C&W Jan 26

Issue 111 January - February 2026

BRIDGE TO BUSINESS Meet Heike Schuster-James who is helping to bring business and academics together. Page 20

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Foreword

Contents

January - February 2026 Vision for 2026

4-5

Comment

6

Development

8-9

Budget

10-11

Business Engage Profiles

12-13

Chamber Training

Dear Chamber Member, I hope you had a great Christmas and, like me, you are looking ahead to this year with confidence.

I am an eternal optimist and, while I understand just how difficult and uncertain the past few years have been, I believe 2026 could be a positive one for firms across Coventry and Warwickshire.

It won’t be without difficulties because businesses across the region have been hit by more and more cost increases in recent months and many have struggled to build those into their plans. Nothing has felt easy for an awfully long time.

Our final QES of 2025 reflected the uncertainty among firms but the outlook remained positive overall and suggested that the regional economy will grow this year.

The Prime Minister also suggested this year could be a turning point for the economy and, as you will see throughout this magazine, there is a huge amount of activity across the region including more than £500 million worth of development underway.

We may even be home to a Premier League football club by the time we reach the summer, but I am not going to jinx Coventry City’s chances at this stage!

As a Chamber we have a big role to play in our region and, by default, that means you do too.

The more you engage with us – by attending events, by filling out our QES, by sharing your news, by feeding back to us – it makes your Chamber stronger and our voice even louder.

This year will see the launch of our business manifesto – a document written with businesses across every part of Coventry and Warwickshire – and will see our Business Assembly grow after a very successful inaugural meeting in December.

Coventry & Warwickshire Business and Community Awards ahead of the celebration evening at the Belgrade Theatre this April. Once again, we had well over 150 entries and its testament to the success of last year’s event that so many of you have wanted to put yourselves forward for an award.

We’re also planning our Local Business Forums and, believe it or not, our Annual Conference in November and will communicate details on those as soon as we can.

So, please, engage with us.

Make the most of your membership.

And let us help you grow this year and, in turn, make it a positive 2026 for everyone.

We’re also going to enhance your opportunities to share your news through us and also to share even more information and updates on what’s going on across the region that affects your business.

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Events

16-17

Economy

18

Profile

20-21

Skills

22-23

News

26-29

Education & Skills

30-31

Branch News

32-38

News

40-42

Health & Wellbeing

43

President & People

44-45

New Members

46

Member offers/events

47

Corin Crane Chief Executive

At the time of writing, we are about to begin the judging process for the

Corporate & Executive Travel www.prestigechauffeursofwarwickshire.com 07946 151 874

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Vision for 2026 The official publication of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce ••••

CONTACTS AT THE CHAMBER News desk Members are encouraged to send any news about their firm - new orders, staff, new products, expansions or relocations for publication in C&W in business.

Whilst every effort will be made to publish submitted articles, we cannot guarantee inclusion.

Send them to: news@cw-chamber.co.uk Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Growth is forecast as businesses show cautious optimism

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Coventry and Warwickshire’s economy is expected to grow in 2026 according to a leading business survey.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s final Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of 2025 showed that firms in the region felt the effects of an uncertain period around the time of the Autumn Budget and the fallout from the cyberattack at JLR. The survey, which is delivered in partnership with Prime Accountants Group and measures how business owners are feeling, is analysed by the Business Intelligence Service at Warwickshire County Council.

From the responses of businesses across the service and manufacturing sectors, it gives scores out of 100 where anything above 50 indicates growth and anything below 50 is negative.

It looks at a range of aspects of doing business in the region, including the outlook for employment, investment, confidence, and current and future order books for both domestic and overseas sales.

Mark Etherington Accounts Director Joanne Casey Media Number 2215 © Benham Publishing 2026 C&W in Business is produced on behalf of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce by Benham Publishing Limited and is distributed to members free of charge.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in C&W in Business, neither Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber.

•••• 4

Steve Harcourt (left) with Corin Crane

In the vast majority of indicators, there was a drop compared to the previous quarter but, crucially, overall confidence remained above 50 while the overall economic outlook had a score of 56.2.

Corin Crane, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The survey backs up everything we heard anecdotally at the end of 2025 that firms had been through a difficult and uncertain period. So many businesses were nervous about the Budget and the manufacturing sector had been hit by the JLR attack.

“However, what we started to see after the Budget was confidence starting to return and lots of things that had been put on hold were starting to move forward.

“The first few months of 2026 will provide an important indication of what is to come

throughout the year. So, while there will be concern around this survey we have to take it in the context of the period it was carried out.”

Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants Group, added: “This is yet another fascinating survey that shows exactly how businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire were feeling as the end of the year approached.

“I know from my own client base that there was a huge amount of uncertainty but the last few weeks of 2025 felt much more stable and we are all hoping that this year begins on much more solid foundations from which companies across the region can grow.”

Todd Williams, business intelligence analyst (economy and skills) at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Quarter four at a national level rose modestly primarily due to an increase in services output, alongside an uptick in domestic orders for the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, overall demand is reported to be weakening both domestically and abroad. Global and domestic economic uncertainty were blamed for steepening job losses.

“Local recruitment efforts have fallen, with reduced difficulties recruiting.

The vast majority of local manufacturing sector respondents indicate that they are currently operating below full capacity.

“The results show that the overall economic outlook index for Coventry and Warwickshire exceeding the national trend in many ways.

Nevertheless, very weak local sentiments around both manufacturing and exports are a significant concern.”

••• Summary of 2025 Q4 PMI: Economic Outlook Overall, 56.2, down from 59.9 Service Sector 57.2, down from 59.0 Manufacturing Sector 47.2, down from 71.6

Domestic Sales Service Sector 52.8, down from 55.4 Manufacturing Sector 44.3, down from 73.7

Overseas Sales

“Meanwhile, the latest QES results shows a different picture for the local economy.

Local sentiment around domestic sales for the services sector show growth.

Service Sector 45.8, up from 41.6

“Meanwhile, other sales areas are all in contraction with overseas sales for the manufacturing sector showing significant weakness. Overall investment showed continued weakness, alongside cashflow for the services sector. Potentially related to the JLR shutdown, cashflow for the local manufacturing sector retracted sharply in Q4 from a very strong Q3.

Service Sector 70.7, down from 75.4

“Local concerns around labour costs remain significant for both the services and manufacturing sectors, with the manufacturing sector also being very concerned about raw material costs and utilities.

Manufacturing Sector 36.5, down from 41.7

Employment Manufacturing Sector 60.0, down from 83.3

Investment & Cashflow Service Sector 46.0, down from 48.0 Manufacturing Sector 41.5, down from 68.0

Business Confidence Service Sector 65.9, down from 66.6 Manufacturing Sector 50.0, down from 78.3

•••

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Vision for 2026

Business hopes for 2026 It’s been a long period of uncertainty for businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire.

From Brexit to Covid and a whole host of international events that have had a big bearing on the UK economy, it has been tough for many firms to plan.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Corin Crane said the drop in interest rates and fall in inflation at the very end of 2025 could spark

confidence among companies coming into the New Year.

So, C&W in Business asked Chamber members what their hopes were for 2026 and any plans they had for growth over the next 12 months.

And from increasing local procurement through to boosting regional skills, a host of businesses and organisations from across the region told us it was going to be an important year ahead.

Name: Victoria Steele Business: Bearhat Marketing “2025 was a big year for Bearhat Marketing - revenue doubled, and the momentum’s still building. In 2026, Bearhat’s growing the team and aiming to double again. We’re already working with two brilliant Chamber businesses, and we’re excited to work with more of you to hit your business goals!”

Name: Rachael Chadwick-Harrison Business: Chadwick Accountants & Bookkeepers Ltd “In 2026, I’m aiming for £1m ARR, increasing team capacity and efficiency through automation, AI, and better systems, while developing a more capable team through coaching, all with the goal of achieving more and enjoying more time off.”

“Heading into 2026, we are starting strong with a focus on growing our presence in the LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) sector with one of our existing clients. While automotive remains challenging, the LGV sector continues to focus on its people and in particular leadership development.”

Name: David Smith Business: IM Properties “In 2026, we’ll continue Partnering for Progress, recognising the value of long-term relationships with our supply chain, stakeholders, communities and occupiers, who share our Sustainable Futures ambitions to drive economic growth and deliver positive social impacts for future generations from investments in the region, including Stratford46, Bourn Building and Thrive Park.”

Name: Leigh Torrance Business: LTCA “As a branding, design and digital agency, LTCA finished 2025 strongly, with many businesses reviving their marketing plans after the Budget. We moved into new offices and look forward to the year ahead, focusing on our growth and helping the businesses we support increase their visibility and impact.”

Name: Carol Thomas Organisation: Coventry College

Name: Sara-Jane Watkins Organisation: WCG

“At Coventry College, we hope to continue with the unprecedented demand for our courses, whilst further investing in our sectorleading facilities. We are excited for the opportunities ahead, supporting the local NEET agenda, diversifying our employer responsive and commercial provision and growing our employment provision leading to job outcomes for residents.”

“We are prioritising the government’s NEET reduction agenda by expanding flexible Entry, Level 1, and 14-16 opportunities. We are also increasing apprenticeships and enhancing our Sports Academy with female rugby, boxing, and netball. Our aim is ensuring every young person has access to education, training and employment pathways in 2026.”

Name: Ezra McCusker Business: Coventry Conferences “For 2026, Coventry Conferences aims to work towards the Food for Life accreditation, deliver a refreshed brand identity, and launch a new website.

These ambitions reflect our ongoing commitment to sustainability and nutrition. We aim to continue improving and evolving conference space and offerings for our clients.”

Name: Rob Eyden Business: Eydens Locksmiths & Security “In 2026, I will lead with a focus on meaningful organisational growth, strengthening strategic partnerships, and securing and supporting our communities. Through innovation, continuous learning, and purposeful action, I am committed to creating opportunities that uplift our people and deliver impactful, measurable progress across the year.”

Name: Dan Branson Business: Reward Electrical Distributors “By connecting with businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, we aim to raise awareness of our products and services, create opportunities, and build lasting partnerships that strengthen our local economy. We also want to ensure that our procurement has a focus on local businesses.”

Name: Nick Moore Organisation: SOS Silence of Suicide “In 2026, we aim to partner with businesses to deliver our free resource OPEN Conversations, equipping staff with vital communication and wellbeing skills. By fostering stronger workplace connections and supporting community mental health, we hope to create meaningful impact both internally and across the communities we serve.”

Name: Verity Tiff Business: Ventures with Verity

Name: Lash Saranna Business: EZOO “EZOO is scaling fast for 2026 - aiming to double our team, streamline operations, and expand access to EVs through salary sacrifice and business subscriptions. Our mission is to help more people drive electric cars for up to 60 per cent less, with a service that’s simple, personal, and built to grow.”

Name: Conchi Palacios Business: Hall Reynolds Solicitors “In 2026, we aspire to strengthen client trust and broaden our community impact by empowering staff voices, refining compliance practices, and demonstrating authentic leadership.

Our focus is to highlight the genuine expertise of our team, ensuring fairness, clarity, and meaningful contributions across every case and collaboration.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Name: Dave Bownes Business: Haynes Oliver Ltd

“Many areas of England struggle with overtourism. I’m a Heart of England Blue Badge Tourist Guide and would encourage groups to visit Coventry and Birmingham and take a guided walking tour.

I have a self-guided audio tour of each, as well as offering in-person tours for group bookings.”

Name: Richard Morgan Business: MES Systems “In 2026, I aim to expand my networking and strengthen existing partnerships and long-term relationships. I’m also committed to prioritising our impact on the local community, supporting local charities and initiatives. We hope to also work with more schools, ensuring they benefit from the highest standards of safety and security.”

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Comment

The 2025 tax changes to Employee Ownership Trusts, what they mean for you "An EOT holds a controlling interest (over 50 per cent) in a company on behalf of all eligible employees.

Unlike direct share ownership schemes, employees do not individually hold shares; the trust owns shares collectively and must act for the benefit of the employee group as a whole."

Mark Brayshaw, Karen Keeling and Brian Jukes Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) have become an increasingly popular succession strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire businesses. They allow owners to sell a controlling interest in their company to a trust set up for the benefit of employees, thus ensuring continuity and often preserving the culture of the business. Generous tax incentives, in particular a 100 per cent Capital Gains Tax (CGT) relief, have driven much of this popularity.

However, the 2025 Budget introduced major reforms.

These changes aim to curb misuse and reduce the financial cost to the Treasury of the EOT regime, while keeping the structure viable for genuine employee ownership transitions.

What EOTs are and why they rose in popularity An EOT holds a controlling interest (over 50 per cent) in a company on behalf of all eligible employees. Unlike direct share ownership schemes, employees do not individually hold shares; the trust owns shares collectively and must act for the benefit of the employee group as a whole.

Before the 2025 reforms, owners selling a controlling stake to an EOT could qualify for full exemption from CGT. That made the route particularly attractive to founders wanting a tax efficient exit without selling to private equity or external buyers. Employees also benefited from an annual income tax free bonus, up to a capped amount, strengthening morale and engagement.

As a result, EOT transactions increased rapidly across Coventry and Warwickshire. However, with rising costs to the Treasury, and concerns about owners retaining too much control post sale, the government signalled a need for tightening.

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Why the Government changed the rules Government data showed the CGT exemption was much more expensive than initially estimated. Additionally, policymakers were concerned that some sellers were structuring EOT deals purely for a tax advantage rather than for genuine employee ownership and sometimes retaining influence through friendly trustees or inflated valuations.

The 2025 reforms therefore seek to: 1. Reduce the £2billion fiscal cost of EOT related reliefs 2. Ensure EOTs are genuine employee benefit structures 3. Increase transparency, accountability, and UK tax residency compliance 4. Maintain the EOT option, but on more balanced terms.

Rather than abolishing the relief, the government opted to scale it back and strengthen governance safeguards.

The key tax changes The biggest change is the reduction of CGT relief.

Previously, this was 100 per cent of the gain on a qualifying disposal to an EOT. However, from 26 November 2025, only 50 per cent of the gain is exempt, the other 50 per cent being chargeable to CGT. In addition, owners cannot claim Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) on the taxable portion if they choose the EOT route. This change significantly affects the after-tax proceeds for sellers, especially those with high-value businesses.

To prevent manipulation and ensure EOTs operate as intended, several governance conditions have also been tightened since they were introduced. A majority of EOT trustees must now be independent of the former owners.

This prevents owners from covertly retaining control which has been rife in the past. The trustee body must also be UK resident at the time of disposal which ensures the trust remains within the UK tax system. Transactions must reflect proper independent market valuations and inflated valuations aimed at extracting cash tax efficiently are prohibited. Additionally, deferred payments, a common part of EOT structures, must use reasonable commercial interest rates.

If an EOT breaches qualifying conditions within four years after the tax year of disposal, the seller’s relief will be withdrawn. This incentivises sellers and trustees to maintain compliance.

What hasn’t changed Importantly, some popular features remain in place. An EOT can still pay out an annual tax free bonus of £3,600 per employee and the EOT structure remains legally intact. This means the commercial rationale for enacting one is as strong as ever, it’s just the ancillary tax benefit that has been eroded. Exiting shareholders who value legacy, culture, and employee empowerment will still find EOTs compelling, but those whose priority is maximising after-tax sale proceeds may want to explore alternative exits.

If you would like any further information, please get in touch with the Corporate Tax Team at Dafferns today.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Who are HCR Wright Hassall?

Full-service Top 50 UK law firm Leamington Spa lawyers with local insight Expertise from sector specialists

Talk to us today Sam Payne and Heath Thomas, Joint Heads of Leamington Spa Office 01926 886 688 | www.hcrlaw.com HCR Wright Hassall is a trading name of HCR Legal LLP which is authorised and regulated by the SRA www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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Development

A centre for investment – how more than £500m will transform Coventry and Warwickshire Despite the economic uncertainty, Coventry city centre and Nuneaton town centre are in the midst of major investment programmes.

And, at the same time, a concept masterplan to revitalise Leamington Spa’s Parade has received high levels of support.

City Centre South in Coventry and Transforming Nuneaton were highlighted at the Chamber’s Annual Business and Economic Conference as major developments that will benefit residents and visitors alike.

All in all, there is over £500 million worth of investment already committed to help key centres in the region become fit for the future and here we showcase what businesses and residents can expect to see in the coming months and years.

City Centre South, Coventry

Before

After

The redevelopment of the south side of Coventry city centre has been decades in the making and is finally getting off the ground.

The residential led scheme is a mixeduse development across 6.5 hectares of the city centre – and is described as the biggest and most important investment in the city centre ever!

It will create up to 1,575 new homes along with retail and leisure space and will include 20 per cent affordable housing across the whole scheme.

It will create high-quality public realm and landscaping which will help to green the city, continuing the ongoing improvements already made in the city centre.

A view towards Rover Road

Before

After

There are opportunities for more than 40 new shops and restaurants in the first phase.

Demolition work started in June 2025 and is expected to be completed this summer. The first new homes will start to be built in the spring of this year and will be completed by the end of 2027.

The first phase of scheme is set to be complete by 2032.

The Hill Group is the developer working in partnership with Coventry City Council and supported by funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

A view towards Coventry Market

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www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Development

An artist’s impression of NWSLC’s new campus in Nuneaton town centre

Transforming Nuneaton Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) are working to deliver the Transforming Nuneaton Programme (TNP).

An artist’s impression of the new food hall at Grayson Place (Abbey Street development)

The vision is to transform Nuneaton into a prosperous town centre where people can live, visit, shop and do business, through excellent transport connections and high-quality office space.

Key initiatives within the programme include a new development in Vicarage Street, including Warwickshire County Council’s new library and business centre, with construction set to begin this year.

Bridge to Living has been designed to increase residential opportunities in the town centre while the redevelopment of Debenhams will see the creation of 63 apartments, with ground floor commercial space.

Abbey Street, also known as Grayson Place, includes the new Hampton by Hilton Hotel, which is already open and trading successfully, a new car park, college campus and leisure facilities such as padel courts and a new food court, which are under construction.

The Station Gateway Masterplan sets out to maximise this transport asset and looks to improve access as well as create new residential and commercial developments, while other infrastructure projects include ring road improvements, bus infrastructure and access, a second train station access and new active travel routes.

Leamington Euston Gardens view

Leamington North Parade Update

Leamington Town Hall Square

Leamington Town Centre

And after more than 3,100 responses to that exercise were analysed – a very high number compared to similar surveys - 76 per cent of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the masterplan.

It is a suite of projects that, together, will provide Nuneaton with the economic boost it needs and help it become a strong hub for its community. Investment in the town centre has been sought to improve leisure and business opportunities; education and skills; unlocking housing development; and rail, highway and cycle infrastructure.

The concept masterplan to revitalise Leamington Spa’s Parade received high levels of support from local residents and people working in or around the town centre.

The Leamington Transformation Board, a body comprising representatives of the town, district and county councils, created an emerging Parade Masterplan before Warwickshire County Council surveyed the public, businesses and organisations across eight weeks last summer for their views.

And finally…

While it’s not a town or city centre development, another project is set to change the Warwickshire skyline.

Construction has officially begun on the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer — a monumental landmark celebrating the Christian faith.

Set to rise higher than the Angel of the North, the 51.5m tall structure will be built from one million bricks, each representing a story of answered prayer. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Key components of the masterplan include pedestrianisation of the main street, the creation of a new town square near Leamington’s town hall for community events and performances, and environmental improvements such as new trees, planting, and seating.

The survey asked respondents to grade their feelings around the masterplan as a whole, as well as individual parts of the plan, in terms of strongly agreeing through to strongly disagreeing.

All twelve aims were supported by respondents, with strongest agreement for integrating trees and water features (89 per cent agreed or strongly agreed).

It is expected that a final design for Parade will be shared with the public this year subject to councillors agreeing to take the plans forward.

Once complete, Eternal Wall will serve as a ‘lasting symbol of hope and a reminder of Britain’s spiritual heritage’.

At a special ground-breaking ceremony in Coleshill around 200 guests — including donors, civic leaders, pastors and long-time supporters — gathered to mark the start of building work. The milestone follows the successful completion of the project’s initial £40 million fundraising goal.

Eternal Wall is expected to welcome approximately 250,000 visitors annually when it opens in 2028.

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Budget

Budget 2025 – what did it mean for business?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget was trailed for weeks and then accidentally slipped into the public domain via the OBR just minutes before she was due to stand up in the House of Commons.

Her speech lasted well over an hour, and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s initial reaction matched that of the British Chambers of Commerce – that there were very few surprises.

Compared to a year ago, that was a win. The Chamber has been calling for no fresh taxes on business after the shock National Insurance increase 12 months ago and the Chancellor largely delivered on that.

But there was still plenty to unpick for Chamber members who assembled at Stockton House at a roundtable event sponsored by Prime Accountants Group.

An increase in the minimum wage for under-18s, 18 to 21-year-olds and over-21s will, while not a tax, add to businesses’ cost base.

Tim Squires, commercial director at Squires Gear and Engineering, said: “For people who are on the minimum wage an increase is welcome and I understand how the cost of living has hit. But it does have repercussions.

“It doesn’t just mean salary increases for those on minimum wage, everyone else wants to maintain that gap so it means increases across the board.

“As soon as I heard those figures, I was making plans to put our prices up in January so we can maintain our profit margin. Other manufacturers will be doing the same and when you look at all of the other costs it is really hard to stay competitive with the rest of the world.”

Kate Hunter, managing director of Bear Cleaning, said: “Some of the headlines for consumers are that energy costs will come down, the two-child benefit cap is being lifted and they are generally bringing the cost of living down.

“For the consumer it feels better – certainly better than what we were preparing for. As a small business we don’t expect there to be too much for us anymore! But if it can give the consumer a bit of confidence, that is all we can hope for.”

The roundtable was covered by a range of media including LBC and the BBC and reporter Simon Gilbert was keen to catch up with Charnjit Saranna, of EZOO, on the back of the new tax-per-mile on electric vehicles.

EZOO helps businesses and their employees make the switch to electric vehicles through a salary sacrifice scheme which saves tax.

Charnjit believes the new tax could send out the wrong message, despite only being an additional £20 per month for the average driver.

Tim Squires, of Squires Gear & Engineering, gives a manufacturing perspective

Charnjit said: “We were expecting the three-penceper-mile tax to be introduced which means it is still cheaper to drive an EV rather than petrol/diesel.

Kate Hunter, of Bear Cleaning, offers Budget insight

“It just feels like it's a bit too early to start taxing EVs in this way when we are trying to encourage people to make the change especially when the Government is trying to achieve its Net Zero target with a 2035 deadline of the transition from petrol to electric.”

Louis Washington-Smith, of Tetra Real Estate – part of Wigley Investment Holdings, said businesses had been holding off decision making ahead of the Budget.

He said: “I don't think there were any big shocks, which is probably a good thing. When you are trying to buy and sell properties there is sometimes and mindset of ‘let's just wait and see’, people are concerned there might be a big change that could be costly.

Paislei Godley of Prime Accountants Group gives Budget verdict

“It happens every time there is a Budget. It stunts activity. Now, we know what is in the Budget we’ll see what impact it has on confidence. It would have been nice to have seen some more help for small businesses.”

Lights, camera, action as the BBC capture the Budget roundtable

The often-used phrase after a Budget is that the devil will be in the detail but Paislei Godley, of Prime Accountants Group, was quick to point out measures that will impact business.

She said: “There were some interesting changes around salary sacrifice on pensions meaning there is a £2,000 cap, which will increase costs from 2029.

“There was a huge amount on tax to pick through and I noted, among many other things, that they are dropping the tax relief on employers selling into employee ownership trusts (EOTs).”

Charnjit Saranna, of EZOO, chats to Simon Gilbert of the BBC

Paul Noon OBE, of Coventry University, said AI had a big part to play in closing the productivity gap that was mentioned at the start of the Chancellor’s speech.

He said: “I hope that the Budget makes businesses see that we can all benefit from AI. The UK might not come up with a ChatGPT or Google, but all of our businesses can reap the benefits of technology.”

Louis Washington-Smith, of Tetra Real Estate, with Chamber head of media and PR Lee Corden

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, brought the roundtable to a close with a short, sharp summary of the Budget.

He said: “Ultimately, we didn’t want any more big shocks for businesses in this Budget after last year and, thankfully, it seems the Chancellor has avoided any of those this time.”

Chamber CEO Corin Crane makes his point

For a full breakdown of the Budget and what it means to business, the British Chambers of Commerce has produced a policy grid which can be found here: https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/BCC-Autumn-Budget-2025-Policy-Grid.pdf

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www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Budget

No big surprises in ‘leaked’ Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget was one of ‘no shocks and no surprises’ in a bid to bring calm to the economy.

That was the view of firms from across the region who were brought together by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce at Stockton House in Southam at a roundtable event sponsored by Prime Accountants Group.

Much of the Budget had been trailed in advance and then made public via the Office for Budget Responsibility just before the Chancellor was about to address the House of Commons.

Changes were announced to salary sacrifice on pensions, business rates to support leisure, hospitality and retail firms and on apprenticeship training.

There were also announcements on a new tax-per-mile for electric vehicles.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “After last year, the Chancellor wanted to avoid any big shocks and any big surprises because of the fallout 12 months ago.

“With all of the trailing of the Budget over recent weeks and the leaked OBR report just beforehand, there was little room for anything to come as a major surprise.

“As a Chamber, we’ve campaigned with our colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce for there to be no major increases in tax on business and it does feel, broadly, like this has been the case.

From EZOO Business leaders gather at the Chamber’s Budget roundtable at Stockton House That said, many businesses will be concerned about a rise in the minimum wage and whether they pass on that cost increase to their own customers.

attempt to put more money in the pockets of consumers – and time will tell if it gives businesses the confidence to start to invest and grow.”

“On business rates, for years we have been calling for long-term reform but once again we got a short-term announcement which was welcome but doesn’t give firms the chance to really plan.

Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants, added: “We say every year that the devil is in the detail and I feel that is the case more than ever.

“We also wanted to see support for training and the announcement on apprenticeships is welcome.

“In terms of export, another area where we wanted to see action, there was very little in the Chancellor’s speech for businesses while on infrastructure there was a passing mention of more funding for planning but no big announcements.

“The Chancellor wanted to present a picture of stability and certainty – and

“Businesses felt stung by the Budget 12 months ago and the Chancellor has attempted to avoid that this time.

“There were aspects that sounded positive and some aspects – such as the change to salary sacrifice – that we’ll need to look at in more detail.

“Let’s hope it’s a Budget that gives a feeling of stability and confidence moving into 2026 and that we can get the economy growing more quickly and sustainably.”

Boring Budget could bring New Year bounce Financial experts in Coventry and Warwickshire, who have had the chance to digest Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget, hope its lack of excitement provides a platform for growth in the New Year.

It was described as ‘boring’ and ‘uneventful’ but with the hope that it could provide stability for businesses to invest and grow.

Ray Abercromby, a Partner at Azets and a corporate structuring specialist, said that the minimum wage increase would lead to higher employment costs but said the Budget was largely finetuning.

“I apologise in advance,” he said: “There’s nothing that’s that exciting. Everybody thought there was going to be a big headline because so much had been trailed but, in the end, the budget was actually a bit of a non-event compared to the previous one.

“The biggest practical impact is the national minimum wage increase. In the last five years, we’ve seen something like a 45 per cent increase in the national minimum wage, which causes a squeeze effect on pay bands above.

“There were other changes around pension contributions through salary sacrifice but these are a few years off.

“So, I believe the Chancellor has gone for a boring Budget and we’re already seeing clients coming to us looking to move forward with plans because they feel a little bit more confident. They are saying they can now plan and make decisions, which is positive.”

When the Chancellor unveiled the Budget, one detail caused a ripple through the EV world. From April 2028, electric car drivers in the UK will face a new charge of 3p for every mile driven, with plug-in hybrids at 1.5p per mile.

Headlines framed it as a dramatic new tax on zero-emission driving. But once you look beyond the alarmism, a different picture emerges.

For years, EVs have benefited from generous tax breaks and government schemes (such as the ongoing Electric Car Grant) designed to accelerate adoption.

Yet as more of us make the switch, traditional road-funding through fuel duty is disappearing. The government’s mileagebased approach, formally called electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), simply asks EV drivers to contribute a share towards the roads they use.

At EZOO, we have crunched the numbers and the new charge starts to feel proportionate rather than punitive.

An average driver covering around 8,500 miles annually would see roughly £255 added to their yearly motoring costs under the new scheme – which is still significantly cheaper than the equivalent fuel duty for petrol and diesel cars.

Azets, Handelsbanken and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce brought together around 100 businesspeople at Coventry Golf Club in Finham for a breakfast event to offer an insight into the Budget more than a week after it was presented to the House of Commons.

Chan Landa (Azets), Ray Abercromby (Azets), Brett Salisbury (Handelsbanken), Alex Bolton (Azets), Martin Watts (The Myton Hospices), Gurprit Singh (Chamber).

Handelsbanken Coventry, said seeking professional advice was more important than ever.

He said: “The tax burden will rise to its highest ever level in this Parliament.

“There is room for optimism but I would definitely advocate for seeking help and advice from the experts rather than being reactive to policy change as and when it happens.”

That’s crucial context. As the tax rules change, it’s easy to lose sight of the broader picture: electric motoring remains more affordable overall, especially when paired with smarter ways of accessing EVs such as salary sacrifice schemes and business subscriptions.

The days of one-size-fits-all tax breaks are ending. But this isn’t the end of the road for EVs - it’s an adjustment that reflects changing realities while keeping the UK’s net-zero ambitions on track. Electric driving is still cleaner, cheaper, and a smarter choice for the long haul.

The event also heard from The Myton Hospices and businesses were urged to find out how they can support the organisation due to its heavy reliance on donations.

Chris Nagle, Head of Events, Marketing and Communications at the Chamber, said: “We were delighted to join forces with Azets and Handelsbanken for this event.

Alex Bolton, Azets’ Financial Planner, agreed: “This year’s Budget wasn’t really anything major. Probably the biggest change was the salary sacrifice changes and everything else is more of clarification, or a slight tweak to what was announced last year.”

“Our initial reaction on the day of the Budget was that there had been few surprises and that was backed up by the conversation in the room after our experts had time to analyse some of the finer details.

He said there were changes in taxation that businesses and individuals needed to be aware of but that they should speak to an expert to get advice. Brett Salisbury, Branch Manager at

“We’re all hopeful that 2026 will bring a more stable business environment which gives firms across Coventry and Warwickshire an opportunity to grow.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Why the 3p-per-mile EV tax isn’t the electric shock some feared

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Business Engage Profiles

New era for leading communications agency PLMR A new senior leadership team is driving the next chapter of growth for a leading communications agency in the Midlands.

PLMR, which has 100 staff nationally and offices in Coventry and Birmingham, has been rooted in the region for nearly 30 years.

The firm, which also has offices in London and Ipswich, is ranked nationally by PR Week as a top 10 public affairs agency and top 50 PR agency.

Rebecca Langton, head of PLMR Midlands, and Rob Milne, deputy head of PLMR Midlands, will be guiding the agency through the next stage of its development in the Midlands.

The award-winning team offers a full suite of communications services including public relations, media training, crisis communications, digital communications, public affairs, planning communications and stakeholder engagement.

Its experienced PR and communications consultancy, formerly known as Advent Communications, has a track record of raising the profile of clients in local, regional and national media.

The team also includes a specialist built environment and planning communications practice, delivering communications strategies for major residential and commercial schemes across the Midlands and nationally. Its experts support clients to engage with local communities and stakeholders and achieve positive planning outcomes.

The wider team delivers communications services to a range of industry sectors, including the built environment, professional services, construction, property, sport, leisure and tourism, education and the public sector.

PLMR also boasts a multi-award-winning digital, design and creative practice working across a range of specialisms – from web and software development, digital marketing, search engine optimisation and online strategy, to graphic design, brand development and video production.

The Midlands team ended 2025 with a flurry of client wins, with the British Transplant Games, The Pack Smart

Group and Shepherd Commercial joining its roster of PR clients.

The agency continues to strengthen its relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders across the region, including supporting regional thinktank Centre for the New Midlands as its Media Partner for the Connection for Prosperity: Beyond the Sport conference on February 5.

PLMR closed out 2025 by being named in a series of shortlists for national industry awards, including for Planning Campaign of the Year at the PRCA Public Affairs Awards 2026.

The team has been recognised for its innovative consultation work with placemaking supergroup ECF (a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse) on plans for Smithgate, the largest regeneration scheme in Wolverhampton.

PLMR, has also been shortlisted for Large Consultancy of the Year at the awards.

Rebecca Langton, board director at PLMR, said: “We’re proud of our Midlands roots, and our first year leading the Midlands team has been really exciting.

“The Midlands has always been central to PLMR’s success and we remain committed to delivering for our clients across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.

“With a refreshed leadership team and growing client base, 2026 looks set to be an exciting year. If your organisation is looking to raise your profile, influence and impact this year, we can help you do just that.”

To find out more about PLMR visit www.plmr.co.uk

Azets – and its clients – on target for growth in 2026 A national accountancy firm, with a strong base in Coventry, is hoping 2026 will be a year for economic stability and is forecasting growth for its own business – and its clients.

Azets, which has offices across the UK including 40 staff at its location at Siskin Drive in Coventry, will take on the next generation of talent later in the year and will be launching an audit function out of Coventry.

The company, which offers a range of accountancy and professional services, has been supporting firms and individuals on a range of affairs – from tax planning to restructures – during a long period of economic uncertainty.

Now, Chan Landa, a partner at Azets – having risen through the ranks over the past decade, believes businesses will be more confident to make positive decisions following the Chancellor’s ‘anti-climax’ Budget at the end of November.

He said: “At the Budget in 2024, it felt like the goalposts changed. A lot of people were sitting in fear ahead of the 2025 Budget, and they put decisions on hold.

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There was a lot of uncertainty, especially in retail and hospitality.

“There was so much talk about what was going to happen in the Autumn Budget but it was a bit an anti-climax. There were still quite a few changes, which means that businesses will need that sound professional advice and that’s what we are here for.

“We’ll be busy at the start of the New Year with tax planning and forecasting with clients but we anticipate a lot of projects too. That could be restructures or growth plans because businesses will now want to move forward at a faster pace because they felt like they had been on hold.

“There are a lot of factors to bear in mind when going ahead with those plans and that is where we can help them. That is why it is so important to have such resources in the region and, indeed, across the country so we can support clients with anything they need.”

He added: “Our big selling point is that we are one-stop-shop when it comes to professional advice.

“We’ve got our core services of compliance, accountancy and business advice. We have a tax specialist, who was very much in demand after the Budget, and a wealth management specialist too.

“We try to be a first point of call for clients so they feel that we are sitting next to them in every decision they make.

“That could be something quite specialist such as stamp duty advice or just general compliance work or company accounts.”

The team in Coventry is complemented by specialists across Azets’ offices around the country, meaning clients have a broadbase of knowledge and expertise at their disposal.

Chan said: “Azets has a healthy mix of people in terms of age in the team so we feel we can be a good fit with any business that needs help.

“The company supports its people to improve and progress. We grow from within.

“Every year we have a school-leaver and graduate intake and that will happen again in September which allows the previous

generation to be promoted at a faster pace.

We want to grow. We’ve got the space in the Coventry office, we’ve got the ambition, so the plan is to become an even bigger name in the city.”

For more information go to https://www.azets.com/

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Business Engage Profiles

Stories that are out of the ordinary Jo Billings’ media career has given her an eye for a good story – and she has got those in abundance in her new role with one of the region’s leading hospitality businesses.

Jo, who started her career with the Rugby Advertiser and has worked for a range of media outlets across Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands, is the new business development manager for No Ordinary Hospitality Management.

It means that Jo gets to talk to businesses day-in, day-out about what’s on offer at the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel, whether it’s for conferences, meetings or events in the charming 12th Century property.

In the summer of 2025, the hotel revealed it had completed an extensive redesign of eight of its historic rooms – reimagining the interiors of its most in-demand spaces for weddings, meetings and private events.

The transformation drew heavily on the building’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.

And that is complemented by the fact that the hotel benefits from more than 500 acres of parkland and can offer a range of team-building exercises from Go Ape through to Archery Tag. Jo said it all added together to make a fantastic corporate offer but it is the stories behind the former Cistercian monastery that add the additional wow factor.

“Throughout my career in media, I’ve seen the power of a great story,” she said.

“And we’ve got so many here and as much as business want the great surroundings, all the latest tech and all of the teambuilding options, they love the historic tales that come with Coombe Abbey.

“I was speaking to someone only the other day about our links to royalty and to the Gunpowder plot and their face lit up with excitement.

“But, if you look more recently, most of us from the region have visited Coombe either as a park or as a hotel over the years and we’ll all have our own stories to tell too.”

And Jo’s stories are not limited to Coombe Abbey Hotel. St Mary’s Guildhall in Coventry city centre, Stoneleigh Abbey and the IXL Events Centre in Southam all fall under her remit when it comes to attracting events to the No Ordinary Hospitality portfolio.

Jo said: “The building and the grounds at Stoneleigh Abbey are like something from a period drama and again have links to royalty and to literature through Jane Austen. It’s ideal for weddings and corporate events.

“St Mary’s Guildhall is just stunning and has played its part in local and national history, including the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th Century.

Now, it’s incredible to think that businesses can hire out the breathtaking Great Hall that comes complete with the historic Coventry Tapestry.

“At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve got the very modern IXL Events Centre that can host events for up to 800 people.

It recently played host to the Chamber’s Annual Conference but it’s also perfect for big awards ceremonies and car launches.

“I am just so lucky to have a portfolio that is full of history and stories and I’d love businesses across the region to get in touch to find out more.”

For more information on conferences, meetings and events with No Ordinary Hospitality email jo.billings@noordinaryhospitality.com

TMW Resilience helping firms to protect against cyber and AI risks With an increase in cyber-attacks and regulatory scrutiny, as well as a shift in global governance of cyber security and AI, it’s never been more important to review the resilience of your business.

Help is at hand in the form of TMW Resilience, which was founded by Warwickshire-based expert and entrepreneur Thibault Williams. The company is supporting organisations with preparing for imminent attack and disruption, and how to be best placed to recover better from disruptions.

It provides expertise in a wide range of industry standards including ISO27001, 9001, 42001, Cyber Essentials, and industry specific standards including ISO21434/UN Reg 155 and TISAX. Of those standards, one it is seeing increasing requests for is TISAX, which is widely becoming the cyber security benchmark across the manufacturing and automotive sectors, with more and more OEMs asking suppliers to have the certification in place by as early as mid-2026.

TMW can support organisations with TISAX, regardless of what stage they are at.

Its services range from identifying if the standard is needed and, if so, at what level, to full project management incorporating policy and documentation development, remediation support and supplier engagement as well as guidance through external audits.

The consultancy can also offer internal audits to identify gaps before any official assessment is carried

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Essentials, and expands into sector specific compliance requirements such as TISAX,” said Thibault.

Another area that TMW is seeing increased demand for is AI governance. AI adoption has exploded over the last year, bringing with it significant efficiency and cost savings for organisations.

However, in many cases organisations have struggled to keep pace with governing their AI usage leaving them potentially exposed to security and reputational risks.

TMW has recognised this disparity and is providing organisations with its AI Governance as a Service (AIGaaS) offering.

“In short AIGaaS empowers companies to onboard, manage and govern AI with confidence, enabling them to minimise risk, maximise compliance and unlock the strategic advantages of using AI,” said Thibault. out, while providing readiness scores and delivering corrective action plans.

However, TMW, which is known for its pragmatic, proportionate and operationally realistic approaches to governance and compliance, say it’s not just TISAX where organisations are trying to get ahead of fastmoving regulation.

“With the advent of the UK Cyber Security and Resilience (UKCSR) bill, we are seeing a significant increase in requests for support to gain compliance before the law comes into effect. This starts with Cyber

“We’ve seen organisations scared to use AI due to compliance, security and reputational risks. Our service removes that fear by providing control and visibility over AI usage and aligns their processes to the well-known ISO42001 standard for complete reassurance.”

Thibault added: “Ultimately, we are here to help companies establish a resilient position and recover better so as to protect themselves and their clients against many of the modern day risks that advancing technology brings.”

For more information or to contact TMW Resilience go to https://www.tmwresilience.com/

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Chamber Training

Green 4 Motor Company wins membership survey prize draw

Apprenticeship drive applauded by business

member since 2018, and the company has strengthened community ties by becoming an official club sponsor of Coventry Rugby for the 2025/26 season.

Over the next three years, it says 50,000 young people will benefit from fully-funded training with small and medium-sized businesses, after the five per cent co-investment rate for under-25 apprentices was removed.

Hazel Pilling, membership and international trade manager at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’re thrilled to announce Green 4 Motor Company as the winner of our annual membership survey prize draw.

“Their continued engagement with the Chamber and dedication to supporting the local business community is exactly what our network is all about. We’d like to thank all members who took the time to complete the survey; your feedback directly shapes the services we deliver.”

Last year, the Chamber streamlined the survey following member feedback, making it quicker and more accessible while ensuring it still provides valuable insight for future planning.

Green 4 Motor Company has been announced as the winner of the prize draw for Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership survey, securing £600 worth of training vouchers to spend with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training.

support development, and help our employees grow.”

The annual survey gathers feedback from members across the region, helping the Chamber develop and enhance the services and support it provides to its members.

Green 4 Motor Company, an automotive dealer group representing Mazda, Subaru and Isuzu with sites across the Midlands, has been a Chamber member since 2023 and is known for its strong commitment to staff development. Long-serving colleagues, including Julie Hunt, who celebrated her 25th anniversary this year, reflect the company’s people-first culture.

Dan Ward, group marketing manager at Green 4 Motor Company, said: “We were delighted to win the £600 training vouchers.

We’re looking forward to investing in our staff and selecting courses with Chamber Training that will benefit the business,

As the business approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, it continues to maintain a local, personal approach while actively engaging with fellow Chamber members.

Recent collaborations include work with MV Visual Media, a fellow Chamber

Sally Lucas, executive director at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, added: “Congratulations to Green 4 Motor Company, we’re excited to support their commitment to developing staff skills and driving continued business growth. We look forward to working with the team to identify the right training and opportunities for their employees.”

For more information on Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training and the courses and qualifications on offer, visit: www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/ For more information on Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Membership, visit: www.cw-chamber.co.uk/membership/

Unlock everyday AI for your business A brand-new AI Academy has been launched for businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire to help individuals in the region with their day-to-day use of AI, bolstering productivity and growth.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training is working with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to empower businesses with practical AI skills through the online academy.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how businesses operate and the AI Academy, powered by PAIR, offers hands-on, role-specific training to help teams work smarter, faster, and more creatively.

Chamber Training is working with the BCC and PAIR to offer it to businesses across the city and county. No technical background is needed and structured modules cover everything from writing to research and data analysis.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

The unique aspect of this AI skills development tool is the way it personalises learning to the individual, their job role, and the organisation offering great value for money with an annual licence at less than £200 per user.

Those taking part in the training receive immediate feedback and LinkedIn-ready credentials.

Sally Lucas, executive director of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, said: “With 35 per cent of SMEs already using AI, staying ahead is vital.

“It is transforming how businesses operate, saving time, cutting costs, and boosting productivity. But for many SMEs, knowing where to start is the biggest hurdle.

“The Academy is suitable for all sectors and business sizes, whether you’re just starting or want to maximise existing AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Government’s drive to offer thousands more apprenticeship places to young people.

The Government has announced a £725 million reform package to boost apprenticeships and tackle youth unemployment.

A £140 million pilot will give Mayors the powers to connect NEET (not in employment, education or training) young people with local opportunities, ensuring training aligns with regional employer needs.

Businesses can also gain flexibility in training with new short courses in AI, engineering, and digital skills launching in April 2026, which the Government says will support growth.

Corin Crane, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We welcome the real commitment to apprenticeships and we know that while some of this will be about saving money for businesses who want to take on an apprentice, it’s also another chance to get the message out there about how great apprenticeships are for individuals and employers.

“Through our own training companies and through many local FE colleges and independent providers, we see how apprenticeships offer a great route to employment for young people and a chance for firms to grow their own talent.

“While unemployment has remained fairly consistent over recent years, it has been at an alarmingly high rate for young people and it’s vitally important that the Government pulls as many levers as possible to address that.

“And, it’s crucial that businesses and individuals from both Coventry and Warwickshire can benefit from this latest announcement.”

Sally Lucas, executive director at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, added: “It is a really positive step to remove all the training and assessment costs from employers who don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy for apprentices who are under 25.

“Flexible packages are available for individuals and teams, with 24/7 access and ongoing updates.

“We know there has been a huge amount of talk about the cost of employment rising but this will be a real benefit to SMEs who are thinking of taking on an apprentice.

“I’ve signed up to the course myself and can already see the day-to-day benefits of understanding more about AI and how it can boost my own work.

“On top of that, and while this is not new, employers don’t pay any National Insurance for an apprentice aged under 25 unless they earn over £50,000 so that is another reason to look at this as an option for growing a workforce.

“It teaches how to save time by automating repetitive tasks and free up hours each week. It boosts productivity and can improve workflows and decision-making, and, on top of that, it means firms can stay competitive by giving them an extra edge.

“The ten per cent Apprenticeship Levy top up which saw the £1m of the allocation become £1.1m of virtual credit for levy payers to spend is coming to an end while Levy funds in digital accounts will expire in 12 months rather than 24 months.

“I would definitely recommend it.”

Find out more and join the AI revolution at https://www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/ employers/courses/short-courses/aiacademy/ai-academy/

“I’d urge firms to get in touch with us and we can help them to navigate the world of apprenticeships and training if they need support.”

For more information on Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training and the courses and qualifications on offer, visit: www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/

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Events

DRIVING GROWTH

in Coventry and Warwickshire “Since 2020, there have been 250,000 job losses in hospitality – that’s the nearly the equivalent of the population of Wolverhampton. It’s a big impact.

“We all know there have been challenges over recent years but I think we’re a success story of survival and resilience.”

Carol: “From an education point of view, the region received LSIP funding which focused on several sectors and has really helped us to re-engage with employers.

“Historically, FE has always been good at working with businesses, but this has been made harder over the years due to a lack of funding. LSIPs have enabled us to re-engage with businesses. We can now go out to employers and ask them exactly what they really want and need.

Coventry and Warwickshire has often been described as a microcosm of the UK economy -with everything from manufacturing to agriculture and from leisure and tourism to professional services.

At its Annual Business and Economic Conference in November, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce brought together a panel of experts from a variety of industries to look at what will drive growth in the region in the coming years and what opportunities and challenges lie ahead.

Panel chair: Sarah Windrum, the Head of Cluster Development at HORIBA MIRA Panelists: Liz Martin (HSBC) Steve Harcourt (Prime Accountants Group) Dawood Ibtehsam (People Arches Ltd – McDonalds) Mitchell Barnes (RYSE 3D) Carol Thomas (Coventry College) Sarah: “At HORIBA MIRA, we are Europe’s leading future mobility R&D cluster. We have a 1,000-acre site just outside Nuneaton and are home to many employers – from start-ups up to large vehicle manufacturers who are all developing new technologies.

“We are seeing some signs of positivity and the headlines for the region look good.

“We had the Industrial Strategy launch at MIRA Tech Park and there are very few regions that tick more of the boxes of that strategy than ours.

“But there are challenges. The NI increase for employers, the Employment Rights Bill, and it is still a patchy landscape for business support.”

Steve: “It’s been a very mixed picture for the past 12 months. We have clients that are doing extremely well and making good returns – but they are having to worker even harder to achieve that.

“There are some companies that are struggling – they are used to having six-month order books but they are down to orders for just the next month and it’s making it difficult for them to plan.

“But, as we do in Coventry and Warwickshire, we’ve got businesses being entrepreneurial and they are pivoting and looking at new products, ideas and new markets. I am seeing many companies looking at exporting and being very choosy about the markets they go for.”

Mitchell: “One challenge is that the Government has, in my view, made life more difficult for businesses to employ people. By offering employment rights from day one, it makes it such a gamble to take on a new member of staff if you are a small business.

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“The National Insurance increase meant that we had to look at things differently. Instead of hiring five new people immediately because we were growing, we just pushed them further down the line.

“You have to look at savings where you can. Energy costs are a big one for us, so we developed our own 3D printers that use 98 per cent less energy than our competitors’ printers. We’re now on £5 million turnover with a £60,000 energy bill which is unheard of in manufacturing.”

Sarah: “You’ve taken the challenge and turned it into an opportunity.”

Mitchell: “Absolutely, you can’t rely on others to do it for you. So, do the right thing for you!”

Dawood: “The hospitality industry has been through an absolute hurricane and you are just hoping that the roof doesn’t blow off!

“We’ve done some great work with the construction retrofit industry and have a great example of a guy who was sleeping on a park bench a few months ago, but now has new skills and a job. In other places, we’ve offered companies bespoke courses they requested to meet a specific skills need.”

Liz: “From what I’ve heard and seen, Coventry and Warwickshire has a great framework and a great network of businesses through the Chamber. Taking advantage of those opportunities is crucial.

“You’ve got to stay on top of all the changes that are happening – so stay informed and do your research.

There is a lot you can’t control externally, but there are many things that you can and it’s important to get those right.

“I’m an economist, I can’t teach everyone how to run a business but my advice would be to just keep doing the next thing right. Businesses are incredible at rising to the challenge, absorbing the shocks and going again.”

Mitchell: “That’s right, you must innovate to stay one step ahead. You have to get better and faster in everything you do. You can keep things really simple.

You can use technology to your advantage to make your business better, that’s basically the essence of what we do at RYSE 3D.” Dawood: “You also have to find self-confidence and resilience when there are challenges – it’s the strength to say we will do it, one day at a time.”

Sarah: “This has been a fantastic discussion and we’ve heard some great stories from our region. On the point of technology, I would echo that sentiment to make full use of it when it works for you. There is no point just saying we are adopting AI because we think we have to. We must look at how we want to use it to make our business better.”

“You’ve got to stay on top of all the changes that are happening – so stay informed and do your research. There is a lot you can’t control externally, but there are many things that you can and it’s important to get those right." www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Successful Chamber conference hears that regional links must remain strong The crucial connection between Coventry and Warwickshire was highlighted at the Chamber’s economic conference at the tail-end of 2025.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce brought together more than 200 businesspeople and civic leaders from across the city and the county at its Annual Business and Economic Conference at the IXL Events Centre in Southam.

The conference, which was headline sponsored by Prime Accountants Group and People Arches, saw the Chamber announce its new president as Sandra Godley OBE – taking over the role from Steve Harcourt, of Prime Accountants Group.

But the conference also heard from a range of speakers and panelists, and there was strong sense of how interconnected the city and county are as an economy running throughout.

The event was kicked off by Chamber chief executive Corin Crane and also heard from Steve Harcourt, who described how he, as president, has travelled the length and breadth of the region meeting firms and seeing some of its success stories.

Liz Martins, Senior UK Economist at HSBC, described the national and international economic picture – from interest rates through to GDP and from inflation to the Chancellor’s budget.

Sarah Windrum, the Head of Cluster Development at HORIBA MIRA, chaired a panel on driving growth in Coventry and Warwickshire, which included contributions from Liz Martin; Steve Harcourt; Dawood Ibtehsam, Director of People Arches Ltd (McDonalds); Mitchell Barnes, CEO & Founder of RYSE 3D; and Carol Thomas, Principal & CEO, Coventry College.

MPs John Slinger and Jeremy Wright KC joined Corin on stage for a session on the future of the region and the changes through Local Government Reform.

That was followed by exciting plans for Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington delivered by Catherine Marks, of Warwickshire County Council; and Adam Hunt, of Coventry City Council.

The conference – which also welcomed a range of exhibitors including EZOO, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, Destination Coventry, Azets, Graphic Arts Group, Stratford-upon-Avon College, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, HSBC and NHS SWFT Charity – was concluded by an inspirational story from Kieran Joseph, the Founder & Chief Executive of Guardian Ballers CIC. Keiran described his journey to creating the organisation which empowers young people through the power of sport to better mental health.

Corin Crane said: “This year’s conference was an incredible show of faith in Coventry and Warwickshire as a region.

“We know it has been an uncertain period economically and that times have been tough for many businesses.

“But what came shining through from businesses and politicians is that the city and county can look forward with confidence because we always innovate and grow as a region.

“We heard from some amazing businesses and also some of the future plans for Coventry city centre and Nuneaton and Leamington town centres.

“And, what is absolutely clear is that Coventry and Warwickshire are interconnected and, no matter what political and structural changes take place, we work brilliantly together as an economy that represents the best of UK business.” www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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Economy

MPs offer their view on the future of the region MPs John Slinger and Sir Jeremy Wright come from opposite sides of the political spectrum but there is no doubting they both have the best interests of the region at heart.

John Slinger, the MP for Rugby and Bulkington, was voted in as Labour’s candidate at the last General Election, while Conservative Sir Jeremy Wright, the MP for Kenilworth and Southam, is now in his 20th year in Parliament.

The pair – who agree on many things in terms of the way forward for the region – joined Chamber chief executive Corin Crane on stage at our recent Annual Business and Economic Conference to discuss the future of the region, particularly with Warwickshire moving towards a unitary administration.

Corin: There is a great deal of change on the cards nationally and regionally.

There is also a huge amount of potential for regeneration and more employment land in our area which will help to drive growth. We need to make sure we get the infrastructure in place to help deliver that.

We need healthy local authorities, working here in Coventry and Warwickshire alongside us as businesses – something that has been the case for many years now – to help get the economy growing and making the most of these opportunities.

John and Sir Jeremy are two local MPs, who join us for a non-partisan conversation around what the future holds.

Jeremy: The starting point is that we should recognise the status quo is not sustainable. The idea that we have six councils in Warwickshire is probably not something we will be able to keep. The Government is very clear about the way forward, and I don’t disagree. There are huge advantages to unitary councils. For example, I find it odd that housing and planning is located in one council and economic development is in another!

We as MPs are often signposting constituents to the right council because people and businesses are unsure where to go.

So, we need to move on and in Warwickshire there are two options – a unitary for the north and a unitary for the south, or one that covers all of Warwickshire.

It probably makes more sense – being parochial about it – to have a unitary

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authority for the south of the county and one for the north because those areas are different.

But, it might be difficult because the Government wants a unitary authority to have 500,000 people within it and neither the north nor the south would be that big.

If that view is maintained then I suspect that, whatever I prefer, we might be looking at a single unitary authority for Warwickshire anyway.

This will increase accountability for politicians and will allow them to be more strategic and focus on the issues that matter most. That’s adult social care, special educational needs, children’s services, highways and strategic growth planning to support the economy.

That’s the purpose of the reforms and then we can have authorities with a mayor sitting at the top of them so that you can genuinely have strategic leadership and accountability.

I feel very strongly that a single unitary authority for Warwickshire is the right way forward. It will give us more clout and there are certain issues that really do need a county-wide focus.

Corin: You both talked about accountability and I think for a lot of our businesses it is a case of just wanting to know where decision-making is happening and sometimes that is more complicated than it needs to be.

John: I agree with a huge amount of what Sir Jeremy has said. It’s important to talk about the reason the government is doing this because it is about devolving responsibility, resources, and power to local areas.

If they’ve got a planning application in, some issues around safety, issues around roads, they are never quite sure where to go.

The status quo is too complicated.

There’s too much fragmentation, so in order to properly devolve responsibility, resources and power, you do need a more unified structure.

Jeremy: I think these changes will combine functions, making it easier for everyone to access services and get to the right person or department they need. It will also mean interactions

Do you think at the end of this process, we’ll get that accountability?

between different functions will be more efficient. If you are talking about development or housing plans, then that will be more efficient and more productive.

But we also have to understand that this isn’t the only thing that matters, there still needs to be co-operation at a strategic level and there is a reason why we are sitting here at the Coventry AND Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce conference. It’s a functioning economic geography and even though Coventry, from a political point of view, is part of the West Midlands, we have to make sure that this partnership remains strong.

John: I agree with much of what Jeremy has said on that point. If you think about the ordinary people going about their lives they are not particularly bothered about the name of the council. Some people are very vocal about it but ultimately most people just want to know that the council they get in touch with can actually improve the services they care about.

If you take Rugby Borough Council (and I used to be a councillor!), it is the sole planning authority for its area, so has enormous power over everything from extensions through to enormous multimillion-pound industrial developments.

What matters to the developer is that they, not only get planning permission, but that it will also have the right infrastructure around it and, again, I think this is why a unitary authority is the right way to go.

It will help to drive growth and that will be good for everyone.

Corin: This is a conversation that is going to continue but I would like to pick up on that point about Coventry and Warwickshire being a really strong economic region.

We are writing a manifesto and forming a business assembly with the city and the county very much at its heart because the two function so well together and nobody sees the borders between the two. It’s vitally important that we maintain that link because the economic success of one area is intrinsically linked to the other and the Chamber will be at the heart of that.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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Profile: Heike Schuster-James Heike Schuster-James, the Associate Director of Business Development and Acting Director for Engagement at Birmingham City University, helps to provide the institution’s bridge to business. And she believes connecting academic and business minds can be a driver for economic growth.

'The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Curiosity has its own reason for existing,’ is a famous line from Albert Einstein.

It’s the kind of quote you see pop-up from inspirational influencers on social media from time to time and could also, quite easily, be the mission-statement for any higher education institution.

And it is as close to a personal mantra as you can get for Heike Schuster-James, the Associate Director of Business Development and Acting Director for Engagement at Birmingham City University.

Heike was born in Dusseldorf in Germany and despite growing up in the pre-internet era, she had her own version of ChatGPT in the form of her parents.

“I’ve always been inquisitive,” said Heike. “I’ve always asked ‘why’.

“I had a lovely upbringing with two parents who absolutely valued knowledge. There was always a big library in the house.

“We had so many dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and the first thing they’d say if you didn’t know something was – ‘let’s look that up’.

Curiosity can be the key to growth 20

“So, it was natural for me to keep asking questions. I’m also very logical. I love Latin, maths, and the sciences. Even though I went into librarianship and project management later, that love of logic and curiosity has always been there.”

Heike studied Librarianship at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg before being involved in a couple of internet start-ups at the start of the dot.com boom.

She didn’t ‘survive’ the boom but acquired a taste for digital and moved to the UK in 2002 as an international project manager at Birmingham Central Library as an intern.

“I stayed in the UK, got into local government with Birmingham City Council, and started running innovation projects for the local authority,” said Heike. “These projects were in collaboration with other cities and universities.

“I began working on grant funding – developing proposals, bringing in the programmes, and delivering them.

“That’s how I started working with lots of universities, and I just fell in love with R&D and working with academics.

“My passion is inventing or innovating things, using things differently, making a difference on the ground, and improving something. That’s what research is all about – curiosity driven research to find out new things, which leads to real-life application. This is what Birmingham City University stands for. We take fresh knowledge and do something with it in the real world. That’s my happy spot.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Profile: Heike Schuster-James Heike felt settled in the UK immediately and found the West Midlands to be the perfect place to satisfy her curious mind.

“When I came off the ferry in my little car at 30, I just felt at home,” she said. “There are differences, of course, but there are many shared traits between Germanic and British people.

“I love the culture here. People are friendly, the pace is quick, but not breathless like London. And the multicultural environment was a big attraction. I love being in a place with people from all over the world with so much knowledge and different perspectives. That makes the Midlands super attractive.”

After fourteen years with Birmingham City Council, Heike joined Birmingham City University and is now a key part of the drive to bring it closer to the community in the region, including businesses.

“I understand concept development very well and can act as a bridge between business and academics,” she said.

“A lot of R&D is about translation between a business’s needs and an academic head. If you can get the bridge between those different disciplines it becomes very powerful and I think that’s the great joy of it.

“My remit is very wide and includes any function at Birmingham City University that deals with the external world including businesses, the public sector, community organisations, volunteers, anyone who wants to work with the university.

“My teams engage with them for purposes such as commercial activity, research impact, student experience, wellbeing, and employability. The apprenticeship team and alumni team are part of this, as well as business development for commercial products and services.

“Commercial services include areas such as consultancy, contract research, facilities hire, apprenticeships, CPD, and graduate recruitment. Anything that transfers knowledge from students or academics into businesses for mutual benefit.

“Students gain experience, academics gain impact, and businesses gain solutions.”

Working with a university can sometimes feel daunting, admits Heike, but she believes the picture is improving.

“Sometimes businesses will come to us knowing what they want,” she said. “If it’s talent-related, such as apprenticeships, graduate recruitment, placements or CPD, they know what they are looking for.

“But that opens the door for wider conversations about their pain points and future needs.

“On the other hand, some businesses approach us saying they want to work with the university but don’t have anything specific in mind. That becomes exploratory through mutual collaboration to solve problems and innovate.

“We know that if you come to us and don’t know how to work with us, it might not look easy. As a business owner, why would you approach us if you’ve never worked with a university before? Unless you’ve hired a graduate who tells you about their university experience, you probably have no insight.

“Most businesses only discover us through outreach or business programmes. We just want to make it a lot easier because any business needs fresh knowledge all the time.

“Technology and customer-demands constantly evolve. If you stick with what you’ve done for the last ten years, you’re already stagnating.

“Fresh knowledge comes from new ideas, and younger people such as graduates and apprentices bring perspectives you might not have considered because you’re focused on dayto-day operations.

“Universities also bring research and development expertise. Any company that wants to innovate, to do something new or better, to make better profits or happier customers, needs structured processes.

“Universities know how to take an idea and turn it into something you can apply in your business, whether that’s a new product, a new service, or improved efficiency.

Sometimes that’s standard consultancy, like training in lean manufacturing. But academics ask different questions, uncover root causes, and provide frameworks that elevate what you can do.

“For example, we worked with a football club on sustainability challenges around single-use ice packs. These packs are used everywhere in sports, but they’re full of plastic and thrown away after one use.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

“We brought in companies interested in producing solutions.

In the end, we changed behaviour and produced a product that’s far more environmentally friendly than traditional ice packs. That innovation didn’t just come from industry, it came from collaboration.

“Birmingham City University is one of the top five national providers of KTPs and again we have great examples of how we have supported businesses to make improvements.”

“Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) are another fantastic offer from the government because they’re partially grant-funded.

She is currently undertaking a Senior Leader Apprenticeship with Birmingham City University and, on top of that, is a martial arts instructor.

“It sees a company partner with a university to hire an associate, usually a recent graduate, who works on a jointly designed project to help the company improve. It’s not about replacing business as usual; it’s about doing something that makes the business better, like entering a new market or innovating processes.

But even this involves innovation as one of its key ingredients.

“The associate works in the company but gets academic supervision to ensure the latest knowledge is applied. The company doesn’t have the hassle of training and supervising an inexperienced employee alone. Funding is shared between the company, the university, and the government.

And, despite having a busy day-job, Heike’s own personal curiosity still knows no bounds.

“I do Tetsudo,” said Heike. “It’s a thinking person’s martial art, based on principles of anatomy and force transmission, adaptable for all abilities.

“I’ve been doing it since 2007. It’s a mix of karate, taekwondo, and jujitsu, but focused on principles rather than rigid forms.

I love the philosophy behind it. Every movement has meaning and you learn why you’re doing it.

“For someone like me who loves theory, practice – and yes, curiosity – it’s perfect!”

“My passion is inventing or innovating things, using things differently, making a difference on the ground, and improving something. That’s what research is all about – curiosity driven research to find out new things, which leads to real-life application. This is what Birmingham City University stands for. We take fresh knowledge and do something with it in the real world. That’s my happy spot.”

Profile: Heike Schuster-James Born: Live: Married: Children: Hobbies:

Düsseldorf, Germany Fearnhill Heath, Worcestershire Yes None Martial arts, watching the Tour de France, gardening, cooking Favourite Book: Daniel Kahnemann: Thinking Fast and Slow Favourite Film: Four Weddings and a Funeral Last Holiday: Tenby, Wales Gadget: Kitchen blender and chopper 21

Skills

Leadership skills key to economic growth Economic growth in the West Midlands would be boosted by better leadership and management skills within the region’s businesses, an event has heard.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Businesses tell me they often struggle to find people with the right skills for jobs they need to fill. So, by putting employers in the driving seat of shaping the training courses on offer we can make sure people learn the skills that are most in demand. This is how we make sure young people are equipped for the jobs of the future and businesses have the skilled workers they need to grow.

That’s a win-win for everyone.”

And the team behind the West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which is led by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, is now exploring new ways of ensuring leaders and managers get the kind of training and support they need to help overcome the issue.

The LSIP team, which is supported by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Black Country Chamber of Commerce, held the event with businesses and training providers at Millennium Point in Birmingham.

Key figures from the Chambers and the WMCA presented findings and evidence from the first phase of the LSIP that identified skills shortages in the region, which included a stark shortfall in leadership and management.

The event heard that businesses struggle to recruit skilled leaders and managers, particularly project and programme managers and that many SMEs lack time and resources to engage with existing high-quality training that is available.

There is low awareness of available leadership and management provision, with 74 per cent of employers unaware of existing training mechanisms but at a time when leadership skills are increasingly in demand, with a 75 per cent rise in management skills requirements and 68 per cent in leadership skills over the past three years.

Corin Crane, the chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “What our work has shown is that there is a shortage of leadership and management skills in the region.

All in all, it means there is a productivity lag in the region compared to the national average which weighs on economic growth.

The workshop was designed to build on that evidence-base and co-create solutions with businesses that would enhance the number of managers and leaders taking up training to improve individual skills, help to grow the business and boost the regional economy.

Proposed solutions, which will now be worked into a final plan, included flexible, on the job training; coaching and mentoring of leaders; leadership skills being embedded into mainstream education; and improving awareness and navigation to what is already available.

“Businesses know this already, but they are not sure how they address it and that is why this piece of work is so important because it’s vital for the regional economy that we solve this.

“The reason for this workshop wasn’t to produce a long report but to really listen to our businesses and providers in the room, put that together with survey work we’ve already done, and devise some really tangible solutions.

“This isn’t about what works for training providers and colleges, it’s about what would get businesses to engage and make leadership and management skills a real priority to help them grow.”

Further solutions workshops will take place in 2026.

For more information on the LSIP or to be part of the conversation contact: lsip@cw-chamber.co.uk

Putting businesses at the heart of skills Businesses across Warwickshire have the opportunity to help devise solutions to the skills shortages that are affecting different industries in the region through the second phase of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).

The Government has written LSIPs into law as a way of ensuring that training providers listen to, understand and deliver on the needs of local employers In Warwickshire, the LSIP is being developed in partnership with Warwickshire County Council through the Warwickshire Skills Hub and is being delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, with support from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

The latest phase of the LSIP is building on the early success of the initiative which has helped Warwickshire to meet current and future skills needs in the region over the past two years by producing key priorities and actions for those responsible for training and education.

That includes the UK Government, Skills England, Warwickshire County Council, district and borough councils, colleges, independent training providers, adult education services, universities, chambers and other regional stakeholders.

On the back of the success of the first phase, an even greater emphasis will now be given to devising solutions and will include a series of workshops with businesses to look at issues affecting different sectors of the economy.

Those workshops will cover Digital & Creative; Defence/ Automotive/Cyber; Advanced Manufacturing; Transport & Logistics; Rural Economy; Tourism & Hospitality; Construction; and Health and will be taking place from February.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber is now recruiting three additional members of staff to help co-ordinate the workshops and develop the overall plan, which also includes online surveys, face-to-face meetings and telephone calls.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are thrilled to be continuing the great work that has begun over the past couple of years with the Local Skills Improvement Plan. The brilliant news is that LSIPs are here to stay now that they have been written into statute.

“Businesses in the region know the skills they need and by putting their voices at the centre of the conversation, training and skills provision can be designed to meet those requirements and develop the workforce for today and the future.

“Crucially, our next round of engagement includes looking at solutions as well as the issues because we really want to start moving the dial on developing the skills our employers need.”

Fay Winterburn, head of employability and skills at the Warwickshire Skills Hub, added: “There is a huge amount of work being undertaken in the county to improve skills which brings benefits to individuals and to employers.

“We’re pleased to be working with the Chamber on our LSIP and it’s vital that we continue to listen to what employers need but, also, to give them a voice in what solutions would work best for them and their staff.”

Details of the first workshops are: •

Leadership Development February 3 at Ashorne Hill

•

Digital Skills, AI, Adoption of New Technologies February 10 at Warwick Racecourse

•

Workforce of the Future February 11 at Weston Hall Hotel

For more information on the LSIP or to be part of the conversation go to: lsip@cw-chamber.co.uk

Why skill development is rising up the business agenda in Coventry and Warwickshire From Ashorne Hill

For many organisations, the conversation around skills is changing. While technical expertise remains essential, employers across sectors are increasingly focused on the human capabilities that determine how work actually gets done.

Skills such as communication and problem-solving are now seen as central to organisational effectiveness, particularly in environments shaped by change and uncertainty.

In Coventry and Warwickshire, this shift is becoming more visible. Businesses are re-examining how they support leaders and teams to handle everyday challenges, from managing competing priorities to navigating difficult conversations. Rather than relying solely on policy or process, many organisations are looking for learning development approaches that help people perform more effectively in real situations.

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Leaders and HR professionals report that practical skill development can influence culture in ways that are immediately noticeable: • Clearer communication reduces friction and repetition.

• Stronger problem-solving helps teams respond more quickly when issues arise.

• More confident collaboration supports trust across roles and functions.

Alongside these business observations, learning science offers useful insight into why certain development approaches are proving more effective than others. Research shows that people do not build complex interpersonal skills well in isolation. Capabilities such as leadership, communication and decisionmaking develop through interaction and shared experience, rather than passive consumption of information.

When people learn together, they are exposed to different perspectives and ways of working. Watching how others approach

challenges allows individuals to test ideas mentally before applying them in practice.

Discussion and reflection help translate concepts into action, making learning more likely to be retained and used back in the workplace.

The conditions in which learning takes place also matter. Psychological safety, the sense that it is acceptable to ask questions, challenge ideas and admit uncertainty, plays a critical role in whether people engage meaningfully with development activity.

Where learning environments encourage openness, individuals are more likely to experiment, reflect honestly and adapt their behaviour.

In response, some organisations in the region are moving towards focused, faceto-face development that concentrates on a single skill at a time. Short, immersive workshops allow participants to step away from operational pressures and work through realistic scenarios with peers. This approach recognises that skill development is less about

acquiring information and more about practice, feedback and reflection.

Skill Mastery Workshops, hosted at Ashorne Hill, have highlighted how environment can support this kind of development. Neutral learning settings away from the workplace can reduce distraction and hierarchy, creating space for more open dialogue and sustained focus. For leaders and HR professionals, this reinforces the importance of considering not just what development is delivered, but how it is experienced.

As Coventry and Warwickshire businesses continue to navigate economic change and evolving workforce expectations, the ability to build strong human skills will remain an important source of advantage. Organisations that invest in how people think, communicate and work together are likely to be better positioned to perform consistently and adapt over time.

For more information go to https://ashornehill.co.uk/

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Skills

The accidental manager:

a quiet productivity leak in the UK

By Chris Golby, founder of CultureNav Accidental managers are created in plain sight.

A brilliant specialist gets promoted because they are dependable, then discovers that being good at the work is not the same as getting work done through others.

Delivery slows, decisions bounce upwards, standards wobble, and the owner ends up back in the weeds. What looks like a people issue becomes a commercial issue: rework rises, customers wait longer, and the business becomes harder to scale. The cost is not just morale. It is time, focus, and output.

This is not a niche problem. The Chartered Management Institute reports that 82 per cent of workers entering management positions have not had any formal management and leadership training, adding to the UK’s stock of accidental managers.

The same research found that one in three people have left a job because of a negative work culture.

For business owners, that is a direct productivity tax: churn, lost knowhow, slower onboarding, and a growing leadership vacuum that forces the owner to make decisions that should sit with team leaders.

It is tempting to reach for a single productivity number, but a single quarter rarely tells the full story.

A House of Commons Library briefing, drawing on Office for National Statistics flash estimates, notes that productivity in Quarter 3 2025 was estimated to be 1.1 per cent higher than a year earlier.

That figure is real, but on its own it does not show a sustained shift, because it can move with short-term changes in output and hours. The same briefing notes that, historically, UK labour productivity has grown by around two per cent per year, yet it has risen more slowly since the 2008 to 2009 recession.

More recently, Office for National Statistics analysis indicates that UK output per hour grew at a cumulative average annual rate of about 0.7 per cent from 2019 to 2023. That is the backdrop in which everyday management capability starts to matter economically, not just organisationally.

For owners, the unlock begins with a clean distinction between management and leadership. Harvard’s John Kotter’s framing remains useful: management is about coping with complexity, while leadership is about coping with change. Management is your operating system:

clear roles, sensible routines, priorities, feedback, and fair accountability.

Leadership is your compass: direction, courage, and the energy to adapt as customers, technology and competitors shift.

Author Warren Bennis captured the tension when he contrasted doing things right with doing the right thing. When accidental managers are unsupported, businesses often get neither: the operating system is inconsistent and the compass points in a different direction in every meeting.

Culture is where this becomes measurable. Office for National Statistics work on management practices finds that management practice scores are positively related to labour productivity, investment in research and development and innovation, and the ability to adopt new ways of working.

Culture is not posters or perks. It is the behaviours that get rewarded, tolerated and repeated. In CultureNav work, we measure these patterns early, often before performance metrics show a clear problem.

A common signal is drift caused by unclear decision rights, inconsistent feedback and meeting overload.

The recommendations are usually practical: clarify who decides, reduce handover points, make expectations explicit through a small set of behaviours, and establish a light rhythm of check-ins and coaching conversations.

In real organisations, we have used these insights to reset team leader cadences, rebuild communication routines, and kick off culture champions groups that keep the day-to-day behaviours moving in the right direction.

That is why I welcome the West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) focus on leadership and management capability. When an employer-led skills plan treats management as a core skill, not a nice to have, it makes it easier for owners to justify training early and to build the habits that protect performance under pressure.

There are quick wins owners can implement without a large programme. Over the next two weeks, pick one team and install three routines: a weekly priorities check-in that ends with clear ownership, fortnightly one-to-ones focused on outcomes and obstacles, and a simple rule that decisions are made at the lowest competent level unless risk is clearly defined.

Over the next month, give every new manager a short basics pathway covering delegation, feedback, performance conversations and wellbeing, then pair them with a peer or mentor to practice on real situations.

Over the next quarter, measure again and look for movement in the signals that usually shift first: fewer escalations, faster decisions, clearer priorities, and more predictable delivery.

This is also practical work I do as a fractional chief culture officer, and it shapes what I look for first. What I see most often is that owners do not need more process, they need a lighter operating system that managers can actually run.

In practice, that can mean simplifying one to one templates so they fit a real calendar, building a communication cascade so managers are not guessing what to say, creating a culture champions rhythm to keep momentum between leadership moments, and refreshing mission, vision and values so people can make better decisions without waiting for permission.

When those basics land, managers stop performing confidence and start building capability, and the owner gets their time back.

The prize is not softer culture for its own sake. The prize is higher trust, faster decisions, fewer handovers, and more consistent delivery. Accidental managers are fixable. Treat first line management as a profession, measure what is happening rather than what you hope is happening, and support people before the promotion becomes a trap for them and for your business.

"Over the next month, give every new manager a short basics pathway covering delegation, feedback, performance conversations and wellbeing, then pair them with a peer or mentor to practice on real situations."

References

Bennis, W. (1989) On Becoming a Leader. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.

Chartered Management Institute (2023) Bad managers and toxic work culture causing one in three staff to walk. Press release, 16 October. Accessed 15 December 2025.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (2025) West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report 2025. Available at cw chamber website. Accessed 15 December 2025.

House of Commons Library (2025) Productivity: Economic indicators. Research briefing SN02791, 17 November. Accessed 15 December 2025.

Kotter, J. P. (1990) What leaders really do. Harvard Business Review, 68(3). Accessed 15 December 2025.

Office for National Statistics (2024) Management practices in the UK: Quality and Methodology Information. 6 September. Accessed 15 December 2025.

Office for National Statistics (2025) Regional and subregional labour productivity, UK: 2023. Statistical bulletin, 19 June. Accessed 15 December 2025. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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News

Business Assembly bringing leaders across the region together Feedback on LinkedIn Dawood Ibtehsam, People Arches: “Absolutely amazing day. What a fantastic initiative and looking forward to making a difference and impact within our region and nationally.”

Introducing HCR Wright Hassall

Stephanie Kerr, BID Leamington: “I can see a huge amount of work has gone into this. I hugely value this opportunity to come together with other businesses and decision makers. It’s much needed and I look forward to championing these efforts.”

Leamington Spa-based law firm Wright Hassall has joined Top 50 UK law firm HCR Law – and is now known as HCR Wright Hassall.

The move strengthens the firm’s ability to deliver enhanced legal services across Warwickshire and Central England via the wider HCR team and its broader range of services and sector specialists.

As a full-service law firm, HCR Wright Hassall can work with businesses and individuals on all aspects of legal advice. The firm has genuine sectorexperts, meaning it can advise clients with niche support including in the education, healthcare, affordable housing, technology, insurance and charities sectors.

HCR also has access to an international network through LawExchange International and other trusted firms in key jurisdictions such as Dubai, US and North America.

HCR Law’s Heath Thomas, Joint Head of the Leamington Spa office, said: “I am delighted that we have been joined by Wright Hassall who have proven to be a great fit with HCR. “This move is about building on shared strengths and creating new opportunities for our clients and staff.

I am looking forward to working with the team in Leamington to connect with clients old and new and get to know the local market better.

“Leamington and its surrounding areas have a vibrant business community, and we’re committed to being part of its growth. We are wholeheartedly committed to the region and to re-establishing ourselves within the local business community whilst growing the HCR name and making sure everyone appreciates the breadth of what we have to offer.

“We are already growing and are on the look out for lawyers who share our ambition and values to help grow our team and we welcome conversations with likeminded individuals.”

HCR is a leading regional law firm, turning over approximately £112m and with over 1,000 staff. The firm has 12 offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Central England, Cheltenham, Hereford, Leamington Spa, London, Norwich, Shrewsbury, Thames Valley, Worcester and Wye Valley. www.hcrlaw.com

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Key figures in Coventry and Warwickshire from politics, business and education are being brought together to grow the regional economy and ensure the city’s and the county’s ties remain strong.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is creating a Business Assembly to help give the region a stronger voice at a national level, to campaign on issues that matter to the area and to support local authorities during the local government reorganisation process.

The first event was held at Ansty Hall Hotel and saw around 30 leaders from the region – including MPs Jodie Gosling, Taiwo Owatemi and Rachel Taylor – present, with dozens more showing an interest in the group.

The Chamber shared a draft of a new Business Manifesto it has created in conjunction with think-tank Centre for the New Midlands for feedback.

It includes information on the regional economy, its strengths and barriers to growth.

The Manifesto sets out a range of aims and ambitions covering a range of topics such as employment land, skills and business support.

Based on the feedback from the event, the Chamber and Centre for the New Midlands, which carried out survey work over several months earlier this year, will refine the document ready for a launch in the New Year.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Chamber, said: “We’ve been working on the Manifesto for months with a view to bringing leaders from the region together in this way.

“We’ve had really positive interest in the Assembly from employers – small and large – from across the region as well as our MPs and local authority colleagues.

“It resulted in one of the most constructive and productive conversations I’ve been involved with and it was clear that everyone – no matter whether they are from business or politics – have the best interests of this region at heart.

“The feedback on our Manifesto was that we’d covered most of the issues that need addressing to get our economy growing but, based on the conversations, we’ll be adding in some additional priorities.

“The room was full of great energy and we’re all looking forward to meeting again in the New Year when we can officially

Tom Mongan, former president of the Chamber: “I’m really looking forward to seeing how this fabulous initiative develops!”

Rebecca Warwick, Prune Software & Fundamental Associates: “I look forward to being involved going forward and seeing the impact on the region.” launch our Business Manifesto and Business Assembly.”

Chris Smith, Founder and CEO of the Centre for the New Midlands, said: “As a Coventry headquartered organisation, we are delighted to be working with the Chamber on the development of its Business Manifesto because we believe that Coventry and Warwickshire has an enormous opportunity to shape its own future.

“Our role as a non-partisan, independent think-tank is to bring robust evidence, fresh insight and the voice of local employers into the policy conversation.

“By working closely with the Chamber and engaging widely with businesses across the region, we’ve been able to build a clear picture of both the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.

“This Manifesto is a vital step in ensuring that decisions about our economic future are grounded in real data, genuine collaboration and the ambition our sub-region deserves.”

Lipstick comment leads to business link-up!

Two regional professional services companies are helping to drive each other’s growth – after a chance meeting at a networking event.

Hannah Morgan joined Circle Insurance – a chartered independent family run commercial insurance broker with offices across the UK, and headquarters in Coventry – in August and one of her first tasks was to go out and meet more businesses in the region.

Hannah, and the branch manager Scott Harrison, attended Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Networker & BBQ for Business Influence and Business Engage members at Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa, near Alcester, and immediately struck up a conversation with Rachael Chadwick-Harrison, who runs Chadwick Accountants and Bookkeepers in Bidford-on-Avon.

“Rachael actually commented on my lipstick!” said Hannah. “Then we just got talking and realised that there was the potential to work with one another.

“I hadn’t been with Circle very long and the idea was to make much more use of our Chamber membership by attending more events and networking with more businesses within the local area. The first conversation

I had proved it works!”

The two businesses have established a collaborative partnership, enabling both organisations to share opportunities.

“We believe in traditional values, preferring to do business face-to-face, in insurance this can be a necessity and it is an important tool when building trust, especially if you are going to refer someone to your clients” said Hannah.

“Rachael and I built that trust almost immediately, and now we often attend events with one another because of the strength of our relationship.”

Circle Insurance works with a range of clients across the region, and the country, advising clients on their insurance and risk management needs, from leisure, to construction and through to manufacturing, they have clients at all stages of their development.

Rachael set up Chadwick Accountants and Bookkeepers in 2021 and the firm has grown to 14 staff and has won a series of awards.

She said: “Trust is everything in business and we’re delighted to be working with Hannah and the team at Circle Insurance.

“Accountancy services and insurance are two necessities for businesses and so they

wanted to know that their finances – and future – are in safe hands.

“And meeting businesses through the Chamber of Commerce that we can recommend, and refer to, is fantastic for everyone.”

Gurprit Singh, business engagement manager at the Chamber, said: “This is what being a member of the Chamber is all about.

“Businesses connect with one another and they can either work together directly or help to generate new leads for each other, which is great for the local economy.”

To find out more about becoming a Chamber of Commerce Member, head to www.cw-chamber.co.uk/membership

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Local Government Reorganisation in Warwickshire There are big changes afoot when it comes to Local Government in Warwickshire.

The Government’s White Paper in December 2024 stated that all remaining two-tier Local Government areas (i.e. those with both District/Borough and County Councils) be replaced with a single tier of local government.

In Warwickshire, there are two options on the table, and with the Government expected to consult on them in February with a final decision due in the summer and autumn, we commissioned articles looking at both sides.

One Warwickshire, stronger together

By Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council Warwickshire stands at a pivotal moment.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is not just a structural change - it’s a oncein-a-generation opportunity to create a system that works better for residents and businesses alike.

There is wide agreement in Warwickshire that there are only two realistic options for LGR: a single unitary covering the whole county or two unitaries (north and south).

Warwickshire County Council has submitted its proposal to Government,One Warwickshire, Stronger Together, which sets out a clear vision: a single unitary council for the whole county. It is also the only model which we think meets the Government’s six criteria for LGR. Creating a new, single, unitary council for Warwickshire provides an opportunity to

work more efficiently by combining the best ideas and practices from the six current councils.

So why does this matter for business?

The current two-tier system is complex and inefficient. For developers, investors, and entrepreneurs, navigating multiple councils can be frustrating and costly.

A single council created on a wellestablished county footprint will streamline planning, housing, transport, and economic development under one framework, reducing bureaucracy and accelerating decision-making. This means faster delivery of infrastructure, clearer policies, and a more consistent approach to growth across the county.

Financially, the case for a single unitary is compelling. Whilst both models deliver savings, the single unitary offers greater economies of scale, by building on and

not disaggregating existing countywide services and bodies like the Warwickshire Property Development Group and Warwickshire Investment Fund whilst consolidating functions like planning to offer greater consistency and clarity across the county.

Our proposal for a single unitary council strengthens Warwickshire’s identity and resilience. It avoids fragmentation of critical services such as social care and education, which would be costly and disruptive under a split model. Instead, it offers scale for strategic leadership while committing to local presence and partnership working.

Businesses will benefit from a council that can champion countywide priorities - like connectivity, innovation, and sustainability while still engaging at a local level through new governance arrangements operating at county, area and locality levels.

Crucially, this approach preserves the existing Coventry and Warwickshire functional economic geography and enhances wider economic partnerships, such as with the West Midlands Combined Authority. A single unitary council for Warwickshire creates a single strategic voice for devolution and aligns with opportunities for collaboration on regional growth, transport, and investment that benefit businesses and residents alike.

For Warwickshire’s business community this is about strengthening the conditions for growth. It’s about building stronger communities and a stronger economy - where businesses thrive alongside residents.

For more information visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/lgr

Take Two – the case for two councils in Warwickshire

By Steve Maxey, on behalf of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwick District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Councils in Warwickshire spent much of 2025 working on submissions to Government regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Final proposals were submitted in November and whilst there are differing views, all councils have worked positively to collaborate, while ensuring vital business-asusual services are maintained.

In short, there are two proposals; one for a single council for Warwickshire with a population of over 670,000 by the end of the decade, and two councils – one in the north (North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby) and one in the south (Warwick and Stratford) with populations between 320,000 and 350,000.

The two-council proposal is supported by four out of the five District and Borough Councils, five out of the six Warwickshire MPs, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor and 73 per cent of the public following a survey.

As you’d expect, there are arguments on both sides and this article seeks to summarise (in a balanced way) the points in favour of two councils.

The most basic and obvious point is that the north and south of the county are very different based on a number of indicators and from people’s experience – there are few links between the north and south with different economies, demographics and key challenges.

Having two councils balances scale with local responsiveness and is more effective than a single county-wide authority because they better reflect local identities, align more closely with existing public service boundaries, and keep decision-making closer to residents.

Crucially, it will be a major advantage for the two councils to focus on the particular strengths and challenges of each local economy and will, therefore, be more effective in driving local economic growth and housing development.

The opportunity for two councils anchored in their communities, focussing on regeneration and growth is one of the reasons why the WMCA Mayor supports this model, as well as his view that it offers the best foundation for future collaboration with the WMCA

particularly on housing, economic development and transport.

Both options provide similar financial resilience albeit that both would face the same challenges as now – rising demand, tight funding settlements and more complex needs – and whilst the single council option is predicted to save more, the difference is very small. It would require money raised in the south of the county to provide services in the north.

In our view, greater accountability with councils more in tune with their local populations provides a better balance of efficiency and effectiveness.

More fundamentally, research nationally indicates that larger authorities often struggle to make the efficiencies that are needed and you will be aware of some recent cases where large councils required exceptional financial support from the Government.

In particular, research indicates that overall and in particular in services with rising demand and cost such as adult and children services, councils with a population size of 250,000 to 350,000 provide more effective and efficient services than larger councils.

The full business case can be found at https://www.northwarks.gov.uk/homepage/29/local-government-reorganisation www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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News

Chamber joins the Fair Chance fold Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has joined the Warwickshire Fair Chance Employer programme, underlining its inclusive approach to recruitment.

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and/or learning disabilities and anyone with physical or mental health concerns Employer workshops to raise awareness of all supportive needs in the workplace Mental health support and prevention tools and resources Tailored recruitment support Job carving for new opportunities

The Chamber joins an ever-growing number of businesses and organisations to pledge with the programme, which is managed by Warwickshire Skills Hub for Warwickshire County Council.

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Launched in 2022, the programme now has 88 members, each committed to adopting a fully inclusive approach to their recruitment and HR practises.

Matthew Hammersley, HR manager for the Chamber, said: “We are delighted to join the Warwickshire Fair Chance Employer Programme and we’ve already added jobs to the portal.

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The Chamber, an integral component of the wide array of business support available across Coventry and Warwickshire immediately added three new vacancies to the Fair Chance Job Portal which carries inclusive opportunities available at all the member businesses.

The programme is open to any Warwickshire business and offers employers support in creating a diverse application, interview and onboarding process and ongoing in-work support should the individual and business require it.

Warwickshire Skills Hub Business Advisors provide a free skills and training review throughout the business to see where a Fair Chance Employee opportunity may be considered. This may include 'job carving' which looks at a job description and carves responsibilities or tasks to make it inclusive to a person's specific needs.

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Individuals supported are: Foreign nationals who are part of our Resettlement Programme in Warwickshire

“As a Chamber, we are committed to a fully inclusive approach to recruitment and HR and joining the programme is a further demonstration of that and we’d encourage other businesses and organisations across the region to do the same.”

• • • • • • • • •

People with learning disabilities and/or Autism Ex-armed forces personnel Active armed forces spouses & partners Young people aged 16-18 that are not in education, employment, or training (NEETS) People over the age of 50 who are looking to get back into work or retrain Care leavers Young carers Parents returning to work People who have been made redundant

The Fair Chance Jobs Portal is a tool developed as a part of the programme to help bridge the gap between the Fair Chance candidates looking for paid employment and the Fair Chance employers looking for staff.

Fair Chance employers are supported with a 'wraparound' support package to ensure the smooth transition of employing new staff.

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The support includes: A full business skills review In-work job coach for people with Autism

Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Rob Howard, said: “It is great news that Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has become a Fair Chance Employer. The Fair Chance Employment Programme has proved a huge success and to have almost 100 members in its first three years shows the commitment across businesses in our county.

“The Chamber does so much excellent work to support businesses, it is great to have them on board. It is a perfect fit.” https://fairchancejobs.warwickshire.gov.uk/

Helping Warwickshire high streets to thrive High street businesses in Warwickshire have been given tips on how to adapt, evolve and thrive in an ever-changing world at workshops in the county.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s business support team delivered High Street Roadshows in Warwick and Nuneaton on behalf of Warwickshire County Council in 2025.

Two more events will follow in 2026 – in the north and south of the county – with a view to helping individual businesses themselves but also as well as providing a collective boost Warwickshire’s high streets.

The roadshow is part of the Project Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce deliver on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council The Warwick High Street Roadshow took place at the Court House in Warwick and included information on support available,

how to use marketing and social media to drive footfall as well as updates on the latest initiatives.

Speakers included Sarah Humphreys, Business Support Manager at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce; Joanne Randall, Strategic Economic Development Officer at Warwick District Council; Kelly Scott, Warwick Town Centre Manager; Kim Hulse, Social Media Manager for Visit Warwickshire and Katie Wilbur, of Cotswold Connected, who delivered the workshop.

The Nuneaton & Bedworth event, held at Saints Nuneaton, also heard from Sarah, Kim and Katie and included presentations from Carol Ingleston, Economic Development & Engagement Support Officer at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council; and Bogdan Fironda, Community Safety Project Manager at Warwickshire County Council.

Sarah said: “We are delighted to be supporting our amazing Warwickshire high streets and the businesses on them with this series of roadshows."

For more information on this year's roadshows, go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-support-events/high-street-roadshow/ For information on support for high street growth more generally, go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/project-warwickshire/

Sheeran wows Coventry audience Almost 10,000 fans saw one of the UK’s top stadium-selling artists in an intimate indoor show at Coventry Building Society Arena.

Ed Sheeran took to the stage at the Coventry venue in one of only two UK dates as part of a small European arena tour.

A huge set saw Sheeran take fans on a journey through his vast catalogue of hits, including new tracks from his recently released album Play, such as Azizam, Sapphire and Symmetry.

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The show came hot on the heels of Bob Dylan performing at the venue in November, with both events part of Coventry Building Society Arena’s growing live events calendar.

The venue has already announced iconic comedian Bill Bailey will be coming to the venue on 13 November 2026 and Take That will be performing in the stadium bowl for three successive nights in June 2026.

Photo credit - Mark Surridge

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News Advantages and disadvantages of settlement agreements for employers in England and Wales information about internal disputes, financial settlements, or allegations that could harm the company’s reputation.

Reduced reputational risk By resolving disputes privately, employers can protect brand reputation and employee morale. Settlement agreements avoid the publicity of tribunal hearings, which are often reported in the press or shared online.

Main disadvantages and legal risks for employers

For employers in England and Wales, a settlement agreement offers a strategic way to end disputes efficiently and protect business interests.

They are also a clean and efficient way to exit employees from the business. Most importantly, in most cases, they remove the risk of an unfair dismissal claim being brought against your business.

Yet, while settlement agreements provide many advantages, they also carry legal and reputational risks if poorly drafted.

What is a settlement agreement?

A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract that is used to formally record the terms upon which an employment relationship ends. The employee waives their right to bring an unfair dismissal claim (or any other employment related claims) in the Employment Tribunal in exchange for a ‘settlement’ (typically financial, but it can include other consideration such as a reference or outplacement support).

Advantages of settlement agreements for employers Legal certainty and finality The primary benefit for employers is finality. A well-drafted settlement agreement ensures that once signed, the employee cannot bring future claims relating to their employment or termination. This protects the business from unexpected legal action.

Cost and time efficiency Employment Tribunal proceedings can be lengthy and costly.

By using a settlement agreement, you, as an employer, can reach closure quickly, saving legal fees and management time.

Confidentiality clauses Confidentiality clauses are one of the most valuable features for employers. They prevent employees from disclosing sensitive

Enforcement and drafting errors A poorly drafted settlement agreement may be unenforceable.

Ambiguous language, missing statutory wording, or unclear payment provisions can invalidate the agreement. Employers should always seek advice from an experienced settlement agreement solicitor to ensure that the document meets the legal requirements.

Potential for perceived pressure or coercion While employers can propose settlement agreements, they must avoid any suggestion of undue pressure. Offering a “take it or be sacked” deal or imposing unrealistic deadlines may expose the business to allegations of improper behaviour. The ACAS Code of Practice on settlement agreements advises a reasonable period, usually at least ten days, for employees to consider the offer.

Tax and payroll risks Incorrectly handling payments under a settlement agreement can create tax liabilities. Employers must ensure that notice pay, bonuses, and holiday pay are taxed appropriately through PAYE. Confidentiality and public interest limits Although confidentiality clauses benefit employers, they cannot override the employee’s right to make protected disclosures under whistleblowing law or to cooperate with criminal or regulatory investigations.

Reputational and employee relations concerns Settlement agreements can sometimes be perceived negatively by remaining staff. If used frequently, they may signal deeper issues in workplace culture or management practice. Transparency about fair treatment and internal processes can help maintain trust.

Conclusion Settlement agreements remain one of the most effective tools for employers in England and Wales to manage risk, achieve closure, and maintain confidentiality. They save time, reduce costs, and provide certainty, but only when drafted and executed properly.

Employers must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of settlement agreements carefully, ensuring each agreement complies with statutory requirements and aligns with ethical best practice.

If you require legal advice concerning settlement agreements, call Askews Legal on 02476 231000 or email enquiries@askewslegal.co

Warwick Medical School launches scheme

Warwick Medical School (WMS) has officially launched its Community First Responder (CFR) scheme, part of the wider regional scheme led by West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS).

Uniformed volunteer WMS students, professionally trained and supervised, are choosing to give their time to care for the community when it is most needed.

Working alongside paramedic crews and coordinated by WMAS, the students respond to 999 calls using a dedicated CFR van equipped with lifesaving equipment such as resuscitation kits and defibrillators, all funded through grants, donations, and partner support.

Professor Stuart Croft, vice-chancellor and president of University of Warwick said: “Our medical students are demonstrating exceptional leadership by taking part in a scheme that delivers vital care and support to our local communities across Coventry and Warwickshire, as well as here on campus.

“This Community First Responder initiative is a powerful example of the university’s commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of people in our region and beyond.”

The initiative, led by WMS and supported

by Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Coventry General Charities, and the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), responds to the most serious Category

One and Two calls across Coventry and Warwickshire.

The Warwick scheme has been responding to these emergency calls since September 2025. This has already included providing immediate care for children and young people after falls or loss of consciousness, supporting patients experiencing acute cardiac events or strokes, and performing life-saving resuscitation – all in collaboration with professional WMAS paramedic crews.

Aidan Johal Baker, fourth year medical student at WMS and volunteer CFR, said: “The opportunity to bring our clinical and leadership skills together to deliver life-saving front line care for our local community is a real privilege."

Smart move for festive business boost A Coventry-based packaging and distribution company experienced its busiest festive season yet as demand for intricate advent calendar packaging surged across the beauty, drinks and premium gifting sectors.

The Pack Smart Group, which develops bespoke fulfilment solutions for brands across the UK, assembled and distributed elaborate multi-door advent calendars for the first time last year. The Pack Smart Group worked with Coventry-headquartered haircare brand Treasure Tress to assemble both its 12 and 25-door advent

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calendars which offer customers a range of products.

It has meant The Pack Smart Group set aside dedicated space in its warehouse on Blue Ribbon Park for advent calendar packaging and shipping.

Seánna Holland, co-founder of The Pack Smart Group, said: “Complex advent calendars that go beyond the traditional versions that certain generations remember as children are becoming increasingly popular, and this is the first year the business has been able to help clients ship their own.”

Are you bookkeeping in the Stone Age? Chadwick Accountants has released a brandnew episode of its popular podcast, FFS – For Finances Sake, featuring one of the firm’s brightest young talents.

In the episode, host and managing director Rachael Chadwick-Harrison sits down with Shaun Caddick – AAT Rising Star finalist and inhouse bookkeeping specialist – to discuss one of the most undervalued yet essential functions of running a business.

“Bookkeeping may not be the sexiest part of finance,” Rachael says, “but it’s the unsung hero that keeps businesses out of trouble and accountants off blood-pressure medication.”

Shaun agrees, comparing good bookkeeping habits to brushing your teeth, saying it is “boring if you ignore it, but very painful later on.”

Throughout the episode, Shaun shares practical, business-friendly advice on staying organised, staying compliant, and staying sane.

It includes consistency is king by logging transactions weekly to avoid month-end chaos and how Dext is a game-changer as it eliminates shoebox accounting with snap-andsend technology.

It explores QuickBooks versus Xero and the honest pros and cons from someone who uses both daily, as well as the power of bank feeds with the real-time data that stops VAT confusion before it starts.

And it also looks at why good bookkeeping equals better decision-making, from cashflow clarity to tax planning.

The conversation also touches on something many business owners won’t admit: the emotional rollercoaster of messy books.

Shaun explains how tidy, up-to-date records give owners more control, more confidence, and fewer HMRC nightmares.

“Good data leads to good decisions,” Shaun says. “It’s how you move from just surviving to actually thriving.”

The episode highlights not just Shaun’s technical expertise, but the firm’s ongoing commitment to developing rising talent — and empowering business owners with straightforward, practical financial guidance.

The full episode, Bookkeeping Like a Boss is available to listen to now: https://open.spotify. com/episode/6ccc0SwD3ZgcLiCkvm3Hl2 The regular series of For Finances Sake podcasts from Chadwick’s are available on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Apple and Podbean.

For more information, go to the website at www.chadwickaccountants.co.uk

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Education and Skills

National honour for regional partnership work North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College has won a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education for equipping thousands of students and professional engineers with specialist new skills in demand from the UK’s automotive sector through the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI).

the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

The prizes are part of the UK’s national honours system and are awarded every two years by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, following a rigorous, independent review process.

It has also provided professional development training for 18,000 professionals from a variety of high-profile automotive and transport companies.

Since its launch in 2018, MTI has welcomed nearly 61,500 students and delegates, including almost 5,000 learners studying for accredited qualifications from Level 1 certificates to Masters’ degrees and nearly 1,200 apprentices.

MTI operations director Lisa Bingley said: “MTI has a particular focus on offering training in new emerging technologies – such as electrification and driverless cars – to ensure the UK’s automotive sector has a sustainable supply of technical specialists and engineers.

More than 100 entries were submitted for the latest round of prizes and North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is one of only 19 Prizewinners.

Representatives from NWSLC were invited for the official announcement of the prizewinners at a special reception at St. James’s Palace in London.

NWSLC principal and chief executive, Marion Plant OBE, FCGI, who is chair of the MTI operations board, said: “NWSLC, in partnership with its industry partner HORIBA MIRA, came up with the concept for MTI in response to research which showed the demand for specialist technical skills across the automotive sector was rising as successful vehicle manufacturers prepared for large scale growth due to new technological advancements in areas such as electrification and driverless vehicles.

“However, the development of specialist skills for these new growth areas was lagging behind and faster progress was

required to address critical skills gaps in the sector.

“The positive impact the MTI has had to date on developing individuals with these specialist skills for the automotive sector has been remarkable.

In a letter to the winners, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said they had made a tremendous contribution to the life of the country.

“We work tirelessly with our partners, in particular HORIBA MIRA, to build a skills offer that reflects future skills demand trends and enables the Institute to pivot to meet these emerging technologies.

He said: “The UK has always been a place of learning, invention and ambition. Our institutions of higher and further education are among the very best in the world.

They educate the next generation, train our workforce, and lead the cutting-edge research that drives progress, not just here at home but across the world.”

“We’re so proud to have received this prestigious national award that recognises UK colleges and universities whose outstanding work demonstrates excellence and innovation and delivers real benefit to the wider world.”

MTI is the result of a unique collaboration led by NWSLC and its partners, HORIBA MIRA, Coventry University, the University of Leicester, and Loughborough University and was built with a £9.5m investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via

“We offer more than 50 accredited programmes from GCSE level courses through to doctorate level qualifications as well as bespoke training and continuing professional development opportunities. Our innovative curriculum is constantly evolving, and we’ve recently added courses in areas such as sustainability, robotics, artificial intelligence, hydrogen and software defined vehicles.

“We provide access to state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technologies. We foster aspiration and ambition in the next generation of engineers and we’re creating career pathways for young people and professionals alike which are contributing to the development of a stronger and more skilled automotive workforce.”

MP Taiwo Owatemi visits Coventry College to explore new T Level facilities Coventry College welcomed Taiwo Owatemi MP to the college to tour its new T Level facilities and see first-hand how these new resources are preparing students for the future.

The suite replicates a real hospital setting, complete with simulation dummies and industry-standard equipment, providing students with the unique experience they need to enter the healthcare sector with confidence.

The visit highlighted the college’s commitment to delivering high quality vocational education and training that equips students with the skills needed to excel in their chosen industries.

Taiwo was particularly impressed with how the facility bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that students graduate with both the knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in healthcare roles.

Taiwo, who is the MP for Coventry North West, began her visit by exploring the college’s newly refurbished engineering workshops, which have been upgraded to include the latest CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) machines.

These new facilities are a fundamental part of the college’s T Level Engineering programme, offering students hands-on experience with modern technology that mirrors the equipment they will encounter in the workplace.

During her tour of the engineering workshops, she had the opportunity to meet with staff and students who shared their enthusiasm for the programme. The T Level Engineering students spoke about the practical skills they have developed, from 3D design to precision manufacturing, and how the enhanced facilities are giving them a competitive edge in their future careers.

The tour continued with a visit to the college’s new Hospital Suite, an immersive learning environment dedicated to students pursuing the T Level in Nursing.

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The MP met T Level Nursing students, who shared their aspirations of becoming nurses and healthcare professionals, as well as how the college’s resources are helping them prepare for such vital roles in the NHS and beyond.

Taiwo said: “My visit to Coventry College was incredibly uplifting. Touring the new T Level facilities – from the impressive engineering machinery with advanced simulator equipment to the motor vehicle workshops – highlighted the college’s strong commitment to providing students with real industry experience.

“I was especially pleased to spend time with nursing students, who presented thoughtful projects on mental health, eating disorders, SEND inclusion, and other vital issues affecting our communities. I was particularly struck by how well the facilities connect what students learn in the classroom with hands-on, practical experience, giving them the confidence and capabilities they need to thrive in healthcare roles.

“I also valued the opportunity to speak with the college’s leadership team about the importance of continued investment needed to ensure students are equipped with the skills and confidence required in today’s workforce.”

The college’s Principal, Carol Thomas, added: “I was delighted to spend time with Taiwo showcasing the wonderful transformation of Coventry College and in particularly our £13m investment over the course of the last five years across a range of in-demand curriculum areas.

“Taiwo’s support for Coventry College as the only general further education college in the city of Coventry is pertinent to ensuring that we are the flagship beacon of technical excellence to the benefit of our residents.”

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education and Skills

Council team awarded for going above and beyond This is amplified the work its Adult Education and Job Shop teams have accomplished, including developing varied and exciting pathways for residents and employers; strengthening partnerships, both internally and externally, including with UHCW for Health Support Worker Apprenticeships; and delivering tailored learning routes and successful pilots such as Job Rotation.

It also included offering cyclical onsite training at the Job Shop and creating new pathways such as “Sprint Ahead”.

Debbie was recognised for her creativity and innovative approach which led to the creation of a tailored pre-employment programme for the care sector, encouraging residents to develop their skills and secure apprenticeships and employment.

Her determination and resourcefulness have resulted in over 40 residents securing permanent employment within the NHS, in roles ranging from entrylevel to highly skilled positions, including a doctor newly arrived in the UK. To find out more about The Job Shop, head to Coventry City Council’s website: www.coventry.gov.uk/JobShop

College invites industry to brand-new heat pump training WCG apprentices shine on national stage with award wins facility Coventry City Council Skills, Employment and Adult Education Team won three awards at the Coventry City Council Spire Awards in the ‘Above and Beyond’ category.

The awards recognised the team’s work on Coventry Job Fest and the Adult Education Work Skills and The Job Shop.

Debbie Owen was also recognised for her work with the NHS Employability programme.

This recognition is a powerful reflection of the incredible work its staff do every day.

The team’s integrated approach has set a benchmark for collaboration

and impact. By bringing together employment, skills, and adult education support directly into the heart of communities, the team has created opportunities that matter for the city’s residents.

Coventry Job Fest is only one example of this, with more than 1,800 residents supported, and with 30 per cent of those being 18–24-year-old residents.

It also saw 150 employers engaged, offering real pathways to jobs and skills, while 83 per cent of attendees were from a global majority background. Three hundred and eighty attendees were referred for skills support (117 to the Adult Education Service).

Stratford-upon-Avon College hosted an event to display its brand-new state-of-the-art heat pump facility to industry professionals as it leads the way in working towards the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets.

Five outstanding welding and fabrication apprentices from WCG have been recognised for their exceptional talent after winning awards at the Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering (ISME) Skills Competition, held at The Institute of Technology.

The event brought together industry experts, installers, manufacturers and teaching staff to discuss the best way to utilise the centre and help local businesses upskill and reskill their staff.

The national competition brings together the most promising young engineers and fabricators from across the country, providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate technical skill, creativity and precision in a live, high-pressure environment.

WCG’s apprentices impressed judges with their ability to produce complex fabricated sheet metal components using a mix of traditional and modern methods, all while working from detailed technical drawings and under timed conditions.

Apprentice Jay Yeoman, from Solihull, won the Guards Helmet Trophy for the best Open Class Make entry.

Apprentice Rob Hudson, also from Solihull, won the new Adrian Nicklin Memorial Trophy for the best Open Class written entry. Rob also won the ISME Trophy for the highest total of marks for the Tool Caddy and Open Class entries.

Competing against top talent nationwide, the five apprentices distinguished themselves in tasks requiring layout development, folding, bending, joining and careful attention to accuracy, safety, and overall finish.

Their success is a reflection of the highquality training and industry preparation provided through WCG’s apprenticeship training programmes.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

The Government has highlighted an urgent need for more heat pumps and low-carbon heating solutions, and the college was awarded £1.2 million to further enhance the offering across Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

Students Rob Hudson (Solihull), Ben Eales (Warwickshire), Poppy Lee (Warwickshire), Jay Yeoman (Solihull), Cameron Blay (Rugby) and trainer Garry Couchman

The ISME Skills Competition is a national event run by the ISME, aimed at promoting excellence in metalwork and fabrication.

It helps young learners gain recognition from industry leaders, enhance their employability, and apply their classroom learning in a practical setting. The event’s historic location at the Black Country Living Museum provides an inspiring backdrop that mirrors the legacy and innovation of the UK’s metalwork industry.

Garry Couchman, trainer in welding and fabrication at WCG, said: “Our apprentices did an incredible job under real pressure, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved. They applied everything they’ve learned in training with professionalism, attention to detail, and real enthusiasm.

“These awards reflect their dedication and the growing strength of WCG’s apprenticeship programmes in supporting the next generation of engineering talent.

“On behalf of the team, I’d also like to thank Jamie-Leigh at Whale Tankers for his company's support for the competition.”

Winning an award at this level offers more than recognition - it boosts career confidence, enhances CVs, and provides a valuable platform for networking with employers and industry professionals.

To discover more about the latest apprenticeship opportunities available through WCG, or if you’re an employer interested in developing your workforce, visit wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships

The money was awarded from the Local Skills Improvement Fund after the Local Skills Improvement Plan identified the need for more to be done in the sustainable construction area.

CEO of Bosch Thermotechnology Carl Arntzen attended the event and says it’s a big step forward: “Stratford-uponAvon College is leading the way by creating excellent, hands-on facilities for their students to enable them to learn and understand Heat Pump and Hybrid Heat Pump technologies, different system configurations and performance impacts, so they enter the industry practically informed on all the different challenges and solutions to low carbon heating.”

If you are a plumber or electrician, looking to upskill yourself or your workforce in heat pump installation maintenance, please contact Siobhan.Ward@solihull.ac.uk.

For more information on any of Stratford-upon-Avon College’s courses, please visit www.stratford.ac.uk or call the college on 01789 266245.

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Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Major acquisition shows Chamber’s ambition Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has acquired a West Midlands training company for an undisclosed fee – underlining its ambitions for growth.

It has bought PTP Training, which has its head office in Walsall and employs around 70 staff supporting around 1,000 learners across the region in apprenticeships and Government-funded programmes.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has its own training division already – Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training – led by Sally Lucas and the acquisition will mean the group has a footprint across the whole of the West Midlands.

It will be business-as-usual for the team at PTP Training, which is run by CEO Rob Colbourne OBE, as they continue to work with hundreds of firms, offering accredited apprenticeships in everything from dentistry to welding and from accountancy to engineering.

It is also a return to its Chamber roots as PTP – which stands for Performance Through People – was originally part of

Walsall Chamber of Commerce when it was established in the 1960s.

Corin Crane, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a real milestone for us as a Chamber and our training offer. It brings together two trusted and established providers across Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands.

“We have been looking at PTP for some time as a potential partner and I am absolutely thrilled to get this acquisition over the line.”

Rob, who has been with PTP since 2004, said the two organisations’ values are aligned. He said: “We’ve got many staff who have been with us for more than five years, some over 20 and 30 years so, when this kind of deal goes through, they want to know that we are all working towards one goal.

“That is why this deal with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce was so appealing and will bring benefits to all parties."

Hidden gem is starting to shine!

A Warwickshire hotel is ditching its tag as a ‘hidden gem’ and is starting to shine after making significant investments and receiving support.

“Tailored support from Project Warwickshire has allowed Weston Hall Hotel to understand what they want to achieve and the steps they need to take to realise their goals. The support from the programme has helped Weston Hall Hotel to create a bespoke marketing plan, identify new audiences to support their growth goals and raise the profile of the hotel leading to an increase in corporate clients both using their facilities for conferences as well as for overnight stays.”

Weston Hall Hotel, a historic 38-bedroom hotel situated in Bulkington, has boosted corporate bookings and enquiries significantly in the past 12 months after taking advice on how to enhance its business-to-business profile.

Set in seven acres of Warwickshire countryside, the picturesque Elizabethan manor, run by Simon Evans, invested in creating the Stone & Ivy Restaurant and has also enhanced its corporate offer, which includes five function and conferencing suites.

Simon was able to access free business support and enlisted the help of Marie Stephenson, a business adviser at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, through Project Warwickshire.

Project Warwickshire forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme.

It is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, and is funded

by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council.

Cllr Rob Howard (Warwickshire County Council), Simon Evans (Weston Hall Hotel), Heleni Lindsell (Warwickshire County Council), Carol Ingleston (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council), Marie Stephenson (Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce).

And, by taking all of the advice and support on board, the hotel has seen a marked increase in events – from conferences to meetings – being staged there, as well as corporate clients utilising the hotel for overnight stays.

Simon said: “We knew, especially after the investment in Stone & Ivy, that we’d got a great product here and we just needed more people to know about it in the business world.

Through direct one-to-one support, Marie helped the business to create a bespoke, targeted marketing plan in order to raise the profile of the hotel with potential clients.

“Marie was a huge help and, by taking on board the advice she gave us, we’ve been able to grow our corporate bookings. Having a fresh set of eyes on the hotel has been so helpful and we now feel much more visible to the business community.

The hotel was also given access to a LinkedIn workshop and has been supported to hone its own networking skills, which has seen it attending and hosting more events.

“That help meant we could move forward with confidence in the ideas we had and to see those starting to come to fruition is great news for us but also for the local economy.”

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Marie added: “I love historic buildings and you can feel all of the charm and atmosphere from the moment you arrive.

“In our one-to-one meetings, I helped Simon to explore a variety of marketing streams and tell the story to the business audience in order to heighten the profile of the hotel, which has so much to offer, so that it had an impact on bookings.

“It’s great to see the plan working and I know that we, as a Chamber, have staged many events here too such is the quality of the offer.”

Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Project Warwickshire supports business in the hospitality sector, such as Weston Hall Hotel, to not only be resilient but to grow and thrive.

Councillor Nicky King, Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that Simon and his team at the Weston Hall Hotel continue to show great creativity in building the business after accessing free business support, through Project Warwickshire. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council are keen to promote the support available, funded

by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council, to all of its businesses. “ Project Warwickshire Business Support for Tourism, Leisure, Retail and Hospitality SMEs is funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council. Responsibility for the planning and delivery of UKSPF was part of the Level 2 Devolution Deal secured

by Warwickshire County Council in 2024.

Warwickshire’s allocation of UKSPF is supporting a package of communities & place, business support, and people & skills activities in 2025/26.

To find out more about the programme and others available to your business, including eligibility please go to www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Support helps bring focus to photography business A Rugby photographer says a regional support programme has not only boosted her business but made her feel like herself again.

“It was a game-changer. Mick helped me tidy up all of the ideas in my head and to focus on what mattered. He guided me on marketing and how to position my business.

Martina Rehakova moved to the area from Slovakia in 2008 and, for a long period, worked in a corporate environment.

“I can already see that my business is growing thanks to the help, but I also feel more relaxed and authentic again, which means more customers want to work with me because I am being myself.”

But, after the birth of her son, Oliver, and later becoming a single parent, she rediscovered her passion for photography that stemmed from her own childhood.

Mick said: “Martina is a truly talented photographer and an incredibly honest, authentic person which makes her the perfect choice for very personal photographic shoots.

After trialling the idea of photography as a business, she launched Martina Art Photography from her studio on the first floor of a property in Bank Street, Rugby, in February 2024.

“However, while she can always get her clients into perfect focus, she was struggling to focus on the areas of the business that would lead to growth and also give her the most satisfaction.

And while there were no question marks about her perfect portrait photos that drew praise from far and wide, Martina knew she needed help to organise and grow the business.

She contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for support and was assigned to business adviser Mick Dalheley for one-to-one help.

The support was offered through Business Start-Up programme, which forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council. The programme is funded

by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council.

Martina said: “When I was younger, we had an old family camera and photography was something we all enjoyed.

“It wasn’t like today where you can take thousands of shots.

You had to get the settings just right to capture a good picture.

I still remember making prints with my dad in the bathroom under the red light, with the smell of chemicals. That memory has stayed with me.

“But back then, photography wasn’t considered a ‘proper job’, so life took me in a different direction. I studied economics at university and eventually moved to the UK, where I worked in finance.

“I never really felt like myself in that environment and when I became a single mum, it was like starting a new chapter and I wanted something that worked around me and my son and that gave me balance.

“I opened the studio in February 2024 and I worked a lot with women. For me, it’s not just about taking the perfect picture, it’s about the feeling and the connection. Many women come to me feeling overwhelmed or lacking confidence, and they leave the studio feeling proud and beautiful.

Back – Anna Paget (Rugby Borough Council) and Mick Dalheley (Chamber); Front – Rebecca Corr (Warwickshire County Council), Martina Rehakova (Martina Art Photography).

“That’s why I say I don’t take pictures with my eyes, but with my heart. It starts from the first message, I want clients to feel comfortable and understood, not just like they’re paying for photos.”

Martina also works with families and businesspeople and can take shots in her Rugby studio or outside in a range of locations.

She added: “As a woman, you start a business thinking you can work flexibly and fit it around your family life but you suddenly realise it is 24/7. You are trying to work on the business while taking care of the household and the family!

“One of my biggest challenges was structure. I’m full of ideas but struggle to organise them. When I started building my website and creating packages, it was overwhelming.

I didn’t know what to focus on: branding, family photography, business portraits, and I was doing it all alone without a team.

“That’s when I started working with Mick at the Chamber.

Working with him and listening to his advice gave me structure. He became my team!

“We worked on my packages, decided what to prioritise, and created short-term and long-term plans with deadlines.

That way, I knew what to focus on.

“By working with her, we could make short, medium and long-term plans and decide on two or three areas to concentrate on. Martina now has a great website, easy-tounderstand packages, plans that she can manage and a really happy client-base.”

Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It’s great to see the impact the Business Start Up programme can have, helping people such as Martina turn passions into businesses.

“With support from the programme new businesses can access dedicated advice and guidance to set out their goals and how they will be achieved, helping local start-up businesses to grow and thrive.”

Councillor Louise Robinson, Rugby Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Growth and Investment, Digital and Communications, said: “There are lots of decisions to make when setting up a new business - this can be challenging, especially as a sole trader.

“The support provided by Business Growth Warwickshire’s Business Start-Up programme helped Martina to work through these decisions and structure her business.”

The Warwickshire Start Up Business Support programme is funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council. Responsibility for the planning and delivery of UKSPF was part of the Level 2 Devolution Deal secured by Warwickshire County Council in 2024. Warwickshire’s allocation of UKSPF is supporting a package of communities & place, business support, and people & skills activities in 2025/26.

To find out more about the programme and your businesses eligibility please go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-start-up/

Agency looks overseas after rapid expansion A Coventry-based marketing and advertising agency has gone from being a ‘business in a bedroom’ to exporting its services around the world in the space of ten months.

The Herd was established by brothers Paul and Keiran Scanlon in 2023 but it was at the start of 2025 when the firm truly got off the ground.

Such has been the nature if its rapid growth, the company has moved from being a home-based business to having offices at The Quadrant in Coventry city centre, employing seven people.

The Herd offers a range of creative, advertising and marketing services and, after support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, it is now working with clients in Dubai, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Egypt, the USA, Thailand and Spain, on top of a range of clients in the UK. The company was supported by Tim CooperCocks, an international trade adviser with the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on the Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) Exporting Starts Here programme.

The project, which is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and

the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire, Black Country, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, helps companies to either start overseas trade or grow their exports.

Tim advised the firm on target markets and, particularly, gave advice on overseas schools that wanted to attract UK students through advertising.

It has already led to commissions from new clients and further proposals being issued.

Paul said: “I’d worked in media and advertising for around 15 years but decided to set up my own business and it was only at the start of 2025 that we really got going, even though we established the firm a couple of years earlier.

“We’ve won quite a lot of domestic work, but we have also seen that while we might not be selling a physical product, there is a still a strong overseas market for the services we offer.

“We got in touch with the Chamber to ask for support and Tim has been absolutely brilliant at helping us to identify the right markets and getting the messaging right to sell what we do.

“He told us there had been a real surge in UK families looking to send their children to overseas schools and advised that this could be a target market for us. He then supported us in targeting the right organisations.

“It has worked and has already led to new business in Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Spain. So, we are effectively exporting digital advertising services, and thanks to Tim’s help, it is growing all the time.”

Tim said: “Paul, Keiran and the team at The Herd are brilliant at what they do, and overseas schools and businesses want to tap into their creativity but also their knowledge of what works here in the UK. “I am thrilled that the support is having such tangible benefits already and it just goes to prove that there is a really strong exporting market for service-based businesses as well as our manufacturers.

"So, I’d urge businesses to get in touch with us as soon as possible because exporting your goods or services is sure-fire way of growing and making your business more resilient.”

David Zell, Assistant Delivery Manager for Business Programmes at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), said: “The Export Support Programme, run by Coventry

Keiran Scanlon, Tim Cooper-Cocks, Paul Scanlon

and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of BGWM and WMCA, is a fantastic programme offering free, in-depth, subjectspecific expertise support to businesses within the West Midlands, enabling them to grow their potential through international exporting channels.

“The team are incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and driven to ensure that businesses can thrive and grow off the support that is on offer. The programme is 100 per cent committed to achieving success – and is one not to be missed.”

Ready to take your business global? For more information go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/international-trade/exporting-starts-here/ Contact the Chamber today and one of its advisers will be in touch to support your export journey. Provided by Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), the project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and delivered by Coventry & Warwickshire, Black Country, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Corporate supporters invited to partner with The Myton Hospices in the year ahead

Askews Legal invests in new head of Family Law

Emma Easton has joined Askews Legal LLP to lead its Family Law department.

With 23 years of legal experience behind her, Emma brings a wealth of expertise and a genuine passion for helping people navigate life’s most challenging situations.

Her arrival marks a significant step forward in Askews Legal’s mission to deliver the most comprehensive and compassionate legal support for family matters.

After spending 18 years as a successful lawyer in contentious insolvency, she recognised a significant crossover between her expertise as an insolvency lawyer and the intricate world of family law.

The skills she had honed, including meticulous financial work, business valuations, and navigating the complexities of bankruptcy, were directly transferable to the financial process of family law.

Beyond her professional acumen, Emma’s decision to transition to family law was deeply personal.

Having become a wife and mother, she gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of family life and relationships.

This personal experience now fuels her commitment to the “counselling side” of her work, where she finds immense fulfilment in helping clients manage emotional and stressful situations.

She said: “I think the rewarding part is being able to offer guidance and help people manage very emotional and stressful situations, such as seeing them through to the end of their stressful divorce journey feeling more confident to face their next life chapter.”

Her dedication to empowering clients resonated strongly with Askews Legal’s core values of integrity and quality service and played a role in Emma accepting the new position.

Emma has a clear and ambitious vision for the future of the Family Law department at the company’s Coventry office.

Her goal is to create a structure where administrative tasks are delegated and supported with technology, allowing lawyers to focus on more complex, relationship-led legal work that truly benefits clients.

“I would like to lead the team to expansion, so Askews becomes the leading family team in Coventry and Warwickshire,” she said.

It is an approach that aligns perfectly with Askews Legal’s ethos of continuous improvement and providing efficient, expert legal guidance and Emma’s blend of commercial experience, personal empathy, and strategic vision makes her the perfect leader to drive forward the company’s Family Law department.

For expert and compassionate legal advice and guidance, contact Askews Legal LLP’s Family team via: https://askewslegal.co/contact or 02476 231000

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As businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire look ahead to the coming year, The Myton Hospices is calling on corporate supporters to play a vital role in protecting specialist palliative and end of life care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

With rising demand for hospice services and increasing pressure on charitable funding, corporate involvement has never been more important.

By partnering with The Myton Hospices, organisations can make a tangible difference in their communities while delivering meaningful benefits for employees, customers and stakeholders.

Corporate support enables The Myton Hospices to continue providing compassionate care free of charge to people across Coventry and Warwickshire, supporting patients not only medically, but emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

From inpatient and community care to bereavement support, the charity relies on partnerships with businesses to help fund essential services.

Every corporate contribution, whether financial, practical or strategic, directly supports local people at some of the most challenging times of their lives.

There are numerous ways for organisations of all sizes to engage with The Myton Hospices during the year ahead.

They include corporate partnerships where businesses can nominate The Myton Hospices as their Charity of the Year, creating a structured programme of fundraising, awarenessraising and staff engagement activities.

Employee fundraising and challenges is another way businesses can support, from sponsored walks and cycling events to teambased challenges and workplace fundraising days, employee-led initiatives which build team spirit while supporting a vital cause.

Corporate sponsorship of Myton-led events provides valuable funding and offers businesses the opportunity to increase brand visibility while demonstrating community commitment.

Payroll giving and match funding sees regular payroll donations and employer match funding schemes provide a reliable income stream that helps the charity plan for the future.

Making a donation to fund the hospices vital work directly contributes to the voluntary income target of over £1 million every month – the amount needed to continue providing services free of charge to patients and their loved ones in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Donations of goods, services, or professional skills, such as marketing, IT, legal or HR support, can also significantly reduce operational costs and enhance service delivery.

The Myton Hospices also welcomes corporate volunteering days, whether supporting retail operations, events or maintaining hospice grounds, offering hands-on engagement and a rewarding experience for teams.

Partnering with The Myton Hospices offers clear benefits for businesses. Corporate supporters often report increased employee morale, stronger team cohesion, and enhanced corporate social responsibility (CSR) credentials.

Demonstrating support for a respected local charity can also strengthen relationships with customers and the wider community.

In addition, The Myton Hospices works closely with its corporate partners to recognise and celebrate their support through communications, events and ongoing engagement.

Chris Willmott, partnerships manager at The Myton Hospices, said: “Corporate support plays a crucial role in enabling us to deliver specialist palliative and end of life care to people and families across Coventry and Warwickshire.

“Whether through fundraising, volunteering or strategic partnerships, businesses of all sizes can make a real and lasting difference. We are excited to work with both new and existing partners in the year ahead to continue supporting our local communities.”

To find out more, email: corporate@mytonhospice.org or visit: www.mytonhospice.org/corporate

MIRA Tech Park welcomes the next generation of innovators Each session spotlighted the human judgement behind the technology, encouraging students to consider the role they could play in building what comes next.

In the security session, students tested the boundaries of a large language model, demonstrating why a Secure by Design approach is critical across all AI systems.

Working alongside the MTI team, they also built a machine learning algorithm using Scratch and explored how human decision-making impacts the safety, performance and reliability of autonomous vehicles.

MIRA Tech Park welcomed 60 local secondary school students for an immersive AI Day, offering a first-hand look at how emerging technologies are shaping the world of tomorrow.

The students, aged 13 and 14, were selected for their capabilities in STEM related subjects and, through practical insight and real-world context, the day was designed to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and inspire ambition around future careers in frontier technologies.

Students and teachers from Etone College, Hastings High School and Higham Lane School visited the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) at MIRA Tech Park for the hands-on sessions exploring the future of artificial intelligence.

Across three interactive workshops, students tackled key challenges and opportunities shaping AI today, including security, machine learning and autonomous vehicles.

The day also welcomed representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, as they prepare to launch their Tech First programme in 2026, aiming to reach one million young people across the UK and giving them early exposure to the technologies shaping the future.

“Over 75 per cent of the students that attended our event reported it had increased their confidence in AI and potential careers,” said Sarah Windrum, head of Cluster Development for MIRA Tech Park.

“That is what is so critical at this stage of their education.

I have a 14-year-old daughter myself and know how much these experiences shape what they focus on in school and what they decide to pursue further study in.”

HORIBA MIRA and MTI are delivering a series of taster sessions in 2026 to build on the success of the AI Day. For further details, please contact Sarah Windrum at talk@miratechnologypark.com.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Businesses need ERA support Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire will need guidance and support when it comes to the way they deal with staff after the long-awaited Employment Rights Act came into law.

The Act sees a host of changes to employee rights including day-one sick pay and unfair dismissal rights after a six-month probation period.

It also covers guaranteed hours for zero-hours contract workers and enhanced parental leave.

The changes are expected to come into effect in a phased approach across 2026 and 2027.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Government has been consulting with business on this over a very long period and while we welcomed the move away from day one rights on unfair dismissal, there is

still a huge amount of change that businesses – especially SMEs – are going to need time to digest.

“They are also going to need very clear guidance and support on how they implement these changes.

“The vast majority of businesses want to grow, take on staff and treat them well because happy, motivated people make companies more successful. We recognise that.

“As a Chamber we’ll be working with colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to support firms with these changes so they get trusted guidance on what they need to do next.

“For the vast majority of businesses, they will already be on the right side of the legislation but it is just a case of ensuring they have the processes and procedures in place to meet the new requirements.”

Power company opens new depot in Warwick An expanding power company has rented an industrial unit in Warwick in a deal that leading commercial property agency Bromwich Hardy helped to seal.

Generator Power Ltd, the UK’s leading supplier of generators for emergency use, events and long-term hire, is the new tenant of Unit 16 Harriott Drive, on the Heathcote Industrial Estate, in a move that will create new jobs.

The Warwick location is the latest for the Wakefield-based company which already has depots in Inverness, Glasgow, Durham, Kendal, Cumbria, Warrington, Newport, Reading, Stevenage and Okehampton.

Tom Bromwich, managing partner at Bromwich Hardy, said: “We’re pleased to

have secured a quality tenant for these premises which were let after competitive interest.”

Heathcote Industrial Estate is home to a range of organisations including Dennis Eagle UK, Wanzl, NOMOQ and the JLR Academy.

Bromwich Hardy worked closely with joint agents Tim Cox Associates of Stratford-uponAvon to rent the property on behalf of Eray Property Management Ltd of Rugby.

Beth Laidler of Blacks Solicitors in Leeds provided legal advice to Generator Power Ltd, while Eray Property Management was advised by Holly Lockley of Shakespeare Martineau in Leicester.

University of Warwick to lead clean energy storage revolution with £10 million gift University of Warwick has received a transformational £10 million philanthropic gift from alumnus Tim Hartnoll to establish a pioneering new research centre dedicated to sustainable electrical chemistry research for new forms of batteries.

“I’ve always believed universities like Warwick are at their best when they bring people together to solve global challenges, and supporting research that drives innovation in sustainable energy feels both urgent and necessary.

“Funding the new Hartnoll Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies is an important continuation of my philanthropy to the university, and I’m proud to give back to an institution that continues to push boundaries and prepare the next generation to lead with purpose.”

The new Hartnoll Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies will unite world-leading experts in chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering to overcome one of the greatest challenges of our time – developing sustainable ways to create and store energy for a cleaner, more resilient future.

Over the years, Tim has provided exceptional support for Warwick’s research community, funding postdoctoral positions and PhD scholarships that strengthen the University’s world-class research capability. This includes funding 13 postdoctoral research positions and 12 PhD scholarships within Warwick’s Astronomy and Astrophysics Group in the Department of Physics, one of the biggest gifts ever to Astronomy research in the UK.

Professor Stuart Croft, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Warwick, said: “This extraordinary act of generosity represents a defining moment for Warwick and for the future of sustainable energy.

“The Hartnoll Centre will develop new experimental fuel technologies that are cleaner, more efficient, and more accessible. These breakthroughs will power industries, communities, and countries into a brighter, more sustainable future.

“We are deeply grateful for this remarkable philanthropic gift. It demonstrates how philanthropy empowers leading universities like Warwick to find transformative solutions to global challenges facing all of us, and to do so with ambition.”

This major philanthropic commitment represents one of the largest gifts in Warwick’s 60-year history and marks a defining moment as it prepares to launch a major philanthropic campaign in 2026.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Tim Hartnoll, one of Warwick’s most generous and long-standing supporters, was presented with the University’s Benefactor’s Medal in July 2025, recognising the transformative impact of his support.

His extraordinary commitment has been instrumental in shaping the University’s culture of philanthropy and driving forward its global research ambitions.

Tim Hartnoll, executive chairman of X-Press Feeders ,said: “Since 1976, Warwick has played an important role in my life, shaping how I think and how I approach the world.

The new Hartnoll Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies will position Warwick, and the UK, as the global leader in experimental fuel innovation. It will build on Warwick’s already strong reputation in clean energy research, with leading projects in hydrogen fuel systems, green chemistry, and battery technologies.

By combining expertise across disciplines, from catalysis and fuel cells to hydrogen storage, materials discovery, and digital simulation, the Hartnoll Centre will enable the creation of experimental systems that could redefine how energy is produced, stored, and used.

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Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Discover style and comfort at The Telegraph Hotel A former newspaper building could provide the perfect start to the new year with a stay that blends history, character and luxury at The Telegraph Hotel, Coventry’s award-winning city centre retreat.

Once home to the Coventry Telegraph newspaper, the hotel has been transformed into a stylish destination where mid-century design meets modern comfort.

Each of the beautifully appointed bedrooms captures the building’s 1950s heritage while offering everything today’s traveller expects, from spacious layouts and plush furnishings to thoughtful finishing touches.

This season, guests can enjoy a selection of seasonal offers, providing the perfect excuse for a relaxing weekend break, romantic escape or midweek recharge.

At the heart of the hotel, Forme & Chase serves exceptional food and drink in a chic, welcoming setting. Open daily for lunch and dinner, it’s the ideal spot for everything from a business meeting over coffee to an indulgent evening meal with friends or family.

For those looking to combine business with style, The Telegraph Hotel also offers two impressive smaller meeting spaces, Boardroom and Directors.

Each room is equipped with modern technology and elegant design, creating an inspiring environment for productive meetings.

Whether you’re staying overnight, dining out, or hosting an event, The Telegraph Hotel offers a truly distinctive Coventry experience, where every visit is headline-worthy.

Find out more and book your stay at www.telegraph-hotel.com.

Engineering heritage meets digital momentum Two Midlands-based businesses, both built on craft, consistency and long-term thinking, have come together in a new strategic partnership.

Gold & Wassall, the UK’s longest-established specialist hinge manufacturers, has appointed Nexus Creative Ltd as its marketing and website partner, marking an important step in how the business presents its 230-year manufacturing story to today’s market.

specialising in intelligent digital marketing, website design and strategic growth for B2B and manufacturing-led organisations.

The partnership brings together Gold & Wassall’s deep engineering heritage with Nexus Creative’s expertise in translating complex capability into clear, compelling digital actions, that generate revenue.

Founded in 1790, Gold & Wassall is a rare example of true British manufacturing longevity.

The collaboration will focus on strengthening Gold & Wassall’s brand presence, modernising its website and creating marketing platforms that better support customers, specifiers, and partners.

Operating from its purpose-built facility in Tamworth, the company designs and manufactures high-quality hinges for sectors including rail, defence, marine, agriculture and industrial fabrication.

From clearer product storytelling to improved digital journeys, the goal is to make it easier for the market to understand the depth, precision and value behind British-made engineering.

While its products are engineered for performance, reliability and repeatability, the business is equally focused on evolving how it communicates its values in a modern, digital-first world which is why it has engaged Nexus Creative. Working across the Greater Midlands region, Nexus Creative is a business development and marketing agency

For Gold & Wassall, the partnership reflects a forward-looking mindset. While the company remains rooted in tradition, it recognises that future growth depends on strong partnerships, modern communication and a confident digital presence that matches its manufacturing capability. For Nexus Creative, working with Gold & Wassall is a natural fit. Both businesses

share a belief in long-term thinking, attention to detail and building things properly, whether that’s a precision-engineered hinge or a digital platform designed to perform over time.

This partnership is also a positive example of Midlands collaboration. Two regional businesses, each leaders in their field, working together to strengthen British manufacturing and ensure that heritage brands continue to thrive in a changing commercial landscape.

Why corporate investment in nature-connected learning matters The Heart of England Forest is encouraging businesses in the region to support its work.

The Heart of England Forest spokesperson added: “Such outcomes demonstrate that natureconnected learning is more than enrichment – it is intervention. It builds confidence, improves wellbeing, strengthens social skills, and nurtures a lifelong relationship with nature. These benefits ripple outward into homes, classrooms, and the wider community.”

The organisation is creating and conserving a 30,000-acre forest in Warwickshire and Worcestershire for people, wildlife, and future generations.

A spokesperson for the Heart of England Forest said: “In an era where employee wellbeing, social value, and environmental responsibility are central business priorities, nature-connected learning offers a powerful and multifaceted return on investment.

“Corporate partnerships that fund meaningful outdoor learning do far more than enhance an organisation’s ESG profile – they unlock life-changing opportunities for young people, strengthen communities, and help protect the natural world for future generations.

“The Heart of England Forest’s work with businesses is demonstrating just how far this impact can reach when organisations and charities move forward with shared purpose.

“Research consistently shows the positive effects of time spent in nature: improved mental health, heightened concentration, reduced stress, and stronger social bonds.

“For children – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – these benefits are especially transformative. Yet many grow up with limited or no access to safe, green spaces.

“Corporate-funded programmes help bridge this gap. When businesses invest in outdoor learning, they are supporting the development of confident, resilient young people.

The Heart of England Forest spokesperson added: “This year, Gateley’s support will enable pupils from two Redditch primary schools to attend the Club.

“Experiences in the Forest nurture curiosity, teamwork, emotional regulation, and problemsolving skills – qualities that underpin future academic success and workplace readiness.

“A standout example is the Heart of England Forest’s partnership with Gateley, a professional services group headquartered in Birmingham.

Their support funded an After School Club in the Forest for pupils at Ark Kings Academy in Kings Norton, an area with high deprivation and few opportunities for outdoor exploration. Over a year, pupils visited weekly to learn, play, and connect with the natural world.

“For many, this was their first sustained experience of woodland and significant emotional and behavioural benefits were observed.”

Karen Simmonds, a teacher at the school, said: “They often find it difficult in the classroom, but out here they have the space to self-regulate.

Being able to choose their own activities and find their own space has been particularly important.

This has helped them self-regulate back in the classroom.”

“Outdoor learning programmes require sustained investment: skilled educators, transport, equipment, and careful management of woodland habitats. Corporate funding makes this possible. Beyond financial backing, these partnerships bring shared vision, shared responsibility, and shared pride in the legacy being created.

“For businesses, the value is tangible as it means enhanced employee engagement through meaningful, purpose-driven partnerships.

“It means strengthened ESG performance, particularly around social impact.

“And it also offers visible and authentic community investment that resonates with clients, employees, and stakeholders.”

If your business would like to support young people learning in the Forest or other environmental initiatives, please contact corporate@heartofenglandforest.org.

Go here to watch the After School Club in action - https://youtu.be/rRTZmOB1iRs

Warwickshire accountant wins three national awards Chadwick Accountants, based in Bidford-onAvon, has secured national recognition after winning three awards at the Most Inspiring Accountants Awards, organised by AVN, the UK’s leading independent accountancy network and business advisory organisation.

Founded in 2021 by managing director Rachael Chadwick-Harrison, the Warwickshire firm won both the Changing Lives and High Profile Practice awards.

During the ceremony, a live audience vote was held to crown the Most Inspiring Accountant, with Chadwick Accountants taking home the additional accolade and completing a triple win on the day.

The Changing Lives award was supported by case studies demonstrating measurable

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financial and personal transformation across Chadwick clients of varying sizes.

These included five-figure tax savings on VAT, Capital Gains Tax and Corporation Tax; the introduction of debt reduction and financial planning strategies for businesses under pressure; and a phased transformation programme that enabled one client to secure £5.2 million in private equity investment.

The submission also highlighted Chadwicks’ commitment to employee coaching and development, alongside its charitable work within the Warwickshire region.

“Our advisory work is about measurable impact, personal transformation and sustainable growth,” said Rachael.

“By combining robust benchmarking tools with empathetic, proactive support, we deliver advice that is practical, strategic and genuinely life-changing.”

The High-Profile Practice award recognised firms that have successfully raised their profile and reached their target markets.

Chadwicks’ entry focused on the launch of its weekly podcast, its work with an outsourced PR and marketing specialist, and the positioning of Rachael Chadwick-Harrison as a keynote speaker and trusted commentator in national and regional media.

Following the ceremony, the engraved Most Inspiring Accountant trophy was delivered to Chadwicks in person and is now proudly displayed at the firm’s offices for the year ahead.

Building on this recognition, Rachael has since delivered a live AVN webinar titled “Secrets of a Multi-Award-Winning Accountant.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Leamington student’s creative vision earns top honour from The Arts Society A talented Royal Leamington Spa College student was named the recipient of this year’s distinguished art award from The Arts Society Royal Leamington Spa, highlighting the exceptional standard of creative talent nurtured within the college’s School of Arts.

Grace Gardiner, from Leamington, an exceptional student from the Foundation Art & Design course, was selected to receive this year’s coveted award during a celebratory event.

The award was presented by Edwina Rowe, a distinguished representative of The Arts Society, who recognised Grace’s outstanding work and remarkable dedication to her art. As part of the ceremony, Grace participated in an interview and photoshoot alongside Edwina, offering insight into her creative journey and aspirations.

Grace, who will be advancing her studies at De Montfort University to pursue a degree in Contour Fashion, impressed the selection panel with her innovative design work, artistic vision, and commitment to developing her craft.

Her portfolio showcased not only technical skill but a strong conceptual approach, setting

her apart from her peers. The award, made possible by The Arts Society Royal Leamington Spa, provides vital financial support across all three years of Grace’s higher education journey. It is aimed at empowering young artists to continue their practice at university level without financial barriers and celebrates promising new talent emerging from local education.

Grace said: “This award means so much to me, it’s an incredible honour and a huge encouragement as I prepare for university.

The support will allow me to focus fully on developing my skills and creativity in a field I’m passionate about.”

Edwina added: “We’re delighted to support a student as dedicated and talented as Grace. Her work stood out for its originality and thoughtful execution. The Arts Society is committed to fostering young artists, and Grace is a wonderful example of the potential we aim to nurture.”

WCG and Royal Leamington Spa College staff extended their warmest congratulations to Grace and expressed sincere thanks to The Arts Society Royal Leamington Spa for its continued investment in the next generation of artists and designers.

The team nominated Grace as the outstanding student on the Foundation Course for 2025 in recognition of her ambition, commitment and exemplary studentship. She approached her work with curiosity and developed her practice with skill, maturity and openness.

To learn more about the School of Arts at Royal Leamington Spa College and explore the wide range of creative courses, visit: wcg.ac.uk/artanddesign

Kenilworth firm and WCG honour inspiring student with Memorial Award A dedicated and inspiring Royal Leamington Spa College student, who has shown exceptional commitment to his studies and to supporting others, was named the 2025 recipient of the Bev Clucas Award.

Callum Bryans has been recognised by tutors from the college, which is part of WCG, for consistently going above and beyond in his learning, demonstrating the values of happiness, hard work and selflessness that define the spirit of the award.

The accolade celebrates an outstanding business and enterprise student at the college who exemplifies these qualities both in and outside the classroom.

The Bev Clucas Award, sponsored by Kenilworth-based consultancy Leisure Concepts, honours the memory of their late colleague Bev Clucas, who is remembered for her positivity, compassion and dedication to others.

Representatives from Leisure Concepts attended this year’s WCG Student and Apprentice Awards Ceremony, held at Warwick Trident College, to present the award to Callum.

Mandy Flowers, from Leisure Concepts, said: “This award is always about keeping the legacy of our finance manager, Bev Clucas, alive.

“She meant so much to us as a company, and having the college choose the student who best reflects her qualities of happiness, hard work, caring and selflessness does this perfectly.

Callum is a very deserving winner and we hope he takes great pride in winning this award, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

Mark Bonham, campus principal at Royal Leamington Spa College, added: “Callum is the most hard-working, selfless, caring student our tutors have ever had the pleasure of teaching.

“It is clear from our tutors’ feedback that he is always engaged and willing to learn and

improve, always striving for Distinction-level work. He is selfless and kind, always helping his peer group. Importantly, Callum turns up to every lesson with a smile on his face that is contagious.”

With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, Leisure Concepts is a leading consultancy that specialises in helping businesses enhance performance, develop people and deliver outstanding customer experiences.

To find out more about studying at WCG, visit www.wcg.ac.uk/study

Small businesses lead the way in employee wellbeing with OPEN Conversations training Ten small businesses from Nuneaton and surrounding areas came together for a landmark OPEN Conversations training session, delivered by SOS Silence of Suicide (SOS) in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Small businesses are often overlooked in national conversations about workplace wellbeing, yet they form a powerful hub within the economic sector. SOS is committed to supporting these businesses to become leaders in fostering compassionate, supportive workplaces.

Delivered as part of SOS’s ten-year anniversary give-back campaign, the training equips business owners and leaders with the confidence and skills to have meaningful conversations that can positively impact the wellbeing of their employees, customers, and communities.

Businesses that took part included Mario James Precision Engineering Ltd, Dot Comms Ltd, Angie Knows, Greyhound Transport Midlands, Adaptive Business Solutions,

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Webb HR Consultancy, MES Systems, Oxford Innovation and Loose Legal Ltd. Nick Moore, Interim CEO of SOS Silence of Suicide, said: "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet their role in supporting mental health is often underestimated.

“By equipping these businesses with the tools to open compassionate conversations, we’re not just supporting individual workplaces, we’re empowering leaders to be at the forefront of a cultural shift in how we care for one another."

The session included practical tools for recognising signs of distress, responding with empathy, and creating a workplace environment where employees feel heard, supported, and valued.

Participating businesses also received free access to the OPEN Conversations digital learning resource, enabling them to embed these skills across their teams long after the session.

Michelle McLaughlin, a spokesperson for Mario James Precision Engineering, added: "Our

Breast Friends on Tour: Nuneaton Acorns WI Raises £5,000 for George Eliot Hospital’s new Breast Care Unit Members of the Nuneaton Acorns WI completed a spirited five-mile sponsored walk in their bras around local pubs to raise money for George Eliot Hospital Charity, collecting an impressive £5,000 for the hospital’s new Breast Care Unit.

The initiative, affectionately named “Breast Friends on Tour,” brought together a team of WI members and supporters, all walking in solidarity to raise awareness of breast cancer and champion the vital work of George Eliot Hospital’s specialist staff.

The cause holds special significance for the group. Megan, the WI’s youngest member, lost her mum to breast cancer at just 13-years-old during the Covid pandemic.

She recalls the compassion, dedication, and support her family received from the Breast Care Unit at George Eliot Hospital, and the walk became her way to give back to those who cared for her mother.

Her story inspired the wider WI sisterhood to rally behind her.

Together, they mapped a route through Nuneaton, stopping at local pubs along the way to engage the community, share their message, and raise funds for the hospital’s new Breast Care Unit, scheduled to open in 2026.

members of the Nuneaton and Warwickshire networking group are proud to take part in training that not only supports their business growth but also strengthens the wellbeing of their employees. Initiatives like OPEN Conversations demonstrate the critical role small businesses play in creating positive workplace cultures."

Marina Kitchen, Nuneaton Acorns WI president, said: “This was our first ever fundraising walk, and the positivity, generosity and community spirit we experienced has truly inspired us.

We’re already planning our next walk for August 7, 2026, and we hope it will be even bigger and better. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we come together.”

For more information about OPEN Conversations and how to complete the free course, visit: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org. uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/ or contact: info@silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk

Anyone who would like to join the 2026 walk or support the fundraising efforts can contact Marina on 07814 933764.

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Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby

Aurrigo International aims for global scale-up

Warwickshire Vision launches brand new service!

Warwickshire Vision Support (WVS), the county’s sight loss charity with over 110 years of experience, has announced the launch of its new corporate training offer focused on sight loss and its impact on customers, employees and other stakeholders.

The team at WVS is passionate about improving awareness of the challenges faced by people with a visual impairment.

Part of this is supporting others to improve their knowledge and confidence around sight loss.

As such the organisation is pleased to have recently launched its Visual Impairment Awareness Training.

An hour-long taster session delivered by a qualified vision rehabilitation specialist offers bespoke advice and exercises designed to give people more confidence around working with people with sight loss.

Having a better understanding of sight loss can help businesses and organisations ensure that they are serving their visually impaired customers more effectively.

Attracting more visually impaired customers makes sense from a business perspective as disability spend in the UK is estimated at around £274bn annually.

With the government’s aim of getting more disabled people into work, understanding people with sight loss will make organisations more confident in employing them.

WVS’s training sessions are tailored to the audience so any organisation’s circumstances can be accommodated.

The session covers sight loss conditions and how they effect the person experiencing them. WVS uses simulation specs to demonstrate a number of conditions, and practical exercises, such as reading menus or finding ‘use by’ dates to show their effects.

The session also covers lighting, the use of contrasting colours, tactile markers and descriptive language amongst other topics. It ends with some sighted guiding training to give attendees an insight into guiding visually impaired people, along with sampling how it feels to be guided.

WVS recently ran the course for a group of care workers, who found the practical exercises very useful. It also visited a group of graduate civil engineers and town planners, who were very engaged in discussions about the uses of contrasting colours, different surfaces and the effects of shadow on visually impaired pedestrians.

If you would like to know more contact WVS on 01926 411331 or email imke.mcclelland@warwickshire.vision

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A leading provider of transport technology solutions has launched a new international licensing and hub programme designed to accelerate its global commercialisation strategy.

Aurrigo International plc, which recently raised £14.1m to scale-up its autonomous and connected airport solutions, will seek local relationships, funding, operations and manufacturing support to bring its AutoDollyTug®, Auto-Cargo®, Auto-Shuttle® and Auto-Sim® solutions to even more airports and ground handling operators.

The hubs are expected to be established through commercial collaborations or strategic partnerships at a local/subsidiary level, with the UK-based business contributing its proprietary intellectual property, technical expertise, and operational knowhow in return for partners providing the required working capital and market access to accelerate product deployment into regional airports.

In addition to its global headquarters and advanced manufacturing centre in Coventry, the firm plans on launching four principal hubs in North America (Cincinnati), South East Asia (Singapore and Malaysia), the Middle East (Dubai) and Europe (Amsterdam).

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, said: “With the completion of our £14.1 million fundraise in September, we now have the financial platform to accelerate our international expansion and rapidly increase the scale of our business.

“The launch of our hub strategy represents the next step in our long-term vision to become the global leader in airport automation.

We believe that the combination of regional

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, with Auto-Cargo® and Auto-DollyTug®

hubs, localised manufacturing, and targeted investment will provide a scalable framework to capture the rapidly growing demand for automation solutions across the aviation industry.

“The demand we are seeing from major airports, airlines, and logistics partners around the world underlines the growing recognition of Aurrigo’s technology and its potential to transform airside operations. As a result, we are planning for a step change in our activities through a capital efficient approach, focused on delivering significant international expansion.”

This distributed hub structure will complement Aurrigo International’s headquarters in Coventry, which will remain the global centre for engineering, software development, and initial manufacturing.

The company already operates subsidiaries in Singapore and North America, which currently support client projects and technical liaison in their respective regions. It intends to establish a new hub in the Middle East, expected to be based in Dubai, to serve as the regional centre for commercial development and client support across the Gulf and surrounding markets.

Each hub, apart from Amsterdam, will evolve towards local manufacturing and deployment partnerships, allowing vehicles to be assembled closer to end markets.

This regional manufacturing model will seek to significantly reduce the impact of trade barriers and tariffs, reduce logistics costs, shorten delivery times, and align with regional regulatory and procurement frameworks, while maintaining the firm’s centralised design and quality standards.

Engineering firm gears up for growth A long-established family-run engineering company in Warwickshire is preparing for a major new phase of growth after receiving comprehensive assistance from a business support organisation in the region.

Henley Engineers, founded in 1942 and based in Edge Lane, Henley-in-Arden, worked closely with Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub to modernise its operations, upgrade its digital infrastructure and identify new market opportunities including a strategic move into the military supply chain.

The business, which manufactures and fabricates detailed components for the commercial vehicle sector, employs 30 staff across its Henley-in-Arden site and a second facility in Redditch for larger components.

Henley Engineers currently has an annual turnover of £2.5 million, and is now positioning itself for diversification and scaling up.

Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub account manager Nina Bale has provided support to senior business development manager Mike Beirns to access guidance, specialist introductions and grant opportunities to accelerate their plans.

This includes a successful application to Made Smarter West Midlands, securing a £20,000 grant towards a £70,000 investment in

Nina Bale from Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub with Mike Beirns from Henley Engineers

a new ERP and CRM system designed to bring procurement, sales, marketing and operations onto one platform. The system has already transformed internal processes by reducing the time taken from raising a PO to starting work on the shop floor from three days to just 20 minutes.

Work with the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) has further supported upgrades to IT infrastructure and digital manufacturing processes following an expert review of the company’s equipment and workflow.

Nina said: “Nick, Mike and the team at Henley Engineers are a great example of how a business can utilise Growth Hub support at every stage of their journey.

“Our work is not just about grants, it’s about networking, introductions and connecting businesses to the right partners at exactly the right time. Henley Engineers has embraced this fully, and their progress reflects the power of collaborative regional support.”

The company is also taking major steps towards automation, including investing in its first robotic welding arm following specialist training at Cyber-Weld in Southam and is exploring the deployment of a cobot capable of learning repeat welding tasks.

Barcoding is being implemented across the full production process to support further efficiency.

Managing director Nick Warmington, who joined Henley Engineers as a 16-year-old engineering apprentice before becoming the fourth generation to lead the company, said: “We’re pitching the business to the military supply chain and meeting the standards needed to supply into that sector. The support from the Growth Hub and its partners has been critical in helping us prepare the business for this next step.

“Digitising our processes, investing in automation and improving workflow has completely changed the culture of the business. We’re more efficient, more productive and better positioned for growth.”

German president visits Coventry and hears of bond between cities and nations His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Coventry Cathedral to draw to a close the German president’s state visit to the UK. The Duke, the President and his wife, Ms. Elke Büdenbender, were greeted in the cathedral ruins by the Bishop of Coventry, Sophie Jelley, the city’s Lord Mayor, councillor Rachel Lancaster, the cathedral’s Canon for Welcome and Reconciliation, the Revd Nitano Muller, and the Dean of Coventry, the Very Reverend John Witcombe.

Picture: Andrew Turton

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Heart of England Events and Conferencing

Record Festive Season Sets the Stage for an Even Bigger 2026 at the Heart of England The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre has rounded off an exceptionally successful festive season, welcoming an impressive 8,349 guests across its full programme of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The season featured a wide variety of events, from large-scale Christmas Party Nights and tailored private festive events, to a lively New Year’s Eve celebration and the hugely popular Santa’s Grotto and Magical Train Ride, which once again proved a highlight for families, as were Festive Feasts in The Quicken Tree. In total, their kitchens served over 7,000 Christmas dinners throughout the season – a remarkable achievement and a true testament to the scale of the operation and the dedication of the team behind the scenes.

Christmas Day itself was a standout, with guests enjoying traditional celebrations across both the Birchley Suite and The Quicken Tree Restaurant.

Festivities continued through Boxing Day and into the New Year with the much-loved New Year’s Day Welly Walk and Hangover Cure Menu.

Commenting on the season, Stephen Hammon, Owner and Managing Director, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved this Christmas.

Delivering thousands of festive meals and welcoming so many guests across such a diverse programme of events is a real credit to their hard work and passion. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, which makes it all the more rewarding.”

Welcome to a new era at

THE HEART OF ENGLAND

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the venue.

It will mark 25 years since the Heart of England first opened its doors, alongside 20 years of The Quicken Tree – milestones reflecting two decades of growth, innovation and hospitality excellence.

With bookings already being taken for 2026, a popular 2-for-1 menu launching

TEAM BUILDING

at The Heart of England Scan the QR code to download the Team Building brochure

FOR UP TO 650 PAX

PRODUCT LAUNCHES EXHIBITIONS FUN DAYS & FESTIVALS WEDDINGS PARTIES

For bookings or enquiries, call 01676 540333 or visit our website: www.heartofengland.uk

Unleash the ultimate in

CONFERENCES

TEAM BUILDING

at The Quicken Tree in January and February, and the newly announced Ho Ho HOE Down Christmas Cowboy Party Nights, momentum remains firmly in the venue’s favour.

(No signs of slowing down — just loosening belts.)

OPEN AIR WELLNESS PROGRAMME HUGE CHOICE OF ACTIVITIES

160 ACRES OF PARK, WOODLAND, LAKES

CHRISTMAS PARTIES FLEXIBLE SPACES INDOOR & OUTDOOR

Scan the QR code to download the new brochure

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

LET’S TALK

Your next big experience awaits!

01676 540333

sales@heartofengland.co.uk www.heartofengland.co.uk

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News

Local business makes college connection “From there, it has snowballed and it led to this donation from ourselves and our own suppliers. Giving back in this way and by joining the skills of the future board is really important to us.

Record year for Azets’ Midlands & West Corporate Finance team

Azets’ Corporate Finance team across the Midlands, Wales & West has delivered a record year for buy-side deals, advising on 21 financial due diligence (FDD) and buyside transactions over the past 12 months.

The region continues to demonstrate a strong appetite for strategic acquisitions and investment despite wider market uncertainty.

In total, the team supported deals worth £176m, with an average enterprise value of £8.2m.

Deals spanned a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, health & social care, technology and real estate, and locations.

Transactions were supported by a mix of acquirer investment (47 per cent), bank funding (43 per cent) and private equity (10 per cent).

Natasha Hill, Associate Director at Azets, said: “This year has been exceptional, not only in volume but in the depth of support we’ve provided.

“We’ve invested heavily in advanced data analytics to strengthen the quality and precision of our buy-side work, enabling earlier risk identification and more targeted analysis throughout due diligence.

“Over three-quarters of our engagements included full wrap-around buy-side advisory, from supporting management with indicative offers and deal structure, to inputting into the financial elements of the legal documents, giving acquirors specialist guidance at every stage of the process.”

The team has seen a sharp uplift in complex buy-side engagements, with 76 per cent of FDD projects supported by Azets’ full wrap-around buy-side advisory service.

Activity has been particularly strong in recent months as the market geared up towards another highly anticipated budget cycle, culminating in the team completing three transactions in just three days, a milestone that reflects both the pace of the regional market and the strength of Azets’ multidisciplinary offering.

Lee Humble, Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, added: "Last year was very strong for buy-side transactions and FDD work over the last year due to high demand from our clients, despite the M&A landscape being in one of its most stormy phases for many years.

“Whilst M&A markets have generally contracted and we have noted extreme shifts in approach from buyers and investors, our own teams have been able to deliver an increase in deal volumes and overall deal sizes. This year will hopefully see some stability now we have the benefit of a confirmed tax landscape, at least in the short term, and we envisage more activity, with our breadth of lending contacts showing us that capital remains available to support good teams, strong businesses and well-thought-out proposals.”

Azets is an international business advisory group with regional offices in Coventry, Aldridge, Birmingham, Blandford Forum, Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester, Nottingham, Plymouth, South Molton, Swansea, Tamworth, Truro, and Wolverhampton.

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“It’s a chance to give back and support the next generation of electricians in our industry. The students we met could be our customers of the future and this might mean they remember us in a good light!

“We’re really proud to have done this and hopefully will be the start of a long-standing relationship. Our suppliers have already said they are happy to come in and talk to the students, as well as offering visits, and will help in any way they can too.”

Dan Branson (Reward Electric Distributors), Stuart Thom (Coventry College), Gurprit Singh (Chamber), Richard Joyce (Coventry College), Sam Ward (Reward Electrical Distributors)

A Coventry-based electrical distributor has supported the city’s electricians of the future with a donation of more than £2,000 worth of equipment – after being ‘connected’ with Coventry College.

Dan Branson and Sam Ward, of Reward Electrical Distributors based on Foleshill Road, paid a visit to the college in the city centre to meet students completing a Level 2 diploma in electrical installation.

Coventry College currently has 45 students undertaking the course and welcomes support from industry to help give a broader understanding of the skills required in the world of work.

Reward wanted to lend its help and was introduced to the college team by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce as both are members of the leading business organisation.

Dan and Sam took along a whole host of products including PVC conduits, trunking and accessories, LED domestic and commercial lighting, emergency lighting, industrial controls, various cables for domestic and commercial use, consumer units and accessories, and LED ribbon lighting.

As well as donating some products themselves, Reward’s suppliers - ALL Led, Ansell Lighting, Scolmore and Univolt – also donated.

Richard Joyce, Coventry College, Curriculum Manager in Construction and Building Services, said: “We are delighted to have started working in partnership with local supplier Reward Electrical Distributors.

“We’re so grateful for their generous donation of electrical goods for our Electrical Insulation cohorts here at Coventry College.

“As a college we are committed to providing cutting-edge education, hands-on experience, and sustainable practices, which will benefit from an integrated partnership with a professional electrical supplier.”

And, on top of the presentation of the products, Reward has also joined Coventry College’s skills of the future board to help give students a further insight into working life.

Gurprit Singh, Business Engagement Manager at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bringing organisations together is one of the things we do best here at the Chamber and I am so pleased that we could help to make this great initiative happen.

Dan said: “We wanted to support our local college, we’re just ten minutes down the road, and when we mentioned it to the Chamber they put us straight in touch.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone and, most importantly, means students will have some fresh equipment to work with to stretch their knowledge.”

Speare Academy launches hands-on training for small business owners in the West Midlands A new business training initiative designed specifically for small business owners and solepreneurs is set to launch in the West Midlands in early 2026.

Speare Academy, founded by Darren Downes, brings together a collective of experienced business owners to deliver practical, hands-on training aimed at helping small businesses work smarter, grow sustainably, and achieve real results.

The academy was created in response to a growing gap in the market for training that goes beyond theory and delivers skills business owners can apply immediately.

The concept was finalised in late November, when 14 specialist business owners and experts came together to design a programme focused on real-world challenges faced by small business owners.

Every course is led by trainers who have built, grown, and run businesses themselves ensuring the learning is grounded in lived experience. Delegates will bring their laptops, and work on their business throughout the sessions with guided support from the experts.

“Most training for small business owners is either too basic or too theoretical,” said Darren Downes, founder of Speare Academy.

“Our courses are different. They’re hands-on, practical, and designed so people work on their own business during the day.

Delegates bring their laptops, apply what they learn with guided support, and leave having already made meaningful improvements they can take straight back into their business.”

Speare Academy courses are designed for solepreneurs, micro-business owners, and small teams who want practical skills in areas that make a difference in their business.

Courses will begin rolling out in the West Midlands in early 2026.

For more information go to www.speareacademy.co.uk

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Chamber signs up to support next generation of workforce Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has pledged to support local schools and colleges to produce the region’s future workforce.

Enterprise Advisors are a network of volunteers who are either matched to an individual school or college, or work on specific projects or a collective of schools.

The Chamber, alongside Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, has signed a memorandum of understanding to become a Cornerstone Employer.

David Lennox, of Warwickshire Schools Hub, said: “It is proven that young people who have regular, meaningful contact with employers are more likely to find employment or pursue further education or training.

It means the Chamber will join the Warwickshire Careers Hub in investing time and resources to support local schools and colleges with their careers education.

“That is why it is so important to have a network of businesses across the region who are Cornerstone Employers because it is a genuine commitment to support schools and colleges in giving young people exposure to the real world of business and employment.

The business group, which represents hundreds of members across the region, will work alongside the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Warwickshire Skills Hub to inspire young people across the region and set them on the path to worthwhile and fulfilling careers.

There are around 450 Cornerstone Employers across the UK, which act as champions to encourage other businesses in their area to become involved in supporting schools and colleges, as well as encouraging their own staff to become Enterprise Advisors.

“We are, therefore, absolutely delighted to have Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training on board.

Not only can their teams bring valuable knowledge and experience, they can open the door for conversations with its members.”

A Cornerstone Employer is a business of any size that provides high quality careers outreach and opportunities for young people aligned to the local economy.

Cornerstone Employer Groups work together within a geographical area to target disadvantage, promote pathways, upskill and inform educators, parents and carers and drive better outcomes for young people.

Matthew Hammersley, HR Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are proud to become a Cornerstone Employer.

“As a Chamber, we’re here to support our members to grow, which has a positive knockon effect for the local economy.

“We also want business growth to mean that communities across our region benefit and that means good, well-paid employment and training opportunities for our young people.

“By becoming part of this group, we can work with schools and colleges to showcase some of the opportunities available and give young people some exposure to businesses and businesspeople.”

For more information on becoming a Cornerstone Employer contact: careershub@warwickshire.gov.uk

Investing in people: Building skills for a stronger hospitality future A south Warwickshire hotel has highlighted the importance of businesses in the industry investing in their workforce.

Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa, which is set in 11 acres of Warwickshire parkland, says investing in people is ‘one of the most strategic and rewarding choices a business can make.’

A spokesperson said: “The hospitality industry has long been one of the UK’s most people-focused sectors, relying on creativity, service, and teamwork to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

“As businesses continue to adapt to shifting market demands, the importance of investing in people – through training,

development, and opportunity – has never been greater.

“Across the sector, many hospitality businesses are taking a proactive approach to workforce growth.

“This includes partnering with local colleges, offering apprenticeships, and creating clear pathways for career progression. The benefits go far beyond recruitment as upskilling not only builds capability within teams but also fosters loyalty, confidence, and pride in the workplace.

“For local communities, the impact is equally valuable. By providing opportunities close to home, hospitality employers help to support regional employment, strengthen local

economies and develop transferable skills that extend across industries.

“Encouraging young people to view hospitality as a long-term career choice – one with creativity, leadership, and progression at its heart – is key to sustaining this vital sector.

“As we look to the year ahead, investing in people remains one of the most strategic and rewarding choices a business can make. Whether through mentorship, accredited training, or simply recognising potential, the businesses that prioritise their people today are building the foundation for tomorrow’s success – not only for themselves, but for the wider community.”

Developing human skills at Ashorne Hill to support NHS workforce resilience Workforce resilience and burnout remain critical challenges for the NHS as it navigates one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in its history.

As part of its 10-year workforce plan, the NHS has set out a wide-ranging agenda to future-proof healthcare delivery in England, including personalised career development for all staff, expanded training pathways, leadership reform and a renewed focus on productivity and wellbeing.1 Central to this plan, is the recognition that technical expertise alone is not enough.

Human skills, such as emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration and selfawareness are increasingly viewed as essential enablers of effective leadership more resilient teams.

In September of this year, colleagues from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) took part in a one-day workshop focused on these core capabilities. The session provided NHS staff with an opportunity to step away from the demands of frontline roles and reflect on how they manage pressure, work with others and maintain personal resilience in the evermore challenging environments.

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The workshop explored themes including emotional intelligence, team effectiveness, values and purpose, and managing personal triggers under stress. Participants also focused on practical ways to improve communication and collaboration-skills that are particularly critical within complex, fastmoving healthcare systems.

The need for this type of learning and development is well evidenced. NHS workforce plans aim to ensure every staff member has access to a personalised coaching and development plan, alongside major investment in leadership capability and education reform.

At the same time, the service has set an ambitious target to deliver a two per cent yearon-year productivity gain over the next three years2 , highlighting the importance of effective leadership and teamwork at every level.

Research consistently shows the link between human skills development and improved outcomes. One NHS study into leadership training for service-line leaders found that an investment of £1,689 per participant generated savings of £7,833 per participant through improved productivity

and innovation, alongside increased confidence and stronger team collaboration3.

Other studies have shown that improvements in management practices are associated with better clinical outcomes, including reduced mortality rates.

Communication and collaboration skills also play a vital role in patient care. A systematic review of healthcare communication training found that over half of communication and content delivery outcomes improved following targeted interventions, contributing to better health behaviours and experiences4.

The benefits extend beyond performance metrics. Investment in staff wellbeing has been shown to deliver significant returns through reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, with mental health and wellbeing interventions yielding an average return many times greater than their initial cost.

For a workforce under sustained pressure, creating time and space to focus on these skills can have a meaningful impact on morale, retention and engagement.

While this session focused on NHS staff, the insights are relevant across the wider public

sector. Local authorities, education providers and emergency services face similar challenges around emotional labour, high workloads and complex change.

Hosted at Ashorne Hill, the workshop reinforced the value of creating experiential learning environments away from day-to-day operational demands, where individuals can reflect openly, and reconnect with their peers, an increasingly rare opportunity within highpressure public service roles.

As the NHS continues its transformation journey, initiatives that prioritise human skills development offer a practical way to support workforce resilience and leadership capability.

Investing in how people work together may prove just as important as investment in systems and technology, ultimately benefiting both staff and the communities they serve.

1 Gov.uk 2 Gov.uk 3 Orme, D. (2019) 4 British Psychological Society (2023)

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News

Battery technology of tomorrow moving ever closer The focus is on improving the robustness and verifiability of the algorithms to bridge the gap between theory and real-world deployment, and to ensure advanced battery models are high performing, reliable and ready for industrial deployment at scale.

Could drones be the answer in an emergency?

Coventry University has launched a new study examining whether the use of drone technology can be scaled up to make cities better prepared for emergencies.

The URBAN ASCENT project which also involves Coventry City Council, Skyfarer, The Manufacturing Technology Centre and Slink-Tech, will look into whether drones could be used to deliver critical medical supplies, create maps of city structures, speed up disaster response, support search and rescue missions and provide communication in remote areas.

Funded by a government grant, supporting work that will help develop next-generation aviation technologies, it is hoped URBAN ASCENT will help establish Coventry and the UK as a hub for urban aerial logistics and sustainable aviation.

Coventry University’s role in the project is to examine whether the use of drones for specific uses within urban environments is commercially feasible.

Dr Safaa Sindi, assistant professor of supply chain operations at Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities and principal investigator on the university’s aspect of the project, said: “The main advantage of using drones is the speed, they avoid traffic, can reach remote or hard to

Dr Joe Fleming is looking to improve how batteries are monitored and controlled by collaborating with FEV whose new approach sends data and power through the same wires inside the battery, reducing complexity and extra wiring. As the system will work with any type of battery, it will advance efficiency and versatility.

Researchers at Coventry University have been recognised for their work in creating and inspiring the batteries of the future which will power electric vehicles and much more.

Three academics from the university’s Research Centre for E-mobility and Clean Growth have received prestigious Industry Fellowships from the Faraday Institution for their work advancing battery technology.

Among them is Dr Cheng Zhang who is working with Elysia Battery Intelligence from Fortescue to advance next-generation, physics-driven battery management algorithms.

One of Coventry’s most historic attractions has won national recognition for its high-quality dining.

St Mary’s Guildhall, which dates back to 1342 and is home to the UK’s oldest tapestry still in its original location, has been awarded a prestigious ‘Quality Food and Drink’ accolade by VisitEngland.

The award, part of VisitEngland’s annual Visitor Attraction Accolades, recognises the exceptional food and drink service provided at Tales of Tea – the Guildhall’s on-site restaurant – and follows a mystery visit and assessment through the Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme.

It comes after the Guildhall, operated by No Ordinary Hospitality in the heart of the city’s Cathedral Quarter, claimed the Bronze award for International Tourism at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence and scored 92 per cent in its VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction assessment.

The attraction showcases more than 700 years of history, including royal visits and English Civil War connections as well as the worldrenowned Coventry Tapestry, while the Guildhall’s Tales of Tea

A leading Midlands science park has announced its ambition to attract some of the country’s most innovative life science companies at the forefront of R&D to the site with a refurbishment investment of £6 million offering a state-of-the-art lab and office complex.

restaurant has become a destination in its own right, offering brunch, lunch and afternoon tea in its atmospheric undercroft.

The University of Warwick Science Park is set to transform the Vanguard Centre, a longstanding space within the science park, into a high-quality commercial building, featuring approximately 13,600 sq ft of dedicated lab space, 8,000 sq ft of office space along with modern meeting facilities and collaborative communal workspaces.

The project will have strong environmental credentials with sustainable building methods being used throughout construction, electric vehicle charging on site, electric-only M&E systems, and high EPC and BREEAM ratings – indicators of high sustainability – being targeted.

expertise in the field of aviation technology and played a key role in

Contractors DENTON have been appointed to undertake the project with a planned opening date of Autumn 2026.

the design of a world first urban air transport hub called Air One.

The Science Park is hopeful of a healthy pipeline of businesses from the life sciences sector expressing interest with ambitions to move into the space thanks to its excellent location and competitive pricing structure, supported by property consultants, Carter Jonas.

The project is funded by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport

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Find out more about the Research Centre https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/ centre-for-e-mobility-and-clean-growth/.

Science Park investment shows ambition

Coventry University has significant

Demonstrator programme.

Professor Roberts will manufacture battery cells with various classes of known defects to help machine learning algorithms looking for defect classification and understanding of how the signals correlate to cell performance.

Historic venue gets a taste of success

access areas and they are sustainable.”

through the Future Flight Regional

The third fellowship is for Professor Alex Roberts’ work alongside Hy-Met to further develop and demonstrate the company’s ultrasonic sensing and diagnostic technique for use in quality control and in-line monitoring across multiple stages of battery production.

Rob Carr (Head of Construction, DENTON), John Roberts (Head of Property, University of Warwick Science Park), Emma Turner (Business Development Manager, University of Warwick Science Park).

Anyone wishing to enquire about space at the Vanguard Centre should contact Giles Garbutt at Carter Jonas by emailing giles.garbutt@carterjonas.co.uk

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Health and Wellbeing

Purpose at Work: Why Meaning Matters for Mental Wellbeing Purpose gives people a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and in the workplace it is closely tied to how well people feel, cope and perform. When employees feel that what they do matters, their mental wellbeing, resilience and sense of fulfilment all tend to improve.

WHY PURPOSE MATTERS AT WORK Most adults spend a large part of their waking lives at work, so the quality and meaning of that experience has a profound impact on mental health.

When roles feel disconnected from personal values or wider organisational goals, people are more likely to experience stress, anxiety and disengagement, which can feed into absence and presenteeism.

THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT Mental ill health remains one of the biggest causes of sickness absence and reduced productivity in UK workplaces, with conditions such as depression and anxiety especially common. A lack of understanding and stigma around these issues can prevent people from speaking up, leaving them feeling isolated and without the support they need at work.

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO MEANING A purposeful culture is not created by slogans, but by everyday conversations and habits.

Leaders who clearly communicate the organisation’s “why” and link it to individual roles help people see how their work contributes to something bigger than themselves.

Encouraging regular check‑ins about workload, values and wellbeing can also normalise open dialogue about mental health and show that people are valued for more than just their outputs.

BUILDING SKILLS THROUGH LEARNING Practical skills-based learning can equip managers and teams to notice when someone is struggling and to respond with confidence and compassion.

Mental Health in Business offers a range of interactive training sessions and webinars designed to build these capabilities, including sessions that explore how purpose and resilience support positive mental health at work.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS MHIB is offering Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber members a 10% DISCOUNT on all webinar bookings when using the online checkout with the voucher code CW10WEBINAR

Discover MHIB’s 2026 public webinar programme at https://mhib.co.uk/webinar-programme-public or by scanning the QR code.

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President & People

IM Properties to launch new fund to support local groups IM Properties (IMP) has launched a new project community fund to support local charities and community groups surrounding its Stratford 46 employment park.

Sandra Godley OBE, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

It’s been a couple of months since I was appointed as the new president of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce – and I still can’t quite believe it.

It is such an exciting opportunity and, already, in a short space of time, I have seen the incredible work the Chamber does and have really enjoyed meeting so many different businesses and people at a whole host of events.

One of those was our Annual Business and Economic Conference at the IXL Events Centre in November – which was such an inspiring day that shone a light on so many great things that are happening in our great region of Coventry and Warwickshire.

From new developments happening in our city and town centres through to some of the innovative businesses that are driving forward our economy, I was left with a real sense of optimism and pride in our region.

The feeling I am picking up is that while times have been tough and circumstances haven’t been favourable for businesses in recent years, due to lots of uncertainty, there are plenty of small, medium and large firms who are ready to invest and grow.

Again, I was really pleased to attend our Budget roundtable event and luckily it seemed that the Chancellor’s speech didn’t deliver too many surprises and will hopefully provide a solid foundation for growth.

As for me, I really can’t wait to get out and meet more businesspeople from across the city and the county.

I want to be a big champion of our region and, as someone who has had a career in business, broadcasting and supporting the community, I really want to help provide a voice for companies of all sizes and sectors.

That’s why I took the role. I was inspired by some of the wording that you receive from His Majesty The King when you are awarded the OBE. It says that the OBE is not the end of public service, but actually the beginning and that it should be used for the benefit of others.

For me, our Chamber of Commerce embodies that spirit by the way that it supports its members and speaks up for businesses in order to create better conditions for the economy to grow.

And, when the economy grows, everyone benefits. It should mean more well-paid jobs and more funding going into our public services so the whole region will be given a lift.

It’s that kind of thing that gets me out of bed in the morning because I can see what a positive impact we can have and I will ensure that I give all the energy I’ve got over the next two years to supporting the ambitions of our Chamber.

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Stratford 46 Business Park, located off the A46, will create around 1,500 new jobs through a mix of logistics, office and roadside premises. Work has begun on infrastructure

works and a new roundabout to create access. Managed by the Heart of England Community Foundation, the new fund will offer grants of between £2,000 to £5,000 for projects that are making a real difference in local neighbourhoods - particularly those that are improving people’s wellbeing, strengthening community connections and protecting the environment.

Applications to the Stratford 46 Community Fund are now open.

For full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply, visit https://www.heartofenglandcf.org/im-properties-stratford-46-community-fund/

Lewis Payne, Development Director, IM Properties and Tina Costello OBE, CEO at Heart of England Community Foundation

Midlands firm appoints new board chairman for the first time in a decade Lawton Tubes has named Michael Brown as its new board chairman.

Michael is also joining the business as a nonexecutive director after spending more than 15 years at Dormole Group – which operates a range of wholesale companies serving the fasteners and fixings, hand-tools and power-tools accessories markets – including Galleon Fixings where he was CEO for three-and-a-half years.

He takes over as board chairman from Rolf Herold who held the role as Lawton Tubes expanded its sales to 42 countries, and had grown its annual turnover to £230 million with a 140-strong workforce in its bases across Coventry, Redditch and Poole.

Over the past decade, the company has also collected two prestigious prizes for rapid growth in international trade – with export sales now standing at £26 million. The firm won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2019, before collecting The King’s Award in 2024 Rich Thomas, head of people and culture at Lawton Tubes, said: “Michael’s appointment is a real coup for us as he brings extensive industrial leadership experience, which will stand us in good stead as we gear up for an exciting period of further growth – with our new £20 million headquarters set to open in late 2026, alongside diversifying our product ranges.”

For more information about Lawton Tubes visit www.lawtontubes.co.uk

Deeley delight at new hires A leading Midlands construction and property development company has made 15 hires as it approaches a major milestone.

Deeley Group, which was founded in 1936, now employs 85 people and is expecting to surpass 90 team members as it enters its 90th year in 2026.

The latest appointments include a range of project, design, commercial and site-based positions, alongside roles supporting planning, ESG and aftercare.

It follows a year of investment in training and development for staff at Deeley Group as the firm is set to surpass £100 million turnover for the first time in 2026.

On site, the business has welcomed Joseph Kane and Dave Callagher as site managers, alongside Mike Power as assistant site manager. Jamie Travis and Declan Sheehan have joined as contracts managers, also Darren Adams and Mark Dixon have been hired as project managers.

Paul Salter and Ian Jones have strengthened the design team as design managers, supported by George Deavy in a trainee design manager role.

The pre-contract team has also been strengthened to support the increase in turnover, with Dave Stannage being appointed as a senior estimator, with Vimal Odedra joining as a senior planner.

The wider business has also been supported through the appointment of Florence Bullwright as its first ESG coordinator and Samual Ankrah as aftercare operative, with Debbie Bent joining the team as receptionist.

Deeley Group is a member of The 5% Club and has a history of supporting employees through training and apprenticeships.

Lodders appoints leading practitioner as head of Contentious Probate Midlands law firm Lodders has appointed leading inheritance disputes specialist Martin Oliver as a partner and head of its Contentious Trusts & Probate team, in direct response to a sustained increase in demand for the firm’s specialist private wealth and litigation advice.

Martin joins Lodders following a 20-year tenure at Wright Hassall, where he built the firm’s contentious wills, trusts and probate practice. He was named in the Legal 500 2025 and 2026 ‘Hall of Fame’ which highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.

A recognised leader in his field, Martin specialises in all forms of inheritance disputes, including wills and probate, issues involving mental capacity, undue influence, executor removals, proprietary estoppel and negligence in relation to estates. He has previously acted in several high-profile cases including in the Supreme Court.

Martin said: “I am delighted to be joining Lodders, a firm which is recognised in the legal directories as being one of the best for private wealth advice. For 20 years, I have grown one of the largest contentious trusts and probate teams outside of London, which was also recognised as being one of the best.

“Combining both our skillsets will only enhance the legal advice that Lodders is able to offer to its clients. It is my intention in the coming years to build a new team and attract the best contentious trusts and probate lawyers in the Midlands.”

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

President & People

From start to finish – Wendy calls time on Chamber career After 20 years and having supported hundreds of businesses to get off the ground in Coventry and Warwickshire, Wendy Brown is retiring from the Chamber.

Wendy rejoined the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in 2005 (having previously worked for the organisation in the 1980s) as an adult trainer but quickly became a business adviser with a focus on helping start-ups. It saw her draw on her years of experience in working within and running businesses.

Her entrepreneurial spirit was clear to see from an early age as she made sixpence outside her home in Wales offering local kids a ride around the block in her old pram. It resulted in a nice chocolate bar and a slap on the legs from her mum for taking the money off the other local kids.

But it taught Wendy a valuable early lesson.

“If you’ve got something others are willing to pay for, you’ve got a business,” she said.

Her life yo-yoed between Wales and Warwickshire due to her father’s work and she picked up valuable skills along the way, from learning to sew at school and learning to sell in her first job at shoe-shop Freeman Hardy Willis.

She had stints at the DHSS and Halifax Building Society and after getting married and having her first child Wendy ended up back in Wales where she put her sewing skills to good use by setting up a club to make clothes to raise funds for a local school.

Wendy also landed a job in the supermarket where her aptitude for supporting people was recognised and a senior colleague suggested she become a trainer.

She would go on to support hundreds of young people across the Welsh Valleys.

Several jobs and two more children later and Wendy was back in Warwickshire – now in Rugby – and had run several businesses too.

It included everything from delivering a fouryear National Lottery training programme for training the voluntary sector in Rugby through to spotting a gap in the market and sourcing a supplier in Spain for travel safe socks when DVT hit the headlines.

She also helped the Chamber to set up an enterprise programme to support retail trainees in the region as well as establishing one of the first Job Clubs in Coventry.

And, the last 20 years – helping many hundreds of businesses across the region to get started and grow – have been among her most satisfying professionally.

“I don’t think there’s a single thing I haven’t done,” said Wendy. “I’ve worked in retail, online sales, creative businesses, you name it. For me, it’s the basics. How do you know if

somebody wants it? What research have you done? Have you done your numbers? What do you want out of it?

“I always say to start-ups: if you want £200 a week, how many do you need to sell? How much does it cost the business to run? You then work out what needs to be done.

“People get scared of words like business planning and mission statements. Just keep it really simple and work out how you are going to get through your first year.

“Work out what you want to be known for.

The biggest and best businesses keep it really simple. Are you cheap and cheerful or top end? Make it really simple for your customers to understand.”

Wendy launched a hugely successful business on the back of a chance conversation ahead of her daughter’s wedding.

The wedding co-ordinator at the hotel where their reception was due to be held said the chairs required covers because they weren’t up to the standard expected.

Wendy took the measurements, put her sewing skills to use and created the cover that went down a storm. So, she worked with a contact at a small factory to make 100 for the venue.

Other locations got wind of Wendy’s work, and orders came flooding in and, by the time it reached its peak, Millhouse Events was offering a range of products and was covering around 150 weddings a year, before she sold the business around a year before the pandemic.

It’s this kind of insight that Wendy has been able to bring to those businesses she has supported.

“One of my favourites was a young lad who repaired mowers,” she said. “His grandad gave him four cow sheds to convert. When I visited, I had to stand there with my mouth open because he’d turned them into beautiful wooden buildings with a slate entrance where he could develop his business, which is doing really well.

“Another time, I met a lady buying material at a show and we got chatting and she was using it to make bows for dogs! It turned out she was based in Rugby so I could support her.

“I advised her not to put all of her focus on bows and, when they then banned dogs from wearing them in shows, it helped her to pivot towards other items and it turned into a £100,000 a year business.”

It means Wendy has got plenty of top tips for entrepreneurs as they make their way in business.

She said: “In no particular order, I would say if you find a gap in the market, then fill it.

That’s what good businesses do. Try to limit disasters but learn from them when they happen and move on.

“You have to be resilient but always love what you do because then it doesn’t feel like it is work.

“You have to keep learning new skills because business never stops, you have to keep moving and you have to stay curious.

If you love what you are doing, age doesn’t matter one bit!”

And, as she reflects on two decades with the Chamber at the same time as having her own successful ventures, Wendy looks on it with great fondness.

She said: “I’ve been lucky to have two jobs I loved in the past 20 years both at the Chamber and being self-employed. Some people have a job they hate and always want to leave. I’ve loved both.

“It’s always about the people for me and we’ve had some great times even when programmes have come and gone.

“The team at the Chamber are wonderful and we have all helped each other out over the years.

“I even had to put my sewing skills to the test when one of my colleagues got an almighty rip in his trousers just before heading off to an event. I sewed them up for him and he was on his way!”

Key promotions at accountancy firm HB&O, which has offices in Coventry, Leamington and Birmingham, has promoted Mathew Neal to head of accounts Coventry as part of 12 promotions made at the firm.

Mathew joined the business in 2003 and will take a senior management role in HB&O’s audit and accounts department.

The raft of promotions has included seven further members of the audit and accounts team, across HB&O’s three offices.

Jack Dunne joined the firm in 2023 and has been promoted to senior manager.

Tim Smith joined the business in 2021 and has progressed to accounts senior after achieving chartered accountant status from the

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ACA. Meanwhile Sophie Butterriss has been promoted to accounts semi senior following the completion of her final ACCA exams and becoming a chartered accountant.

Four trainee accountants have also continued their development at the company.

Anu Muthulingham, Lewis Hogan, Neelam Marwaha and Sophie French have all stepped up to a more senior grade within the audit and accounts team.

Further promotions have been made across other departments, including in its growing Virtual Finance Office (VFO) team. Matt King has been promoted to VFO senior manager, while Louis Scallon, from Coventry, has also

moved into a more senior position. Chris Sudbury and Thomas Callis have both moved up to more senior roles within the tax team.

Six figure sum raised for Birmingham Children’s Hospital A West Midlands accountancy firm is celebrating raising more than £100,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital – and it has no plans to stop now.

Prime Accountants Group, which has offices in Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry, has held a series of ambitious challenges over the past decade in support of BCH, where it also sponsors its stem cell transplant unit.

Prime’s most recent fundraising effort saw the team use five treadmills to climb the height of Everest seven times in just 24 hours, an epic undertaking which raised more than £30,000.

Previous challenges have also included rowing the distance from Birmingham to Venice in 24 hours and cycling the entire length of the Tour de France in 24 hours.

Kerrie Given, associate director at Prime Accountants Group, said: “Over the past decade we have completed many epic challenges to support the incredible work of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

“The challenges have become bigger and more ambitious over time, but our team take on each one with the knowledge we’re supporting those who face far greater challenges each day.”

Foodbank in festive funding boost Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank, which handed out more than 4,500 food parcels last year, has received a £400 donation from The Arden Hotel.

Isla Stroyan, from Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank, said: “We are so thankful that The Arden Hotel has supported our work again this year.”

The Arden Hotel made the gesture after donating £10 from each hotel room sale from its Christmas package. Sai Nathan, general manager at The Arden Hotel, added: “We are aware of the important role that Stratford-uponAvon Foodbank plays in supporting those in our local community, and as Christmas is often a time when support services such as foodbanks see a spike in demand, we wanted to do our bit to help them fund additional items.”

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Digital Marketing 07412 597800 contact@elledunster.co.uk www.elledunster.co.uk

Life/Wellbeing Coach

Aleido UK Ltd Growth & Implementation Specialist 01926 642935 David.Dudman@Aleido.com www.aleido.com

Auburn Consultancy Executive, Management & Business Coaching 07920 400988 hello@auburnconsultancy.co.uk www.auburnconsultancy.co.uk

Avon Studios Photo & Video Photographers 01789 470663 hello@avonstudios.co.uk www.avonstudios.co.uk

City Sprint International International Freight Forwarders https://www.citysprint.co.uk/

CM Business Consultancy Consultants 07967 332915 macdougallcm@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenmacdougall/

Coventry Citizens Advice Trade Advisory Organisations 024 7622 3284 info@coventrycab.org.uk www.coventrycitizensadvice.org.uk

EDGE IT Systems Limited Information Management Systems 02476 667 337 info@edgeitsystems.com https://edgeitsystems.com/

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Erica Bowen Consulting Ltd Consultants 07454 292077 erica@ericabowen.com www.drericabowen.com

Evolve Theatre Academy Theatrical Services 07854 494881 evolvetheatreacademy@gmail.com https://www.evolvetheatreacademy.co.uk/

Gary Peake Commercial Property Expert Property 07999 955530 gary.peake@thecommercialprpertyexperts.co.uk www.thecommercialpropertyexperts.co.uk

Harp Place Community Support 02476 555222 harp-place@harp-place.co.uk https://www.harp-place.co.uk/

Heart of England Co-operative Society Food Stores 02476 382331 https://heartofengland.coop/

ICE Creates Management & Business Consultants 0845 519 3423 contactus@icecreates.com https://icecreates.com

LIGHTER Materials Innovation Hub Ltd Manufacturing https://lightermaterialshub.co.uk/

Metier Technologies Limited Automotive Innovation and Technology Development 01869 350903 info@metiertechnologies.com www.metiertechnologies.com

NGU Consultancy Growth & Implementation Specialist 07917 532308 info@nguconsultancy.co.uk https://nguconsultancy.co.uk/

Oliver Wealth Ltd Financial Services 01926 812229 info@oliverwealth.co.uk https://oliverwealth.co.uk/

Procure Partners Procurement Agents 07360 211027 av@procurepartners.co.uk https://procurepartners.co.uk/

Sassan Management Ltd Consultancy - Buying & Selling a Business 07809 621556 suhail@suhailshaikhbusiness.com www.suhailshaikhbusiness.com

Shafees Property Group Ltd Property 07957 376656 Lettings@shafeespropertygroup.co.uk

The Creativity Mind Set Mental Health Training 07777 657501 sarah@thecreativitymindset.com www.thecreativitymindset.com

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

FEATURED OFFERS from our Chamber Members BUSINESS INFLUENCE & ENGAGE Members

Coventry City Council

Telegraph Hotel Coventry - Wine & Dine

Coventry City Council’s Workplace Wellbeing Award team is offering Chamber Members a fully funded, NCFE-accredited Workplace Wellbeing Award to help businesses improve health and wellbeing at work.

Expiry Date: 31/03/2026

Chamber Members can enjoy a two-night stay, with full breakfast each morning and dinner on both nights, plus we will also include a bottle of house wine in your room on arrival. Valid on selected dates.

Expiry Date: 31/12/2026

BUSINESS CONNECT Members

The Creativity Mind Set

B2B Expos

Half-price one-hour workshop for your employees/leadership team: The Neuroscience of Creativity: The Power of the Mind for Mental Fitness.

Expiry Date: 28/02/2026

Bearhat Marketing

50% off for Chamber Members for one focused hour to talk all things marketing, just for you and your business. 1:1. Was £199 - for Chamber members - ONLY £99.

Expiry Date: 28/02/2026

Chamber Members can claim £100 off any size stand package with B2B Expos!

Promote your business, generate leads and showcase your services at the UK's leading regional business expos.

Expiry Date: 01/01/2027

The Albany Theatre

The Albany Theatre are offering Chamber Members a 10% discount on the first 5 conference bookings received for Eliza Jade Events 'Full Session Menu' when booking a full Day Delegate Rate.

Expiry Date: 06/04/2026

Clarion Charlecote Pheasant Hotel

Surfurb Computers

Chamber Members can donate old or end-of-life computers, IT equipment, Join our Pheasant Club and, as a to help schools, charities, and member, you’ll receive exclusive monthly communities while staying fully offers to enjoy in our restaurant and compliant with data security hotel. Each month brings something new, standards. from dining discounts to special deals for our upcoming events.

Expiry Date: 23/07/2026 Expiry Date: 28/02/2026

Best Western Plus Windmill Village Hotel Golf Club & Spa

Winter Warmer Meetings Offer from just £35.00 + VAT per person. Bring your team together this January or February at Windmill Village Hotel, perfectly placed in the heart of the Midlands.

Expiry Date: 28/02/2026

rectools

Discounted offer for Chamber Members for appearances on the largest podcast in the recruitment industry.

Expiry Date: 01/05/2026

Want to share your Member Offer?

Email the details and your logo to info@cw-chamber.co.uk Member Offers are included in our Online Marketplace and shared to over 18,000 followers across social media.

To view these and all of our Member Offers, head to cw-chamber.co.uk/marketplace

MEMBERS

EVENTS Employment Law Update – Employments Rights Act William Morris Building, Coventry University, Gosford Street, CV1 5DL Date: 22 January 2026 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Business Ready Workshop: Developing a powerful proposition workshop Warwick Innovation Centre, Warwick Technology Park, Warwick, CV34 6UW Date: 20 January 2026 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm

The Traitors Dining Experience Best Western Plus Windmill Village Hotel, Birmingham Road, Coventry, CV5 9AL Date: 31 January 2026 Time: 5:30pm - late

Stratford Business Conference 2026 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6YR Date: 03 February 2026 Time: 8:15am – 12:00pm

How to Murder a Millionaire – Murder Mystery Night Telegraph Hotel, 157 Corporation Street, Coventry, CV1 1GU Date: 06 February 2026 Time: 7:00pm - late

Escape the Ordinary: Build stronger teams through VR and insight The Delia Derbyshire Building, Cox Street, Coventry, CV1 5PH Date: 11 February 2026 Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm

Business Ready Workshop: Igniting Your AI Journey Warwick Innovation Centre, Warwick Technology Park, Warwick, CV34 6UW Date: 17 February 2026 Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm

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