"Ella completed her training on the Monday...on Friday, she saved a life."

Business support led to the best possible benefit when a remarkable chain of community connections led to a life-saving intervention in Rugby town centre. 

The incident happened on Friday 4 April 2025 while customer David suffered a cardiac arrest when visiting MACK Hair Studios hairdressers on Lawrence Sheriff Street. In a fortunate coincidence, 21-year-old Ella McCauley, a staff member at neighbouring bar, INSIDE THE 22, had just completed first aid training, funded by local business support. This was to prove critically important.  

“I only completed my first aid course the previous Monday," said Ella. "The ladies from Mack ran into our bar to ask if anyone had first aid training, and thankfully I was able to step up. I tried to get David to open his eyes, but he wasn’t responding. I told someone to quickly go and get a nearby defib and started CPR. When the paramedics arrived, they told me I was doing a great job and to carry on whilst they cut his clothes off, and I just kept going, giving it all I had. If I wasn’t there doing CPR in those minutes, I’ve been told that he wouldn’t have made it.”  

Claire Gillooly, owner of MACK Hair Studios, said: “David has been a beloved customer of MACK for many years. Seeing him like that was such a shock, and it became apparent very quickly that he needed urgent medical assistance. I’ll be forever grateful that Ella was there that day. Her and her colleague Sam’s immediate response made all the difference. This experience has shown us that we’re not just individual businesses - we’re a community that supports each other when needed most.” 

The incredible lifesaving story began with a chance conversation between two business owners at a new Rugby First business community forum event at the end of January.  

INSIDE THE 22 owner Oliver Taylor explained, “During a networking meeting organised by the town centre’s BID, Rugby First, for a group of local Rugby businesses, I met members of Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub who offered their services and advice on grants that may be available to us. We were looking to get all our shift leaders and managers Fire Marshal and First Aid trained. Ella has recently been promoted to Restaurant Manager and as such, she was offered the opportunity to take the same training as other members of the team.

"Thanks to Rugby Borough Council’s shared prosperity fund in collaboration with Warwickshire County Council, we received full funding for Ella’s training and four other members of the team including Sam Ayris, who went to fetch the nearby defibrillator used in the incident. Ella completed her training on the Monday prior to the incident. On Friday, she had saved a life. We could not be prouder of her.” 

Linda Lowne, director of Rugby First, said: “This extraordinary sequence of events from a casual conversation at our Business Forum that led to life-saving action just weeks later demonstrates why bringing local businesses together and fostering a true sense of community is so important. This incident has proved how this training saves lives, and we are so proud of the businesses and individuals involved. I’d encourage all local businesses to take advantage of the funding and training opportunities available through Rugby First, Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub and the Warwickshire Skills Hub.”  

Steven Convery, Business Skills Support Officer at Warwickshire Skills Hub whose organisation facilitated the training for INSIDE THE 22, commented: “I am proud to have supported a local Rugby business in accessing a grant for essential first aid training. I know our grants are important, but this just goes to show the critical impact they can have, as this one has already saved a life. When supporting businesses in accessing funds, we don’t always appreciate the value they bring. This one has made me truly appreciate the impact they can have, and I feel proud to have done my small part in supporting INSIDE THE 22 and Ella.”

* If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk  and one of our Business Support Advisors will be in touch.