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£900,000 Future Skills programme is launched
A new three-year programme of support for apprenticeships at businesses in new and emerging technologies has been launched by Warwickshire Skills Hub.
The Future Skills programme will see a £300,000 per year investment into a range of schemes in each of the next three years to power apprenticeships across Warwickshire. Sectors to be supported include digital skills, automotive engineering, battery technology and the ever-evolving construction industry.
The programme, which is launched today, has been designed to deliver a diverse range of support to help job-seekers into, or back into, work through apprenticeships.
The Future Skills programme has five strands:
Future Skills Business Advisor: the appointment of Louise Stolz who brings her wide range of skills and experience to a new role at the face of new industry demands, supporting Warwickshire to build a picture of future skills needs. Louise will work with businesses to build a solid intelligence base to enable the team to best support the evolving needs of skills provision.
Salary Support Fund: shaping opportunities for industry experts to support existing provision in colleges and schools by knowledge-sharing through funded sessional support and also providing a real opportunity to future proof their provision. Also support for 30 businesses with the costs of taking on an apprentice.
Apprenticeship Fairs: an apprenticeship fair to be held in each of Rugby, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Leamington, Warwick and Stratford in each of the next three years.
New Direction 50+: support for apprenticeships for the increasing number of people over the age of 50 who are looking to change direction or re-enter work. Funding will also be available for people undertaking training not within apprenticeships.
Accessible Apprenticeships: creation of 50 apprenticeships for people with supportive needs.
The aim of this new package of projects is to support people of all demographics into employment while helping businesses in these sectors address their skills gaps.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “The Future Skills programme underlines the commitment of Warwickshire Skills Hub to give maximum opportunity to residents of the county to fulfil their potential and help keep the economy strong.
“With its well-thought-out and comprehensive breadth of support, this programme is a major and very welcome addition to the support available from Warwickshire Skills Hub to businesses, education-providers and jobseekers across the county.”
Hub switch is a big step forward for careers provision in Warwickshire
“The opportunity to create a new Warwickshire Careers Hub dovetails perfectly with our future vision for careers provision in the county."
Careers provision for young people across the county has taken a big step forward with the incorporation of the Warwickshire Careers Hub team into Warwickshire Skills Hub.
Following the closure of the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership earlier this year, the Careers Hub formerly run by the Careers & Enterprise Company needed to find a new home.
Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council both accepted the opportunity to welcome new Careers Hubs into their areas. On September 1st, each launched their own Careers Hubs.
Warwickshire’s is based at the Warwickshire Skills Hub office at Eliot Park Innovation Centre, Nuneaton, while the new Coventry Careers Hub will sit within Coventry’s Education Service and be delivered by Think Higher on behalf of Coventry City Council.
Although the Careers Hubs in Warwickshire and Coventry will function separately, their work will be closely aligned whenever possible. Warwickshire Careers Hub will also have strong links with the WCC education team which will play an important strategic role in shaping the future work of the Careers Hub.
The overarching priority of the Career Hub is to support all education settings to deliver effective careers provision reflecting the future skills needs of Warwickshire’s business community, whilst providing accessible and meaningful careers activity for every student.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “The opportunity to create a new Warwickshire Careers Hub dovetails perfectly with our future vision for careers provision in the county.
“By incorporating the Careers Hub offer within Warwickshire County Council’s existing careers support to schools, we will greatly extend the range of opportunities for our young people and their career journeys. Working collaboratively with careers leaders, we believe together we will ensure there is accessible and meaningful careers activity to meet the aspirations of every student in Warwickshire.”
Louise at the heart of Future Skills support for Warwickshire businesses
“I find it so rewarding to work with businesses, understanding what their skills needs are to help their workforce grow and prosper."
Satisfying the skills needs of the county’s fast-evolving workplaces is the mission of a new role within Warwickshire Skills Hub.
The role of Future Skills Business Advisor has been created as part of a £900,000, three-year Future Skills Programme launched by Warwickshire County Council.
Louise Stolz will bring her wealth of experience and expertise to the position which will be at the heart of future skills support for the county.
Louise will work with businesses to build a solid intelligence base, from which the Skills Hub team will be perfectly placed to support the evolving needs of skills provision. That intelligence base will also enable them to utilise other strands of the Future Skills Programme to pilot forward-thinking and solution-based projects in partnership with employability and skills providers.
Louise, who joined the Warwickshire Skills Hub team in June 2022 as a Business Skills Support Advisor, has a real vocation for skills support and can’t wait to get stuck into her new role.
“I’ve loved every minute since joining the Skills Hub,” she said. “I find it so rewarding to work with businesses, understanding what their skills needs are to help their workforce grow and prosper. So when the opportunity arose as Future Skills Business Advisor, I knew this was a job for me.
“I will be focusing on future innovation and providing businesses with impartial, specialist support to help them to develop a well-skilled workforce which will reflect their growth plans and their associated innovation led skills needs.
“My focal point will be the skills agenda, building an understanding of what the future skills landscape looks like in our region and establishing a network where we can share knowledge and promote best practice. I’ll be working closely with partners and employers, across various priorities such as vehicle electrification, battery technology, digital skills and activity supporting the net-zero agenda. This will help us identify key skills trends and emerging themes, what the jobs of the future look like and what is the business skills support need.”
Louise will interact heavily with businesses to ascertain their needs and also work closely with those responsible for launching young people on their career-pathways with the right skills and knowledge.
“I will be feeding information back to our educators and training providers,” she said. “This will help us align careers provision in our county and provide integrated and co-ordinated access to skills and employment support for Warwickshire businesses. This in turn, will help them attract and harness new local talent as well as re-skill existing staff.
“I am passionate about boosting skills and employability and I’m excited to be starting on my Future Skills Business Advisor journey. If you would like further information, please do contact me at louisestolz@Warwickshire.gov.uk
Inclusive Industry Tour leads Jay to employment and security
“I am part of a team and I look forward to going to work. I never thought I would say that.”
A young man with Autism and ADHD is enjoying work, security and new-found confidence from a job which grew from an Inclusive Industry Tour delivered by Warwickshire Supported Employment Service.
Among businesses to open their doors for an Inclusive Industry Tour was Studley Castle and the team at WSES, which is designed to support customers with autism and/or learning disabilities with an aspiration to work. Leamington Spa's supported employment journey guide felt it would be of interest to Jay Smith, and 12 other customers local to Leamington Spa.
Jay was searching for a direction after leaving college and had previously enjoyed working in a restaurant. He attended the tour, liked what he saw – and it has proved a perfect fit as he now works at Studley Castle where he is regarded as “very capable and friendly and part of the team.”
WSES Interim Delivery Lead, Charlotte Smith, said: “We looked at Jay's skills and qualities and matched them to sectors and jobs. Jay had previously enjoyed working in a restaurant so when an Inclusive Industry Tour came up with Studley Castle in the hospitality sector, we encouraged him to attend.
“We considered the barriers he had to overcome to attend and coached him with coping strategies and calming techniques, for example having headphones for the journey to work and sitting next to someone he trusts on the transport.
“On the industry tour Jay liked the atmosphere. The staff at Studley Castle were brilliant, making him feel welcome and listened to, so he started looking at jobs there which match his skills and qualities. He identified kitchen porter as a strong match, so we contacted Studley Castle directly and, as a Fair Chance Employer, they agreed to a reasonable adjustment at interview stage.
“Instead of a formal interview we asked for a work trial, so Jay could show his skills first hand. Jay had all the right experience and skills for the job but finds it hard to talk about them. He also had anxiety around meeting new people in a formal setting, so being able to get stuck in and have a go at the job allowed his true potential to be seen.”
Jay impressed on his trial and was offered a permanent post. Assisted by his Supported Employment Journey Guide, he filled in the HR forms and induction paperwork. Two months into his role he is receiving regular visits from the Employment Support Advisor and beginning to think about the future. He is considering completing an apprenticeship with Studley Castle and is continuing to grow in confidence.
“I have learned that I am good at my job,” said Jay. “I am reliable and always on time and have grown in confidence and feel like I am secure and safe, I have never been able to trust people and feel like I am no longer an outsider. I have a purpose.
“I am not just a kitchen porter, I am part of a team and I look forward to going to work. I never thought I would say that.”
Support for business and employees affected by redundancies
A support service has been launched for businesses forced to confront difficult decisions regarding redundancies.
The Coventry & Warwickshire Redundancy Support Service is a collaborative service created by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and partners Department for Work & Pensions and the CW Growth Hub. The service is designed to bring partners and industry experts together to support local businesses which have to consider making difficult decisions about their workforce and business.
The service supports business in looking at ways in which staff can be reskilled and retrained to carry out services that are outsourced, or to help the business grow, such as training sustainability champions, accounts & social media marketing. Business Advisors from Warwickshire Skills Hub are able to carry out business skills reviews and look at training solutions such as apprenticeships, short courses and accreditation and how available funding can be obtained to support businesses in safeguarding jobs and creating a sustainable future.
Where redundancies are unavoidable, the Coventry & Warwickshire Redundancy Support Service works with the business to create a tailored support package to meet the needs of the employees affected. This can range from workshop style support in navigating the digital labour market, CV writing & interview techniques through to mini jobs fairs that link those at risk to businesses recruiting for their skill set.
This unique approach is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of low and high volume support that spans any sector. The labour market is buoyant at the moment, with a variety of roles on offer, and with specialist support, people are able to find alternative vacancies and explore new opportunities such as self employment.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the economy, the Coventry & Warwickshire Redundancy Support Service has been designed to be ongoing as required. The relevant partners and work streams will offer a highly responsive and effective service to help businesses navigate through turbulent times, whilst equipping them with tools and guidance to make plans for the future, whatever the outcome might be.
Over the coming months, the service will launch a programme of activity encouraging businesses and those facing redundancy to engage with the service and access the support available. From workshops and virtual clinics to live job fairs and training opportunities, supportive services will be designed to be flexible and shaped to meet individual needs.
Prevention
Whilst in some cases Job loss might be inevitable; it is hoped to engage with businesses who are working through their options and may be suitable for a number of interventions. From emergency funding and finance opportunities to reskilling and staff retainment options, the service will provide collaborative support to explore the options available and build action plans to become more sustainable through periods of uncertainty, preventing job losses and company closures wherever possible.
Our delivery partners
The selection of partners who support the service are established industry experts with an extensive understanding of the Coventry and Warwickshire economy and a clear vison of the support needed. Our partners will respond to support needs and seamlessly cross refer where additional support needs are identified.
It is expected that as the service becomes established and needs grow, the need to introduce additional partners may be needed and discussed collectively.
For more details please visit https://cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/redundancy-support-services, call the support helpline 0800 998 1098 or email contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk
UKrainian support programme extended due to its success
"Due to the support of the Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire Programme, I have now got a job and I really enjoy it."
A programme created to help Ukrainian refugees in Warwickshire find employment has been extended due to its success.
The Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire Programme (UWWP), launched in September 2022, was originally intended to run for 12 months, but has been extended initially by a further two months until November 2023. Since delivery of the programme began, 205 Ukrainians have been referred to it and 124 have attended or completed it with 38 gaining employment across several industries, as illustrated by the chart (right).
The programme is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Community Development Agency (CDA), working closely with Warwickshire Skills Hub. It is also linked to the Fair Chance Employer Programme which shapes inclusive employment opportunities across Warwickshire.
The UWWP programme consists of five community-based employment support sessions. These provide accessible county-wide support to Warwickshire's Ukrainian communities, enabling them to explore employment opportunities and use their existing skills to fill skills gaps.
Among those who has completed the programme and started employment is Larysa Kushnir who is now working as an interpreter. Larysa came to the UK with her seven-year-old child under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme in December 2022 and lives with her sponsor. Having taught English in Ukraine for 21 years, she started the Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire project in February, with support from Employment Support Adviser, Maxine Wykes, attending weekly sessions at her local library.
Larysa was interested in working as a teaching assistant, but her biggest barrier was where to start as she needed to upgrade her qualifications. She also needed help composing a CV and cover letter and had only one reference, so the adviser supplied a second reference, removing that barrier to work.
Larysa attended all weekly workshops offered through the programme (A Guide to Employment in the UK; CVs and Applications; Interview Techniques) and attended one-to-one meetings for further support. The programme also helped her obtain a travel discount card so she could travel for interviews, employability workshops and meetings at the Job centre.
The workshops gave her all the tools she needed to search and apply for jobs, a better understanding of UK employers’ expectations, interview techniques and information about starting a job and paying contributions. A CV and cover letter were created and uploaded to Indeed to enable her to start job searching and a referral made for her to complete a Statement of Comparability, to convert her qualifications.
Support was then given for completion of an application for a position as an interpreter at Long Moor Training Camp. Her commitment and resilience was rewarded when, after interview, she was offered the job.
Larysa is enjoying her new job, in which she provides an excellent service while improving her own fitness and mental health in a role which allows her to fit work around her family life.
“I was looking for a work as a teacher assistant but faced some barriers as I had to upgrade my qualifications first,” she said. “But due to the support of the Ukrainian Working in Warwickshire Programme, I have now got a job and I really enjoy it. Thank you very much to all at for your wonderful support.”
Business Skills Support Service data
In 2022, Warwickshire Skills Hub's Business Skills Advisors provided support to 405 businesses from different sectors and with different needs. Our support package is open to any business in Warwickshire, but the biggest trends in 2022 are listed below.
The most popular sectors that year were Engineering, totalling 40 different companies, Hospitality & Catering from which we supported 35 companies, Construction with a total of 33 and Education and Training with 30 individual companies.
When you break it down into boroughs, you can see that we supported 95 different businesses from Warwick District Council, 88 from Stratford-on-Avon District Council and 67 from Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, with the remainder being spread between the other districts and boroughs and companies that work across the whole of Warwickshire.
We have offered 470 different types of support to those businesses, with signposting to other partner organisations and supporting businesses in accessing the training providers being the most popular, followed by the Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme and other employment programmes and universities support.
The Business Skills Advisors have already provided support to 263 individual businesses in 2023. The need for our support changes each year, depending on the area and sector.
The most popular sectors this year were Manufacturing totalling at 33 different companies, Education and Training from which we supported 32 companies, Retail with a total of 21 and Hospitality and Catering with 19 individual companies.
This year we have supported 61 businesses in Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, followed by 49 from Stratford-on-Avon District Council and 47 from Rugby Borough Council, with the rest being spread across other districts and borough and companies that operate throughout Warwickshire.
We have provided 292 different types of support this year, with Fair Chance Employer Programme and referring to other partner organisations being the most popular, followed by the Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme, supporting businesses in accessing the training providers and the Warwickshire Supported Employment Team referral.
Skills Hub offer outlined at Chamber meeting
“We were extremely grateful to Heather for joining us at the branch meeting and it was great to hear that there is some incredible support on offer."
Businesses in mid-Warwickshire have been urged ask for support if they are unable to find people with the right skills to help them grow.
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce held its mid-Warwickshire branch meeting at the Holiday Inn in Kenilworth and a range of topics were discussed.
The event was chaired by Chamber president Tom Mongan and heard how businesses across the area are faring in the current climate.
Skills remains a key issue for many and the meeting heard from Heather Docksey, of Warwickshire County Council, who explained how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support businesses in their search for staff.
Tom Mongan said firms should ask for help if they are unable to fill roles that will support their growth.
He said: “We were extremely grateful to Heather for joining us at the branch meeting and it was great to hear that there is some incredible support on offer. I’d urge businesses who want to grow – but can’t find the right people – to speak up and ask for help.
“They can talk to the team at the Chamber if they need advice and, also, see how the Warwickshire Skills Hub can support them as they offer a very wide-ranging service.
“It’s great that they are looking at different ways to help solve the skills crisis but also looking at how they can support people who may have barriers to employment find work.”
The meeting also discussed more long-term solutions for the skills issue.
Tom added: “There were lots of views on skills and how we train and equip people for the future of the workplace. The Chamber has done some great work on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and, with this being given the green light recently, it could be the first step on the way to solving an issue that has been around for many, many years.”
Food and Drink sector is at the heart of Warwickshire's visitor appeal
The latest Tourism Economic Impact study (2021) revealed that 35% of all visitor expenditure in Warwickshire is on Food and Drink, generating over £300m for the local economy. Pre-pandemic, the figures were even higher.
But the sector has a value which far transcends its economic contribution. With its rich depth of quality, enterprise and diversity, the sector is central to the county’s long tradition of rural enterprise and hospitality.
Warwickshire Food and Drink is a collective brand, designed and delivered by Warwickshire County Council, to promote the economic and environmental benefits of local sourcing. The objective is to make it easy and cost-effective for businesses to access produce from the county’s high-quality supplier, thereby shortening the supply chain and enabling food provenance.
The brand brings together each link of the supply chain, from those involved in food production all the way through to those who prepare and serve it. 2023 has been a bumper year for innovation in Warwickshire’s food and drink networks with several key events taking place, in collaboration with partners.
Meet the Supplier Event at Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse - organised by Destination Coventry, in partnership with Shakespeare’s England and Warwickshire County Council, took place in April. The event offered an opportunity for producers to reach hospitality, leisure, and tourism sector opportunities.
Industry experts at the event were keen to emphasise the sustainability benefits of sourcing locally but were also able to offer examples of how building relationships is vital for suppliers seeking to break into the market. A frank exchange on business challenges explored how to manage expectations when working with smaller suppliers, the role of accreditations and food safety. Exhibitors ranged from artisan food producers, distilleries, and hospitality venues to marketing companies, AV suppliers and business support services.
The Foodie Awards 2023 invited applications between June and September and has received over 150 applications. Judges are currently evaluating the entries before the much-anticipated celebration evening in October. Warwickshire Food and Drink is sponsoring Best Artisanal food, Wine or Spirit Producer and the Craft Drink Award and is pleased to be part of the network.
Food has a beautiful tradition of bringing people together and over the next couple of months, many Warwickshire towns will host their own local food festivals, seen as great footfall drivers to our local centres. Rural Warwickshire is home to an abundance of high-quality produce, artisan makers and irresistible food and drink experiences which appeal to local residents and visitors alike.
To celebrate this rich diversity, WCC’s tourism website https://visit.warwickshire.gov.uk/foodanddrink showcases a food lover’s tour of Warwickshire – a perfect recipe for an indulgent five-day tour, a short break holiday, or a blissful day out.
Warwickshire Producers Network
If you are a food and drink business based in Warwickshire, why not get involved in the Warwickshire Food & Drink story by joining Warwickshire Producers Network?
Enabling synergy and collaboration opportunities with other Warwickshire food and drink producers and support from within your industry via guest speakers, this network is growing fast. Places are limited at the events, so booking is essential. Booking for meetings in January and March 2024 is now open.
If you are a Warwickshire foodie, who would like to find out more about any of these opportunities, please contact abiculley@warwickshire.gov.uk
Women encouraged to consider a career in engineering
"You don’t get many female engineers but I’d love to see more women in the sector."
Women thinking about embarking on a career, or changing career, have been encouraged to consider engineering.
Kim Lynam has ventured far down that path and warmly recommends it, insisting that, though the world of engineering remains heavily male-led, opportunities do exist for women also to carve out rewarding and successful careers.
Kim has 20 years’ experience in manufacturing and runs DARL Engineering, in Exhall, with her partner Daren. They started DARL producing general manufacturing and invested to future proof the business in manufacturing crankshafts for automotive and other sectors.
The business has flourished, despite launching just before the pandemic. The order books are full and they have just taken on a contract with a Tier 1 supplier to Porsche.
Integral to all this success is Kim who started off simply helping out in the factory part-time but has hugely expanded her role.
“I always had finance and engineering jobs and was working two days in my main job and three days and evenings here,” she said. “But we realised that I needed to be here full-time and manage the whole business.
“Daren has been in engineering since age 11 and works the machines. He’s very multi-skilled but we work well together as a team and, as time progressed, I took on more roles like quoting for jobs and running the business.
“I do all sorts. If I need to go out and work a machine, I can do. I do cleaning and driving, the payroll and the accounts. I get pulled from pillar to post, but any company I’ve been at have been has been like that and I really enjoy it.
“I have worked at a few engineering companies like Gardner Aerospace and Freeman & Procter, and all sorts in quite a few sectors, and have picked up a lot about engineering. You don’t get many female engineers but I’d love to see more women in the sector. You have to be a certain type of person, you can’t be easily offended and you have to be ‘one of the lads’ to a certain extent, but it is all good fun.”
In Kim’s in-tray at the moment is a new customer who is providing all the cars for a new Brad Pitt F1 film, being made for Netflix. D.A.R.L are manufacturing multiple parts for the cars that are being crashed into walls to the film-makers’ satisfaction!
“We are supplying them because they cannot get it done anywhere else to the required quality and short timescale,” said Kim. “We have all sorts of customers on our books and they are all really valued but this is one is unusual!”
Business Ready programme has been an unqualified success
“The Business Ready programme mirrored the county council’s ambitions. It supported high-tech, low-carbon innovation which will provide employment opportunities into the future."
A major business support scheme helping businesses in Warwickshire and Coventry generated more than £19 million in value and creating 175 jobs in its seven years of existence.
Business Ready, which ran from 2016 to June 2023 to address a market failure, has enabled more than 1,500 start-ups and tech-based SMEs to access targeted business support, mentoring, grants and more from a team of expert business advisers.
The programme has provided advice and assistance to ambitious and expanding companies. It has been delivered by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park, and was funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Warwickshire County Council and the University of Warwick Science Park as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.
Since it began, Business Ready has helped companies raise £19.1m through equity, debt and grants, has facilitated demand-led workshops to more than 2,300 people, and helped create 63 brand new companies.
After seven years of supporting companies, Ian McFarlane-Toms, Business Ready Programme Manager, reflected on the programme’s success.
He said: “When Business Ready was conceived, it really was an innovative proposition. There simply wasn’t fully- funded support available that provided clients with access to the depth and breadth of subject matter experts that we offered.
“Our team of business support advisers had a broad range of expertise across multiple sectors, which meant we were typically always able to match the individual needs of each customer. There was never a one-size-fits-all solution – we’d always come up with a personalised solution for each business we worked with.”
Business Ready’s referrals would come from a variety of sources, such as through third parties like the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, but many came through the networking ability of the business advisers themselves.
This resulted in a huge variety of companies using the programme’s services, from a firm working to create highly-efficient electric batteries from nanotubes, to a business delivering musical educational tools to schools in the area.
“We are delighted with the success of the programme over the last seven years, and I think we can be really proud of what we achieved,” Ian added.
“Ultimately, being a managing director of a company that is looking to grow can be quite a lonely experience. It’s difficult to know who to turn to at times for support and advice.
“Business Ready has filled that niche incredibly well, and to have helped so many businesses get to where they need to be, while creating dozens of jobs along the way, is a fantastic achievement.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Business Ready programme mirrored the county council’s ambitions. It supported high-tech, low-carbon innovation which will provide employment opportunities into the future.
“For some businesses, that expertise and mentoring has been exactly what they’ve needed to take them to the next level. It’s been another offer in our range of support to businesses that has clearly been meeting a need over the years. Congratulations to all involved in the success of the programme.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
Start-up support helps cleaning company move to the next level
“The support helped me to improve my business plan and develop a new service,"
A North Warwickshire commercial cleaning business whose founder swapped laptops and desktops for hoovers and carpet cleaners has urged other small businesses to access the local business support.
Allan Ward decided to leave his full-time job in IT focusing on website designs, repairs and sales after he saw the potential for winning commercial cleaning contracts when his wife, Toni, started a small cleaning business.
He started exploring the idea during the pandemic and researched the support that was available for new start-up businesses.
That led to Allan establishing Mercia Cleaning Services Ltd last March from Austrey in Atherstone after the company was supported by the start-up team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Allan attended a suite of digital marketing workshops that are available to start-up businesses which filled in the gaps in his knowledge to effectively market a business online and gave an overview of the different social media platforms.
The Start-up support, delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, forms part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme, and was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Warwickshire County Council and all five District and Borough Councils.
Allan said the support had been invaluable and he was now ready to take Mercia Cleaning Services Ltd to the next stage of its growth.
He said: “My wife started a business as a domestic cleaning company but my ambition was to move into commercial cleaning so we pivoted the business and today it is only commercial cleaning.
“We have contracts in various sectors including offices, schools, hotels, museums, new build projects and university lets which are mainly in the Midlands and some nationwide contracts. We employ ten people, but we are continuing to expand this year and plan to bring more local people into our company and provide them with training.
“The support helped me to improve my business plan and develop a new service along with the knowledge I had gained from attending the workshops and the Chamber’s advice on delivering marketing campaigns. All of this plus putting together a strategic plan for the year ahead resulted in taking on an additional three staff within five months.”
Chamber business coach Rita Booth has supported the firm from its infancy right through to enabling growth.
She said: “It can be daunting launching a new start-up but our tailored support is available to help businesses who are less than two years old every step of the way. As a single director in a business, the start-up programme helped Allan gain clarity on the actions he needed to take, the direction he was taking his business in and helped him identify which opportunities to chase for success rather than wasting time chasing every opportunity.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place Cllr Martin Watson said: "The way Allan pivoted to spot an opportunity and then to pursue it is very impressive and typical of so many enterprising small businesses across Warwickshire.
"The County Council is fully committed to supporting small businesses at every stage of their development, but it is often in the formative stages that support is often most-needed so I am delighted that the Start-up support proved of such high value."
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is delivering free-funded business support workshops on all aspects of business. To get started, please email businesssupport@cw-chamber.co.uk or visit https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-start-up/.
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747
WPDG helps preserve important allotments site
"This is another brilliant example of how the work of Warwickshire Property and Development Group is key to the county council’s ambition to unlock the potential in local sites and make the most of the county’s assets for the benefit of our people and communities."
Popular allotments in the heart of Warwick have been given a new lease of life after green-fingered allotment holders have agreed a new deal to stay at the site.
Plot holders have sealed a new deal with Warwickshire County Council, through its managing agent Warwickshire Property Management Ltd (WPM), to stay at St John’s House Allotments.
A total of 11 allotment licences have been completed, comprising of 18 plots. Following negotiations with licensees, a fair price per square metre has been agreed and annual agreements have been signed.
The deal has also opened up opportunities for new people in Warwick to take plots to enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of having an allotment.
Allotments in Warwickshire, and particularly in Warwick District, are hugely popular with many having hundreds of prospective allotment licence holders on waiting lists.
Gardeners regularly share their produce and since the pandemic the community at the allotments has grown.
Peter Lamb has held an allotment at the site for 25 years and represented the plot holders at St John’s House Allotments during the negotiation process.
He moved to Warwick from London in 1991 and took up space at the allotments to grow his passion for gardening. He has had a plot since 1997 at St John’s House and currently looks after a space of around 150 square metres.
Peter said: “It’s great that we now have the new leases in place and have been able to conclude this deal.
“The whole process has actually brought us closer together as a community and we have such a varied range of people using the allotments.
“On my allotment, I grow produce including onions, potatoes, garlic, asparagus, raspberries, strawberries and broad beans. Then others at the allotments grow more exotic, experimental plants.
“We have a culture of cooperation and sharing any surplus produce. The importance of the allotments was really brought home during the pandemic, where they provided an invaluable place to get outside, socialise safely and exercise too.
“It is good for us to now have certainty about the future of the allotments and we can now set about work to improve our plots and get them to a place that we want them to be.”
WPM is part of Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), which manages the lettings on hundreds of Warwickshire County Council-owned properties.
Dale Partridge, Head of Assets at WPM, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to complete this deal which will enable people in Warwick to continue using the allotment site and experience the widespread benefits which come with horticulture.
“There is a huge demand across the county, and certainly in and around Warwick, for allotments and it’s great that this deal has enabled new people to access the allotments and fully utilise the space.”
Councillor Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, said: “It is great to see this deal has been agreed securing the future of these much-loved allotments in Warwick. This is another brilliant example of how the work of Warwickshire Property and Development Group is key to the county council’s ambition to unlock the potential in local sites and make the most of the county’s assets for the benefit of our people and communities.
“This isn’t just about delivering bricks and mortar, but about all the elements that make Warwickshire a thriving place to live, work and visit.”
LCE fund opens door for Selina to access vital small business funding
“My business is at a very early stage and applying for funding can be overwhelming, I’m so grateful that CWRT has been able to assist my small business by helping me to apply to the Local Community and Enterprise Fund.”
A start-up catering business in Rugby has received support from a specialist finance and business support provider to fulfil its growth plans.
Selbi Food and Creations was seeking support in raising finance to fulfil it plans to open an African and Caribbean catering business in the town.
The company was referred to Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) by the Chamber of Commerce where they had been receiving support. The experienced team at CWRT then provided Selbi’s with a personalised approach to ensure they could access the most suitable funding to meet their needs and support their growth plans.
External pressures on the hospitality and catering industry have meant that it is increasingly difficult for businesses to access support from traditional high street banks. Keely Beamish, Business Development Manager at CWRT, said funding had been obtained for the business from Warwickshire County Council’s Local Communities and Enterprise Fund (LCE) which was launched last June as part of the Warwickshire Recovery Investment Fund.
“We are delighted that we have been able to support Selina and her business in its expansion plans through the LCE Fund, at the time when its most needed. We’re really looking forward to seeing how the business grows and serves the local economy,” she said. “At CWRT, we take a transparent, fair, and personalised approach in our decision-making process because we know that accessing the right support and finance can be transformational for businesses.
“If you’re a hospitality business that’s just starting up like Selbi Food and Creations then get in touch with our team to find out how the LCE fund can help support you.”
Selina Siey, director at Selbi Food and Creations, who is originally from Ghana and now living in Rugby, wanted to share her passion for Caribbean food such as jerk chicken, rice and peas, traditional Ghanian dumplings and jollof rice.
She said: “I have worked in the food industry for over 10 years and decided to start my own business. I applied for the government’s start up loan scheme but was declined and since then I’ve been struggling to access finance.
“My business is at a very early stage and applying for funding can be overwhelming, I’m so grateful that CWRT has been able to assist my small business by helping me to apply to the Local Community and Enterprise Fund.”
Cllr Martin Watson, WCC Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, said: “It's great to see that the LCE is continuing to identify and fill gaps in access to finance within Warwickshire by supporting the catering industry, which we know is vital in a county with such a strong tourism economy.”
- CWRT supports businesses that may have not accessed finance for their business before or maybe facing barriers in receiving support. Reach out to CWRT’s friendly team to discuss your options and learn more about their funding options at www.cwrt.uk.com
- To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 37
Engineering and Design event returns to Coventry
The Autumn is always a busy time of year for trade shows and conferences in the West Midlands area and this includes for engineering and manufacturing.
Next up is the Engineering Design Show (EDS) which returns to The Coventry Building Society Arena on the 11th–12th of October. This two-day exhibition has been put together specifically for design engineers and will bring together over 200 suppliers, thousands of products and all the latest industry innovations.
The exhibition space is fully taken, with local companies including Dassault and Small Fry Design exhibiting at the show.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can attend 30+ hours of free conference sessions and workshops, bringing together the biggest names in the industry. There is also space for one-to-one meetings and time to network, with the dedicated lounge, a central café and a networking reception held at the end of the first day.
Invest Coventry & Warwickshire will also be there, on stand A22, looking to engage with local companies and also to meet those looking to set up here in the Midlands, to offer help with finding space and getting established. Invest is the inward investment promotion and support service for Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council.
Other conferences and shows in the area coming up include Tomorrow’s Science and Innovation Clusters, Medlink Innovation Day, Meet the Buyer: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Housing, Birmingham Tech Week, Solar and Storage UK 2023, The Advanced Engineering Show, Motorcyle Live. More details can be found in the ‘Events’ section of this edition of Warwickshire Means Business.
Meanwhile, EDS has everything to support UK design engineers in 2023. The event is free to attend and more information and registration details can be found on the website https://www.engineeringdesignshow.co.uk/
Driving the future of Immersive Technology
European business leaders will visit Coventry University for a two-day programme of events showcasing some the best immersive technology (XR) the UK has to offer.
The European Business Network (EBN) Techcamp, on October 19th and 20th, will bring together experts from various fields across Europe to share their knowledge and experience, and provide a platform for networking, collaboration, and co-learning in business support methodologies. This unique participatory and interactive event is led by a
nd created for business support experts and skilled innovation practitioners.
Leading Techcamp for 2023 is Coventry University’s Director of Innovation, Paul Fairburn, who has lined up academic experts and businesses to demonstrate how they collaborate to develop new immersive technology products and services.
Guests will hear from keynote speakers, visit research facilities, and attend workshops to learn more about how immersive technology is accelerating the future of transport, evolving healthcare training, supporting the creative industries, and driving changes in manufacturing.
European business leaders will visit the university’s Simulation Centre and experience how immersive technology solutions are used to better business ecosystems.
Speakers at Techcamp 2023 will delve into:
· How to can create the optimal environment for (deep) technology businesses to start, scale, and grow
· How to best support disruptive, immersive, technology-based businesses
· How to collaborate with large industry-leading corporations
· The different business needs of start-ups and scale-ups in using and deploying simulation/immersive technology.
To register for this this event, please visit: https://www.ebn-techcamp.eu/
Neighbours voting for their 'fave' local businesses
Nextdoor, the app and website for neighbours, has launched its first ever local business awards, Neighbourhood Faves.
It offers an opportunity for businesses to be recognised and celebrated by their local community and loyal customers. Neighbours will vote across nine categories from restaurants and coffee shops, to pamper spots and local shops. There’s even a Home & Garden category to recognise local tradespeople.
The most-loved businesses will then be crowned a Neighbourhood Fave in their local areas. Ten top winners across the UK will also receive up to a year of free ads on Nextdoor for their local business page.
Only eligible businesses with a business page on Nextdoor can receive votes. So, to be in with a chance of winning, set-up your page today, click here: nextdoor.co.uk/gettingstarted_business If you already have a business page, please spread the word to customers to vote
Download the free and easy promotional kit to get started here: nextdoor.co.uk/localbusiness_toolkit
Vote at nextdoor.co.uk/publicservices_faves Voting closes on 13th October. #neighbourhoodfaves
Business urged to prepare for new fire safety legislation
“If you haven't yet reviewed the latest legislation, we urge you not to delay taking action. Our team of fire protection experts are readily available to provide the guidance and support that businesses require."
Businesses across Warwickshire are being advised to prepare for changes in fire safety legislation set to take effect on the 1st of October 2023.
To ensure that businesses are ready for the changes, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service will be taking proactive measures to raise awareness of this new legislation locally, as the changes coming soon will apply to all businesses.
Effective from October 1st, the introduction of Section 156 of the Building Safety Act mandates that all businesses, irrespective of their size, employee count, or business type, must comprehensively document their fire risk assessments and fire safety arrangements. Additionally, the revised legislation stipulates that in residential buildings housing two or more domestic premises, residents must receive information regarding fire risks and the fire safety measures implemented for their protection.
Many premises will be affected by the changes including small shops, take-aways, holiday lets and small blocks of flats. The main changes businesses need to be aware of are:
- All businesses will need to record a fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full – regardless of the number of employees, and size or type of business.
- There are increased requirements for cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons in multi occupied buildings or those where the occupier and owner are not the same person.
- In residential buildings with two or more domestic premises residents must be provided with information on the risks from fire and the fire safety measures provided to keep them safe.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Fire Andy Crump said: “Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to helping businesses across the county to reduce the risk of fire and adhere to fire safety legislation. We understand that this can pose a significant challenge for businesses, especially smaller ones that may lack in-house expertise to offer the necessary guidance. However, disregarding proper fire safety measures not only jeopardises the safety of employees and customers, but it can also result in severe financial repercussions for your business.
“If you haven't yet reviewed the latest legislation, we urge you not to delay taking action. Our team of fire protection experts are readily available to provide the guidance and support that businesses require to ensure ongoing compliance with fire safety standards."
For information on the legislation please visit here https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fire-safety-legislation/new-requirements-businesses-building-owners-building-safety-act-2022 or https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/Building-Safety-Act-2022-Section-156
Meanwhile, local businesses and organisations have been asked to support Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service is they have an office or base within five minutes of an on-call fire stations, or a team who work remotely and could use a fire station as a base?
If so, they could make a huge difference in your community by supporting your employees to become on-call firefighters. It’s a fantastic way to show corporate social responsibility while empowering colleagues with a whole range of new skills. Find out more in our downloadable leaflet: https://bit.ly/on-call-employers
The WFRS team are more than happy to talk through this exciting opportunity with you – please email ffrecruitment@warwickshire.gov.uk to arrange a call.