A round-up of the region's latest news-in-brief
Jaguar Land Rover resumes vehicle manufacturing
The first Range Rover made under new social distancing measures has driven off the production line at the company's manufacturing plant in Solihull https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/cars-uvs/jlr-resumes-production-at-solihull-plant-in-uk-after-temporary-suspension-due-to-covid-19/articleshow/75843015.cms?from=mdr
Government urged to use West Midlands as test bed for early reopening of tourism, hospitality and cultural sector
Regional leaders have called on Government to allow the West Midlands to become a national test bed for an early reopening of the tourism, hospitality and cultural sector. https://www.cwlep.com/news/government-urged-use-west-midlands-test-bed-early-reopening-tourism-hospitality-and-cultural
Rugby Group posts strong results
Revenue jumped at an Rugby-based listed company Filtra Group Holdings, which provides cooking oil filtration and fryer management services to restaurants, according to new figures. Filta Group Holdings has reported a revenue of £24.9m for the 12 months to 31 December 2019, up from £14.2m. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/revenue-jumps-at-acquisitive-listed-company
UK Car Dealerships re-open
UK Car Dealerships were allowed to reopen on June 1st and heavy demand is predicted though, in the longer term, the outlook is less certain. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/31/uk-car-sales-set-to-surge-as-showrooms-reopen-but-demand-will-fade-quickly
Wigley Group spec builds at Bedworth
Construction is underway on spec development of a new industrial unit in Bedworth. The 27,000 sq ft unit – called Exhall Three due to its proximity to Junction 3 of the M6 – is being built by The Wigley Group as part of a major redevelopment of the site it owns in School Lane, Exhall. https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/new-industrial-unit-opens-up-opportunity-on-edge-of-coventry/
New Gigafactory promised by UK Start-up
A Coventry-based company wants to build and operate the UK’s first gigafactory. Britishvolt has announced plans to investigate collaborating to build the UK’s first full cycle battery cell gigaplant, which could reportedly cost close to £4 billion, to service the automotive and energy storage markets. https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/could-britain-soon-get-its-first-gigafactory/
Deeley Constructon just the ticket at HORIBA-MIRA
HORIBA MIRA has appointed Coventry-based Deeley Construction as the main contractor for their new Park-IT autonomous vehicle test facility. It is one of eight UK Testbed CAV test facilities. https://www.deeley.co.uk/deeley-construction-lands-major-new-contract-with-horiba-mira/
CW Chamber Launches COVID-19 Recovery Hub
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has created a Covid-19 Recovery Hub that will keep firms updated with all the latest information on Government guidance through to opportunities to bid for new contracts. It has been designed to help companies across the region to prepare for first steps being taken to get the economy moving again. https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/chamber-launches-covid-19-recovery-18270564
New CAV Research at University of Warwick
Researchers at Warwick University will be testing the safety standards of autonomous vehicles thanks to a £1.23 million, seven year UKRI Future Leader Fellowship awarded to Dr Siddartha Khastgir. Dr Khastgir’s fellowship will develop pioneering testing methodologies and international standards to enable robust and safe use of CAV, particularly focusing on creating both fundamental knowledge and applied research methods and tools. https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/autonomous-vehicle-safety-standards-to-be-set-by-warwick-academic/
BMW Boost for PPE
BMW’s major powertrain plant at Hams Hall in Coleshill has donated 6,000 pairs of gloves for the council to distribute to care workers and care homes throughout the county. https://www.cwlep.com/news/warwickshire-care-homes-ppe-boost
Very Light project wins gold
A project which has seen its partners create a woven braided carbon fibre composite frame for the Very Light Rail disruptive technology solution for the rail industry, has won gold at the JEC World 2020 Innovation Awards, the international composites show. https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/woven_light_rail/
AMG boss replaces Andy Palmer at Aston
Tobias Moers, CEO of Daimler Benz high performance subsidiary Mercedes AMG, is to take over as CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda in August: https://www.ft.com/content/e4ff8864-1f44-47bd-a77f-c75fd33171ec
Warwickshire coach firm draws up guidelines for fleet
Johnson's Coaches, which operates more than 50 coaches across the West Midlands, has drawn up new social distancing guidelines for its fleet to provide a safer alternative to other forms of public transport and which can be used by local companies. https://www.cwlep.com/news/coach-firms-bid-restart-warwickshire-economy
Jess Jeetley joins CWLEP Board
A multi award-winning entrepreneur has joined the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) board to add her vast retail experience. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2040047-retail-expert-joins-lep-board