Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Policy Corporate Membership
Chamber unveil new corporate membership package
(Left to right): Peter Deeley (Deeley Group), Elizabeth Belhadj (Coventry Chemicals), Louise Bennett, Hazel Pilling (both Chamber), Johanne Thomas (RadioStation Rugby), Edward Hudson (Deeley Group).
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has launched a new form of support for medium to larger sized businesses in the region. The Chamber has unveiled a corporate membership that offers additional benefits to members - and already five firms have signed up. It is the first package of its type to be offered by the Chamber and will help to link companies together and help to enhance the profile of those businesses who take it up. The Coventry-based Deeley Group, RadioStation Rugby, CovPress Assembly Ltd, Coventry Chemicals and HSBC have all signed up to corporate membership. Louise Wall, Group Commercial Director at the Chamber, said: “We have led the way in offering this new package to medium to larger sized companies and the fact that we have had such a good take-up already illustrates the strength of the offering.
“The Chamber is the voice of business for companies in Coventry and Warwickshire but it is also the organisation to be a part of in order to grow your firm. “Our essential membership has always provided a host of services that the vast majority of SMEs require – from networking opportunities through to legal support, should it be needed. “The corporate membership builds on that but brings greater opportunities to connect businesses with one another where we see real benefits of those firms working together. “We are confident it is going to be a great success.” As well as the corporate membership offer, the Chamber has also created a group of Strategic Partners for more than three years. That includes some of the city and county’s larger companies and organisations. For more information on the range of services available from the Chamber, telephone 024 7665 4321.
Commitment to the community for almost 80 years The Deeley Group, based in Coventry, has been building relationships as well as homes and public and commercial properties for almost 80 years. The company was formed by bricklayer George Deeley in 1936 and the business, which is still run by George’s son Peter, has gone from strength to strength, now occupying purpose-built premises at the Coventry Business Park in the city. Its development arm – Deeley Properties – continues to thrive and has helped to regenerate sites across the region, bringing employment, retail, leisure space and homes to all four corners of Coventry and Warwickshire and beyond. Deeley Construction, the company’s contracting division, continues to carry out work on behalf of a range of clients on a host of projects including at HORIBA-MIRA, Warwickshire College, the University of Warwick, Coventry University and on a series of retail parks for LondonMetric Properties. But the Deeley Group’s foundations are laid on its commitment to its community
and that is part of the thinking behind the decision to become a corporate member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber has the economic wellbeing of Coventry and Warwickshire at its heart,” said Peter Deeley, “and we are fully behind that. Our roots are in this area and we want to support the Chamber every step of the way in bringing further prosperity to the region. “More than that, we always look to use local suppliers wherever possible and the Chamber network is a great place to meet other businesses in the area. The new corporate membership will also give us a chance to develop new relationships which is something we have prided ourselves on for nearly 80 years.” He added: “There is a great deal of talk at the moment about the role business plays in society and we have always taken the
view that you have to work with the community around you – whether that’s other businesses, groups or individual people.” To that end, the company is a big supporter of organisations such as the Heart of England Community Foundation, the Grace Research Foundation and Theatre In Education (a programme led by Belgrade Theatre) which supports youngsters in Coventry and Warwickshire to develop through drama. It’s the sign of a company that wants to play its part in more ways than one. For more information on the Deeley Group, log onto www.deeley.co.uk
A formula for continued business expansion
Coventry Chemicals Ltd (CCL), a local manufacturer for more than 50 years, is the latest business to become a Corporate Member of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
The business has been built around domestic cleaning products and own label manufacturing – encompassing everything from washing up liquid to bleach and oven cleaners to car screen wash. It’s built up a broad business portfolio supplying products to regional distribution channels and leading stores across the UK. Several years ago the company diversified into the pet sector, acquiring Veterinary Health International, which added the world-leading animal and veterinary disinfectant Omnicide to its product range. A patented product, Omnicide, is an established brand that sells on 5 continents and helped underpin CCL’s exporting activities. Committed to the local economy and employing mainly local people, CCL values its connections to the surrounding community and continues to expand its labour force. In the last year alone, it’s kick-started a large investment programme to make its production lines faster and more efficient to meet growing demand. It aims to double its export business following the formation of a healthcare division that will deliver products to the human health market, in particular, promoting the established Hycolin brand that’s widely used in hospitals, as well as its established veterinary products in the Middle East and South America. CCL views its enhanced relationship with the Chamber as an integral part of its ongoing expansion. Working closely with Business Relationship Manager, Hazel Pilling, it aims to achieve a higher level of connectivity with local business and organisations and explore new marketing and exporting opportunities. In particular, it hopes that the peer-to-peer Director Days will help to raise the company’s profile and establish business connections that will help CCL achieve its short and long-term objectives.
RadioStation Rugby and the Chamber are sending out all the right signals
A local landmark for more than 75 years and clearly visible from junction 18 of the M1 motorway, the former Rugby Radio Station site was a groundbreaking development for long wave radio when first constructed.
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Radio, like every other technology, has moved on significantly since then and the brownfield site is about to undergo a radical transformation, bringing more than 6000 new homes, much-needed community infrastructure and green spaces to the outskirts of Rugby. The partners behind the aptly-named development, RadioStation Rugby, are strategic land developers Urban&Civic and Aviva Investors. The partnership recently became a Corporate Member of the Coventry & Warwickshire
Chamber of Commerce. Having secured outline planning consent last year, the development is gearing up to start in autumn 2015. Johanne Thomas, who oversees Communications, Communities and Partnerships for RadioStation Rugby said; “It’s a project that will present many opportunities for Rugby and the wider area’s businesses. We’re supporting Rugby’s ambitions for growth through housing and infrastructure delivery, and investment in local business and skills are an important part of that growth. We see our relationship with the Chamber as a key factor in helping to tap in to the local knowledge and connections that will play a critical role in the success of the project.” One huge advantage of the site is its location in the heart of the country. It provides
fantastic access to motorways and other transport links and RadioStation Rugby believe that its location, rich heritage and attractive green spaces will make it one of the UK’s most unique places to live. And with preparations already under way, RadioStation Rugby is convinced its relationship with the Chamber will help to boost the project’s profile. “Working alongside the Chamber has already presented us with many opportunities to engage effectively with local businesses, as well as raising awareness about the development and its long term vision,” said Johanne. “With the support of the Chamber we’ll be able to get our message out there that something fantastic is happening in the region and there are a host of opportunities for local suppliers, service providers and businesses in general to get involved.”
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