Gus Bhandal, Invest in Warwickshire Team

Gus Bhandal is well known for his efforts to support businesses in Coventry & Warwickshire and attract new ones to the area.

An inward investment specialist with the county council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, Gus was recently nominated for the 2015 FirstPro Property Professional of the Year award.

The short-listing was a great accolade in a year which brought an unprecedented number of entries for the awards. And, as well as a feather in Gus's cap, it also brought recognition for the excellent work undertaken by the council’s ‘Invest in Warwickshire’ team, which is committed to bringing jobs and prosperity to the area.

With more than 26,000 organisations calling Warwickshire home, the Invest team is determined to ensure sure the conditions are right for businesses to succeed. Last year alone the team received almost 1,000 property enquiries, resulting in investments which directly created almost 500 new jobs in Coventry & Warwickshire and many more throughout the supply chains.

Gus and his colleagues assist companies to base their businesses in Coventry & Warwickshire, offering a free service, saving firms valuable time and property consultant and agent fees.

Gus says: "The service is free because it brings so much value to the area. If we can help businesses to get established, succeed and create jobs then the whole county benefits.”

As well as working on large-scale, foreign direct investments, Gus works very closely with smaller, local firms to help them find the right premises and create high-value employment.

“SMEs with five to fifty staff are the lifeblood of the local economy and form over 90% of companies in Warwickshire,” explains Gus. “Our work through the Invest team and the Growth Hub is helping indigenous companies to grow within the local area and it’s highly rewarding.”

"The greatest satisfaction for me is interacting with businesses and seeing projects get off the ground through to getting the right base, skills and workforce.”

The energy, innovation and diversity within Warwickshire's business sector means that Gus has plenty to work with. But that sector also needs guidance to maximise its chances of success and growth.

Gus joined Warwickshire County Council eight years ago, having previously worked at the Motorsport Industry Association. He specialises in supporting the advanced manufacturing sector - one of Warwickshire's key industries.

Gus says, “It’s not just about finding a building - innovation, skills and an eye on the future come to the fore when it comes to a company’s location. Fortunately we have a strong talent pool in Warwickshire with the likes of companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Codemasters, Aston Martin and Rolls Royce alongside key assets such as WMG, the Manufacturing Technology Centre plus two great universities nurturing a highly skilled workforce.”

The Invest Team works also works closely with the council’s transport department to ensure good travel links and infrastructure for business developments as well as encouraging green travel plans for workers.  The county’s connectivity to the rest of the UK is a key strength with links to M6, M40, M1, M69 as well as good rail links– most major cities are accessible within 4hrs of Warwickshire.

Gus concludes, "What I would say to any business, small or large, is give us a call. We can do the legwork to ensure you have the right base for your business here at the heart of the UK."

Take advantage of Invest in Warwickshire’s free and confidential services, which include:

·         Access to our comprehensive commercial property database

·         Excellent local intelligence, from demographics to sector analysis

·         Introductions to local networks and organisations

·         Helping your employees with information about local housing, schooling and leisure opportunities across the county.

 Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/invest or telephone 01926 412140