to expand.”
Luke Pulford, Business Centres Manager for Warwickshire County Council, said BHR Pharmaceuticals is a real success story for Centenary Business Centre.
“To have stayed at Centenary Business Centre since 1992 underlines how much BHR Pharmaceuticals has enjoyed being part of our thriving site,” he said. “We take pride in providing high-quality facilities for a wide range of businesses to utilise and assist in their growth which also benefits the local economy.
“The reception area at the Centenary Business Centre was refurbished towards the end of 2023 and our improved facilities and location means we are continuing to attract businesses in a wide range of sectors.”
Unit 54 (1,807 sq ft) and unit 55 (2,436 sq ft) are now available following BHR Pharmaceuticals’ departure.
For more information about Warwickshire County Council's Business Centres, please email lukepulford@warwickshire.gov.uk
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
Café at Ryton Pools Country Park taken over by local business Farmers Fayre
"We hope this venture will tempt even more people to choose Ryton Pools for a day out"
The on-site cafe at Ryton Pools Country Park is due to be taken over by local business Farmers Fayre from Friday 29 March.
The cafe will initially serve customers from their well-established ‘pod’ while the building is thoroughly refurbished. It is then expected to open in full with its extended menu in mid to late April.
Farmers Fayre, which last year benefited from a Green Recovery Grant from Warwickshire County Council, is a popular family-run farm shop and restaurant currently located in Stoneleigh Park. They are renowned within the local community for their high-quality freshly cooked food, sourced from reputable farmers and suppliers across the region.
The café takeover comes following a successful open market competition that took place in advance of the previous café lease coming to an end.
Farmers Fayre In The Park will be open seven days a week with initial opening hours of 9am to 4.30pm. It will be a welcoming environment for all and a dog-friendly space, news well received by the many dog walkers and other visitors to the park.
Nicola Reece, Director and Founder of Farmers Fayre, said: “We are super excited to bring the Farmers Fayre experience to Ryton Pools. We cannot wait to unveil the refurbishment which will include some soft seating, larger tables for family and friends to gather as well as lots of new outside seating and new service area. Customers will be able to order inside or using our table app for quick and simple table service.
“We already have a huge dog-friendly customer base who will love walking round the pools and obviously we are pleased to say well-behaved dogs will be welcome inside the café when we open fully. We cannot wait to get stuck in, of course we are bringing our local suppliers with us and look forward to welcoming everyone.”
Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome Farmers Fayre to Ryton Pools Country Park; they have proven to be a hugely successful business within the local community, and this is the ideal opportunity to expand on that success. The Council recognises the importance of small businesses like this and the value they bring to our communities and it’s fantastic to see Farmers Fayre thriving."
“Ryton Pools already has so much more to offer, from its scenic walks and rich variety of wildlife to its children’s play area, wood and pirate trail. We hope this venture will tempt even more people to choose Ryton Pools for a day out, and I wish Farmers Fayre the very best in their new endeavour.”
To plan a visit to Ryton Pools Country Park today and sign up to the Warwickshire Country Parks newsletter for the latest news, events and updates from the parks.
Ground broken on second phase at Symmetry Park, Rugby
“Development of new industrial space built to the highest environmental standards like this scheme is really important for the Warwickshire area."
Representatives from Rugby Borough Council, Invest in Warwickshire, Tritax Symmetry and Winvic Construction gathered on site at Symmetry Park Rugby to mark the official start of work on the next phase of development.
The second phase of development follows Tritax Symmetry’s successful pre-letting of one million sq. ft. of industrial space to Iron Mountain, which was named Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Deal of the Year (over 250,000 sq. ft.) 2023. The four buildings will form Iron Mountain’s first UK campus to offer its wide range of storage and information management services.
Tritax Symmetry is bringing forward three high quality logistics units ranging from 170,473 sq ft up to 390,694 sq ft. All three will be built to net-zero carbon in construction standards and will target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+, providing state-of-the-art logistics space. They are set to complete in Autumn 2024. Colliers International and ILP Partners (ILP) are the marketing agents for Symmetry Park Rugby.
Joseph Skinner, Associate Development Director at Tritax Symmetry, commented: “The current market demand in this strategic industrial location remains extremely robust, supported by Iron Mountain launching its UK campus here. We look forward to launching the three new units to market and securing some exciting new occupiers to the area.”
Ian Flynn, Inward Investment Manager at Invest in Warwickshire, said “Development of new industrial space built to the highest environmental standards like this scheme is really important for the Warwickshire area to continue to perform well in attracting investment from UK and overseas businesses, and deliver the positive impacts that has on local supply chains and employment.”
Extending to 111 acres in total, Symmetry Park Rugby has an outline planning permission to deliver up to two million sq. ft. of logistics floor space. Situated on the M45/A45 strategic highway link, the site is located at the heart of the logistics ‘Golden Triangle’ network, an established distribution and manufacturing location. The site forms part of the wider South West Rugby Urban Extension, which is due to provide up to 5,000 new homes.
WCC Digital Creative Fund was springboard for Yellow Panther
"Warwickshire County Council has really helped us over the last few years by helping us find funding for office space and the possibility of grant funding as well as inviting us to networking events."
A digital studio and technology company has secured two six-figure contracts and is hiring more staff after receiving help from Warwickshire County Council.
Yellow Panther, which was formed in 2019, provides cutting-edge websites, mobile apps and e-commerce platforms to 47 clients including Nike, Universal Tennis, and Somerset County Cricket Club.
The business, jointly owned by Stuart Cope and Gunjan Parikh, is on track to triple its size within five years after winning new contracts with the International Skating Union and Premier Padel.
The business increased its staff from 22 in 2022 to 35 last year and will be recruiting another project manager, strategy manager and marketing manager to join its base at 11 Waterloo Place in Warwick Street, and another ten-to-15 website developers and designers at its office in Gujarat in India in 2024.
Yellow Panther received a grant of £30,000 in the first round of Warwickshire County Council’s Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund which will deliver over £450,000 in grants to small and micro-sized digital creative businesses in the county to help with product development and accelerate growth.
The business has been busy working on its own software projects to bring their own Intellectual Property to market. Its in-house content management system for mobile apps and websites is called Noir and a data dashboard for websites and mobile apps has been named Fang. The panther theme is continued with the development of an OTT platform called Luna, a Digital Asset Management System called Sabre and a push notification platform called Push and Pull which will be launched this year after the Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund helped to develop their own Intellectual Property for Push and Pull.
Stuart said Yellow Panther has grown from a start-up to a scale-up company after expanding really fast over the last two-and-a-half years.
He said: “We have recently secured two of our biggest ever contracts with the International Skating Union which will include website development, a data dashboard and maintaining their mobile app and with Premier Padel for similar services. This will lead to bringing in three employees to the UK business and another ten-to-15 in India this year.
“We’re a business that has ploughed any profit back into the company to build new technology and take on new hires.
“Around 95 per cent of technology start-ups in the UK fail within the first year and 80 per cent fail in the second year, so to be in the five or 20 cent which survive is quite an achievement.”
Stuart said their growth was initially helped by Warwickshire County Council when Yellow Panther moved into 1 Mill Street and then to 11 Waterloo Place in Leamington.
“Warwickshire County Council has really helped us over the last few years by helping us find funding for office space and the possibility of grant funding as well as inviting us to networking events,” he said. "Being at 1 Mill Street meant we secured five contracts in the first year with other businesses there which helped us get started and it has snowballed from there.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, said Yellow Panther is a great example of how the Council provides support to businesses in a number of areas over time.
He said: “We have assisted Yellow Panther in various ways over the last couple of years with advice and guidance through different stages of their growth. This has included inviting Stuart to speak at events such as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, providing advice around access to finance and searching for a new property to grow into.
“Yellow Panther’s client roster is already impressive and the work involved in their latest two contract successes underlines their expertise in their sector.”
* Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
New website showcases Shipston's visitor appeal
"These websites offer both residents and visitors a way to find out what gems are hidden in our local market towns across Warwickshire whilst enabling our communities to buy and eat local to enable the local economy.”
A Warwickshire town which presents a traditional high street offer through an impressive range of independent retailers has strengthened its place on the tourist map with a new website.
Shipston-on-Stour, a market town on the northern edge of the Cotswolds, unveiled its new online presence – Love Shipston – during English Tourism Week to encourage day-trippers and families to spend more time in the town and explore its small businesses and restaurants.
The fascinating town has a history in both traditional craft industries and as a coaching town. It has become fertile ground for an array of vibrant independent businesses including quality hospitality and accommodation. Shops range from the traditional butchers, bakers and greengrocers to wine, homewares, gifts and fashion alongside cafés and restaurants to suit all occasions.
Several community-minded businesses teamed up to consider how best to present the visitor offer, culminating in the website which will be complemented by the hashtag #loveshipston to be adopted by the town businesses. The project has been supported by Warwickshire County Council and Shipston Town Council.
It comes as the town looks to increase visitor numbers and lengthen the duration of stay. The project has been led by retail expert Kim Hulse who has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.
Kim said: “It’s been brilliant to see so many people pulling in the same direction to shout about Shipston as one of the UK’s leading independent shopping destinations. There is a strong community spirit between the owners and this support is helping to build on a recent influx of visitors who are realising what a great array of places to visit there are here.
“The fact that most businesses are run by local people, with products curated by them, means the shopping experience feels incredibly personalised – and this has strengthened Shipston’s resilience as a shopping destination at a time when consumers are wanting greater value for their money on the high street, and a good shopping experience.
“All this is on the doorstep of great cycling and walking routes, which means there is so much potential for a special day out and really helps to set Shipston apart and I think even more people from across the UK will certainly start to take more notice thanks to this new platform. We are especially interested in reaching the day visitor market as we are so close to Birmingham, Oxford and the Cotswolds, places that also offer a great visitor experience.”
Ian Cooper, from Shipston Town Council said “We are proud to support this new website which showcases everything Shipston has to offer to residents and visitors alike. Shipston offers a warm community spirit and thriving centre to those who live here and those that move here, and with the arrival of new businesses we look forward to seeing the town supported by residents and visitors."
Warwickshire County Council's Director of Economy and Place, Dave Ayton-Hill, said: “The new website celebrates the best of Shipston and is a direct result of WCC’s ‘Visit Local’ project which aims to help some of the county’s smaller towns to realise their untapped visitor potential. These websites offer both residents and visitors a way to find out what gems are hidden in our local market towns across Warwickshire whilst enabling our communities to buy and eat local to enable the local economy.”
Coach operator ready for growth in overseas visitors to Warwickshire
Accelerating demand for unusual excursions and luxury travel has driven one of the UK’s leading coach operators to a record year of sales.
Johnsons Coaches, headquartered in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, has achieved sales of over £17 million in 2023 – a 25 per cent increase from 2022.
More than 650 departures carrying over 23,000 passengers have contributed to this growth – which is a 22 per cent increase in passengers from 2022.
Visits organised by Johnsons Coaches to see the Flying Scotsman and a VIP hovercraft experience from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight, along with facilitating a record-breaking 66 ski tours around France, Austria and Italy have contributed to the seismic annual growth via the business’s coach hire.
In 2023, their Luxury Traveller brand has grown from strength to strength with latest records indicating over 30 per cent of Johnsons clientele have travelled on Luxury Traveller tours, with more people choosing a home-from-home experience with Wi-Fi, large screen TVs and extra legroom.
For 2024, the business has invested in 10 brand-new low emission executive vehicles as part of the organisation’s fleet renewal programme – as it gears up for a record year of demand in 2024.
Lauren Davies, Head of Business, Sales and Marketing at Johnsons Coaches, said: “Keeping up with travel trends whilst retaining seasonal favourites has been fundamental to our consistent growth since the pandemic.
“While traditional tours are selling well, with the average spend now at £862 per person for brochure tours, new and quirky excursions are seeing significant growth – particularly amongst a younger demographic – which is a new market that we are tapping into.
“We are also seeing an increase in later bookings, as well as single bookers with more people keen to pursue an adventure and make new friends.
“We’re really proud to be celebrating our 115th anniversary in 2024 – much of which has been built upon our reputable customer service – and we are looking forward to continuing our journey and totting up the next 115 years.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, and Darren Tosh, Operations and Marketing Director from South Warwickshire’s tourism board Shakespeare’s England, recently found out more about Johnsons Coaches’ growth and investment.
Cllr Watson said: “Seeing a Warwickshire-based family business heading in the right direction, despite the difficult economic climate, is fantastic. Their longevity speaks for itself, and underlines that good customer service and reputation go hand in hand.
“Johnsons Coaches’ upward trajectory is also a reminder that Warwickshire is only a two-to-three-hour coach journey from many parts of the UK – which not only is a positive for the business to grow their day trip offering – but it also helps the region to attract inward investment from tourists, as well as for meetings and events.”
Darren Tosh, Operations and Marketing Director at Shakespeare’s England, commented: “We are anticipating further growth in overseas visitors to key locations such as Stratford and The Cotswolds in 2024, and Johnsons Coaches has a valuable role to play in ensuring that these visitors make the most of their time in the region – and in style – so it’s fantastic to see them going from strength-to-strength.”
Care home benefits "hugely" from WFRS Protection Team business advice
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Protection team works constantly with businesses to keep their employees and premises safes. An example is Walsingham House, a Care Home in Nuneaton run by registered charity the PAKS Trust which provides residential care in the community setting. Joy Lewis is the manager of the care home, which worked with the WFRS Protection team to improve evacuation practices following the issuing of an enforcement notice. Joy takes up the story…
Walsingham House provided a placement in June 2016 for an individual with mobility needs. Following an inspection from the WFRS Protection team, it was deemed that the resident was not able to be evacuated due to lack of staff and property not suitable for them to be evacuated during day/night when in bedroom and in bed. The funding authority refused to pay for additional staff.
“We could not safely evacuate an individual in the event of a fire, due to not meeting environmental needs or staffing level.”
Joy explains what the Protection team did upon their inspection and the advice they gave:
“On the first visit Niky informed me that unless the individual’s environment met the criteria then the home would not be suitable. The requirements were a 60-minute protection room, one staff member to sit with them when the alarm was raised and a sprinkler system fitted – or evacuation from the property.
“I approached the funding authority, which in this case was Southwark’s, due to the individual living out of County. As advised that a staff member would need to be allocated to the individual in the event of a fire day/night. None of these were in place, so Niky revisited two weeks later to follow up the outcome with the funding Authority.”
The ramifications had the WFRS Protection team not visited and offered their guidance would have been stark:
“Ultimately, in the event of a fire, we would have breached fire regulations using the stay put. The team made us aware of the regulations that have changed and explained how the stipulations on the stay put policy would have therefore been breached, leading to putting the individual at risk in the event of a fire.”
Joy explains what happened next:
“The enforcement notice resulted in the funding authority moving the individual to another care home. After finally agreeing to pay for the additional staffing hours the individual concerned returned home in their safe and comfortable environment, giving them the choice of where they want to live.
“All four of the PAKS Trust homes have now been inspected, and the Charity has adopted several methods in other homes.”
The home has benefited hugely from the inspection and it has raised the standards of how things are done throughout, as Joy explains:
“We have sourced a competent risk assessor that has given amazing advice. They’ve carried out risk assessments where the previous company had failed to do so.
“We have also sourced a registered fire door service and repair company. Again, this has been sourced since inspections.
“We have had one admission since the enforcement notice. I was very clear on the staffing needed to meet Fire Regulations. This enabled me to price the care package accordingly. Something I will now use when we have any new admissions."
Joy was particularly impressed with the support that she was given by the WFRS Protection team before, during and after the work was carried out:
“Niky was at one of the care homes, along with the risk assessor, during an inspection. This was reassuring that the risk assessment was being completed in front of Niky, with her also seeing such documents once completed.
“Throughout it all; the enforcement notice, inspections of all four homes etc. I feel the knowledge from each visit has given us knowledge to source services to meet the regulations. We were using a private company to carry out the risk assessments, but this now highlights our assessments were not fit for purpose.
“I feel I can ring Niky up and ask for advice, which I have done so. She has supported us to keep those living in our homes safe and we now have a greater knowledge of what is required in care homes."
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Fire Andy Crump said: “We work extensively with care homes across Warwickshire to give them support and guidance on fire safety and we are delighted we were able to help Joy and Walsingham House.
“It’s a great outcome for her, the care home and the patient who can now continue living in the dwelling which most suited them. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has supported this resident to be living comfortably in the home of their choosing.”
To find out more information about Fire Safety for Businesses visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fire-safety-businesses-1
For more information on Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and the work it carries out across the County, please visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue.
Website launched to report Levelling Up progress
Warwickshire County Council has launched a new website and review document, dedicated to showcasing the progress made in the County as part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up initiative.
The Government has emphasised the importance of Levelling Up the country through its Levelling Up White Paper, detailing twelve national missions to address the causes of inequality and lack of social mobility with targets set for 2030. Eighteen months ago, Warwickshire County Council published the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up, translating the national policy into a local context.
Under the umbrella of ‘Creating Opportunities,’ this encompasses the work to date on both Levelling Up and Community Powered Warwickshire. Since the publication of the countywide approach, there has been a wide range of exciting projects that have brought the national initiative to life across Warwickshire.
To celebrate the embedding of a new approach across the county and with partners, a review has been published which highlights current successes and demonstrates how Levelling Up and Community Powered Warwickshire will work together going forward. The review document showcases local community projects funded by Warwickshire County Council's Social Impact Fund and Green Shoots Community Fund and outlines live and future projects including three community powered place pilots. Alongside this Warwickshire County Council is launching a new website to act as a digital home for Creating Opportunities work across Warwickshire. This will provide updates on local projects and signpost to place-based work taking place in the county.
Creating Opportunities is one of the ways in which Warwickshire County Council will be promoting inclusive economic growth, ensuring that everyone benefits from a vibrant, productive economy. The recently published Creating Opportunity place plans, developed with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council for their respective areas, demonstrates how WCC will tailor support for businesses and the local workforce to best target local need. Through Creating Opportunities, local barriers to employment for priority groups will be tackled and businesses empowered to amplify their role as place makers within their communities.
Warwickshire County Council's upcoming Economic Growth Strategy will be published in April.
WCC support "instrumental" as Hilo EV turns plans into reality
"The grant has been instrumental because it allowed us to embark on a partnership that we wanted, and to carry out all the necessary tests to ensure there was an appetite for what we were doing.”
An innovative Warwickshire business which has developed a safety-focused e-Scooter is stepping up a gear after securing a grant to help make its plans a reality.
Hilo EV, which is based at 1 Mill Street in Leamington, successfully claimed £5,750 from Warwickshire County Council’s Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund.
Co-founders James Browne and Robin Harris used the funds for the Proof of Concept stage to develop a Native Android Auto Mobile App for the Hilo One e-Scooter which can be folded and put in the back of a car.
The smart-looking Hilo One e-Scooter was launched at Micromobility Europe 2023 and has a halo light to illuminate riders to increase visibility, and has a large front wheel for a smoother drive over bumps and holes in the riding surface.
Although e-Scooters are yet to become legal in the UK, the company is seeing increasing demand for their products across other parts of the globe. Pre-orders are now being taken and the first customers will take delivery of their e-Scooter towards the end of this year.
The business is currently working on the URB Accelerator Programme which aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic plan which aims to make Dubai a cycle-centric city.
James said the grant from Warwickshire County Council had played a crucial role during the development stage of the Hilo One e-Scooter.
He said: “Since our team has a strong automotive background, we thought there was an interesting opportunity to develop an e-Scooter which could be folded and put into another vehicle to continue travelling in an environmentally-friendly way. The project was focused on how we could integrate an e-Scooter with an electric car to allow for seamless integration, and we knew we needed to work with a technology partner to move the navigation information from the car to the screen on the e-Scooter.
“EVware has been brilliant and we have developed an app on the front of the e-Scooter which we wouldn’t have been able to achieve within the timescales of launching this in June without the grant from Warwickshire County Council. The grant has been instrumental because it allowed us to embark on a partnership that we wanted, and to carry out all the necessary tests to ensure there was an appetite for what we were doing.”
Robin added: “We recognised that there are significant safety concerns throughout the industry not just for e-Scooters but also for e-cargo bikes and a new generation of electric delivery vehicles. Improving safety has been at the core of what we have been doing because we have come up with different ideas such as a bigger front wheel, illumination and AI technology, and the screen which we developed as part of the grant.
“It looks at information connected to the road such as directions, speed and range along with warning indications such as to keep your hands on the handlebars and the charging status.”
The Warwickshire Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund will deliver over £450,000 in grants to small and micro-sized digital creative businesses in the county, to help with product development and accelerate growth.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “We started this fund to help digital creative businesses who had struggled through Covid because they had had to put their expansion plans on hold just to survive. The digital creative sector is thriving in Warwickshire and Hilo EV is a great example of the innovation which can be achieved with extra financial support.
“Often the biggest barrier to businesses achieving their dreams can sometimes be knowing about the support that is available, so I hope more entrepreneurs will get in touch with our team to find out how we can help.”
To find out what other support is available, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Fiona and Mark add their expertise to the Business Ready team
“The recruitment of Fiona and Mark is demand driven, and they will add to the superb level of expertise within Business Ready."
A support programme for Warwickshire SMEs has been bolstered by the addition of two new experts who will help participants take their businesses to the next level.
Business Ready, which has helped small businesses raise more than £19 million in investment and finance and to create 175 extra jobs through targeted mentoring and support, has hired Fiona Molloy and Mark Wisniewski as new advisers.
Business Ready forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is delivered by University of Warwick Science Park on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils.
Fiona and Mark, who have extensive backgrounds in marketing and tech respectively, join Business Ready as part-time employees, having previously worked alongside its internal team as externally-retained Growth Specialists.
Fiona has worked in marketing for her whole career, and has provided freelance advice to clients for the last seven years through her business FiMarketing.
She said: “Many businesses, especially newer, smaller companies, either don’t have the time or the knowledge to dedicate themselves to developing a comprehensive marketing strategy.
“Through FiMarketing, and later through being retained by Business Ready as a Growth Specialist, I’ve been able to support businesses across a range of sectors increase their visibility, sales and brand awareness through helping them create a dedicated marketing plan.
“It’s fantastic to be joining Business Ready so I can impart this advice to businesses using the programme to improve their marketing.
“Having been involved as an external consultant with Business Ready for more than a year, I know how useful it is to the businesses that use it, so I’m really pleased to be part of the team and cannot wait to get started.”
Mark joins Business Ready after a wide background in supporting businesses to adopt digital services and products, and has personal experience of starting a new business without the fundamental knowhow needed to make it a success.
He came through the Business Ready programme himself after creating his own social meet-up app in 2015.
Mark said: “I tried to develop an app without doing proper market research. While I thought the app was a good idea, I hadn’t properly assessed whether it was something people actually wanted to use, so it ultimately failed. That failure made me understand that there is so much more to business than simply having a good idea.
“Since that time, I’ve helped businesses properly test their ideas before committing to significant investment. Ultimately, it's about creating products or services which customers really value and, more importantly, are prepared to pay for.
“When the opportunity came to work with Business Ready team, I jumped at the chance. Having been through the programme myself, I know it is very practical and tailored to individual businesses. The fact that it’s free means that it is accessible to many more businesses who need help!”
Ian McFarlane-Toms, Business Ready Programme Manager, welcomed Fiona and Mark to the team.
“The recruitment of Fiona and Mark is demand driven, and they will add to the superb level of expertise within Business Ready,” he said. “When businesses are referred to us, we try to pair them with the most suitable business adviser to help them achieve their goals. Having Fiona and Mark in the team will enable us to support even more SMEs in Warwickshire access the advice they need to succeed, and we’re looking forward to seeing the businesses they work with blossom.”
- Please find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk
FSB Small Business Awards winners go forward to compete in national finals
A provider of holiday camps at schools, a community business supporting the West Midlands Ambulance Service and a B-Corp e-commerce business were among the most inspiring small businesses winner at the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards West Midlands 2024.
Twelve winning businesses from Warwickshire and the West Midlands now go forward to the national UK FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024 finals.
Leamington Spa-based Go Go Makers, established by Warwickshire Mum Emma Canning, provides holiday camps at primary schools to deliver a range of opportunities for children to allow them to grow, develop and gain confidence. Since launching in 2013 it has become a thriving local business, employing 54 members of staff and running holiday camps at five primary schools. It was just one of the businesses that saw off great competition to be crowned one of the West Midlands’ best small businesses. Go Go Makerswas named as the winner of the Expansion and Growth Award.
The full list of winners:
Innovation Award: Buildfifty5 Living, Priorslee
Expansion and Growth Award: GO GO Makers, Leamington Spa
Sustainability Award: OLPRO, Worcester
Family Business of the Year: Clarke Oil Ltd., Redditch
Microbusiness of the Year: SafeJawz, Walsall
Self-employed/Freelancer Award: Katie Stone, Katie Stone PA, Ludlow
Start-up Business of the Year: Solaas Limited, Coventry
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Maddie Ashbrook, MOO and BOOM, Whitchurch
Franchise Business Award: Revive! Stoke, Yarnfield
Community Business Award: Arrive Alive, Birmingham
Diversity and Inclusion Award: Globility Coaching, Ludlow,
Service Excellence Award: Lavelle Bridal Couture, Warwick
Sue Tonks, FSB Chair for the West Midlands, said: “Congratulations to all this year’s West Midlands FSB Celebrating Small Business Award winners. They are reflective of the vibrancy, innovation and tenacity that makes up our small business community. It’s been thrilling to see so many businesses in the region enthusiastically take part in our awards and the sheer scale and diversity of those who entered is testimony to the vitality of the small business community in the region. The best of luck to all our winners for the UK national award finals in May.”