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£4.6 million Business Growth Warwickshire Programme unveiled
"The County Council and our partners in the districts and boroughs have a longstanding commitment to support local businesses in every way we can and this UK Shared Prosperity Fund-driven programme adds an important new dimension to that support."
More than 2,000 businesses will benefit from a new, multi-stranded support programme to be rolled out across the county.
The £4.6 million Business Growth Warwickshire Programme, developed and commissioned jointly by Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council , Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford-upon-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council, is designed to engage with over 2,000 businesses, more than 500 of which will receive intensive, bespoke support.
Business Growth Warwickshire will create over 150 jobs and safeguard over 250 while enabling more than two hundred businesses to improve their productivity. Over 180 businesses will receive a bespoke decarbonisation plan to help them to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills. The programme will help save over 1,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas. helping Warwickshire to become more sustainable and move towards net zero.
The programme, funded by the UK Government (through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the five district and borough councils) and £500,000 from Warwickshire County Council, will play a major role in strengthening small and medium sized businesses across Warwickshire in the short to medium terms. An additional £1.3 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is expected to be available to boost the Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service.
The six strands are:
Warwickshire Business Start Up Support Programme
Aimed at businesses in their first 24 months of trading and individuals who have ambitions to start a business, this is a programme of one-to-one business coaching and workshops to provide the fundamental skills to start and grow a business.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Warwickshire Business Resilience and Growth Programme
Aimed at businesses over 24 months old to help improve their resilience and growth potential via a tailored package of support with access to appropriate advice and services to support growth plans.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Business Ready - Warwickshire High Growth and Innovation Programme
This project will engage with businesses with ambitions for high growth and looking to innovate. It will target higher productivity that will contribute towards county-wide growth targets and create new highly skilled jobs. This programme offers access to specialist mentors, bespoke support and specialist workshops.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by University of Warwick Science Park
Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme
Directly supporting manufacturing businesses across all sectors, to grow by identifying, understanding and removing their barriers to growth to support the creation of new jobs through improved productivity, and competitiveness. A programme of one to one support from specialist manufacturing advisors, digital diagnostic tool, workshops and cohort-based small courses.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Oxford Innovation
Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service
Helping to create a green, growing and sustainable economy across Warwickshire through promoting energy efficiency. An energy audit for each business will produce bespoke decarbonisation plans to identify greenhouse gas savings, leading to greater energy efficiency, lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions. It is expected that the WBEAS will include a grant scheme to support businesses with the costs of low carbon adoption.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry City Council
Project Warwickshire – Visitor Economy Business Support & the Hospitality Business Support Programme.
A package of support for businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, offering specialist one-to-one business coaching, workshops, and networking including with larger businesses.
Delivered on behalf of WCC and the five District and Borough Councils by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “The Business Growth Warwickshire Programme is an exciting new chapter for business support across our county. The County Council and our partners in the districts and boroughs have a longstanding commitment to support local businesses in every way we can and this UK Shared Prosperity Fund-driven programme adds an important new dimension to that support.
“The County Council is delighted to be able to co-ordinate and part-fund a single, integrated programme of support which will benefit hundreds of businesses across the county.”
Councillor David Wright, Leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council said, “I’m delighted to welcome the start of the Business Growth programme which has been mainly funded by the UK Shared Prosperity fund. Whilst this will run across all of the County we are particularly pleased in North Warwickshire to be able to ensure businesses in our area are now guaranteed the opportunity to access funds and advice as a result of North Warwickshire Borough Council now being able to direct this funding as a result of the UK Shared Prosperity. North Warwickshire has traditionally been a fast growing economy and we are looking forward to boosting that in our area with this programme.”
Cllr Wilson, Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said “Supporting local businesses is a top priority for Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. They are the lifeblood of our local economy and either directly or indirectly generate jobs for local residents. I would encourage as many local businesses as possible to apply for these funds where they qualify so that we can help them to grow bigger and better!”
Cllr Ian Picker, Deputy Leader of Rugby Borough Council and portfolio holder for Growth and Investment, said: “Along with the launch of our Town Centre Growth, Community Support and Sports Action funds, there is now extensive support available for Rugby businesses that are ready to grow or invest.
“It is important that businesses in Rugby make the most of this UK Shared Prosperity funding and access this support if they are eligible.”
Cllr Susan Juned, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "The UK Shared Prosperity funding stream enables Stratford and the other districts/boroughs to work closely with Warwickshire County Council and its delivery partners to achieve positive economic outcomes and benefits for the District via this extensive and varied programme of business support."
Warwick District Council Portfolio Holder for Arts and Economy, Cllr Ella Billiald, said: “Warwick District Council welcomes this business support programme and is looking forward to working with Warwickshire County Council and partners to maximise the UK Shared Prosperity funding in training and growth opportunities for eligible businesses in our area.”
* For all referrals to these programmes please in the first instance contact the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or https://www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk.
£10million boost for skills support in region is warmly welcomed
"This funding will ensure more people are ‘work-ready’ which, in turn, will improve their employability in a number of different sectors.”
More than £10 million in funding will help Warwickshire and the West Midlands to close the skills gap in six key areas to make the region fit for the future when it comes to talent.
The Department for Education has awarded £10,304,523 of Local Skills Improvement Funds (LSIF) to the region – the highest amount for any area of the UK.
The funding is in response to the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), developed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, working alongside Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Black Country Chamber of Commerce, alongside a host of skills providers and firms, and with strategic oversight from West Midlands Combined Authority.
Now the funding is in place, partners across the region, including Warwickshire County Council, will set about delivering on the plan that covers topics vital to the economic growth of the region.
The six key areas are:
- engineering and manufacturing, with a focus on priorities such as electric vehicles and batteries.
- construction, with a focus on low carbon techniques and future housing.
- green skills and how local people can be trained in a key area for the future of the economy.
- high-level digital skills for non-IT businesses looking at new technologies such as AI and machine learning to improve productivity and efficiency.
- essential digital skills to support people with basic IT provision to help either find employment or move up the career ladder.
- Improving the skills landscape for employers by making it much easier for them to understand where to go when they need to access help with training and skills.
Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The announcement of £10.3m Local Skills Improvement Funds for the West Midlands and Warwickshire is one of the biggest in the country and great news for local employers.
“It is also vindication of the brilliant work that has been taking place between businesses across the region and our excellent local providers. Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is proud to have helped deliver this project and it will provide much needed funds for the skills and recruitment issues our businesses need to grow and find new markets.
“Most importantly, this marks the start of a new way of delivering skills funding – putting businesses at the start of the process and using innovative ways of delivery, of focus and of engagement.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are committed to reducing any barriers to growth for businesses, and skills has been identified as one of those, hence all of the work we are doing across the board to develop the skills of residents and also engaging with companies across the county to ascertain their needs.
“This fresh investment will support that effort and help our economy to thrive while, at the same time, ensuring local people are at the heart of that growth.”
Fay Winterburn, Lead Commissioner for Employability and Skills at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “This is extremely positive news for the our county because it is vital that there is the supply of skills that employers want to help the grow. This funding will ensure more people are ‘work-ready’ which, in turn, will improve their employability in a number of different sectors.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “Education providers and partners have been instrumental in the development of our West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plans and recognise the importance of responding to the needs of learners and employers. We welcome this additional funding from the Department for Education which will help bring many of the recommendations from the LSIP to fruition - helping colleges and universities to fulfil their ambitions and take our provision to the next level in the months and years ahead.”
For more information, please go to: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/lsip/
Cleary's Boxing Gym is punching its weight thanks to Small Capital Grant
"Since coming here, our membership has risen by 500 per cent and it’s just opened our eyes to the potential of what we can do – and it couldn’t have happened without the grant from the County Council."
A boxing academy has occupied bigger premises to match its growing role at the heart of the community with support from Warwickshire County Council.
Cleary’s Boxing Gym had outgrown its base in Wise Street, Leamington, so earlier this year took up a 15-year lease on the disused Community Centre in Whitnash.
The business breathed new life into the building with an extensive refurbishment which has made the premises accessible for all users.
Since opening in Whitnash in September, the gym has seen its membership rise from 50 to 250 in two months. People aged from six to 62 are using the facilities, not simply to learn boxing, but to improve fitness and make friends in a safe place.
The new base has enabled the business to take its reach into the community to a new level – and it would not have been possible without a Small Capital Grant from Warwickshire County Council. The grant helped towards the refurbishment and also enabled the purchase of new boxing equipment,
Kurt Canavan, business partner at Cleary’s, said: “The new premises are fantastic. Since coming here, our membership has risen by 500 per cent and it’s just opened our eyes to the potential of what we can do – and it couldn’t have happened without the grant from the County Council.
“We spoke to Ian McFarlane-Toms from the Business Ready programme and he set it all up. Ian put us in touch with the County Council and helped us with the application. Then Louisa Smith at the Council was brilliant, helping us through the process every inch of the way. I think Ian and Louisa both bought into the passion of what we do and that in itself was great to see.
"We are so grateful to the Council, as we are to all the people that supported our crowdfunding effort, because we had to raise a lot of money ourselves, and all the businesses that continue to support us.”
Cleary’s, founded by former professional boxer Edwin Cleary, has a number of highly talented young boxers among its membership, including Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Lewis Williams. It’s welcome, however, extends to all, regardless of boxing ability.
The non-profit gym has an ever-increasing girls section, has links with local school, holds fitness classes and has a strength & conditioning suite and sports massage & physio expertise at its new base. Much of the refurb work was done with skills and money donated by local tradespeople and businesses.
“After Lewis won gold, interest went through the roof,” said Kurt. “What he did was fantastic because it showed kids what can be achieved, but we are far from all about boxing. Some youngsters want to box and be as good as they can be, and our coaches will give them that opportunity. Others just want to get fit or come for the social side of it. Basically, it’s just a space when people can be safe and warm, get fit and make some friends.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “Cleary’s Boxing Gym is a fantastic resource for the local community. Lewis Williams’ bringing a gold medal to Warwickshire was a brilliant achievement but the value of Cleary’s goes far beyond that glory. It helps people every day and I am delighted that one of our Small Capital Grants has helped them to grow.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Campaign urges shoppers to support local businesses this December
Small Business Saturday, on December 2, will bring a welcome lift in profile to businesses across the county as they prepare to make the most of the coming festive season.
Warwickshire County Council is enthusiastically backing Small Business Saturday which dovetails perfectly with the Council’s ongoing ‘Warwickshire Christmas’ campaign.
Small Business Saturday is held annually at this time of year to support and celebrate small businesses and encourage people to 'shop local.' Traders wanting to join the campaign and make the most of the opportunity offered by the day should visit the Small Business Saturday website to download a social media guide, as well as the logo and digital banner to display online, in shop windows or at an SBS event.
Alongside the SBS initiative, The Warwickshire Christmas campaign has returned this year to highlight the high quality businesses in the county’s towns and villages and to encourage customers to shop locally for their gifts.
As part of the campaign, Father Christmas has visited towns and villages all over the county in the last two weeks. He is pictured above at Polesworth where he visited the library for a knit and natter session, picked up fresh fruit and veg and placed an order for Christmas lunch before stopping for a beard trim.
The drive is being supported by a social media campaign by Warwickshire Towns Network, where a festive mix of Warwickshire’s independent shops are being showcased in the run up to the big day.
The campaign directs potential customers to businesses and their gift ideas all over the county and showcases individual towns and villages where residents and visitors can shop.
Warwickshire’s independent businesses, along with other organisations, are being encouraged to get involved by using the hashtag #WarwickshireChristmas and sharing their own Christmas content online. The new campaign follows similar support drives over the last couple of years to help businesses bounce back from both Covid and the subsequent cost of living crisis.
To follow the campaign, please visit @WarksTN on Instagram or like Warwickshire Towns Network on Facebook. Please follow and share using the hashtags: #WarwickshireChristmas #SmallBizSatUK and #SmallBusinessSaturday
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Warwickshire site to play key part in West Midlands Investment Zone
"We look forward to working with partners to design and deliver the support for supply chain and skills that this funding will enable us to deliver."
Warwickshire is set to play a central role in the new “Investment Zone” programme announced by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last week, as part of his Autumn Statement.
The West Midlands will have an Investment Zone focused on advanced manufacturing, linked to creating more than 30,000 jobs and attract £5.5bn of investment over 10 years to 2034. The West Midlands Zone joins another 11 zones in the UK focused on a variety of sectors.
The Chancellor also announced that the funding package for the zone will be increased from £80m to £160m and can be applied over 10 years rather than five as originally proposed. Mr Hunt also revealed a new £150m Investment Opportunity Fund that is set to be available for these zones and freeports for the next five years.
The zone will cover the region but is focused on three specific sites.
* Coventry-Warwickshire Gigapark – anchored by a new battery gigafactory and associated businesses and technologies
* Birmingham Knowledge Quarter – running northeast from Aston University through Duddeston and Nechells to Aston
* Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor – creating new green industries and skills through a partnership between the city council and university.
The zone will benefit from a mix of tax incentives, direct funding and business rate retention. It will focus on driving growth in advanced manufacturing, green industries, health-tech and underlying digital technologies.
The sites within Warwickshire and Coventry will be offered tax relief and business incentives such as funding roads and power facilities, as the larger airport site gears up to land an anchor battery cell manufacturer.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “It’s great news that we now have confirmation that our region will play host to an Investment Zone – incorporating sites from Wolverhampton to Birmingham to Coventry. This will turbo-charge the prospects of some of our key areas of strength including tech, advanced manufacturing, and green industries. Working alongside the outstanding research capabilities of our world-leading universities, this Investment Zone will enhance our ability to attract global companies to our region”.
The West Midlands Investment Zone has the potential to initially attract more than £2bn of new investment into the regional economy and a further £3.5bn over the lifetime of the zone, creating more than 30,000 jobs by 2034.
Investment Zone funding is also expected to support a range of skills and business support programmes across the whole region.
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for Economy, said: “The Chancellor’s announcement last week locks the county and region into the Investment Zone programme, and will help the local area to build on its strong position in terms of battery technology R&D and the automotive supply chain and other nascent applications for battery cell technology. We look forward to working with partners to design and deliver the support for supply chain and skills that this funding will enable us to deliver.
"We are delighted to see the increased funding announced. There is much we can do to build on existing support for local businesses in relevant sectors to grow, to develop our local advanced engineering and manufacturing sites, and to harness the strength of our university and R&D eco-system to attract new supply chain here from overseas, making the most of our strong track record in Foreign Direct Investment attraction”.
Supported Internships provide career springboard for Rhiannon and Matthew
“In Warwickshire we are fully committed to working in partnership with education settings and local employers to expand the opportunities for young people with additional needs so they can access high-quality supported internships."
Rhiannon, aged 26, and Matthew, aged 21, have embarked on their journey towards promising careers after completing a life-changing supported internship programme with The Heart of England Forest.
Supported internships are study programmes specifically tailored for young people, aged 16 to 24, with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). By providing vital work-based learning opportunities, they can help young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) take their first steps towards embarking on a rewarding career.
Warwickshire County Council works in partnership with local colleges, special schools and young people to select suitable placements and to provide ongoing support for the young person and business host throughout the internship and the early stages of any ongoing careers.
The Heart of England Forest’s ten-month supported internship programme has been carefully thought out to provide excellent opportunities for the interns to develop valuable hands-on skills alongside gaining relevant qualifications by completing a personalised study programme.
Interns work with the different teams across the Forest completing three rotations during their placement. This allows them to gain a wide range of skills such as learning how to cultivate trees from seed, assisting the head gardener to maintain the Forest’s private sculpture garden and developing people skills by supporting the Forest’s regular volunteering sessions and school groups.
Throughout their placement, Rhiannon and Matthew received one-to-one support from a designated member of the Heart of England Forest team and were guided by an expert job coach to help them carry out tasks and develop their employability skills. When their placement ended in June 2022, they both received support to apply for jobs with the charity and are now enjoying the benefits of full-time employment working as Tree Nursery Assistants.
The Heart of England Forest has continued to support young people into employment following this initial success, with another two interns recently being taken on as paid employees after completing the programme in June 2023.
Harrison, one of the new employees, said: “The forest is calm and everybody is friendly. I like that it’s work-based and no reading and writing and I like being able to use my practical skills that I couldn’t in school.”
With only 4.8% of adults aged 18-64 with a learning disability securing permanent paid employment in the UK, compared to 80% of their peers, supported internship programmes, such as the one offered by The Heart of England Forest, are vital.
Thanks to a grant of £105,000 from the National Development Team for Inclusion, Warwickshire County Council is working with partners to improve opportunities for young people to access community-based supported internships across the county. This includes the development of a clear pathway and a suite of new guidance to support young people, parents and carers, business hosts and schools and colleges in understanding how to access and deliver high-quality supported internships with the aim of this leading to lifelong employment.
Councillor Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education said: “In Warwickshire we are fully committed to working in partnership with education settings and local employers to expand the opportunities for young people with additional needs so they can access high-quality supported internships, if this is a route they choose after leaving school or college.
“I am thrilled to see the fantastic achievements of Rhiannon, Matt and Harrison, who have worked hard with the support from The Heart of England Forest team and their job coaches to take their first steps into paid employment, and I would like to wish them all every success in their future careers.”
“I hope that with the development of our supported internships offer in Warwickshire that we will see many more young people set out on this exciting path to a promising career and to fulfilling their potential.”
Warwickshire County Council is keen to hear from other young people, parents and carers and businesses, about their experiences of supported internships. If you have would like to share your story, please get in touch at sendchange@warwickshire.gov.uk.
You can find more Information on Supported Internship opportunities across the county by visiting the college websites below:
More information about post-16 education and training for those with SEND is available on Warwickshire’s SEND Local Offer
Major investment in WCC business centres will help more SMEs
"SMEs are the backbone of our economy and we hope our refurbished centres will continue to help these businesses grow and lead to further employment opportunities.”
A major investment in business centres owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council to help small and medium-sized businesses flourish has nearly completed its first stage.
A seven-figure sum has been spent on refurbishments in the first stage of the project at the eight sites throughout the county which have over 250,000 sq ft of commercial space available for businesses in a vast array of sectors.
Around 200 SMEs are located at Eliot Park Innovation Centre, Centenary Business Centre, Pool Road Business Centre and Bermuda Innovation Centre in Nuneaton, Holly Walk House in Leamington, Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre and Great Central Way in Rugby and Smallbrook Business Centre in Bidford-on-Avon.
A modern business lounge has been created at Eliot Park Innovation Centre in Barling Way along with a communal meeting area featuring a kitchen, settees, and television for staff at the companies to meet and relax.
The reception areas at the Centenary Business Centre, Eliot Park Innovation Centre and Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre are to be revamped to provide a brighter welcome for businesses and their customers.
Warwickshire County Council’s Holly Walk House, on Brandon Parade, has been refurbished with around 5,500 sq ft of office accommodation being transformed over three floors to create high-quality office suites which are 50 per cent let after opening in July.
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, said this investment highlighted its commitment to providing high-quality office space for SMEs in Warwickshire to grow.
“Our business centres are located throughout Warwickshire so that SMEs don’t have far to travel to their local site,” he said. “We have embarked on a major refurbishment programme to refresh our sites as more and more people are looking for their first professional offices after starting their venture at home or for those wanting to expand further.
“We have a wide range of units available in all sizes to meet demand, and there is a real community spirit among the businesses at all the centres with many doing business with each other. SMEs are the backbone of our economy and we hope our refurbished centres will continue to help these businesses grow and lead to further employment opportunities.”
Luke Pulford, Business Centres Manager for Warwickshire County Council, said the centres wanted to offer a flexible modern way of working.
“The refurbishment programme is designed to support our local, growing businesses and continue to foster a community within each site,” he said. "The new communal spaces are not only a place for staff to meet other businesses but an opportunity for us to hold events throughout the year, whether it is supporting a charity coffee morning or wellness activities.
“The new business lounge at Eliot Park Innovation Centre has been really well received and companies that are not located here can also hire it out for meetings, which is really useful because of our location near the major motorway links and the fact we have plenty of free parking.”
For more information about Warwickshire County Council's Business Centres, please email lukepulford@warwickshire.gov.uk
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Fact-finding visit will help shape council's support for businesses
“It was fascinating to see their cutting-edge machines in action and find out more about a business which is continually investing in its growth, technology and skills."
A Warwickshire councillor who spearheads the local authority’s support of the business community has visited an aerospace supplier to see first-hand its continued growth.
Cllr Martin Watson was appointed Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place last year to help the county’s business community.
He visited ASG Arrowsmith Engineering on the Bayton Road Industrial Estate in Exhall, which had 14 per cent growth last year, to meet Managing Director Jason Aldridge to find out more about the business which manufactures bespoke precision components for customers across the world.
The 56-year-old business has added to its state-of-the-art machinery by investing in an automated manufacturing machine and a precision-driven lathe to enhance its five-axis machining centre and automatic pallet changer. ASG Arrowsmith Engineering has also appointed an apprentice and two interns to add to its 60-strong workforce.
Arrowsmith is also a key member of the 11-member company Coventry & Warwickshire Aerospace Forum (CWAF), which facilitates collaboration between the local SME aerospace supply chain. The aerospace industry is a key part of the local future mobility supply chain, and includes large OEMs like Meggitt and Rolls-Royce Aerospace, and together employs several thousand people across the city and county.
Cllr Watson said it had been a really interesting and informative visit and he hopes to organise more fact-finding trips.
“I enjoy getting out and about the county to meet a wide range of businesses in different sectors and of different sizes,” he said. “There is a great deal of enterprising businesses who are innovators in their sector which is highlighted by Arrowsmith Engineering, who are leaders in the aerospace supply chain and is a strategic supplier to the likes of Rolls-Royce and Airbus.
“It was fascinating to see their cutting-edge machines in action and find out more about a business which is continually investing in its growth, technology and skills.
“Apprenticeships are really important since they provide training for young people looking to pursue a career in engineering and manufacturing, as well as improving their day-to-day learning and skills which will prove crucial in the short and long-term.”
Jason Aldridge, of ASG Arrowsmith Engineering, said the aerospace supply chain was buoyant after bouncing back from the pandemic.
He said: “It was great to meet Cllr Watson and tell him about our future plans for the business, as well as our investments in our workforce and machinery.
“The new machinery means we can deliver rapid, high-precision aerospace parts which has revolutionised the way we work, and has led to securing major contracts for a renowned global aero-engine manufacturer.
“It underlines our commitment to investing in our staff as well because it is vital that we train our workforce to the highest levels for their personal development, and to contribute to the future success of our business and the wider industry.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
College to boost maths skills for Warwickshire workers
Employees based in Warwickshire are set to benefit from help to improve their maths skills after a local college won a bid to deliver training in the workplace.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) has been awarded £200,000 as part of the Government-funded ‘Multiply’ campaign to support individuals whose first language is not English to learn ‘the language of maths’.
Karen Bailey, Learning & Skills Manager for Maths and English at NWSLC said: “We often hear from businesses that their employees struggle with maths at work because they don’t understand the terminology. Our mission is to improve their knowledge so that they can successfully engage with work tasks where numeracy is key, from weights and measures to timekeeping and health and safety.
"The skills they gain will also help them in everyday life, to assist their children with homework and do their household budgeting.”
The maths and English team at NWSLC will work with individuals on the Multiply campaign and help them to progress on to achieve qualifications in maths that could unlock job opportunities or lead to higher pay. Students could also follow courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or take GCSEs in maths and English in college.
Karen added, “We have already seen huge success with this programme over the last year when we delivered similar training for Delifrance and Burts Snacks. All the training is timetabled around the working day and our team can accommodate shift patterns. Our delivery is highly flexible, and we will work with each employer to establish the best delivery model for their teams.
“We find that training groups who work together helps them to break down barriers to learning and support each other as they grow their skills. Ultimately, our aim is to make a positive impact on individuals and businesses as they see an improvement in productivity.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy, said, “Poor numeracy skills can hold people back from having the confidence to get on in life and into the world of work. We are very pleased to work with our partners across the county to really address local numeracy needs and make sure that, if adults have barriers to getting on and prospering in the workplace, we can help to overcome them.”
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract for Multiply which will help so many businesses and individuals across Warwickshire to gain the essential employability skills they need to progress with their careers.”
Business interested in taking part in the scheme should email multiply@nwslc.ac.uk. The training is due to be delivered by March 2025.
Ryton Pools cafe offers exciting opportunity
Entrepreneurs have an exciting opportunity to turn their passion for hospitality into a rewarding business venture at the relaunched café at Ryton Pools Country Park.
Warwickshire County Council, which runs the park, is inviting applications to launch the new, refreshed café at the heart of the idyllic Ryton Pools setting that attracts over 180,000 visitors each year.
Ryton Pools Country Park, in Bubbenhall, is a hidden gem offering a perfect blend of natural beauty and recreational activities. Its sprawling greenery, serene lakes and picturesque walking trails have made it a beloved destination for families, nature enthusiasts and fitness seekers alike.
The operator of the new café will not only work in this lovely environment but also become an integral part of the supportive business environment within Warwickshire Country Parks.
Warwickshire County Council is committed to fostering a thriving business community within the county and aims to connect entrepreneurs with unique opportunities to contribute to the local economy. One such opportunity is managing the café at Ryton Pools Country Park.
The park is a well-known destination, drawing visitors throughout the year to provide the café with a steady stream of customers. Additionally, Warwickshire Country Parks publishes a monthly newsletter and boasts over 45,000 followers across various social media channels, promoting concessions and activities to a broad audience.
Ryton Pools Country Park is more than just a park - it is a community hub which engages with local residents, park-goers and event attendees to create lasting connections that contribute to the success of the business. Running the café there is not just a business venture; it is an opportunity to become an integral part of a thriving community. The café has become a destination for locals and visitors alike and has the potential for much more growth.
Developing Future Skills in Warwickshire – podcast episode
It is estimated that by 2050, four out of five jobs in the UK will be supporting the transition to net zero.
The latest episode of the Sustainable Warwickshire podcast features Dr Ben Silverstone, Associate Professor and Head of the WMG Skills Unit at the University of Warwick, and Louise Stolz, Business Skills Support Officer in Warwickshire County Council's Economy and Skills team. Together, they discuss the change needed to develop a workforce with the future skills to deliver on net zero ambitions, the opportunities for individuals and the economy and what support is already available for businesses in Warwickshire.
You can listen to this and previous episodes by searching for Sustainable Warwickshire on Spotify or Apple, or by visiting: https://sustainablewarwickshire.podbean.com/
Monster grows following Digital Creative Fund grant
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of Warwickshire County Council...it opens up an exciting opportunity now for us to market our additional capabilities."
A Warwickshire agency that delivers creative events around the world has secured a five-figure grant to aid its expansion plans.
Purple Monster, which is based in a studio on Wharf Street in Warwick, has been awarded a £30,000 match-funded grant from Warwickshire County Council from its Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund.
It means that the business has invested a total of £60,000 to fund three 3D cameras and editing software, alongside investing in the firm’s own digital marketing to secure new business leads.
The investment in the new, high-tech cameras in particular will help Purple Monster to build on its expertise of helping organisations to deliver key messages in an engaging way, by diversifying into areas such as creating TV commercials at its Warwick studio.
Alan Heap is one of the Founding Directors of Purple Monster, which was formed back in 1995 and now has an annual turnover of £1 million, employing around ten staff.
Alan said: “Opening our first ever filming studio two years ago around the time of the pandemic – which Warwickshire County Council also helped to part fund - has really laid the foundations for the future of the business.
“While it helped us to weather the Covid storm financially by hosting events virtually, it has now spawned additional growth opportunities to use the studio in slightly different ways with new equipment such as the 3D cameras. The significance of the new equipment means that we can now recreate any TV studio setting that is required, which can be viewed by an audience anywhere in the world.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of Warwickshire County Council, and it opens up an exciting opportunity now for us to market our additional capabilities.
“Historically many of our clients have been big-name brands – such as Mondelēz International, BP, Kraft Heinz and Coventry Building Society - but we are now striking a healthy balance of supporting local businesses too, which bodes well for the future.”
The Warwickshire Digital Creative Recovery Co-Investment Fund will deliver over £450,000 in grants to small and micro-sized digital creative businesses in Warwickshire, to help with product development and accelerate growth.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, added: “Warwickshire County Council recognises the vital role that local businesses play in creating a vibrant, growing economy, and is committed to supporting SMEs to pursue growth opportunities where possible.
“It’s great to hear about the difference that the grant is making to Purple Monster, and how it is also helping them to support other businesses in the area for the benefit of the local economy too.
“They are a great example of what can be achieved by exploring the professional support that is out there, and I would urge other businesses to get in touch with the team to find out what support is on offer to them.”
To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.
Hams Hall take prestigious Manufacturer MX Award
BMW Group Plant at Hams Hall in north Warwickshire was among the winners at the prestigious 2023 Manufacturer MX Awards.
The Manufacturer MX Awards, organised in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, are widely considered the gold standard in industry awards and are the only peer-reviewed and judged programme of their kind for UK manufacturing.
The judges were impressed by the numerous advancements at BMW’s Hams Hall plant. These include the integration of digital team boards, real-time data collection and the utilisation of smart maintenance practices, including the deployment of a cutting-edge four-legged robot.
The seamless linkage of various digital tools and systems via the plant's ‘digital twin’ for enhanced transparency led the judges to honour the plant with the coveted Smart Factory award.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson recently visited the plant, near Coleshill, and saw at first hand the recent investment in digital smart factory technology, including the including a cutting-edge four-legged dog-like robot, as well as the new Vee-manufacturing line.
“I found my visit to BMW’s Hams Hall plant fascinating and was hugely impressed by the advances being made there,” Cllr Watson said. “I am not surprised in the least that this has been rewarded by a prestigious national award.
“At Warwickshire County Council, we are committed to offering all the support we can to businesses large and small within our county and we are proud to have this flagship BMW plant, the largest manufacturing plant in Warwickshire, with all the skills and employment opportunities that it brings.”
Business Finance Week focuses on all support offered by WCC
Warwickshire County Council's comprehensive range of support to the business community was highlighted by a series of articles published during Business Finance Week (November 6-10).
The national Business Finance Week 2023 campaign was hosted by the British Business Bank along with several partners from across the UK. Warwickshire County Council was pleased to participate.
Each day had a different theme and WCC illustrated each topic by publishing a case study of how they offer support in the respective area.
Jon Stead, WCC Business Growth & Support Manager, said: "We were delighted to join in with the activities of Business Finance Week, a very welcome national campaign designed to underline the amount of support that exists for business communities across the country.
"In Warwickshire, the County Council is continually working to support businesses in every way we can, both with our own bespoke projects and in collaboration with our partners in the region. I would urge all businesses, whatever their needs, to visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businesssupport to see how we could provide support."
WCC's Business Finance Week themes were:
Monday 6th: Taking your first step: Starting your business with finance...
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4705/lce-fund-gives-warwickshire-s-small-businesses-a-boost
Tuesday 7th: Growing your business: Exploring finance options for growth...
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4716/small-businesses-in-warwickshire-reap-benefits-of-funding-scheme
Wednesday 8th: Thriving with finance: Unlocking your working capital...
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4722/warwickshire-s-businesses-can-benefit-from-the-business-investment-and-growth-big-fund
Thursday 9th: Unlocking innovation: Building the business of tomorrow...
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4734/warwickshire-county-council-has-successfully-held-a-second-round-of-its-highly-successful-digital-creative-recovery-grant-scheme
Friday 10th: What next? Business finance is just the start...
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4733/up-to-7-5million-will-be-injected-into-businesses-in-coventry-and-warwickshire-as-part-of-a-new-investment-programme
Warwickshire's strength in technology showcased at Global Investment Summit
On Monday 27th November, the UK hosted the 2023 Global Investment Summit (GIS) focused on attracting investment into the UK, and building on a similar event in 2022.
The event, at Hampton Court Palace, showcased £29.5bn of new and recently announced investment into the UK, with an audience including global CEOs and investors. These included Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, Amanda Blanc at Aviva, David Soloman from Goldman Sachs and Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase. It was followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Majesty the King.
There was a focus on fast growing and innovative sectors in the UK, including advanced technologies, life sciences, infrastructure and renewable energy. Recent investments cited included BMW and TATA, which are making large investments in the county as well as elsewhere.
Presenting a keynote speech at the event, the Prime Minister said: ‘Attracting global investment is at the heart of my plan for growing the economy. With new funding pouring into key industries like clean energy, life sciences and advanced technology, inward investment is creating high-quality new jobs and driving growth right across the country’.
The summit coincided with the launch of the online Global Investment Atlas 2023 aimed at the delegation and for use by Department for Business & Trade staff around the world to make use of going forwards.
New entries for this year include information on ‘Net Zero Transport Technologies in the West Midlands’ which puts a strong focus on the new Investment Zone West Midlands Gigapark, and MIRA South Site near Nuneaton.
Also developed in time for the event was the profile ‘Connected and Immersive Technologies for Future Mobility in Coventry & Warwickshire,’ promoting the software and enabling technologies for human-machine interface in vehicles, both in the design process and use by consumers in finished vehicles. Warwickshire has a unique offer in the UK, given the clustering of vehicle design and engineering businesses located here, and the number of OEMs based here or operating R&D facilities.
Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council was also recently successful in securing up to £7.5million from Innovate UK to be injected into local businesses as part of a new investment programme to drive local innovation and business growth, and this opportunity is also featured in the new profile. The Immersive and Creative Technologies Launchpad programme, funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will build on the region’s existing strengths in video game development and other emerging technologies.
The GIS Summit celebrated 12,000 jobs linked to the investment announcements made on the day, and follows the government’s new £4.5 billion Advanced Manufacturing Plan, the £2 billion investment from Nissan in Sunderland, new Investment Zones including the West Midlands Gigapark, and £12 million in funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge to the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG at the University of Warwick to create the new Advanced Materials Battery Industrialisation Centre (AMBIC).
Last year 11,000 jobs were created from inward investment in the Midlands, and with over 50 successful projects, Coventry & Warwickshire was the leading destination in the Midlands per capita.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The GIS Summit is another opportunity for the UK to showcase the great businesses and talent here, and key sectors where the UK has an opportunity for growth and new employment. The Net Zero and Connected and Immersive pitches will help showcase the great offer presented in the county of Warwickshire in the area of future mobility and enabling software technologies”.
Economic growth must benefit all communities, conference hears
"All the growth that we achieve has to support local people with the challenges they are facing.”
Coventry and Warwickshire can lead the way in ensuring economic growth benefits all communities across the region, a major conference has heard.
More than 250 businesspeople and decision-makers attended Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business & Economic Conference at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The conference theme of ‘Doing Business with Purpose’ shone through the event, from the opening address from Chamber chief executive Corin Crane through to a powerful keynote speech from broadcaster Clive Myrie.
Myrie praised Coventry and Warwickshire for its long-running leadership when it comes to diversity – from Lady Godiva through to 2Tone music – before talking about his own background and career.
Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council, and Julie Nugent, chief executive of Coventry City Council, described how the region is stronger when it works together. They outlined how that partnership will be even more crucial in the coming months and years to grow the economy and offer more opportunities to all in the city and county.
“These are challenging times and that’s why the relationship between the county of Warwickshire and the city of Coventry is so important,” said Monica. “It is great that it is currently stronger than ever.
“Despite the challenges, there has been positive news for our regional economy. For example, foreign direct investment into our area is up 24 per cent against a national average of four per cent. Coventry and Warwickshire is seen as a good place to invest and do business.
“We know our strengths and we have to play to them and that is why Warwickshire County Council is working with partners such as Coventry City Council and the WMCA to create thousands of jobs – highly skilled jobs – to deliver what our economy needs.
“We have to work in partnership, there is no other way we will secure the growth we need. The theme for this conference is ‘Doing Business With Purpose’ and that is exactly right. All the growth that we achieve has to support local people with the challenges they are facing.”
A panel session on the current economic climate was chaired by Margot James and heard from Steve Harcourt (Prime Accountants Group), Katie Trout (West Midlands Growth Company), Anna Bright (Sustainability West Midlands), Roger Scott (Lloyds Banking Group), and Carol Thomas (Coventry College), They talked about the challenges faced by businesses and also how the region’s economy can be driven forward in areas such as digitisation and sustainable innovation.
Fleur Sexton DL (PET-Xi) chaired a Future Fit Workforce panel with contributions from Annette Hay (Belgrade Theatre/DMU), Kevin Davis (The Vine Trust), Dr Isabella Moore (Olderpreneur Alliance) and Daveena Saranna (Electric Zoo). A series of Chamber partners exhibited at the event, including Aston University: Centre for Growth, West Midlands Trains, Destination Coventry, Transformation Space, WCG and Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training.
Corin said: “The speakers were great and our panel sessions were really thought-provoking. Doing Business With Purpose was our theme for the day and it’s something that is very close to my heart and, from what we heard, I believe Coventry and Warwickshire can really lead the way on ensuring business and economic growth benefits every community across our great city and county.”
Access Programme will help those who help others
"By providing access to essential finance, we are not just offering monetary aid; we are investing in the resilience and sustainability of the very fabric of our society."
A new funding programme to help charities and social enterprises in the West Midlands expand their services to support even more people in the cost-of-living crisis has been launched.
The Access Programme which is funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment working in collaboration with the Coventry & Warwickshire CDA and Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) – provides grants and loans to organisations who have vast experience in helping people affected by the current economic problems.
The project is aimed at charities and social enterprises who are wanting to create or help grow an income generating arm of the business, to become more sustainable within the community. They must be based in Coventry, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.
The Access Programme will offer a variety of support including grants ranging from £5,000 to £7,500; a combined loan and grant from £20,000 to £40,000; a one-hour online session with Coventry & Warwickshire CDA; and an opportunity to join a Peer-to-Peer Network with similar organisations who are also making a real difference in each area and to develop new connections.
Charities and social enterprises who may be eligible could already be providing emergency shelters, food and emergency supplies such as food and baby banks or providing hot meals, safe spaces, warm rooms or financial and housing advice because of the increased cost-of-living.
CWRT, which is a specialist finance and business support provider, is working alongside Coventry & Warwickshire CDA to deliver the grants and loans.
Sheridan Sulskis, CEO of CWRT, said: “Amidst the challenges posed by the current cost-of-living crisis, we are proud to announce the launch of the Access Programme, which provides essential support and finance to social enterprises and charities that serve as lifelines for our communities.
“We understand the vital role these organisations play, especially in times of economic uncertainty. By providing access to essential finance, we are not just offering monetary aid; we are investing in the resilience and sustainability of the very fabric of our society.
“Together, we will weather these storms, bolstering the foundations of our communities and ensuring that support reaches those who need it the most. We invite eligible social enterprises and charities to join us in this endeavour, as we work hand-in-hand to create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.”
Mandy Bygrave from Coventry & Warwickshire CDA added: "This new fund offers a great opportunity for West Midlands organisations to support their work to help communities under pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.”
To find out more about Access Programme call 02476 551 777 or visit: www.cwrt.uk.com/access-programme
Businesses can help make Christmas special for vulnerable children
Child-Friendly Warwickshire aims to make the county the best place for children and young people to grow up and learn. This initiative helps children by listening to them, keeping them safe, happy, and healthy, and giving them skills for a better future.
Generous donations of Christmas gifts from organisations and Warwickshire County Council staff have made a significant impact in previous years, supporting vulnerable children and young people in Warwickshire. We are reaching out for your generosity once again this year.
Christmas gifts can be dropped off by Friday 8 December to: Saltisford office park, Ansell Way, Warwick, CV34 4UL (Building 3, ground floor)
The County Council supports children and young people of all ages and have provided a suggested gift list that might support you with ideas:
- 0-3 years old: Soft toys, dolls, teddy bears, puzzles, bath toys
- 3-5 years: Dolls and action figures, cars, tractors, lorries, story books, DVDs and CDs, arts and crafts, puzzles
- 5-9 years old: Board games, age related toys and dolls/action figures, arts and crafts, CDs & family friendly DVDs, books, puzzles, hair accessories, wordsearch, clothing
- 9-12 years old: Games and toys, arts and crafts, DVDs, books, clothing, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats, puzzles
- 13-18 (& up to 25) years old: Gift vouchers (Amazon), books, make-up, perfume, aftershave, toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), clothing and hair accessories
Donations of items such as boxes of chocolates, selection boxes, biscuits, wrapping paper and sellotape can also be taken to the drop-off location.
Every gesture, no matter how small, contributes to building a community that cares for its children. Through Child-Friendly Warwickshire we want to ensure that every child can experience a childhood filled with joy, safety, and opportunity.
Warwickshire County Council is calling on individuals and organisations across the community to join the Child-Friendly Warwickshire programme. More than 160 individuals and organisations have become 'friends' of Child-Friendly Warwickshire, showing their commitment to helping children thrive.
The programme needs the support of everyone to ensure every child, no matter their background, has the chance to flourish in all aspects of their lives.
If you wish to donate gifts or a collection of donations but are unable to drop them off at our locations, we would be happy to arrange collections in December. Please get in touch to discuss this further!
To find out more, visit Child-Friendly Warwickshire. https://www.childfriendlywarwickshire.co.uk/
Talk Up Our Towns
Warwick's sense of enterprise spans the centuries
This is a town with global appeal and a true sense of local togetherness...
On September 5th, 1694, The Great Fire of Warwick rampaged along High Street and Jury Street, destroying much of the town centre. The horrific event, thankfully without loss of life, caused devastation, rendered hundreds of people homeless and left the town in shock.
The people of Warwick, and its business community, however, have always been a resilient, enterprising lot and they swiftly did two things. They banned thatched rooves from the town with immediate effect. And they came up with a plan to attract people back to Warwick after it was rebuilt.
“What we need,” they decided, “is a visitor attraction.” So, they laid out Warwick Racecourse on St Mary’s Lands on the south-west side of town.
Good plan. So good that its success still resonates today. More than 300 years later, Warwick Racecourse remains integral to the economy of the town.
That robust spirit of 1694 also still beats strong. There has been no Great Fire in recent years, but Covid, Brexit, recession and rising costs combined have brought severe challenges to the town’s traders. The response of those traders – from Warwick Castle with its 750,000 visitors per year and the world-famous racecourse (the sixth oldest in the world), to small independents like Warwick Sports and Torry’s - has been as one: Let’s pull together to move forward.
Tommy Williams, general manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: “We are incredibly proud to be associated with a racecourse so steeped in history, but it’s not easy to balance caring for such an old site with making it profitable. Our ageing buildings require constant maintenance, some with listed status which makes refurbishment and improvement even harder, so there must be a fine balance between what we can do and how we best utilise the facilities.
“But we are hugely enthusiastic about the local community and being a key stakeholder within the town. It is imperative that businesses in Warwick work together. We were delighted to host the excellent Warwickshire Towns Network Conference again this year and are keen to help promote not only the town but the area as a whole. The more we can encourage tourism and help businesses, the greater prospects for a thriving local economy.”
Tourism is one engine behind that economy. Another is the town’s appealing array of independent shops which make it a true foundation economy. Ninety per cent of shops in the town centre and on elegant Smith Street (the oldest trading centre of Warwick) are independent. Many are longstanding.
Warwick Sports has equipped the town’s athletes since 1979 when husband and wife John and Ray Hammond went into a sports shop in Bournemouth and came out with an idea.
The shop was owned by former professional footballer Ted MacDougall and he told them, ‘you’ll never make a fortune running a sports shop, but you’ll make a living.’
Three months later, they opened Warwick Sports, in Swan Street, and the family firm is still thriving. Ray is still involved and daughter Andrea is the manager.
“We’ve come through three recessions and a pandemic and are still going strong,” Andrea said. “There were times when we had to put money in, but it was worth it. Warwick is so lovely and we now have generations of customers. It’s great that so many people choose to come to Warwick.”
Andrea echoes the view of Tommy Williams that a collective approach is the best way forward.
“There is a great vibe among the town’s businesses right now,” she said. “These are exciting times with the proactive approach from Warwick Castle. Liam Bartlett, general manager at the castle, is keen to get involved and that is the way forward - businesses big and small of all kinds all pulling together.”
Warwick Castle’s involvement is hugely welcome. The castle has long helped power the local economy, from the Earls of Warwick filling the Warwick Arms (opened in 1591 and still open!) with guests they couldn’t squeeze into the castle, to its acquisition by Tussauds in the 1990s, to today when, owned by Merlin Entertainment, it attracts visitors from around the world. Last week the Castle hosted a meeting of Warwick Chamber of Trade in its Great Hall. This is a town with global appeal and a true sense of local togetherness.
Warwickshire County Council is proud to be part of the collective effort but also sees the importance of taking a leading role at times. In 2022, for The Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham, Warwick’s Market Square hosted a festival site, which offered sporting action on the big screen and a range of activities designed to increase dwell time in the town. The site, curated and managed by WCC, was furnished with artificial grass, deckchairs and bunting and offered residents and visitors an engaging space to take in the action. It also enabled local sports clubs to engage with residents as part of the CWG legacy.
The local climax of the Games was the cycling road race through Warwick, watched by thousands of spectators lining the streets and millions more on screens across the world. Australia’s Georgia Baker took the gold medal but Warwick emphatically took gold too for having been such a creative, warm and welcoming host to competitors and spectators alike.
Castle commitment fortifies Chamber's mission to move forward together
"We have to work together to make Warwick, the town and the castle attractive. If the destination of Warwick as a whole is appealing, then people will want to come and come back and stay overnight."
‘Let’s move forward together,’ was the unanimous message when businesses gathered for a meeting at the invitation of Warwick Castle earlier this month.
Liam Bartlett, general manager at Warwick Castle, invited Warwick Chamber of Trade to hold its November meeting in the Great Hall at the Castle.
The invitation underlined Liam’s, and the Castle’s, commitment to integrate with all other businesses in Warwick to maximise the town’s tourist appeal and tackle the challenges of 2023, not least the struggle to recruit in the hospitality sector.
The Castle, owned by Merlin Entertainments, receives 750,000 visitors a year and is one of the UK’s most enduringly popular attractions. However, with an annual outlay of around £500,000 in heritage restoration alone, it requires careful management to remain profitable – and is far from immune to the challenges which face smaller businesses in the town.
“There are a lot of common factors,” Liam said. “Recruitment, for example - it is just as hard for us to recruit 50 staff for our performance teams as it is for a smaller bar or restaurant to recruit the personnel they need. All of us in hospitality share that challenge and there are some easy wins for us where we can support each other with that. For example, at the Castle we are good at training and supporting people who can then go off and do other jobs.
“For us to integrate with the town is probably the most important factor for us, going forward. As a single attraction, it’s impossible to grow in isolation. We have to work together to make Warwick, the town and the castle attractive. If the destination of Warwick as a whole is appealing, then people will want to come and come back and stay overnight.
“I was really happy to host the meeting and it was great that so many businesses attended. Hopefully it is the start of a really strong relationship where everyone understands that we are very much part of the town.”
That commitment from the Castle is very much appreciated by the Chamber of Trade which works constantly to promote the town for all its businesses.
“We are looking to create a business community that can support each other,” said chairman Sue Butcher. “We are grateful for all the support we receive from Warwickshire County Council and Warwick Town Council and now that Warwick Castle wants to be deeply involved is a huge plus. It was a great meeting hosted by Lian and with the involvement of big attractions like the Castle, the Racecourse and the Lord Leycester Hospital, as a Chamber we are rejuvenated.
“We are so lucky to have these assets on our doorstep and we really need to make the most of them.”
The meeting followed on from a very well-attended and productive stakeholder workshop hosted by Warwickshire County Council's Towns Network team in early October. The session was held at the newly renovated Lord Leycester hospital and saw 55 local stakeholders get together to talk all things Warwick.
Aaron Corsi, Warwickshire County Council's Lead Commissioner for Place, Projects and Partnerships, said: "The County Council warmly welcomes the collective approach being taken by the businesses of Warwick and will support them in every way we can. There was a really positive vibe to the stakeholder workshop with an open and honest discussion about the towns strengths weaknesses and any barriers to change.
"The objective is to create a shared understanding and plan of action to make Warwick even more welcoming and attractive to both residents locally and visitors from further afield and by working together we can definitely make that happen."
Rejuvenated Lord Leycester Hospital
“The support we have received from many sources has been phenomenal. That has enabled us to not only preserve the ancient buildings but also make them appealing and relevant to visitors in 2023 and for many years to come."
If you have been around since the year 1126, the chances are, by the 21st century, you could do with a little bit of TLC.
The Lord Leycester Hospital has stood on High Street, Warwick, for that long…and TLC is exactly what the venerable site has just received. A £4.5m repair and restoration project has left it equipped for visitors for many years to come.
The results of the work, which took place during a 20-month closure, are spectacular. The historic glory of the Grade 1-listed buildings remains but with a modernised outlook, offering much improved access, an informative visitor experience and new café and gift shop.
At a time of recession, £4.5million was a substantial investment, principally from the National Lottery Heritage Fund with local donations, including from Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council. Thanks to that collective effort, much essential work has been done with heating, lighting and ventilation upgraded, significantly improving sustainability and reducing costs.
But the hard work very much goes on. It has simply entered a new phase: to vindicate all that expense, effort and expertise by making the Lord Leycester cost-effective into the future.
The early signs are good. Since reopening in August, visitor numbers have been excellent, a promising start which supports the findings of an Economic Impact Report drawn up by Warwickshire County Council’s Economy & Skills team for the Master of the Lord Leycester, Heidi Meyer. The strategy is that an improved Visitor Attraction in Warwick will attract a greater number of tourists to the town.
That report predicted that the investment would be justified by the improvements’ impact on both the Lord Leycester Hospital itself and the wider local economy.
“Warwickshire County Council has been very much involved in what has happened here,” said Heidi. “They supported us with a £30,000 grant but their involvement goes back right to the start of the project.
“We knew that it would be a major project. A lot of work, requiring substantial investment, was needed, so I worked with the County Council to draw up an Economic Impact Report. That report was favourable. It found that a rejuvenated Lord Leycester would have a very positive effect on the local economy, generating an estimated £3million/year. That gave us the confidence to go ahead and gave us good indicators to present to the Lottery and national funders. The report was an integral part of all our applications for funding.”
The Hospital, which houses eight “brethren” (former service personnel who live on site as their predecessors have for centuries) has been renewed and refreshed. Now Master Meyer and the Lord Leycester team are embracing the business challenges of returning the attraction to public life after a 20-month absence.
“The Lord Leycester is one of the jewels in the crown of Warwick’s tourism offer and visitors numbers since we reopened have been great,” Meyer said. “But we need to keep that going. We need to be financially self-sustaining from now on. That is the challenge to everyone here. “
“The bottom line is footfall. We have to get people through the door and, while tourists from across the UK and the world are an important part of that, it is local support - residents, groups, businesses - that we really need to boost footfall figures. “
“It is amazing how many people come here and say, ‘I didn’t know this was here!’ We are an independent charity, not National Trust or English Heritage so not part of their literature. Many people don’t know about us and many businesses don’t know about our café which is open to everyone not just ticket holders, our Great Hall and our Guild Hall which can be hired for meetings or training.”
Six full-time jobs have been created to support the galvanised Lord Leycester which hosts tours, talks, music performances, family days and school and cubs visits. Throughout almost a millennium at the heart of Warwick, the Lord Leycester Hospital has been deeply embedded in its community…never more than now. Working with local charities, the hospital offers wellbeing activities to support veterans, people with disabilities and people experiencing mental health issues.
“The support we have received from many sources has been phenomenal,” said Meyer. “That has enabled us to not only preserve the ancient buildings but also make them appealing and relevant to visitors in 2023 and for many years to come.
“We are so proud of the Hospital, which is as integral to the heritage of Warwick as the castle – it is from here that the Guilds provided civic governance to the town. Our message to businesses and people all around us is simple…come and share this wonderful place and help us protect the future of one of the most important medieval sites in Britain right here in Warwick.”