C&W in Business March 2023

Issue 94 March - April 2023

CEO NICK BARTON

explains the ambitious plans for Birmingham Airport Page 20

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NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

by Staeger Clear Packaging, Coventry

Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd, (part of the Stӓger Group) est in 2000 are proud to annouce the launch of their new CARDTUBE. The CARDTUBE is versatile and ecologically state-of-the-art.

A single-material solution can be produced in a wide variety of shapes, be it cylindrical, conical or as special shapes.

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Traditionally our cylinder tubes have been manufactured from Recycled PET, but our new hybrid tube offers the possibility of a combination of recycled board and recycled plastic as one tube or purely recycled board.

Our new Component Tray:

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"Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd is not only a supplier of clear plastic packaging solutions but card/board products, printed or unprinted to compliment our product portfolio.”

For further details please contact our office:

Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd Unit 1, Swallowgate Business Park, Coventry. CV6 4BL

Office: +44 2476 58 11 97 https://www.staegerclear.co.uk/ https://staeger.eu/en/#

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Foreword

Contents

March - April 2023 News

4-5 & 7

Women in Business 2023

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Events

9

22in22

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Big Business Celebration Lunch

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Business Engage Profiles Dear Member, As I write this column, ONS data has been released that shows, across the UK, there are currently 1.1m unfilled vacancies and this is becoming a critical issue for Coventry and Warwickshire businesses.

For almost every business we speak to, recruitment is the number one issue.

Most businesses aren’t just looking for skilled employees – but enthusiastic and emotionally intelligent employees who are willing to learn.

Businesses keep telling us that they have more orders than they can handle and how much they could grow if they could only fill the important vacancies that they have. This isn’t just a sectorbased issue – but right across the economy from tourism businesses, to manufacturers, from FE Colleges to Local Authorities, from start-ups to growth companies.

We need a revolution in the way we train and employ people and it needs to start with the business needs to build a system where support agencies are given the tools to solve their problems and aid their growth. We need urgent actions to help drive our economy forward: •

Affordable and available childcare: There is an army of well qualified potential employees out there who

can’t work because they either can’t get or can’t afford childcare – this has been getting worse year after year and needs a solution now.

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Treasury - Stop keeping Apprenticeship Levy Underspend: The CBI calculate that £2bn has been kept since the levy first started. If we have to tax businesses on skills, lets ringfence underspend and give it back to local areas re-invest in skills provision. Let’s make sure every penny that is raised is spent on skills.

Incentivise the over 50’s to return to work and reskill: Many who have left the job market would love to return on a more flexible, part time basis. They aren’t on a Job Centre Plus radar and don’t see an easy way back to employment.

Simplify skills funding: We need more modular, short courses to get people job ready and then simpler ways into formal longer-term training.

Real, face to face advisers to help businesses navigate the skills and recruitment world: There is too much noise, too much selling, too much competition and not enough independent and business focused support. We need long term relationships – not short-term funding.

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A commitment to make the recommendations of our Local Skills Improvement Plans a reality: With devolved budgets and powers to make this a local solution, wherever you are based in the country.

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Chamber Training

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News

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Profile

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I hope you enjoy this latest issue of our brilliant business magazine and please keep in contact with us with any ideas you have for future editions, for our policy and campaign work and just to keep in touch.

120 years ago, this Chamber of Commerce was created by businesses, for businesses and I’m proud to lead the organisation on what should be a brilliant year of celebrations.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our current staff and board members the time and energy they put into this brilliant business is incredible, our history stretches back a long, long time and we can truly say we are standing on the shoulders of giants.

Kind regards,,

Corin Crane Chief Executive

Environment News Economy

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News

30-31

Around the Region

32-38

Education & Skills

41-43

President & People

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New Members

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Members Offers

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Earlsdon Park 53-55 Butts Road Coventry CV1 3BH www.bandhattonbutton.com info@bandhattonbutton.com 024 7663 2121

putting imagination to work www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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News The official publication of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce ••••

Senior education figure hears from regional businesses It was an opportunity to discuss what works well with apprenticeships and areas for improvement as well as identifying other barriers to recruitment.

CONTACTS AT THE CHAMBER News desk

Corin said: “National Apprenticeship Week was a fantastic time to celebrate both the employers and apprentices that keep our businesses thriving and raise awareness of benefits of this great training scheme.

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.

“Businesses are facing so many different challenges but I’d say this is just about the number one priority that we need to get right if we are going to get the economy growing.

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

Send them to:

“To hear, once again, that businesses want to grow but can’t because they can’t find people to fill vacancies is hugely frustrating. I’ve heard it time and again in the past few months.

We have to find solutions. However, to hear so many businesses who were using the Apprenticeship Scheme as a secure way to grow their future workforce was really encouraging.

news@cw-chamber.co.uk Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Chamber House Innovation Village Cheetah Road Coventry CV1 2TL T: 024 76 654321

Corin Crane, Susan Acland-Hood, Sally Lucas

F: 024 76 450242

AT THE PUBLISHERS Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ T: 0151 236 4141 Advertising Contact Karen Hall karen@benhampublishing.com T: 07801 788880 Production Manager

Susan, who oversees the day-to-day running of the DfE and reports into Gillian Keegan MP – the Secretary of State for Education, heard how businesses in the area want to expand but have hit a ‘recruitment wall’.

Susan Acland-Hood, the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education (DfE), paid a visit to Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training (CWCT) to meet firms and apprentices to find out some of the barriers to employment before heading to Coventry College to see its Electric Battery Facility.

A roundtable session was chaired

by Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, and heard from businesspeople in the property, education, accountancy and events sectors, as well as from Sally Lucas who runs CWCT.

Accounts Director Joanne Casey Media Number 1964 © Benham Publishing 2023 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.

••••

“It was great to be able to have this conversation with Susan and her team in the room and we look forward to some positive outcomes on the back of it.”

A leading hotel in Coventry has been shortlisted for a major award The Telegraph Hotel, which opened in 2021, has been shortlisted in the New Tourism Business category of the West Midlands Tourism Awards.

Mark Etherington

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One of the UK’s most significant figures in education has been hearing from businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire about their difficulties in recruiting.

“The Chamber is leading on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for the region and we are gathering so much evidence by speaking to businesses because it’s absolutely vital that we get this right and make sure employers are at the start of the conversation rather than at the end when everything has been decided for them.

The hotel, which was created from the former offices of the Coventry Telegraph and celebrates its mid-century design, has already scooped two major awards and was named as one of the UK’s Top 100 Hotels in the UK by the Sunday Times, just months after opening.

It will learn if it has been successful at an awards ceremony to be held in Wolverhampton in March, and all the category winners will go on to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023.

Amy Windsor, General manager of the Telegraph Hotel, said the award shortlisting not only reflected the success of the hotel, but also its role in bringing business into the very centre of the city.

She said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted but now we want to go on to win. We believe the hotel has been a gamechanger for hospitality in the city.

“The city centre of Coventry has undergone a transformation in recent

years but has always struggled to attract overnight visitors. We know that many of our guests are either coming here on leisure trips for the first time or are staying in the city on business and would, previously, have booked hotels outside the city centre.

“Not only is that good for our business and our Forme & Chase restaurant is performing very well, but it is also very beneficial for other tourism businesses in the city centre.

“For example, we regularly have guests who stop with us having visited the Belgrade Theatre, and being able to stay in the city centre in a destination makes the visit that much more attractive and allows the theatre to draw in an audience from farther afield.

“We overcame real challenges to open during the Covid pandemic, but the fact that Coventry was UK City of Culture at the time helped us attract not only guests but also a whole stream of outstanding reviews nationally and internationally and we have carried that forward.”

Last year, Telegraph Hotel won Hotel of the Year at the Bespoke Hotel Awards, beating more than 100 other hotels from across the UK to land the top title, and was

also awarded the ‘Liberty' Award for the Best Boutique Hotel, and the Blue Badge Accessibility Awards.

The Telegraph, created by Complex Development Projects from the former Coventry Telegraph offices as part of a two-year, £20 million investment programme, has 88 individually designed air-conditioned bedrooms, including loft style penthouse suites on two levels.

The hotel features an all-day cocktail bar and restaurant dining experience, Forme & Chase, that features a seasonal and locally-sourced menu, rooftop bar Generators with views over Belgrade Plaza and versatile function rooms that can cater up to 140 delegates or guests for conferences and weddings.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Regional accountancy firm takes Prime position in supporting survey

A leading accountancy firm has signed up as the headline partner for a key business survey that tests the economic waters in Coventry and Warwickshire for a fourth year.

Prime Accountants Group, which has offices in Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham, and employs more than 100 staff, has partnered with the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on its Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).

The QES measures business activity and confidence including everything from intentions to recruit through to turnover projections among firms from both the manufacturing and service sectors across the city and county.

The survey receives hundreds of responses each quarter from businesses and the results are then analysed by the Economy & Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council. Local insight and data is also fed into the British Chambers of Commerce as part of its national survey.

Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants Group, said: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with the Chamber once again on the Quarterly Economic Survey. When we began the partnership four years ago we knew how

important the survey was in measuring the pulse of the economy in our region.

“But then, as Covid hit, it became an even more crucial piece of work in finding out how businesses were feeling on a regular basis and we were very proud and pleased to be involved in that.

“As we moved out of lockdowns, businesses faced new challenges and the QES has, again, been a great measure of what the genuine mood is rather than the extremes that we often hear or read about.

“Coventry and Warwickshire has, largely, bucked the trend and has remained on track to grow as an economy – even if only by a small amount in some quarters – which shows the strength of the region.

“In my role, I also speak to many businesses every day and there are still companies who are performing very well and others that are facing a whole host of challenges.

“My advice to all of them is to make sure they are planning and, on a wider scale, having the QES results each quarter helps us all to understand how the economy might perform and we can act accordingly.”

Steve Harcourt (left) with Corin Crane

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “As a Chamber, we pride ourselves on being the voice of business but to provide that voice, first we have to listen.

“We do that by speaking to businesses across the patch on day-to-day basis and listening to the obstacles they are coming up against – but also the opportunities they can see and how we can support with those.

“The QES is part of this work. It’s a critical snapshot of our regional economy and provides an accurate barometer

of how a whole host of businesses are feeling about the coming weeks and months.

“Beyond this, it feeds into the British Chamber of Commerce's overall results which is the largest independent business survey in the UK and is used by Whitehall, the Treasury and Bank of England as a significant economic indicator.

“Having Prime Accountants Group on board as supporters over the past four years has really helped to ensure the QES has maintained its credibility and relevance as a measure of our regional economy.”

The latest survey is available for companies across the region to fill out from Monday 13th February here: www.cw-chamber.co.uk/about-us/policy-campaigns/quarterly-economic-survey/

Confidence improves among regional firms Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire began 2023 with improving confidence, bucking the national trend and in the face of a range of issues that are holding back growth.

Manufacturing in the region looks to be particularly resurgent according to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) which was conducted with firms across the city and the county at the tail end of last year.

The results, published this week, show an uptick in manufacturing orders both at home and overseas, and rising confidence in manufacturing and the service sector.

The survey, which is delivered in partnership with Prime Accountants Group, is analysed by the Economy & Skills Group at Warwickshire County Council. Its analysis uses a similar score to the national Markits Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) where 50 is neutral and anything above is positive and anything below means the reverse.

As well as being a barometer for the local economy, the results are fed into the British Chambers of Commerce’s national QES.

However, it was less of a glowing picture when it comes to investment and cashflow as both sectors saw their scores slip below 50.

Manufacturing saw growth in domestic orders and international sales too, while the service sector saw a slowdown in homegrown orders and a slight upturn internationally.

All of which added to an overall economic outlook of 52.9 – one point higher than the previous survey, which stood at 51.9.

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The QES is an incredible insight into the way businesses across our patch are feeling and what their outlook is.

“In light of all of the domestic and global issues, it’s great to see firms feeling a little more confident at the turn of the year.

“I am particularly pleased to see international sales improving both in the manufacturing and service sectors.

There is absolutely no question that companies who trade overseas give themselves a much better chance of growth over a sustained period.

Confidence in the service sector grew from a score of 50.6 in the third quarter of 2022 to 55.5. In manufacturing it jumped from 52.3 to 65.0.

“The issues that are affecting firms who trade with Europe have not gone away and there is still work to be done by Governments on both sides of the Channel to improve trading conditions for businesses.

There were improved numbers when it comes to employment in both manufacturing and services.

“However, the results are encouraging and I’d advise firms from across Coventry and Warwickshire to get in touch with the

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

team at the Chamber to find out how we can support them.”

Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants, said: “I am pleased to see businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire feeling more positive.

“The results around the labour market and employment are very interesting to see and, while they are positive in terms of businesses still looking to recruit that does, of course, exacerbate the issue we saw a great deal of in 2022 – firms not being able to bring in the skilled people they need.

“The Chamber is leading on the new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) in this region and we’d encourage businesses to engage with us on that because it is a vital piece of work that is helping to address an issue that has been talked about over many years.”

Sunny Parekh, Senior Economist at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Quarter four at a national level experienced a modest weakening as household spending was squeezed and economic uncertainty weighed heavy on demand levels.

“However, the latest QES results show the local economy remaining resolute and robust in the face of economic adversity.

“The results show that the overall economic outlook index for Coventry and Warwickshire bucked the national trend by increasing further into positive territory, showing overall signs of optimism amongst both local services and manufacturing businesses.

“Business confidence experienced a boost, particularly within the manufacturing sector as profitability expectations increased despite ongoing price pressures. The upbeat nature of the local business landscape in the final quarter of 2022 bodes well, especially as forecasts point towards a long road to economic recovery.”

Summary of 2022 Q4 Key Numbers: Economic Outlook: Overall, 52.9, up from 51.9 Service Sector 51.6, down from 52.2.

Manufacturing Sector 57.7, up from 49.8.

Domestic Sales: Service Sector 52.0, down from 59.0.

Manufacturing Sector 58.8, up from 45.2 Overseas Sales: Service Sector 45.6, up from 42.3.

Manufacturing Sector 54.9, up from 47.1.

Employment Service Sector 57.4, up from 57.1 Manufacturing Sector 59.8, up from 50.0.

Investment & Cashflow Service Sector 45.9, down from 59.2.

Manufacturing Sector 49.4, down from 51.5.

Business Confidence Service Sector 55.5, up from 50.6.

Manufacturing Sector 65.0, up from 52.3.

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Dalesauna Ltd

Photo Credit: Andy Griffiths

Dalesauna offers a full care package

T

his September Dalesauna Ltd celebrates 50 years since its inception when it became the first UK based supplier of commercial grade saunas to hotels and the fledgling leisure club market.

As the sector grew so did Dalesauna with additional products such as GRP (fibreglass), steam rooms and spa pools being designed and installed. As new materials have become available sauna, steam room and spa pools have been further developed with Dalesauna remaining at the forefront for innovation such as infra-red saunas, glass fronts, feature showers, rasuls, loungers, Corian seating, led lighting, essence and salt systems along with more energy efficient equipment.

The business remains focused on its core activities of designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing new bespoke Spa areas for hotels, leisure/sport facilities and gyms in the UK either independently or as a sub-contractor for one of the major construction companies. Recent examples being Champney’s at Mottram Hall, Haven, Laugharne, Morpeth Leisure Centre, Riverside Leisure and St Sidwell’s in Exeter and Soho House. More recently has seen a return to overseas installations at Center Parcs new site in County Longford.

As older installations have needed replacement or updating the experience of the Contracts team has proven essential in overcoming the challenges associated with these projects.

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Refurbishments completed in the last five years are: Four Seasons Hotel (Park Lane), Lucknam Park (Gloucestershire), Ribby Hall Spa Hotel (Lancashire), Rockcliffe Hall (Teeside) and Thermae Bath Spa (Bath).

In recent years outdoor Spa area has seen real growth. Dalesauna has supporting both old and new clients such as David Lloyd, Ribby Hall, Rockcliffe Hall, Seaham Hall, Soho Farmhouse and Titanic Mills to develop outdoor Spa areas including spa pools, traditional and IR saunas, footspas, and feature showers.

Dalesauna has worked alongside numerous architects and developers on prestigious installations in exclusive property developments such as One Hyde Park and Embassy Gardens in addition to celebrity homes also based in London.

This trend is not restricted to London with the trend for Spa’s becoming nationwide since the pandemic.

The business is not limited to installing Spa/ Wellness equipment operating a Service department dedicated not only to after sales care on its own products but also those installed by competitors.

A full range of services is provided on swimming pool and spa equipment using experienced engineers, based across the UK, who are all electrically trained. The combination of well stocked spares and the engineers experience usually ensures they can repair equipment rather than simply replace it. Clients including Bannatyne’s, Hilton and other groups and independent operators are offered preventative maintenance contracts helping to

minimise downtime and reduce repair costs. This approach is not only more cost effective for clients but much more environmentally friendly.

To complete the circle of total care, Dalesauna, through their Consumables division, supply specialist water treatment and cleaning products for pools and spa pools, water quality testing equipment and tablets. Additionally, natural oil-based essences have been developed to enhance the users experience within both sauna and steam rooms. Consumable items and spare parts manufactured by leading brands such as Carel, EOS, Nordmann and WDT are held in our warehouse and can be supplied directly.

Dalesauna Ltd continues to look at minimising its impact on the environment and achieved FSC accreditation in Aug 2021. As a consequence, accredited saunas have since installed at the University of Portsmouth and St Sidwell (Exeter).

The later project was the first leisure installation in Europe to achieve the coveted Passivhaus standard pushing our boundaries regarding designing, sourcing, and installing compliant sauna and steam rooms.

For further details email Sales@Dalesauna.co.uk

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Coventry BID to back businesses for a further five years following successful reballot process Coventry BID has secured another five-year term - meaning businesses in the city centre are set to benefit from another five years of support and promotion. The recent reballot process for the BID, which has served the business community in Coventry city centre for 20 years, saw the majority of members vote for it to continue its work for another five years.

Through a period of consultation as part of the reballot, businesses had highlighted three major areas they want the BID to focus on: security and safety; enhancing and promoting the city centre; and business voice and support.

As a result of that consultation, the BID put security, promotion and support at the heart of its priorities for its forthcoming term, with plans to build on its work to help businesses and promote Coventry, increasing footfall

and ensuring a safe, thriving city centre for people who live, work and visit.

Following its successful reballot, the BID will now pursue priorities outlined in its Business Plan. They include aiming for Purple Flag accreditation, which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres at night, as well as continuing work to encourage footfall into the city centre to benefit businesses and encourage investment.

BID Manager Joanne Glover said: “We’re delighted that businesses have put their faith in Coventry BID for another five-year term. Over the past 20 years, the BID has played a key role in helping support businesses and ensure that Coventry city centre is a safe, successful place to be.

“It is clear that the majority of businesses recognised what would be

lost without a BID in the city centre, and voted to retain and build on the support we offer to help promote them and the city as a whole.

“At the BID we have always known there is more to be done, hence the priorities we outlined in the Business Plan following consultation with our members. With that in mind, we’re pleased that we can build on everything we’ve achieved and do even more to make Coventry city centre one of the best places to live, work, do business in and visit in the UK. The new five-year term comes after a turbulent period for businesses, during which time they have received invaluable

support from the BID, including the enabling of investment of over £6 million in projects and services, plus £500,000 more in grants, sponsorship and projectgenerated income.

The BID also offered assistance and advice to businesses during the Covid pandemic, staged major events to bring footfall to the city centre, undertook schemes to improve safety, and delivered two projects as part of the UK City of Culture.

Following the successful vote for a further five-year term, the services provided by the BID will continue and the fifth term of Coventry BID will start on April 1st, 2023.

Can I end my Commercial Property Lease early? to be served in writing on the Landlord no less than 6 months’ prior to the break date.

Assignment: A commercial lease assignment refers to the potential for the lessee to sell the residual lease to a new lessee.

Subletting:

Here at Askews Legal LLP we recognise that sometimes it is not viable to continue the lease for the duration of the fixed term.

There may be extraneous factors which may have impacted upon the cash flow of the business, or the lease needs to be determined on the death of a lessee.

However, there are often various options to determine your lease, which are contingent on the wording of your lease.

Break Clause: It may be possible to end the lease early if there is a break clause present within the lease. This will permit the lease to come to an end on an agreed anniversary of the commencement of the term.

There are often certain conditions which are contained within the lease to invoke the break clause, such as a notice

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Subletting the premises is similar to assigning the lease. The original lessee will always remain liable to the landlord under the terms of the sublet agreement.

The new lessee will pay the original lessee, and the original lessee will still pay the landlord directly.

Deed of Surrender: If the landlord agrees respectively to end the lease early, it is possible to enter a Deed of Surrender. This is usual on the death of a lessee.

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Within this article, consideration has been made only to a handful of factors when disposing of your lease. In most cases there are often options available, but withholding your rent is not one of them.

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Please note that this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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Women in Business 2023

Inspiring event brings businesswomen together “My advice to anyone would be to try to say ‘yes’ when opportunities come along and then work out what you are going to do rather than thinking of the reasons why you can’t.

“I have a supportive family at home and a supportive team at work – and that makes a real difference to me.”

Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE gave a brief update on the Women of the Year Awards, which will take place at the Birmingham Metropole in October.

She said: “It was great to hear from two inspirational businesswomen and I’d encourage everyone in the room to either put themselves or a woman they know forward.

“Just going through the process is a great way of looking back on what you’ve achieved and celebrating that.

I’d urge everyone to go to www.womenoftheyear.org.uk to find out more.”

Keely Hancox (Chamber), Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, Clare Golby (Kagool), Gisela Pink (Pink Connect), Rosa Ferrara (Ettington Park Hotel)

B

usinesswomen in Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to put themselves forward for a major award – after hearing from two inspirational speakers at an event near Stratford.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce hosted its latest Women in Business event at Handpicked Hotels’ Ettington Park Hotel, attracting an audience of around 50 regional businesspeople.

The audience heard how just five per cent of leadership positions in the tech sector are held by women and only three per cent of females say a career in technology would be their first choice.

But it was the personal stories of two regional leaders in technology that stole the show.

Gisela Pink, managing director of Pink Connect, described how she grew up in Buenos Aires, and started her own design business which she later sold before doing an MBA in New York.

Her career-path took her to London and then to the Cotswolds where she joined forces with her husband-to-be James Pink and eventually became MD of the IT, communications and technology business.

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Gisela told the audience what made her tick inside and outside of work – from karate to being a mum and from philanthropy through to cookery – and said those passions away from the business are part of what makes her a leader.

“I’m the MD of a technology business,” she said, “but it is much more about being human and understanding people.

family, as being key to delivering in business.

Clare said: “I was asked to speak at an event last year at Millennium Point in Birmingham and I was stood there proudly representing Kagool, in front of my name in huge letters on the big screen. It was the pinnacle for me, knowing where I had come from to get there.

Keely Hancox, head of operations at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We began the event with a focus on statistics around women in technology and it is clear that more needs to be done to address that. Having Clare and Gisela speak only serves to inspire other women to see what can be achieved.

“It was their personal stories that really blew us all away and helped to set us up for a positive 2023.”

“We all work differently and communicate in different ways.

Understanding that and making sure everyone is accountable to each other for what we are doing, that’s what helps to make the business a success.

Each of us in the team has a different accountability. Mine is to lead.”

Gisela was followed by Clare Golby, Head of Public Affairs at Kagool, a Coventry-based data & analytics and ERP consultancy, who talked about her journey from living in the shadow of Strangeways Prison in Salford and leaving school with four GCSEs to becoming a local councillor and landing the role with a global tech company.

Clare described how she landed her first job – in the Job Centre – and how a campaign to prevent the development of a road in her local community changed her life.

She also pointed to her life outside of work and having a strong, supportive

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Events

New staff require more than cash

I

ncreasing pay is not enough to attract new staff with more companies offering flexible working to tackle labour shortages, businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have heard.

More than half (54 per cent) of organisations who have had recruitment difficulties are now offering greater work flexibility to address recruitment difficulties, according to CIPD’s (Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development) resourcing and talent planning report – produced in partnership with Omni RMS. And almost three quarters (68%) of organisations who offered hybrid or remote working found it has allowed them to attract and retain more talent, according to the report, which is based on a survey of more than 1,000 HR professionals in the UK. The report findings were discussed at a joint event with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, CIPD Coventry & Warwickshire Branch and Leamington law firm Wright Hassall on recruitment issues and how to build a workforce fit for the future.

Sukhy Carey, Talent Acquisition Manager at CIPD, told delegates: “Flexible working is increasingly important for many people.

“For many people they have shown they have been at home and can deliver, so there is no value in being nine to five in the office.

“Increasing pay is great but if you give absolute autonomy for staff to arrange their own working patterns, that is just as attractive.”

Wright Hassall Partner & Head of Employment Law Tina Chander told the event that while hybrid working is becoming the new default way of working, businesses must implement it effectively with manager buy-in for it to succeed.

And she urged companies not to take a “one size fits all approach” to hybrid and flexible working, which instead require two different policies – emphasised by the fact that only flexible working is recognised in law.

The event also heard from Olivia Parrish, Director at HR support specialists Leap People Solutions, who spoke about the challenges of employers understanding workers impacted by the menopause.

She said 3.5 million women in the UK's workforce are of menopausal age, but almost a million said they felt under pressure to quit their job last year because they felt they were not supported enough by their employers when they experience symptoms.

Matthew Hammersley, HR Manager at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber

Tina Chander (Wright Hassall), Gemma Clark (Wright Hassall), Matthew Hammersley (C&W Chamber of Commerce), Phil Ingle (C&W CIPD), Adam Morris (Wright Hassall), Olivia Parrish (Leap People Solutions), Sukhy Carey (CIPD) of Commerce, said: “This was a really interesting event on something very topical at the moment.

"What has become increasingly evident across a number of sectors is the growing difficulty in attracting – and retaining – highly-skilled talent.

“The topics discussed here present a snapshot of the current challenges in

the labour market and the recognition that there are a growing number of considerations which will shape the future of our workforce – not just today, but for years to come.

“As a Chamber, we want to ensure that we make members aware of the ways they can attract and retain talent to ensure that they are able to continue to grow.”

Tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail businesses urged to attend Rugby Means Business event

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ourism, hospitality, leisure and retail businesses in Rugby can find out how they can make the most of a major anniversary – and a wider range of support that is available to them – at an event this month.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has organised Rugby Means Business on Tuesday, March 21, between 8am and 11am at the Benn Hall in the town.

The event has been organised through Project Warwickshire in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council. Project Warwickshire is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, forming part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale Programme.

It is also funded by Warwickshire County Council.

including one-to-one help on everything from finance to marketing.

There will also be a chance to find out more about the reopened Rugby Market and other regeneration opportunities coming to the town.

Businesses in the tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail sector will also get meet representatives from the Chamber, Rugby Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, CJ Events and Rugby School.

Keely Hancox, Head of Operations at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are thrilled to be working with a range of partners in Rugby to bring this event to the town in March.

“Of course, this is a huge year for the sport of rugby and it is absolutely synonymous with the town of Rugby.

The event will look at what is planned to mark the bicentenary of rugby football, which was invented in 1823

by William Webb Ellis at Rugby School, and how businesses in the town and surrounding borough can make the most of the landmark year.

“There will be lots of activities and events taking place and we want businesses across the borough to find out how they can get involved, as well as learn how these opportunities can increase footfall and ultimately help their business to grow.

Businesses will also be able to hear about what support they can access,

“Not only that, there is a huge amount of free support available to businesses

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

in Rugby and this event is the perfect place to come and find out all about that.”

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: "Our county is blessed by so many lovely towns, all with their own great business offer, and Rugby has a really exciting year coming up with the bicentenary of rugby football.

"I am delighted that Project Warwickshire and Rugby Borough Council have organised the Rugby Means Business event which will be a brilliant melting pot of information and ideas for the coming year."

Cllr Ian Picker, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Investment at Rugby Borough Council, said: "It's a really exciting time for businesses in Rugby, with the Bicentenary of the game of Rugby Football giving us a unique opportunity to promote our town this year.

“There is a great calendar of events in and around the town centre and Rugby Means Business is a great

opportunity to find out more about what is happening to celebrate this historic occasion.

“We'll also be highlighting some of the work going on as part of our Town Centre Regeneration Strategy, which will transform our town centre over the coming months and years.”

More information and booking details on the event at Benn Hall in Rugby on March 21 is available https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rugby-means-business-tickets-536832780297

9

22 in 22

BUSINESS

Mentoring Programme And, as the project has come to a close, the Chamber has been sharing some of the success stories from the programme, including everything from a marketing business owner now having to take on staff to meet demand through to an individual overcoming anxiety to secure a promotion.

Several participants met at the Chamber to celebrate the success of the programme in advance of International Women’s Day. Keely Hancox, Head of Operations at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was wonderful to bring some of our mentors and mentees together and to really celebrate the success of 22in22.

Keely Hancox (front, centre) with mentors and mentees who have taken part in the 22in22 programme

A

mentoring scheme that has seen up-andcoming businesswomen supported by successful female leaders has been hailed a success on International Women’s Day.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce ran 22in22 Women in Business Mentoring Programme for 12 months from March 2022 following a successful 21in21 the previous year.

It paired successful business leaders with mentees who were looking to grow their own business or to rise up the career ladder in their chosen field.

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“There is lots of evidence to show that mentoring really does work and it has been lovely to see that first hand. Some of the stories are, actually, quite moving because you can really see the impact that the support has had.

“Our mentees were all looking for something individual and unique to them as professionals and that is why it was so important to pair them with mentors who could bring out the best in them.

“We are thrilled with the outcome and as we looked ahead to International Women’s Day we really felt it was a great example of how women supporting other women can make a real difference.”

Programme, has helped her maintain a work-life balance and has championed her successes.

So much so, that Becky is now rebranding the business as Profitable Clicks, is looking to move to a new office and will take on her first member of staff.

Becky said: “Being mentored was such a positive experience. It was nice having someone who championed me at every stage and could offer practical advice. For instance, there was a period before the summer where I was feeling overwhelmed due to school events taking over my limited working week.

“Being able to talk this through with somebody who understood helped me to prioritise what was important and what I could actually achieve.

“I also had somebody I could talk through business dilemmas with that had an experienced and outside viewpoint. I had lots of options and avenues open to grow the business and talking them through with my mentor helped me to reach the decision of how it was going to grow!”

Becky Long, of Reload Marketing, was paired with Trish Willetts, relationship manager at Savills, as her mentor.

Keely added: “As 22in22 comes to an end, we’d still love to hear from businesswomen who feel they can be supported in this way and from any women who would like to put themselves forward as a Mentor. It’s such a beneficial experience and one we’d encourage more people to get involved in.”

Over the course of the year, Trish has supported Becky to successfully apply for the Aston Small Business Growth

For more information, contact the Chamber on 024 7665 4321 or email info@cw-chamber.co.uk

Janinah McKenzie, of JMK & Co Consultancy, was paired with Cheryll Rawbone, former Chair of Gallagher.

Keely Hancox with one of the programme mentors, Kate Hunter.

Becky Long, of Reload Marketing, was paired with Trish Willetts, Relationship Manager at Savills.

Zoe Anthony, who works for Coventry City Council, was paired with Tina Chander, Partner and Head of Employment Law at Wright Hassall.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Events

BIG EVENT for a big anniversary

CELEBRATING

120 YEARS 1903 - 2023

A leading business organisation that supports and represents firms across Coventry and Warwickshire will mark a major anniversary at a celebration event on Thursday 23 March at the IXL Events Centre in Southam.

T

he Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is holding the BIG Business Celebration Lunch at the IXL Events Centre in Southam on Thursday, March 23 between 11am and 3pm.

The event will kick-off a year of celebrations as the Chamber commemorates its 120th anniversary. It will include a keynote address from Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho CBE, the president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the co-founder of Europe’s largest travel and leisure website, lastminute.com.

Hundreds of firms are expected to attend the event which will see some of the Chamber’s archives on display, showing its achievements over the course of 120 years at the heart of the business community in the region.

It will highlight how the Chamber has been supporting businesses from its inception in 1903 and how it has helped the local economy to navigate its way through wars, recessions, depressions, and other crises right up to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was back in 1903, when Mr Vernon Pugh, managing director of Rudge Cycles based in the city, called together local business leaders to discuss the formation of a new and modern Chamber to represent the interests of their fast-growing companies and to promote trade within the UK and beyond.

A Chamber was formed, and Mr Pugh became its first President. Other founders included Siegfried Bettman (Triumph), Sir Edward Manville (Daimler) and Col. William Wyley (Wyley & Co) who was to leave his home, the historic Charterhouse, to the people of Coventry on his death in 1940.

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a great opportunity to mark a major milestone for us as a Chamber of Commerce and to recognise some of the incredible achievements of businesses in our region over the past 120 years.

“Over recent weeks, we’ve been looking back over old documents and photographs and it’s interesting to see that some of the issues that we face today are the same as those that businesses were facing over a century ago – from ensuring they can find the right skills to breaking down barriers to trade.

“The Chamber has been there every step of the way supporting firms through every crises imaginable, providing stability, support and a voice for businesses into decision makers at every level.

“That is what we continue to do to this day by changing and evolving to meet the needs of companies right across the city and the county.

“So, while this is a celebration of our history it is also a chance to look forward and to ensure the Chamber continues to meet the needs of businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire to make sure the economy of this fantastic region not only survives, but thrives.

“It is going to be the largest networking opportunity this spring and will bring together business and civic leaders from across the city and the county.”

This is a great opportunity to mark ❛❛ a major milestone for us as a Chamber of Commerce and to recognise some of the incredible achievements of businesses in our region over the past 120 years.

❜❜

For more information and to book onto the event go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/the-big-business-celebration-lunch/ www.cw-chamber.co.uk

11

Business Engage Profiles

Rugby insurance broker offering local service with national support years since becoming an Ethos Broking partner we’ve grown by over 20 per cent and the aim is to continue that upward trajectory.

A Rugby-based insurance broker is celebrating the third anniversary since its acquisition by offering to review local businesses’ cover to make sure they have kept pace with the economic times.

Appletons, which became an Ethos Broking partner in March 2020, has been an established business in the region since it was formed as Perry Appletons in 2000 after the merger of Perry Hawkings and H Appleton.

Since the 2020 takeover, the company has rebranded as Appletons, has moved to Hilton House, has upgraded its technology and now offers a raft of new services through its national network.

Simon Leech, a former Chamber Rugby branch chair and managing director of Appletons, said: “In the three

“Previously, if there were niche areas of insurance, we might have had to look to other brokers for support but now we can offer virtually everything in-house which is great news for our clients.

“There are around 400 people within Ethos nationwide and then there are more than 7,000 people in the wider Ardonagh Group of which we are part – that’s a lot of expertise that our clients can tap into.

“The beauty of the partnership is that our clients still get serviced by a local team. We get to know our clients’ businesses and they get to know us as individuals. They are getting the best of both worlds from that point of view.”

Appletons deals across a wide range of sectors offering a full service when it comes to insurance brokerage which is tailored to each client.

It includes technical advice, insurance and risk protection reviews, risk profile

and analysis, negotiations with insurers, comprehensive insurance reports and proposals, insurance placement, checking of documentation, mid-year reviews and amendments, full support throughout the year and a tailored claims service.

The company is also committed to growing its own professional advisers through apprenticeships, which Simon describes as a massive success and is part of a wider group commitment to make a positive impact on its communities.

And Simon is keen to ensure that the regional business community is up-tospeed with changes that may need to be made to their insurance policies based on the current economic climate.

He said: “We’ve become Business Influence members with the Chamber because we want to talk to as many regional companies as possible.

“There are huge amounts of businesses in the region who are under-insured due to the fact that inflation and interest rates have risen rapidly in the past 18 months but they won’t have revisited their policies.

“Our offer to businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire, is come and talk to us. Let us review what you have in place and let us support you to ensure you don’t lose out should you need to make any kind of claim.”

For more information go to www.appletonsinsurance.co.uk

"We’ve become Business Influence members with the Chamber because we want to talk to as many regional companies as possible."

Workplace wellbeing drives business success for Lumien A business that uses data analytics to help transform other companies’ workplace cultures has experienced rapid growth - and is now focusing on life as a scale-up.

Lumien, founded in 2012 by Leamington-based Christopher Golby, works alongside businesses to improve employee performance, optimise recruitment and increase employee retention by analysing their people and culture programmes and suggesting solutions.

One of the components of this is a workplace culture tool that allows staff to use a dedicated app to report how they are feeling anonymously at any time.

Lumien’s data analytics then assesses that input and measures it against four key areas: purpose, culture, environment, and wellbeing – which all have a part to play in the overall feel of a company.

Once the data is processed, Lumien’s system then suggests interventions to leaders, such as improving internal communications or a renewed drive to support wellbeing.

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Lumien supports its clients to integrate those solutions into their businesses.

Christopher said: “Workplace culture can sometimes get neglected in small to medium businesses, as many do not have resources for a full-time role to tackle it.

“We help fill this gap so smaller businesses can manage their people and culture programmes with the help of our analytical tools.

“The great thing about our system is that employees don’t have to sit at their desk filling in a survey on email – they can use our app to feed back all sorts of things whenever is convenient for them.

“They can do so knowing their input will be anonymous, and that we will help generate a workable solution for the business.

“This means the businesses we support tend to see positive results within six months and an average performance increase of £1,300 per employee per year. We strongly believe investing in your people and workplace culture can pay off quickly.”

Lumien’s growth was kickstarted after support from a variety of sources, including Coventry University Enterprises and Connected Places Catapult, which enabled the business to access grant money and advice on improving its value proposition.

Lumien also strongly benefitted from joining Innovate UK’s Peer 2 Peer networking group, which links up growing businesses to share ideas and best practice.

“The great thing about our system is that employees don’t have to sit at their desk filling in a survey on email – they can use our app to feed back all sorts of things whenever is convenient for them.

Chris is now confident that Lumien will easily hit its next revenue targets and enable it to reach the next stage in its growth.

Christopher added: “It’s fair to say that Lumien is a scale-up business now, which is fantastic news. The clients we’ve helped, alongside improving our value proposition, has enabled us to impress investors.

“Innovate UK’s networking group has really boosted our profile too.

I’ve developed great relationships with so many ambitious businesspeople looking to scale up like we are, and I know these relationships will serve Lumien well into the future.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Business Engage Profiles

App-y days for manufacturing and construction SMEs A new app, developed in partnership by two companies in Coventry and Warwickshire, is set to revolutionise the way small and medium-sized manufacturing and construction companies operate.

“There isn’t an app out there that could support SMEs in the construction and manufacturing sectors with their operations and compliance, whether it’s around training or documentation for individual projects.

Leamington Spa based WA Management – an established health, safety, quality and environmental management consultancy – has teamed up with Coventry-based ImagePlus to develop the app to meet the demand of industry.

“Bigger businesses already have the technology in place, but this will provide SMEs with a solution that works for them, and will help to move them off having to use pen and paper to document everything – it will be there in the app.

ImagePlus, a digital agency based at Electric Wharf, was approached by a client to develop an app that could support the operations and compliance management side of the business.

“The fact that this started as an approach from an established construction business shows that there is a need for it, and we believe that between 30 and 40 per cent of our clients will want to sign up to it once it is available on the market.

While ImagePlus could provide the technical and digital know-how to develop an app of that type, the team decided to approach WA Management, which has 40 years’ experience in the sector, to partner on its development.

“It’s the ideal partnership between two companies in the Coventry and Warwickshire area,” said William Whittaker, the managing director of WA Management.

“We have tested an online system that will have similar features and that

Alan Hartin, Sales Director ImagePlus; Matt Nunn, Joint Managing Director ImagePlus; Tashlien Nunn, Managing Director ImagePlus; William Whittaker, Managing Director, WA Management.

has proved to be very popular, and the app will be an even more manageable version of that. It is going to make businesses so much more efficient as it will be so simple to use.

“The app is currently being beta tested and we are confident it will be ready to go in Spring this year”.

WA Management supports businesses across the country with heath & safety,

“The app is currently being beta tested and we are confident it will be ready to go in Spring this year”.

management and training with a team of experienced consultants, with 85 per cent of customers giving the company a five-star rating.

ImagePlus began life 28 years ago and has seen the app development side of the business grow rapidly over recent years.

Alan Hartin, Sales Director of ImagePlus, added: “This is another example of industry identifying an area of its sector – Health and Safety & Compliance, that can be transformed and made much more efficient and transparent, using mobile app technology.”

Raising spirits Funds raised from the charity shop’s in-store sales will support Leamington Polish Centre’s Ambulances for Ukraine initiative, which aims to provide two further ambulances to civilian hospitals in the country, building on the five it sent over last year.

The shop at the Royal Priors Shopping Centre has been running since the end of last year, and proceeds from the gin, other goods and online donations are helping the Leamington Polish Centre on its way to its £11,000 fundraising goal.

A charity shop supporting Ukrainian people has partnered with a Leamington craft spirit maker to help drive in-store fundraising.

Warwickshire Gin Company has produced 30 bottles of its limitededition Ukraine Gin for the Leamington Polish Centre to help raise funds at the centre’s Aid for Ukraine charity shop.

Glasses and carafes from Solavia Glassware and handcrafted beer from Windmill Hill Brewing Company are also available at the Aid for Ukraine shop. The unit was given to the Leamington Polish Centre by the shopping centre to be used for free.

Dave Blick, Owner of Warwickshire Gin Company, hopes that the bottles will encourage local people to give what they can through additional donations.

He said: “We have supported the Leamington Polish Centre since last year by providing tables and prizes

to support fundraising events, and we jumped at the chance to donate some of our stock to help the latest fundraising effort.

“Sadly, the need the for ambulances at Ukrainian civilian hospitals is no less than it was a year ago. I’d struggle to think of a more worthwhile cause, and if our initial batch sells out, we’ll be providing another crate to ensure a steady flow of fundraising.

“As well as our latest donation of limited-edition gin, our full range of spirits are available in store, with every penny raised from sales going to the Leamington Polish Centre.”

Dawid Kozlowski from the Leamington Polish Centre said: “It is important to recognise and appreciate local businesses that have their communities and charity in the core of their social values.

“We are very grateful to Warwickshire Gin Company for all their support and engagement in the Aid for Ukraine.

“All updates on our efforts in fundraising, purchasing and delivering ambulances to Ukraine and personal stories behind them are available on our Facebook page.”

"We have supported the Leamington Polish Centre since last year by providing tables and prizes to support fundraising events, and we jumped at the chance to donate some of our stock to help the latest fundraising effort."

To support Aid for Ukraine visit www.gofundme.com/f/ambulance-for-ukraine-fundraiser?member=18659183&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

13

Chamber Training

Apprenticeship Ladder Launch for Coventry and Warwickshire

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2023 The theme for this year was ‘Skills for Life’, bringing together the apprenticeship community to celebrate everything that is amazing about apprenticeships.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training are leading the launch and development of the Apprenticeship Ladder for Coventry and Warwickshire, which is a partnership between apprenticeship training providers, employers, the Apprenticeship Ladder Foundation and a media partner, Reach, to promote high-quality apprenticeships.

By working together through the Apprenticeship Ladder, the ambition is to increase apprenticeship opportunities, improve skills and job prospects and enable the Coventry and Warwickshire economy to thrive and be a great place to live and work.

Apprenticeships are a great way to develop relevant and tailored skills for business and individual needs. They offer well-defined career pathways that enhance their workplace value, supporting people to lead rewarding lives. The Apprenticeship Ladder for Coventry and Warwickshire brings employers, training providers and individuals together to start a journey to develop skills which benefit all.

Apprenticeships are suitable for any age and the possibilities are endless to upskill individuals in line with industry needs.

Building on the successes of other Apprenticeship Ladders across the West Midlands, the Ladder will raise people’s awareness of apprenticeships across a wide range of vocational sectors, including health and social care, childcare, business, management and professional services, creative industries, construction, hospitality, tourism as well as engineering and manufacturing. The Apprenticeship Ladder brings people together, makes the right connections and is a catalyst for promoting employment and training opportunities.

The Apprenticeship Ladder website is now live providing information to apprentices, employers, training providers and partners who would like to take part:

www.ladderforcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk

One example of how apprenticeships can support business growth is accountant, McGlone Wardzynski, who employed their first apprentice back in 2009 and has continued to reap the benefits of apprenticeships ever since.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training celebrated National Apprenticeship Week with a host of events and activities across Coventry and Warwickshire including talks at schools, employer roundtable discussion, sustainable tree planting, an apprenticeship open day and much more besides.

Director, James Rose, provided insight into how his organisation has adopted apprenticeships as a key part of its workforce plan. The company currently has three apprentices, across different levels, and the company can really see the advantages of training which is job relevant and tailored around business work practices.

Jack Baker, one of McGlone Wardzynski’s apprentices, exemplifies the way in which apprenticeships create capacity and growth for individuals, as well as employers.

In less than 5 years, Jack has achieved

apprenticeship success in accountancy excelling through levels 2, 3 and 4 before taking his career to new heights, with a level 7 professional accountancy apprenticeship.

Working alongside Jack is Sumaya Miah, who achieved her level 2 accountancy apprenticeship and has grown in confidence, taking on new challenges and becoming an important member of the team. The guidance of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training was invaluable right from the start, from the planning of apprenticeship training around the needs of the business to the close support throughout the journey.

Watch the full interviews with McGlone Wardzynksi on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@chambertraining/ Call 024 7623 1122 or email us at enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk if you want to know more about apprenticeships or commercial training courses.

Supporting Young Lives with

One Million Mentors (1MM) Partnership

In 2019, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training launched a successful partnership with One Million Mentors to provide support for young people through personal and professional development from experienced business mentors. 1MM is a unique communitybased mentoring approach that aims to raise aspirations and ambitions to connect one million young people with one million mentoring opportunities.

Building on that success, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training are introducing a new round of activity, matching a group of young people with highly experienced business mentors to guide and develop mentee career plans and personal goals. This unique opportunity connects young local talent with an expanding network of trained mentors harnessing and sharing their experience and expertise, helping to

improve well-being by reducing anxieties about the future during these challenging times. For the under 18s this round, 1MM’s work comes in partnership with the National Citizen Service (NCS) to provide targeted support to 15-17yr olds across the West Midlands, to get them work-ready.

1MM has developed a network of professionals to act as mentors to young people which Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training are accessing to add value to its training services and enable young people to grow. The mentoring journey lasts for up to 12 months and encompasses a modern hybrid mix of monthly face-to-face and online meetings, tailored around the needs of the individual.

resilience. Young people can gain great insight from their mentors, grow in maturity, and create ambition to succeed. The support of a mentor and our partnership with 1MM offers the perfect mix for young people who would benefit from guidance to unlock their potential.” Sarah Williams, Training Manager.

If you’re interested in supporting or setting up a programme for your young people, please reach out to Wes Erpen wes.erpen@1mm.org.uk, 1MM’s Regional Manager for the West Midlands.

Find out more about this initiative: www.onemillionmentors.org.uk

“The mentors offer young people support with their education, training, and career choices by facilitating goal setting, encouraging further learning, and promoting

Training Courses 2023

Chamber Member Price + VAT

Non-Member Price + VAT

Duration

April 23

Online Marketing Appraising People and Performance Microsoft Excel – Basic to Intermediate Finance for Non-Finance Managers Grow your Business through Social Media Microsoft Excel – Advanced Plus Excel 365 New Features – Online Course Gantt charts with Microsoft Project – Online Course Manage Customer Expectations Key Account Management Communicating Assertively Complaint Handling Time Management ILM Level 2 Award in Leadership & Team Skills Effective Communication Building the Team Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems – Level 2 Accredited Microsoft Excel – Intermediate to Advanced

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1 day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day Half Day - am Half day - am Half Day - am Half Day - pm Half Day - am Half Day - pm 1 Day 4 Days Half Day - am Half Day - pm 3 Days 1 Day

20 26 26

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Prices Subject to VAT

May 23

Jun 23

10 18 24 7 7 8 8 15 15 22 7/14/21/28 27 27 6/12/20 28 www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Fruition Accountancy

Do I want to The Bad News

CARRY ON? The Good News

We are finding more and more businesses are struggling with the likes of recruitment, staff retention, bad debts and cashflow. This is compounded with tax increases in every area of the business such as National Insurance, Corporation Tax and Income Tax, as well as other breaks like Research & Development Tax, Capital Gains Tax exemption, Dividend Tax exemption and the Super Deduction being removed.

On the other hand, some businesses are making incredible profits and reinvesting into the economy.

I would argue that this is the time to use innovation to look at what the post pandemic landscape will look like.

As Accountants, we have heard the words ‘Why do we bother, let’s just go and get an employed job without the hassle’ OR ‘Actually I’m 55, I really don’t want the stress, I’m taking early retirement’.

• A caravan park who has seen record sales in the last two years, resulting in super profits that are being used to reinvest into their parks for the future. With solid tax advice they have been able to secure the future for the owners and the generations that will follow them.

The office for National Statistics state in the period of October to December 2021, compared to the October to December 2019 period, an additional 522,000 persons have become inactive in the Economy and 94.4% (493,000) of them are over 50. Also, in the period October to December 2022, 1.04 billion hours were worked; 16.3 million hours below the pre-pandemic period of December 2019 to February 2020.

No two stories are the same when it comes to clients’ performance right now. As an accountancy practice we are seeing more clients going into administration than ever before, often off the back of loans taken out during the pandemic that the business can’t afford.

Two examples of companies who are finding success in our portfolio are:

Summary We titled this article ‘Do I want to carry on?’ and we recognise that this is a real dilemma for some, but we would encourage you to show true entrepreneurial spirit and give it a go.

• A lighting company who has diversified to ensure the Emergency Lighting solution they are offering is Carbon Neutral, or even Carbon Negative, which has got them a contract with a major fast food company.

For more information or any accountancy enquires please contact Michelle Vincent or Adam Page at hello@fruitionaccountancy.co.uk

Fruition Accountancy is an entrepreneurial

For more information, please contact

Accountancy and Taxation Practice whose passion is to see our clients become successful both personally and in their chosen industries.

Michelle Vincent or Adam Page at

We offer a wide range of accountancy services including audit for small and medium sized businesses, annual accounts, payroll, VAT returns, bookkeeping, tax returns, tax planning and consultancy work.

www.fruitionaccountancy.co.uk

hello@fruitionaccountancy.co.uk or call 01789 403100

With two strategically placed offices in Stratford-upon-Avon & Lichfield, our team are able to service all parts of Warwickshire and the West Midlands, as well as further afield.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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Non Driving: Admin Staff • Drivers Mates • Warehouse Operatives • Pickers/Packers • Logistics Managers etc

To find out more call

Driver Hire Coventry

024 7635 410

coventry@driverhire.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Driver Hire Coventry

New but Old in Coventry – leading driving and services recruitment agency lands in Coventry City Centre

E

xciting times for Rob Poston, the new owner of UK’s No 1 specialist driving and non-driving recruitment agency Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth. A busy 6 months for this ‘New’ owner of the ‘Old’ business that’s been successfully trading since 1989! Rob, made the move from the corporate world to become his own boss in October 2022 and isn’t looking back.

As the new owner of Driver Hire Coventry, a franchise business covering Coventry and the surrounding areas of Nuneaton, Atherstone, Bedworth, Rugby, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth.

base, the Eddison Wharf offices are both a wonderful environment, but allow access to better technology to support candidates and customers”.

“I’ve liked the idea of running my own business through franchising for many years,” says Rob, who lives in Tamworth but has spent much of his working career in Coventry and Warwickshire “But, for several reasons, the right time or opportunity hadn’t come along. But in October of 2022 a change in circumstances Rob decided to focus on his next career move “Driver Hire was a naturally good fit. I like the business model and so I decided to follow my dream.”

Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth is part of a 100+ national network of owner operated offices operating under a proven model of supplying Quality Assured staffing solution to customers and offering true 24/7 service. The UK’s largest specialist supplier with a nationwide network of franchised offices, Driver Hire provides temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff to local and national organisations in both the public and private sector. If they’re short of staff – perhaps because of illness, holidays, or seasonal demand – Driver Hire Coventry will supply them with a suitable replacement. “We also have our non-driving brand DH Solutions’ which I will be focused on building further within the area. This non-driving focus allows to help our existing and potential customers with more than just drivers.

Rob’s background has set him up perfectly, ready to support customers with his knowledge and experience, before becoming a business owner, most recently, Rob was Fleet and VVIP Customer Manager at Jaguar Land Rover another of Coventry success story. Prior to that he spent 10 year heading the engineering service team for BT Fleet, BT Group PLC and it’s 65,000 vehicles and plant on a day to day basis based from Mile Lane in central Coventry. “In my career till now I’ve had great success building strong relationships and that has been built on ‘get it done’ attitude and steely focus on serving customers. I have always been passionate about customer service, this business allows me to ensure my high standards are supported by my exceptional team and results of our customer ‘Proud’ annual survey reflects this attitude” www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Driver Hire December 2022 driver and customer survey: • 98% of people rated Driver Hire’s customer service as Excellent or Good – 79% chose ‘excellent’ • 85% of customers rated Driver Hire’s value for money as Excellent or Good • 95% of candidates are proud to work for Driver Hire “We are immensely proud of these results and at the heart of our business is selecting and looking after the best candidates.” With this successful formula Rob is now, expanding and cementing a footprint in Central Coventry. “The business has operated very successfully for 34 years from a base in Nuneaton, but to maximise our operations, and ensure a platform for growth in the Coventry area, we have just moved to CV1, in the Electric Wharf offices” This is an exciting move for the team lead by Rob, he is supported by Business Manager Richard Bannister and finance processing with Stacey Wale. “The whole team is very excited, this next chapter, will see us ready for next phase of growth modern office, great links for customers and candidates, and the best base for high performance customer service and efficiencies in our business”. With more and more IT processes used in Rob’s team the need for fast broadband to grow was vital, a big decision factor in moving to CV1. The investment will help growth in remote registration for candidates and quicker more efficient customer response. “The first thing I noticed was the amount of paper used, in this business new technology and systems are the best way for us to grow. But the Nuneaton office infrastructure was not set up for supporting that, so we had to look for a great

If that was not enough for the business, Rob has identified the need to expand the team and invest in the future with more staff. “We are currently looking for new staff, with the help of the C&W Chamber of Commerce team they are offering vital advice and links to get support and advertise the role locally” This level of service and network is key to the foothold in Coventry and growing our network of customers. The C&W chamber of commerce is great way to do this. Spreading the word of our unique selling point which is temporary staff and short notice requirements for staffing requirements. “We are a very reactive service, we source the best candidates, we ensure customers can be confident we do our best to find staff, same day, in some cases”. Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth team regularly rise to customer challenges, working with big brand names and small local business alike. “customer can give us the toughest challenges but we always deliver”.

Recently a short notice request, 20 staff for one day, we did it!!, best candidates and customer hit its objective.

Rob’s team have access to the best of tools and services to support customers. The Key to Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth’s ability to serve customers is access to the best resourcing platforms, websites and ability to screen with high quality standard procedures in place, especially ensuring compliance for drivers is at the heart of Quality Assured supply. “We review all candidates in full face to face or remotely with new technology, then following quality procedures to ensure the best we can offer customers”.

The future is ever changing, and Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth business is changing too. Rob’s plans see further expansion in the near future with an office in Tamworth planned to support customer base in that area with a local team. “It has always been my intention to have a further office located in the grow areas of Tamworth and surrounding areas mainly along the A5 route East and West of Tamworth. “There is so much opportunity, so we will be getting feet on the ground to find and help customers in these area’s. So, a base is essential to help with my plans for this business”.

Businesses will always need flexibility and Driver Hire Coventry & Tamworth now poised to ensure the high standards of customer service can be secured for many more years to come in the Coventry area and the expanding team are here and ready 24/7 to support customers.

If you have need to drivers temporary or permanent use Driver Hire Coventry to give you piece of mind that compliance and customer service is a top priority.

You can find out more at www.driverhire.co.uk/office/coventry-tamworth, Email Coventry@driverhire.co.uk or call 24/7 on 02476 354100.

17

News

Spring Clean your Sales Pipeline As we emerge out of winter and into the crisp sunshine of spring, a task that can set your business up for a more effective year is to Spring Clean Your Sales Pipeline, writes Sales Geeks’ David Poole.

“One of the realities of managing a sales pipeline is that we sales professionals are born optimists – filling our pipeline, be it in our heads or in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools, with dream accounts we might like to win, rather than factually driven prospects we have a chance of winning.

“Whilst it’s necessary to be optimistic and resilient, it’s good practice to have a long hard look at what information we have on prospects, assess their value to the business and to make a hard-nosed assessment if they represent something that is valuable or not.

“All too often prospects that were once meaningful and valid have become stale and unwinnable. Why clog up your sales pipeline with pipedreams when a more sparse, but truthful pipeline will better direct you where to focus?

the deal, does it still represent the same value to your business as when it was first encountered?”

“Be brutal! Don’t start with a false revenue outlook based upon a perspective that could be at least a year old.

“Don’t be afraid to leave your pipeline looking thin at the end of the exercise. Perhaps it’s time to refresh it with prospects that are in need of your help now and better aligned to your current value proposition than perhaps what you were doing a year or more ago.

“Here at Sales Geek, we spend a significant amount of time helping customers build their revenue through being honest and brave about what we are working on with them.

A position of transparency is far more healthy than an opaque set of data that often creates a false sense of security with regards to what revenue is incoming. Don’t fall into that trap – Spring Clean your Sales Pipeline.”

Spring Clean your Sales Pipeline: • How old is the opportunity – does the customer’s need still exist?

• When did the customer last speak to us?

– a sure indicator the customer has lost interest is that they stop giving us their time.

Help is at hand, perhaps even within your own business, he adds.

• Is it winnable? In the cold light of day, were we ever going to win? If not, move on.

“Get the sales team, and put them side by side with a few slightly more sceptical people from the business, ask questions about the age, status, winnability and value of each prospect: If it’s dead, push it into a contact cadence for the future, if it’s alive, give some thought to what needs to happen to move it forwards in the Sales Funnel. If we won

• Is it worth winning? Does the work you need to do for this customer add value to your business’ bottom line?

• If in doubt, call it. If you are not sure if the prospect is alive, try and arrange a meeting with the customer. Their acceptance of a meeting is a good indicator that they still want to deal with you.

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION Home Office Sponsor licence Are you struggling to recruit in the UK, we can assist your business to employ skilled workers from abroad. We can assist your business in managing the Sponsor licence.

Visa applications We can assist your staff and their families to apply for UK visas.

EMPLOYMENT LAW From HR issues such as dealing with disciplinary and grievance matters, Mediation, ACAS and Employment Tribunal matters, our team can assist your business with these matters.

BUSINESS AND CORPORATE ADVICE QUALIFIED LEGAL SPECIALISTS in

IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY AND CIVIL LITIGATION

CONTACT

• • • •

18

info@tannlaw.co.uk www.tannlaw.co.uk Tel 02477 632323 Mobile/WhatsApp 07915 070549

Exciting times at Staeger

We advise businesses on legal issues relating to business incorporation, governance documents, policies, contracts, disputes, management etc.

WILLS, LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND PROBATE Our personal and Business succession team can help you with Wills, Powers of Attorney, continuity plans and probate.

Dale Freeman, Managing Director “Its exciting times and new product developments are key to our industry.

We are industry leader in the design and manufacturing of tubes made out of transparent plastic. Our own manufacturing of automated round tube machinery, permits us to develop the most innovative forms combined with a highly diverse selection of materials.

This allows us to offer our tubes with the

best cost/benefit relationship and launch new products like CARDTUBE & our new Component Tray.

Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd is not only a supplier of clear plastic packaging solutions but card/board products, printed or unprinted to compliment our product portfolio.”

For further details visit https:// staeger.eu/en/#

Trade Mark Protection for Digital Healthcare Digitalisation is sweeping the healthcare sector. The use and creation of digital healthcare has seen an increase in recent years as an answer to the pandemic and a general concern for health and wellbeing.

No matter your innovation, protecting it in a rapidly changing sector should be a priority. One of the ways businesses within the healthcare sector can achieve this is through Trade Marks.

What is Digital Healthcare?

Digital Healthcare has developed through a multitude of channels, including smartphones, social media platforms and software. This has created a greater interaction between medical and health businesses, their end users and a wider range of innovations.

Examples of some such innovations include the Fitbit watch and apps like Apple Health, Samsung Health and Sleep Cycle. These apps and gadgets can provide a variety of data from heart rate and temperature to oxygen levels. These make healthcare more accessible and gain market value in the sector.

During the pandemic, the NHS app in the UK assisted in tracking Covid-19 cases and the rollout of vaccinations. The healthcare sector continues to make strides towards digitalisation as it advances digital products to end the current pandemic and prevent future ones. These include medical software, Artificial Intelligence a nd Telehealth.

Why are Trade Marks beneficial in Digital Healthcare?

Trade Marks are beneficial due to their value in competitive market share, marketing and customer loyalty. It is vital to use these to associate your innovations with your brand identity in the mind of the consumer and end-user. The increase in contact between health companies and end users also heightens the need for Trade Marks.

The registration of Trade Marks protects your innovation from other registrars from filing a Trade Mark similar to yours. Your Trade Mark can be a barrier to entering the market by your competitors. In a rapidly changing digital era, this is really important to ensure your innovation has longevity.

How do you obtain Trade Mark Protection?

This is where we come in. From searching, drafting and filing, to maintaining your Trade Mark, we can help you every step of the way and assist you in building your brand. We offer upfront fixed prices to protect your ideas. By tailoring our services to meet your needs, we provide you with specialist help and advice to enable you to make the most of your innovations.

Our services include: • Clearance searches • Specification Drafting • Oppositions • Global Filing Strategy Advice.

Contact us today for a no-obligation meeting: https://bit.ly/3EelFhQ

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Drake Howard Property

Moving work premises?

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Are you getting the right advice?

W

e are constantly astonished by the number of companies seeking assistance from a commercial property surveyor during and at the end of occupation of business premises. Assistance with issues arising out of onerous lease clauses and repair liabilities which were not adequately considered prior to entering a contract with the landlord.

Most people in the UK are property owners and will buy and sell their homes several times in a lifetime. Usually, relying on a surveyor to report on condition and a solicitor or conveyancer to approve the sale contract. Many though, do not treat the acquisition of business premises with the same importance.

Acquisition of work premises is usually by way of lease and not purchase. The main driver in the decision process is business profit and providing the property lends itself to this end, the terms of occupation and maintenance of the building fabric becomes a secondary consideration.

A solicitor can be relied upon to check agreed terms of the lease, but the skills and services of a surveyor can often be disregarded.

Particularly, if the property is modern and appears to be in good condition. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, quite a lot to the unwary! Liabilities which will cost a tenant tens of thousand pounds over the term of the proposed lease.

There is the obvious loss of potential saving on rent. A chartered surveyor will have knowledge of the commercial property market and be experienced in negotiating best rent and letting incentives.

Other holding costs to hit profit margins include business rates and the cost of utilities.

A good surveyor will check the rating assessment on the premises for accuracy and

the scope for adjustment and saving. Utilities, for efficiency of heating and lighting installations.

An Energy Performance Certificate gives guidance, but the surveyor will be aware of how the EPC rating sits in relation to forthcoming statute changes, choices between energy sources and, the useful life of installations Then there are the lease terms, which are varied and complex. Generally, terms are drafted to cover all the landlord’s overheads and to pass on all repair and maintenance liabilities to the tenant. It is critical therefore, pre-draft ‘Heads of Terms for the Lease’ are agreed early. Before they are sent to the Landlord’s Solicitor.

The first consideration is the length of lease to suit the business plan and prospects for growth. The landlord will push to maximise the lease period, but this may not build in adequate flexibility for the tenant and changing economic circumstances.

repair and condition. Often, this will mean in better condition than at the commencement of the tenancy and could include replacement of service installations which no longer meet statutory or economic standards!

Beware the words, ‘good condition,’ or ‘to put and keep in good repair and condition.’ Such phrases will open a black hole of reinstatement parameters and costs.

Even if the property appears to be in good order the bill at the end of the lease can be substantial for repairs and service installation maintenance and certification.

remedial work at the end of the lease term. The prospective tenant and the appointed surveyor should consider ageing and deterioration of the building fabric and installations, not just for the proposed lease term, but for potential extended occupation thereafter.

This example is an industrial unit, with cladding and detailing which appear well maintained at ground level. Peak above the eaves though, and bleached trim detail, roof sheet cut edge peel and blocked and oxidised gutters are revealed. The dilapidations cost was over £50,000 for just roof and gutters!

The schedule is a one chance opportunity to limit reinstatement and if there are items likely to deteriorate beyond ‘condition at the commencement of the term,’ rendering full repair or replacement appropriate, addressing the defect within the ‘Heads of Terms for Lease’ is essential.

A schedule of condition can limit reinstatement repair and decoration to the condition of the property at the commencement of the lease.

The condition of a property is recorded in report format, cross referenced to photographs and annexed to the lease repair covenant.

Drake Howard Property is qualified and experienced to provide advice and services in all areas of commercial property letting and acquisition referred to. From preliminary inspection to negotiation, survey to schedule of condition and, agreement of terms to checking the lease is appropriate to the property and client.

The lease should include for the tenant to dispose of their interest, known as assignment, in case the business wishes to leave before the term expiry date. In addition to assignment, the lease may or may not include an ability for the tenant to sub-let the property, or parts of the property. To dispose of liabilities temporarily, or otherwise. Both provisions will be subject to conditions which could be restrictive.

Rent review mechanics, onerous service charges, reimbursement of the cost of landlord buildings insurance, break clause penalties and, rent deposit terms all come under the microscope of the surveyor for impact on cash flow, if not challenged. However, there is no doubt the greatest risk lies in the lease repair and reinstatement clauses.

Tenants are likely to be responsible for repair and maintenance of the property and to return it to the landlord on lease expiry in good

All the same, a schedule of condition is no guarantee of avoiding expensive dilapidation

Commercial Property Coming to Market Warwick, Warehouse

Earlsdon, Warehouse

5,527 sq. ft.

3,610 sq. ft.

Middlemarch, Investment

£1.85m www.cw-chamber.co.uk

19

Profile: Nick Barton A cool head is always a key attribute for a leader.

But when you oversee an airport that is home to 100 businesses, thousands of staff and 12 million customers a year – and you are facing the existential threat of the Covid-19 outbreak – it becomes an essential trait.

Fortunately for Birmingham Airport, just over a year before Coronavirus hit, it hired a CEO who has an unusual appetite for taking risks but who can stay completely calm when pressure comes along.

When Nick Barton took on the role at the start of 2019, it was with a brief to deliver major growth plans by 2033.

But within 14 months, he was calling upon all of the experience from early in his career in property and infrastructure development that saw him in charge of huge budgets and high stakes just to help the airport survive.

“I was in infrastructure development for 17 years and what it gave me was the ability to handle big risk at a very young age,” said Barton. “You have an awful lot of control over what you are doing and from a young age you are taking big decisions which, for you, are terrifying because you’ve never done it before but you are surrounded by people who are used to it and, therefore, perfect role models.

“There are large amounts of money at stake and it’s being entrusted to you not to lose it!

“It was a sobering feature of my earlier career but it’s become a very useful part of my character to do this job.

When Covid struck, I’d come from a world of risk taking and I had seen how people had dealt with that. It was the ability to not panic, keep the heart rate steady and the blood pressure down which was a product of that training.

“One of the management assessments carried out on me found that I have a uniquely high appetite for risk and an incredibly low level of fear. The report said that’s very unusual for someone in my position to carry those two together.

“It’s a product of my background where I’ve seen good and bad consequences to risk taking and to be able to manage it. It’s an unintended but coincidental benefit for doing this job. There is no panic here and people can trust that and follow that way of working.”

Barton, who joined Birmingham from Luton Airport with a remit to grow passenger numbers to 18 million by 2033, can recall each date in the build-up to the first Covid lockdown but also the feelings it brought with it.

“We were going into an environment that none of us in this industry had ever had to navigate and had to try to work out the best things to do, which was a difficult ask,” he said.

Airport growth plans on track CEO NICK BARTON explains how Covid won’t detract from ambitious plans for Birmingham Airport.

20

“You can’t go to a book in the bookcase and say that’s how you deal with this situation. The threats were potentially catastrophic and the issues were unique. It stripped you naked of all of the experience you’d had before.

“I’d run three airports before which was a great help but, equally, you are looking at things that are so variable and so dramatic in terms of the impact on our business that you are dealing with something that no-one has faced for generations, if ever.

“We had to stick to the basics. We had to look at what we were doing as a business and what were the issues. Survival was everything. Cashflow was critical as it always is in business. Did we know what our business was going to look like? No. But did we ever lose confidence that we would recover? Absolutely not, no.

“We had very good evidence that we could recover from world events – be that war, Sars, volcanic eruptions, or terrorism. They have all impacted aviation over the years and we’ve always seen the industry recover and recover well.

“As a guide to the future that was one of the core, defining pieces of clarity that we had. We could build our strategy around that.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Profile: Nick Barton “If you accept that, you’ve got hope and then you’ve got a purpose and you could build everything else around that, which is what we did.”

Despite passenger flights grinding to a halt, Barton was unwavering in his opinion that Birmingham Airport would remain open.

“I refused to close,” he said. “As a point of principle, this airport wasn’t going to close. Not just because I would have seen it as a massive defeat but we still would have a reason to function even when our passengers couldn’t fly.

We had medical flights, military flights, police operations.

All of these things that are part of civic society that we have a role to play in.

“There were also cargo flights bringing in materials from overseas and we had to remain open for all of that.

“Ultimately, we had to believe there was a future for the business and we set our stall around that.”

Having arrived with a brief to grow passengers by 50 per cent, the financial year from April 2020 to March 2021 saw numbers drop by 90 per cent.

“We’d gone into Covid at 12.4 million passengers,” said Barton. “The drop off was catastrophic.”

The world started to reopen but air travel was hit with a number of restrictions that made it impossible to operate with any kind of normality and it wasn’t until February 2022 that passenger travel started to recover in a meaningful way.

By then, it meant another 12 months had been virtually written off but the current financial year should prove that Barton’s faith in his industry and his airport was correct.

“Our next end of year will be this April and we are doing okay,” he said. “We are tracking at around 83 per cent recovery compared to pre-Covid levels. It’s still 17 per cent short of what we are used to.

“In terms of looking at the next financial year, we are looking to deliver more passengers than we did preCovid. So, the recovery will have taken three years, which is faster than most people thought possible.”

So, now, and only now, has Barton had the opportunity to really get his teeth into the project he initially signed up to – but he hasn’t allowed Covid to move the goalposts.

“We haven’t moved the growth targets despite Covid taking two years of our history out,” he said. “We’re still sticking to the 18 million passengers by 2033 target and all the evidence tells us that this is a perfectly credible plan to have.

“The growth for passenger traffic here is very resilient as we’ve seen in the current financial year and the added benefit which is coming our way is HS2, which is significant. There is also the possibility for people to travel more, generally, because they had so long without being able to and realised what they were missing.

“The rebound hasn’t been a spike, it has been going up and up. It’s not just leisure travel which is part of the driver, it’s all the categories – visiting friends and relatives and business travel have also bounced back.

“Many were forecasting the demise of business travel but the reality is it has come back.”

Growth comes at a price and it means eye-watering investment in order to make Birmingham Airport fit for the future.

“We will be spending £100,000 every working day for the next ten years,” said Barton. “It’s an awful lot of capital that goes into this airport to make it what it will be and there’s a raft of areas of investment. We need to grow capacity – not on the runway. It’s a great runway for international travel so we don’t have to worry about that.

“It will be around aircraft parking and the infrastructure of the building. We will be working the building quite hard so the infrastructure has to be replaced with high quality kit and that requires a lot of capital investment.

“We’ve also got the next generation security scheme upgrade work taking place on site. That’s a £40 million investment which will result in a new standard of security machine from June 2024 that will allow all liquids and

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

In terms of looking at the next financial year, ❛❛ we are looking to deliver more passengers than we did pre-Covid. So, the recovery will have taken three years, which is faster than most people thought possible.

❜❜

laptops to remain in hand luggage changing the 18-yearold rule that has been the bane of passengers’ lives.

“Zero-emission air travel is a dream becoming a reality before our eyes. It is incredibly exciting,” said Barton.

“We have to add to customer experience more broadly.

The terminal layout is very good but we also want to improve the quality and fabric of the building.”

And, alongside all of that, Barton’s role is to ensure that Birmingham Airport remains a positive contributor to the region as an employer, as a driver of economic growth and as a gateway for businesses to reach its overseas markets.

Running parallel with the airport’s plans for growth is its commitment to achieve net zero – again by 2033 and again with no excuse that Covid should delay that.

“In November 2019, we announced that we would become net zero by 2033,” said Barton. “At the time, many were still saying 2050 so we were well ahead of consensus. I took a view that to set 2050 made it someone else’s problem because it’s beyond the career span of most of us – certainly me.

“I thought if you set the challenge of 2033 and be honest that you don’t know exactly how you’ll get there, take the risk and go for it. We knew how to do 60 per cent of it but we were not sure of the other 40 per cent but we will work it out.

“We got a great response from stakeholders but also from staff too.

“The industry is the poster child for these issues, sometimes unfairly, but it is up to us to protect our future so we laid out this clear strategy. Covid has, once again, been a distraction from that but we’ve kept 2033 as the target.

“We are still optimistic we can achieve it. We are dealing with the 60 per cent that we know we can do and the pace of change in technology means I am confident that we will solve the other 40 per cent.

“There is so much going on, particularly in the hydrogen world.”

In February, Birmingham Airport announced a longterm partnership with Zero-Avia, leaders in developing zero-emission, hydrogen-powered aircraft. A hydrogen fuel cell drives an electric engine which propels the plane. The only biproduct is water. ZeroAvia recently carried out successful test flights with a 19-seater aircraft at its base at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire. Among the aims of the Birmingham partnership is zero-emission passenger flights - as early as 2025.

“The airport is symbiotic with the community,” he said.

“You can have the best designed airport in the world but if you don’t have a catchment, you are not going to function. You have to recognise the negative externalities of an airport.

“We have a perimeter fence but our impact goes beyond that and we have to manage it and be realistic.

We take our responsibility seriously and the structure of the ownership of this airport is unique and one of our strengths is that 49 per cent of the airport is owned by the seven districts of this region.

“That means that, while we have some negative external effects, it is a way for benefits of the airport being fed back to the people who are affected by it. It’s not a win-lose relationship with communities, it’s a winwin because the community can derive economic benefits and financial returns and that’s an important mitigation.”

It is all of that complexity that mean Barton bounds out of bed every day to meet each new challenge head on.

“The job here is one of genuine enjoyment and fascination and I never get any sense of dread when the alarm goes off and I’ve got to come to work,” he said.

“I commute from Buckinghamshire every day and when my alarm goes off at 5am I hop out of bed. Very often, I beat the alarm which is always a positive sign.

“In the summer when security is at its most pressured because there is a higher volume of people, my team and I will come in and do 3am shifts to help out.

That means a 1.15am alarm and I beat that too because you can’t miss it!

“It’s so worthwhile that it’s never a challenge for me to come to work. The day it is I would have to stop doing it.”

About Nick Barton Married: To Sarah for 29 years Hobbies: Skiing and fell-walking Children: Three daughters Favourite Book: Stalingrad by Antony Beevor Favourite Film: A Few Good Men Last Holiday: Courchevel 1850, France (skiing) Gadget: Leatherman Wave

21

Environment

Dean Weldon (Deeley Group) outside the Deeley Group headquarters.

Midlands developer partners with a leading electric vehicle specialist in its push to be net zero by 2036 Deeley Group, which is headquartered in Coventry, has partnered with Octopus Electric Vehicles on a new cost-effective electric vehicle leasing scheme.

Six members of staff have already signed up to the salary sacrifice scheme and three cars are out on the roads.

The initiative has also seen Deeley Group double the number of electric vehicle charging points at its George House headquarters with the office now boasting eight separate charging stations.

Under the scheme, staff receive a charger to be installed at home, insurance, maintenance costs, breakdown cover, tyres and tax – everything they need to take to the road.

From May 2021 to April 2022, the Deeley Group saw 10.51 tonnes of CO2 produced per £1 million spent. The business was designated carbon neutral for the reporting period May 2020 to April 2021.

The business is continuing to invest in infrastructure at its head office as it targets being fully net zero carbon by 2036.

Eleanor Deeley, Joint Managing Director of the Deeley Group, said: “As we continue to press on towards being a net zero business by 2036, we decided it was important to make it as easy as possible for our staff to reduce their personal carbon footprints.

Logistics specialist Rhenus unveils new biodiversity initiatives at major new development in Nuneaton Leading logistics specialist Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, developer Baytree Logistics Developments and architects Chetwoods are championing sustainability in logistics building development. The companies have unveiled new plans to encourage biodiversity at their pioneering new development at Baytree, Nuneaton.

The development will be referred to as the ‘Rhenus Campus’ and feature two warehouses, totalling one million square feet – the equivalent of 36 football pitches.

To encourage biodiversity and enhance existing woodland, Rhenus and Baytree are planting between 700 and 900 native and orchard trees on site, which have been nursery grown, as well as native hedgerows and ornamental and native shrubs.

Upon completion, the ‘Rhenus Campus’ will be certified as “BREEAM Outstanding” and will be designed with reference to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Framework Definition for Net Zero Carbon Buildings, with reductions to embodied carbon made throughout the design and construction phases.

There are industry-leading plans for the project to achieve net zero carbon status as defined by the UKGBC Framework Definition, not only through the design and construction phases, but also in operation. The focus of the project team is to achieve net zero carbon in operation, and if possible, without the need for offsetting residual carbon.

Solar panels and air source heat pumps will be installed and the car park will be fitted with electric car charging points, to ensure operations are running on renewable energy wherever possible.

Employees will be able to enjoy spending time planting in on site allotments, with a communal shed and composting bays, playing on two sports pitches and exercising on a walking/ cycling trail and outdoor gym. Rhenus will provide a number of paths and accessible seating areas, surrounded by sensory planting.

The site will also be home to a pond, a wildflower grassland and a wildflower meadow, as well as resources for local wildlife. Rhenus and Baytree are currently working with a local timber mill to recycle felled trees.

Kerry Delaney, Regional Managing Director North-West Europe at Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, said: “We are extremely committed to supporting

“With every day that passes we’re seeing more people wake up to the benefits of switching to an EV - they’re not just the car of the future, they’re what people want now. We look forward to working with Deeley Group to help contribute to the transition to zero emission cars.”

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For more information about Rhenus, visit https://www.rhenus.group/

The duo says that although sustainability has been on their agenda for many years, the next step was to partner with Greengage to drive even more initiatives forward, particularly from the event delivery perspective.

“The initial interest for the salary sacrifice scheme has been strong and a number of other staff are already exploring the possibility of taking up the scheme.

Natalia Peralta Silverstone, Head of Propositions at Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “Our EV salary sacrifice scheme provides a super easy way for businesses to lower their emissions, while providing their staff with a brilliant benefit - it’s a win, win.

Gilles Alvarenga, Thrive Associate at Chetwoods, said: “Maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of a site should be a primary consideration for everyone operating in the Built Environment. This scheme by Baytree Logistics Properties for Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK includes extensive green spaces with new hedgerows, a pond wildlife area, and more. These features will ensure the site not only works for the people that inhabit it, but the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms who also call it home.”

Eco-friendly event experts obtain ECOsmart agency award

“By partnering with Octopus Electric Vehicles, we are able to provide a costeffective and easier means to facilitate our staff to go electric.

“The timescales of our net zero target are ambitious but we are prepared to meet them. To achieve this it is important we make changes across our business, from our headquarters in Coventry to our active sites across the country.”

biodiversity at Rhenus, and are thrilled to be at the forefront of sustainable logistics. Our ‘Rhenus Campus’ will consist of so much more than just warehouses, setting us apart from other third-party logistics suppliers, and help our clients to meet their own net zero goals.”

An event agency with over 30 years’ experience is boosting its already distinctive eco plans even further by partnering with sustainability specialists Greengage and obtaining ECOsmart status.

Corporate event specialists Eventurous say there have been some big changes in the industry over the years, and being eco-conscious is now more important than ever.

Company owners - Joe and Joanna Garland - started their sustainability journey in 2007 and since then have saved enough carbon emissions to equate to 8,644 trees being planted.

From beekeeping on site to generating almost all of their own electricity through solar panels, and planting over 11,000 trees and a wildflower meadow, the couple have executed some remarkable sustainability initiatives at their Leicestershire premises.

Andrew Perolls, CEO at Greengage says: “Eventurous already has some great initiatives in place, which demonstrate that sustainability is a priority in their business. Their location and the work they are doing gives them a real advantage in the market from an event agency perspective. We are excited to support them further with their plans.”

Joe said: “Living in a rural community, the environment has always been a focus for us. We started our sustainability journey back in 2007 and it gives us great pleasure to see many others in the industry now doing the same. Being in this together, as a community of event professionals, sharing knowledge is vital in making a difference.”

Joanna added: “We walk the walk when it comes to sustainability and are proud to have a team of mindful people who care about the environment. Being awarded ECOsmart certification has given us the drive to push on to the next stage of our sustainability roadmap. 2023 will see the launch of our carbon calculator service, helping clients measure and reduce the carbon footprint of their corporate event and new event formats that allow any business, big or small, to give back to the environment and the community.”

For more information about Eventurous visit www.eventurous.co.uk

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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hether it is low and no alcohol drinks, restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar foods or targeted nutrition you may not know where to look for support with labelling your food products (or your shopping) but while you are waiting for miracle weight loss drugs to be widely available and what law changes might mean for you, we can support you.

Product information on packaging or advertising encompasses not only ingredients, instructions for use and of course allergens, it may also make claims relating to origin or provenance or how the product is the best you can eat!

Regulation Support for your Product

Over the coming years legislation relating to food and trading law in the UK is going to change. It is almost certainly likely to diverge from European requirements and Northern Ireland aside it may even evolve differently across Wales, Scotland, and England. There are likely to be more pieces of information required on packaging – ingredients on wine? Animal welfare information?

Packaging and recycling information? How is cell cultured meat going to be described?

Front of pack nutrition labels?

All the information on products must be presented correctly and must be accurate.

Clavis are perfectly positioned to support you through this. For over 30 years Pete has worked in trading law as regulatory support to grocery retailers and manufacturers, protecting brands and their consumers.

Pete Martin LLM DTS CTSI

petemartin@clavis-support.co.uk • 07555 646950 • www.clavis-support.co.uk C L AV I S F O O D & T R A D I N G L AW S U P P O RT - R E G U L AT I O N S U P P O RT F O R YO U R P R O D U CT www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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News

Springing back in activity Maxival Recruitment Consultancy T/A Maxival Centre for Skills Development is springing back into activity after suffering a major setback with the passing of its co-founder Gabriel.

Florence Gwatirisa has made a pledge to get back the business into motion.

Maxival Centre for Skills Development held its first breakfast event recently, where they invited the registered managers of the domiciliary and supported living companies whose staff they train. Florence used the platform to carry out a quality review of the service offered by Maxival Centre for Skills Development. The event highlighted: •

Preparing staff to work in the UK – incorporating the British Values.

•

Quality Assurance and the importance of feedback.

•

Competency assessments and observations.

•

Professional reports.

Training staff is the key to attaining outstanding performance results.

Organisations that value training are those that are rated outstanding. Maxival Centre for Skills Development is there to support those who aim to achieve beyond the average.

There are plans to expand, equip and make the Maxival training room accessible for carers, coordinators, supervisors and managers anytime. The broader vision is to set up an innovative venture where Maxival Mobile Training will bring training closer to where carers and support workers work.

Carers struggle to find time to attend full day training, so this could be split into two-tothree-hour sessions offered where staff can attend in between their calls. A fully equipped training centre to complete online training is in the pipeline. Collaborative partnerships are under way to build this novel training centre in the West Midlands.

The opening of sponsorship for international workers is a great opportunity for the care industry, but it needs to be done without compromising the trust that the Home Office has in the employers. Rumbidzai, from Tulia, highlighted the challenges that employers and employees are facing with the newly introduced Certificate of Sponsorship for international healthcare workers.

CTT Group - Reflecting on 20 Years of Innovation Since the inception of CTT Group in 2003, innovation has been the driving force.

When founder members Bob Massey and Clive Ponder decided to pool their collective expertise, they couldn't have imagined the impact their vision to improve estate planning and financial services would have on the industry.

At the time, Clive was working for a company taking instructions for wills and associated documents, and Bob was working as an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA).

But having seen a demand from clients for a combined service that offers both financial and estate planning advice, the two innovators (and rugby chums) teamed up.

In 2003, Countrywide Legal Services was born, a legal company offering clients advice in all aspects of estate planning and asset

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In 2020, the company relocated from Kenilworth to Gables House in Royal Leamington Spa, an Edwardian manor house in the heart of Warwickshire.

Countrywide: CTT Group was established as a separate business-to-business support mechanism.

In-house training is central to CTT Group’s offering. Its comprehensive foundation courses in estate planning and will writing are open to anyone while its advanced courses help member advisors specialise and expand services.

In 2022, CTT Group launched its Legacy software, an easy-to-use digital platform including document management and drafting resources. Legacy’s various software packages are customisable.

The client portal facility allows for secure messaging between client and advisor as well as the safe transfer of sensitive documents.

CTT’s chatbot facility is preloaded with over 900 commonly asked questions and expert answers. For new or complex questions, there is a live chat feature.

CTT are marking their 20th anniversary with six months of celebrations, culminating in beingthe headline sponsor of The British Wills & Probate Awards in October. They are launching a new software platform mid-2023.

Born to Perform A popular Britain’s Got Talent dance troupe performed at a major Midlands event which helps professionals and families to support children and young adults with disabilities or additional needs.

Kidz to Adultz Middle, which took place at Coventry Building Society Arena on March 16, featured a performance from Northamptonshire-based inclusive and accessible dance troupe Born to Perform.

The dance troupe received a Golden Buzzer from David Walliams in last year’s series of the hugely popular ITV talent show and they performed the same dance on two occasions during the show, whilst also running an inclusive dance workshop for visitors.

Kidz to Adultz Middle is dedicated to professionals, parents, carers and families supporting children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs.

It was the 13th time the show was hosted at Coventry Building Society Arena and was expected to attract more than 120 exhibitors and over 1,500 visitors. The exhibitors showcased equipment and services for children and young people, and visitors had the chance to test equipment and receive

information about funding, mobility products, seating, beds, communication, accessible vehicles, legal matters and more.

A comprehensive free programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited seminars was also held alongside the show, with topics including getting the right school placement for a young person, robotic rehabilitation training in a secondary school, using adaptations to reduce long term costs, toilet training and helping young people transition to adult services.

Kidz to Adultz Middle is organised by charity Disabled Living.

Carmel Hourigan, senior manager of the Kidz to Adultz team at Disabled Living, said: “There are thousands of young children with disabilities and additional needs across the Midlands, and the support offer is ever evolving.

“Born to Perform wowed the country last year with their inspiring performance on Britain’s Got Talent so we were looking forward to watching their performances on the day.

“It’s fantastic to return to Coventry Building Society Arena for the thirteenth time.

We’ve seen consistent growth at the venue since launching here in 2009.”

Kidz to Adultz Middle continues to grow and expand at Coventry Building Society Arena, with the first show in 2009 attracting around 70 exhibitors, growing from 2,000 square metres to 4,000 square metres.

Paul Michael, commercial director at Coventry Building Society Arena, added: “Our dedicated team has worked closely with Kidz to Adultz for over a decade to facilitate the continued growth and development of the show.

“The event attracts visitors from all over the Midlands and further afield, and we’re proud to host an exhibition which provides such a vital service to people across the region.”

For more information, visit www.kidzexhibitions.co.uk/kidz-middle

The St Basils Woof Run is back, preventing youth homelessness one obstacle at a time

Cheryl, who represented the managers of Facilitate Care Services, explained how important it is for the international workforce to understand British Values. She said carers need to understand what it means to have your needs and preferences respected when you are being supported. Cheryl‘s input will be used by Maxival Centre on their latest module, Preparing to Work in the UK, for induction training.

A representative from the Integrated Care Board listened with concern to the challenges faced by small business owners in care. The managers requested to meet with the commissioners and local authorities’ personnel who oversee procurement to explain the procedure for getting onto the framework.

protection. The team at Abbotsfield House, Kenilworth, has expanded to 90 staff.

young and old. It’s a family friendly event, everyone is welcome, and your pooch will get a medal, along with a finish line picture as a souvenir of your fun day.

This year’s event will be held on Sunday 12th March, with money raised from dogs getting sponsored to do the event going back into the Solihull community to help more vulnerable young people in at risk of homelessness.

It’s back! St Basils Homelessness Charity have once again chosen Brueton Park, Solihull as the venue for their fun filled Doggy event. The ‘Woof Run’ is an entertaining obstacle course for our furry four legged friends, big and small,

It’s a great route around the park with challenges like the Canine Clamber, ZiggerZagger and the Paw-Paw - it’s definitely one not to be missed.

Barrie Hodge, head of fundraising for St Basils said, "We are very excited to be back in Solihull this Spring for our wonderful

doggy event in the beautiful surroundings of Brueton Park. We would like to thank Solihull Council for allowing us to use the park and of course all the lovely Solihull folk who have already signed up for the event. Unfortunately, with the cost-of-living crisis, the West Midlands has seen an increase in homelessness since last year, and Solihull is among the areas suffering.

All the money raised will make a huge difference to the services we run in the local area and help keep young vulnerable people safe and secure."

To register and book you space search online for ‘St Basils Woof Run’ Or email stafffundraising@stbasils.org.uk for more information.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

"Changing lives - Creating Futures" Launch of the groundbreaking and unique Warwickshire Supported Employment Service

Warwickshire County Council has launched a brand new and groundbreaking service to support young people and adults with learning disabilities and/or autism into employment.

The Warwickshire Supported Employment Service (WSES) is the latest evolution of the County Council’s longstanding commitment to Inclusive Employment. It aims to help over 400 people into paid and sustainable employment every year.

WSES is a comprehensive model that will take people through the whole journey into employment and give them the skills and confidence to be job-ready. The unique service offers bespoke support with each individual paired with a one-to-one journey guide for every step of their journey into work.

Together the individual and journey guide will shape a progressive support plan of engaging activities and workshops to meet specific needs. There will be access to Job Clubs and also a brand new Warwickshire Inclusive Jobs Portal which is completely bespoke and has been highly praised by the British Association of Supported Employment.

WSES will then continue to offer support when the individual

starts work and will also work with employers to develop and train workplace mentors so they have their own trained staff, going forward.

“The launch of the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service is a very exciting and gamechanging development for Inclusive Employment in our county.

The new service will work in close conjunction with WCC’s well-established Fair Chance Employer programme which works with education providers and employability groups to shape jobs and opportunities for those supported by the service.

“Warwickshire County Council has never been afraid to do things differently, if doing them differently means progress and improvement. That is what WSES is all about. It shapes our longstanding commitment to Supported Employment to further break down barriers and create inclusive opportunities for our communities in 2023 and years to come.

Delivered by a new team within Warwickshire Skills Hub, WSES is open to external referrals from Jobcentre Plus, Education and Adult Social Care agencies and employment partners.

WCC Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said:

“Our ambition is to inspire those we work with to gain and sustain employment, striving towards independence and developing essential skills along the way.”

To make a referral to the service please visit: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePageaspx?id=BqqwiCdZu0uok4nMJxOsgkRhla592PlMntZfX2le7ZhUNkZFR01NNEpUMENaVlJCR0tWQThIR0hDVC4u To contact the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service, please email supportedemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk

Targeted Help gains significant traction since going live Targeted Help provides a bespoke service to individuals, businesses, groups of people, organisations and students from both the UK and overseas when they are in need of support or advice.

The business launched in early February and has gained interest from a number of organisations, both nationally and internationally. Particular interest has been in Targeted Help, Spread the Work Campaign and its training course ‘Understanding Islam in the workplace’.

In the first month the company has managed to get 12 businesses to support the work they do, and this number is only expected to grow in coming months.

One of the missions is to support the elderly. For this reason, Targeted Help has a specific support network to reach out to the elderly providing not only support and care but specialist advice on health, wellbeing and general safety.

For more information please visit: www.targetedhelp.com

BtoB Events cycling from Border to Border for Tukey & Syria earthquake relief Business Owner Eugen Tudose, with the 2nd van in the growing fleet of mobile cleaning units

Car & van valeting business continues to shine The continued success of the newly established car valeting business, TDM Mobile Cleaning Ltd, have seen them experience rapid expansion in 2023.

TDM have seen a growth in both the domestic and business markets and recently joined the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to further promote its range of services to the region’s business community.

Contracts have been secured for weekly commercial car and van cleaning for local businesses and a new office cleaning contract was also secured at the start of 2023.

As part of the expansion, TDM has now added a second van to their fleet to keep up with growing demand from their customer base.

The services offered by TDM have also been extended and now includes a car & van cleaning service provided at your home or business, carpet and upholstery cleaning, office & commercial premises cleaning and external hardscape cleaning.

Business owner Eugen puts the success down to the personal touch of providing a show room finish to your car or van – but with the convenience of the service offered at your home or at your work place.

The quality of TDM’s workmanship has been praised by his many customers which include local businesses as well as former World Boxing Champion, Chris Eubank, who trusts the valeting of his £300k Rolls-Royce to TDM.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

BtoB Events are cycling from Border to Border in aid of the ‘Action for Humanity’s Turkey and Syria Earthquake appeal.

BtoB Events is a Coventry based exhibition organiser company. We specialise in the West African market, and we are the proud owners of West Africa’s largest portfolio of trade exhibitions; West Africa Automotive Show, Food and Beverage West Africa, Beauty West Africa, Pharma West Africa and FACT ( Fashion, accessories, clothing and textiles) West Africa.

We also run the EBME Expo based right here in Coventry at the CBS Arena. The EBME Expo is the UK’s largest gathering of clinical and biomedical engineers.

When we first heard about the earthquakes, we were really shocked.

We have longstanding relationships

with partners, Governments and clients in Turkey (it is one of our top 3 trading partners globally.

Furthermore, one of our group exhibition managers, Kabeer Baber, has Turkish heritage. Based on these close ties to Turkey it really did feel close to home and we therefore felt compelled to do something to show our support and help those who desperately need it.

An email was sent requesting ideas and the team decided on a bike ride.

We were kindly donated an exercise bike from Natalie at OneFitMama (a business in Coventry offering exercise classes to new mothers), and committed to cycling the distance from the UK border to the Turkey/Syria border. We settled on the momentous task of 3948km and have been cycling every day since in attempt to raise as much as possible for the cause. Our aim is £5000.

Steven Rich, Exhibition Sales Manager ‘We’ve all been working really hard and supporting each other on the bike, after hearing about the further earthquake, we are doing as much as we possibly can and are asking for any donation to this necessary cause”.

We’ve currently cycled across the channel, all of France and Luxemburg and we are now approaching the east coast of Germany (Feb 22nd 2023) Please donate at www.justgiving.com/BtoB-Events

Employment Legislation –

What’s New for 2023 For business owners in Coventry and Warwickshire, despite some pressures, 2023 is beginning to look more positive with inflation rates set to fall and interest rates predicted to stabilise.

To help you plan for the upcoming year and stay ahead of legislation, our Employment Law Solicitors here at Askews Legal LLP, have outlined a brief summary of upcoming employment legislation that businesses should be aware of.

Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2022-23 Even if your business does not provide essential services, chances are that when such services go on strike, it will have a negative effect on your ability to operate.

The Carer’s Leave Bill 2022-23 Under the Carer’s Leave Bill 2022-23, from day one of their employment, employees responsible for dependants will have the statutory right to take up to one week’s unpaid leave (or up to a week used flexibly) to provide or arrange care.

The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill If passed, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill will extend the right to be reassigned during pregnancy (including miscarriage), maternity, and family leave for a further six months after their initial period of leave has ended.

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill Under this Bill, currently passing through the Report stage in the House of Commons, employers would have an extended statutory duty to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees and workers.

Flexible Working Bill Following a consultation by BEIS, the Government is proposing to make changes to flexible working laws. It is likely that the right to request flexible working will become a day one right.

The possible 2023 legislative changes will have a significant impact on employers in certain market sectors. Although there is no guarantee that any of the above Bills will receive Royal Assent in the next 12 months, it may be wise to review your employment policies and procedures to ensure you are prepared well in advance should your duties and responsibilities as an employer change.

To find out more about our services, including Ask HR and HR Genie, please email enquiries@askewslegal.co Please note that this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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News No escaping the success of Leamington business after support A ground-breaking Leamington Spa venue is aiming to expand in 2023 and build on its 'number one' status.

Gary Holtom, Business Development Expert at Pink Connect

Businesses in the Pink after making Chamber connection The benefits of attending a business networking event were directly felt by two companies from different regions that struck up a new relationship.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce recently linked up with its East Midlands counterpart for a joint event at the Holiday Inn in Coventry.

A conversation between representatives from Shipston-on-Stour based Pink Connect and Equinox Consulting Ltd, that is headquartered in Silverstone, led to a connection being made – and to the companies working together.

Hundreds of five-star Trip Advisor reviews have seen Experimental Escape become the Warwickshire town's top result for most fun things to do, while Google also has the Warwick Street attraction at the top of its rankings too.

Five years after two friends opened Leamington Spa’s first escape room experience, plans are now afoot to develop upon its puzzle-solving, logical thinking and teamwork-testing games after gaining crucial support from the Project Warwickshire Business Support Scheme delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council.

"We're pleased and proud to be the number one most fun thing to do in Leamington Spa," said Experimental Escape general manager Charlie Little.

"When we started out five years ago, we were the only escape rooms in the town, but two more opened two months later.

"Our award-winning escape games are designed and built by us, which means we learn to adapt to our customers’ needs to make the experience the best it can be."

Visitors to Experimental Escape are transported into a room with a mysterious scenario, where they have only 60 minutes to achieve the objective and escape.

“We got talking, I explained the services we provide and it was just what they needed. We did one journey down to Silverstone and everything else from there was done remotely.

“We installed Microsoft 365 on laptops for all the staff members who worked from home and installed firewall and a Unified Threat Management called Pink Sentinel, which enables them all to work remotely and a safe and secure way.”

Pink Connect was established in 2002 by James and Gisela Pink and serves thousands of small and medium business customers across the UK. “Pink Connect is a one-stop shop for communications and support,” Gary added.

“We’re a family-run business and employ our own engineers, so they can develop connections with clients, there’s no third-party element involved.

“We also pride ourselves on our support levels and make sure we answer calls quickly.”

Dawn Coupe, managing director of Equinox Consulting Ltd said: “We've been in business about six years and things are ramping up a bit now. We've needed to tighten up our data security and I was on the look-out for several different types of companies.

“My assistant came back from the networking event and told me about Pink Connect and we took it from there. I was really impressed with the turnaround of their work and it shows the power of networking with the Chamber.”

Hazel Pilling, membership and international trade manager at the Chamber, said: “It’s great to see our valued Business Influence Partner Pink Connect working with Equinox Consulting and doing profitable business together.

“Access to opportunities for making meaningful connections between businesses is a key element of being a member of the Chamber and, as well as giving businesses the opportunity to meet firms on the same patch, we organise events with neighbouring Chambers to bring even more added value to our members.”

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At the forefront of this is Charlie’s participation in Project Warwickshire, which was set up by Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has been delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Charlie Little (left) with Russell Grant

better knowledge than I do and isn’t biased and will tell you if something isn’t looking good or where you can improve.”

“The Project Warwickshire Business Support Scheme has really helped us to develop our marketing strategies and really focus on what we do best and the areas we need to improve on," said Charlie.

Russell added: “Charlie and the Experimental Escape team are doing a fantastic job building their business. After weathering the pandemic, they are now making great strides and took on board our advice, including a revamp of their website which gives an excellent representation of the experience customers get at their venue.

“They have given us access to workshops covering a wide range of topics, and also information of available funding for future projects.”

“They’ve got an excellent offer for full of creativity and innovation and it will continue to go from strength to strength. I’m really pleased that we could help.”

In the coming months, Experimental Escape has targeted the expansion and creation of more games as well developing more games to test the teams’ creative and technical abilities.

Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place for Warwickshire County Council, said: "Experimental Escape is a great success story and a very welcome dimension to our incredibly vibrant and creative leisure sector in Warwickshire.

I am delighted that the expert support from Project Warwickshire has enabled the business to think clearly about the big picture and put together a solid strategy for further growth."

He attended three one-on-one sessions with Chamber Business Advisor Russell Grant.

"I'd recommend the support to other businesses," Charlie added. "It’s like having an external person auditing your business and your approach to promotion. It’s good practice to assess what we’re doing right and wrong and having a mentor who has

CWRT loans £300,000 to small businesses to help them go green

Since then, Pink Connect has poured its expertise into Equinox Consulting Ltd, who provide resources to assist with transformation of software.

“It was great to strike up a relationship and it goes to show how important these kind of networking events are, you never know what can come of it and we’re looking to do more of them moving forward,” said Gary Holtom, Business Development Expert at Pink Connect.

After enjoying a strong Christmas period of trading as customers returned to normal festive period pursuits, following the disruptive impact of the global pandemic, the business is now pushing ahead with plans for the future.

one of the oldest businesses locally, used the fund as part of their plan to go greener, by purchasing several electric boats to move away from petrol.

Loans from a specialist finance provider in Coventry and Warwickshire are helping businesses to go green and win new work.

Local finance provider Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) has lent nearly £300,000 to small businesses to help them invest in environmentally-friendly products and services.

CWRT delivers the innovative Duplex Investment Fund, which is a combination of a loan and grant, on behalf of Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Midlands Engine.

Avon Boating, a popular tourist attraction in Stratford-upon-Avon and

Gerard Walmsley, of Avon Boating, said: “Without the Duplex funding, the changeover would have occurred over three-to-five years. This would have been a bit of an operational nightmare as we would have essentially had to have run two products at the same time for our customers, and we would not have benefited from the reduced emissions and running costs as soon as we have.”

The British Business Bank has also had an important role to play in the local green businesses’ growth. CWRT has been accredited by the organisation to deliver the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS).

The scheme supported RHI Energies Group Limited who faced difficulty during the pandemic and the

Leamington firm has now secured its first new contract and has several others in the pipeline.

jobs early in 2023 while providing their customers with clean, efficient and renewable energy.

CWRT also manages the Local Communities & Enterprise Fund (LCE), funded by Warwickshire County Council, which aims to help small businesses start up, as well as existing firms to grow.

“RHI Energies Group is a small company with great potential, they provide eco-economical heating and cooling solutions which is a great alternative in economically challenging times. It is wonderful to see work coming its way post Covid-19.

Solarvision Lighting Technologies, based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, specialises in providing off-grid solar lighting, a positive move for the region becoming more sustainable. They received support from the LCE fund, which assisted with fulfilling new orders, whilst creating new jobs and raising their brand awareness.

Sheridan Sulskis, CEO at CWRT, said: “Avon Boating is Stratford’s oldest business but its modernisation into electric boats shows it is constantly looking to the future while Solarvision Lighting Technologies is creating four

“But like so many other businesses, the pandemic had a drastic effect upon its trading and it is wonderful to see work coming its way again because climate change globally is having a significant impact on the construction industry.

“There is also a positive knock-on effect for these businesses because the loans have helped to secure new contracts which will boost Coventry and Warwickshire’s economy.”

For further information about CWRT, visit www.cwrt.uk.com

Shakespeare Martineau corporate team supports £3.4 billion in deals The corporate and banking teams at law firm Shakespeare Martineau supported deals valued at almost £3.4 billion during 2022 – including £1.4 billion in the West Midlands.

Completing an average of seven deals a week, Shakespeare Martineau’s national team supported more than £400 million worth of deals across technology and healthcare alone, and more than £300 million in the energy and renewables space.

Experts in mergers and acquisitions, fast growth businesses, start-ups, healthcare and medtech, energy and real estate finance, as well as Islamic finance, the average deal size was £10 million.

Outside of nearly £1 billion worth of real estate financing, the firm’s single largest deal came in at £250 million for an undisclosed manufacturer, with

deals spanning a variety of sectors and regions across the UK.

opportunities for ambitious businesses to grow their portfolios.”

Duncan James, head of corporate at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “The calendar year of 2022 was, on the whole, really strong for our corporate team. Despite various headwinds – increase in interest rates, the value of assets being tested more and concern around some forecasts – M&A activity did not tail off in the second half of the year as we had thought, and the pipeline has continued to be strong into the start of 2023.

Naomi Tudor, head of banking at Shakespeare Martineau, added: “2022 saw our banking team act on some large refinance transactions, a number of acquisitions in the healthcare and charity space, and the volume of property financing transactions remained strong.

“There is no doubt that debt funding has tightened up as some property prices have become uncertain, but there appears to still be a lot of cash in the system, with PE and corporates still looking at opportunities. We are cautiously optimistic that any impact on the general M&A market will not be severe this year. We still see a lot of

“While a number of the factors causing market volatility in 2022 look set to continue into 2023, early signs show there are some sectors bucking the trend, including technology, media and communications, renewables, FinTech, Biotech, oil and gas.

“Some of that volatility may well create debt finance opportunities as corporates look to refinance expensive debt facilities and regulatory changes in certain sectors – so watch this space for a year of different deals.”

Mohammed Saqub, head of Islamic finance at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “The real estate finance team continues to grow despite the economic downturn thanks largely to its client base of UK and overseas financial institutions – including Islamic finance institutions.

“Recent property finance transactions with an overseas listed REAT demonstrate on one hand the truly international nature of the practice and at the same time, servicing high street bank SME customers in the UK reaffirms the team’s commitment to a key driver of the UK economy.”

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Economy

Bounce Back Loans – will I be disqualified?

When the pandemic hit and trade dropped off a cliff, directors were often worried about how to survive day to day and pay the wages next week let alone how they might start to repay a loan in 12 months’ time.

Fast forward 2 + years…

With many companies opting to take one, two or all three of the 6 month payment holidays available to them under the bounce back loan scheme, time to repay the loan had arrived.

As a result of Covid-19’s impact on the economy, companies could borrow up to £50k, often received same day, with a few clicks of the mouse.

Most loans were, I’m sure, applied for correctly, used for their proper intended purpose and with every intention of being repaid.

Also factor in the following: • The ability to defer VAT for 12 months • The need to restock goods and gear up for trade coming back on line • Companies couldn’t be wound in the courts and so creditors weren’t pushing clients into liquidation We now have the perfect storm of companies with no cash and large amounts of debt (typically HMRC and bounce back loans) being pursued by creditors. Understandably our industry is busier.

Each formal insolvency of a company with a bounce back loan requires the

insolvency practitioner to consider the following which formed part of the loan criteria: • That the company was not a business in difficulty as at 31 December 2019 • The company was carrying on business as at 1 March 2020 • Was the correct amount applied for, i.e. no more than 25% of turnover or £50k, whichever was lower?

• Was the loan used for its intended purpose, i.e. to support the ongoing costs of business?

Where these criteria have not been met the Insolvency Service will consider whether the directors’ conduct warrants disqualification proceedings.

Common mistakes/misuses we see include: • Using the funds to purchase new personal assets • Transferring the lump sum to a personal bank account • Giving the money to a third party, such as a family member or friend • Funding a significant increase in directors’ salaries or dividends

Having read various press reports, the Insolvency Service appears to be seeing these facts as justification for disqualification, be those intentional or unintentional errors upon application and use of loans. For the Insolvency Service these appear to be low hanging fruit which are relatively easy to prove and action.

Disqualification terms can range between 2 and 15 years with custodial sentences being handed out in the very worst of fraudulent cases.

This is hot on the government’s agenda as there was so much government guaranteed debt issued and with so much of it being unpaid they are using the tools available to them to ensure that the directors who they see as a ‘danger to the public’ are prevented from causing further harm or losses to creditors.

Grasping the nettle now is often better than kicking the can down the road.

If you are concerned about your company or your client please speak with any of the management team at BRI Business Recovery and Insolvency on 02476 226839 or jrimmer@briuk.co.uk and talk to us in confidence, without obligation and free of charge.

The Nation’s Canal Charity launches biggest ever appeal for volunteers 1,000s of activities to choose: from lock keeping to wildlife conservation Thousands of people from across Coventry and Warwickshire are being encouraged to join the army of volunteers who work alongside the Canal & River Trust charity in its growing mission to protect and preserve the nation’s 2,000-mile historic canal network across England and Wales.

With volunteering by water proven to come with added wellbeing benefits for those taking part, the Trust is appealing for its biggest ever range of volunteer roles and activities - from the iconic lock keeper, through to numerous community, administrative and professional support, wildlife and heritage conservation opportunities that support the charity.

Over the coming months the charity will be hosting a series of volunteer welcome events across Warwickshire where people can find out about the variety of flexible roles and activities they can get involved in, find out how they can make a real difference to local communities, make great friends, and have fun.

Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, comments: “Still used and navigated by boats just as they were hundreds of years ago, today’s canals have also become vital places in our urban and rural communities providing crucially important habitat for endangered wildlife and vital places for people to experience nature.

With the nation’s canals used and enjoyed by more people than ever before, together with the constant threat

of climate change, these historic places need constant care to look after them.

We need the support of the community and conservation-minded people to help ensure that these precious places are handed onto future generations.”

Research in 2021 by the Trust shows that volunteering by water is good for you. The research found that people who volunteer by water for the Canal & River Trust report being happier, feeling more worthwhile and feeling less anxious than other volunteers or those who don’t volunteer at all. In a recent survey (2023) conducted on behalf the Trust, findings show that half of people surveyed said the reasons they get involved with volunteering are to give something back to their community (48%) and to meet new people and make new friends (31%). Mental wellbeing was another key reason volunteers said they get involved (30%).

Journalist and presenter, Ranvir Singh, is supporting the Canal & River Trust’s appeal having joined volunteers on the Grand Union Canal in London with a project to improve the canal for wildlife. Ranvir comments: “It’s great to consider volunteering for the Canal & River Trust for two reasons: Firstly, for yourself, because working by water makes you feel happier and reduces anxiety; it’s social – an opportunity to meet new people; if you don’t have your own green space, it’s somewhere where you can enjoy nature and the environment for free. The other reason is for the environment - we might feel a bit helpless about what we can do to make a difference, but this is a fantastic way to do your bit, whilst also having a positive impact on your local area.”

To view the range of volunteering opportunities available as well as series of volunteering welcome events which will take place across England and Wales, visit: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/welcome-sessions#WMwelcome

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BUSINESS

BROKEN DOWN? We’ll help you get up and running.

Whatever your circumstances, trust BRI to help you get your business back on track.

Our services:

From business recovery to CVAs, administration, debt advice and more, our highly-qualified insolvency experts are dedicated to giving you the best advice.

• Corporate Insolvency

• Restructuring • Personal Insolvency

Whatever your business financial concerns, talk to BRI – we can help you on your way to a healthier future.

For a FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and NO OBLIGATION consultation

Call now on 02476 226839 1160 Elliott Court, Herald Avenue, Coventry Business Park, Coventry. CV5 6UB

www.briuk.co.uk 29

News

Copy Café offers free copywriting reviews to celebrate 5th birthday the benefits of tapping into professional copywriting ideas and support.Kyla runs Copy Café alongside her strategic copywriting business, The Jarrah Consultancy. She offers consultants and small business owners easy access to a range of resources including weekly Top Tips and a quick-fire quiz, plus regular Q&A clinics, sounding board sessions and dedicated input time – all designed to boost copywriting confidence.

Over the past five years, Copy Café has helped hundreds of small business owners understand the importance of better business writing and develop their own copywriting skills.

Copy Café is celebrating its 5th birthday by offering free copy reviews and pointers to help Chamber members make words work harder for their business.

Launched in March 2018 by experienced freelance copywriter Kyla Skinner, Copy Café provides purposefully flexible and affordable membership options to encourage business owners to explore

Explaining why she launched the membership community, Kyla said: “Writing is one of the most important and valuable skills in the business world. Because if you can use words and language well, it becomes so much easier to differentiate and promote

your expertise. Confident copywriting is one of the cornerstones of successful marketing. But it’s not always quite as easy as it looks. Having a friendly professional copywriter in your back pocket can really help.

“We all need to be able to add allimportant personality and impact to our writing to stand out from the crowd, but I speak to business owners all the time who don’t know what to write, or how to write, or how to explain what they do in a way that simply sounds a bit less ‘underwhelming’ or less ‘wordy’.

I love working with small businesses and showing them the difference they can make when they ask for ideas and support to help them banish bland business writing.”

Explore more at copycafe.co.uk and claim a complimentary copy review via the Member Offers at cw-chamber.co.uk/marketplace

STORAGE/FULFILMENT & DISTRIBUTION (3PL) SERVICES Stratford Storage and Distribution (SSD) Ltd is a family business, based just outside of Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire headed up by Alison and Paul Bransby.

SSD will be celebrating their 7th birthday in April.

We have continued to go from strength to strength with developments that have seen significant new business contracts, site expansion and a strong professional and extremely energetic team.

SSD pride themselves on their professional and client focused approach, solution driven services and a positive outlook to challenges, that always delivers a quality outcome.

Our core function is to provide Storage/Fulfilment and Distribution services for entrepreneurs, sole traders, SME’s and larger global organisations.

We have the capacity to manage individual products to multiple brands for customers large and small.

We understand how to store product, pick and pack brands and how to deliver them in the most economical way.

Within our team we encourage a good all-round understanding of how the business runs so that we are all able to adapt to the growing needs of not only SSD but our customers too.

SSD are based in the centre of UK and have access to an amazing network of motorways enabling us to reach all destinations easily.

www.ssd.uk.net | 01789 777905 | office@ssd.uk.net 30

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Independent music shop launches full streaming service Chris O'Reilly, chief executive of Presto Music, said: “Presto Music is well known for its editorial curation and producing original content with artists, and we’ll be using the new app as a one-stop shop for all our content. Recently, there has been much press about how poorly streaming services remunerate artists, and the regularly used track play system certainly doesn’t favour classical music. We’re proud that we will be launching a new model which will pay artists what they deserve, through a pay-by-second process.

An independent Leamington music shop, which is the UK’s leading ecommerce site for classical and jazz records, has launched a full streaming service.

Presto Music opened in Leamington in 1986 and has grown into a significant online retailer with customers from across the globe.

The business, which has more than 50 employees, launched its first website in 2001 and 20 years later launched ‘My Library’, which gave customers digital access to any recordings bought from Presto Music from a computer or a mobile phone.

It proved a huge success with 2,000 users per month and with users listening to a million seconds of music a day.

Presto Music’s new streaming service will be using an innovative method to ensure composers and artists are fairly remunerated by moving away from the traditional pay-by-track system and instead using a pay-per-second model.

Classical pieces are typically much longer than pop and rock tracks, so classical artists are unfairly disadvantaged with the pay-by-track model, as a three-minute track pays the same as a 20 minute one.

Presto Music has worked closely with accountancy firm Burgis & Bullock, which also has offices in Leamington, for more than 20 years. The accountancy firm has recently advised on how to capitalise on investments made in third-party software development for the streaming service.

“We’ve received great support from Burgis & Bullock, from advice on tax credits, to exporting advice and preparation of statutory accounts. It’s been a great benefit for us to have a locally based voice who we trust as a sounding board.

“We are continuing our gradual growth and have now surpassed our 2019 numbers. It has been a great first 36 years and we hope with the launch of our new streaming service we can secure the future of the business for another three decades and more.”

Burgis & Bullock has offices in Leamington, Nuneaton, Stratford-uponAvon and Rugby.

Trevor Day, head of client services at Burgis & Bullock, said: “It’s fantastic to see a regionally based business thriving internationally and the introduction of this new service should further future-proof Presto Music for the years ahead.”

Capture life soaring to new heights at Heathrow Imagine my elation upon opening an email from the campaigns manager at the government cabinet office informing me of my success in the Great Exposure Photography Competition, which invited photographers nationwide to capture the spirit of the United Kingdom.

My image was chosen as one of the winning selections within the Joy category.

The stunning Holi festival in India has always fascinated me so when I saw the Colour Run, the next best thing, was happening just down the road from me I had to go along to soak in the atmosphere. Not being much of a runner meant I didn’t get many shots of the runners around the 5k course

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Exclusive Collection acquires Ansty Hall Exclusive Collection has bought Ansty Hall, a 62-bedroom hotel in North Warwickshire.

Purchased from Macdonald Hotels, Ansty Hall becomes the seventh countryhouse hotel in Exclusive Collection’s privately owned portfolio.

Sitting in eight acres of landscaped gardens and dating back to the 17th century, Ansty Hall complements Exclusive’s reputation for exceptional hospitality and helping people to take a breath from the everyday, in beautiful surroundings.

The hotel’s prominent location reflects demand from Exclusive’s meetings and event clients for a venue in central England. And with the M1, M40 and M6, Birmingham Airport and HS2 under 30 minutes away, the hotel is well positioned to attract the region’s prominent retail and motor industry head offices. The Grade II listed manor exudes an air of elegance and is a picture-perfect setting for weddings and private milestone events. For weekenders, the hotel is close to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, Royal Leamington Spa, as well as Birmingham’s vibrant scene.

In the first instance, the hotel will be operated in tandem with the other Exclusive Collection properties while a new brand identity is established, alongside the completion of any initial capital expenditure projects. B Corp values and training will form a core part of the induction to Exclusive Collection, its purpose and positioning.

and decided to head to the finish line as everyone gathered, with uplifting music blaring across the square as the crowd jumped to the beat. As the countdown ended, everyone threw their powder in the air and it just hung in the still, summer sky in an explosion of colour and the air was alive with joy.

Heathrow Airport in all five arrival and departure areas across all the terminals. It will be seen by millions of people over a period of three years, along with the exposure of being promoted across national, local and social media by the campaigns manager for the Prime Minister’s office.

I had to fight the urge to shout about this for months while the organisers arranged for the winning images to be displayed. Although I have won a few photo competitions in the past, there has never been anything on this scale.

So, if you are “airside” in Heathrow Airport and see my image, please do take a selfie or a video with it and share it on your social media and tag me in.

My image has been chosen to be placed on the bigger billboard spaces as well as the gallery spaces around

Neil Porter, Director of Photography, Capture Life. https://www.capturelife.uk/

Thanks for reading, now how can I possibly top this in 2023?

Danny Pecorelli, MD of Exclusive Collection, said: “It’s been a long-term ambition to extend our reach towards the Midlands and Ansty Hall fits nicely with the collection through its significant history and stunning setting. We will be embedding B Corp standards and our core values into the hotel and its people, gently bringing the hotel in line with the Exclusive Collection brand. While each of our properties has its own voice and history, they’re all united by our purpose to create happiness in amazing places, with a real emphasis on using our business as a force for good. We’re excited to bring this proposition to the Midlands.”

Henry Jackson, head of Hotel Agency at Knight Frank, said: “We are delighted to have concluded this confidential sale on behalf of Macdonald Hotels to Exclusive Collection and wish Danny and his team the very best with their future plans.”

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

A former country house in Warwickshire has been transformed into a modern office, conference and events space following the completion of a major £1.5 million project

UK Corporate Games Launch 2023 Games in Coventry & Warwickshire The UK Corporate Games was delighted to officially launch the 2023 Games in Coventry and Warwickshire, kicking off its 30th anniversary year in style.

VIP’s were welcomed to Warwick Conferences Scarman, University of Warwick, on Thursday 16th February. Business representatives from across the region came together to understand what the UK Corporate Games has to offer both organisations and their employees, and also how it will benefit the local economy. The launch was opened by the Director of Warwick Conferences, Paul Bartlett, who said the University of Warwick was excited to be hosting the Games for the third time, as well as endorsing the benefits of participating in regular exercise for physical and mental wellness.

The Interim Chief Executive of Coventry City Council, Barrie Hastie, expressed how sport plays a big part in the city and explained the positive impact of hosting major events, including the Corporate Games, Rugby League World Cup, International Children’s Games and Commonwealth Games.

Games Director, Doug White followed the warm welcome from Barrie with a short presentation on the UK Corporate Games and shared the excitement of having a spectacular host city for the 30th anniversary with world-class facilities and sporting venues.

Doug highlighted the long-standing company benefits and summarised wonderfully with a common expression used when referring to the Games – ‘Togetherness’.

It was fitting that this was followed up by a fantastic first-hand experience talk from Elizabeth Porter, Executive Assistant to Senior Vice President at Insight, providing an overview of their team’s experience and benefits from the 2022 Games in London. The presentation ended with an inspirational talk from Alison Oliver, CEO at the Youth Sport Trust, who shared the communal values that both UK Corporate Games and the Charity hold in regards to ‘inclusion through sport’ and the ‘importance of physical and mental wellbeing’.

It was fantastic to see up to 100 representatives all eager to find out how they can get their organisation involved. Companies already signed up for 2023 include Freeths, Insight, EY, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, IBM, Places for People, Safran, IBM, University of Warwick, Warwickshire County Council… and many more.

Works at Stockton House have created an impressive two-storey extension, which features a conference and events facility for up to 120 people, meeting rooms, office space for up to 15 people, and The Stampings – a cosy new café for staff.

The site is located on Rugby Road in rural Stockton, near to Rugby, and has undergone extensive improvement works from owners The Wigley Group, who have been based at the building since its conversion to offices in 2019.

The latest scheme has been described as the “final piece of the puzzle” which will help to open the building up for business meetings, events and conferences in a unique countryside setting.

It continues a period of strong recent growth for real estate, construction and development firm The Wigley Group, which includes work on a string of key construction projects and the recent expansion of its Board of Directors.

The Wigley Group hosted a launch event on Thursday, February 16, to celebrate the completed project, with the site officially opened by the Mayor of Southam Cllr Angela John.

James Davies, Chief Executive Officer at The Wigley Group, said: “We are really pleased to complete our transformation of this historic building, which has created something really special for staff, visitors, and users alike.

“Central to our plans was creating not only a place for business in an environment

The Wigley Group Chairman Robert Wigley, Mayor of Southam Cllr Angela John, and The Wigley Group Chief Executive Officer James Davies

people would be proud to call their place of work, but also a practical, modern and unique facility which can be used for a variety of functions – from meetings and conferences to events.

“I’m really pleased we have achieved just that, completing the final piece of the puzzle of Stockton House's transformation.”

Named The John Wigley Suite – in honour of The Wigley Group’s founder – the twostorey extension has created a 3,000 sq ft facility which includes bi-fold partitions, allowing it to be used flexibly including as one large events space.

Sitting on the ground-floor, the events space can cater for 80 people seated – or 120 standing – at full capacity, whilst on the first floor the scheme includes open-plan office space with meeting rooms.

The scheme has also created an extra 30 car park spaces, increasing total capacity to 64.

Established in 1964 just 10 miles away from Stockton House in Barby, The Wigley Group is an ISO 45001 and 9001 certificated company active in real estate acquisition, development and construction, as well asset management of portfolios for both itself and commercial partners.

For more information on Stockton House, visit www.stockton-house.co.uk

Coventry manufacturer committed £1 million into research and development global market since forming out of GME Springs in 2010, becoming a market leader in anti-terrorist hostile vehicle mitigation and protecting high-profile sites from London to Sydney.

It has secured 36 patents worldwide and has won more than 15 awards for its innovation, with the new funding in its 2023/24 budget coming alongside plans to expand with a second premises in Coventry to add to its existing base in Foleshill.

Director of Safetyflex Barriers Rob Gerrard in Coventry, where the company is looking to expand with a second premises

A Coventry manufacturer has committed £1 million into research and development and outlined plans to open a second premises in the city on the back of continued growth.

The research and development drive will be focused on furthering its crash-rated street furniture range, with the company subsequently looking for new design engineers to help keep it at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation.

Director Rob Gerrard said: “We have made tremendous strides as a company in recent years and are now one of the fastest-growing manufacturers of antiterrorist bollards and barriers in the world, supplying to 15 countries across five continents.

The games are open to all for the benefit of all and with no qualifying standards, it’s the perfect opportunity for work colleagues to get together for a fun weekend of celebrations.

by Safetyflex Barriers to enable it to continue to lead the way in the design and manufacture of anti-terrorist bollards and barriers.

“Our crash-rated street furniture range in particular has been a real success story for us, and this latest funding underlines our commitment to remain world leaders in the design and manufacture of anti-terrorist bollards and barriers.

Visit coventry@corporategamesuk.com for further information.

The family-owned and managed firm is rooted in Coventry but has excelled in the

“We have been keen to grow our footprint in the city we call home for some time,

32

The two-storey structure is married to the existing 19th century buildings by a striking new timber-framed enclosed cloister, providing an internal courtyard with planting and seating areas.

The investment has been ringfenced

and we are pleased to confirm we have now actively started looking for a second premises in Coventry to provide additional warehouse, manufacturing and office space.

“Coventry has always been a fantastic city for innovation and we see this as the natural next step for the business as we aim to continue our proud record of yearon-year growth.”

Safetyflex’s crash rated street furniture range includes seating, planters and cycle racks - all of which have been crash tested to stop vehicles travelling at varying speeds of up to 50mph.

They are manufactured or partmanufactured in Coventry and crash tested to PAS68 and IWA14 standards the Horiba Mira centre of excellence in Nuneaton, becoming a leading choice to protect shopping centres, public realm, and stadia.

Safetyflex recently added to its innovative street furniture line with the launch of the Crash Bench 40, which is completely surface mounted and requires no foundations, pinning or fixings.

Its innovation utilises special military grade steel, with Safetyflex the only company in the world that uses this type of material for anti-terrorist bollards and barriers.

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

Record attendance at Coventry Building Society Arena The record-breaking day also saw the biggest ever attendance for a women’s football match in the Midlands.

Thousands of fans arrived hours before the 3.15pm kick-off to enjoy the atmosphere at the venue ahead of the Lionesses first match in the Midlands since playing in Stoke against Luxembourg in September 2022. Fans gathered by the south pavilion entrance to the venue to welcome the team’s coach, waving flags to welcome their England heroes.

Coventry Building Society Arena recently welcomed a record crowd for a sport event as England’s Lionesses beat Italy 2-1.

The Coventry stadium attracted 32,128 supporters for the second double-header of the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup – with the day also seeing Belgium face South Korea in the second fixture.

It breaks the previous record attendance at Coventry Building Society Arena for a sport event which was set by Wasps v Leicester Tigers at 32,019 in 2015.

They enjoyed a festival experience during the day as anticipation built to see the Euro 2022 champions play in Coventry. The venue hosted a fans village with live DJs, funfair rides and face painting to support the party atmosphere on the day.

Paul Michael, Commercial Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “The chance to see the Lionesses here in the West Midlands was always going to be a huge draw after the summer’s Euro win.

It was incredible to see the stands full here at Coventry Building Society Arena.

“There was a wonderful atmosphere all around the stadium and before kick-off a real excitement to get the chance to see the Lionesses in action.

“We saw thousands of supporters arrive early to enjoy the fans zone, enjoy the hospitality experiences and welcome the England team bus.

Fans carried the party atmosphere to the stands and were treated to a winning performance from Sarina Wiegman’s team against Italy.

“The venue has a history of major sport events taking place here, from the 2012 Olympics to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Rugby League World Cup last year, and this is the latest event to join that long list of successes.

The Arnold Clark Cup was the first major event held at Coventry Building Society Arena under new ownership with Frasers Group.

“This is a record attendance for a sport event at the venue and it will be a day that lives long in the memory.”

Kenilworth MD wins Medal at World Ice Swimming Championships Neil Curtis, Managing Director of Net Visibility, a digital marketing company based in Jubilee House, Kenilworth, has just returned with a Bronze medal from International Ice Swimming Association World Championship, which took place in Samoens, France.

Think ski resort, think water temperatures of 3 degrees and then consider competing for your country in just a pair of swimming trunks, a cap and goggles. Neil finished 3rd in the 100m freestyle, 4th in 4 x 25m Individual Medley and 6th in 250m freestyle.

Competing in the World Championships came as a massive fillip for Neil who had

qualified for Team GB last year but the event was cancelled due to COVID. Neil only took up this freezing sport having previously experienced open water swimming in 2018 when he spontaneously decided he wanted to escape from Alcatraz and swim over the shark infested water to San Francisco whilst raising money for Warwick Hospital's cancer unit.

He then raised money for the Epilepsy Society by swimming with a group across the largest lakes in Scotland, England and Wales and Wales in 1 day (Loch Lomond, Derwent Water and Bala)

Selected for the World Championships in October last year, Neil, and his training partner Debbie Crombie, were offered the use of the Ardencote Hotel’s outdoor pool and spa facilities. Hours and hours of training resulted in both swimmers celebrating with Bronze medals.

There aren’t many companies whose team were all up at 8am on a Saturday morning shouting at a live feed on a French YouTube channel. That really shows the togetherness of the Net Visibility Team!

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

AHR Consultants – who we are and what we do!

AHR Consultants are a leading provider of HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety services.

Based in Rugby, Warwickshire, AHR Consultants have been supporting businesses since 2007 by helping with day-to-day issues in the workplace and providing safety services across a range of business sectors.

AHR Consultants provide several retainer packages for a comprehensive, cost-effective solution along with a separate consultancy service, for those often-unforeseen HR issues.

Our HR and Employment Law services can include: 24/7 advise helpline, Online portal with over 250 documents, HR documentation reviews and an employee defence service.

AHR Consultants provide a Health & Safety service across 3 retainer packages, tailored to meet your needs and budget, along with a consultancy service for those ad hoc safety situations or if your company requires additional support. Some of the Health & Safety services we can provide include: Competent person support, Compliance audits, Fire Risk assessments and Policy and Risk reviews.

We also provide an extensive training programme covering online and in-person consultation with over 60 e-learning courses from leadership, personal development to safety in the workplace.

For more information visit our website https://ahrconsultants.co.uk/

New Book on Public Relations for Start-ups Provides a Fresh Perspective Little PR Rock Marketing founder, Abbi Hoxleigh (née Head), has documented starting up her public relations business in a new book.

The launch of her new book takes place on Thursday, 27th April, at the University of Warwick's Innovation District. Called Credibility Confidence: How to Leverage PR as a Start-up, this handbook includes PR insights, visual training tools, special techniques, motivational commentary, and Abbi's industry highlights. Her attendance at the NatWest Accelerator hub at the university makes the exclusive launch event possible.

This new business how-to-guide covers the needs of those working in a stressful media industry and tips to increase the likelihood of success for pitching to journalists and producers. It also provides advice on unlocking your PR potential as a thought leader to create inner confidence as an expert and using PR tactics to support

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your sales process. Abbi suggests that confidence is the first step in making an impact through PR and aims to effectively communicate with an audience who is not a PR professional to help the reader to understand her message. This is her publishing debut as a sole author of a book.

As a PR and communications strategist, Abbi leads a Little PR Rocks freelance team to provide PR training, consultancy, and content creation. She has collaborated with several business owners to offer services that meet the changing needs of her clients, including working with The Book Chief Publishing House, in Birmingham. Abbi has been seen in various publications online and in print herself, including the Saturday Business Guide of The Daily Telegraph, PR Moment, BBC Radio 4, St James’s Place and The Business Bulletin. She was also awarded second place in the Public Relations Today Most Valuable Post (MVP) Awards 2022.

Abbi said: "I wanted to write this book before I forgot how it felt to do my PR as a start-up. When you start a business, it is an emotional journey that creates confidence and resilience as a business owner.”

In the book’s foreword, Wendy Brown, Abbi’s start-up mentor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Abbi exposes the myths: that only large established businesses can afford to engage a PR consultant, and those new start-ups are not ready to join the club.

“As a business advisor who supported Abbi on her early start-up journey, she tells it like it is, highlighting the highs and lows, successes and failures and how through her determination and hard work continues to work towards reaching her goals and that of

her clients. Her book is full of hints and tips on how you can harness the power of getting your brand message heard, and one every start-up should read."

Book pre-order copies are available from: www.littleprrockmarketing.co.uk/credibility-confidence-how-to-leverage-pr-as-a-start-up/

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

The Albany Theatre celebrates a decade of growth and development Staff and volunteers have shown exceptional perseverance to run and develop a theatre for 10 years that now boasts record ticket sales and growing community engagement.

Local consultant shortlisted for Responsible Business Award Kindred CSR has recently been shortlisted for the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Excellence is Responsible Business category.

As founder of Kindred CSR, Alison Phillips never imagined that her business would be shortlisted as she outlined the work she had been doing over 2022. So, when she received the email confirmation about her place as a finalist, she couldn’t believe it.

As a micro business, Kindred CSR has been growing steadily since it started in November 2020. After a few things coincided with the pandemic, Alison decided to go it alone and use her skills and passion for socio-economic benefit as a driver to enable businesses to become more purpose focused.

Over the past two years, Alison has worked with local, national and international companies to support their environmental and social impact in a way that is effective yet realistic to her clients and their values.

As she has built her client base, Alison has also built and maintained links to the local community through donations to local good causes such as the Medics to Medics group who provide medical support to Ukraine, as well as toys over festive season.

The Albany Theatre, on the edge of Coventry city centre, has been through its fair share of challenging times. The theatre was closed in 2008. However, since the re-opening of the theatre in 2013, a huge amount of improvement has taken place, and everyone involved is excited for the next stage.

Successes include: -

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The launch of a Youth Theatre, and growth of creative outreach in city schools and the community.

The creation of an inhouse productions company, Albany Productions, producing the hugely successful theatre productions such as A Christmas Carol.

The growth in partnerships with local and national performers and promoters, including Ballet Theatre UK and Giovanni Pernice, star of Strictly Come Dancing, who has performed six times at the theatre since 2017.

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Over 20 interns and apprentices launching careers in the arts.

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100s of volunteers have assisted with front of house duties and technical theatre production backstage.

This incredible transformation has been recognised by the West Midland Tourism Awards, who have selected the theatre as a 2023 finalist in their Resilience and Innovation category.

Thanks to Coventry City Council’s capital funding, the theatre redevelopment incorporates additional ground floor sections of the former college building and the courtyard. There will be a new studio theatre, two further studios, a café

Alison said: “Being shortlisted for this award has proved that small can definitely be mighty - and that any business can be recognised for their positive environmental and societal impact.

I’m really looking forward to meeting the other shortlisted businesses and celebrating together at the awards night.”

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The improvements will allow the theatre to open its doors to even more local groups and performers, playing a critical role as a creative hub in the city, enabling access to the arts for all.

Chief executive and artistic director Kevin Shaw said: “I am delighted to be celebrating this landmark in the Albany Theatre’s history. The current team are grateful to so many local people who gave their time and effort to get us to this point.

The capital funding from the Council for this next chapter is going to make a huge difference, enabling more local community groups to use the spaces and engage with our arts programme.”

However, in the late 2000s, the City College faced acute financial pressures.

Due to the campaign to save the 1930s auditorium, led by Alan Biddle and Coventry Musical Theatre Consortium, the city council insisted on a Section 106 planning condition. This aimed to ensure the theatre would be saved for the community when the college building was finally sold to developers.

In 2008, after the final students moved out, the theatre closed its doors.

The Section 106 planning condition required the site’s owners to establish the Butts Theatre Trust, a charitable trust that would operate the reopened theatre, “as soon as is reasonably practical” following the appointment of a theatre development manager.

Once established, the Trust set about bringing the theatre building back to life. From June 2012, a small army of volunteers – many who had been involved in the campaign to save the theatre planned and carried out repairs and developments. An estimated £100,000 of time and donated materials, supported by residual grant funding of around £50,000 from Coventry City Council, led to a formal reopening of the auditorium in February 2013.

Chair David Meredith said: “Against all the odds, with such incredible dedication and determination from staff and many volunteers, we have overcome the many challenges put in front of us. With our new, exciting developments coming later this year, a truly sustainable future is in sight.”

Shakespeare Distillery and Billesley Manor Hotel to co-host popular Gin & Rum Festival the 125-year-old Topiary Garden of the refurbished Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa.

Through Kindred, Alison is also currently secretary of the Kenilworth Chamber of Trade and uses some of her work time and resources to support her activities as a local beaver leader.

Alison believes that education is the key to change, and has always provided free sustainability consultations, workshops and presentations to raise awareness of how businesses can benefit from purpose driven action.

and larger foyer area, volunteer room, extra green rooms, and new toilet facilities including a changing facility.

Guests can enjoy a variety of craft gins and rums from a selection of distilleries, along with food and live music. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic blanket, chairs, and parasols to sit around the gardens. Guests will also be able to purchase their favourite bottle to take home from each distillery bar.

Shakespeare Distillery and Billesley Manor Hotel are to co-host the popular Stratford Gin & Rum Festival on Sunday 9 July from 12pm to 5pm.

This year, Shakespeare Distillery is thrilled to be adding their rum products to the festival for guests to sample.

The festival will once again be held in

a successful event and a great excuse to get together with friends and family. If you love craft gin and rum, stunning gardens, live music and hopefully lots of sunshine, this is the perfect relaxed summer event for you.”

Peter Monks, director at Shakespeare Distillery, said: “We are delighted to be hosting our popular Gin & Rum Festival again with Billesley Manor. With a variety of artisan, handcrafted gins and rums to sample, delicious cocktails, and slushies, this is an event not to be missed.”

A special Early Bird ticket price of £19 is available until 30 April. From 1 May ticket prices are £22 and all tickets are non-refundable. The ticket price includes a souvenir branded Shakespeare Distillery glass, a menu detailing all the flavours and options available, plus a welcome Shakespeare Distillery gin and tonic. Bedrooms are available from £175 bed and breakfast, find out more at www.billesleymanor.com

Laura Cherrington, director of sales and marketing at Billesley Manor Hotel, said: “The festival has always been such

For more information and to book tickets, visit https://shakespearedistillery.com/ stratford-gin-rum-festival/

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Accelerating digital manufacturing revolution is event focus industry leaders, experts, influencers, academics and politicians representing all four nations of the United Kingdom.

The third annual National Manufacturing Summit will focus on digital manufacturing and how to accelerate a digital revolution to transform the UK economy.

Following on from two successful National Manufacturing Summits, the 2023 event will be an opportunity to set an agenda for the digitalisation of manufacturing, pulling together the UK's world class manufacturing sectors, the opportunities of emerging technologies, and the need to improve productivity and remain globally competitive.

The summit, hosted by the Coventrybased Manufacturing Technology Centre on March 29 and 30, will be a hybrid event featuring live, face-to-face presentations and discussions as well as an interactive virtual audience. The event is sponsored by Lloyds Bank.

The 2022 National Manufacturing Summit was attended by more than 4,000 delegates, a combination of virtual and in person, who joined in discussions with

The annual event has grown in importance and influence and is now recognised as a summit of national significance for UK manufacturers, advanced engineering businesses, funders, the supply chain, and government and academic stakeholders. It brings together the many voices of the UK manufacturing industry, setting a framework for the sector to contribute to the national economy based on resilience, innovation, and the reshoring of manufacturing industry.

Prof. Chris White, director of the Industrial Policy Research Centre (IPRC) at Loughborough University, formed in collaboration with the MTC, said the summit was the perfect opportunity for the manufacturing sector to reflect on past achievements, but more importantly to come together to create a vision for the challenges that lie ahead.

"The event will frame the sector’s shared priorities; the agenda will be broad, engaging and interactive covering a wide range of manufacturing issues, but the over-arching theme will be the acceleration of digital manufacturing and the drive for productivity through digitalisation and automation. We will celebrate the resilience of UK manufacturing as well as its ingenuity and diversity, and demonstrate how those qualities, combined

with emerging technologies, can enable change for a sustainable future," he said.

The summit will focus on digital technologies that can enable growth, achieving long-term digital transformation, the skills needed for accelerated adoption of technology and digitally enabling sustainability.

Dave Atkinson, head of manufacturing at Lloyds Bank, said: “Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the UK economy and we are proud to support innovation across the industry.

“We are committed to supporting Britain’s manufacturing businesses through the MTC, having worked in partnership with the Centre for the past eight years to support the training and upskilling of engineers and apprentices into the sector. Recently, we decided to extend this sponsorship until at least 2029, in recognition of the key role the MTC will play in supporting the sector over the coming years.”

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

More information about the National Manufacturing Summit 2023 can be found at https://nmsummit.co.uk/

New technology to help equestrian businesses Research has shown that in addition to the 2.1 million regular riders in the UK, there are 27 million with an interest in the equestrian industry.

Riding for pleasure is still the most popular equestrian activity (BETA, 2019), and with 20% of riding activities in the survey indicated as riding holidays or trekking, the equestrian tourism industry is continuing to grow in popularity.

However, sadly, those interested in riding stated that the ‘loss of access to riding facilities’ was one of the key factors as to why they decided to give up on the hobby.

UK families and adventurous individuals are craving a connection to nature in safe spaces such as riding schools and equestrian centres. They are looking for experiences they can immerse themselves in, places to meditate, exercise, eat and enjoy time with likeminded people. The challenge, therefore, is to provide access to them, by creating a route to discovery and a user-friendly way to go online and book these equestrian experiences. This is where Cavago can help, it has been developed to combat these barriers and to allow accessibility to all.

Cavago is a revolutionary booking platform for the horse world. It offers all types of equestrian facilities, working across all disciplines, a FREE platform to represent themselves in front of a growing, global community of horse-lovers.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Because, let’s face it, technology is undeniably an essential part of the equestrian industry in today’s world.

Equestrians are rarely far from a tablet or phone, even at the yard. Are some businesses missing a trick in getting the most out of this?

Equestrian facilities are good at working ‘in’ the business, but often not so good at working ‘on’ the business. Far more dedicated to managing horses and their performance than marketing what they’ve got to offer. Often websites are built but if they’re not being used, then even these can be a waste of money.

If the site is not physically interactive, it won’t be tracking on search engines and in turn, it won’t get seen.

Cavago’s mission is to aid owners, or ‘hosts’ in promoting their properties and facilities effectively. They actively engage with their global audience through advertising and social media campaigns, PR, email marketing channels and sponsorship. This, and their easy-to-use app and web platforms, ensure that quality bookings are secured with their hosts regularly and makes it easy for them to grow their business through the magic of Cavago.

As horse people themselves, Cavago want to empower businesses into the 21st Century with their top-notch bookings systems, fully digitising them without

needing to invest in expensive software.

They handle funds through secure payment gateways and offer flexible terms, doing all the hard work for you.

So, if you are a facility owner offering horse riding holidays, clinics, horseback trail rides, equine exhibitions and experiences, then Cavago can help you get access to an incredible community, actively looking for facilities just like yours.

Cavago are passionate about connecting equestrians, and inspiring people to try new things. When you join their community, you open your world to horse lovers, and make it possible for them to book your service online in one simple step.

Visit www.mycavago.com for more information and to join their free booking platform and open your equestrian business up to a global market, simply fill in the host form to welcome the community to your corner of the world. Become part of the Cavago community.

Leading lawyer appointed as president of Warwickshire Law Society One of Warwickshire's leading corporate lawyers has been appointed as the new president of a major regional trade body.

Robert Lee, who is corporate partner at Leamington Spa-based Wright Hassall, takes over from Andrew Nyamayaro as president of the Warwickshire Law Society.

Lee is one of the region’s most respected corporate lawyers, who has worked at Wright Hassall since 1995 and has been a member of the Law Society for more than 30 years.

During his two-year presidency, he has pledged to support the county’s lawyers and provide a voice on sector challenges and hopes to establish the Law Society as the ‘go-to portal’ for public access to justice, whilst increasing its presence through in-person events.

Leamington-based Young People First, which provides support to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people living in Warwickshire and Coventry, has also been chosen as his official charity.

“Andrew has done a great job guiding the society out of Covid and re-establishing it in the region, developing strong links with Coventry University and the University of Warwick as well as the legal team at Coventry City Council,” he said.

“As we come out of a post-Covid world, my key focus is to increase our online visibility, reignite in-person events, and establish the Law Society as the go-to portal for public access to justice.

“Access to justice is something that is close to my heart and has been championed at Wright Hassall for some time now through our free legal clinic which is held at our offices on the third Wednesday of each month.

“We have 35 members at the Law Society and represent approximately 750 legal professionals, so I am looking forward to working together to provide a voice for our region.

“This is also a great opportunity to raise as much money as possible for Young People First, a fantastic local charity in Leamington which I know well through current links with Wright Hassall.”

Established in 1914, the Warwickshire Law Society is over 100 years old and represents and promotes more than 750 solicitors, trainee solicitors and legal executives in Coventry and Warwickshire.

It provides support and represents its members on a regional and national basis, provides training courses and updates to legislation, and helps the public find legal support.

Lee is a partner in the Corporate Team at Wright Hassall and acts for a range of clients from large privately-owned global companies to entrepreneurial ventures, specialising in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and turnarounds.

35

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

Office complex sees 30% rise in occupancy A Coventry office complex for innovative businesses has seen its occupancy rates skyrocket since its new centre manager took the reins less than a year ago.

Nutritionist unlocks secrets in your gut as she celebrates ten years in business A Warwickshire nutritional therapist is looking to revolutionise how people connect with their health, as she celebrates ten years in business this April.

Sarah Grant, of Gut Reaction, has spent a decade helping people transform their relationship with food and improve their gut function. The birthday of her consultancy coincides with her releasing her proprietary approach, The Gut Reaction Method.

The aim, she says, is to offer private clients a liberating and empowering approach to eating that enables them to connect with their own ‘inner expert’, as well as benefit from the latest know-how on gut health so they can optimise their personal health and wellbeing.

“Healthy eating, nutrition and gut health have become hot topics since I set up my practice ten years ago,” she said. “Whilst knowledge is power, there is an overwhelming number of contradictory sources of information telling us how we ‘should’ eat.

“This is why The Gut Reaction Method, which encompasses seven core dynamics of a healthy relationship with food, helps people to harness the power of nutrition and their own intuition for a holistic, sustainable approach to eating - free of dieting rules, or food obsession.

“Whilst some nutrition professionals are dictatorial in approach, the powerful secret ingredient in my approach is the opposite – it’s teaching my clients how to eat intuitively and learn to trust their own bodies.

“In my experience, this is what helps people navigate food choices and health with more ease, confidence and enjoyment in the long-run.

“The best part of my work is hearing from my clients they are living more fulfilled lives because they have more emotional, mental and physical freedom around food and their bodies.”

Gut Reaction can help improve general eating behaviour, chronic diet cycling, emotional eating, overeating, general health and wellbeing, energy levels, stress response, and digestive disorders such as food sensitivities or IBS. Sarah says that her highly personalised approach has always been core to Gut Reaction, and she works closely with each client to help ensure they achieve the best possible outcomes in line with their own aspirations or goals.

“The last ten years have been a phenomenal time working in an exciting, blossoming industry, and I’m delighted that the gut is now widely recognised as a cornerstone of health and mental wellbeing,” she added.

“But disordered eating behaviours are on the rise and we need to keep healthy eating real and not overwhelming. Developing The Gut Reaction Method and encapsulating a decade’s experience and knowledge in nutrition and coaching, is a key milestone in my professional career.”

Hungry for more?

Email sarah@gutreaction.co.uk or visit www.gutreaction.co.uk

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The Business Innovation Centre, Binley, part of the University of Warwick Science Park, has seen its occupancy rate reach 80 per cent, an increase of more than 30 percentage points since April 2022.

The rise has been spearheaded by new centre manager Victoria Lynch after she made a focused effort to market the centre and the benefits it offers to its tenants across a wide range of channels.

The centre has also benefited from companies and start-ups valuing being around like-minded firms, and the increased desire of businesses to move back to office in at least a hybrid capacity.

As a result, 26 companies and two start-ups in a variety of sectors – including automotive, IT, engineering, and consultancy – are now tenants at the Innovation Centre, leaving just 10 units unoccupied.

Victoria said: “There’s a lot of competition in the region, so it was vital to market the centre to potential tenants in a targeted manner to maximise the likelihood of them joining us.

“For example, after looking at the origins of existing tenants, we found most only came from within a five-to-ten mile radius of the centre, in contrast to typical science parks which have a 35-mile radius. This meant we needed to increase our reach when targeting new tenants.

“And it was important to not only market Binley as great office space, but the extra benefits it offers too, such as through the Science Park’s business support service Business Ready, and the links to the University of Warwick which can result in student placements and access to cuttingedge research.

have a space for colleagues to interact, but to be around like-minded businesses too,” she added.

“We also host regular free networking events within the Innovation Centre to boost business connections and to build a community here.

“Many of our tenants are using a form of hybrid working, which enables them to have that flexibility as well as all the benefits that the Innovation Centre offers.”

“It’s fantastic to see the dramatic increase in occupancy as a result of what we’re doing, and I’m confident this upward trend will continue through 2023.”

Mark Tock, chief operations officer at the University of Warwick Science Park, added: “The Business Innovation Centre has been a real success story for us.

Businesses are really seeing the value of what we offer at the Science Park and the benefits of high-quality office space and business support. We’re looking forward to welcoming even more businesses to our sites as confidence continues to rise in the sector.”

Victoria also believes the rise in occupancy at the Business Innovation Centre, Binley demonstrates the wider appeal of companies having a base in a post-pandemic world.

“I think it’s really important for SMEs to have that hub where they can not only

“It adds so much value to be able to bounce ideas off peers and network with fellow companies, which often leads to collaborative work.

Tech duo buys ImagePlus enables friends, colleagues, clubs and charities to take part in virtual football leagues, and raise money by predicting football results.

They were so impressed with the quality and level of service they received from the digital experts at ImagePlus that they have now bought the business.

A pair of tech entrepreneurs from Leamington Spa has bought a leading Midlands-based app, website and digital agency.

Matt and Tashlien Nunn, who have worked in the tech industry for more than 30 years combined, have bought ImagePlus, an independent full-service agency which specialises in apps, websites, design and marketing.

ImagePlus, which counts Jaguar Land Rover, Hammonds Furniture, Stellantis and Coventry University among its clients, employs 22 people at its headquarters at Electric Wharf in Coventry and their offices in Manchester.

The duo previously employed ImagePlus to develop SoccerPots - an app that

ImagePlus was founded in 1995 by Alan Hartin, who started the business from his home office 28 years ago.

Alan has retained a minority stake and will continue working for the company as their sales director.

He said: “I am really proud of where ImagePlus is today - the team, the four-day working week, the culture and clients - so I wanted to stay very much involved but, at the same time, I realised that the time was right to make a change to allow our progress to continue.

“We have experienced considerable growth in the last few years and as they say, the sky's the limit. We have grown a highly-skilled team and have a very good reputation for delivering results.

“We are now in a position to really drive ImagePlus forward to the next level and having Tash and Matt, with their business and tech experience, at the helm will make that happen.”

Matt is a systems architect by trade, having spent much of his career in corporate environments delivering complex technical solutions at an enterprise level.

Tashlien’s expertise is more strategic and operational driven, from working with corporates to small business owners, specialising in business sustainability and growth.

She said: “Working with ImagePlus to create SoccerPots gave us great insight into the team and its culture. Not only did they create an incredible product, but they were seamless to work with.

“They perfectly met the brief, were extremely proactive and delivered what we wanted on time. The fact that SoccerPots is such a huge success is proof of their quality.

“We stayed in contact with Alan. Matt and I have always wanted to bring our specialist skills under one roof and run a business together, and we believe we are well placed to build on what Alan and the team have created here at ImagePlus.

“It was key for us to retain Alan and we’re so pleased he’s going to be part of the future plans for ImagePlus.”

ImagePlus has seen a 200 percent growth in the last four years as the team and client base have expanded.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Leask Accountancy Solutions -

Expanding into IT Consultancy & Advisory services Finance Director’ model, the business is expanding the team to include David Leask, who brings a wealth of IT and Advisory experience.

“In many clients, the work we do helping businesses with profitable growth and expansion frequently involves discussions around technology and how to maximise the benefit of their existing IT investments,” says Julia.

Julia Leask of Leask Accountancy Solutions is expanding her business to incorporate IT Consultancy and Advisory services. Following the success of the company’s ‘Portfolio CFO/

“By adding complementary skills and experience to the team, my clients can take advantage of world-class Technology experience in a way which scales with their business”.

Having spent over 25 years working with Global Technology providers in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan, David brings a wealth of experience in helping organisations innovate and transform their businesses.

Having worked across sectors as diverse as manufacturing, retail, financial services and energy, his experience is as broad as it is deep in helping clients succeed by ultimately understanding their needs from a technology perspective and creating value.

“Technology is an enabler,” says David. “Everyday businesses hear about how the like of the cloud,

Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Analytics should be playing a part in their Digital Transformation journey. The reality is that they are just tools to help any business, large or small, to be more effective and efficient. They are one part of the ‘people, process, technology’ framework to improve organisational performance.”

“I’m looking forward to working with Julia and the team as a Portfolio CTO and Advisor, helping to make a difference with business owners wanting to take the next step in their business development.”

Serco Restart Scheme gives Participants free access to the Thrive Mental Wellbeing App From this year, the Serco Restart Scheme (which covers West Central England), is providing the Thrive Mental Wellbeing App, an NHS digitally compliant mental wellbeing App, to Participants on the programme. The Restart Scheme focuses on helping benefit claimants who are long-term unemployed by providing up to 12 months of intensive, tailored employment support.

Thrive Mental Wellbeing is a leading mental healthcare service for organisations empowering people to live happier, healthier lives. With the Government’s ‘COVID-19: mental health and wellbeing surveillance’ report stating that adults with low income, or who have experienced loss of income, experience higher levels of psychological

distress, anxiety and depression than those in work, the Thrive Mental Wellbeing App will provide Participants on the Restart Scheme effective mental health support in the palm of their hand. Addressing mental health challenges supports the Scheme’s ultimate goal: supporting Participants into sustainable and meaningful employment.

Serco has also ensured that the App is available to all colleagues delivering the Restart Scheme as part of their continued commitment to give employees and partners access to health and wellbeing support. The App enables users to assess and manage their mental wellbeing via digital therapy and mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a

week, and is currently available in 8 different languages, including Welsh. Suki Gill, Social Value Lead for Serco’s Restart Scheme, said: “I’m really pleased Serco can offer such a vital tool to everyone involved in our Restart Scheme.

Our Participants, colleagues and partners are working with challenging circumstances on a daily basis, and this can take its toll. The Thrive App will make a positive impact on alleviating this.”

Dr Andres Fonseca, CEO at Thrive Mental Wellbeing said: "We are delighted to have partnered with Serco to help support Participants in the Serco Restart Scheme. The App provides a range of techniques to help those dealing with the symptoms of mental health conditions from Cognitive

Behavioural Therapy, through to Deep Muscle Relaxation and Calm Breathing. Using the App will equip the participants on their journey out of long term unemployment."

Want to know more about how the Restart Scheme can help your business? Get in touch to gain access to a vast pool of candidates who can add value from day one. Find out how our fully funded service brings the right people to your door and makes sure your business has access to the right candidates with the skillsets to flourish. Contact us today: EEWestCentral@serco.com

Raising a cup to Alcester coffee shop

Louise Hanks (The Lounge), Marie Stephenson (Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce), Hayley Lineker (Warwickshire County Council) and Elizabeth French (The Lounge)

A popular coffee shop in Alcester is in the running to complete a hattrick of awards, having already been named the best in England – twice!

Louise Hanks launched The Lounge @ 26 with business partner Elizabeth French in November 2020, just as the second national Covid-19 lockdown began.

The High Street coffee shop has gone from strength to strength since, with its reputation for great coffee and a friendly atmosphere helping it win two prestigious national awards.

It was named Best Café in the country in Englands Business Awards 2021 and won the nation’s Best Eatery a year later, which has seen it automatically entered to compete in this year’s awards, with shortlisting in March and the winner announced later in the year.

Louise and Elizabeth, who are both from Redditch and also own

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

The Lounge in Astwood Bank, are also looking to expand their offering after receiving business growth support from Project Warwickshire – a free recovery and growth business support programme to help companies in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the county, in the wake of the pandemic.

Project Warwickshire is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council, with support delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Shakespeare’s England and Northern Warwickshire Tourism, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council.

Working with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce business advisor Marie Stephenson, Louise was given one-to-one support and training to raise the coffee shop’s profile, with Marie providing a source of support to help the company to continue its growth through difficult trading conditions as the pandemic receded.

This included an in-depth target marketing exercise to understand the wants and needs of different customers groups, which fed into the development of a marketing strategy and content plan for the

company’s social media pages, as well as advice on the launch of an upcoming website. A competitor analysis was also undertaken to compare themselves against similar businesses in different areas.

The Lounge is now adding to its offering by launching bottomless brunch one Sunday every month – starting March 5 – providing customers with a range of different flavoured Bellinis and a choice of delicious fluffy pancakes, tasty Belgian waffles or smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels.

Louise, who was formerly Head of Sixth Form at Arrow Vale School, said: “It was really surreal to have won the awards, especially in our first year of business, we still cannot quite believe it.

“We’ve got a chance to complete the hat-trick and hopefully win another award this year so we are keeping our fingers crossed!

“It’s also a really exciting time for us at the moment as we are launching bottomless brunch which is something completely new for Alcester.

“We are always looking at trying new things. Last year we decided to open the coffee shop as a gin and cocktail bar on Friday and Saturday evenings and that has gone down really well.

“Looking at the business from a different perspective has helped too and I’ve really appreciated the support and advice from Marie on how to grow the business further.

“It has been great to get to be able to access the free support and it will help us with our plans to grow further.”

Marie added: “It’s been a privilege to help Louise and provide a second set of eyes on their business plan and I enjoyed using my marketing background to help them prepare their marketing plans.

“They’ve made a real success of the coffee shop through their sheer hard work in difficult times. They spend a lot of time making sure people receive the same quality and experience which is obviously working as they have so many new and repeat customers.”

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “I am delighted that the Project Warwickshire support has been of such high value to Louise and Elizabeth. Running a successful small business is such an allconsuming affair that sometimes it really helps to get some detached, expert guidance - that is exactly what Project Warwickshire is designed to deliver.”

KenilworthBased HR Consultancy Reaches Milestone Anniversary Established in 2013, Angela Roberts The HR Consultancy turns 10 years old in June 2023.

Having worked with hundreds of local SMEs, and many clients further afield, The HR Consultancy has become a well-established source of help and support for businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

10 years after leaving the corporate HR world to set up her own consultancy, Angela Roberts has grown her team to 5 practitioners and 2 support staff. The team provide tailored support on HR issues, contracts, handbooks, and manage recruitment campaigns for a variety of roles.

“When I started out in 2013, very few SMEs recognised the need for specific HR support, often seeking ad hoc advice from acquaintances or signing up with large and expensive corporate providers,” said Angela.

“They realised they weren’t building lasting relationships with an HR partner or getting the bespoke service they required for their businesses.”

“Now, there is definitely a greater recognition of what HR can do for a business, which has really boosted our expansion in the past 10 years.

This is thanks to the awareness raised through events like those run by the Chamber.”

Over 200 businesses across the UK have worked with The HR Consultancy, and their growth has only continued into 2023.

“The Chamber has definitely been a big part of my growth as an HR practitioner and business owner.

I’ve been a member since I set up my consultancy, and their sound advice on business management and marketing have been a great support”, Angela added.

“I’d really like to thank my team, who are passionate and committed to the business, for the part they have played in our success, their continued dedication, and hard work.”

“As well as our wonderful clients, who I would also like to thank on behalf of the whole team, for working with us and continuing to put their trust in our advice.”

To find out more, head to https://www.arhrconsult.com/

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

Work has started on £61m Oakley School in Leamington Spa Rugby First to serve up new Spring Food and Drink Festival!

Rugby First is planning to serve up the first ever ‘Spring Rugby Food and Drink Festival’ on Saturday 15 April, in Rugby town centre. The new event will take place in and around Regent Street and Regents Place, between 11am and 5pm. The free to enter event follows on from the very successful festival in September which attracted thousands of visitors, and will include stalls and family entertainment.

Linda Lowne, Rugby First Business and Stakeholder Manager, said: “This is a new event for Rugby First and we are really excited to be working on it. Feedback from the September event from businesses and visitors was extremely positive, with many asking for a second food and drink festival.

We have listened and are looking forward to delivering it - although it will be slightly different to the September event! Once again though we are hoping it will have a significant impact on the town centre, bringing increased footfall and revenue into the town centre economy, as well as attracting new visitors.”

Linda continued: “If you are interested in having a stall at the event or are a local business interested in sponsoring the festival or an element of it please get in touch via the website below.”

To book a stall or for further information on the festival please visit www.rugbyfirst.org or follow us on our socials.

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“As a cornerstone employer with Coventry and Warwickshire Careers Enterprise, we’re looking forward to engaging with other schools and delivering careers talks and guidance, curriculum support, safety talks, site visits, CV advice, mock interviews, work experience and much more to support the local community.”

Work has started on-site at the £61m The Oakley Grove School as part of Warwickshire County Council (WCC)’s plans to make major additions to the community’s education provisions, alongside national construction company Willmott Dixon.

Groundworks are currently underway, remodelling the land for the school’s foundations.

Construction of the new school facilities will be completed in summer 2024 with pupils starting in September 2024.

Secured through the SCAPE Construction framework, The Oakley

Grove School in Leamington Spa will be an all-through facility comprising a 34-place nursery, 420-place primary and 900-place secondary school with SEND provision.

The contractor will invest £1.5m through social value activities, delivering careers talks, work experience, traineeships for those not in employment, education or training and creating local job opportunities.

Michelle Cotterill, director for Willmott Dixon, said: “The Oakley School project is a major investment into the next generation of Warwickshire’s education offering.

Cllr Kam Kaur, Warwickshire’s portfolio holder for education, said: “As well as providing a state-of-the-art facility that will be the hub of superb learning opportunities, the project is also delivering a great deal of social value, particularly for some young people who are gaining valuable training, employment opportunities and other work experience.”

The school is part of a wider development comprising over 4,000 new homes and a country park. Improvements will also be made to Oakley Wood Road. The school development will provide a stand-alone sports hall, several natural turf pitches and an allweather pitch for educational and community use, delivered to Sport England design standards.

Blooming good deal Bloom & Wild, one of the UK’s most-loved online florist, have acquired space in Nuneaton thanks to Holt Commercial.

As part of its growth plans, Bloom & Wild was looking to put down roots in the area and its acquisition is one of seven deals recently completed by the Coventry-based commercial property agent.

Bloom & Wild specialises in offering flowers delivered to the door and is particularly well-known for its letterbox bouquets that are suitable for all occasions.

Holt Commercial has also let three further buildings on Holman Way, Nuneaton, totalling 18,000 sq ft and a further three buildings on Whitacre Road Industrial Estate totalling 47,000 sq ft including a deal with Robinson Engineering.

Holt Commercial is now marketing storage units from 500 sq ft up to 7,500 sq ft on short-term, flexible

agreements for Montague Storage – again on the Whitacre Road Industrial Estate, which is within half-a-mile of Nuneaton town centre.

Peter Holt, director of Holt Commercial, said: “We are delighted to have done these deals and pleased to have played a part in bringing new businesses to the area

as well as assisting local businesses to find suitable space for them.

“Activity continues to be strong, and we are confident of further deals in the coming weeks and months.”

For more information visit www.holtcommercial.co.uk

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education and Skills

Big bus tour hits the road for National Apprenticeships Week “This year to facilitate demand we have upgraded to a double-decker bus, which allows us to host more innovative and attention-grabbing activities for young people on the bus itself.

“We aim to make it as interactive and engaging as possible, with widespread professions and industries to help young people find the right career for them.

“Apprenticeships continue to be at the heart of government policy and will play a vital role in rebuilding the UK economy.

There is always more work to do to ensure that young people know about the benefits of taking the apprenticeship route and that is what we are trying to do with our apprenticeship roadshow.”

A double-decker bus tour highlighted how apprenticeships can help young people kickstart their careers as it hit roads across the Midlands as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2023.

Leading college group WCG travelled around 13 schools across three Midlands regions to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships and the range of industries on offer. It visited schools in Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with apprenticeships being showcased ranging from plumbing and engineering to horticulture and animal care.

Activities included the assembly of plumbing fittings, animal health checks, table setting, napkin folding

and horticulture seed sewing. Students got the chance to create their own catapult under the watchful eye of engineering tutors from the college.

There were also demonstrations of power tools and motor vehicle experts partially stripping engines for prospective apprentices to inspect.

The college group is the largest college provider of apprenticeship training in the region, with up to 2,000 apprentices trained every year and working with over 1,100 local, regional and national employers. Mark Whittaker, from WCG, said: “We have seen huge interest in our apprenticeships bus over the last four years and have spoken with thousands of young people in schools all across the Midlands.

The double-decker bus hit the road to visit Myton School, Trinity Catholic School and Campion School in Leamington and Warwick, before heading to Rugby to visit Harris Church of England Academy, Rugby Free Secondary School and The Avon Valley School. It then headed to Coventry to visit Westwood Academy and WMG Academy.

Visits also included The De Montfort School in Evesham, St Benedict’s Catholic School in Alcester and St Augustine’s Catholic High School in Redditch. The tour finished with visits to The Chase School and Hanley Castle High School in Malvern before making its final stop at Pershore College.

WCG offers a wide range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information visit www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships

SMEs make a sprint to scale up Coventry and Warwickshirebased SMEs can take advantage to receive fully funded business support this month.

Sprint Programme 2023 is a free two-day programme of six tailored workshops designed for small businesses, solopreneurs and entrepreneurs who are looking to scale up their businesses quickly and efficiently.

Delivered through a combination of collaborative workshops and expert masterclasses, the programme aims to help early-stage businesses develop the skills they need to thrive

in a fast-changing economy and learn from leading marketing and innovation experts.

Participants will learn easy-toimplement strategies and tactics proven to work and will explore the latest tech innovations that may disrupt or enhance the business model.

Speakers include Gus Bhandal, founder of The M Guru and an experienced marketer and social media specialist, Joanna Seabright, marketing director, WM5G, who has over 20 years of experience in senior marketing roles, and Drew Currie, founder of HibretOne and Show Me The Money Newsletter,

an expert in the business grants world.

What’s more, participant SMEs will have the opportunity to learn how to pitch and discover how to find grants, apply, and win funds.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the programmes are designed to support Coventry & Warwickshire business owners and those interested in technology and innovation at all levels. Participants don’t need to have a technology background to join the programmes and businesses trading in all sectors are welcome to apply (subject to approval).

To register your interest, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/small-business-sprintprogramme-tickets-547668680767?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete&_gl=1*ifyg20*_ up*MQ..&gclid=8d1b959e3d5d16ed120af669f7971ef3&gclsrc=3p.ds www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Developing Honest and Successful Teams

By Afshan Baksh, Transformation Space I asked leaders and their teams: Which would you lead with to develop your team's empathy skills? 63% said the priority needs to be the ability to hold honest discussions, 38% said listening is a priority, 0% said the ability to speak constructively.

Why did I ask?

Empathy drives results because it contributes to positive relationships, positive organisational cultures, and a sense of 'togetherness'. I wanted to find out what people thought should be the thing that leads to developing their team's empathy skills. I was not surprised to see that ‘honest discussion’ scored so highly; however, honest discussions are easy when you only have good things to say. It takes courage and skill to share hard messages. Ultimately, it is about developing a culture where having honest discussions is the norm and where honest discussion is seen as an opportunity to grow and develop.

Honest dialogue doesn't happen by itself, it will be necessary to develop a framework, a process that everyone has contributed to and that can be easily embedded. It will require consistent monitoring for its effectiveness and adapting where it needs strengthening. It will also take time so start now. Learning new habits is a whole other article but know that you will need to keep everyone on track and connected with the reasons for sticking with it.

How are you managing this? How are you helping your teams to hold honest discussions?

Lego® Serious Play® is one approach that I incorporate when helping teams develop honest dialogue. Participants share their thoughts through models. Listeners focus on the model not on the person speaking which frees the speaker up to be more honest and authentic. Listeners connect to the message in a much deeper way.

Let’s talk further: afshan@transformationspace.co.uk www.transformationspace.co.uk

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education and Training

University of Warwick Science Park helping innovation thrive

Back row from left: Dirk Schaefer (SME Engagement Lead at the University of Warwick Science Park), Craig Humphrey, Corin Crane.

Front row from left: Gillian Dale (Business Growth & Support Programme Manager at Warwickshire County Council), Mark Tock with the impact report, Hayley Lineker (Contract and Project Monitoring Officer at Warwickshire County Council), and Cllr Martin Watson.

The positive economic impact of a Midlands science park – including the raising of nearly £6 million in finance for businesses – has been revealed in a new report.

The University of Warwick Science Park has published its impact report for 2021/22, which details how many businesses it has supported, how much finance it has helped to raise and how many companies call the science park home.

At the time of publication, the science park community included 129 tenants across its sites on the main university campus and its innovation centres in Warwick, Blythe Valley and Binley (Coventry).

It offers a mix of office, workshop and lab space in various sizes to help support technical and science-based businesses in the region. During the period of the report, 12 per cent of companies grew enough to require additional space at the science park.

It also supported 14 businesses within its Ignite incubator space, which offers flexible, low-cost terms to help start-ups to get off the ground. Overall, 107 start-ups were supported by the Ignite programme,

which included tailored help through mentoring and coaching, networking opportunities and workshops.

Beyond start-ups, 729 companies were given help by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park, including everything from taking a new product to market through to helping to access the skills required for business growth and pitching for or raising equity finance.

Through its direct relationship with the University, it has supported 246 students through workshops and has offered mentoring to 48 start-up student businesses. Five spin outs from the University have also been supported through engagement, advice and workshops among other services.

The University of Warwick Science Park has also excelled when it comes to helping firms raise finance, totalling £5.96 million from sources such as its Minerva Business Angel Network including accessing grants and other funding regionally by its Business Ready programme.

The report also highlights success stories of tenants based at the science park – such as Queen’s Award winner Embed – through to Global Nano Network which was helped by the Business Ready programme to develop environmentally friendly battery components.

Mark Tock, who joined the University of Warwick Science Park as chief operating officer last summer, said: “There’s no doubt that 2022 was a year of continued change and challenge, but both come with opportunity and the impetus of creativity that often drives business growth.

“Nowhere is this more evident than within the innovation communities that are supported by the University of Warwick Science Park.

“It is great that we have been able to support so many businesses in so many different ways and, excitingly, we will

soon be ready to begin our next phase of growth in the West Midlands and I’m looking forward to working with our team, University of Warwick colleagues, and our existing business community to make this happen.”

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s fantastic to see just how many incredible businesses and individuals have been supported in their journeys by the Science Park.

“The impact report shows just how vital the Science Park is to not only its tenants, but external companies seeking support too. There is also a great opportunity for partners across Coventry & Warwickshire to help these amazing businesses scale up and create jobs for people across the area.”

Craig Humphrey, Managing Director of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub, said: “The University of Warwick Science Park is playing such an important role in helping start-ups, businesses and students at the cutting-edge of innovation thrive.

“Mark and the team are doing a superb job, and we look forward to working with them and seeing even more success in the future.”

Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy at WCC, said: "It's tremendous news that the UWSP has prospered and has nurtured so many businesses.

"Many of these have received Business Ready support which is funded by WCC, ERDF and UWSP to help businesses to gain access to the expertise that will help them take the next step.

"The impetus they are giving to the economy and the creation of jobs in the low carbon field is very much in line with the county's priorities for Warwickshire.

The success story of the UWSP really vindicates our commitment."

College competitors selected for Worldskills UK squad An apprentice and former apprentice from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) have been selected as members of the WorldSkills Squad UK and will have the opportunity to compete on a global stage at the international WorldSkills 2024 competition in Lyon next year.

Hattie Parnham from Wigston, who is currently working as an apprentice painter and decorator for Ashby Decorator Centre Ltd, and Sam Abbott, from Coventry, now a joiner at E Brook Joinery Ltd, have been named amongst 94 candidates who will compete to represent the UK in the ‘Skills Olympics’.

This internationally respected competition is held biannually and rewards excellence in technical challenges. Team UK will face competitors from 80 countries for places on the podium with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals available in a wide range of specialist disciplines.

Sam Abbott, who won a Gold medal for joinery in the WorldSkills UK competition finals in 2021, will take part in ‘Back to Basics’ training in Chichester this month

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

and Hattie Parnham, who secured the Silver medal for painting and decorating in the 2022 construction and infrastructure skills competition will be put through her paces in Dundee next month.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, who is also deputy chair and trustee of WorldSkills, said, “This is fantastic news; we’re very proud of Hattie and Sam and delighted that they have been selected for Squad UK. WorldSkills opens so many doors for young people and, with hard work and dedication, they can benefit from some amazing opportunities. We are sure that competing as part of this scheme will provide both Sam and Hattie with an unforgettable experience that will help them to grow and develop both personally and professionally.

“Hattie and Sam have benefited from some fantastic support from their tutors who consistently go the extra mile to help students and apprentices to practice and prepare themselves as well as they can. We believe that competitions are an excellent way of enabling students to practice real-world employability skills,

inspiring them to get enthusiastic about their future career options. We wish them both the very best of luck as they work towards the competition in Lyon next year.”

Ben Blackledge, WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO explained that this is a life-changing moment for the 94 Squad members, who now face months of intensive training that will take their skills to a whole new level.

He said, “They have done so well to get to this stage and are fantastic examples of the very best of our further education system, but the hard work really starts now as they have an international competition to prepare for.”

For more information visit www.nwslc.ac.uk

Robot Day Cutting-edge robotic creations will head to the West Midlands this spring to immerse curious minds into the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

Robot Day will make its long-awaited return to Coventry in March, with world-leading innovators and garden-shed makers gearing up to entertain and educate visitors with inspiring displays and innovative fun and games.

The free event, taking place on Saturday, March 18 at Coventry College, will feature hands-on exhibits, workshops and talks from across the robotics industry, with local and international partners gathering for Robot Day’s first flagship exhibition since 2019.

More than 5,000 people attended the previous Robot Day, and organisers Derrick Willer and Stephen Powley are hoping to recruit around 100 volunteers for the 2023 event, which is also supported by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Imagineering Foundation.

The project partners hope to inspire and educate young people and the influential people in their lives about careers in STEAM through creative workshops, activities, displays, exhibits, and talks on robotics, automation and AI. Stephen, who is a PhD candidate at Coventry University, said: “We are thrilled to announce that Robot Day will be returning to Coventry to showcase the value of robotics, automation and AI to society. The event will bring together expertise from across the UK to increase public participation, promote diversity and inclusion in STEAM and address the skills shortage in the sector.

“We have hosted smaller events online and in-person over the last couple of years, but are thrilled to be returning with are full-scale exhibition in March.

“Coventry College is the perfect venue for us in the heart of a city that is renowned for its work in the technological industries, and we hope that its central location means that Robot Day will be accessible to people of all backgrounds and ages.

“We are looking forward to revealing our full line-up in the weeks ahead, so keep an eye out on our social media pages for updates as we have some truly exciting people and exhibits to announce.”

Derrick, who was appointed MBE for services to education in 2018, added: “Volunteers are vital to the running of the event on the day and helping to spread the word. We are working with students from Coventry College to provide work experience around the event across photography and social media marketing, but are always looking for volunteers to support exhibitors, workshops and wayfinding on the day.”

Gemma Knott, Vice Principal Business Growth, Engagement & Partnerships at Coventry College, said: “Coventry College is delighted to be hosting Robot Day 2023, with a range of incredible exhibitors joining us on campus on 18 March, and some amazing opportunities for our students to get involved.

“The Robot Day team put on a fantastic event last time they were in the city, and we hope that even more young people and their families will join us this time around.”

Robot Day is free to attend. Pre-booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Book at: www.robotday.co.uk To volunteer at Robot Day 2023 visit www.robotday.co.uk/get-involved

43

President & People

Appointment for new £5.5million business and industrial park Tom Mongan, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and chair of its North Warwickshire branch.

At time of writing, it feels like Spring is in the air – don’t you just love it when you’re not going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark!

Spring is my favourite time of the year as I’ve always viewed it as a time for optimism and renewed energy after the drab and dreary winter months!

And speaking of energy, we also have a Budget round the corner and I sincerely hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer continues to help households and businesses alike.

It is crucial that he addresses the extremely high costs currently being endured by us all, and helping businesses has to be top of the agenda, with the Chambers of Commerce lobbying hard on behalf of all businesses to get the message across to Government ministers.

In fact, energy costs were high on the agenda at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber’s Economic Business meeting, held at The Wigley Group’s Stockton headquarters on February 23.

It was interesting to discuss and hear from a wide range of businesses on the topics that are affecting them, and there is no doubt from the people I was talking to that the Government could and should be doing more!

An experienced property professional has been appointed the first site manager of a new £5.5 million business and industrial park in Warwickshire which is due to open this month.

Katherine Skerry has become property manager of the purposebuilt 35,000 sq ft Space Business Centre Warwick in Tachbrook Park which is being developed

by AC Lloyd Commercial.

Katherine spent seven years working for one of the world’s leading property agents Savills in London selling new-build properties at different sites across the capital.

The mum-of-two, who has recently moved to Warwickshire from Worcester, said it was great to be involved with the launch of the Space Business Centre Warwick.

As I say, it is fascinating to look back over 120 years of this Chamber’s history and that is why 2023 will be a celebratory one for us.

Starting with The BIG Business Celebration Lunch to be held at the fabulous IXL Events Centre in Southam, this will be quite simply the biggest networking opportunity of Spring 2023, with over 400 businesses in attendance.

Spring is definitely in the air and I hope to see you there!

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“I’m excited to be involved in running a completely new site and I will be focused on the day-to-day operations of the Space Business Centre Warwick and dealing with tenants to help them settle in as well as looking after new enquiries to encourage more people to locate here.

Mark Edwards, Managing Director of AC Lloyd Commercial, welcomed Katherine to the business at an

to scale Azets Wealth Management in response to growing demand for financial advice, from investments to inheritance tax and retirement planning.

Why? Well 120 years ago this Chamber was formed by Mr Vernon Pugh, Managing Director of Rudge Cycles and the Chamber’s first President. He got together with other local business leaders to represent local companies and to promote trade within the UK and beyond.

Watch and clock making were still influential in this area, but new and familiar names were emerging, such as Rover, Standard, Triumph and Daimler cars; also Webster & Bennett and Alfred Herbert machine tools.

“That community feeling is really important for start-up business owners who may be taking their first step into having their own units and we want to make it as easy as possible.

Katherine Skerry, who has been appointed property manager at Space Business Centre Warwick

exciting time ahead of the launch of Space Business Centre Warwick.

“It is great to have Katherine on board with her high level of expertise as we sign-up tenants and continue to attract businesses to locate here,” he said.

“We are really pleased with the level of enquiries which highlights the demand for these kinds of small flexible premises that are ideal for office space, workshop and storage units.

For more information about Space Business Centre Warwick, please visit www.spacebcwarwick.com

Azets Birmingham looks to scale with two senior appointments and one promotion

However, and on a different note, 2023 is going to be a celebratory one for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce!

This Chamber’s history is fascinating, as the first decade saw a massive expansion of the manufacturing sector with over 10,000 people employed in the motor trade.

A trade directory of the time indicates a fast-changing business world, listing 200 boot makers, 14 chimney sweeps, loom makers, employment agencies for domestic staff, taxidermists, 16 pawnbrokers and a phrenologist!

“I’m looking forward to meeting our tenants from the wide variety of businesses we expect to be based here and setting up a real community,” she said.

Azets, the UK Top 10 accountancy firm, has further scaled its Birmingham office with two senior appointments and one promotion.

Steve Tennant joins as Wealth Management COO, and Helen Parks as Director of Public Sector Audit.

Claire Purbhoo has been promoted to regional Head of Outsourcing, based at Azets in Coventry.

Steve joins Azets Wealth Management from Mitie where he was the Customer Experience and Operations Director. He has worked in wealth management for more than 20 years, starting his career as a financial planner before moving on to regional, national and international roles. The appointment is part of the group’s ambitious plans

Steve was responsible for establishing the Barclays Financial Planning Academy which created careers in wealth management for over 100 planners. He is passionate about creating companywide customer cultures, driving positive engagement, creating an environment of continued service excellence, and the use of innovative and transformational initiatives. In his new role, Steve will use his vast skills and experience to help grow the Azets Wealth Management team nationally, through recruitment and acquisitions on the back of demand.

Helen has over 10 years’ experience auditing public sector organisations, having trained with the Audit Commission before joining the dedicated Public Sector Assurance department within Grant Thornton.

Prior to joining Azets, Helen worked with the second and third lines of defence within a variety of industries and companies, such as TNT Logistics and HSBC UK. Claire, who has been promoted to regional Head of Outsourcing, specialises in accountancy

outsourcing, systems and guiding businesses with the impact of legislation on their operations.

She is FCA qualified and has over 20 years’ experience advising owner managed businesses across a variety of industries and is now working with multi-site operations and franchises to improve their financial information, reporting and benchmarking.

Claire works closely with the Digital Delivery team and local Office Partners to ensure technology, software and communications remain relevant and effective for a clients’ business needs.

Paul Clifford, Regional CEO at Azets commented: “Both of these senior appointments and Claire’s promotion show Azets’ commitment to grow the teams, and reflects the confidence we have in the market. Their skills and experience will allow us to further support clients across a multitude of sectors, as well as developing the teams and our internal operations, in line with our expansion strategy. It’s an exciting time to join Azets and I look forward to working closely with Claire, Helen and Steve.”

All vacancies can be found at www.azets.co.uk/careers here applications from those who are looking to work flexibly or parttime, reduced hours or term-time are encouraged. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

President & People

Birmingham law firm adds banking trio Mariam said: “Having gained invaluable experience of the offshore legal market, I am thrilled to have returned to mainland England to join Shakespeare Martineau, which has a strong reputation for its excellent workplace culture.”

Noreen Khan-Ghalib, Tina Sehmar, Naomi Tudor, and Mariam Mansoor

Full service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has added to its Birminghambased banking team with a trio of hires.

Associate Mariam Mansoor, who brings with her more than five years’ post-qualified experience, developed her debt finance experience in Leeds before relocating to the Channel Islands to specialise in financial services law for a Guernsey-based magic circle firm.

Also newly-appointed to the team is Noreen Khan-Ghalib, taking on the role of chartered legal executive.

Noreen said: “I am looking forward to developing my legal career at Shakespeare Martineau and have always been passionate about joining the firm from quite early on in my career. Not only does the firm provide tailored advice to clients, but it also ensures the wellbeing of its teams.”

Joining the team as a paralegal is Tina Sehmar, who spent the past 12 months

as part of the in-house legal team for a global accountancy and professional services firm.

Tina said: “I was attracted to the firm’s ambitious growth plans as part of the Ampa group as well as its culture, and I am delighted to be part of an outstanding team working alongside experienced partners.”

Naomi Tudor, head of corporate banking at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “We are thrilled to have three exceptionally talented people join our growing team. We have experienced increased instructions from existing clients and have recently on-boarded new clients, so Mariam, Noreen and Tina will help us as we deal with this growing demand. I look forward to all three of them building their careers with us.”

New appointment for leading Warwickshire law firm A leading Warwickshire law firm has appointed a new Partner to its expanding construction and engineering team.

Steven Hayward has joined Leamingtonbased Wright Hassall after almost three years as Partner at IBB Law in West London.

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is set to be further strengthened by the appointment of a new member to its senior leadership team. Lynne Newbitt has joined the college as Director of IT with a brief to maximise the potential of the organisation’s IT infrastructure and deployment of digital services to support effective teaching, learning and assessment.

and engineering aspects of transactions and the preparing of necessary contracts, appointments and security documents, and the resolution of disputes by various methods including adjudication, mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings.

A move to Wright Hassall marks a return home to the region for Steven, who was born and raised in Coventry.

Steven said: “I am delighted to have joined Wright Hassall and to be part of its well-recognised and established team.

I very much look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the team and providing excellent service to our clients.”

Steven is an experienced construction and engineering law specialist who has worked with a broad spectrum of clients in various sectors. He will join Wright Hassall’s construction and engineering division, which advises on the construction

Partner and Head of Construction Michael Hiscock added: “I am really pleased to be increasing the capacity within our team, and adding to our strengths with someone of Steven’s experience and skills.

Steven Hayward and Michael Hiscock

“He not only brings with him a tremendous amount of commitment to the local area and a new dynamic, but he also brings more than 13 years’ experience of construction law and superb connections across the Thames Valley.

“His expertise in resolving claims and disputes will be of particular importance to our clients in a world where business is getting tougher.”

Prime Accountants Group celebrates raft of promotions Prime Accountants Group has announced a raft of promotions after a period of sustained business growth

A leading Midlands accountancy firm is celebrating a raft of promotions across its team following a period of sustained growth.

Prime Accountants Group has promoted Leigh Dudley and Paul Guise to directors from their previous roles as associate directors.

Paul joined Prime, which has offices in Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry, in 2015 where he started as an account manager in the audit and accounts department. In 2017, Paul was promoted to senior manager, followed by another promotion to associate director in 2021.

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Working alongside Paul in the audits and accounts division, Leigh qualified in 2003, joining Prime in August 2016 after working for more than 17 years in general practice.

of a new department consisting of IT, HR, marketing and internal accounts.

Kerrie Given has moved across from payroll to lead this team as practice manager.

Elsewhere across the business, Martin Farrell has been promoted to senior payroll manager in Prime’s payroll department, while Paislei Godley has been promoted to senior manager for tax advisory.

Kevin Johns, managing director of Prime Accountants Group, said: “ This is a team of talented individuals who reflect Prime’s values in all they do. They have sustained passion for their roles, the cornerstone of any driven employee.

There have also been several promotions in the audit and accounts department, with Emma Abbotts promoted to senior manager; Liam Hackett promoted to manager and both Emma Pithouse and Natalija Carlsson promoted to assistant manager.

The promotions come at the same time as a major review of Prime’s support services, which has led to the creation

New appointment set to enhance it services or College

“We love to see people flourish in their careers and this talented crop have become standout members of our teams, making the most of the working culture we aim to engender here at Prime.

“We know they will both continue to utilise the skillset and the relationships they harbour with their clients in the best possible way.”

As she takes up her post, Lynne, who most recently worked for the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, said, “I am delighted to be joining the team at NWSLC and very much look forward to working at the heart of the college to ensure that its IT and digital services further enhance the teaching and learning experience, streamlining the experience for staff and students alike.

“I am very happy to be returning to the education sector as I have enjoyed a long career working with colleges and universities. I understand the importance of excellent IT infrastructure to the delivery of high-quality teaching and the smooth-running of all college operations.

I am particularly looking forward to working in partnership with the Estates team on new capital projects including the college’s additional campus in Nuneaton town centre, and the redevelopment of Hartshill Academy as part of the Midland Academies Trust.”

Lynne added, “Everyone has learned a great deal about the value of IT in supporting our everyday lives since the start of the pandemic. I am looking forward to exploring how I can help NWSLC to build on the changes and innovations that it has introduced since that time.”

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive said, “I am delighted with the appointment of Lynne Newbitt to the role of Director of IT. We are confident that Lynne will bring a wealth of experience and help us to build on our achievements.

NWSLC has eagerly embraced digital innovation over the last few years, and we are looking forward to building our capabilities further with Lynne’s guidance.”

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46

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