Latest news-in-brief...
9.9 million day trips made to South Warks, new research reveals
Fresh tourism figures have revealed that more than 9.9 million day trips were made to south Warwickshire in 2024 – marking a 12 per cent rise compared to 2023. That’s despite the overall volume of day visits across Great Britain decreasing by 12 per cent versus 2023. The total monetary value that tourism brought to south Warwickshire in 2024 also exceeded £860 million - a 9.6 per cent increase on 2023 and a 6.8 per cent increase on 2019 before the pandemic.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/cotswolds-tour-company-looks-for-larger-premises-amid-record-activity
Metals recycling company files for liquidation
Recycling company Unimetals, formerly Sims UK and headquartered in Stratford-upon-Avon, has filed for liquidation. The company employs 600 across the UK, and can trace its roots back to local company Bird Group.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4dx41k3vxo
Wright Hassall LLP acquired in rescue deal - secures future of firm dating back to 1846
Wright Hassal LLP, the Leamington law firm with roots dating back to 1846, has been acquired following a pre-packaged administration process. The deal has protected more than 100 jobs. The firm is headquartered in Leamington Spa and specialises in corporate, commercial, employment, dispute resolution and litigation, commercial property, planning, and construction.
It has joined HCR Law creating a combined business with 12 offices, 1,060 staff and a turnover of approximately £112m.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/law-firm-with-roots-back-to-the-mid-19th-century-files-notice-of-intention-to-appoint-administrators
JLR reports £485m losses for Q2 in wake of devastating cyber attack - but CEO hails the “speed of recovery”
JLR has reported pre-tax losses of £485m for the second quarter of its financial year following the impact of its recent cyber attack and US tariffs. However, the automotive giant said it has "made strong progress in recovering its operations safely and at pace". The car maker has reported pre-tax losses of £485m for the three months to 30 September 2025 and £134m for the first half, down from a profit of £398m and £1.1bn respectively a year ago.
JLR said this was impacted by the production stoppages it initiated in September following the cyber incident and the planned wind down of legacy Jaguar models.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/jlr-reports-485m-losses-for-q2-in-wake-of-devastating-cyber-attack-but-ceo-hails-the-speed-of-recovery
50-year-old precision engineer eyes growth with Lloyds funding
A Warwickshire-based precision engineering company is investing in its growth after securing the backing of Lloyds Bank. For almost five decades, Rugby-based Technoset has manufactured a range of ultra-high precision parts, such as landing gear, and engine and turbine components predominantly for the aerospace sector. The business is now expanding to tap into increasing demand from adjacent high-growth sectors such as telecommunications, medical, automotive, defence and renewable energy.
It has also expanded its apprenticeship programme, with four of its 32-strong team having now been trained at MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) in Ansty, near Coventry.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/50-year-old-precision-engineer-eyes-growth-with-lloyds-funding
Turnover nears £480m at 800-strong construction materials group but profits decline amid “significant macroeconomic uncertainty”
Turnover reached almost £480m at one of the largest construction materials suppliers in the UK during its latest financial year but profits declined amid "significant macroeconomic uncertainty and weak market conditions". Nuneaton-headquartered GRS Group is an independent supplier of essential construction materials, from low-carbon recycled aggregates and decorative landscaping products to high-volume bulk aggregates for major construction projects.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/turnover-nears-480m-at-800-strong-construction-materials-group-but-profits-decline-amid-significant-macroeconomic-uncertainty
Lloyds and MTC mark 5,000 apprentices, graduates and engineers milestone in £15m partnership
Lloyds and the Manufacturing Technology Centre have marked a significant milestone in their £15m strategic partnership established to support the development of skills and innovation. The partnership, which celebrates its ten-year anniversary in 2025, has now trained more than 5,000 apprentices, graduates and engineers through MTC's training centres in Ansty, near Coventry, Oxfordshire and Liverpool with the support of Lloyds sponsorship. It is set to surpass its target of training 6,000 of such learners within its current funding cycle, which runs until the end of 2029.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/lloyds-and-mtc-mark-5000-apprentices-graduates-and-engineers-milestone-in-15m-partnership
Sale of 500-strong aerospace and defence engineering firm to Indian group completes
Major aerospace and defence engineering business Nasmyth Group, which works with primes like Rolls-Royce and Boeing, has been acquired by an Indian group. Rcapital has completed the sale of Nasmyth Group to strategic trade buyer Sigma Advanced Systems UK, a subsidiary of Megasoft.
Headquartered in Exhall, Bedworth, Nasmyth Group employs about 500 skilled workers. Rcapital initially invested in Nasmyth Group in February 2022 when the company was facing severe cashflow pressures as a result of losses following the Covid restrictions. Since acquisition, Rcapital has invested significant funds to rescue and stabilise the business through its turnaround, and it is now profitable, and provides an opportunity for its new Indian owners to access the aerospace and defence sectors.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/sale-of-500-strong-aerospace-and-defence-engineering-firm-to-indian-group-completes
Autins Group cuts losses despite lower revenues and JLR cyber attack impact
Autins Group, a Warwickshire-based supplier to the automotive industry, cut pre-tax losses during the first half of its financial year despite reduced revenues and the impact of the cyber attack on JLR - its largest customer. The listed manufacturer has reported pre-tax losses of £590,000 for the six months 30 September 2025, cut from £824,000 in the same period of 2024.
Revenues went from £9.7m to £8.5m, with the company's largest customer - JLR - implementing a complete suspension of vehicle production for the month of September. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/autins-group-cuts-losses-despite-lower-revenues-and-jlr-cyber-attack-impact
Triton Showers makes key appointment as longstanding MD retires
Triton Showers, a King's Award-winning manufacturer based in Nuneaton, has appointed a new managing director as Dave Tutton retires after 12 years. Having joined the Nuneaton-based manufacturer as business development director in 2013, Tutton ascended to the role of MD 15 months after his arrival. His successor is Phil Viner, currently Triton's commercial director, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the bathroom and plumbing sector, spanning both UK manufacturing and merchant distribution.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/triton-showers-makes-key-appointment-as-longstanding-md-retires
Historic Warwickshire hotel to sell off contents as it prepares for major refurbishment
A four-star hotel and spa which dates back to 1862 and is located in the heart of Warwickshire has revealed plans for a multimillion-pound investment to transform its facilities and features, which will be preceded by a significant auction. Dating back to 1862, The Ardencote Hotel is a Victorian manor house nestled within 83 acres of landscaped gardens. The venue offers 110 en-suite bedrooms, three dining and bar areas, extensive conference facilities and a spa and leisure facility.
To facilitate the investment, the hotel will host a major public auction to clear existing operational assets and prepare the property for the project.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/historic-warwickshire-hotel-to-sell-off-contents-as-it-prepares-for-multimillion-pound-refurbishment
Plans in for a further 1.4 million sq ft at Symmetry Park Rugby
Tritax Big Box Developments has submitted plans for a further 1.4 million sq ft of space in the next phase of its Symmetry Park Rugby scheme. The hybrid application includes a detailed proposal for a 300,000 sq ft logistics unit and the creation of Cawston Landscape Park (CLP), a 20-acre green space featuring new footpaths linked to existing public rights of way, communal orchards with edible planting, and levelled areas for informal sports and play. Symmetry Park is already home to Iron Mountain, which occupies one million sq ft. This initial commitment in 2022 marked the launch of its first UK campus to offer a range of services. In July this year, TBBD completed the letting of Unit 5, a speculatively built 391,000 sq ft facility to a data management company on a 15-year lease. Two further speculatively developed facilities remain available comprising 338,064 sq ft (Unit 6) and 170,473 sq ft (Unit 7) on a leasehold basis. The buildings have been built to net zero carbon in construction standards and have a BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC A+ rating.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/plans-in-for-a-further-1.4-million-sq-ft-at-symmetry-park-rugby
Severn Trent boss Liv Garfield to step down after more than a decade
Liv Garfield, CEO of Severn Trent, is set to step down after an 11-year tenure that saw her become the FTSE 100's longest-serving female leader.
The utilities group, which delivers water and sewage services to over 4.7 million homes and businesses across the Midlands and Wales, announced that Ms Garfield will depart at the end of December.
https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/severn-trent-boss-liv-garfield-32904813
Chamber announces Sandra Godley OBE as new president
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed its second ever female president.
Sandra Godley OBE takes over from Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants Group, and will hold the post for two years after being elected by the Chamber board.
https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/news/cwcc-141125/
Midlands M&A market resilient against “global macroeconomic pressures” - Experian MarketIQ
The Midlands M&A market showed resilience against "global macroeconomic pressures", according to the latest Experian MarketIQ report, but values declined amid a lack of large-scale transactions.
In the year to date, 783 transactions have been confirmed - a modest 9 per cent decline from 865 in the same period of 2024 - which the report said mirrors "broader national and international trends toward more strategic, long-term investment".
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/midlands-ma-market-resilient-against-global-macroeconomic-pressures-experian-marketiq