A round up of the latest Warwickshire news-in-brief...
Support from Coventry & Warwickshire partners attracts tech shows to Stoneleigh
NAEC Stoneleigh has been chosen to host four exhibitions next summer which will see some of the biggest trade names in the world unveil their latest designs and developments in a wide range of industries. The Advanced Materials Show, Vehicle Electrification Expo, Battery Cells and Systems Expo and Ceramics UK, managed by Event Partners, will all be holding events at the exhibition and conference centre, after a collaborative effort between NAEC and bodies including Warwick District Council and Invest in Warwickshire.
“The support we have received from across Coventry and Warwickshire has been magnificent,” said NAEC MD Chris Hartley. "It was a real team effort to bring these shows to Stoneleigh and we’re delighted to have taken part in such a comprehensive proposal.
“Our region is a real hub for the motor industry and the Vehicle Electrification Expo will enable automotive manufacturers to look at the latest powertrain solutions to improve the performance, efficiency, safety and sustainability of electric vehicles.
Third Business Festival on the way
Coventry & Warwickshire private and public partners are putting the finishing touches to plans for the 2019 Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival, taking place at various venues across the sub-region over a two week period in November.
Delegates will be able to choose from over 60 events between November 11th and 21st covering a broad range of topics related to economic and business growth. These include innovation, accessing new markets such as the rail supply chain, construction and development, business support and business networking,
All events are free and tickets can be reserved by visiting the #CWBF2019 website here: https://cwbf2019.ticketleap.com/
Southam games developer eyes further growth in China
Codemasters, specialists in motorsport games and behind names such as DiRT and the Bafta-winning F1 series, has agreed two new partnerships.
They are with video and online games firm NetEase in Guangzhou to be the exclusive publisher for three of Codemasters' upcoming PC titles within China. It will invest in marketing and localising the games to accelerate their growth there.
Additionally, Codemasters has signed an agreement to develop a new mobile game for the global market.
West Midlands Combined Authority signs £83m tram deal with Coventry’s CAF
A fleet of new trams are heading to the West Midlands from train-maker CAF in a £83.5 million deal to build 21 units.
The company has won the brief from the West Midlands Combined Authority to supply the trams as part of an overhaul of the fleet.
CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarrile) is based in Spain but has a UK HQ office in Coventry and a manufacturing site in Newport, Wales.
Alongside the new trams, CAF will also provide technical support and battery management services over 30 years and there is an option to purchase a further 29 trams as the network grows.
Major refurbishment of Aura building
Canmoor and Tristan Capital Partners are undertaking a £5m refurbishment of the Aura building at Precision Park, adjacent to Spa Park, in Leamington Spa.
Tristan, in conjunction with Canmoor, acquired the building in February. The three-storey 65,000 sq ft office premises was formerly headquarters to plumbing, heating and cooling trade merchants Wolseley.
Fit-out contractor Overbury has won the brief to upgrade Aura. The refurbishment, due for completion in February 2020, will deliver some much-needed Grade A supply to the Warwickshire office market.
Nuneaton town centre welcomes new food and drink offer
Nuneaton is looking forward to the opening of the new Piero Lounge, the latest investment from cafe bar chain operator Loungers, who first came to Coventry & Warwickshire in 2015 when it opened up in Rugby.
The café will add to the town food and drink offer, opening until later in the evening, providing food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a bar in the former Maplin unit which closed earlier this year.
Nuneaton has seen a number of chains and independent retailers coming into the town in the last 18 months, including Pure Gym, TJ Hughes and Sassy Giraffe. These investments come as Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council work with partners to deliver the Transforming Nuneaton vision for the town.
Warwickshire now has three Michelin-starred restaurants
Restaurants across the Midlands have been awarded a prestigious Michelin star in the 2020 list, including The Royal Oak in Whatcote, Warwickshire.
A total of nine Midlands eateries have also retained their one stars. The Cross at Kenilworth was among those to retain the culinary recognition.
Historic car-maker Alvis marks centenary with major Japanese order
A Warwickshire car-making company which is marking its 100th year in 2019 has secured £3.6m worth of export deals to Japan.
Alvis Car Company, which is headquartered in Kenilworth, has signed an international partnership with Japanese automotive firm Meiji Sango, appointing the Tokyo-based business as its exclusive dealer covering the whole of Asia.
The deal was signed after the Automotive Council car show 2019 in Tokyo where the company showcased its products with support from the Department for International Trade (DIT).
Jaguar Land Rover opens new £600m creative base
JLR CEO Sir Ralf Speth opened a new Product Creation Centre, home for 13,000 engineers, at Gaydon.
In five years of planning and three of construction, the complex has come to be known as the Gaydon Triangle in recognition of the shape described by the original airfield’s three intersecting runways.
Its opening, combined with relocation to the Triangle of the 280-strong Jaguar design team, of JLR’s advanced engineering group and of the vital but little celebrated procurement team, means that for the first time JLR has an authentic nerve centre - a technical hub where its cars will be conceived, designed, engineered and developed and roll on experimental wheels for the first time, en route to approval for fullscale production.
China automaker Geely expands in Coventry & Warwickshire
Geely Group, which owns EV taxi maker LEVC at Ansty Park, has further expanded with a new design studio in Coventry. The company has also set up engineering teams for group company Polestar and is looking to bring Lotus back to Coventry & Warwickshire to engineer new vehicles.
Coventry University graduate and Geely design studio lead Wayne Burgess said: “Geely choosing to locate here has really supported and bolstered Coventry’s resurgence.
"One huge advantage with the area is the supplier base for designing with facilities such as 3D printing of parts and companies able to manufacture show cars. This, along with Geely existing investment in the city through LEVC and Emerald, made it a logical choice for the site of Geely new design centre."
UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) secures additional £18m from WMCA
A £126m battery facility to keep the West Midlands at the forefront of the automotive industry has been supercharged by an £18m grant from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) on the Coventry/ Warwickshire border, will be key in growing industrial battery manufacturing capability in the UK.
The WMCA Board, chaired by Mayor Andy Street, has approved a repayable grant of £18m to help ensure UKBIC has the latest technology to attract top-tier automotive manufacturers and research and development companies.
A consortium comprising Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Warwick Manufacturing Group was awarded £80m by the Government towards the UK BIC in November 2017. Business Secretary Greg Clark then announced a £28m boost in May 2019 as his department launched the first Local Industrial Strategy in the West Midlands. The centre will open in Spring 2020.
Vivarail wins £26m order to supply trains to Isle of Wight
Five two-car Vivarail Class 484 electric multiple units have been ordered by South Western Railway for use on the Isle of Wight.
The Class 484s will be refurbished at Long Marston, and will provide more capacity than the existing 81-year-old trains. They will be fitted with passenger information systems and wi-fi.
Vivarail CEO Adrian Shooter said: “It is a great privilege for Vivarail to be part of the wholesale upgrade of the Island Line. Vivarail will be building third-rail trains to make best use of Island Line's electrified track. This follows on from our diesel units for West Midlands Railway and battery/diesel trains for Transport for Wales - and is an example of how flexible the train is.”
The first ‘484’ will be delivered for testing in early summer next year, with track improvement work to take place over winter 2020.