Featured News
Tackling Skills Shortages workshops on the way
Warwickshire County Council's new campaign Tackling Skills Shortages will soon hold its first series of workshops.
Tackling Skills Shortages, launched last month by the council's Economy & Skills team, exists to help businesses find the skilled recruits they need to enable them to grow.
A series of three workshops, to be held at the Holiday Inn, Kenilworth at a date to be confirmed, have been built by Warwickshire County Council's business skills advisor Fay Winterburn in partnership with Angela Roberts from Kenilworth’s HR Consultancy, who also leads the Mid-Warwickshire Employment Group”
Designed to be engaging and informative with lots of tips for businesses to take away, they will consist of:
Day 1: Exploring different routes of recruitment and how to recruit. Speakers will provide information about talent pools available and how employers should present themselves to potential applicants.
Day 2: Demonstrating how growing your own talent can be of huge benefit for the business and future growth and showing how to engage with schools and colleges, with examples of how interaction with education can work for your business.
Day 3: Focusing on business support and accessing supportive funding to help meet the development needs of your business. We will share many opportunities on the day and also provide one-to-one sessions and further coaching to explore which of the supportive links are relevant to you.
Following the workshops, Fay will meet with each business to discuss their newly-identified routes of support and help make the relevant connections whilst building a documented skills support plan.
The workshops have been arranged as part of the Tackling Skills Shortages campaign which has, at its heart, a five-point plan to ensure that businesses are aware of all support available to them. The plan, which can be viewed here, reinforces the work carried out by Fay Winterburn, who was appointed designated business skills advisor last year to work full-time on this issue.
More than 250 businesses have benefited from Fay's advice in her first year and her work goes on - now supported by the new campaign.
"Fay is doing great work and has already pointed many businesses in the right direction and enabled them to solve their skills problems, either by recruiting, taking on apprentices or upskilling their existing their workforce," said Warwickshire County Council's head of economy & skills David Ayton-Hill.
"She is now supported by the Tackling Skills Shortages campaign which will soon step up with the excellent planned workshops.
"The whole campaign is outlined on line here, so it could not be easier for people who are very busy running their business, so feel they might not have the time to explore the matter in detail, to find out more.
"Please, have a look, see what support is there and then have a chat to Fay who can then come up with bespoke advice tailored for your business."
Fay can be contacted at faywinterburn@warwickshire.gov.uk or on 01926 412216.
Danecca finds perfect base thanks to Inward Investment team
Start-up company Danecca has chosen Venture House Business Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon, as a springboard for their battery consultancy services for the automotive market.
When Danecca was formed last year by husband and wife Danson and Rebecca Joseph, one of their first objectives was to locate the right premises as a base.
They contacted Warwickshire County Council's inward investment team for advice and inward investment officer
Steph Williams and business support advisor Jagdish Soor were happy to help - with both finding premises and broader business support.
Danecca is now busy building its customer-base across the UK and Europe. An electrical engineer responsible for battery development for one of the UK’s most prestigious brands, the Jaguar I-PACE, Danson is this week in Hannover, Germany, to give a talk to the Battery Show Europe.
Danson and Rebecca have some serious expertise to bring to their business - and they see Warwickshire, and Venture House, as the perfect base for some serious growth.
"Starting the business was a very big step for us so it was fantastic to get such support from Steph and Jag," Danson said. "They helped us identify premises and possible areas of funding. We are very excited about the future so it was so good to see the enthusiasm of Steph and Jag for helping new businesses like ours.
Steph has been a great support, patient and always available and keen to assist with getting us up and running. We wouldn't be where we are if it weren't for her.
"Venture House is perfect for us. It has all the facilities we need and more - like a quiet room, which we can book for meetings for free, and a hot-desking area. We're in amongst other business and there is a really good, positive vibe to the centre which visitors definitely pick up on.
"It was great that we could sign a relatively short-term lease - 18-months. As a start-up you need that flexibility. You don't want the pressure of a long initial deal while, if all goes as well as we hope, in 18 months we might be looking to expand."
Such an expansion may well be required. Danecca are busy exploring numerous customer-leads, including some as part of a fraternity of five associated business which together offer a full range of automotive services which can challenge the bigger companies. Future plans also include providing a prototype and low volume manufacturing facility for new battery developments.
Steph Williams said: "Jag and I are delighted to have helped Danecca find the perfect premises for them at Venture House. It was a pleasure to help Danson and Rebecca whose skills, energy and drive give their business a great chance of success.
"Danecca is another very welcome addition to Coventry & Warwickshire’s ever growing low carbon vehicle supply chain."
* The advice for the company was delivered as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
- To find out more about the range of support available to grow your business, please contact the Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
For more information about Venture House please visit www.venturehousestratford.co.uk/
For more information about Warwickshire County Council's business centres please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businesscentres
Have your say in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey
Businesses have an opportunity to shape thinking and policy in the region by taking part in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey.
Warwickshire County Council, in partnership with the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, undertakes a regular Quarterly Economic Survey to gauge local business performance and market expectations
The results of the survey provide valuable insights into Warwickshire’s economy so the broader spectrum of opinion underpinning it the better. Business large and small, in all sectors and all parts of the county are encouraged to fill in the survey.
Warwickshire County's head of economy & skills David Ayton-Hill said: "The data we receive from the Quarterly Economic Survey is an important barometer of business confidence and trends so I would ask all business people to spare a few minutes to participate.
"Here at Warwickshire County Council we are fully committed to doing all we can to support the business community and promote the county, in partnership with the Chamber and other agencies. For us to most effectively do that it is vital to know what businesses are thinking and what are their concerns and needs, so the feedback from this survey is invaluable."
To fill in the survey please click here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HMG9HJM
To read the results of previous QES please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/economicassessment
The right business support puts Daniel in the fast lane
Any business which is expanding needs to either attract skilled recruits or upskill their existing workforce
With a well-documented skills shortage affecting UK businesses, that can be a big problem. But help and advice is at hand from Warwickshire County Council and the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub - as Daniel Tranter can testify.
Last year, Daniel founded Atherstone-based DT Performance Cars, stocking all sorts of specialist cars priced from £15,000 to £120,000. And the business has soon hit the fast lane for growth. Daniel initially employed people close to him, those whom he knew and trusted, but now needs to look a little further afield.
That's where the skill support led by the county council's business skills advisor Fay Winterburn and growth hub account manager Gary Thyeson is proving invaluable.
"Fay and Gary have been really helpful and given some great advice," said Daniel. "I decided the time was right to take the plunge and start the business in February 2016 and it's gone really well so now we need to expand.
"I employ my mum and dad, father-in-law and uncle because I would rather employ people I can trust, even if they have little specialist knowledge to start with, and train them up. Training them up is where the business support has come in.
"Fay is helping us to explore apprenticeship opportunities and what might work for us and we are also considering courses within the Skills Support to upskill some of our existing staff.
"Gary is helping us to explore funding opportunities to support the development of the site, including a new meet-and-greet area and more economical lighting."
Nuneaton-born Daniel has his sights set on further growth from an ideal base in north Warwickshire.
"The premises in Atherstone came up and they are perfect with the space we need but very discreet," he said. "It is perfectly located bedside the A5 and close to Birmingham Airport which is great because we do a lot of international trade and have a lot of customers from Aberdeen."
Fay Winterburn is delighted to be helping the business to grow.
"DT performance is a great example of taking a passion and turning it into a great business model," she said. "Daniel has made remarkable progress in developing and growing the business ahead of his original projected year-on-year plans and now the timing is just right to explore various routes of support, having come this far independently.
"Ourselves at the county council and Gary Thyeson from the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub are keen to work with Dan and the team to offer our support in building a skills and business strategy to take the business to the next level "
Summer opportunities beckon for employers looking to recruit skilled young people
This summer will bring the customary influx of school and college-leavers into the job market. That makes it a time of great opportunity for businesses looking to address their skills shortages, says Warwickshire County Council's Skills for Employment manager Glenn Robinson.
Each year more than 1,000 young people aged 16-24 leave school or college seeking jobs. While some of these students leave courses at different times during the year, most will be seeking jobs in the late summer and early autumn. This is a large talent pool for businesses to access.
For example, many of the several thousand sixth-form and students aged 19+ will be looking for jobs this autumn instead of going to university. In summer 2017, 674 sixth-form leavers went into employment - nine per cent higher than the previous year. This trend is going to get stronger as more young people choose to earn while they continue learning and wish to avoid graduate debt.
Many of that number are now degree apprentices continuing to develop specialist knowledge and skills as they work. There is strong evidence that young people recruited and developed in this way by employers switching to ‘grow their own’ are more loyal and contribute to the business sooner than graduates.
Having helped Aston Martin Lagonda to develop a new degree apprenticeship programme which recruits young people from Warwickshire, the council’s Skills for Employment programme is now working with JLR to strengthen its links with schools and colleges so the business can identify talent as early as possible.
A similar change has been taking place with 16-year-old school leavers. Last year, 4.3% of our 16-year-olds went into jobs with apprenticeships compared with 2.7% in 2015 and we expect that strong trend to continue. This change has led to the number of 16 and 17-year-olds not in employment, education or training dropping to 196 in early 2018 - 1.8% of the age-group compared to 2.4% the previous year.
This means competition to recruit these young people is getting tougher for businesses. Many of these young people are now Advanced apprentices - a 20% increase in the past two years.
Another recruitment approach some employers are finding very effective is to provide a supported internship for a young person with learning disabilities. Nine of the county’s 11 special schools have pupils aged 16+ and increasing numbers of these young people are seeking to enter the workforce.
Supported internships usually last for a year and include unpaid work placements of at least six months during which time the young person is supported by a job coach funded by government and managed by the school or college the learner is from. Job coaches work with employers to identify appropriate roles to match the skills of the young person with the needs of the business, and provide support throughout the placement.
We know about several young people who have been offered permanent positions at the end of their internship as they have proved to be very focused and dedicated workers.
Warwickshire County Council aims to increase the number of supported internships countywide to at least 100 by 2020/21. To achieve this we wish to work with another 20 organisations in the next three years so we would welcome a conversation with interested businesses.
How can a business get involved with a local school or college? There are many ways with different levels of commitment required. For example, we have recently put a small engineering company in Nuneaton in touch with two of its local schools so it can arrange to visit to demonstrate how it designs and manufactures its product to small groups of pupils interested in engineering and potentially seeking employment this summer. This sort of activity is a ‘one-off’ commitment but could be repeated every year.
At the other end of the spectrum of potential activity, some businesses provide a mentor to work with a school (staff as well as pupils sometimes) regularly to make links between the curriculum and their products, and provide work-tasters or work-experience for small groups at their workplace.
The council’s Skills for Employment programme brokers introductions between business and education, so if you would like to find out how your business could get involved, please call 01926-418027 or e-mail skillsforemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk
Rachel's appointment gives county a national voice on town centres
Warwickshire's voice is now right at the heart of a national organisation designed to promote town centres following the appointment of Rachel Baconnet to the board of the Association of Town and City Management.
Rachel is team leader for town centres and tourism at Warwickshire County Council, which is the only county authority to be represented on the ATCM board. Having been appointed chair of the Midlands branch last December she was asked to join the national board in March.
Her appointment reflects not only her own work and energy on behalf of town centres in Warwickshire but also the sustained support of the county council as a whole for towns within its borders.
"Warwickshire County Council has long been regarded as an authority which takes a leading role in supporting town centres," Rachel said. "It is unique in its level of support for town centres and my appointment to the ATCM board is testament to that longstanding commitment.
"I was delighted to be asked to join the national board. It is a great compliment to Warwickshire and all the work that we have done to support town centres over a number of years. Joining the board means that I will be able to make our voice heard and contribute to the great work that the association does in lobbying central government on behalf of towns and cities."
Warwickshire County Council's enlightened approach to supporting town centres has brought the implementation of several successful initiatives. These include the introduction of Business Improvement Districts, for which Warwickshire took part in the national pilot scheme, and the formation of The Warwickshire Towns Network.
"Town centres are the economic and social hubs of communities so we are committed to doing everything we can to support them," said Rachel.
"We are proud to be a leading county authority in this field and very proud that our Warwickshire Towns Network programme won the ‘Partnership of the Year’ accolade, at the 2017 Association of Town and City Management Annual National Awards.
"It has been great to see businesses and business organisations really engage with the network and its message that towns can work together and support each other to the benefit of all."
Latest data reveals record high number of people in work in Warwickshire
"An estimated 11,800 people in Warwickshire found work in 2017, increasing the county’s employment rate to 79.6%, its highest on record."
The latest Quarterly Labour Market Bulletin from Warwickshire County Council reveals several very positive movements in Warwickshire’s labour market over the last quarter.
The data, covering January to December 2017, showed a record high number of people in work, a low unemployment rate, increasing rates of labour force participation and significant job market activity.
An estimated 11,800 people in Warwickshire found work in 2017, increasing the county’s employment rate to 79.6%, its highest on record. The rate remains firmly above the national average and only five local authorities with a similar working-age population size have a larger proportion in employment.
At a local level, Nuneaton & Bedworth has seen the biggest progression since this time last year. The employment rate in that borough has increased 8.2% since 2016, equating to 6,500 extra residents in work. North Warwickshire continues to have the highest employment rate in the county, 85.4%, followed by Rugby (84.6%) and Warwick (81.2%).
Increases in employment have been strongest in the Real Estate, Automotive and Logistics & E-Commerce sectors, each growing more than 5% over the last year.
More people finding work has come hand-in-hand with an improvement in labour force participation. An estimated 63.6% of the 16+ age group are either in, or looking for, work. The participation rate among this age category has only been higher in one of the last 53 quarters.
The higher participation rate is partly related to job opportunities in the county. Warwickshire continues to have a significant number of job vacancies advertised on-line. In Q4 2017, there were 67.3 job vacancies per 1,000 population, more than double the national labour demand density.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Warwickshire continues to fall. Throughout every quarter in 2017 the rate dropped and it now stands at 2.5%, much lower than the national average (4.4%).
The current edition of the QLMB, which can be read in full here, also includes a special article, published by Warwickshire Economics and compiled from their exclusive research, on the risk of automation. We estimate that a large proportion of jobs are at very high risk of automation in the county by 2030.
For further information about the report please contact its author Samvandeschootbrugge@warwickshire.gov.uk
Further consultation - Getting West Nuneaton Moving
Further consultation is to be carried out regarding the proposed Bermuda Connectivity Scheme, following the completion of detailed design which was carried out after the initial consultation.
The scheme is aimed at reducing congestion and journey times in and around Nuneaton town centre.
Bermuda Connectivity is a scheme to deliver additional highway capacity in Nuneaton. This will be achieved by creating a new 1.3-mile link between West Nuneaton and the Griff Roundabout via the existing Bermuda Bridge over the A444.
Among the benefits will be reduced journey times and congestion on the A444 in the town centre and other radial routes in west Nuneaton; enhancing access to local businesses, amenities and residential areas, particularly in Bermuda and adjoining areas and improving connectivity to Bermuda Park Rail Station, which will soon be served by more frequent trains to Coventry.
The further consultation has now commenced and will end on Monday 18 June 2018.
The consultation will involve the distribution of a pamphlet containing details of the scheme to approximately 30,000 residential and business addresses in the west Nuneaton area. This will be supported by a specific online consultation web page enabling survey forms to be completed and submitted. The existing https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/bermudaconnection web page will also support the consultation.
The responses to the consultation will be included in reports to WCC Cabinet and full council in July for a decision on whether the Scheme is implemented.
Further queries regarding the scheme and requests for paper copies of the response form can be sent to the bermudaconnection@warwickshire.gov.uk e-mail address, or alternatively, call 01926 410410.
Making a Positive Impact from the Centenary Business Centre
Of no other business than Positive Impact for Young People CiC could it be more justifiably said that "it does what it says on the tin."
Set up last year, the not-for-profit social enterprise, based at the Centenary Business Centre, Nuneaton, works with children and young people to encourage them towards constructive career paths.
The objective is to have that positive impact by developing those young people’s skills and resilience to re-engage them with Education, Employment or Training. This is achieved through one-to-one and group work and a range of courses accredited by leading education charity ASDAN and the Princes Trust.
Positive Impact for Young People CiC, operating in connection with schools and local authorities including Warwickshire County Council, does important, hopefully life-changing, work. That's the sort of responsibility referred only to respected and trusted organisations, so it says much for the credibility of the business that, less than a year after starting up, it is eyeing up expansion - perhaps within the county council-run business centre which enabled this excellent enterprise to take flight.
"The Centenary Business Centre is great for us," said managing director Craig Sweeney, a youth worker for six years and who recently graduated from Coventry University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Youth Work. "The big thing for us, as a small, not-for-profit business setting up, was that it was affordable. But as well as affordable it provides us with a really good base. The staff couldn't be more helpful - Lisa and Julie are great.
"We've already inquired about whether we might be able to move to a bigger unit within the centre at some point, though that might be difficult because the centre always seems pretty full."
Now established in their sector, Positive Impact for Young People CiC is looking to grow.
"It was difficult at the start because we were new and, quite rightly, had to establish that essential trust," said Craig. "But that soon came and now we are operating pretty much at capacity so we need to expand. We are looking to take on at least one apprentice to add to our three full-timers and would love to have some voluntary workers - anyone with a little spare time and a desire to help young people, please get in touch."
The Centenary Business Centre provides a vibrant home for more than 50 small business of all descriptions and centre manager Lisa Smullen is delighted to have Craig's team among them.
"I am really pleased that we have been able to give Positive Impact for Young People CiC the base and facilities they need as a start-up," said Lisa. "The range of business at the centre make up a great, mutually supportive community, as shown by another of them, Parker-Masters, designing the website for Positive Impact for Young People CiC.
" Craig and his team are a valued part of that community. They do a lot of fantastic work with young people in and around Nuneaton."
For more details please visit www.positiveimpactcic.org.
For information about the Centenary Business Centre please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cbc
Business Ready support drives 80 per cent growth in Adam's start-up
A Warwickshire entrepreneur, who grew up wanting to ‘design trainers for Nike’, is growing his own cool design and manufacturing studio after receiving business support.
Adam Duffy, who grew up in Claverdon and lives in Rugby, has been working in the fashion industry for 15 years, including for a range of high street brands.
He launched his business, IdealFactory, in 2016 to offer designers and artists the opportunity to have their work turned into chic fashion or furniture products – from trainers to chairs.
“It’s a unique design platform,” he said. “Graphic designers and artists have the opportunity to create their own products and we can turn that into a reality. We want the designs to be high-end and the final product to be made to the highest quality to match.”
The company already employs four staff from its studio at the Bilton Industrial Estate in Coventry but now has ambitions to grow significantly after receiving support from the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Ready programme.
Adam was assigned a mentor, Paul Walker, from the programme, and he helped the company develop a marketing plan and has also offered general business advice, acting as a sounding board for new ideas.
IdealFactoryhas grown by 80% on the back of the support from Business Ready, Adam has his eyes on significant growth by adding more staff to the team and attracting more designers and artists to use the platform.
He said that Coventry winning UK City of Culture 2021 was a perfect springboard for the artistic and creative sector in the city.
Adam said: “When we were first getting started I decided to look for what support was available. I spoke to the CWLEP Growth Hub and they referred me on to Business Ready.
“The support has been brilliant. We are a small business and, as the owner, you sometimes want to be able to bounce ideas off someone – having a mentor to be able to speak to who has experience in business was really helpful.
“We’re confident now that we have the right platform and the right offer to attract more designers and artists to create their own products using the platform which, in turn, will increasingly draw in more customers for those products.
“I feel we are in the right place at the right time, with Coventry being UK City of Culture – there are great synergies between what we do and the city having that title.”
Ian McFarlane-Toms, a Business Growth Adviser at the University of Warwick Science Park, said: “Being the owner of a small business can be a lonely place, so having the support and guidance of a mentor can be extremely beneficial. Sometimes it can be to confirm that an idea you have is a good one, or to encourage them to look at it a different way.
“We are delighted that the support we have given to IdealFactory has helped to pave the way for the company to grow and create job opportunities.”
* Business Ready is delivered by the University of Warwick Science Park and is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
Women's Tour cycling event will boost county economy
The leading female professional road race in the UK cycling calendar will return to Warwickshire next month for a record-breaking third successive year.
The world’s top female racers will compete in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, the third stage of which Warwickshire will host on Friday June 15.
The event offers cycling fans the chance to watch the thrilling road race again and will also bring a significant boost to the county's economy and profile.
Last year's Warwickshire stage was a huge success throughout the whole county, with an estimated 95,000 spectators lining the streets. It is estimated that more than £2million was generated during the Warwickshire stage in 2017 while a total of 312,000 people watched the Stage on ITV4. Coverage was broadcast in more than 100 countries.
Starting in Market Square, Atherstone, the 151-kilometre route will weave its way through the county before ending in Royal Leamington Spa - making the Warwickshire stage the longest of the 2018 event.
Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, is thrilled that the event is returning to the county.
“I am extremely pleased that Warwickshire will be hosting a stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour once again,” she said.
“This is the third year that the county has been involved in this fantastic event and it has proven to be of huge economic benefit and puts Warwickshire on the worldwide map.
“What makes our stage special is the fact that because of our how our route is mapped out, spectators can watch the race from multiple spots during the day.
“The organisers were really pleased with the response from the people of the county, and so many businesses and schools came out to watch that it made for a great atmosphere
“We cannot wait to see the event hosted in Warwickshire and I would urge fans of the event and cycle enthusiasts to come out and support it.”
Mick Bennett, Race Director of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, said: “It’s rare for any bike race to repeat a stage from a previous event in full, but the response from riders, teams and spectators to our visit to Warwickshire in 2017 made it an easy decision to return there for stage three of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour.”
Chloe Hosking, the Australian who rides for the Alé Cipollini team and won last year's Warwickshire stage, said: "The OVO Energy Women's Tour is a highlight on the women's cycling calendar for riders, staff and fans alike and winning my stage in Warwickshire last year was a highlight of my season.
"It's so phenomenal how the public responds to the event and it's really special to race in an environment like that. I think it fuels really exciting, aggressive, entertaining racing. I really do think that the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd is contagious - you can't help but want to really race your bike.
"I'm looking forward to more deafening laps around the UK's countryside."
The Warwickshire stage will begin at 10am on June 15 with 17 teams and 102 competitors expected to start arriving at the finishing line in Leamington at around 2pm.
Racers will set off in Atherstone, taking in the North Warwickshire countryside and head for Meriden. They will then head to the University of Warwick before passing Kenilworth and Warwick Castles.
Competitors will also have to take on two Queen of the Mountain climbs again – an ascent of more than 1,700 metres. The first of those will be at Edge Hill, just on the outskirts of Arlescote while the second comes in Burton Dassett Country Park.
The route also heads through Moreton Morrell, Wellesbourne, Kineton, Tysoe and Shipston-on-Stour, Fenny Compton and Southam, before finishing in the centre of Royal Leamington Spa.
For further information about the Warwickshire Stage of the Women’s Tour, including a detailed map of the route, please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/womens-tour.
Events
Upcoming events
May
Drive Your Business growth: Thurs 17th May, 9:00-11:45, Square One at the Hub, Coventry University, 4 Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5qt (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/use-the-power-of-story-telling-to-drive-your-business-growth-tickets-45581855557
Stratford Business Forum BIG Breakfast: Fri 18th May, 7:00-9:00, Stratford-upon-Avon College, The Willows North, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 9QR (£12.50-£15.00)
http://www.stratford-business-forum.co.uk/catalogue_main.php?catID=6760
LaunchPad: Unique 12 hour Startup Accelerator and Dragon’s Den Type Session: Sat 19th May, 8:00-20:00, Serious Games Institute (1st Floor), Puma Way, Technology Park, Coventry, CV1 2TL (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launchpad-unique-12-hour-startup-accelerator-and-dragons-den-type-session-tickets-44321637210
Getting the Most Out Of Google for Your Business: Tues 22nd May, 9:30-16:00, Althorpe Enterprise Hub Althorpe Street Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV31 2GB (Free)
https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/getting-the-most-out-of-google-for-your-business-1/
Digital Product Development and Testing: Tues 22nd May, 9:00-16:30, Manufacturing Technology Centre, Ansty Park, Coventry, CV7 9JU (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-product-development-and-testing-tickets-42562667083
Coventry & Warwickshire Champions: 23rd May, 07:30 - 09:30, Wright Hassall, Olympus Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV34 6BF, (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coventry-and-warwickshire-champions-may-23rd-tickets-45060875291?aff=es2
Leamington Hour’s Networking Event: Weds 23rd May, 19:00-21:00, The Star and Garter, 4-6 Warwick Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5LL (£10)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leamington-hours-networking-event-tickets-38831770872
Business Essentials for Start-Ups - Finance and Cash-Flow: Weds 23rd May, 10:00-13:00, Unit 6, Serious Games Institute, Coventry Innovation Village, Cheetah Road, CV1 2TL (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-essentials-for-start-ups-finance-cash-flow-tickets-42151471185
Business Planning Workshop: Thu 24th May, Ramada Hotel Coventry, CV1 3GG (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-planning-workshop-tickets-42669192704
Introduction to Export taster session: Thurs 24th May. 8:30-10:30, Birmingham Chamber Of Commerce, 75 Harborne Road Birmingham, B15 3DH http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/event/introduction-export-taster-session
Business Culture Workshop:France: Thurs 24th May, 9:00-12:30, KPMG,1 Snow Hill, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6GH (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-culture-workshop-france-tickets-45338910903
HMRC, Companies House and Intellectual Property Office - Working Together For You (Webinar): Thurs 24th May, 11:00-12:00
http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/event/hmrc-companies-house-and-intellectual-property-office-working-together-you-webinar
#FSBConnet Rugby: Fri 25th May, 7:00-9:00, The Arnold House at Rugby, Elsee Road, Rugby, CV21 3BA (£5-£10) http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/event/hmrc-companies-house-and-intellectual-property-office-working-together-you-webinar
Big Biscotti Midlands Mega Growth Event: Fri 25th May, 8:30-12:30, Crowne Plaza Hotel NEC – Pendigo Way, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1PS (Members £16, Non-members £20)
https://www.businessbiscotti.co.uk/nationwide/big-biscotti-midlands.html
Aston Centre for Growth: Programme Information Meeting (Coventry): Tues 29th May, 12:00-13:30, Enterprise Centre, Coventry University, Technology Park, Puma Way, Coventry, CV1 2TT (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aston-centre-for-growth-programme-information-meeting-coventry-tickets-37310201818
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Showcase: Thurs 31st May, 9:00-12:30, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT (Delegate £30, Student £15, Exhibitor £100)
http://www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk/events/hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-showcase-hfcshowcase/
June
#FSBConnect Coventry: Sat 2nd June, 7:00-8:45, Ramada Hotel & Suites, The Butts, Earlsdon, Coventry, CV1 3GG (£10)
http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/event/fsbconnect-coventry-4
Start Your Own Business in Coventry or Warwickshire: Mon 4th June, 10:00-13:15, Ramada Hotel & Suites, Coventry, CV1 3GG (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/start-your-own-business-in-coventry-or-warwickshire-tickets-44599403015
Chamber Networking in Coventry: Tues 5th June, 8:30-10:30, FIG Office Network Ltd Friars House, Manor House Drive, Coventry, CV1 2TE (Free)
https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/chamber-networking-in-coventry/
Business Planning Workshop: Weds 6th June, 9:00-16:00, Ramada Hotel & Suites, Coventry, CV1 3GG (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-planning-workshop-tickets-42669192704
Autodesk Revit Intermediate: Wednesday, 6 June 2018 at 09:00 - Thursday, 7 June 2018 at 16:30 (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autodesk-revit-intermediate-tickets-45680461490
Bookkeeping or Finance-for your new or pre start business: Thurs 7th June, 8:30-16:00, Holiday Inn Coventry M6 J2, Hinckley Road, Walsgrave, Coventry, CV2 2HP(Free) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bookkeeping-and-finance-for-your-new-or-prestart-business-tickets-44632925281
Leamington Business Forum BIG Breakfast: Weds 8th June, 7:00-9:00, location tbc, (£12.50)
http://www.leamington-business-forum.co.uk/news_item.php?wnID=4213
Info2Grow - Embracing digital technologies:Tues 12th June, 16:30-18:30, Twycross Zoo, A444 Burton Road, Atherstone, CV9 3PX (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/info2grow-embracing-digital-technologies-tickets-45678426403
Launching your Innovative brand - for new businesses and prestarts: Wed 13th June, 10:00-13:15, Ramada Suites & Hotel, Coventry, CV1 3GG (Free) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launching-your-innovative-brand-for-new-businesses-and-prestarts-tickets-44632222178
Queen's Award for Enterprise Masterclass: Thurs 14th June, 09:00 - 13:00, The Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd, Ansty Park, CV7 9JU
Business Essentials for start-ups - Planning the Lean Business Canvas: Thurs 14th June, 10:00-13:00, Unit 6, Serious Games Institute, Coventry Innovation Village, Cheetah Road, Coventry CV1 2TL (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-essentials-for-start-ups-planning-the-lean-business-canvas-tickets-42151663761
Branding: Tues 19th June, 9:00-16:30, Impact Hub Birmingham, Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street, Birmingham, B5 5NR (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/branding-tickets-42497756935
Digital Marketing for your New Business: Weds 20th June, Ramada Hotel & Suites, The Butts, Coventry, CV1 3GG (Free)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-marketing-for-your-new-business-tickets-42150960658
July
Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Breakfast Networking: Fri 6th July, Nuneaton Town football Club, Liberty Way, Nuneaton CV11 6RR. (more details TBC)
To book, please contact Adele on: adelew@cw-chamber.co.uk or 02476 654186
If you would like your business event listed here, please forward the details to invest@warwickshire.gov.uk
OTHER USEFUL EVENT PAGES TO FOLLOW
Tech Central: http://techcentraluk.com/events.html
Business Ready: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/business-ready-12629314668
Coventry University Enterprises: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/cue-business-solutions-13651209205
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/
Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub: http://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk/events
CW Champions: https://www.coventry-warwickshire.co.uk/events
Midlands Business Network: http://themidlandsbusinessnetwork.co.uk/events/
Leamington Hour: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/leamington-hour-7578817945
Stratford Business Forum: http://www.stratford-business-forum.co.uk/
Leamington Business Forum: http://www.leamington-business-forum.co.uk/