C&W May 18

Issue 65

May / June 2018

Peter Brammall Moving with the times Page 20

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Foreword

CONTENTS

Plenty to shout about Dear Chamber of Commerce Member, For many of our businesses, 1st April 2018 will have signalled the beginning of a new financial year and I hope that your year will be a strong and prosperous one.

Your Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (including Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training) exists to best support your businesses and learners in our locality; we have been part of the fabric of the local community for more than one hundred and fifty years; we are a notfor-profit Membership Organisation; we are a strong voice of business; and we are the go-to place for support, so please give us a call on 02476 654321.

I am pleased to report that the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s first Quarterly Economic Survey of 2018, conducted in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council, showed that manufacturers are buoyant about their future turnover and profitability, scoring an 83.8 on the business confidence chart when surveyed, where 50 would show a balance between a positive and negative outlook for the region. This was up from a score of 80.0 in the final quarter of 2017 and was due, in part, to stronger overseas orders (exports).

In the service sector, locally, there was a slight dip in confidence – down from 78.0 in the last quarter in 2017 to 77.6 in the first three months of this year – but, in my view, still showing high levels of confidence amongst our professional, financial and services.

More than 400 companies responded to the survey! This is fantastic and affords us all a useful and intelligent barometer for our regional economy.

You can be part of this important 'economic intelligence gathering' community and, if you are not already engaged in this important work, drop me a line on louiseb@cw-chamber.co.uk It is good to see that even when facing economic challenge and political uncertainty, notably with BREXIT, Coventry and Warwickshire continues

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to be a bold, robust and confident economy and a place to invest and grow your business.

May / June 2018 Go for Growth

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News

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Events

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News

10-11

Corporate Profiles

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Chamber Training

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Business Support

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I want to see more of our businesses shout about how great they are and you can do this in a number of ways. You can enter our Chamber Business Awards and you can apply for a prestigious Queens Award. If interested in either, get in touch with Adele on adelew@cw-chamber.co.uk and/or book your place on our next Queen's Award Masterclass on 14th June 2018.

On behalf of our President and Chamber Board of Directors, can I offer a huge congratulations to the latest Queen's Award Winners. To be offered a Queen's Award is such a prestigious honour and our special mention goes to our Strategic Member, HoribaMIRA. Fabulous!

Alongside showcasing the very best in business, your Chamber of Commerce also acts as a strong voice of business and, you might be aware, our British Chambers of Commerce is currently running a high profile "Share Your Not Spots" campaign which requires you to share your 'no mobile connectivity' spots with us, so that we can highlight the need for investment in digital infrastructure. Digital and technology infrastructure is critical to growing businesses (and, indeed, our homes) and I was delighted to learn that our Strategic Member, CityFibre, has announced that Coventry is to benefit from the next roll-out of Gigabitcapability with an investment of circa £60 million of private funds in a city-wide roll-out. So much going on in our dynamic sub-region of Coventry & Warwickshire.

To learn more about how your Chamber of Commerce supports our locality, log on to our new-look website www.cw-chamber.co.uk.

Kind regards, Louise, Mrs L Bennett-Bayliss OBE, DL Chief Executive

Legal & Finance Property Profile Brexit Club

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Around the region

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Focus on Conference & Event Venues

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Education & Skills

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News

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President & People

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New Members

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Training and Events

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Go for Growth

CONTACTS

Bid success ‘to create at least 2,000 jobs’

At the Chamber

He said the Trust would expand its own team to 45 and that the city could expect to see employment rise significantly before, during and after the event.

David said: “The support we had from the business community in this region was a very significant part of our bid and I believe it helped to set us apart from other cities.

“I must thank Louise Learning Labs facilitator Adam Dent (Advent Communications), Bennett and the team at the Louise Bennett, David Burbidge Chamber for their backing which came very early in the UK City of Culture 2021 is forecast to campaign. It was a big contribution in its create at least 2,000 extra jobs in own right but it also acted as a catalyst Coventry, a major event has been told. for other businesses – especially SMEs – David Burbidge CBE DL, the chairman to come on board. of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, “Being UK City of Culture will lead was speaking at the Coventry and to a huge amount of investment in the Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s city – the title is a trigger for investment #CWRocks trade expo at the Ricoh Arena and we’ve already seen positive news where he told the audience how business on that front. had played a key role in securing the title.

News desk

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

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

Send them to: news@cw-chamber.co.uk Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Chamber House Innovation Village Cheetah Road Coventry CV1 2TL T: 024 76 654321 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 Mark Etherington Accounts Director Joanne Casey Media Number 1538 © Benham Publishing 2018 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.

The official publication of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce 4

“It is also a trigger for new jobs and the forecast, based on what happened in Hull and other many other factors, is 2,000.

I think that’s rather conservative and believe it could be many more.

“There is no question that it changed Hull profoundly and, as a city, it set the benchmark very high. We want it to have an even bigger impact in Coventry and want to raise the bar even higher.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Just a few months on from that emotional night at the Belgrade Theatre when we found out Coventry had won UK City of Culture, we are already beginning to see a change in the way the city – and the wider region – is talked about.

“The business community played a major part in the bidding process and will be a key partner in the build-up and delivery of the year itself.”

Employability group is launched A group has been launched to help tackle the issues around employability and skills in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The Employability Group has been established by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and was borne out of discussions around a shortage of staff and skills at its Mid-Warwickshire branch meetings.

The group includes representatives from business, education and local authorities and the first meeting heard that companies right across the region can tap into support from the Chamber if they are facing a barrier to growth because they cannot find suitable people to fill vacancies they have.

The Chamber can also help to signpost companies to other forms of support that can help them to look at different ways of bridging the skills gap – from growing their own through apprenticeships or help for people with disabilities to get into work.

Martyne Manning, a business coach and policy officer at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The issue around the skills gap and the skills shortage has been a hot topic of conversation at our branches across the region for some time.

“The concerns around Brexit and what this may mean to hiring staff from the EU have exacerbated the problem and it led to the launch of this group.

“While it has come out of the Mid-Warwickshire branch at the instigation of branch chair David Myskow, it is relevant to the whole region and its work will benefit businesses and individuals across the patch.

Members of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Employability Group assemble at Holiday Inn, Kenilworth

“We know it’s not an issue that can be solved overnight but this group is going to ensure that we look at every way possible to support businesses in their quest to grow and take on staff.”

Technology key to the future for businesses WCG, delivered a Learning Labs session at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s #CWRocks trade expo at the Ricoh Arena.

The trio told the audience that, in an ever-changing business climate, firms had to be one step ahead of the game when it comes to the latest IT and skills.

Adam Dent (Learning Labs facilitator), Fleur Sexton, Peter Husbands, Andy Starnes The audience heard that, by 2030, the skills Investing in technology and training gap would mean 200,000 posts aren’t can help to future-proof a business, filled and that the UK is lagging behind according to industry leaders in in digital connectivity.

Coventry and Warwickshire.

Chris Nagle, the Events & Marketing Fleur Sexton, of PET-Xi; Andy Starnes, Manager at the Coventry and of CityFibre; and Peter Husbands, of

Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This was a really interesting Learning Labs session and the message was clear – make sure you prepare your business for the future by getting the right skills and the most advanced technology.

“Skills and connectivity are two of the biggest barriers to growth that our members talk to us about and, therefore, we provided a panel of experts who have great knowledge on those subjects.

It was a really informative session.

“If companies are struggling with connectivity or can’t find the skills they need to grow their business, I’d urge them to get in touch with the Chamber.”

To get in touch with the Chamber call 024 7665 4321 or go to www.cw-chamber.co.uk www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Policy Go for Growth

Businesses ‘should expect interest rate rises’

Graeme Chaplin and Ajay Desai with the group of businesses who met at Coombe Abbey

Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have been told to expect small rises in interest rates over the next three years towards a ‘new normal’.

Graeme Chaplin, the Bank of England’s West Midlands Agent, met companies from

across the region at an event organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce at Coombe Abbey.

He told the group that, based on current economic conditions and the outlook for CPI inflation, ongoing tightening of monetary policy would be appropriate to return inflation to its two per cent target.

Graeme said: “Rates have been historically low for a sustained period and we are likely to see them increase over the next two to three years.”

The event was organised to allow companies from across the area to give their views on the state of the economy and to help provide the Bank of England with feedback on their businesses.

Similar sessions are held across the UK and help the Bank to build a picture of how businesses are faring.

Topics covered included productivity, Brexit, shortage of labour, pay inflation, general growth and exports.

Graeme added: “We are in a sweet spot for exporters right now. Sterling has depreciated following the EU Referendum, which makes UK goods and services cheaper to buy overseas – and we haven’t yet seen the changes to trade that may potentially come after Brexit.”

Ajay Desai, international trade director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are seeing record levels of overseas trade from this region through the support the Chamber offers.

“I would echo what Graeme is saying about exporting – this is a great time to be looking at new markets and we can support that.”

Confidence at an all-time high Confidence in the manufacturing sector in Coventry and Warwickshire has reached record levels.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s first Quarterly Economic Survey of 2018, conducted in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council, showed that manufacturers are buoyant about future turnover and profitability.

They scored 83.8 on the business confidence chart when surveyed where 50 would show a balance between a positive and negative outlook for the region.

That was up from a score of 80.0 in the final quarter of 2017 and was due, in part, to stronger overseas orders.

In the service sector, there was a slight dip – down from 78.0 in the last quarter in 2017 to 77.6 in the first three months of this year – but this still shows high levels of confidence among businesses in that field.

More than 400 companies responded to the survey and Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire

Chamber of Commerce, said it was a strong barometer for the regional economy.

She said: “The QES is a great measure of how companies are feeling heading into the next 12 months. We hear from lots of businesses individually and this survey is great way of collating all of that sentiment and gives us a great indicator of how firms expect to fare in the next year.

“It is clear that there is great confidence among our manufacturers and that bears out what we hear anecdotally. In fact, one of the issues we have is finding the space for companies across the patch who want to grow and take on more people.

“Overseas orders have risen and that would suggest that some manufacturers are starting to see some benefit from the fall in Sterling when trading abroad.

“The service sector is slightly less upbeat than it was at the end of 2017 – but those figures were very high and have only dipped slightly so are no cause for concern at this stage.

“On the whole, there is a confident picture in Coventry and Warwickshire which bodes well for the future.”

Dave Ayton-Hill, Economy & Skills Group Manager at Warwickshire County Council, added: “While the overall Economic Outlook Index has fallen slightly on the previous quarter, these remain significantly higher than regional and national averages.

“The manufacturing sector is particularly buoyant, driven by improvements in overseas markets.

“The picture for the services sector is slightly more reserved but, overall, business confidence remains very high and the strong readings relative to the national figures paint a picture of good local economic growth in 2018.”

If businesses want to feedback individual issues they are facing that could slow their growth, they should contact Martyne Manning at the Chamber at martynem@cw-chamber.co.uk

Office productivity specialists partner with cloud services provider to move from licensed to CSP Fantoo enrolls Netmetix to reduce cloud costs Workplace productivity provider, Fantoo, recruits the help of Netmetix, cloud network specialists, to move from a Microsoft direct license to a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) model in a bid to reduce costs.

The challenges that Fantoo were facing prior to enlisting Netmetix’s help included the business’ Azure consumption. Being a Microsoft Tenant, Fantoo was paying the maximum costs for its cloud services and those costs were spiraling. It quickly

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became apparent that these associated costs were not sustainable for the start-up business and needed to be minimised.

After deliberation, the business began the process of looking to move from being a direct Microsoft Tenant to working with a CSP. After researching various cloud providers, Fantoo finally chose Netmetix as it was the best fit for what the business needed and was also recommended to them through another client. Although the partnership is still in its early stages, Fantoo has so far recorded a cost reduction of 50% for its cloud services from changing license types. By only migrating the information the business required, rather than all the information the business had, Netmetix has been able to significantly reduce the cloud costs for the business.

Paul Blore, MD at Netmetix states “We’re really excited to be working with Fantoo. It’s a great company and the partnership has been a success so far with the business reporting a huge cost saving within a short timeframe. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to provide the

infrastructure and services to meet their needs now, and in the future.”

Mark Buckley, Sales Director at Fantoo, commented “Netmetix were very approachable and no issue was a problem, they were very professional in what they did and very “human” with a personal touch. What I found with our Netmetix engineer, Oana, is that she really listened to our needs and offered valuable advice and alternative approaches to the way we were thinking. She went out of her way to accommodate our needs and our timelines to deliver the project on time and to plan.

It’s difficult to see how any on-premise server solutions today, or services, can offer any value above what the cloud can offer, today and going forward. Cloud services are more scalable, quicker to deliver, offer more business value than any on-premise server offered today.

Our business could not operate in any other way now. We are cloud and we’re cloud through and through.

Don’t just consider what you need today, but consider what you need tomorrow, because tomorrow will come very quickly.”

Joint venture to support business training needs Leading organisations from across Coventry and Warwickshire have joined together on a major project to support businesses across the region with education and training.

The ‘Collaborate to Train Coventry and Warwickshire’ project is match funded European Social Fund and aims to improve the ways in which education providers, local authorities and other stakeholders work together with businesses to provide high quality and effective education and training services in a more collaborative, user-led way.

Led by WCG (Warwickshire College Group), the project is especially targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and will look at ways to help them get involved in education and training, in particular through providing additional work experience placements, supported internships, apprenticeships and working with schools.

The three-year project is being delivered through a consortium of the major stakeholders in education, training and business engagement.

Along with WCG, these are the University of Warwick, Coventry College, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Coventry University Social Enterprise, Coventry City Council.

Warwickshire County Council is a strategic partner, and other local stakeholders such as business networks, schools and private training providers will also be involved to ensure the project has maximum impact.

Melanie Shaw, Director of Work-based Learning at WCG, said: “We are delighted to be leading this innovative project, which will have a significant impact on the way SMEs access education and training to support their business goals. As well as analysing what we’re already doing well in Coventry and Warwickshire, and sharing this best practice, it gives us the opportunity to improve and streamline how businesses can access education and training for the benefit of everyone.

“It’s unusual to see so many organisations collaborating together on a project like this, but it shows that we are committed to working together and implementing change for the good of Coventry and Warwickshire.”

There are already over 50 small businesses benefiting from the project in its first few months.

To find out more and to get involved fill in the employer enquiry form at www.wcg.ac.uk/ collaboratetotrain, or contact any of the partners directly.

Firms ‘seeking to recruit’ The claimant count in Coventry and Warwickshire has risen again – despite companies across the region saying they are struggling to find skilled staff to fill their posts.

In Coventry, it rose from 4,460 to 4,575 and in Warwickshire it went up from 5,110 to 5,340 in the month to March. However, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce – which has around 2,000 members across the region – says firms are looking to recruit.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The figure is steadily rising and, of course, it’s a cause for concern.

“We have been through periods over the past ten to 15 years where we knew companies were looking to cut headcount rather than increase it.

“This isn’t one of those times. Businesses are telling us that they are confident that they can grow and need more staff to help them to do so.

“They are also telling us that they are unable to find the right people with the right skills to fill the posts that they require.

“It’s a matter that the Chamber is focusing on through our Skills and Employability Group, which was started by our Mid-Warwickshire branch.

There isn’t a quick fix to the overall issue but individual businesses can work with us at the Chamber to help them overcome the problem by looking at other ways to close the skills gap within their company.”

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News

Save the date for summer fun Get ready to saddle up for another impressive year of elegant equestrian events as the 'sport of kings' rides back into Southam.

Dallas Burston Polo Club has unveiled its packed programme of glamorous games for 2018, including three of the biggest fixtures in its social calendar.

One of the most sophisticated events of the polo season will kick-start this year's line-up, with the return of the ever-popular Ladies Day, held in association with Live 24-Seven.

Taking place on Saturday, June 9th, women from across the region will dress up in all their finery to compete in the style stakes for the seventh annual Ladies Day. As well as showcasing the very best in fashion, the day will be filled with tournaments and matches as well as firstrate entertainment and a charity auction.

This prestigious fixture will be followed by one of the finest sporting and social events held annually at the club - the Fine & Country Polo Day. More than just a day of high octane polo, the day presents a great opportunity for family and friends to spend quality time together browsing the shopping village, enjoying fine food or even indulging in a picnic on the lawns.

This family favourite takes place on Saturday, July 7th, and features an array of activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Last year, the 600-acre site was lined with a range of exhibitors which included the impressive expertise of the Honesberie Shooting School. Car enthusiasts also had the chance to indulge in their passion with a dazzling array of classic cars on show including La Ferrari, Lamborghini and even James Bond's Aston Martin DB5.

This year's summer season will draw to a close with the prestigious Polo in the Park - an event which is growing in size year-on-year.

On Sunday, September 2nd, visitors can enjoy a day of family-friendly entertainment with everything from jousting demonstrations, fairground rides and even an enviable display of vintage cars.

Five minutes with the chef behind hotel’s new-look restaurant

The Ramada Hotel & Suite Coventry is a city centre venue that has been busy with the transformation of the Queens Road Restaurant.

The new Queens Road Mediterranean Kitchen is currently one of the most talked about restaurants around town. We talked to the new Head Chef Andrew Riley.

Why and when did you decided you wanted to become a chef?

I was always interested in food and, being bought up in the West Midlands, I used to walk around the local food markets looking at Indian spices and vegetables, wondering how they would taste with their wild colours and aromas. Back then, there were few cooking programmes, unlike now on television, so my knowledge was gained by reading cookery books and experimenting with ingredients.

Where have you studied?

At the age of 16, I moved to the private exclusive members club at the Skibo Castle in Dornoch in Scotland; there I completed my NVQ qualification.

Where have you worked in the past?

I have been lucky enough to work for some fantastic 5-star hotels to gain my knowledge, where I’ve achieved my AA rosetted and Michelin level at the Number 1 Princes Street, Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh and at The French part of The Midland Hotel in Manchester.

I then also went into specialised restaurants to learn international cuisine, where I worked

in the Thai restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge London; Cantina Laredo cooking authentic Mexican food in Dallas in Texas; and finally, Jamie’s Italian in Nottingham.

What cuisine do you specialised?

In today’s environment, I think it’s important that chefs gain knowledge of international cuisine to improve their knowledge of products, culinary skills and unique taste-buds. I have tried not to limit my knowledge to just one cuisine and menus due the demand for different techniques and distinctive flavours; moreover, with social media and the amount cooking programmes on television.

What’s your management style?

The kitchens have changed a lot since I started as a commis chef. I believe head chefs needed to evolve, and so when you work for different head chefs you take the best from each of them. My management style is to be a coach and mentor. I am particularly proud to have become an NVQ assessor, to train students straight from college and passing on my knowledge I have gained.

It is important for a head chef to spend a lot of time with their team to gain an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses but also to build their confidence and skills.

What do you think are your key achievements during your time in your role at each of the venues?

When you are given the job of head chef in any venue, you have been bought in to add something to the business; this maybe to launch a new concept or help grow one.

I have been successful in growing a chain of restaurants at the Living Room group, where I was the menu developer and it grew on as a national concept.

I am also proud of the amount of young chefs I have bought into what is a challenging career and I am proud of what they are achieving.

What’s your current projects and challenges?

We have launched our new Queens Road Mediterranean dining experience at the Ramada Hotel, where we focus on fresh vibrant

HSBC announces two key appointments

Using personal devices could be a risk to your business

By Yasmin Hussain from HBT Communications covered by GDPR. Access to How many of your employees this data on external devices use their personal mobile or could be a risk to the security tablet to access your business systems and their business of the personal data held by emails? Do you know what your business. protection is installed on those To keep safe the personal and devices to keep your business sensitive data used to transact data safe? your business activities, you need GDPR (General Data Protection to know that all the systems and Regulations) comes into force on devices have adequate security 25 May. These new regulations and that the data is only require you to look after accessible to authorised individuals personal and employees. As soon as that data sensitive data. This includes moves out of your systems and names, addresses, emails, equipment, you have no control contact details. as to where the data may end up.

Losing control of your data will If your employees BYOD (bring be judged as a data breach, and your own device), they are using if serious, could result in hefty their personal equipment to fines from the ICO (Information access business emails and Commissioners Office. more, which will include data

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seasonal produce. I have focused on bringing quality ingredients into the kitchen and then let the chefs work their magic and deliver a tasty experience for the guest. The hand-crafted pizzas and pastas are focal to the restaurant as are the finest dry aged English steaks.

What was your thought process behind the changing of the restaurant theme from a Bar & Grill to Mediterranean Kitchen?

Looking at what Coventry currently has, I thought this would be a unique menu for a hotel. The hotel guests are no strangers to other hotels and for us to offer something different would appeal to our clientele.

We focus on a consistent product and to create a menu that was large enough to keep people returning and to create a menu that suits today’s price points.

Goals for the future?

I would like to set up cookery classes at Queens Road where members of the public can come into the kitchen and we can teach them skills of cooking fresh focaccia, pasta and preparing guinea fowl. The idea where they can sit down to a gourmet lunch with wine and my chefs can cook for them using the ingredients they have helped prepare.

This worked very well at one of my previous jobs at The Bank Restaurant in Birmingham.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to sit down at the end of the night, and clear my mind watching any sport that may happen to be on and going to watch my beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers whenever possible.

We understand the thought of the costs of equipping your employees with business only mobiles and tablets, is worrying.

Can your business stand the cost?

HBT, your partners in telecoms and data security, has several packages available and we have wide experience in successful applications for funding towards the costs of upgrading and extending your IT and Telecoms equipment.

You may be surprised at the contributions available from funding schemes, the excellent value for money you can achieve, as well as competitive financing options to spread the cost.

HSBC UK Commercial Banking has announced the appointment of Ian Coulson as Area Director for Business Banking in Coventry, Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Debbie Harper as Regional Risk Director for HSBC Business Banking across the Midlands.

Ian has spent much of the past 14 years of his banking career supporting businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire, most recently as a Relationship Director for large corporate clients in the area. As Area Director, Ian will co-head a team of 15 relationship managers to support owner-managed businesses with a turnover of between £2m – £6.5m Debbie has spent the past four years of her 15 year banking career in Coventry and Warwickshire and has been a key board member for the Chamber. Her success in this role has led to her increased remit, managing the risk function for the whole of the Midlands in this new role.

Ian said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Area Director at a time when the

region has much to be proud of. I have lived in Warwickshire for the last 15 years and chose the county as a place to bring up my young family. I feel really privileged to be leading HSBCs Business Banking team on my home patch.”

Debbie Harper said: “My time in Coventry and Warwickshire has been hugely rewarding and I feel privileged to have worked with some fantastic businesses, as well as working closely with a proactive and successful Chamber of Commerce. I have been supported by an experienced and dedicated team who are passionate about providing excellent customer service and promoting Coventry and Warwickshire as a great place to do business.

“I am delighted to be staying in the Midlands and will continue to take a keen interest in the success of Coventry and Warwickshire as well as continuing to be a real promoter of the region.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

sponsored column

Cooking on gas: TruTac helps keeps Calor fleet safe Calor Gas, the market-leading LPG supplier in the UK, prides itself on high driver and vehicle compliance across its nationwide depot network.

To achieve and maintain such levels requires a tachograph software expert, which is why they use TruTac’s compliance products to provide easy tachograph data capture, tighter management control and continued safety for their entire fleet.

Calor’s Fleet Asset Manager, David Brown, said: “We are the UK’s leading supplier of LPG and, naturally, with this type of product, safety and overall compliance are

paramount. Accordingly, we rely greatly on TruTac’s bespoke management systems to ensure we maintain the safest fleet possible.”

Using the market-proven online TruControl portal and with DigiPostPros at each site, Calor can easily download and manage all vehicle and driver tachograph data.

TruAnalysis (including TruDriver and TruView) provide powerful dashboards, reporting and alerts to keep a watchful eye on the status of every driver and vehicle in the fleet.

Primera Air prepares for take off from the Midlands Ahead of launching its new base in Birmingham, Primera Air has been given a warm welcome by the Midlands’ business community.

development for Birmingham Airport and region. With the technology that our brand new fleet offers expensive transatlantic travel becomes a thing of history”.

Midlands thanks to its strong trading and cultural links with the US and Canada, and the leisure travellers’ desire to escape to warmer Mediterranean climes.”

Birmingham Airport’s newest carrier will launch direct low-cost services to New York, Toronto, Malaga, Barcelona, Palma and Crete, from May.

The carrier will operate brand new Airbus A321 Neos, configured with 16 premium economy seats and 182 economy seats.

Primera Air is also the partner airline for a three-year campaign working with Birmingham Airport, the West Midlands Growth Company, Shakespeare’s England, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Britain.

Together, the organisations will market Birmingham and the surrounding areas to a global audience, convert inspiration to visit into bookings, and promote direct flights to the area.

It has also announced that 50 jobs have already been created in flight crew and operational positions and the airline plans to keep expanding from Birmingham.

Anastasija Visnakova, Chief Commercial Officer, for Primera Air, said: “This is an important first step for us and significant

There is much demand for transatlantic services from Birmingham. In the last year, the West Midlands exported £6.2bn worth of goods to the USA, second only behind the South East, and exported £778.5m to Canada, the highest of any region in the UK.Chairman of Birmingham Airport, Tim Clarke, said, “Primera has seen the enormous opportunities available in the

Croner wins Trusted Service Award For the second year running Croner, has been awarded the coveted Feefo Gold Trusted Service award, the independent seal of excellence recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences.

The award’s criteria means that at least 50 online reviews were collected, with a service rating of between 4.5 and 5. In the two years that Croner has requested online reviews, almost 1,000 people have left one, leaving an average client rating of 4.6.

Created by Feefo, Trusted Service is awarded only to those businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine ratings and reviews. The badge

of honour remains unique, as it is based purely on the interactions with verified customers.

Paul Holcroft, Head of Legal and Advisory at Croner, said: “We are delighted to be recognised as a Gold Trusted Merchant by Feefo for the second year running. Our teams’ work tirelessly to constantly better our provision, and this award from Feefo is testimony to the excellent level of service our clients receive.”

Feefo is a ratings, reviews and customer analytics platform that provides the tools to collect genuine, purchase-verified reviews on behalf of over 4,000 businesses.

Race Retro all set for a return to NAEC Stoneleigh in 2019 Lynn Gardner, Senior Key Account Manager at NAEC, said. “It’s great to be working with Clarion’s International Historic Motorsport Show, Race Retro. This is a perfect event to really showcase what is unique about our venue.”

NAEC Stoneleigh hosted Race Retro 2018.

Legendary racing drivers, World Rally Champions and record crowds in excess of 21,000 visitors gathered at the event venue.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Lee Master, Consultant/Acting Show Director of Race Retro, said: “What sets this venue apart from other event venues is the combination of great indoor space and conference facilities but also the external space which allows us as an event organiser to deliver great live content to our visitors.”

Race Retro will return to NAEC Stoneleigh in February 2019.

Complying with the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria.

The Environment Agency is the UK scheme administrator. Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out ESOS assessments every four years.

Compliance for the next stage must be submitted by 5th December 2019. These assessments are audits of the energy used by buildings, industrial processes and transport to identify cost-effective energy saving measures.

ESOS affects any UK company that either: • Employs 250 or more people.

• Has an annual turnover in excess of 50 million euro (£38,937,777), and an annual balance sheet total in excess of 43 million euro (£33,486,489).

• An overseas company with a UK registered establishment which has 250 or more UK employees (paying income tax in the UK).

Failure to comply with ESOS will result in a £50,000 fine for your business (this is being heavily policed by the Environmental Agency).

Planning for Land Development The recent adoption of the Coventry Plan has again highlighted the need for new homes in our region, and the challenge of finding suitable sites for development.

The gains arising on the commercial and/or residential development of land can be substantial, which is great news for the landowners. The corresponding tax bills are not generally so well received!

We are currently advising a number of landowners in Coventry and Warwickshire who are entering into contracts with developers and they have been pleased with the structures we have been able to implement to mitigate their tax liabilities without resorting to aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

A key factor in tax planning in relation to land is timing. The earlier in the process we are asked to advise, the better the tax outcome is likely to be. We strongly recommend that tax advice is sought right at the outset, well before contracts are signed or planning applications are made.

Individuals wishing to discuss any of these points further should contact Paul Spencer or David Thomas on 02476 257481 or ps@sgduk.com/ dt@sgduk.com.

For more information please visit our website www.sgduk.com.

7

Events

#CWRocks hits the right note More than 600 businesspeople attended the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s #CWRocks business expo.

Visitors were given a warm welcome to the Ricoh Arena, with the registration area sponsored by CityFibre to make the most of one of the biggest networking opportunities in the area. As well as meeting potential new business contacts, it was also a chance to hear from a range of experts on topics such as Brexit and UK City of Culture during the Learning Labs.

Chris Nagle, the Events & Marketing Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the attendance and the early feedback we have received on #CWRocks.

“We decided to try something quite different with this expo and it worked really well – businesses liked the mix

8

Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Skipper, Louise Bennett (Chamber chief executive) David Penn (Chamber vice president).

of networking and the opportunity to listen and learn from people with expertise in a range of fields.

“The great thing about the expo is seeing businesspeople meeting and either connecting for the first time or chatting to existing contacts.

“In this digital age, people still do business with people and there is nothing like meeting face to face in this way to keep the wheels of commerce in motion.”

As it was National Apprenticeships Week, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training showcased its pop-up Apprenticeship Shop to offer advice to employers on the benefits of having an apprentice in their business.

A Business Leaders Lunch was sponsored by PET-Xi Training while the Learning Labs sessions were sponsored

by WCG Apprenticeships.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Events

Increased visitor numbers the target for Coventry

sponsored column

EMI Schemes on Hold?

Louise Bennett, Sir John Peace, Fleur Sexton

The Chairman of the partnership that is driving economic growth, improving productivity and quality of life in the Midlands says it can help increase the number of visitors to Coventry in 2021.

Sir John Peace, the Chairman of the Midlands Engine, was speaking at a Business Leaders Lunch at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s #CWRocks trade expo at the Ricoh Arena.

The lunch, sponsored by PET-Xi, was attended by a range of corporate and strategic partners of the Chamber from across the region and also heard from Fleur Sexton, the managing director of PET-Xi. She said that the Chamber had helped her grow the business and urged company bosses to ‘break the rules’ if they were holding them back.

That was after Sir John had said that Midlands Engine had five key priorities – radically transforming Midlands connectivity, growing trade and investment, skills, shaping great places and increasing innovation and enterprise – in order to grow the economy across the whole of the Midlands. And he said Midlands Engine partners were perfectly placed to help boost visitor numbers in Coventry during its year as UK City of Culture in 2021.

He said: “What the Midlands Engine partners can do is drive footfall to Coventry from right across the Midlands and beyond, which would have a positive impact on the city and the rest of the region during 2021. The city was a deserving winner of the title and a successful year for Coventry, would be a successful year for the Midlands.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the Business Leaders Lunch had been a great addition to #CWRocks.

She said: “We were delighted to see so many businesses at #CWRocks and we are extremely grateful to Fleur and PET-Xi for its sponsorship of the Business Leaders Lunch and for Fleur’s inspirational story.

“It was also great to welcome Sir John Peace to speak at the event.

Coventry and Warwickshire does, of course, have its own identity but, as Sir John said, there are issues that we all face as a region and the Midlands Engine can help us better work together across all areas of the Midlands.”

Award masterclass to be held

Coventry and Warwickshire companies are set to be given a range of expert tips on how to win an award from Her Majesty, The Queen.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has partnered with colleagues from Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to deliver a masterclass on the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 14, at The Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Park and will feature contributions from previous winners, experts in completing the application and from the Queen’s representatives in the region.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is renowned as one of the most prestigious awards for businesses to enter and helps to raise a company’s profile both at home and abroad as winners must meet stringent standards.

Louise Bennett, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to be working with Her Majesty’s Lord

Lieutenants of the West Midlands and Warwickshire and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to deliver this masterclass to businesses.

“The Queen’s Award for Enterprise remains one of the most prestigious awards a business can win and it is extremely highly-regarded when trading in the UK and overseas.

“This masterclass will run through information on how to fill in the application, will hear from some previous winners on the effect it’s had on their business and will also include remarks for the region’s Lord Lieutenants.

“My advice to businesses would be to make sure they attend if they are considering applying for a Queen’s Award because there is no other event that can offer this kind of insight.”

To book, email adelew@cw-chamber.co.uk or call 024 7665 4186.

Companies currently in the process of implementing an Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme, or considering doing so, are in a state of flux at the moment. On 4 April HMRC issued a bulletin announcing that EU state aid approval for the scheme was about to expire on 6 April.

The EMI scheme is a tax advantaged share option arrangement that enables employers to attract or retain key staff by granting them share options in their employer company.

It has worked very well for a number of years, but the absence of EU approval calls into question whether the tax advantages will be available for schemes being implemented now. HMRC have warned that they may not.

But are HMRC correct in saying this?

This is UK legislation, so primarily it is policed

by HMRC. Even with Brexit coming around the corner, the EU would still be within its rights to step in and withdraw the state aid related benefits on options issued now, but HMRC are only under an obligation to enforce this right if the EU takes action. Assuming they don’t, HMRC can allow the rules to work as they currently apply under UK legislation.

Then there is the question of what aspects of the scheme are considered to confer a state benefit. It is only these that can be withdrawn. In fact, the two principal benefits, i.e. the income tax advantage for employees and the corporation tax relief for employers, are not the subject of the state aid approval, so these will not be affected.

This then begs the question “Should companies go ahead with EMI schemes in spite of the absence of EU approval?”

The answer, as so often in life, is perhaps.

What we can say more definitely though is that we should not take this current position as a complete stop on EMI schemes.

Companies considering EMI should talk to an adviser to weigh up the pros and cons.

For any questions or to discuss EMI schemes please contact Brian Jukes on 02476 221 046 or email brian.jukes@dafferns.com

9

News

A multi-award-winning Coventry businesswoman has been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands Festival boosts retailers Businesses in Coventry city centre received a major boost from a festival held as part of the build up to UK City of Culture 2021.

Coventry played host to the first ever pilot Shop Front Festival and it helped the city drive up the number of visitors – and shoppers – over the course of the Friday and Saturday.

It saw a host of events, artworks and performances staged in disused shops and in current retail outlets including cafes, newsagents – and IKEA. From donut sellers to independent shops, businesses across the city centre saw an increase in trade as visitor numbers shot up from 44,773 to 61,709 on the previous Saturday and an increase of 2,500 people on the Friday.

The city centre was also well above the national average on footfall by 5.4 per cent over the course of the week with increased visitor numbers in some under-utilised areas.

The pilot festival was presented by Chris O’Connell and Julia Negus, the writer and producer who run the awardwinning Coventry based Theatre Absolute – which operates the only shop front theatre in the UK from inside a former chip shop - working with independent artistic director Orit Azaz and outdoor arts producer Lou Lomas.

The Shop Front Festival was supported by the Coventry City of Culture Trust via the Coventry Great Place Scheme, Coventry City Council, the Heart of England Community Foundation, Coventry Business Improvement District (BID), Backstage Trust and 29th May Trust.

Trish Willetts, director of BID - a partnership between the businesses with the aim to promote, develop and boost the city centre to make it a great place to work and visit, said it was a triumph.

“The businesses are thrilled,” she said.

“I have been inundated with messages saying what a great weekend everyone had and the stats really bear that out.”

Tina Wheat, who has run Cejais Bears and Dollshouses in Spon Street for 18 years, was thrilled with the increase in footfall.

She said: “I could hear people saying that they hadn’t realised we were there and, at one point, there were 18 people in the shop at the same time – that has never happened before.”

Laura McMillan, Director of Operations and Legacy at Coventry City of Culture Trust, added: “There is a national conversation taking place on how we drive more people to our city centres and Shop Front Festival has shown what can be done.”

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Fleur Sexton, who is the reigning UK Businesswoman of the Year 2017/18, is managing director and co-founder of PET-Xi Training, whose talented teams and innovative programmes upskill people in the workplace and students in schools across the UK. She has been appointed by John Crabtree OBE, the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

Deputy Lieutenants support the LordLieutenant in representing Her Majesty The Queen and are also required to fulfil the role and a number of other duties in promoting voluntary, charitable and youth activities and supporting the region. The West Midlands Lieutenancy comprises of Coventry, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Fleur said she was honoured to be representing the West Midlands which is the second largest lieutenancy in the country.

“I am proud and humbled to have been chosen to be a Deputy Lieutenant and this will be a wonderful opportunity to support the fantastic civic, ceremonial, voluntary, charitable and social activities taking place throughout the region,” she said.

“The profile of the West Midlands keeps rising on a national and international scale following Coventry winning the bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021 and Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games a year later.

“When you add the diverse and high number of businesses ranging from SMEs to global companies that are based here and our location at the heart of the UK, the West Midlands is a great place to live and work.”

Fleur set-up PET-Xi Training in 1995 and the business, which has its headquarters at Westwood Business Park in Coventry, has now worked with 150,000 students in schools across the UK to help improve their GCSE results.

They have recently pioneered a UK-wide “Upskilling the Nation” scheme for unemployed and homeless adults, helping them to return to the workplace and society, and an apprenticeship scheme to help young people gain vital skills, experience and qualifications in the world of work while helping employers to raise standards and close the skills gap.

She added: “This 12 months just keeps on getting better and better after winning a number of awards including the UK Businesswoman of the Year title.

“Being a Deputy Lieutenant means I will have the opportunity to represent Her Majesty The Queen at events throughout the West Midlands and highlight the diverse communities we have throughout the region.

“I am really looking forward to starting my new role which fits in with PET-Xi Training’s vision of everyone having a place in our community, everyone having something to offer and everyone having a place in our society, we sometimes just need to find it.”

Fleur is dedicated to breaking barriers and improving chances, investing much of her time and 10 per cent of the company’s profits into activities, campaigning to Government and employers to invest in skills, motivating women to fulfil their potential and running the PET-Xi Foundation which raises money for young people nationwide.

The mum-of-three runs free childcare for staff children in the six-week school holidays and she is an active board

Fleur Sexton, who has been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands

member of Coventry & Warwickshire Champions, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Historic Coventry Trust and The NSPCC Business Group.

PET-Xi Training sponsors and actively supports Birmingham Hippodrome, is an Official Education Partner to the Wasps Netball Academy Hubs and is involved in the Wasps Netball team’s STEM project and Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Community Foundation, and was active bid development sponsors of the successful Coventry City of Culture 2021 bid.

“Being a Deputy Lieutenant means I will have the opportunity to represent Her Majesty The Queen at events throughout the West Midlands and highlight the diverse communities we have throughout the region.”

Creative director sounds a positive note Chenine Bhathena has promised to deliver “an unforgettable year” to Coventry after being appointed as the Creative Director for UK City of Culture 2021.

Chenine, who was the Creative Programmer for London 2012, has landed the role with the Coventry City of Culture Trust after a competitive three-month process.

Coventry won the title at a ceremony in Hull in December and, since then, has been recruiting for a range of roles to plan and deliver the 12-month programme which could stimulate £350 million of direct economic impact.

working with the team and the whole city to create something extraordinary in 2021.

“I’ve been producing and commissioning work with a range of artists for 25 years. I’ve recently spearheaded the Mayor of London’s new London Borough of Culture competition, as well as leading the Mayor’s programme for the London 2012 Festival, where I delivered the biggest outdoor festival ever seen in the capital, delivering brilliant events across the 32 London boroughs and the City of London.

Chenine, who joins from the Greater London Authority, believes being UK City of Culture means Coventry can highlight and develop its role as a global leader.

“We took arts and culture onto the doorsteps of communities across the city – from large scale spectaculars, to artists on the streets, opera on canals, ballet in lidos and sound and fire installations in country parks.

She said: “This is such an exciting role and I am really looking forward to

“I can see great synergies between Coventry’s ambitions for 2021 and with

what I have been doing with culture and communities during my career.”

David Burbidge, the Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said more than 40 candidates had applied for the post which will formally start in July. He said: “We were blown away by the quality and quantity of applications and drew up a shortlist of great candidates.

“Chenine’s personality, skills and experience are remarkably aligned to what we want to deliver for the city in the lead up to 2021, the year itself and the legacy so we are delighted to have her on board.”

Chenine will work alongside the existing team which includes Laura McMillan, who is now Director of Operations and Legacy at the Coventry City of Culture Trust.

Coventry City Council Leader Cllr George Duggins said: “This is a fantastic appointment for Coventry.”

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

sponsored column

The five most common signs of organisational complacency

At Glued, we have delved deep into the culture of a dozens of businesses across a wide range of sectors and sizes.

IIn doing so we have recognised some common themes that are symptomatic of an organisation that has lost touch with what makes it valuably different from its competitors.

This can be summarised as a kind of collective organisational complacency.

We felt it worthwhile sharing some of the more common symptoms.

1. The answer to ‘What do you do?’ doesn’t come readily?

This seems to stem from a lack of confidence around how what you do benefits your customers. The fact that you do what you do day-in-day-out, to you, has become the norm. To an outsider it is likely to look pretty special. Find a way of succinctly expressing the different and valuable way you go about what you do.

2. When the answer to ‘What do you do?’ arrives it sounds like a cliché?

Once you have this succinct expression you may find you start to feel you are repeating

yourself. Look and listen carefully to how people react. Take delight in the different reactions and find out more from the ones that show genuine interest.

3. Margins are tightening Clients may be asking for price reductions.

You may be reducing prices to avoid competition. Either way margins are affected.

Have clients ever had the opportunity to compare how you do what you do with how your competitors do what they do? Why not keep your valuable difference front and centre of the way you communicate and what you communicate about?

4. Colleagues seem listless Ever hear the term ‘lost the plot’?

What are the individual end goals of people in the organisation? How do they relate to the end goal of your organisation? Finding a way of linking these factors together and a way of keeping that front of mind will soon catalyse people from torpor into action.

5. You wonder where the joy went Perhaps you have ‘lost the plot’?

It is natural for us to look outside ourselves for the reason and solution to this state.

But if you are a leader a lot of this is likely to stem from you. Dig deep to remember the times when you felt passionate and excited by what you do. Soon you will recover your own purpose and motivation.

Award for bus company National Express West Midlands has won a national employer award for its innovative - and life-saving - Health Bus. The bus operator was given the British Quality Foundation excellence award for employee engagement this month.

The National Express Health Bus is a mobile nurse’s surgery that goes round all ten West Midlands bus depots for the 5,500 staff to visit while they’re at work.

A team from National Express West Midlands collected their trophy at a central London event in front of the Princess Royal.

National Express HR Director Madi Pilgrim said: “I’m so pleased that our Health Bus has won this excellence award. The Health Bus grew out of something our employees asked for in a staff survey a few years ago.

“Working shifts and being out on the road at all times of day and night can make it hard for our staff to get to see health professionals.

But since we built the Health Bus, it’s had nearly 6,000 visits from our employees.”

The Health Bus is a retired single decker that was refitted by National Express West Midlands employees into two private consultation rooms and a waiting room.

National Express provides a co-ordinator to promote the facility to staff and handle bookings. And a qualified Occupational Health Nurse provides confidential testing and advice on all sorts of health matters, including: • eyesight testing • body mass index • ECG reading • cholesterol testing • blood sugar levels • lung capacity • blood pressure Where necessary, the nurse can refer people to GPs or opticians.

As an example of the benefits, on a drop-in visit to the Health Bus, Birmingham bus driver Roy Spriggs found out that his blood

Coventry based company, StadiumTM Training grow further within the international sector by delivering to senior Qatar Police Officials. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Imagine that you are halfway through your sales quota period, but the sales you’ve closed so far represent just over 30% of your target. You’re clearly behind. What do you do?

If you’re committed to achieving your numbers, you knuckle down and do what’s necessary to bring them up to the specified level. You organise and analyse your sales leads. Then, you step up your activity and do whatever it takes to get back on track. You make the prospecting calls; you ask for referrals; you solicit additional business from existing customers; and you follow up and follow through on every opportunity.

As your activity increases, so do your £ numbers. And, by the end of the period, you reach your target.

Problem solved.

But, is it?

Halfway through the next period, you’re only at 28% of target—a bit further behind than the previous period.

How did that happen?

pressure and sugar levels were dangerously high. When he went to his GP, as advised by the Health Bus nurse, the doctor confirmed that the Health Bus had provided a life-changing experience that will help him live longer. Roy is now receiving treatment and is safely back on the road again.

Another driver, Jim Gordon, discovered high levels of PSA, an early indicator of prostate cancer. After treatment, Jim says those levels have now dropped to negligible.

Further International Training Growth for Coventry Company The company provides a unique and bespoke training course that specifically looks at the Safety of Stadiums. Ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Supreme Committee of Planning and Legacy looked to the company to provide support and training.

The UK is world renowned for some of the most famous clubs and the most iconic stadiums. The passion of the fans being incredible, with such diversity within the British football culture this provides the perfect backdrop to StadiumTM’s bespoke Training.

In April StadiumTM welcomed two cohorts of Qatari Officials. Each of the groups received guest speakers, team exercises and experienced live stadium events. Leading the training course is the company HR Director and holder of a NVQ Level 4 diploma in Spectator Safety, Lorraine Baillie. Training and Recruitment Manager, Jemma,

Could the Solution Be the Problem?

supporting throughout delivery. Being based in Coventry the company has been able to logistically plan the course allowing the live events element to take place at some of the most well-known grounds and with the most passionate of fans.

Lorraine Baillie states, “The theory component of the training is key; but the practical element of the training and seeing different scenarios first hand is vital.

The football leagues in the UK are world renowned for having some of the most passionate of fans, clubs both large and small. Being able to have our clients experience the atmosphere of a game is both thrilling and eye opening for them.”

For Coventry, a city that is steeped in sport history and has various sport venues is a fantastic setting for such training and is proving to capture the eye of international countries and committees.

The answer is quite simple. In the previous period, you addressed and solved the apparent issue—low numbers—by attacking the symptom rather than the underlying reason for it. So, the fix was temporary. And, because the underlying reason (perhaps a lack of a consistent process for identifying and developing new opportunities) still existed, the issue resurfaced.

When attempting to solve problems, take a “systemic” approach. Learn to look at them as symptoms of deeper rooted issues. Then, focus your problem-solving efforts on the underlying causes and contributing factors to those issues.

The solutions you develop are likely to be more permanent.

••• Written by Neil Liddell, CEO of Sandler Training Central, providers of Sales, Leadership and Management Training.

Helping businesses overcome issues such as the above.

Contact Neil for more details.

T: 0845 0573563 M: 07547 227442

nliddell@sandler.com www.central.sandler.com •••

11

Corporate Profiles

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth This highly effective growth programme for entrepreneurs is delivered by Aston Business School The programme is free to business leaders in the Coventry LEP area, who would benefit from expanding their network, receiving expert advice from Aston University academics, one-to-one support from an experienced business mentor and developing a focused growth strategy.

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth is a fully funded six-month business growth programme that consists of nine core workshops covering a range of topics, including strategy and business models, managing business finances, opportunities and innovation and leadership. Each workshop provides tools and knowledge that business owners can immediately implement within their business to ensure growth.

Professor Mark Hart, Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School said: “We encourage the business owners to think very clearly about their business model, and the core thread to the whole programme is financial literacy.

We enable participants to make strategic decisions for their business based on an understanding of key financial metrics.”

All of the participants surveyed after completing the first cohort of the programme in 2015 reported that they were anticipating significant growth in revenues as a result of the programme, with 60 percent expecting turnover growth in excess of 200 percent and 48 percent also projecting employee numbers to grow in excess of 200 per cent in the next three years. www.aston.ac.uk/centreforgrowth 0121 204 3225

medical care to individuals and business across the Cotswolds and Warwickshire.

The company philosophy is a simple one; to provide the very best possible healthcare to its members. Concierge Medical has brought back the "old fashioned, homevisiting family doctor" but with modern medicine and technology.

Kat Carrick, Managing Partner of the Practice who completed the programme in 2017 said; "It was exactly the right time for us, we had been operating for 3 years and had reached a number of capacity ceilings and weren't clear where to go next.

A participant from a previous cohort, Kat Carrick, Managing Partner of Concierge The programme provided a structured, comprehensive approach that enabled us Medical, based in Coventry was searching to analyse and resolve our growth for additional support to allow her threerestrictions and define a clear plan. year business to reach the next level.

Our membership business has grown by Concierge Medical is a private GP 98% in the 6 months since we finished the service that provides 24/7 bespoke course and we have defined an achievable

structure and attractive proposition for new doctors, whilst continuing to provide and enhance our personalised service to Practice members.

Above all though, the course gave us the confidence to set our goals and aspirations much higher than we would have otherwise done and made us all a bit braver". www.conciergemedical.co.uk 01451 600 900

Cohort 5

Applications Now Open

Deadline Date: 18th June Interview Date: 12th July To download an application visit our webpage or contact a member of the team at

centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk 0121 204 5023

This is a competitive application process, eligibility requirements apply.

StadiumTM’s growth leads to new HQ A specialist supplier of traffic management, stewarding, security and training services in Coventry is moving to a new base after seeing a huge amount of growth during the last 12 months.

StadiumTM, which supplies services to the events industry, is relocating to a 9,000 sq ft unit in Walsgrave which will host all of its operational and office space this summer.

It comprises of three companies – Stadium TM Event Services, StadiumTM Training Services and Stadium Facilities Management - and has clients throughout England in various industries, including a number of Premier League football clubs.

Stadium TM was founded in 2009 in a Portakabin in the grounds of Burnley FC after the company’s Managing Director David McAtamney was called upon to support traffic management at the club.

It began with just six casual staff but has gone from strength to strength, opening a headquarters in Coventry and now having more than 900 employees.

A major turning point for the company was the London 2012 Olympic Games when StadiumTM stepped in to fulfil the shortfalls of security service provisions.

The company recruited and trained around 700 staff and were present at 24 venues across London.

This led to the Stadium TM Training Company being established, which offers a number of training courses including

12

the NVQ Level 2 in Spectator Safety – the industry standard qualification for all staff who work in stadiums.

The next development was in 2015 with the addition of facilities management, and the latest was in 2017 with the company now offering the hire and installation of temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers which protect against vehicle ramming attacks.

David McAtamney said: “We have seen an incredible amount of growth since launching in 2009, expanding on the services we offer and growing a client base of industry names.

“Our bespoke training courses have attracted the attention of the Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and we have recently designed and delivered training in Coventry to Qatari officials ahead of the 2022 World Cup. “We have also put together a new car park management plan for Barclaycard’s headquarters, managing more than 3,000 parking spaces, as well as Aston Villa’s The Recon Training Complex.

“Our most recent high-profile work has been at this year’s London Marathon where we deployed the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barrier in Parliament Square.

In one of the world’s most famous locations the barriers protected thousands of people and runners.

“In 2016/17 we saw growth of almost 20 per cent and we show no signs of

slowing down. Summer is normally a quiet period for us due to the football calendar, but this year we have lots in the pipeline, with work for BBC Radio’s Biggest Weekend and the Godiva Festival already confirmed.

“The move into our new premises will help this momentum continue and allow for further growth.”

Stadium TM is a corporate member of the Chamber and will be looking to connect with businesses across the area.

Marketing Executive, Lona Price Jones added: “We are quite a niche business, and the Chamber has already introduced us to a number of firms that may be interested in our services.

“We are now looking to develop further ties with businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire. With Coventry’s City of Culture year in 2021 on the horizon, there are some huge opportunities for us in the future.”

Managing Director David McAtamney, HR Director Lorraine Baillie and Finance Director Steve McCabe

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Corporate Profiles

Major anniversary is a source of PRide for Advent Advent Communications, one of the region’s leading PR and communications companies, has a double reason to celebrate in 2018.

The firm, based at Electric Wharf, is marking 20 years in business, and has just collected an award for the work it has undertaken for the UK City of Culture 2021 bid.

Advent has helped mastermind the communications and publicity for the bid, working from day one on raising awareness and garnering support through local, regional and national media.

It worked closely with the in-house marketing team at the Coventry City of Culture Trust and design agency The Jade Studio – and the trio scooped the Communications Campaign of the Year at the Coventry & Warwickshire FirstPro Awards.

Advent, which has managed PR for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade, works for a variety of companies and organisations across the region and the UK, and handles a wide range of communications including public relations, social media, video, e-shots, copy writing, crisis media management and event facilitation.

Managing Director Adam Dent said picking up the award was nothing in

comparison to the city scooping the UK City of Culture crown.

“Being at the Belgrade Theatre when the UK City of Culture award was announced was fantastic,” he said. “The bid was very strong, well organised and well-presented but no-one knew until the very last moment which city had triumphed.

“In the two years leading to the decision, we had managed to earn the bid some really valuable profile in key national publications and news programmes and we would like to think that played a part in the overall success.

“It really was a night to remember – and the start of an exciting four or five years.”

Advent only employs staff who are trained or experienced in journalism and has built an enviable network of media and business contacts.

Adam said: “We very much pride ourselves on our professionalism – in the material we produce, the reach of our contact network, the service delivery to our clients – and hopefully that is reflected in our growth and the fact we work with clients over a very long period.

“The Chamber is a perfect example.

We work closely with the in-house team at the Chamber, making sure that the work it does on behalf of members is communicated to a wide audience across a very wide range of media.

“In recent months that has ranged from local weekly papers right through to the Financial Times, so we ensure that the business message is being heard loud and clear.

“In the last few years we have really helped clients embrace social media for the benefit of their business, mainly

through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and we now produce videos for use on line and social platforms.

“It’s a great example of how we’ve stayed true to the values that saw us start up 20 years ago but also how we’ve moved with the ever-changing media landscape.”

Construction equipment company celebrates major milestone A leading designer and manufacturer of compact construction equipment will celebrate 65 years of site dumper production with a new product at its Coventry site.

Mecalac Construction Equipment UK Ltd (CEUK), based at Prologis Park in Coventry, employs more than 200 people dedicated to setting the global standards for innovation, performance and quality.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of site dumper production and the company is launching the Mecalac MDX Cabbed site dumper to mark the occasion – a revolutionary range of cabbed site dumpers.

It will be developed in Coventry by the highlyexperienced engineering design department, sleek design is paired with innovative technology to deliver world-leading capability.

The new range promises to set the standards in on-site safety, while boasting a wide range of additional features compared to its competitors.

With market-leading experience in both design and production, Mecalac continue to innovate, boasting a comprehensive portfolio of equipment specifically developed to revolutionise operations for construction professionals worldwide – saving time, money and labour.

From first-to-market technologies to a comprehensive range of rental-tough equipment, the company works with

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esteemed hire companies and owner operators alike to deliver real-world results.

Part of Group Mecalac, which specialises in developing highly-innovative plant machinery for use on urban construction sites, the company manufacture three major product lines – site dumpers, compaction rollers and backhoe loaders.

Each model is designed to deliver superior performance, flexibility and speed.

Alongside the launch of our MDX portfolio, 2018 will see the official introduction of Group Mecalac’s loader and excavator portfolio into the UK construction marketplace.

Manufactured in Annecy, France, each model is compact, fuel-efficient and multi-functioning.

Mecalac are confident that the range will be well-received by construction professionals nationwide, who recognise the benefits of adopting new technology to increase productivity.

Mecalac is committed to further developing its operations in Coventry.

With an engaged workforce and excellent location, introducing new products to the UK market is just the start of our long-term strategy to make the midlands a hub for new technologies and innovation.

For more information about Mecalac CEUK, or to find your nearest distributor, visit www.mecalac.com/en

“Mecalac is committed to further developing its operations in Coventry. With an engaged workforce and excellent location, introducing new products to the UK market is just the start of our long-term strategy to make the midlands a hub for new technologies and innovation. “ 13

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training

Chamber Training Scoops Prestigious Award At the 13th Coventry Freeman’s Guild Apprentice of the Year Awards, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training was awarded Apprentice Training Provider of the Year.

The purpose of the Guild Awards is to celebrate the achievements of local young people who are either Apprentices or those undertaking a training programme linked to a recognised career.

1st Vogue Front Cover for Former Apprentice A former Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training Apprentice has gained international recognition for her hairdressing skills, featuring on the front cover of Vogue Magazine.

Building on solid foundations developed at Chamber Training, Jaimie Tanner has gone from strength travelling the globe, working on clients on fashion shoots.

Jayne Powell, Trainer at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training said: “From day one of her apprenticeship in hairdressing, Jaimie was determined and passionate about developing her career.

She seized every opportunity to excel, entering competitions to supporting amazing stylists such as Eugene Souleiman whilst also building her clientele locally.

“Jaimie has brought her skills and knowledge back to her roots, showing the next generation of hairdressing Apprentices how far they can go with determination and ambition. We are extremely proud to have been part of her wonderful journey and will certainly be following her career in the future.

“From local beginnings in Coventry and Warwickshire, Jaimie has taken her skills to a global level. Being on the front page of such an influential magazine such as ‘Vogue’ has already presented Jaimie with a number of opportunities.”

Commenting on her fantastic achievement, Jaimie said: “If I was to offer one piece of advice to apprentices, I would say - Don’t ever let anybody or where you are from hold you back from pursuing your dreams. My success is testament to the fantastic training at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training and I will always be grateful for the guidance and encouragement provided by the team.”

Shown is Jaimie Tanner

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With over 30 years’ experience of delivering high quality vocational training, Chamber Training is one of the largest, local providers of apprenticeships, working with over 500 businesses to design training programmes around individual business needs. They also offer a wide variety of courses and qualifications ranging from one day seminars to higher level qualifications.

Jan Ryan and Sally Lucas are seen here with staff from Chamber Training.

Nominations for the awards were sought from businesses and training providers of young people who have shown exceptional ability in their Apprenticeship and whose achievements are an inspiration for others considering an Apprenticeship as a route to a successful career. There was a high quality of applications from a diverse range of apprentice programmes, including engineering, manufacturing, all types of business activities, schools and education, the health service, vehicle maintenance and housing services making the final selection process exceptionally difficult.

Commenting on the prestigious award, Sally Lucas, Executive Director at Chamber Training said, “We are delighted to have won the award as it is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our team. We have Apprentices of all ages and all levels ranging from school leavers to graduates. We have also seen increased demand for Apprenticeship training for existing staff amongst businesses seeking to upskill their workforce, which is a fantastic development.

Sally Lucas, Executive Director at Chamber Training is shown holding the Freeman’s Guild Training Provider of the Year Award 2017

“We have a tailored offer for employers which enables us to respond to their specific requirements, design training programmes around job roles, organisational aims and supporting employers to fill skills gaps.”

“We are delighted to have won the award as it is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our team. We have Apprentices of all ages and all levels ranging from school leavers to graduates.”

Family run manufacturing company expands Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training are working in partnership with an Atherstone-based, family run company that manufacturers towbars and towing accessories.

The company expanded to its full capacity and is now looking at its future growth by investing in larger premises and upskilling the existing workforce to support its expansion plans.

Elaine Miller, a director at Tow-Trust Towbars Ltd says: “We turned to Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training for advice on how we could increase the skills of our existing supervisors in order to encourage more effective planning and ways of introducing small changes that will have a big impact on our company’s progression.

“Working in partnership with Chamber Training, we decided to offer our supervisors the opportunity to study an ILM Award in Leadership and Team Skills, which is specifically designed for team leaders and supervisors to develop management skills, enhance team performance and explore leadership styles.

“Our six supervisors really valued the course and the way in which it was delivered by the trainer from Chamber Training. Being aware of how all of the

functions work alongside each other and how production can be affected by a decision made in isolation has had a great impact on the team. They are now more open to change and far more open at the way in which they look at problems and how to solve them. We have found that by attending the course, they have enjoyed the opportunity to study, learn and work and this has proven to be a popular strategy across the firm.”

Natalie Lane, Account Manager at Chamber Training commented: “ILM qualifications offer a flexible option for management development from

level 2 to level 5. They are proving to be a popular choice for organisations looking for real business results to improve productivity and profitability.”

Tow-Trust Towbars Ltd is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of towbars and towing accessories. For over 20 years the company has forged a strong reputation amongst the trade for supplying the highest quality towing products. From commercial and non-commercial towbars to an expanding range of trade accessories, the company is confident that they have the right towing solution for all individuals, with a skilled, growing workforce.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Business Support

sponsored

App proves a runaway success

Margaret Bull is with Paul Curtis

A Coventry man who designed an app to help improve organisation at his running club has seen his product grow to be used across the country.

A Coventry man who designed an app to help improve organisation at his running club has seen his product grow to be used across the country.

Paul Curtis, a freelance designer by trade, saw an opportunity to help the 280 club members at Massey Ferguson Running Club get easier access to news, personal best records and more after joining in 2016.

He originally designed an app solely for the Coventry-based club but after it proved to be a success, other clubs came calling and it has now been made available across the country and branded the My Running Club app.

After taking his original idea to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Paul received help and support to turn into a business via the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme.

The programme, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, in partnership with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the District and Borough Councils, helped him to alter how he marketed the app to a wider audience and has seen great results since.

The app has now expanded and can be used to monitor track and field events and triathlon races.

Paul said: “The actual design part of the app was something that I am very familiar with, but the ideas on how to push My Running Club as a business was where the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce really helped.

“I worked with a mentor at the Chamber, Margaret Bull, who assisted me in marketing and pricing and where we might also add in extra services to help the business grow.”

Free trials of the My Running Club app are available, with anyone interested encouraged to contact hello@myrunningclub.net.

Margaret, business adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s very often the case that people have a great idea but it’s actually the business side where help is needed – and that’s where we can assist.”

For more information or to book on to the Business Support programme, call the Chamber on 024 7665 4321 or log onto www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Enjoying the taste of success A hugely successful first year for a Coventry food start-up specialising in saffron infused treats has been rounded-off with a prestigious international award win.

Mahbir Premium Indian Saffron, based in Leamington Road, Coventry, recently unveiled two new products using ‘the world’s most expensive spice’ and collected a much coveted prize at the Middle East’s biggest food and drink trade show, Gulfood, held in Dubai.

It comes just over one year since the business was launched with no existing network or customer base at the BBC Good Food Show.

Since launching, 31-year-old entrepreneur Mahbir Thukral has been given support from the Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT), based at the Coventry and Warwickshire’s Chamber of Commerce International Trade Hub, which has helped his business expand to the point where it is exporting to five European countries.

It is also selling into top London restaurants and also been personally endorsed by celebrity chef and restaurateur Tony Singh MBE. Mahbir said: “Our success wouldn’t have been possible without the openminded, kind-hearted chefs and retailers who believe in the importance of grassroots entrepreneurship and share our passion for introducing new flavours and inspiring user moments.

“But we’ve also been given very practical support by the DIT at the Chamber and that has helped to open up new markets for us.

We will continue to look for new openings overseas in order to grow the business.”

Another unique aspect of Mahbir as a business is that it is the first fully traceable saffron on the market and works directly with farmers in Kashmir before sharing information on how it is sourced with customers.

As well as picking up the award at the Gulfood show, Mahbir launched the first ever dark chocolate product to be infused with Indian saffron.

Mahbir Thukral receives his award

Parminder Hayer, International Trade Adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Mahbir Premium Indian Saffron is a unique business and a great example of how investing in high quality, reliable produce can do wonders for a food business.

“Mahbir saw the potential for export and has tapped into the support available here and it has resulted in sales across Europe.”

Artist takes an international view

An artist who has painted royalty, sports stars, politicians and more is looking to crack new, overseas markets he sees as a blank canvas.

Darren Baker, who lives and works from in Barnacle, near Coventry, is looking to create and sell work to clients in the Middle East, an area he believes is ‘untapped’ by talented British artists.

Darren’s career credits include being official portrait artist to Her Majesty The Queen in 2011 for the Royal British Legion’s 90th anniversary, official artist to the 2012 Olympic Games and the official Professional Footballers Association artist for more than ten years.

He also helped re-design the iconic Coca Cola Santa in 2017 for the soft drinks company’s annual advertising campaign, one of the biggest and most popular in the world.

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Now, he is in the process of setting up Art London Dubai, which will act as a selling platform to bidders from the Middle East with assistance from the international trade team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Darren said: “I think there is a big untapped market for artists to sell their high-quality work to buyers in the Middle East.

“I have contacts out there already who I will be setting up Art London Dubai alongside and I have worked with the Bahrain Royal Family in the past.”

Darren has been helped in setting up the new venture by Parminder Hayer from the Department of International Trade (DIT) at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, who has assisted him to forge links with the UAE, accessing funding and website building assistance.

Parminder said: “We are delighted to be helping Darren, who is extremely talented

and has worked on some incredible projects, in what should be a very exciting step in his career.

“He has a sound business plan and we are helping to ensure that he can capitalise on his vision.”

Darren will also be looking to bring in new artists to work under the Art London Dubai name as the business expands, potentially giving aspiring artists the opportunity of a lifetime.

He said: “The help I have received from the Chamber of Commerce has been crucial and I am looking forward to getting things up and running.

“It took me a long time to establish myself as an artist and get my name out there but I am very excited to be where I am now.

With UK City of Culture coming here in 2021, Coventry is the place to be as an artist.”

Take advice before ploughing a new furrow While no-one – in industry or Government – knows the full implications of Brexit, there is no question that agriculture is one of the sectors which will feel the full impact of our withdrawal from the European Union.

In January, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, said Government would guarantee subsidies at the current EU level until the 2022 election.

He also talked widely about future rewards for environmental husbandry, but still the picture is far from clear and there are some serious threats in the form of tariffs, custom controls and increasing competition.

That has, inevitably, made farming businesses turn their attention to other possible income sources. In fact, a survey by Farm Business Innovation showed that out of 300 farmers and rural business owners asked, more than 74% are more likely to diversify, by adding new business activities to traditional farming.

At Burgis and Bullock, we work with many rural businesses who have successfully diversified into areas such as farm shops, building conversions, caravan parking and lorry storage.

For some it has provided some welcome additional income, while for others it has become the mainstay of their businesses.

Burgis and Bullock has worked with the Oakes family at Balsall Common for over 30 years.

In the last five years they have established and built-up a thriving farm shop and café business.

There were several factors in their favour, such as location and excellent local suppliers, but they have planned and executed their diversification very well and it is really reaping rewards.

Not only has it provided a strong business for the Oakes family, it has had a very positive knock-on effect for other rural businesses in the supply chain.

However, with any business venture, there are risks involved in diversification and rural business owners should take professional advice before they dip their toes into other areas of business.

While there are great advantages in diversification, it is also necessary to be aware of the potential impact on certain tax reliefs, for example, Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property relief for inheritance tax, and also Entrepreneurs’ relief for capital gains tax.

So if you are a farming or rural business and looking to the future, please do get in touch.

Trevor Day on 01926 451000 or via email to trevor@burgisbullock.com

Contact us today or visit our website for more information. www.burgisbullock.com Offices in Leamington Spa, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Nuneaton, Leicester, London and Rugby.

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Legal sponsored column

Land acquisition paves way for construction of new Medical Centre

What happens if I want to sell my business?

When it comes to selling your business, it could be easy to think of the process as being just like selling any other valuable asset, such as a car or a house.

However, businesses are complex entities. They can be sold, in whole or in part and can be divided up or restructured in near unlimited ways.

As such, prospective purchasers can assess the value of a business in very different ways, depending on what they are looking to achieve, albeit always informed by their knowledge of the terms of similar sales in the recent past.

These terms can include the amount to be paid, the form in which the business is to be sold, whether you must remain as an employee or a consultant to the business for a certain period of time, non-compete agreements and confidentiality agreements.

Having an idea of the most advantageous terms you are likely to achieve in the sale of your business is necessary to inform the tasks of optimally preparing it for sale, marketing it appropriately and negotiating the sale.

Seeking specialist advice at an early stage from an experienced professional is therefore crucial.

At Mander Hadley Solicitors, our Company Commercial department can advise on sales and purchases of businesses, either by the sale of shares or assets, advising you on aspects including warranties and indemnities, disclosure, financial arrangements and potential liabilities.

Our specialists also deal with sales or purchases of partnerships or unincorporated businesses such as restaurants, public houses, retail shops and service providers.

We will work closely with accountants regarding the taxation aspects of transactions in order to ensure the most tax efficient structure is achieved.

For advice on all aspects of business sales and purchases please contact John Morgan at Mander Hadley Solicitors. John has wide and varied experience in company and business sales, acquisitions and reorganisations, corporate finance, share capital and structures, shareholders’ agreements, partnerships, joint ventures, and UK and international commercial contracts.

T: 024 7663 1212 or 01926 857631 E: johnmorgan@manderhadley.co.uk Offices in Coventry and Kenilworth

The future provision of primary healthcare for a growing Warwickshire community has been secured following the completion of a ‘complex’ land acquisition deal, negotiated by real estate law specialists at Midlands firm Lodders.

Work has started on the new £4million, 1,400 sqm Wellesbourne Medical Centre, which will replace the village’s existing Hastings House surgery, and provide a fit-for-purpose primary care facility that will be used

by GPs, nurses and other local community healthcare providers.

With completion scheduled for early 2019, the new building will be three times the size of the current surgery, and provide a ‘state of the art’ primary care facility at the heart of the village, with 24 clinical rooms and improved access to an increased range of services.

Head of Lodders’ real estate practice Paul Mourton led the firm’s team working with the surgery’s healthcare practitioners, headed by its senior GP partner, Dr Martin Read-Jones.

Paul and his team worked closely with the trustees of the Walton Estate, NHS England, the local South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and a team from Persimmon

Lodders’ Paul Mourton (left and Constantine Berry (right) navigated the land acquisition deal for the new £4million Wellesbourne Medical Centre, headed by senior GP partner, Dr Martin Read-Jones (centre).

Homes that has begun work on a 350homes development in the village.

Paul said: “This was a very involved and complicated transaction but by working closely with all parties, including the team at Hastings House surgery, we have successfully navigated the acquisition of the land for the new medical centre, including the compliance planning obligations under

Team is strengthened Two new appointments have been made to strengthen a leading law firm’s planning team.

Midlands firm Wright Hassall has welcomed back former trainee Rebecca Mushing to the fold as a planning solicitor, where she will work under former Warwickshire County Council planning lawyer John Gregory, who is now leading the award winning firm’s planning team.

The team advise clients on planning processes including planning enforcement, certificates of lawful use, section 106 agreements, appeals, judicial review and statutory challenges.

With a number of new developments in the area and major infrastructure projects underway, such as HS2, the need for expert planning advice has never been greater and the team has ambitious plans for future growth.

John said: “Making the switch from advising a council on planning matters to advising private organisations and individuals is certainly a significant shift but the law is the same.

“The insight I gained from my previous role will be invaluable when helping clients navigate the planning process and overcome the obstacles that sometimes stand in the way of development.”

Rebecca Mushing, Joanna Deffley and John Gregory

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Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that were critical for the transaction to complete.”

Working alongside Paul Mourton was commercial property specialist Constantine Berry, a Senior Associate at Lodders, who said: “Maintaining communication with all parties throughout the process was critical.”

“Having grown up in Leamington, the prospect of working for Wright Hassall was very attractive; it is not often one can find an ambitious firm able to offer such great opportunities on the doorstep. For Rebecca, who is from Rugby, it is a return to the firm where she originally qualified as a planning lawyer.

After a two-year stint with Shoosmiths, she is looking forward to getting back to business with Wright Hassall.

She said: “It’s great to be back and with more experience under my belt. I’m really looking forward to working with John as well as catching up with former colleagues, local contacts, and clients.

“Wright Hassall is where I cut my teeth and I’m so pleased to re-establish my connection with the firm.

“Although it has grown in the last two years, it’s been fun catching up with everyone and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in.

“The combination of my private sector experience and John’s public sector experience puts us in a really good position to give clients the commercially focussed, practical legal advice they need.”

Joanna Deffley, a Partner in Wright Hassall’s development team, said: “With the appointment of John and Rebecca, our planning team goes from strength to strength.

“Their experience, in both the private and public sector, providing expert planning advice to progress much needed development, is invaluable.

“We’re delighted to welcome them on board.” www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Finance

A Ten for Len as he becomes first graduate

TV presenter, professional ballroom dancer and Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge Len Goodman, 73, has added a new string to his bow by enlisting with the SAS (the Scam Avoidance School).

Created by Santander, the SAS is a free class being offered to over 60s all over the UK to help them avoid being taken in by scammers.

The Scam Avoidance School is a nationwide initiative by Santander and has been developed in partnership with fraud expert Dr Paul Seager, psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire.

The creation of the Scam Avoidance School follows research by Age UK highlighting how older people are one of the most at-risk groups for being scammed and that upwards of five million over 65s have been targeted.

Additional research2 by Santander has revealed that the overwhelming majority of older people (82 per cent) believe more needs to be done to help their age group learn about scams and avoid having their money and identities stolen.

Len said: “It seems like scammers are everywhere today, using all kinds of sneaky tricks to scam us over 60s – whether it’s with emails, cold calls or even at the cash machine.

“Enough is enough. People of my age – we’ve got to have our wits about us, be more aware and more alert to scams so we can quickstep our way around the dangers and keep our bank accounts safe. The Scam Avoidance School was a real eye-opener for me: I learned a lot about how to avoid scams and I want to pass on this knowledge to as many people as I can.”

After sailing through the Scam Avoidance School, Len Goodman stepped back in front of the camera to pass on some of what he learned. His series of ‘Len’s Learns’ can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/258957 407

High Sheriff awards £5,000 to local charities The High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Mark Davies, rewarded ten local charities for their work in the community during an awards event held at his home, Admington Hall.

Part of the High Sheriff’s duties is to recognise and support charities and voluntary organisations within the county of Warwickshire.

The Heart of England Community Foundation, a grant-giving organisation in the West Midlands, supported the High Sheriff by introducing him to some oganisations known to the foundation.

Cohort 4, VASA, Lifespace Trust, Safeline, Sevenco, Street Aware, Doorway, The Shakespeare Hospice, LWS Nightshelter, Shipston Community Christmas and Shipston Home Nursing were all recognised for their hard work

Helen Bowns from the firm’s Stratford office joined Shakespeare Martineau as a legal director in January this year. Helen is an experienced family lawyer, advising on issues involving businesses, farms and trusts, as well as on complex children issues. Her role involves working closely with clients in the local area, providing bespoke advice on a range of topics.

In the firm’s Birmingham office, Verity Kirby has also been promoted to legal director. Verity advises clients on matters including estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney and court of protection issues, with a particular focus on individuals and entrepreneurs.

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How to benefit from R&D Tax Relief R&D tax relief is much more than a financial pat on the back for product or service innovation. For many businesses that claim R&D, tax relief becomes an integral part of the business, shaping how development is carried out and decisions are made – not to mention funded.

Three MCS clients highlight how R&D tax relief helped to shape their businesses, spurring innovation and making R&D a crucial part of cash flow.

Product development is no longer a financial risk Barbara Burgess, MD, D&D chocolates and dedication that benefits the whole of Warwickshire.

Each group was awarded a certificate and a £500 cheque to help them continue their work. The money awarded came from the High Sheriff endowment fund, which is through the Heart of England Community Foundation.

The Foundation has awarded more than £185,000 in grants to projects based in Warwickshire over the past year.

The High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Mark Davies, said: “It has given me great joy to be able to recognise these brilliant organisations. They are able to produce fantastic results within their community and the work they put in to achieve this is exceptional.”

Director of Cohort4, Beverley Gilbert, said: “With barely any previous

acknowledgement of our women, this recognition from the High Sheriff of the County is so important to us after over four years of delivering projects with women who have complex needs in North Warwickshire.

“With tiny amounts of funding, we have achieved astonishing levels of success in increasing the life chances and selfworth of our women. Each donation we receive goes a long way in our small voluntary sector organisation.”

Foundation CEO, Tina Costello, said: “I am so thrilled that these fantastic groups have been recognised and rewarded for their tireless work.

Small donations and rewards have such a large impact on grassroots organisations and we’re delighted to be able to facilitate this.”

Senior promotions for West Midlands private capital team The West Midlands private capital team at law firm Shakespeare Martineau has two new legal directors among its ranks.

sponsored column

Andrew Smith, joint head of the Shakespeare Martineau’s Stratford office, said: “Helen is a great addition to the Stratford office and the private client team at the firm. She has an extremely successful track record within the region and is well-placed to provide top-class advice to the local market.

“Despite current uncertainties posed

by Brexit there will always be a need for sound legal advice on a variety of private client issues; Helen’s appointment and promotion mean that we will be in the best possible position to meet that increasing demand head on.”

Helen Hay, head of HR at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “We have a wealth of top talent at within our business and these promotions reflect that. Our people use their extensive market knowledge to add

value at every turn and deliver solutions not only grounded in expert legal knowledge, but which deliver commercially, too.

“Everyone at the firm has the ability to carve out their own futures and these promotions are reflective of the drive to do just that. Our business is built on the tenacity and creativity of our advisers and there is always room for progression for anyone who has the drive to do so.

“All of our recent promotions are outstanding in their respective fields and I am confident that they will continue to deliver top-class advice to all of their clients.”

“Since we successfully claimed our first R&D payment, it’s made us more proactive in trying new things. As we produce allergy-free chocolate, …sourcing ingredients (is) a timeconsuming task for our team. The great thing about R&D tax credits is that we can claim back money for the time our staff are tied up with these tasks.”

Tangible financial rewards make projects easier to get off the ground Chris Rhodes, MD, Motivair Compressed Air Management “I was already keen to develop various areas of the business. Once we found out just how much R&D we were already carrying out in our activity, and how much we could claim back, it made it a lot easier to persuade our chairman and investors to approve these developments. I could show tangible financial rewards off the bat.”

Staff time spent on development is no longer a financial drawback An MCS client in the IT sector “What was different about MCS’ process is that they were able to calculate expenditure based on staff time, not just resources. … it resulted in us getting a much better result from our claim.”

If you think you may qualify for R&D tax relief, call us on 01926 512 475 to discuss whether R&D tax relief is right for your business.

www.mcs-corporate.com

17

Property

Site to have new use Construction of building

New life is being breathed into the former site of a world-famous manufacturer in Coventry with a speculative development to help meet an acute lack of industrial property space in the city.

Leading commercial property company The Wigley Group is building 65,000 sq ft of high-quality industrial units on land which once housed the Alfred Herbert works in Edgwick Park.

The existing building on site, known as the Top Shop from its Alfred Herbert era, has been in the final stages of being cleared ahead of construction on eight 5,000 sq ft units and a larger unit of 25,000 sq ft.

The three-acre site just off the main gateway from the M6 into the city is owned by The Wigley Group and the new development, to be known as Edgwick Point, will be built by its construction arm, Wigley Building and Development.

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It forms part of a 35-acre plot bought by The Wigley Group in the late 1970s, making it the oldest investment in the company’s extensive commercial property portfolio.

Large sections have been sold over the years to companies including Gallagher Retail Park and Lidl, and the new scheme on Canal Road, just off the A444, is the final piece in the jigsaw.

Robert Wigley, chairman of The Wigley Group, said: “When my father, who founded The Wigley Group, bought Edgwick Park from Alfred Herbert it marked the start of our venture into the commercial property market.

“It was our first investment in a portfolio which now spans well over 1,000,000 sq ft across the West Midlands and having since developed the rest of the 35-acre site, this scheme represents the last piece in the puzzle.”

James Davies, managing director of The Wigley Group, said: “There is a proven high demand for industrial space in the city, and it is that which has given us the full confidence to undertake what is a sizeable speculative development.”

Mike Vining, from Vining Management, represented The Wigley Group in gaining planning permission from Coventry City Council and will oversee the construction and sale of the units as project manager.

The units are now available through commercial property agents Bromwich Hardy and GVA, ahead of expected completion in September.

reaches high point

Artist’s impression of the £9.1 million new building which will house Nottingham Trent University’s Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies (ICT).

Topping-out celebrations heralded a key stage in the construction of the flagship £9.1 million building which will house Nottingham Trent University’s Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies (ICT).

The institute provides industry-led courses in music technology, gaming, film and television, radio and live events production.

Construction contractor Stepnell and Nottingham Trent University invited special guests to the ceremony marking the completion of the highest point of the sixstorey structure taking shape on the corner of Lower Parliament Street and Convent Street. The final steel beam was signed by attendees before being raised into position bearing a commemorative plaque.

Craig Chettle, chief executive of Confetti Media Group, and Barbara Matthews, pro vice-chancellor (culture) and head of the College of Art, Architecture, Design and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) led the celebrations which were also attended by representatives from Allan Joyce Architects and Stepnell.

Construction began last May on the new headquarters which will allow the Confetti Institute to provide teaching for an extra 700 students between now and 2022.

Nottingham-based Stepnell regional director Thomas Sewell adds: “The topping out of a building is a special occasion allowing everyone to celebrate the hard work that’s gone into reaching this point in the construction programme.

This impressive new building is going to provide a fantastic resource for students and the university.”

Stepnell regional director Thomas Sewell watches the final steel beam being raised to top out the new Confetti building.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Skills 4 Growth

Coventry and Warwicksh

Skills 4 Growth

European Social Fund

Search is on for strategic partners in automotive skills delivery Marion Plant, Principal and Chief Executive said, “Our vision is to be a global centre of excellence where industry leaders, engineers, technicians and business professionals come to develop industry essential skills, key to fuelling their career ambitions and their employer’s business success.

An appeal has been launched to find partners within the automotive industry to help develop skills for a new generation of automotive engineers as part of the new MIRA Technology Institute (MTI).

Companies who sign up will gain access to new disruptive technologies in a state-of-theart environment, as well as a pool of talent to augment their workforces.

The MTI, due to open later this year in Hinckley, will be a purpose-built centre for automotive training excellence, situated on the world-class MIRA Technology Park.

Lead partner for the MTI, North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, is keen to hear from manufacturers, dealerships, large garages and businesses within the automotive supply chain, or those working in research and development. The College is looking for strategic partners in the venture, which is designed to train the automotive workforce of the future.

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“The MIRA Technology Institute will produce specialist skills and qualifications that students and employers will aspire to achieve.

We will constantly seek to create learning opportunities in the cutting-edge technologies required to develop innovative, inspiring products which create wealth and improve transport in all its forms for future generations.

“The MTI will be employer-led, and we would like to hear from companies who are interested in helping to shape the skills agenda and benefit from working closely with other like-minded, forward-thinking organisations.”

The MTI is a unique collaboration between the College, HORIBA MIRA, the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and Coventry University, working with leading organisations in the automotive industry. Built with £9.5m investment from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and the UK Government’s Local Growth Fund, the MTI is a 24,500 sq. ft specialist facility to train the next generation of engineers in the latest automotive technology.

Strategic partners will benefit from opportunities to: • Upskill their current workforce in the latest in automotive technology • Recruit a new generation of automotive engineering apprentices, trained in a cutting-edge environment • Access new, disruptive technologies including Rapid Prototype, 3D printing, robotics, fluid power, mechatronics, electronic circuit design • Maximise the use of their apprenticeship levy and access to other government funding for training • Benefit from the MTI Skills Escalator which enables apprentices to progress to higher and degree level apprenticeships.

North Warwickshire & Hinckley College has a long history of training in the automotive sector, encouraging innovation in skills development. It is continuing to develop its automotive engineering apprenticeships to focus on the future of the transport sector.

The College’s accredited qualifications provide a robust skills base for students entering the sector, and in the environment of the MTI, apprentices will be studying alongside those at the vanguard of the industry.

Qualifications available through the MTI include apprenticeships in automotive engineering, business and project management, and quality management from Level 2 up to Level 5.

To find out more, contact: be@nwslc.ac.uk 0116 264 3545.

19

Profile: Peter Brammall

Moving with the times Peter Brammall is a man prepared to travel to help a good cause – whether it’s personal or professional.

His career has taken him from corporate banking in London to education in Derby, and from training in Oxfordshire to the local authority in Birmingham.

But that willingness to “get on his bike” to do something he believes in, is not restricted to his working life.

The same could be said of his career.

He has spent the last eight months as the Principal and Chief Executive of Coventry College – the man tasked with running and improving the city’s main FE provider which, like the sector in which it sits, has undergone massive change in recent times.

It is, to an extent, an unlikely role for a man who set out on a career in banking and rose through the corporate world.

banking team which was quite new in those days and seen as exciting and ‘sexy’.

“I was an assistant to one of their senior corporate bankers and dealt a lot with companies, which was great experience.”

He was on the upward path but, although he didn’t realise it at the time, a stint at the bank’s training centre in Oxfordshire would eventually shape his career.

Every other week, he travels north with his daughter, rendezvous with his son who makes his way by train from Lincoln, and they then meet up with Peter’s father who has journeyed from Gloucestershire, and the four sit and watch Manchester City.

He was raised in Manchester by working class parents who had a drive to help him and his sister improve their lives.

That determination and effort saw them become the first in their family to go to university, but once Peter left Leeds he knew – so he thought – where he wanted to go.

“They took people out of the business for spells to train staff in all aspects of the bank’s operation,” Peter said.

“I ran personal competency, leadership management and development courses.

It was my first time working in training and I got a real buzz from it.

And – in case you are wondering – this is not a case of chasing glory.

He has been a committed long-term fan and followed his passion to some out-of-the-way locations.

He said: “I joined NatWest on its graduate scheme which meant doing a whistle stop tour through the different departments and then working as an assistant manager. I joined their corporate

“I had no idea what it would lead to, and after it finished I went back to banking and got my promotion to London, again working in corporate banking this time in the West End, which was great.”

20

But eventually the allure of making money began to fade, and he decided to follow a different course.

Peter said: “I just wanted a real change and it is very hard to move sideways in a career and not take a big pay cut, but I really needed a new challenge.”

That came in the shape of the new Learning and Skills Council which had been formed to oversee Further Education. Peter worked at its headquarters in Coventry before moving to head up the organisation in Derby.

He had found his vocation, and since then has worked in education in various forms. That has involved a time with Birmingham City Council, working for skills provider Rehab, running a Multi Academy Trust and, latterly, as CEO of Guildford College Group.

He returned to the Midlands at a key time for Coventry College which educates around 7,000 young people, adult learners and apprentices every year.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Profile: Peter Brammall

“There were several reasons why Coventry appealed,” Peter said. “It was before we knew about City of Culture, but the fact we have the fastest growing youth demographic in the region was attractive.

Plans were under way to bring the then City College and Henley College together and I could see that might allow us to really punch our weight in FE. “Henley had been a very steady performer over the years, while City had gone through the mill three-four years ago, had a succession of principals and had notice of interventions, so it was a chance to bring the two colleges together, make an impact and realise their full potential.

“Both colleges would have become increasingly financially unsustainable because of their scale and their fit with employers. The merger made sense to many for some considerable time but there are always things that got in the way – these were two autonomous colleges with their own histories and governing boards so that does not make it easy.

“The merger happened on August 1 last year. That was too late to bring the two colleges together totally for the new academic year in September, but we started under one banner, with a single senior team and have been moving towards full integration ever since.

“It has certainly been a very interesting year, but there is no doubt we have so much going for us. The facilities at both campuses are superb and certainly in the city centre many of those have been underutilised, which we plan to change.”

But education is a sector which – by dint of Government – changes more than most. That can make it hard to plan long-term, but, Peter believes, it is also where his business background gives him an advantage.

He said: “The universal truth in the sector is that constant major change can hinder progress. Clearly you have to keep evolving and learning lessons from other sectors and from abroad, but the fact that education is controlled by politicians and political parties which change, means that it is hard to provide consistency.

“I do think in appointing for this post, my business background did play a part and certainly with the governors it was part of the conversation.

“Running a college is about many things. It is also about ensuring it operates as a business and is sustainable and generates surpluses which can be reinvested – with the sole aim of giving students a great experience and getting them to a place that improves their lives.

“You can’t have one without the other.

There are numerous cases of colleges which have declined because they have not been run like a business and, as a result, their end product has suffered and it has only led one way.

“In the first few months we have really concentrated on building good relationships with local partners and we know we have to strengthen some of our historic links in some areas, with schools for example, and create deeper relationships.

“When it comes to links with companies, we work with around 700 employers and have a good pedigree in this area but we want to do more. We are strengthening our board, bringing in more business people and are creating Employer Expert Panels which allows us to have their input within each sector so they can shape our offer, and certainly the Chamber will play a major part in this process.”

And if all that works – Coventry College could well follow the trajectory of Peter’s football team…..

“Both colleges would have become increasingly financially unsustainable because of their scale and their fit with employers. The merger made sense to many for some considerable time but there are always things that got in the way – these were two autonomous colleges with their own histories and governing boards so that does not make it easy.”

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Working day Peter lives around an hour away from the office and tries to be at his desk by 7.30am, partially for work, partially to avoid sitting on the M42.

He liaises daily with key senior managers in five areas – Finance and Resources, People, Quality and Curriculum Delivery, Student Services, Employers and Apprenticeships, but every day is different.

“I love the diversity. In our strategic plan, we have staff delivery groups in key areas and I work closely with them on a wide range of key topics. I have an office on both campuses, and that allows

me to work very closely with staff across the whole college.

“I also meet with the Student Council representatives and with stakeholders such as the universities and local authorities.”

Peter used to be a “bad golfer” and is now a “very bad golfer”, while a great proportion of his leisure time is spent watching Manchester City.

“I keep telling my children that away games have not always involved Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Paris; they need to remember their roots, where our team has come from and – like our students – the art of the possible!”

About Peter Brammall Date of birth: Birthplace: Married: Children: Hobbies: Favourite book: Favourite film: Last holiday: Car: Favourite gadget:

1st March 1967 Manchester With partner for 8 years Jack 20, Molly 16 Golf, restaurants, Manchester City ‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' Venice & Rome Kia Cafetiere 21

Brexit Club

Report highlights migration in business

Encouraging signs as Brexit negotiations continue

An interim report into the impact European workers have on the UK economy and society, to which companies across Coventry and Warwickshire have contributed, has been released.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was commission by the Home Secretary to study the reasons for migration from the European Economic Area (EEA) and why businesses employ people from those countries.

The MAC visited the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in the autumn of 2017 as the Chamber had been talking to businesses across the region since the vote to leave the EU via its Brexit Club.

Companies from a range of sectors were part of the meeting and their individual concerns were logged alongside the more general feedback the Chamber could give having spoken to so many companies since the referendum.

The interim report states: “The vast majority of employers do not deliberately seek to fill vacancies with migrant workers.

They employ EEA migrants when they are the best or, sometimes, the only available candidates.

“The expansion of the EU in 2004 marked a qualitative and quantitative change in EEA migration. Workers from the older member states have been, and remain, more likely to work in highskilled jobs than the UK-born but this is not the case for those from the new member states.

“After 2004, employers in some sectors, especially the lower-skilled, found they now had, through free movement, access to a new well-qualified and highly motivated labour force.

“These sectors then had a ‘tail-wind’ which formed the basis for expansion in employment. Employers in all sectors are concerned about the prospects of future restrictions on EEA migration.

“The high-skilled are concerned about having EEA workers subject to the current non-EEA system, which they do not hold in high regard. The lower-skilled are concerned that the impact of restrictions is likely to be greatest on them.

“Any proposals for restrictions are likely to be opposed by many employers as increasing costs and bureaucracy.”

Martyne Manning, policy officer of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We wanted to give companies across the region the opportunity to contribute to this important report because we have heard first-hand the concerns that companies have.

“It is clear that those concerns are being take into account, along with other factors, as the MAC continues its research ahead of a final report.”

Email martynem@cw-chamber.co.uk if you have any concerns or case studies regarding migration or potential staff shortages.

22

(L to r) James Ahearne (Chamber), David Burton, Anthea McIntrye MEP, Anastassia Beliakova, Louise Bennett (Chamber), Cllr Gary Ridley, John Nollett (Chamber)

A leading Brexit expert has told companies in Coventry and Warwickshire that it is ‘all to play for’ when it comes to getting a good deal for businesses as the UK withdraws from the EU. Anastassia Beliakova, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, is one of the most respected figures when it comes to Brexit and represents the views of companies from across the UK to Government.

She was speaking at an event organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Brexit Club and the West Midlands Conservative MEPs at Coombe Abbey.

It was the third major session on Brexit staged by the Chamber in recent weeks as talks with the

EU have reached a critical point.

Anastassia spoke alongside David Burton (the chair of the Brexit Club) Anthea McIntyre MEP and Councillor Gary Ridley (the leader of the Coventry Conservatives) at the event which followed the Chamber’s Brexit meetings at MIPIM and the recent #CWRocks expo.

She told the group that the agreement on the transition period between the EU and the UK had provided welcome certainty for the next three years and that companies could expect greater detail on a final deal by the end of 2018.

Anastassia said: “There has been progress and now we have some certainty for the next three years during transition but when it comes to the final agreement, it’s all still to play for.

“There appear to be more options on the table than there were only a few months ago.

We have been told what the UK Government doesn’t want – it doesn’t want a deal like Canada or Norway but now, to some extent, we can start to see what it is looking for.

“It wants no new tariffs – which is also in the interests of the EU. It wants continued associated membership of some EU agencies and projects.

“It wants only one set of approvals for each other’s markets and business certainly does not want to see two sets of clearances.

“We know the Government does not want to be in either the Customs Union or a customs union and is looking at an approach that involves technology or a novel and innovative solution. The question is: will there be sufficient time and discussion between the two sides to implement these customs arrangements?

“There has been an interesting development in Brussels recently where MEPs voted for a resolution that the UK and the EU should consider an association partnership, which could provide the kind of solution the UK is looking for.”

Anthea McIntyre, Conservative employment spokesman and MEP for the West Midlands, said the region's businesses would continue to require workers of all skill levels from overseas after Brexit.

She said about one third of migrant labour in the West Midlands was from the EU, while three quarters of manufacturing businesses employed at least one EU national.

Miss McIntyre stressed: "Employers still need labour of all skill levels. The government and the Prime Minister have been clear that we want EU nationals to be able to continue to live and work in the UK and we want to see the same deal for UK nationals in the EU." "Until March next year, there will be absolutely no change and, after that, we’d encourage companies to assist members of staff from the EU to apply for settled status.”

She added: “We thank the Chamber for its support in setting up this meeting and for attracting so many businesses, who are clearly engaged on the topic of Brexit.”

David Burton, chair of the Brexit Club, said: “We held sessions at the Chamber’s recent #CWRocks Expo, at MIPIM and then here with our MEPs. “The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce grasped the initiative on Brexit – even before the vote was taken – and that means our business community is as well-informed as anyone can possibly be on Brexit.”

Companies urged not to wait for Brexit before pressing ahead with plans Companies across Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged not to wait for a Brexit deal to be signed before making future overseas trade plans.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Brexit Club held a Learning Lab session as part of the #CWRocks trade expo at the Ricoh Arena to offer companies practical advice on tackling Brexit.

David Burton, chair of the Brexit Club; David Hooper, of Independent Freight; Matthew Davies, of Wright Hassall; and Jaspaul Bains, of Rational FX, were part of the panel at the event, that attracted more than 600 businesspeople overall.

David said that businesses welcomed practical steps rather than political posturing.

He said: “Unfortunately, we can’t provide the certainty that businesses need but, thanks to our Brexit Club and the work of the British Chambers of Commerce, we are feeding back business issues directly to No.10.

“We’ve heard many issues that affect many companies and there are matters that are very niche and only really impact a small number of businesses – but they are all important.

“The panel event at #CWRocks was very useful because it gave us a chance to spread the message of the work we are doing to more companies and it is clear that everything from the movement of goods through to the movement of people are causing headaches.

“Our advice is to get in touch with the Chamber now. Firstly, if you have an issue where Brexit is concerned that you don’t think is on the Government’s radar tell us now. We will ensure that this is fed back to No.10 via the British Chambers of Commerce which is holding regular briefings.

James Ahearne, of the Chamber’s International Hub, added: “We can help companies to scenario plan. We don’t know what the outcome is going to be but there are still procedures that can be put

into place that will help you trade with the EU whatever the outcome of Brexit.

“There is a myth developing that companies should hold off on doing business with non EU countries until trade deals are signed at a Government level.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Businesses are trading across the globe every day from Australia to the USA and from Brazil to Belarus – we know because the Chamber supports much of that activity.

“So, again, if you want to do business abroad make sure you speak to the international trade team as we can help you.”

For more information on the Chamber’s Brexit Club or trading overseas contact the chamber on 024 7665 4321 or email internationaltrade@cw-chamber.co.uk

(L to r) David Burton, Adam Dent, Matthew Davies, Jaspaul Bains, David Hooper

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Tall, dark and… ransom Greig Schofield explores the murky world of ransomware attacks and shows how organisations can protect themselves against this growing problem.

Worse still, research from Computing found that 31% of UK organisations are likely to pay up if they experience a ransomware attack – a 6% increase on the previous year. The fear is perhaps understandable. Yet much of it is due to limited understanding of what ransomware is and, crucially, a lack of awareness that there are tools and processes that can significantly reduce the risk.

Call me a romantic but I’ve never believed that the stereotypical tall, dark stranger was limited to the world of fairytale.

For businesses in the digital age, a modern-day version is both an everyday reality and a recurring nightmare. Ransomware attacks – perpetrated by faceless, shadowy strangers – are no longer a tall story, they’re rife. Cyberspace is loaded with professional predators waiting to pounce, armed with malicious software to lure their prey. And instead of sweeping you off your feet, they’ll close down your business and drain your bank account. Welcome to Malice in Cyberland – the fairytale gone wrong. So how do you avoid falling down the rabbit hole? There’s plenty you can do to protect yourself.

First, let’s gaze through the looking glass and examine the size of the problem. Sadly, cybercrime is increasing. The number of high profile attacks grew in 2017 and is tipped to increase further in 2018.

Why? The digital revolution, fuelled by the rapid adoption of Cloud and IoT, has created a perfect storm for cybercriminals – increasing the number of potential targets for hackers as they seek to exploit insecure devices through the back door. And as technology becomes more sophisticated, so too do criminals’ methods of attack. The impact is significant. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2018 claims that only extreme weather incidents and natural disasters are likely to cause greater disruption than cyber attacks in the next five years.

Improvements in cybersecurity mean that most attacks can be prevented. . of However, a worrying number businesses remain vulnerable.

In simple terms, ransomware is malicious software (malware) that takes over a computer or system and encrypts data so that it cannot be accessed. The hacker subsequently demands money – ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds – to decrypt the data and restore access.

The ransom naturally increases with time. Aside from the ransom fee, an attack can significantly impact business continuity and, in the worst extremes, destroy a business altogether.

Moreover, whilst most cybercriminals treat decryption as a professional business transaction, some make it impossible to restore data even after a ransom payment has been made.

Protecting against cyber attack: a 5-step guide So what can you do to mitigate the risk? In the UK, the government-backed scheme, Cyber Essentials, describes a cyber attack as the ‘digital equivalent of a thief trying your front door to see if it’s unlocked’ – and sets out a series of measures that organisations can adopt to protect themselves against it.

The scheme, which leads to two tiers of Cyber Essential accreditation, provides a good basic framework for safeguarding a business. It identifies five technical controls that encompass the key aspects of assuring cyber security.

#1. Secure your Internet connection This is a straightforward case of making sure your back door is bolted shut. Your internet connection is the gateway to your business – the way into all the sensitive data that makes your organisation tick. Despite this, it’s surprising how many companies still rely on primitive broadband systems to power their services.

Securing your internet is a fundamental requirement of cybersecurity. This means embedding robust firewalls and, where necessary, enhancing them with core perimeter devices – unified threat devices – to prevent intruders from getting in. #2.

Secure your devices and software This is about securing individual PCs, laptops and mobile devices. It begins with establishing a robust system for login authentication and ensuring

passwords are strong and inscrutable.

It also encompasses data encryption to make sure that information on laptops and devices that are likely to be used outside the office setting is adequately secure.

#3.

Control access to your data and services This is a crucial component that is specific to your business – there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Assuring control of access to your data and services is all about establishing permissions – determining which employees can access, read and edit files. It’s a complex process that requires a granular understanding of your data, your organisation and how everything knits together to fuel the delivery of services. Moreover, it’s hugely important. Hackers will target the weak points in your infrastructure and can quickly exploit the slightest vulnerability. They thrive on ‘lateral movement’, meaning a hack of any unprotected device can piggyback them into adjacent systems and networks that contain more valuable data. The key to controlling your data and services is to reduce access as much as possible, thereby reducing the threat landscape. It’s not an easy task. #4. Protect from viruses and other malware The majority of businesses now have antivirus (AV) protection.

However, as we’ve already established, with the methods of cyber attack now increasingly sophisticated, AV software cannot stand still. It’s important to understand the distinction between ‘advanced persistent threats’ and ‘zero day attacks’. Persistent threats – those that have been seen before – are recognizable to most AV programs.

However, zero day attacks – new and unfamiliar viruses and malware – are becoming more prevalent. Standard AV software is unlikely to spot it.

At the base level, this threat alone underlines the importance of educating employees to be vigilant. It’s vital that everyone in an organisation understands the risks and recognises – and reports – unusual behaviour.

#5.

Keep your devices and software up to date The final control is common sense – yet it’s surprising how many companies operate systems and software that is out of date. However, if your software is not up to date, a hacker will quickly exploit it. This once again exposes businesses to the damaging threat of lateral movement.

Unemployment Safety in numbers: don’t try to do it alone on the up These five technical controls are

a great start-point for businesses, and Warwickshire saw a Coventry but addressing them must be more sharp rise in unemployment at the than a tick-box exercise. Cyber start of 2018 – and business Essentials accreditation is aleaders worthwhile say it’s not because a lack ofcustomers jobs. pursuit – and it canofreassure that a business cybersecurity In Coventry, the takes claimant count rose seriously.

3,880 However, to 4,165 in it’s the possible month to to from achieve first tier accreditation and still January and in Warwickshire it rose leave your operations exposed if you from to 4,665 the – thebasics. highestItfigure don’t4,420 go beyond therefore Warwickshire since 2014. partner in pays to work with a July, technology that understands the nuances of Louise Bennett, the chief executive cybersecurity andWarwickshire can configure of the Coventry and your infrastructure so that the – Chamber of Commerce, said –alloverall intricacies of yourlevel business are the unemployment was still properlylow protected. relatively but that action was needed addresswill thework rise. with you to A goodtopartner develop forensicthere understanding of She said:a “Firstly, will be a all your data points to figures build –as and seasonal element to the the execute – a roadmap that delivers pre-Christmas temporary jobs will no the greatest possible longer be in the equationprotection. but it is stillThey’ll haveaexperience in deploying the full quite leap, even when you take that gamut of cybersecurity solutions such into account. as firewalls, Intrusion Detection “The general feeling from businesses Systems and Unified Threat Devices – we speak to is that they want to recruit to and can match those technologies but they can’t findneeds. the rightMoreover, people as your real-world cybercriminals’ modus operandi with the right skills. changes and typesthat of malware evolve, “This is something has emerged they’ll be cognisant of the fluctuating from the work we do across Coventry threat landscape and be able to provide and within branch bestWarwickshire practice advice toour thwart it. network and is something we are The threat of ransomware attacks looking at very closely. is not a fairytale – it’s an unfortunate “The skills gap and the skills shortage reality of modern business. But with are not new but theyunderpinned are in very sharp a robust strategy by focus now and and theresound has toadvice, be a goodright technology real drive to ensure we are equipping much of it is entirely avoidable. people – of all ages, backgrounds and Protecting your business doesn’t gender with the to match those have to– cost youskills a King’s ransom. that required theiteconomy.

But are if you fail toindo properly, you might endseen up paying a highthat price.

“We have no indication

"A good partner will work with you to develop a forensic understanding of all your data points to build – and execute – a roadmap that delivers the greatest possible protection."

DISTINCTION ABOVE ALL ELSE 4 Sycamore Court, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9BA 024 7640 8100 / info@netmetix.net / www.netmetix.net

COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE

GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAMME

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We can provide up to 30% of the funding for any of the following measures: LED lighting Heating systems and controls New energy efficient equipment, e.g. air compressors New energy efficient machinery e.g. manufacturing machines for production lines Variable speed drives and energy efficient motors Renewable energy (e.g. solar PV, thermal hot water, biomass, air source heat pumps) and many other measures We can also provide a free energy audit to help identify where energy and cost savings can be made.

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The Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund and is delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University and Coventry University Enterprises Ltd.

Enterprises Limited

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: Coventry

Winner of law firm’s ‘what Coventry means to me’ art competition is recognised

From left: Jonathan Hall, Ashleigh Roach, Nicole Malatesta and Sat Sahota

The Coventry College student who won a law firm’s ‘what Coventry means to me’ art competition has been recognised by the Coventry City of Culture Trust.

Ashleigh Roach, who was announced as the winner of the competition organised by Mander Hadley Solicitors,

which has offices in Coventry and Kenilworth, was recognised by the Trust and Coventry 2021 Club member BluDog at the law firm’s offices.

Mander Hadley Solicitors held the competition for art, photography and design students at Coventry College last year during the bidding process for the UK City of Culture 2021, calling for entries depicting ‘what Coventry means to me’.

More than 80 entries were received, from which four finalists were selected to be displayed for a week each on signage measuring nearly two metres tall outside the firm’s city centre offices at 1 The Quadrant in the period running up to the announcement of the winning bid.

Ashleigh, whose winning entry featured the city’s historic cathedral and a subtle self-portrait, was presented with a City of Culture jacket

by Sat Sahota of clothing specialist, BluDog and Nicole Malatesta of the Coventry City of Culture Trust.

The presentation took place in front of the firm’s offices, where Ashleigh’s entry is once again on display as the city celebrates its winning bid and preparations get underway for 2021.

Jonathan Hall, Managing Director at Mander Hadley Solicitors, said: “Coventry’s successful bid to become City of Culture 2021 really caught the imagination of people from across the city, not least the students at Coventry College.

“Ashleigh’s winning design really captured Coventry’s mix of old and new, which is why we presented her with the winner’s trophy last month, and it is wonderful that her efforts have now been further recognised by the Coventry City of Culture Trust and BluDog. “Having been established in Coventry for more than 100 years, we are delighted to have been able to support the City’s successful bid to become UK City of Culture 2021 by showcasing the creative talents of our city’s young people.”

Mander Hadley Solicitors was an early supporter of Coventry’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021 as a member of the Coventry 2021 Club.

internet downtime for a business, it’s much more than an inconvenience.

Losing your internet connection is not only costly from an operations point of view, but also for the reputation of the business.

A recent study carried out by market research company OnePoll, reports that slow internet connections and IT downtime is costing the UK economy a staggering £11 billion a year in lost productivity.

The research found that the average worker is unable to carry out their role for up to 44 minutes every week due to internet connection issues. 7% of respondents said that their connection is lost more than ten times in an average 7 day period.

The findings stated that the average worker loses 38 hours of productivity a year due to slow internet access or downtime. That’s nearly a week’s worth of lost productivity for every employee in the business. If your business has 10 employees, your business is losing over 2 months of employee productivity

every year! The inefficiency of a slow connection is costing your business more money than you might have guessed. The impact of increasing productivity can be huge, and the simplest solution is a faster, reliable and secure business internet connection.

Syscomm CEO, Chris Tyler commented, “These figures may come as a surprise to many business owners and managers. It should however act as a prompt for them to think about how much downtime is costing their business. The impacts are just too great for a business to suffer, especially when it is totally unnecessary.

That’s why we wanted to offer a solution to overcome this problem faced by so many businesses.”

Darren Bindert, Syscomm’s Marketing Manager emphasise that “the class of connectivity we offer is engineered to underpin high-volume, business critical communications with price points suitable for SME's.

Syscomm’s investment demonstrates the commitment we have to existing

and new customers that rely on high bandwidth, high availability connectivity.”

Accentuating Syscomm´s advantages, Tyler is keen to stress that “Syscomm have a proud pedigree of technical excellence and we take great pride in our reputation as a specialised provider of high availability, high performance Internet, Cloud and Networking services. As a business, we supply exclusively to our B2B customers and typically operate at ultrafast data rates of more than 100 Mbps, with capacity of up to 10 Gbps possible. With all circuits being fully symmetrical and uncontended, we are committed to investing in our network to provide truly business-class network options in the market.”

Bindert says “Our broadband connectivity is the solution for any business that depends on their internet connection. I urge companies to consider the cost and repercussions they would have to suffer if they are without internet for a day, or even an hour or two. We can remove this risk.”

(Left) Colin Taylor, Godiva’s managing director, and (right) Karl Degroot, Godiva’s contracts director.

Godiva becomes first How much has internet downtime cost your business in the last year? scaffolding Syscomm has invested in contractor to several new core Network sites that have commit to extended full network The 5% Club coverage across

the Coventry area, enabling Syscomm’s business Internet services at all Coventry postcodes.

With the addition of the new network sites in Coventry, Syscomm now offer a range of ultrafast broadband services to customers across the entire Coventry area.

With recent statistics showing internet downtime costs the UK economy £11 bn a year, it’s critical that UK businesses take a closer look at the cost and efficiency of their broadband connection.

We are all aware of the reliance we have on the internet in our daily lives.

Being without it just isn’t an option for most of us. But when it comes to

Urgent need to close skills gap More than 300,000 job vacancies could be unfilled across Coventry and Warwickshire by 2030 if the skills gap isn’t closed, a meeting has heard.

The Coventry branch of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce met at Abbey Park in Stoneleigh to discuss opportunities and issues in the region.

A host of topics were discussed including HS2, digital connectivity – both mobile and broadband – the availability of employment land and the skills shortage.

David Penn, the Coventry branch chair of the Chamber, said: “There are many factors that lead to that estimate – business growth, people retiring, falling numbers of overseas workers and then the shortage of skills.

“Employability is a topic that our MidWarwickshire branch is looking at in-depth

and there were some excellent contributions in the meeting from businesses and from training providers.

“The overriding message from the Chamber is to talk to us if you can’t recruit the people you need in order to grow your business. We certainly recognise this as a significant issue and our advisers can help and point you in the right direction.”

Businesses were also given an insight into some of the grant support available for companies looking to invest in property, technology or equipment.

Helena Bassett, a business adviser at the Chamber, said: “The message to companies is there is support available. Of course, when it’s grant funding there are criteria to meet but if you don’t ask us, you will never know.

“We are supporting a range of companies with applications and, while we can’t write them for the business, we can help to guide them.

David Penn (front right) is next to Helena Bassett, with other branch members

“Many businesses say to us that they’ve tried to apply for grants in the past but it’s too onerous.

Again, I’d say talk to us because it’s not as difficult as it used to be and it could result in several thousand pounds coming back into the company.”

For more information, to raise any business issues or to access support from the Chamber contact 024 7665 4321 or email martynem@cw-chamber.co.uk

Companies support woodland charity The two companies joined forces for a charitable event and, rather than planting positive news stories about the property firm, the Advent and Deeley team were planting trees that will form part of the Heart of England Forest at Sheriffs Lench Farm.

Two Coventry based businesses celebrated their relationship – that has blossomed over the course oftwo decades – by supporting a local woodland charity, the Heart of England Forest.

Construction and development company, the Deeley Group, began working with Advent Communications just a few weeks after the PR and communications firm business was launched 20 years ago.

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On a freezing cold day which included sleet, snow, wind, rain and the occasional bout of sunshine the 12-strong team planted 1,000 trees that will form part of the forest that will eventually stretch across 30,000 acres and will consist of 13 million trees.

Dr Chris Iddon, design and build co-ordinator at Deeley Construction, said: “As a company, we take immense pride in doing all we can for the community and also for ensuring we are as environmentally friendly as we possibly can be.”

Lee Corden, Advent Communications director, added: “It was a really good team effort all round and everyone really got into the spirit of the day.

“We were offered the chance to stop when we got to 850 trees but we decided to push on and get to the 1,000 mark.”

To find out more about how to get involved, visit https://www.heartofenglandforest.com/get-involved/get-your-company-involved/

Coventry-based Godiva Access & Scaffolding has become the first specialist scaffolding contractor to join the The 5% Club, an industry led initiative focused on driving momentum in the recruitment of apprentices, graduates and sponsored students.

The 5% Club, initiated by Leo Quinn CEO of Balfour Beatty in 2013, is a movement of more than 280 employers providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities to develop the skills and talents people need to become more employable and create meaningful careers.

Colin Taylor, managing director at Godiva Access & Scaffolding, said: “By joining The 5% Club Godiva is committing to raising the number of apprentices, and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of our total workforce within five years.

“A skilled work force is our biggest asset and is a business critical component that means we can deliver the safest and highest standard of service for our customers. The move is a natural extension of our strategy to become the scaffolding contractor of choice in our chosen markets.”

Lady Cobham, Director General of The 5% Club said, “We’re delighted to welcome Godiva Access & Scaffolding into membership.

The 5% Club provides a fantastic network of HR professionals, sharing and learning from each other. All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”

Godiva has recently started work as the access and scaffolding contractor for Winvic Construction on the new student accommodation complex in Fairfax Street, Coventry, and it has been appointed as the scaffolding framework contractor at the University of Warwick.

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Area Focus: Coventry

Coventry University apprentices first to complete new qualification Julie Hyde, who has been appointed New Homes and Land Director at Payne Associates.

Estate agent takes on new director One of Coventry’s leading independent estate agents has appointed its first New Homes & Land Director.

Payne Associates, which has branches in New Union Street in the city centre, Albany Road in Earlsdon, Daventry Road in Cheylesmore and Walsgrave Road in Walsgrave, has recruited Julie Hyde.

Julie has a wealth of experience in the industry after working for more than 25 years in the Midlands for the Hunters Group, initially starting as a Sales Negotiator in 1991 and progressing to Sales Manager in 1995 before becoming a Director in 2014.

A group of Coventry University chartered manager degree apprentices have become the first to complete the new qualification.

The five apprentices were trained by the university in partnership with their employer GE Aviation – and have now all been offered permanent jobs within the company.

Developed in conjunction with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the new degree apprenticeship helps employers develop first class leaders and gives apprentices the opportunity to gain professional and academic qualifications.

The chartered manager degree apprenticeship (CMDA) course was delivered at the Cheltenham site of GE Aviation by Coventry University tutors, who are experienced management professionals, in partnership with CU Coventry.

The five apprentices worked full time in a series of placements, with 20 per cent of their work time allocated to off-the job training. The company also assigned a mentor to each apprentice. The students all passed with flying colours: two with distinction, the highest classification, and three with merit, the second highest.

Dan Taylor, 24, who achieved a distinction in his degree apprenticeship, said: “Through the apprenticeship I have learned the inter-personal skills as well as technical knowledge required to succeed.”

Apprentices on the scheme achieved a BA (Hons) management and leadership, awarded by Coventry University, as well as the CMI diploma in management and leadership.

They also received full chartered manager status with the designator letters ‘CMgr’ – the highest that can be achieved in the management profession.

Harry Cleevely, 23, who qualified with a merit, said: “What you learn equips you to go into a range of different roles.

Add to that earning a wage and getting solid work experience while you study, and you can’t go wrong.”

“In my career, I have built a substantial new homes department for Hunters and there is an awful lot of potential in Coventry at the moment. I will be focusing on dealing with land owners, sourcing land for developers and carrying out comprehensive market appraisals.

“Development opportunities are being created by Coventry becoming the UK City of Culture 2021 as well as a number of companies relocating to the area.

Jaguar Land Rover has invested heavily in Coventry and the surrounding areas.

We are looking to create new homes on small to mid-sized developments.”

John Payne, Director at Payne Associates, said Julie’s appointment was key in driving forward the new homes and land division of the business.

He said: “We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a high level of service and appointing Julie is important since we want to keep evolving and growing.

“Julie has fantastic contacts and experience in the sector which will be instrumental in securing land sites across Coventry.

“Payne Associates’ New Homes and Land Department will have the knowledge to progress a development scheme through all stages from land purchase through to sales and completion.”

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Steph Mitten, communications and apprentice lead for GE Aviation, said: “We are extremely proud of our apprentices – pioneers of the CMDA. Their hard work and determination, balancing a high level of study time whilst maintaining full time roles shows true dedication. “

Charity bike ride raises funds

Julie said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to lead the first designated new homes and land department at Payne Associates.

“There is a great deal of investment in the Coventry area which was apparent from the delegation who attended the property investment show at MIPIM at Cannes.

John Dishman, CU Coventry Pro-Vice Chancellor, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our CMDA apprentices are the first ever to complete this new degree apprenticeship, and I congratulate them on their welldeserved success. ”

A Coventry charity cycle ride raised funds to cover the costs of one week’s care for a child at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice.

More than 260 cyclists hit the roads in support of the hospice for the Starley Sportive cycle ride, organised by Deeley Group and Coventry Road Club.

The event initially raised £4,500, but the total was boosted by a further £2,500 due to private sponsorship from two riders, taking the overall amount to £7,000.

The costs to support one child for one week at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice total £4,200, with care for a day for six children costing £3,600.

Marc Dwyer, challenge events officer at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice, said: “ The babies and infants that come to Zoë’s Place have life-limiting or life threatening illnesses. They face challenges every day hat many of us would take for granted.

So, it really is apt that people took on the challenge of a bike ride to help us.”

The Starley Sportive also recognised the contributions of cycling innovators James Starley and John Kemp Starley, who both worked and lived in Coventry.

It marked Coventry Road Club’s sixth sportive and followed on from the successful Deeley 80 Cycle Ride.

Ian Court, of the Coventry Road Club, said: “We’d like to thank all the riders that took part in this year’s Starley Sportive and helped to raise such a huge amount for Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice.

“In addition to the ride, we also held a great prize draw, raising £275 and I would like to thank all the companies that donated prizes.”

The ride started from the Deeley Group’s headquarters in Coventry, before heading out into the Warwickshire countryside, with riders able to choose from a 59 mile and 30 mile route to take.

Edward Hudson, business development manager at the Deeley Group, said: “We have been long-standing supporters of Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice at the Deeley Group. The charity does brilliant work and it is fantastic that we have been able to raise so much to support them.”

Triumph for arena The Ricoh Arena has landed a top industry award. The venue won one of the main accolades at the Exhibition News Awards – the Oscars of the exhibition industry – held in London.

It was up against a string of other national exhibition complexes for the Best Venue Under 8,000sqm at the ceremony, which took place in Battersea.

The exhibition team at the Ricoh had to show an outstanding relationship with exhibition organisers, demonstrate investment into the business, as well as prove business growth.

Stuart Cain, Group Commercial Director for Wasps and Ricoh Arena, said: “The Exhibition News Awards recognise the best performers in the conference and exhibition industry so this is a real achievement for our team.

“We knew that we had a strong case because we have really driven the business forward in the last 12 months, but the awards are very keenly contested and attract the cream of the sector.

“We held 58 exhibitions in 2017, which was an increase of more than 10 per cent and in a tough and competitive market, that is a very strong performance.”

The Ricoh Arena’s Caroline Lissaman, Head of Events, holding the Exhibition News Award

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: Coventry

Reports reveals university’s impact

Coventry University’s second engineering computing building which is due to start construction this summer

The economic impact and influence of Coventry University on the local, regional and national economy has been revealed by new research.

The study estimates that graduates of Coventry University – which is the fasting growing higher education institution in the UK over the past 15 years – will contribute £560 million to the UK economy over their lifetime, while one in every seven higher education students in the West Midlands attends the university.

Undertaken by Regeneris Consulting, the research uses a full set of data taken from 2015.

It reveals that the university – which has 30,000 students – supports 12,200 jobs across the country and contributes almost £800 million in annual gross value added to the UK economy.

Findings from the impact survey were revealed at MIPIM, the world’s largest property investment and development show, where the university was part of the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership.

The results also show that: • one in 25 jobs in Coventry is supported by the university, while one in every 46 jobs in Coventry is with the Coventry University Group; • more than £145m is spent in the city by full-time students from outside of Coventry, bringing in an extra 1,500 jobs to the local economy; • a further £8m is injected into the local economy and 240 jobs supported by visits to students from family and friends; • 83 per cent of Coventry University students move into a high skilled occupation after graduation, compared to the national position of 45 per cent; • Coventry’s students are among the most entrepreneurial in the UK, creating 250 graduate start-ups and more start-up social enterprises than any UK university.

The £560 million contribution students make to the nation’s economy is based on the University’s strong results and success rate for graduates who move into work, their predicted productivity over the course of their careers and how much this would add to the UK economy as a whole.

But the economic impact is not just limited to students. The University employed 3,330 staff when the data was gathered – 45 per cent living in the city and 86 per cent the wider Midlands Engine area.

University employees inject more than £82m into UK economy, of which 46 per cent is retained in Coventry and 86 per cent in the Midlands Engine, while £32m of its direct spend is with suppliers in the Midlands Engine.

John Latham, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, said: “Coventry University, our students and our graduates are having a big impact on the economy not just in Coventry and Warwickshire but across the wider region.”

The statistics put Coventry University in a strong position to do business with potential partners at the MIPIM property show in France, where leaders unveiled £430 million worth of investment last year as part of the Coventry & Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership, made up of companies and organisations who fund the presence at the four-day event.

The area has had a presence at MIPIM for more than 20 years, and this year more than 20 companies and organisations were represented.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce , Shearer Property Group, Deloitte, The Wigley Group, Morgan Sindall, Extra MSA Group and Pegasus all signed up for the first time with the partnership this year.

Specialist to support training effort One of the UK’s leading training and education specialists will be using its award-winning experience to improve the skills of employees in Coventry and Warwickshire.

PET-XI Training, which has its headquarters in Westwood Business Park, Coventry, has been appointed as a Delivery Partner of the Coventry and Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth programme which is partly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

They will support the programme to assist eligible SMEs in Coventry and Warwickshire to access a range of training that leads to staff achieving accredited qualifications, and supporting the development of skills of employees to aid the growth of businesses.

More than 1,700 employees are expected to benefit throughout the programme, which has ESF funding until December 2019, by gaining accredited qualifications in vital skills.

The Skills 4 Growth project is managed by Coventry City Council, which is working in

partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub alongside other major stakeholders including Warwickshire County Council.

Simon Fitzgerald, head of funding at PET-Xi Training, said their courses would be concentrated on management and IT. He said: “We will be running Microsoft Office Specialist courses which focus on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, general IT and cyber security.

“These will be bite-sized courses so that businesses don’t have to release staff for long periods.

“We will be holding the courses either at our HQ at Westwood Business Park or in the training or meeting rooms of businesses if they have ten or more staff they want to take part in the courses.

“We will be bringing our innovative approach to business training to help employees in Coventry and Warwickshire learn new skills which will not only benefit their company but,

in general, will help the economy in Coventry and Warwickshire to grow.”

Anne-Marie Tranter, Coventry and Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth Co-ordinator, said PET-Xi Training would be helping SMEs to address a skills gap in their business.

“It is vital we improve skills to help businesses to continue to expand and the Skills 4 Growth programme helps businesses to identify their skills gaps acting as barriers to growth and address them by delivering relevant training leading to accredited qualifications for identified employees,” she said.

“The programme funds 50% of agreed eligible training costs so this is a great opportunity for eligible SMEs to grow and achieve their business plans.”

To be eligible for support from Skills 4 Growth, companies can employ up to 250 people and must be operating in a manufacturing/engineering or service sector industry in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Skills 4 Growth is partly funded by the European Social Fund.

Happy 18th birthday!

Expert Investigations Ltd, who became Expert Investigations Group in January, have been are celebrating their 18th birthday.

The company, the largest independent investigation agency in the country, started in the spare bedroom of Managing Director David Kearns’ home in South Warwickshire. Now has its head office in Binley, Coventry, with regional offices in London Birmingham and Leeds.

Not sitting on their laurels, the company, who have an outstanding reputation in both the legal and the commercial sector for delivering investigation services such as surveillance, computer forensics retrieval, interviewing and statement taking and many of the covert investigative techniques, have now branched out to help companies, particularly the SME sector, to prevent and disrupt dishonest employees.

The company's investigations include employee theft, fraud protracted false absenteeism and theft of data with the breach-of-contract.

David said: “It’s time to act. Only one in five SMEs have conducted a fraud risk assessment and our investigations consistently show that had companies considered their vulnerability and acted upon that vulnerability then they could have prevented the issues arising. We really have to encourage Senior Management and the Board to put employee dishonesty on the agenda.”

Coventry engineering company introduces new opportunities After a recording breaking year for growth and investment, steering system specialist, Pailton Engineering is welcoming applications for opportunities at its Coventry headquarters.

Those interested can choose between Pailton's design and development engineering path or a role as a machine operator.

Pailton Engineering designs, manufactures and tests steering systems for a range of specialist vehicles, including buses, military vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Mariyana Mihaylova, HR officer at Pailton, said: “We’re investing in training and development and have put schemes in place to help our recruits develop a full array on skills, whether that’s working across numerous machines, or across different software packages."

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Taking the design and development path, the engineer will be responsible for designing and amending steering systems and components using 3D modelling software (Solidworks).

Once a part has been produced and assembled by the production team, the design and development engineer with also be responsible for setting up and running sample tests to validate the parts while working closely with customer engineers.

Machine operators work as part of the production team. This role involves producing steering system components by operating CNC machines and other equipment where trained to do so.

This is in accordance with the technical drawings supplied by the design team and Pailton's quality standards.

Pailton is looking for its next design and development engineer and machine operator.

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Area Focus: Coventry

Deeley Construction commits to ‘earn and learn’ by joining The 5% Club

Grant helps business buy machinery An Exhall business which has been running for almost 30 years has been given a boost thanks to a grant to buy crucial machinery.

Precision sheet metal engineers Profab Coventry has bought a £44,000 Vipros 255 CNC punching machine, which will help increase productivity and potentially lead to working with new clients and job creation, after contacting the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub for assistance.

The business, based at the Brindley Road South industrial estate in Exhall, was fighting to keep up with demand on its old punching machine, which was in constant need of repair, so Directors Kelvin Woodward and Lynda Greves looked into the options available to find a new piece of equipment.

After speaking with neighbouring businesses, they were was recommended to contact the CWLEP Growth Hub, who put them in touch with staff at Coventry City Council and within two weeks, Profab received the grant they needed.

Kelvin said: “Hopefully, this can lead to us getting more work and potentially bringing in more people because we are already looking for new staff to join us.”

The money for the machine was given to Profab by Coventry City Council from the European Regional Development Fund.

Gary Thyeson, from the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub, put Profab in contact with Kierandeep Bal at Coventry City Council after speaking with Kelvin.

Gary said: “A lot of business owners are so caught up in the day-to-day running of their company that they can miss great opportunities that are available to them. I am delighted to have been able to help Profab and I wish them all the best for the future.”

(L to r): Charlie Stevens, Katie-May Cashmore, Martin Gallagher, Matt Byrne

A Coventry-based construction company has showcased its commitment to developing young people by joining an industry led initiative.

Deeley Construction has joined The 5% Club, which focuses on driving momentum into the recruitment of apprentices, graduates and sponsored students.

The 5% Club, initiated by Leo Quinn CEO of Balfour Beatty in 2013, is a movement of more than 275 employers providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities to develop the skills and talents people need to become more employable and create meaningful careers.

Companies joining The 5% Club commit to raising the number of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of their total workforce within five years.

Members are also asked to publicly report their progress in their Annual Report.

Existing members range from SMEs to FTSEs and cover a number of diverse industries, from engineering through to the legal sector.

Deeley Construction has a long-held tradition of growing its own workforce with almost 20 per cent of the company’s staff coming through the firm as an apprentice.

It is a proud record that includes managing director Martin Gallagher, who welcomed three new apprentices to the company in the past year.

Martin said: “The skills shortage in construction is one of the biggest issues facing our industry but here at Deeley Construction we have always seen apprenticeships as a great route to growing our own and the industry’s future workforce.

“I know only too well the benefits of being an apprentice having started my career as one.

It gave me the opportunity to work my way up through the business to the point where I am now able to give others the same chance I had.

“It’s great that our new apprentices want to develop a career in construction and also highlights that there are many roles in our sector from being out on-site through to being based in the office.”

Deeley Construction currently supports three management trainees. Two other staff members are undertaking work sponsored learning programmes which accounts for nine per cent of the total workforce.

The company also offers one and two week placements to students from local schools and colleges – giving students a valuable insight into the construction industry.

Lady Cobham, Director General of The 5% Club, said: “All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce , Shearer Property Group, Deloitte, The Wigley Group, Morgan Sindall, Extra MSA Group and Pegasus all signed up for the first time with the partnership this year.

Business backs sporting call An award-winning training and education business in Coventry has teamed up with Wasps Netball to encourage more girls to consider science, technology, engineering and maths as a future career.

PET-Xi Training, based at Westwood Business Park, has become an Official Education Partner to the eight Wasps Netball Academy Hubs which have been set-up across the Midlands, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire to develop and nurture talented 13-18-year-old netballers.

As part of the new partnership, PET-Xi Training will lead and co-ordinate a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) project at six schools in Coventry and Warwickshire with support from Wasps.

Fleur Sexton, managing director of PET-Xi Training and the reigning Businesswoman of the Year 2017, said Wasps partners will support the programme.

“It is vital more young girls are encouraged to consider a career in science, technology, engineering and maths and this is a great

opportunity to showcase the varied and interesting jobs available in these sectors,” she said.

“Our project will link-in with the national curriculum and the work the girls carry out will feature at a careers conference at the Ricoh Arena towards the end of the summer term.

This is a really exciting opportunity to show these subjects are not just for boys and that there is a fun, learning element involved.

“We are really looking forward to giving the girls the chance to show their talents and to inspire the next generation of young female scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians.”

Fleur said the players from Wasps Netball are fantastic role-models and its Academy Hubs are an ideal way of unearthing new talent.

“The players are the most amazing role models for girls because they have such a great team spirit,” she said.

Fleur Sexton, managing director of PET-Xi T raining (right) with Tamsin Greenway, Wasps’ Director of Netball.

Wasps Netball Team Manager Sarah Taylor said: “As an organisation, PET-Xi is passionate about developing and nurturing talent in young people and that is what we look to do through our Academy Hubs.

“Our Academy Hubs are a vital avenue to bringing through the next generation of talented netballers and working with these young athletes to help them progress and reach their full potential on and off the court.”

Coventry first university to Ocean Media’s Wedding Fair says receive prestigious accreditation ‘I do’ to NAEC Stoneleigh for 2018

A Coventry University research centre has become the first in the country to receive a prestigious accreditation for the training it gives to its science PhD students.

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The university’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences (SELS) has been awarded Royal Society of Biology accreditation for its doctoral training.

The accreditation recognises the way SELS’s doctoral training centre gives extra support to its PhD students, who carry out research on topics including antibiotic resistance, obesity and ageing.

SELS’s academic director Professor Derek Renshaw, worked with Dr Heather Sears, the university’s programme manager for doctoral training, on acquiring the accreditation.

Prof Renshaw said: “We believe we’re leading the way in how research students are trained – and it is fantastic to have this accreditation to show people that a renowned institution such as the Royal Society of Biology agrees.”

Following the launch of The West Midlands Wedding Fair in October 2017, Ocean Media has confirmed its return to NAEC Stoneleigh in October 2018.

The event showcases more than 100 of the region’s best suppliers, from cakes to florists and bridal gowns to honeymoons, whilst also providing brides and grooms with content such as a Live Entertainment Stage, a Prosecco Bar, VIP Lounge and Catwalk Shows.

Show Manager Kane Thomas said: “Launching this event at NAEC Stoneleigh was a great decision. The venue is perfectly located in the middle of the UK, nearly 900,000 people live in Coventry and Warwickshire and a further six million within a one hour drive which makes this an ideal location for the latest addition to our Wedding portfolio.

“The NAEC team were fantastic and couldn’t have been more helpful. From Account Management and Event

Management right through to Catering they were a pleasure to work with and made the decision to return for 2018 a very easy one.”

Lynn Gardner – Senior Key Account Manager at NAEC said: “It’s a pleasure to work with Ocean Media and we’re delighted to be welcoming them backin 2018.”

The West Midlands Wedding Fair will take place 20-21 October 2018 attracting 3,500+ future brides and grooms and over 100 exhibitors.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: Mid Warwickshire

40th Anniversary for recruitment company A Midland-based recruitment firm is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a record year of trading.

Apex Recruitment, based at Tournament Fields in Warwick, are a specialist recruiter to the automotive, engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors, supplying staff all across the UK. The company, which was established in Banbury to supply general staff to local companies, has undergone a reorganisation in the last five years and by the end of 2018, will have seen its turnover grow by 80 per cent in the past three years.

Apex was founded by Dianne and Keith Marchington, and now their son, daughter and son-in-law have overseen the company’s transformation.

Sales and marketing director Richard Marchington said the success had come after the change of its business model.

“Historically as the company grew, we expanded our High Street network and opened new branches, but as the need for a physical presence receded through the adoption of on-line activity, we decided to totally change the model,” he said.

“That meant amalgamating branches and relocating to a more suitable business environment, introducing cutting-edge CRM systems and adopting a more corporate approach whilst maintaining family values.”

“That clearly meant a great deal of upheaval, but it is now bearing fruit. Our turnover will have gone up by 80 per cent in three years and by the end of 2018, we will have around 400 contracting staff working

for clients as well as those we have placed in permanent positions.”

Richard, his brother-in-law Neil and sister Caroline all quit City of London jobs in investment banking to join Apex, which employs 24 staff, and now have sights set on further expansion.

He added: “The reorganisation of the business has coincided with the growth of the local and regional economy and the rise of the advanced manufacturing sector in this area. We supply major OEMs as well as the supply chain and that makes up around 80 per cent of our business.

“The roles we fill are from very technical positions through to semi-skilled roles in a range of industries. Moving to a new headquarters allows us to hold interviews and meetings on site here or in client locations.

“We have managed, we believe, to establish a very strong relationship with our clients and a great deal of our work has come through word of mouth.

“Our experience in manufacturing, and particularly automotive, has attracted a number of international enquiries, and we are looking at the possibility of expanding our geographical area of operation in the next few years.

“The industry is increasingly international, and we have developed a strong track record in supplying the right candidates for some very demanding and technical roles, an ability which is required in other countries throughout Europe.”

Neil Johnson and Richard Marchington

““We have managed, we believe, to establish a very strong relationship with our clients and a great deal of our work has come through word of mouth.”

Accolade for hotel A hotel in the heart of Warwickshire has been recognised for the third year running by a leading national awards scheme.

Coombe Abbey Hotel scooped a trio of honours in the M&IT Awards 2018, including an award in the most hotly-contested category of the evening - Best UK Hotel.

The Brinklow-based 12th Century venue picked up not one, but two Golds and one Silver award in a glittering ceremony held at Battersea Evolution in London.

The silver trophy came in the Best UK Hotel category - which is the biggest and highly anticipated award of the night.

Coombe Abbey was up against some of the best five-star hotels from around the country including Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa, Cliveden House Hotel, Gleneagles and The Grand Hotel York. The eventual gold winner was revealed to be Celtic Manor Resort.

Staff are also celebrating securing gold awards in the Best UK Unusual Venue and Best Value for Money Conference Venue for the second year running.

They beat stiff competition in the Best UK Unusual Venue category from the likes of Alton Towers Resort and the Natural History Museum.

Ron Terry, general manager of Coombe Abbey, said: “To be up against such well-known and respected names within the industry in the first place is a huge honour for Coombe Abbey, but to actually come away being recognised is absolutely amazing.”

Organised by trade and events magazine M&IT, a total of 19 trophies were presented at the ceremony recognising a number of industry firms from venues to airlines.

Warwickshire Exhibition Centre undergoes rebrand The Warwickshire Exhibition Centre has been renamed and rebranded to the Warwickshire Event Centre to reflect the increasingly wide range of events that the venue hosts.

(L to r) Coombe Abbey Hotel operations manager Fraser Doyne-Ditmus, director of sales, June Picken, general manager, Ron Terry and sales manager, Nicola Felton with two of the trophies the venue picked up at the M&IT Awards 2018.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Whilst consumer and trade exhibitions occupy a significant proportion of the calendar many other varied events take place ranging from auctions to corporate functions and training seminars. Many events utilise both the 2,280 m² exhibition hall and the directly

linked external space which gives organisers a very versatile venue.

Chris Deith, Managing Director, said: "The decision to relaunch our venue comes at a time of change in the nature of the events we host and we see this as a continuing trend. The name Warwickshire Event Centre better describes the range of events we host and so is more representative of what we do. We consider that this is the perfect time for a revamp of our brand, building on the success of our business to date and looking to the future. "

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Area Focus: North Warwickshire

Work starts on Coton Arches improvements Warwickshire County Council has announced that the contract for improvements to the Coton Arches roundabout in Nuneaton has been awarded to Galliford Try Infrastructure Ltd. Work on the £3.7 million project, which is being funded through a combination of the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and Warwickshire County Council's Capital Funding, is expected to last for six months.

Petra celebrates 40 years service at Alsters Kelley The champagne was cracked open at Alsters Kelley in Nuneaton recently, as Petra Trippass celebrated 40 years’ service with the firm.

As a thank you for her long service and to help start the celebrations, Cathy Wahlberg, Operations & Finance Member of Alsters Kelley, presented Petra with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of bubbly!

Petra said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my career with Alsters Kelley and I enjoy the variety of the work I deal with but most importantly I love the face to face contact with our clients and providing them with a very personal and high-level of service. I also have many lovely friends across all three offices and it certainly doesn’t feel as if I have been here for 40 years!”

Petra started her career at the firm of KW Westgarth based in Queen Victoria Road, Coventry in 1978 as the receptionist/office junior. Within a couple of years, she was starting to deal with various aspects of legal work and when the firm became Alsters in 1997 she continued working in Coventry as a secretary in the conveyancing department.

She also spent some time at the Alsters Kelley Leamington office before the opportunity arose in 2007 for her to move over to the Nuneaton office which is now where she lives. In 2009 she became a Conveyancing Assistant in the Property Department.

Cathy Wahlberg said: “Petra is a real asset to Alsters Kelley and her knowledge and experience are invaluable. Working for one company for 40 years is a truly fantastic achievement.”

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With plans in the pipeline to develop the town centre, a key component of the local plan is to ease congestion into the town centre. The work will involve signalising the roundabout and providing a connecting road through the roundabout for the A444 southbound movement. The approaches to the roundabout are to be widened to provide additional lane capacity and walking and

cycling facilities will also be improved as part of the scheme. Stephen Tomkins, Operations Director at Galliford Try, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed as contractor onthis important scheme for Nuneaton.

“Being based at Wolvey we know the region very well and have a strong local supply chain.

Some of our current local projects include the A426 Elliott’s Field scheme as well as the Houlton link road in Rugby.”

Cllr Jeff Clarke, portfolio holder for Transport and Planning with Warwickshire County Council, said: "Improving Nuneaton town centre and its road infrastructure and access is one of our key priorities and it is great to see work has started.”

Zamurad Hussain, a board director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Local Growth Fund was established by the government to create

From the left, Zamurad Hussain (Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership), Stephen Tomkins (Galliford Try) and Cllr Jeff Clarke (Warwickshire County Council)

jobs, support businesses and encourage growth and once this project is completed it will achieve all these.

“Reducing travelling times will make a big difference to motorists driving through this part of Nuneaton and will bring huge benefits to the town.”

Campaign highlights connectivity concerns The north of Warwickshire is proving to be the hotspot for mobile not-spots in the region, according to a national campaign.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) launched a campaign last month to find and eliminate areas where businesses and individuals struggle to get a mobile phone signal.

BCC is logging individual locations across the country that are considered to be ‘not-spots’ and is also registering the network providers of those reporting the lack of signal.

More than 500 responses have already been received across the country and 40 of those have been reported in Coventry and Warwickshire.

A quarter of those not-spots reported in this area are in the Atherstone area with further issues in Old Arley.

The Rugby area, including Dunchurch, has had several locations logged along with Binley Woods, Earlsdon, Meriden, Stratford, Warwick, Leamington and Southam also having notspots reported.

Louise Bennett, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’ve worked hard to promote this campaign among businesses across the patch.

“Mobile connectivity is now a utility so companies need to be connected wherever they go because more business than ever is done remotely or on the move and it’s a real cause of frustration.

“In a way, we are glad that so many notspots have been reported from our area

because it means we’ve done a good job in getting the message out there to businesses – however it’s vital now that we work with colleagues at the BCC and the network providers to eradicate the not-spots.”

Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “A reliable mobile signal is a basic everyday requirement for businesses.

"Despite big investments in the mobile network in recent years, nearly half of businesses say they haven’t seen improvements - so there's clearly still work to do to translate upgrades into a better real-life experience for users. That's why Chambers of Commerce are campaigning for improvements all across the UK.”

To register a not-spot, go to http://research.britishchambers.org.uk/survey/selfserve/215e/shareyournotspots#

Search is on for strategic partners in automotive skills delivery An appeal has been launched to find partners within the automotive industry to help develop skills for a new generation of automotive engineers as part of the new MIRA Technology Institute (MTI).

Companies who sign up will gain access to new disruptive technologies as well as a pool of talent to augment their workforces.

The MTI, due to open later this year in Hinckley, will be a purpose-built centre for automotive training excellence, situated on the world-class MIRA Technology Park.

Lead partner for the MTI, North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, is keen to hear from manufacturers, dealerships, large garages and businesses within the automotive supply chain, or those working in research and development. The College is looking for strategic partners in the venture, which is designed to train the automotive workforce of the future.

Marion Plant, Principal and Chief Executive said: “The MTI will be employer-led, and we would like to hear from companies who are interested in helping to shape the skills agenda and benefit from working closely with other like-minded, forward-thinking organisations.”

The MTI is a unique collaboration between the College, HORIBA MIRA, the University of

Leicester, Loughborough University and Coventry University, working with leading organisations in the automotive industry.

Built with £9.5m investment from the UK Government’s Growth Fund, the MTI is a 24,500 sq. ft specialist facility to train the next generation of engineers in the latest automotive technology.

Strategic partners will benefit from opportunities to: • Upskill their current workforce in the latest in automotive technology • Recruit a new generation of automotive engineering apprentices, trained in a cutting-edge environment • Access new, disruptive technologies including Rapid Prototype, 3D printing, robotics, fluid power, mechatronics, electronic circuit design

North Warwickshire & Hinckley College has a long history of training in the automotive sector, encouraging innovation in skills development. It is continuing to develop its automotive engineering apprenticeships to focus on the future of the transport sector.

The College’s accredited qualifications provide a robust skills base for students entering the sector, and in the environment of the MTI, apprentices will be studying alongside those at the vanguard of the industry.

Qualifications available through the MTI include apprenticeships in automotive engineering, business and project management, and quality management from Level 2 up to Level 5.

Businesses that are interested in getting involved should get in touch with Matthew Pinches by email matthew.pinches@nwhc.co.uk

• Maximise the use of their apprenticeship levy and access to other government funding for training • Benefit from the MTI Skills Escalator which enables apprentices to progress to higher and degree level apprenticeships.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: South Warwickshire

Apprentice and employer move into top gear

Motor Vehicle Apprentice Connor Fox (right), with MotorServ UK Managing Director Kamran Saleem (left), and Connor’s mum Cathy Fox (centre)

A Motor Vehicle Apprentice was rewarded for his hard work and commitment by being named Stratford-upon-Avon College’s Apprentice of the Month.

Connor Fox, 18 from Shirley, has worked as an Apprentice at MotorServ UK in Solihull since December of last year and was

chosen by the College as recipient of the award in recognition of his exceptional professional progress and dedication to his employer This comes hot on the heels of MotorServ UK themselves winning Large Garage of the Year at this year’s Car and Accessory Trader magazine Awards, held in Manchester on Friday 12th February.

Determined to make a start in the motor vehicle industry, Connor decided to adopt a proactive approach and contacted MotorServe UK, volunteering to work for free in order to prove his worth.

His initiative paid off - after just three weeks, the garage were so impressed by his commitment and the significant contribution he was making to the team, they offered him a paid apprenticeship placement as a mechanical engineer, with Stratford-upon-Avon College managing his training programme.

His achievement is all the more remarkable because Connor is on the Autistic Spectrum and has moderate learning disabilities, which means he has to concentrate twice as hard as others to process written information.

Mum Cathy Fox said: “He learns in very visual ways and by doing things, which is why mechanics and practical work are areas he can excel at.”

Cathy has nothing but praise for MotorServ UK and the way in which they have helped Connor. “It has been a struggle to find a garage who were willing to give Connor a trial.

MotorServ UK were prepared to.

They understood his specific needs and couldn’t have been more welcoming. The whole team have given Connor unending support.”

Matthew Spencer, Workshop Controller at MotorServ UK, is Connor’s apprenticeship mentor and has witnessed at first hand the development of his professionalism.

He said: “Connor has transformed from someone who could replace the wheels on a car to someone who is fully competent at servicing very expensive, prestige vehicles.”

Also helping to ensure Connor’s transition into full-time employment was as smooth as possible was Support Towards Employment Progression and Satisfaction (STEPS), an organisation which helps people with learning disabilities enter employment.

Angela Brown, their Day Service Coordinator who liaised with the garage to ensure he received the workplace support he required, said: “Connor has impressed me so much with his integrity, commitment and the total professionalism he has shown.”

Connor said: “I started with petrolpowered remote-controlled cars and then began fixing them. When I was 16, me and my dad restored a mini which I later learnt to drive.

The passion grew from there.”

Drama team pass on their expertise Students at Stratford-upon-Avon College were treated to a broadcasting masterclass led by the makers of new BBC One television comedy drama Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators.

The masterclass was organised by BBC Midlands and The Royal Television Society an educational charity promoting all aspects of work in the television industry - as part of their commitment to inspiring the next generation of artists.

Held in the College’s Willows Theatre, it was hosted by BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Breakfast presenter Trish Adudu with a panel comprising the series producer Ella Kelly,

director Ian Barber and star Patrick Walshe McBride who plays Sebastian in the show, while an audience of students from across the creative arts posed questions to discover industry tips and working practices.

Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators is a 10-part BBC One detective drama series starring Mark Benton and Jo Joyner, set in Stratford and surrounding Warwickshire.

Referring to the programme’s local connections - Shakespeare and Hathaway was filmed in Warwickshire and produced at the BBC’s Drama Village in Birmingham - Ella said “I think it’s great the students can feel connected

Masterclass host Trish Adudu with producer Ella Kelly, director Ian Barber and Patrick Walshe McBride who plays Sebastian in the show

to something made in the Midlands. There is loads of stuff going on here. You don’t need to be in London or Manchester. And it’s really important that they feel part of that.”

Warwick Conferences unveils its first ever Christmas offering at The Slate Warwick Conferences, a portfolio of five dedicated flexible conference and event venues within the University of Warwick, has announced that it will be opening its doors during the festive period for the first time ever.

Warwick Conferences’ latest venue The Slate will be providing a new Christmas party experience for exclusive, individual bookings for up to 200 guests.

During December 2018, The Slate’s 650 square metres of flat, contemporary and highly flexible event space will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland for £49 + VAT per person.

The Slate is Warwick Conferences’ largest dedicated events venue and can cater for up to 400 guests.

Paul Bartlett, Head of Sales at Warwick Conferences, said: “Whilst our venue offering remains distraction-free, the decision to open up The Slate to the corporate Christmas party market on an exclusive-use basis, makes complete sense for us.

“The Slate was built on our brand ethos of ‘anything is possible’ and turning dreams into a reality. The flexibility of this venue makes it the ideal blank canvas to dress with Christmas.”

Businesses told ‘use free ICT support’ (L to r) Neil Batchelor, Peter Burns, Zoe Sweeney (all Chamber) with David Lennox of the CWLEP Growth Hub.

Businesses in South Warwickshire are being urged to make use of free ICT support being offered through European funding.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is offering businesses across the area support on a range of technology issues and how improving broadband speeds can help business growth– and is keen for the Stratford area to claim its share.

The support ranges from digital audits, enhancing digital presence, developing a digital marketing plan through to transforming their business into the cloud. Neil Batchelor heads up the initiative for the Chamber and he urged businesses at its south branch meeting to take

The Shakespeare Code There is no escaping William Shakespeare when you visit Stratford-upon-Avon – but that’s the whole point of a new experience in the town that is set to be unveiled this summer.

The Shakespeare Code will be the second escape experience room at the town’s Escape Live venue which opened in March and is based on the life and times of Stratford’s world-famous playwright.

Escape Live launched with its magicthemed Chalice of Champions and has seen thousands of players take on the challenge of trying to solve clues and riddles to escape the room within an hour.

The team behind Escape Live have been working with Hazel Stenner, an expert in Shakespeare, to ensure the new experience remains true to the history of the period.

It means it will not only provide another exciting one-hour challenge to players, it will

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

also offer an educational twist. Hazel said: “It happened by chance. I know someone who knows the team behind Escape Live and they said they were looking create a Shakespearian experience and we were put in contact.

“I’ve always loved Shakespeare – I’ve completed a Masters Degree at the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham and then worked at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

“I’m originally from Bristol but I moved to the town and lived there for two to three years just to be in the home of Shakespeare and I loved it. My favourite play is Antony and Cleopatra.

“My role in The Shakespeare Code was to try to make it as accurate as possible – it’s all about having fun, of course, but the team at Escape Live were keen for it to be factual too.

“So there are few bits of history within the game and we’ve made sure the room itself reflects a building from Shakespeare’s time.

advantage of the help. He said: “We are offering a range of support designed to help businesses fully embrace new technology to push their businesses forward. It’s a chance for them to receive impartial advice in a nonsales environment to help them make better use of technology to improve their business.

“We will give advice on relevant and available systems which can help boost productivity, assess companies’ current digital offering and we can also assist with a superfast broadband connection.

There has been a bit of artistic licence but then Shakespeare never shied away from that himself!

“It’s been great to work on it and it gives local people and tourists something fresh and new to try while still being in-keeping with the town’s history.”

Escape Live in Stratford is the company’s fourth venue, following Coventry, Birmingham and Southend-on-Sea, and the operators are delighted with the start the venue has made.

John Dalziel, a co-founder of the business, said: “We can’t wait to launch The Shakespeare Code and it’s been fantastic to work with Hazel who has extensive knowledge of him.

“Chalice of Champions has been a phenomenal success in the first few weeks since opening – we were full over Easter and there have only been a handful of slots available for a few weeks.

“We are already second on the fun things to do list for Stratford according to TripAdvisor, which is incredible considering we’ve only been here for such a short space of time.

“We have seen several businesses in the South Warwickshire area – but are keen for more to be involved as we want to ensure that companies have the right ICT and broadband provision for their business.”

The meeting, which was chaired by past Chamber president Peter Burns, also heard from Dave Lennox of the CWLEP Growth Hub who is working with the Chamber to boost innovation in schools across the area.

“The Shakespeare Code is going to be quite a different game but we have absolutely no doubt that local people, escape room lovers and tourists from all over the world are going to love it.”

Escape Live in Stratford will open from 10am until 10pm every day and for further information or to book visit www.escapelive.co.uk A short video is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oi66ewlbb6m m93c/Shakespeare_Coming%20soon_2004 18.mp4?dl=0

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Area Focus: Rugby sponsored column

Are you ready for Making Tax Digital?

HMRC has confirmed the introduction of it’s Making Tax Digital programme will commence in April 2019.

This is the biggest change in the UK tax system for more than 20 years.

A decade of continued expansion and business success for Cottons

The Rugby Office of Cottons Chartered Accountants are celebrating their 10th anniversary this month with events planned to mark the decade of continued expansion and business success in the town.

Cottons Chartered Accountants now has a staff of 25 local people based in the Rugby town centre, having outgrown their original office in Albert Street and moving to offices at Chestnut Field.

Partner, Mark Palmer, takes up the story: “We have really enjoyed working in Rugby over the past 10 years and building relationships with our clients and other businesses, we think the future of the town looks very positive and our aim is to continue to support the growth.

“We look forward to supporting our clients to embrace the many technological changes that will affect the industry in the near future, mainly HMRC’s move to digital taxation starting from April next year and alongside it cloud accounting systems.

Why choose Cottons?

What you get with Cottons is a proactive, forward-thinking and innovative practice ready for the digital era. Our cloud accounting specialist team are able to deal with all queries on digital software choices and to provide training and ongoing support.

If you are concerned you are not ready, or simply want to find out more information, please contact us on 01788 579033 or email rugby@cottonsllp.com

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community to thrive, we find it rewarding to watch our clients and our town prosper.

We work very much in partnership with our clients as their supporting arm.”

Cottons Chartered Accountants can be contacted on 01788 579033

The Myton Hospices’ first Retail Challenge was a great success with the three competing teams coming up with inventive ways to encourage more customers through the doors of the shops they took over.

They baked, they bartered and they dressed up in a giant teddy bear costume all in the name of raising money for Myton.

The teams were aiming to have the biggest percentage increase on an average day’s takings.

Overall, the Marketing &

Who does it affect and when is it being introduced?

Businesses that are VAT registered will be the first to enter the Making Tax Digital system in April 2019. VAT registered businesses, including the self-employed, landlords, unincorporated business, companies and LLPs are all impacted.

How is Cottons Chartered Accountants preparing?

We have been identifying the systems our clients are currently using and making a plan with each of them as to the best way to approach the move to new digital software. Many small businesses are yet to embrace digital technology and are happy with their manual records. We understand the apprehension felt towards the mandatory change and are here to provide reassurance that a smooth transition can be made.

“I myself have lived here for over 30 years and enjoy being part of the town’s sporting and family orientated community, which was recently borne out by being voted in the top 100 places to live in the UK. Our Rugby based team is constantly working to support the local

Charity Challenge a success

What is Making Tax Digital?

The intention is to modernise the tax system and make the management of tax affairs accurate and easier. The new requirements will mean that all accounting records must be kept and submitted to HMRC in electronic format using HMRC approved software. On a much more real time basis HMRC will be collecting and processing data to stop tax due or repayments building up.

What if I am not VAT Registered?

It will be April 2020 at the earliest that the remaining businesses, landlords and also some individuals will be brought in to the system.

However, they can opt to move to the new digital system earlier, meaning that they are well prepared for when the official time comes.

Some of the team at Chestnut Field House, from left, Lucy Clayton, Dave Ingram, Mark Palmer, James Melvin and Emma Reid.

Communications team, who were running the Church Street shop in Rugby, came out on top by increasing the shop’s takings by 52%.

Partnership Manager at The Myton Hospices, Hannah Morris, said: “The teams managed to bring in an extra £500 between them, which is fantastic and will help us towards raising the £8.8million needed to keep our services running for people who need us most this year.”

MP seeks views on improving life for businesses The MP for Rugby has urged firms in the area to tell him what isn’t working for businesses in the region.

Mark Pawsey MP met the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Rugby Branch at the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance HQ at Butler’s Leap.

He heard about a range of issues – from mobile ‘not-spots’ through to public sector procurement – and said he wanted to get as much feedback as possible from companies across the Borough.

Mr Pawsey sits on the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select

Committee and told the meeting that it had launched an enquiry into small businesses and the obstacles that stand between them and strong growth.

He said: “One area we are looking at is what is preventing company owners from moving their business on to employing staff and growing because everyone will see the benefit of stronger business growth.”

Anne Rogers, vice chair of the Chamber’s Rugby branch, said companies in the area could feedback any issues affecting their business to the Chamber and also gain support for their growth.

Businesses which are facing obstacles to their growth should email details to gemmab@cw-chamber.co.uk

Stepnell awarded £13.1m building modernisation for university Leading construction contractor Stepnell, which is based in Rugby, has been awarded a £13.1 million contract by the University of Leicester to complete the modernisation of its Percy Gee Building.

Stepnell’s Nottingham team recently began work to extend and enhance the East Wing of the multi-purpose facility which is home to the Students’ Union as well as being a popular venue for informal meetings and social learning. Most of the building has already been successfully

transformed by an earlier awardwinning redevelopment which finished in 2011.

Stepnell will complete the work by creating a new four-storey extension, housing additional facilities including a large, brand-new food court; double the amount of space for social learning and a new informatics lab for the study of information science.

The redevelopment, designed

by Shepheard Epstein Hunter architects, is set for completion in August 2019, ready for the start of the new academic year.

Computer-generated artist’s impressions showing the extended Percy Gee Building. Images courtesy of Shepheard Epstein Hunter architects.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Focus on conference and event venues

Region is perfectly suited to meet a whole variety of business and conference needs The continuing confidence in the economy despite all the turbulence in the world suggests that 2018 could be a good year for the Midlands conference, exhibitions and events sector.

Coventry and Warwickshire has a particularly buoyant events sector with plenty of fine venues from hotels and conference

centres, historic buildings to riverside attractions.

One trend increasingly being observed is the arrival in the market of venues which were not always considered for such events. Hotels and business centres have always hosted conferences and exhibitions but increasingly other venues are becoming involved.

Warwick Conferences Anything is possible Located in the heart of the UK at the University of Warwick, Warwick Conferences operates five flexible conference, meeting and event venues on the outskirts of Coventry. Our central location makes us easily accessible for those travelling from the north and south, whether it be air, road or rail.

Our Three Training and Conference Centres

The region is perfectly suited to meet a whole variety of business and conference needs and make sure your delegates have an amazing experience.

There are inner city venues and boutique settings that lie in beautiful countryside alongside world famous attractions ready to cater for events of all sizes.

With some of the nation’s best produce on our doorstep, we make sure we only use locally sourced ingredients with a clear provenance where possible. This makes sure whatever we serve, it’s always flexible, always flavour of the month and always designed to nourish concentration.

Our state of the art meeting and conference facilities coupled with our exquisite dining facilities are partnered perfectly with luxurious on-site accommodation, making us the ideal solution for residential events. We can supply 458 hotel-styled bedrooms, ranging from our signature to superior suites, each hosted with modern amenities to guarantee extra comfort.

The Slate The Slate is our latest venue and has been designed to re write the rules of conferencing and events. It’s a single, completely flat and open expanse with no pillars or fixtures to get in the way. Its 650 square metres of contemporary and highly flexible event space can hold up to 400 guests, whilst its reinforced flooring can bear up to two 4x4 cars.

Built from BREEAM excellent rated architecture and located with a lakeside view, The Slate is only one of ten of its type in the UK and provides both a sustainable and tailor-made experience, whilst offering exclusive occupancy. This venue can be paired with an individual food offer, along with 358 hotel-styled bedrooms.

Conference Park Scarman, Radcliffe and Arden are our dedicated training and conference centres that provide a focussed, distraction-free environment across 300 dynamic spaces for up to 180 delegates.

These standalone venues consist of an eclectic and widely flexible range of syndicate spaces, meeting spaces and unique creative spaces. In addition to providing the traditional meeting room, we have chosen to develop this innovative suite of creative spaces to mirror our brand promise of ‘anything is possible’. These spaces redefine the traditional meeting room through creating a memorable learning and training experience, demonstrating that to maximise ultimate impact you sometimes have to ignore the boundaries. The Kitchen, The Studio and The Living Space all provide an engaging environment that encourage delegates to think differently and create an enhanced workplace learning outcome.

Each of our training and conference centres operate their very own sophisticated bar and restaurant areas that can cater comfortably for up to 225 guests. We understand every client and event is uniquely different, so from banquets to something more low-key, all of our meals are shaped to meet your needs and no one else’s.

And if your delegates do get some spare time, they won’t be lost for things to see and do – from the history of Shakespeare and Lady Godiva to top level sport, big name concerts and so much more.

And there’s even more to come. There’s so much on offer for any business or conference organiser – and it’s getting better all the time!

Macdonald Ansty Hall Macdonald Ansty Hall is a grade II listed Georgian manor house set in 8 acres of grounds and one of the finest 4-star hotels in Warwickshire. In the heart of Shakespeare Country, the hotel offers fantastic views of the rolling countryside, delicious food, fine wine and the warmest of welcomes.

Our flexible function space is suitable for meetings up to 150 delegates and for banquets up to 100 guests, we’d be delighted to discuss with you your requirements.

For further information and to book please contact our sales team on 02476 612222 or email specialevents.ansty@macdonald-hotels.co.uk

Coventry Cathedral Coventry Cathedral is one of the city's most recognisable venues and can provide services to suit your event need. From staging to floristry and catering to accommodation, the Cathedral events team are at hand. This year, as well as the gala dinners and University graduation days, the Cathedral are playing hosts to Plumbline Festival. A year-long celebration of grassroots projects with local children, spoken word performances, art exhibitions, classical concerts, family festivals to theatre and dance.

For more information on holding your event at Coventry Cathedral please email events@coventrycathedral.org.uk or call the switchboard on +44 (0) 24 7652 1200

Venture House Business Centre This Stratford-upon-Avon based Business Centre has accessible & flexible meeting space, hotdesks and small serviced offices in a modern & innovative setting.

For larger events up to 1,200, we can offer a range of extraordinary spaces available within the University of Warwick itself. Whether it be an association congress or a large-scale exhibition held in the renowned Warwick Arts Centre, this venue makes it possible. The student bedrooms available on our campus are also cost-effective and provide the possibility for all delegates to be centrally located in one place.

Whatever you want, call us to make it possible on 024 7652 3222 or for more details go to www.warwickconferences.com

The main ground floor Meeting Room seats up to 30 theatre style & 16 boardroom. This light & airy space lends itself to businesses & organisations wishing to hold meetings, workshops or presentations. It is within easy reach of Stratford town centre, the A46 & the motorway network. The competitive room hire rates include parking, AV, delegate registration and an informal breakout area.

If you’re looking for a professional environment to hold your next event please get in touch..

Tel 01789 207500 info@venturehousestratford.co.uk www.venturehousestratford.co.uk

Innovation & productivity above formality Suitable for up to 8 delegates, CRE 8 has a variety of special features included in the room package such as magnetic walls, comfortable sofa seating, unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks, and snack bars - both healthy and sugary!

The CRE 8 Room has bright turquoise walls with little bursts of orange in the furniture and décor. The combination of blue and orange provide an environment that not only calms and provides mental clarity, but also encourages lively discussions and clear decision making.

Our bespoke wall art further enhances the stimulation of discussion and inspire creativity. The CRE 8 Room has beautiful plants in to promote rest and boost concentration.

All the features in the room have been carefully considered to produce the optimum environment for creativity and productivity.

Please contact us on 024 76 226 064 or more information about Cre 8 and how to book or email info@thewelcomecentre.co.uk

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To check availability call 01789 207500

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The beginning of anything you want Five outstanding venues at the University of Warwick

Located in the heart of the UK, Warwick Conferences is situated within 700 acres on the outskirts of Coventry. Our varied portfolio consists of a flexible range of meeting and event space accompanied perfectly by hotel-styled accommodation. Our latest venue The Slate offers 650 sqm of highly contemporary event space with no restrictions for up to 400 guests. For larger events up to 1,200, we offer a vast range of lecture theatres, auditoria and galleries.

· Central location · Easily accessible by air, road and rail · Exquisite catering · Hotel-style accommodation · Free parking · Flexible meeting and event space for up to 1,200 Find out how we can make anything possible for your next event, call our team on +44 (0) 24 7652 3222 or visit warwickconferences.com

Education and Skills

The importance of closing the skills gap Growing concern about the UK’s skills shortage means that the need to develop the skills of new and established staff has never been more apparent for businesses.

The same conversations are taking place in every business and every sector as managers try to recruit the skilled people they need to survive and thrive in uncertain economic times.

college or university, it is a lifelong process. Training programmes can provide the vital skills to maintain this culture throughout the working lives of employees.

Part of the process is increasing links between business and education providers. Developing skills begins with schools, colleges and universities who aim to motivate and support young people to raise their levels of achievement and aspiration, gain skills and develop an understanding of the world of work.

Training typically falls into two categories; the training of people for new roles and the training of those already in jobs who wish to develop their skills further.

Training and Continuous Professional Development can also play a key role in helping companies to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

Staff exposed to different ways of thinking often come up with new ideas.

Developing employees with new skills plays a crucial role in encouraging that sense of innovation.

It is important not to forget that education does not stop when you leave

A key part of training is teaching practical skills, everything from understanding the fundamentals in leadership to effective customer service, but training programmes also help employees to recognise business opportunities when they see them.

This area is witnessing some exciting initiatives to bring all these challenges together with companies, training providers and business organisations pooling resources and knowledge to close the skills gap.

“It is important not to forget that education does not stop when you leave college or university, it is a lifelong process. Training programmes can provide the vital skills to maintain this culture throughout the working lives of employees.�

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education and Skills

Amadeus set to reach target of training 200 apprentices by 2020

Amadeus, award-winning caterer to the NEC Group, is addressing the hospitality industry’s skills shortage through its innovative apprenticeship programme.

So far this year, Amadeus has successfully recruited 12 new apprentices who will gain practical, real-life experience working within the NEC Group venues, combined with practical training provided in partnership with local educational institution University College Birmingham (UCB).

UCB, internationally renowned for its food and hospitality courses, have joined forces with Amadeus for the first time to offer bespoke Level 2 Commis Chef Apprenticeships.

The 12 candidates will work towards positions of permanent employment with Amadeus in a bid to help the company develop a strong pipeline of future talent, with additional apprenticeship drives taking place through the year. The company is currently set to reach its target of training 200 apprentices by 2020.

Kevin Watson, Managing Director of Amadeus, said: “People are the lifeblood of Amadeus. Like all other large-scale caterers, we are constantly in need of new talent to help the company thrive.

“It’s no secret that hospitality leaders are struggling to recruit, and that businesses need to take innovative teps in order to attract and retain talent the sector needs.

“Amadeus have always invested in apprenticeships, but our ambitious targets demonstrate our commitment to building exciting and rewarding careers in hospitality and catering.

“By developing bespoke programmes in partnership with our local institutions, we are training up versatile individuals that understand the nuances of different types of catering we operate in – be that retail, hospitality or standalone banqueting.”

Gail Tipper, Head of Apprenticeships at UCB, said: “Earlier this year we cemented our partnership with Amadeus – the deal is one of the first for UCB that reflects the government’s new apprenticeship regulations and we are excited to be part of Amadeus’ quest to bring on the next generation of top chefs.”

Full house at the Warwickshire Skills Conference More than 100 people from Warwickshire’s business and education communities joined together at Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC’s) fourth Skills for Employment programme annual skills conference to discuss the skills challenges and opportunities facing the county.

Following an introduction from Cllr Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader, WCC; Monica Fogarty, joint MD, WCC, and David Ayton-Hill, Economy & Skills Group Manager, WCC, gave delegates information about the county’s skills picture.

Some key facts about the county’s skills picture included: • Warwickshire is the fastest growing economy in the country since the recession.

• 78.7% of working age population are in employment.

• More than 1,000 young people aged 16-18 leave education every year and may be looking for work.

• 1 in 5 low wage jobs are filled by EU nationals, many of whom would not meet current visa entry requirements.

• 116,000 current jobs in Warwickshire are at high risk of being lost to automation in the future.

• Four key skills have been identified as being needed for the jobs of the future: communication; strategic; analytical; and innovative.

• Nationally 65% of children entering primary school today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

A full house at the annual Warwickshire County Council skills conference at Stoneleigh Park this week.

• WCC has allocated an additional £600,000 for the Skills for Employment programme 2018-20.

This is a £2.4 million programme which helps businesses tackle skills shortages and enables young people to become work-ready.

Delegates at the free breakfast conference, which took place at Stoneleigh Park, also heard an overview of initiatives and investment announced in the Government’s latest Industrial Strategy, from Steve Steward, Chief Executive, Careers England. Discussion took place, both round the tables, and at the Q&A session with the panel of experts from the worlds of business and education: Lee Gray, Headteacher, Studley High School; Neil Coker, Vice Principal, Warwickshire College Group; Lindsay Stewart, Chief Operating Officer,

Stratford on Avon College; Elaine Stock, Assistant Head, Avon Valley School and Sarah Windrum, CEO of the Emerald Group and Digital skills lead for Coventry & Warwickshire LEP. Cllr Colin Hayfield, County Council Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning, said: “So many ideas have emerged and we are keen to keep the momentum and keep the conversation going.”

Sarah Windrum, CEO of the Emerald Group and Digital skills lead for Coventry & Warwickshire LEP said: “Our recent success increasing productivity across the region is a clear indicator of how well we are working together, but as always, there is lots more to do and there were many good ideas from the Conference to take forward.”

sponsored column

Apprenticeships – a funding and quality equation A recent study by The Open University states that since the apprenticeship levy was introduced, over 50,000 organisations across the UK have contributed to the levy at a total cost of £1.8 billion.

The study goes on to say that of those organisations in control of how they use the levy funding, only £108 million of the funds that have been paid in have been withdrawn and used.

At Coventry College, we expected it would take employers time to get to grips with the new funding rules to determine how they can best use the funding.

We’ve been working with both levy and non-levy payers showing them how they can use apprenticeships funding to attract the talent they need, cover their skills gap and ensure the future success of their businesses.

Time is of the essence when it comes to using the funding. Any funding left in levy accounts longer than 24 months will expire.

A number of organisations have realised they need to use funds before they lose them and have rushed to put training plans into place.

This has raised concerns that some employers are re-badging low-skill and often low-wage roles as 'apprenticeships', to qualify them for apprenticeship training paid for from the levy funds.

We think this is the exception and not the rule.

Here at the College, quality apprenticeships have been around a long time, from traditional industries like motor engineering and construction to today’s diversified, high-growth sectors like information technology and health care.

Working with employers in our local employment market, we’re helping them invest apprenticeship funds wisely into programmes that are relevant and accessible to both school leavers and re-trainers, providing opportunities to re-tool, learn new skills and remain employable in today’s changing economy.

Employers and apprenticeship providers are accountable for ensuring available apprenticeship funding is used wisely to create high quality apprenticeship training provision.

We’re confident that when funds are invested well, local businesses will thrive and individual lives – those who acquire new skills and employment opportunities – will be transformed.

Please feel free to contact me personally at pbrammall@coventrycollege.ac.uk to see how we can help your business.

Alternatively, call our Employer Services team on 024 7679 1700

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GDPR – Does it really matter? need to demonstrate accountability and easily display how the business gathers information from clients, as well as what they do with it and how they store it.

This means you will need to document what personal data you hold on record, where it came from and who you share it with.

You may even need to organise an information audit across the organisation or within particular business areas to identify and areas that fall short.

Your next steps We recommend that you begin your journey to compliance with the GDPR by focusing on four key steps.

Discover Identify which personal data you have and where it resides

Manage Govern how personal data is used and accessed

Get started with GDPR

D

Short answer YES …

And now for the longer answer.

In May 2015, the EU outlined its strategy to create a digital single market which would modernise and update the principles of the EU Data Protection Directive 1995 and UK Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces the 1995 EU directive (Directive 95/46/EC ) and was introduced in May 2016 with full enforcement due in May 2018.

The GDPR will put control of data back into the hands of individuals who will be able to request the right to be forgotten

and even be able to move their data from one organisation to another.

For data controllers and processors more stringent and measurable compliance requirements will be enforced with even heavier penalties of between two and four per cent of worldwide turnover.

The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will impact most businesses from 25th May 2018 The objective of the regulation is to bring digital accountability to organisations across Europe GDPR places greater emphasis on the documentation and procedures your business has in place. Data controllers will

Prepare your organisation for the new regulation The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) contains many requirements about collecting, storing, and using personal information, including how you: • Identify and secure the personal data in your systems • Implement new requirements • Detect and report data breaches • Train personnel and other employees There’s a lot to do to get ready; we suggest that you begin reviewing your privacy and data management practices now so that you can take steps to comply before the regulation takes effect in May 2018. Failure to comply with the GDPR could prove costly, as companies that do not meet the requirements and obligations could face substantial fines and reputational harm.

Protect Establish security controls to prevent, detect, and respond to vulnerabilities and data breaches

Report Keep required documentation and manage data requests and breach notifications To find out more about what GDPR means for your business, contact Axiom Cyber Intelligence t. 0333 355 8553 e. info@axiomci.co.uk w. www.axiomci.co.uk

AXIOM CYBER INTELLIGENCE

We are Leaders in the protection and security of your data and operations.

We are a trusted provider of end-to-end cyber security solutions including grass roots advice and awareness of cyber security, needs and risk assessment, technical assessment, practical implementation, evaluation, testing and audit.

Working across all sectors including, government, public, private and charity sectors we are able to provide the support and advice needed to obtain accreditation for your cyber security management.

Services we offer:

• 27001 Implementation and audit

• Cyber Essentials

• IASME accreditation

• GDPR support

• Security Manager as a Service

• Security Testing

• Training and Awareness

We’ll be happy to discuss your Cyber Security needs. For more information or to book a meeting, give us a call on 0333 355 8553 or email info@axiomci.co.uk www.axiomci.co.uk 40

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Is your business prepared for the new data protection laws?

With the biggest ever change to data protection laws coming into force on 25th May, Kathryn Moon, managing director at UK insurance broker Gallagher based on Queen Victoria Road in Coventry, urges companies to ensure they have the processes in place to comply.

In May 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is replacing the previous Data Protection Act 1998, which regulates the handling of personal data.

Designed to ensure that data legislation across the EU reflects the myriad new ways that data is used, the GDPR aims to enforce stronger data security amongst organisations that handle personal data, and enhance privacy rights of individuals that entrust those organisations with that data, giving people more say over how their data is handled.

The changes both widen the scope of regulation and bring harsher penalties for non-compliance, so it’s never been more

important to make sure the data your business holds is properly protected and looked after.

Failure to adhere could result in a fine of 4% of an organisation’s global annual turnover or ¤20 million, whichever is the largest sum.

The key to GDPR compliance is preparation.

You will need to audit your current data protection measures, document all existing information held and ensure all data collection measures are compliant with the changes.

If you do not have one already, you should also ensure that your organisation has a data breach plan in place, so you can react to a breach quickly and effectively. The GDPR aims to ensure that data protection and privacy are not just an afterthought and are included in all of your systems and processes.

Also worth consideration is a robust Cyber & Data Liability Insurance. Suitable policies will include 24/7 breach response along with cover for your own costs and those of third parties should you have a data breach.

Gallagher was recently awarded Cyber Risks Cover of the Year Award at the Commercial Insurance Awards 2018 — an external endorsement that demonstrates how Gallagher clients continue to benefit from access to risk-relevant, quality cover.

Fundraisers light up Coventry in aid of The Myton Hospices More than 600 people walked, danced and jogged around Coventry city centre to raise money for The Myton Hospices.

As night fell over Coventry on Saturday 10th March, an army of neon-clad fundraisers descended upon Coventry University’s Square One venue for this year’s Glow in the City event.

Matt Print got everyone warmed up and in the dancing mood with some Zumba, and before setting off participants joined together in a spectacular UV powder throw so everyone was covered in bright colours from head to toe!

More than £28,000 has already been raised by those who took part, with plenty more sponsorship still coming in. This year Myton is hoping to raise £70,000 which is the running cost of its Inpatient Unit at Coventry Myton Hospice for two weeks!

Assistant Events Manager at The Myton Hospices, Lucy Turner, said: “We have had another fantastic year for Glow in the City, it was amazing to see hundreds of neon clad participants coming together in support of the Myton Hospices.

“So far, we have raised approximately £28,000 which is a brilliant amount and will ensure we can continue our vital services in the community.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to the volunteers on the night, Matt Print for leading the warm up, face painter Sooz,

Hundreds of people joined together to raise money for The Myton Hospices at this year’s Glow in the City

students from Coventry University who photographed the night and Todd from Spaghetti Agency for being MC! And of course thank you to our event sponsors Crowngate Construction and MKM Building Supplies.”

New networking lunch club goes down a treat with Nuneaton businesses Businesses looking to grow and develop, make new contacts and benefit from mutual advice and support are invited to a new networking lunch group in Nuneaton.

The Nuneaton Business Networking Luncheon has been set up to bring businesses together in a relaxed, comfortable and supportive environment where they can make useful new connections.

The new group is being sponsored by Alsters Kelley – one of the largest and most established solicitors’ firms in the region – and QT Homes Lettings, a successful independent sales and lettings business based in Nuneaton.

It takes place monthly at The Fuzzy Duck Pub & Kitchen, where attendees can enjoy a hot lunch and refreshments while meeting new business people from across the area.

Melissa Maycock, director of QT Homes Lettings Ltd, who set up the estate agency

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business with her sister, Mariam Fraser, four years ago, said: “As a relatively new company we appreciate how lonely it can be running your own business and we’re really passionate about supporting other local businesses and letting them know that support is out there.”

Alsters Kelley business development manager, Julie McGarrigle, said: “Although Alsters Kelley is very established in the local area and beyond, we understand the need to continue to build relationships not only to help us evolve and grow, but also to support the wider communities that we live and work in. For that reason, business networking is an integral part of what we do.

“As well as making useful new connections for our business, it means we can also share some of our knowledge and expertise with the small businesses who contribute towards a successful and vibrant local economy.”

More information and booking details are available via the Nuneaton Business Networking Luncheon Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ NuneatonLuncheon/

Melissa Maycock from QT Homes Lettings, Virtual PA Jacqueline Leake and Sarah Darby and Emma Piff from Alsters Kelley enjoying the first ever Nuneaton Business Networking Luncheon at The Fuzzy Duck Pub & Kitchen

Moreton Hall Hotel Training School wins National Lottery support

WCG has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its project to create a Hotel Training School based at Moreton Morrell College.

Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to bring Moreton Hall, a much loved regional landmark, back to life following a devastating fire in 2008 and make it a centre of excellence for Hospitality and Tourism training.

The Moreton Hall Hotel Training School is an important development in the region and has been designed to supply the region’s significant visitor economy with the skilled workforce it very much needs.

It is a strategic move by WCG to develop skills training in an area not currently offered by the WCG Colleges due to industry demands for a skilled workforce and the strong career opportunities this industry presents.

WCG will be launching new hospitality and tourism courses at its Royal Leamington Spa College and Evesham College, in addition to creating the Moreton Hall Hotel Training School at Moreton Morrell College.

The HLF have agreed £582,000 up front to support the development of the project, with the prospect of a further £3.5m to make it a reality. With the support of HLF, plus private donations and the college group’s own investment, the Hall now has a substantial amount of the £8.5m needed to invest in the creation of the Moreton Hall Hotel Training School.

WCG will be seeking some additional financial or in-kind support from industry partners, stakeholders, benefactors, alumni and the local community as the project develops.

As well as the education and training focus, the refurbishment will include a museum celebrating the history of Moreton Hall and its international connections; and the building will once again be available as a venue for weddings, conferences and as a restaurant.

The hotel itself will be designed as a high quality boutique hotel, providing students with a commercial hotel setting in which to develop their skills and to ensure they are work-ready for the many jobs, from chef to hotel manager, tour guide to events manager, available in this industry.

Built in 1906, Moreton Hall (Grade II listed building) and its gardens, including the famous Wellingtonia tree-lined driveway, has always been much admired and even visited by royalty.

Angela Joyce, Group Principal and Chief Executive of WCG, said “Our vision of creating a Hotel Training School directly supports the needs and ambitions of the regional economy to boost tourism and to create the next generation of skilled employees, which will be so vital in the years following Brexit.”

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News

Marketing agency become Google Partners Cocoonfxmedia, a marketing and web development agency in Lichfield, have announced their partnership with Google.

To become a Google Partner, your agency must first use Google AdWords and manage multiple accounts. Google AdWords is first and foremost an online advertising service developed by Google which guarantees to get your product on the first page of the search engine.

The user then curates a list of positive and negative key words and creates engaging Ad Copy.

The firm have been awarded the ‘Google Certified Partner’, badge which represents Google’s endorsement of the firm’s expertise and experience in Google AdWords campaigns.

Managing Partner James Blackman said: “Becoming a Google Partner fits into our long-term goals and objectives of becoming a full-service agency. “ Design Partner Glen Tapper added: “Becoming a Google Partner supports our vison of being a full-service agency that can not only offer consultation on your marketing but can also action the advice we give.”

WarwickNet responsible for 67 per cent of DCMS gigabit vouchers issued in pilot WarwickNet, a leading provider of next generation broadband solutions, has welcomed the national roll-out of the Government-backed Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which has seen the company distribute a large number of vouchers worth up to £3000 to local businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire since the pilot launch in November.

DCMS scheme partner Coventry Council confirmed local supplier WarwickNet has, to date, issued the majority of vouchers for its full-fibre gigabit-capable services in theregion, 67 per cent of the total requests made.

Locally-based stationery business Nuco International is one of the first companies in the UK to benefit from free installation of a gigabit-capable connection by WarwickNet. The company, which also has an office in Hong Kong, took advantage of the scheme as they prepared to transition systems to the cloud and sought faster download and upload speeds.

Mark Langan, IT and Project Manager, said: “We’re now getting three times the speed for no extra cost. We were already keen on upgrading our infrastructure to full-fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP), but the Gigabit Voucher Scheme made it a much more cost-effective solution,” James Warner, Director of Sales and Marketing at WarwickNet, said: “There were no guarantees this scheme would roll-out to more areas so we’re absolutely delighted it will be. Our strong partnerships with customers and detailed knowledge of their infrastructure and business needs puts us in an ideal place to promote the value of this scheme to both them and businesses generally. We’ve proven our commitment to full-fibre provision by issuing the majority of vouchers in our pilot area.”

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O’Brien Charitable Trust donates £30,000 to support local charities Over the years, O’Brien Contractors Ltd (OBCL)’ charitable fundraising was very ad-hoc until in 2017 a group of staff decided to take a more significant and focused approach and the O’Brien Charitable Trust (OBCT) was formed.

It was also decided that the fundraising could have greater impact if it was to support specific causes, rather than larger charities, to ensure that all funds raised went directly to the cause rather than becoming diluted through running costs.

Eight OBCL staff formed a fundraising committee and set a goal of raising £15,000.

The directors fully supported the ambitions of the group and offered to match every pound collected by the group if the target was reached, so the company would put in a further £15,000, totalling £30,000. Throughout the year, seven fundraising events were organised and the £15K goal was achieved so OBCL has matched that and £30K has been donated to the chosen charities.

The Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance received a £10K donation.

A £6K donation each was made to Freddie’s Wish, which supports bereaved parents, Guy’s Gift, which supports bereaved children and young people, and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, which provides palliative, respite and end-of-life care for children aged from

birth to five years old with lifelimiting conditions. The remaining £2K was donated to the Helping Harry Trust to help support a little boy who suffers from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and has very complex needs.

Trust volunteers and OBCL staff gave up weekends and personal time to organise and partake in the seven charity events and in total more than 380 hours were invested into OBCT activities to raise these vital funds.

The most successful event was the Golf Day, which took place on the 14th July at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club. The event raised £8K for the chosen charities.

Very generous donors also helped the Trust in 2017. Southam Rugby Club played a key role in helping the Trust to reach its fundraising goal, by donating half of the proceeds it made from its Party on the Pitch event in the summer.

The cause was also supported by some suppliers who sponsored events, including Gap, Nicholas Associates, Hauraton, Adler Insurance, CP Hire, and MQP.

GAP Group also provided £500 to enable the walkers in the Trust’s Site2site Walk to have customised t-shirts and jackets. The walk was another hugely successful event, which took place on Saturday 9th September and saw 32 of O’Brien’s staff and families walk 12 miles from Gaydon to Cubbington and raise £3K for charity.

The OBCT fundraising committee was re-formed at the start of 2018 with eight new staff members taking on the task of arranging new activities to raise another £15K for charities.

The focus for the 2018 fundraising will be to support charities that are helping under-privileged children and once again, O’Brien Contractors will match the £15K if OBCT reaches its target.

Driver presses Armed Forces case

A Birmingham bus driver met a government defence minister in Whitehall to pledge National Express West Midlands’ continuing support for the UK’s armed forces.

Neil Talbot drives buses from National Express West Midlands’ Perry Barr garage.

He’s been a reservist with Wolverhampton’s Mercia Corps for 29 years and has done tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and a UN tour in Cyprus.

He went down to London to attend the Armed Forces Covenant signing ceremony at Horse Guards Parade with National Express West Midlands Managing Director Tom Stables and the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister for Defence People and Veterans.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a formal promise to demonstrate an organisation’s support for the armed services.

Five years ago, National Express was the first company in the UK to sign up. The transport operator has now expanded its promise with new ways of supporting veterans, the armed forces and their families.

The package of new pledges will: • Offer guaranteed interviews to service leavers for all National Express roles in the UK • Include spouses and families of service leavers in its guaranteed interview scheme • Provide ten days’ extra leave for staff in the Reserve Forces • Extend its existing discount of 60% on coach travel for serving personnel to include group bookings • Offer discounted bus travel in the West Midlands • Offer free bus travel to families visiting soldiers at the Military Hospital at the QE in Birmingham and to volunteers on Remembrance Sunday Neil said: “As a reservist, it’s really important to work for a company that understands how to give practical support to the armed forces.

It’s great that National Express are giving ten

days’ extra leave to staff in the Reserves - it makes a big difference to us.”

Tom Stables, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: “We’re very proud to have been the first company to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. I’m delighted that we are now signing up to an even greater commitment. Armed forces personnel and their families do a great service to this country and it’s right that big companies like ours do what we can to support them.”

National Express employs more than 40 former forces personnel and reservists in various roles - drivers, health and safety officers, engineers and customer service advisors. These staff, ranking from private up to major, came from across the armed forces, including the Royal Marines, Royal Signals, Royal Engineers, RAF, Navy and the Gurkha regiment.

Bernie Cassidy, Head of Engineering at National Express served 24 years in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, starting as a private in 1988 and working his way up to be an officer. He left the Armed Forces in 2011 and went to an interview as a project manager at a bus company for the interview experience but ended up getting the job.

MIRA Technology Park win UK’s most Prestigious Business Award Technology Park awarded Queen’s Award for Enterprise under the category of International Trade for outstanding continuous growth of overseas sales MIRA Technology Park, the UK’s leading automotive technology park and Enterprise Zone, has become part of an elite group of businesses, winning the ‘International Trade’ award at the prestigious Queen’s Awards 2018.

The International Trade accolade is part of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. Its stringent criteria means only the top performing businesses are put forward for the global award and to become eligible UK businesses must, over a period of six-years, demonstrate steep yearon-year growth without dips in overseas sales, relative to business size and sector.

In this period, MIRA Technology Park has been able to demonstrate long-term growth of international

sales. Since 2012, over 77% of the park’s gross revenue is classified as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This income is generated from the commercial rent international companies pay, covering the space and use of the park’s technical services, supporting tenants’ research and development operations.

Since winning the award, Dr George Gillespie OBE, CEO at HORIBA MIRA, said: “We are absolutely delighted and deeply honoured to have won such a prestigious award. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise highlights everything that’s great about UK business today. I’m extremely proud of what the team have achieved with MIRA Technology Park, in particular from an FDI perspective, attracting some truly great international automotive companies to establish their EU R&D operations on the park. We still have a long journey ahead, but the growth achieved so far has been

consistently strong and it is very pleasing for our achievements to be recognised in this way.

“We are confident that with the Queens Award for Enterprise, our growing international reputation and the continued investment we make in the park, our appeal to international businesses will only strengthen. We are always looking to enhance the inward investment proposition as more and more international automotive companies look to establish a technical presence in the UK.” MIRA Technology Park is renowned for its excellent research and development facilities, with many international automotive firms basing themselves on-site to establish a technical presence in the UK. Ultimately this has created a significant automotive ‘technology cluster’, with over 1,200 employees across 40 companies from fifteen countries, all benefitting from access

to the cutting-edge facilities and engineering services. These tenants include, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Toyota, Bosch, Clearmotion, Aston Martin, Bentley, Haldex, Intrepid Control Systems and Bharat Forge.

MIRA Technology Park continues to demonstrate its capability, with constant innovation and development of market-leading facilities to support key emerging technologies like vehicle electrification, connectivity, autonomy and resilience. The award for International Trade confirms the reality of HORIBA MIRA’s aim to create Europe’s largest automotive technology-centric research and development location.

MIRA Technology Park is wholly owned and operates under HORIBA MIRA Ltd. The technology park leverages its extensive research and development, engineering and test facilities and considerable staff expertise.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

A Practical Guide to GDPR Management At Zenzero we recognise there is a lot of information going around about how you need to handle personal data under GDPR. It always seems to be tied up in terminology that makes you feel like you need a degree in law to understand it.

That’s why we’ve decided to give you a simple jargon free guide to getting your data in order.

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Data Audit – Getting started What types of information – identify the groups of people you are holding information on, for example: Employees, Customers, Prospects and Suppliers.

Then under each group list the types of information you hold, such as: Employees; home address, NI number, payroll, next of kin, date of birth.

How do you store, access and share this information? For each type, identify the journey this information takes through your company processes. What are the possible routes that data could take? Who has access to it? How easy is it to copy or delete? Is it electronic or printed? Is it passed over to a third party?

If your information is travelling via web or email – in what country is it stored, is it outside of the EU?

Assess the level of risk – how secure is the information in each of these locations?

Use a simple grading system, 1 to 5 – low to high risk. For example information stored on a laptop would be a high level risk, it is not only open to loss or theft, but it can also be vulnerable when accessing public wifi or someone simply reading over your shoulder.

Taking appropriate action – it would be an unrealistic expectation to be able to eliminate all risk completely, so take appropriate actions that will reduce or minimise the risk. Plan, implement and schedule reviews of processes and procedures to address the handling and security of personal information for example: password-protect documents or systems, restrict access to only to those that need it.

Training and awareness – it is your duty to ensure everyone in your company are aware of the risks and have received appropriate training. Do they know how to process data securely? Do they know what to do when a request to remove all personal data requires action? Do they know what to do in the event of a mistake or breach in relation to personal data?

Document and review – create an audit trail, report and record. A system like our Zen Compliance software provides a central repository for the management of all aspects of GDPR. This will help with the management of compliance for GDPR and in the event of a request, complaint or breach you will be in a better position to take action and will be able to evidence that you have taken responsible measures.

The deadline of the 25th May 2018 is fast approaching, however it is important to remember that GDPR is not a one-time exercise you need to conduct within your organisation.

The above steps should be an on going process that will require regular review as your business develops, new personal information is being held, alternative technologies are introduced and processes are revised.

For a full and practical, more in depth guide to managing GDPR, download our white paper at zenzero.co.uk Anne Tasker, Managing Director, Zenzero

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President & People

Saville AV continues to evolve with senior-level appointment

Feeling positive despite the challenges Dear Chamber member, The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council, revealed that manufacturers in the region had reached record levels of confidence in the first three months of 2018.

It was a very positive way to start the year but, very quickly after those figures emerged, news hit that Jaguar Land Rover would not be retaining the services of many contract workers.

Of course, the headlines that followed made gloomy reading but JLR has insisted that it continues to invest and recruit across the business and remains committed to our area. So, no need for us to talk ourselves into a crisis in this region just yet!

In fact, for many manufacturers this may be a rare opportunity to recruit the skilled staff that they have been crying out for.

I’ve spoken to many fellow businesses over the past few years and ‘we can’t get the staff’ has been a recurring theme from those conversations.

Those who move quickest may well be able to find some of the skilled engineers they need to help them grow their business – and ensure that those confidence levels stay high.

There is positive manufacturing news coming out of the region, specifically in the electric taxi arena, with LEVC now winning new orders from all over the world, as well as Red Sun investing further in CAD CAM Automotive to build the new MetroCab in Coventry.

It’s the role of the Chamber to continue to press home any obstacles to business growth and we meet regularly with MPs and other decision-makers to keep them informed of what those hurdles are.

We are currently working with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) on a campaign around mobile not-spots that is looking to eliminate those areas where businesses can’t get a good signal.

Increasingly, we are all working on the move and the BCC is making the point that in a modern economy it is unacceptable for companies to have to put up with not-spot areas – especially when we are all trying to drive efficiency and improve productivity.

Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have been very quick to respond to the BCC campaign but they want to hear from more companies on where they experience the so-called not-spots – be that in their offices or while they are on the move.

If you want to register a not-spot, go to http://research.britishchambers.org.uk/survey/ selfserve/215e/shareyournotspots# As I mentioned above, skills are an issue that many companies mention to the Chamber as being a barrier to growth.

So, with that in mind, it was great to see the news that Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training (CWCT) had smashed the national average for apprenticeship pass rates.

The figures showed that 84.5 per cent achieved their qualifications against a national average of 67.7 per cent, which is a credit to everyone involved.

It’s yet another reason to feel positive about what’s happening in our region.

John Nollett

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Following a management buyout in May 2017, national technical production company Saville is continuing its expansion of its in-house expertise with the appointment of international live event specialist, Chris Philpott, as Head of Operations for the Live Events division.

With more than 15 years’ live events’ experience, Chris has been brought on board to join the evolving senior leadership team and help shape the new generation Saville.

The company has recently consolidated its national live event network to form two main operational hubs, located in Leeds and Guildford. It has retained its Head Office in York together with satellite offices in key locations to service existing core contracts.

Chris Philpott will oversee the entire operation, focusing on improving the efficiency of the division together with growing and developing the team ahead of the rebrand planned for later this year.

He joins Saville AV from Dubai-based Digicomm, where he was Director of Projects.

Colin Nixey, Managing Director of Saville Live Events, said: “The live event industry is moving forward at an unprecedented pace and Saville fully intend to remain a leader within the technical production arena. Adding the kind of experience and expertise that Chris brings to the table is key to ensuring we achieve this.”

Chris said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for Saville and I’m thrilled to be joining an organisation that is so renowned across the industry.”

College teams up with Shakespeare’s England Shakespeare’s England, the Destination Management Organisation for Warwickshire, teamed with Stratfordupon-Avon College to announce a new appointment within English Tourism Week, which ran from 17 – 25 March.

Helen Peters, Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s England, and Stevie Edmund-Jones, Head of Employer Engagement at the College, met the local MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, Nadhim Zahawi as part of Constituency Day which falls on the last Friday of English Tourism Week.

Shakespeare’s England has appointed its first Destination Management Apprentice, 16-year-old Ben Archer from Bidford-on-Avon, who starts on

a Business Administration and Marketing Apprenticeship. The appointment is a joint initiative with Stratford-upon-Avon College which have also recently joined the board of Shakespeare’s England.

Ben will be specifically concentrating on all aspects of Digital Marketing such as website content management, email marketing and social media.

Ms Peters said: “Shakespeare’s England is really excited at the prospect of taking on our first ever Apprentice.

We are also hoping that we can provide Ben with the opportunity to spend some quality time with some of Shakespeare’s England’s Members including key attractions and hotels to learn how those businesses work.”

Lindsey Stewart, Chief Operating Officer at Stratford-upon-Avon College and the College's representative on the board, said: “Stratford-upon-Avon College shares Shakespeare's England's commitment to promoting tourism in Warwickshire, so we are delighted that Ben, taking part in our apprenticeship programme, is joining them.”

Loveitts recruits apprentices

Lauren O'Donnell

Loveitts Estate Agents, which this year celebrates its 175th anniversary, has recruited its latest apprentice to bring the total number to five across the region.

All the apprentices have come on board over the past year as part of a new initiative to introduce young blood into the business and accommodate increased growth.

One of the latest recruits is Lauren O’Donnell at the newly expanded Nuneaton office. Lauren joined the army at 16 as a combat medical technician which required her to give first aid on the battlefield, provide medical training to the army,

supply medical support, help with evacuations in hostile conditions and provide health education. She has now decided to swap bandages for business cards as she looks to pursue a new career in the property world.

Three further apprentices have joined the team. Joseph Russell is the youngest of the four apprentices who first walked through Loveitts Coventry office doors five months ago after coming straight out of Coventry City College. The 17-year-old could not refuse the lure of diving straight into a working environment by taking a position in the company’s commercial property department.

Also, based in the Coventry office is 16-year-old Fynn Hamfon-Ceeland who joined in January after GCSES. Fynn is involved in the day to day admin work as an Apprentice Administrator with a view to progressing to a sales negotiation role.

Aaron Dosangh, 18, has joined Loveitts straight from college where he completed an extended diploma at Henley.

Louisa Saiya, who is based at the Leamington Spa

Louisa Saiya

branch, will be supporting the team in property management and will be looking after landlords and tenants across south Warwickshire. The 19year-old joined in October 2017 after studying photography at college.

Arron, Fynn, Joe who are all based at Coventry

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

President & People

Insurance broker strengthens its team in Coventry with new hire Gallagher, specialists in risk management and commercial insurance solutions, has appointed Ian McKinney into the role of Senior Account Executive at its Coventry branch.

The hire forms part of the broker’s longterm strategy of driving growth in the run up to the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 celebrations and beyond.

Ian, who graduated from Brasenose College, University of Oxford, joins the insurance broker from Hettle Andrews. Beginning his career at Willis Ltd as a Graduate Trainee, he has gone on to become a Chartered Insurance Broker, with qualifications from the Chartered Insurance Institute, and the ACII qualification.

His role will be to further develop current client relationships and raise the profile of Gallagher in the build up to the City of Culture 2021 festivities.

Ian said: “I am delighted to be joining Gallagher’s team in Coventry during this exciting time whilst the city is abuzz with the 2021 City of Culture status approaching.

2018 is set to be an ambitious year of growth and I look forward to supporting the team with its breadth of clients.”

Kathryn Moon, managing director of the Coventry office, located on Queen Victoria Road, said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Ian to the Coventry team.

With over 16 years of experience in the

insurance industry, he is a valuable hire for us. Ian’s broad range of expertise will complement the life science and technology specialisms here at Coventry, and lend itself to sourcing the right protection for our clients.”

Law firm expands older client team with appointment A law firm with offices in Coventry and Kenilworth has expanded its older client team with the appointment of an experienced lawyer.

Rachel Gadsden has joined Mander Hadley Solicitors as a Private Client Executive, dealing with matters including the preparation of Wills, probate and estate administration, trusts and trust legacy administration, as well as Lasting Powers of Attorney and care fee planning.

She brings with her experience of complex Estate Administration including estates involving Business Property Relief,

Agricultural Property Relief and foreign assets. Along with a number of other members of the team, Rachel is a Dementia Friend. Rachel said: “I am already enjoying the opportunity to make a difference to our clients by helping them secure peace of mind for the future.”

David Webb, a Director at Mander Hadley Solicitors and Head of Wills, Probate and Older Client Services, added: “Rachel has a strong track record in dealing with complex matters that make an important difference to clients’ lives.”

Exam success at leading patent firm Two patent attorneys at Marks & Clerk’s Oxford office have passed their UK qualifying exams, having qualified as European attorneys in 2017.

Seth Roberts and Mike Chester started at Marks & Clerk five years ago as trainee patent attorneys. Since then, Seth has been working mainly with oil and gas technologies, medical devices and electronics, while Mike has had experience in the electronics, optics, and nuclear fields.

The training to become a ‘dual-qualified’, UK and European Patent Attorney is done on the job and requires passing a number of challenging exams.

The UK exams are divided into a set of five Foundation Examinations and a set of four Final Examinations, and it typically takes four to six years to qualify.

Patent attorneys are recruited from fields that provide the technical background necessary to understand a client’s invention, and both Seth and Mike studied Physics at university. The training and exams focus on the legal and advisory aspects of the job.

Marks & Clerk is one of the largest intellectual property firms both globally and in the UK, with offices in eight cities in England and Scotland, and in six other countries around the world.

Mike and Seth will now apply to the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) to gain Chartered Patent Attorney status, and will take on more responsibility in helping Marks & Clerk’s local and international clients to protect their intellectual property.

From Left: Adam Revill, Cranfield Business Finance Director, Tony Mitchell, Patrick Murtagh, Philip Ballard, Cranfield Business Recovery Directors

Cranfield Business Recovery welcomes new Director Cranfield Business Recovery has announced that Philip Ballard FCCA FNARA MIPA has been promoted to the position of Director, joining existing Directors Tony Mitchell and Patrick Murtagh.

He joined the team aged just 18 in 2007, quickly advancing to becoming a Manager. His ten years’ experience, coupled with a friendly but efficient style of working, made him a natural fit for the promotion.

Since joining Cranfield, he has also achieved a wealth of credentials, including ACCA qualification and JIEB Licensed Insolvency Practitioner status.

A former Coventry & Warwickshire First Young Professional of the Year finalist, he is looking forward to the challenge of being a Director.

Philip said: “My promotion provides me with the ability to fully utilise the skills, expertise and experience gained over the past ten years to complement the fantastic work that my co-directors and colleagues undertake on a day-to-day basis.“ Tony Mitchell, Director at Cranfield, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome Philip to the Board of Directors and believe that this appointment will only serve to strengthen the service we offer to our clients.”

T(n)S Catering strengthen its team Leamington Spa-based contract catering firm T (n) S Catering has announced the appointment of Wayne Sullivan to Development Chef Manager.

Wayne’s skills will support the business’s ambition to close the gap between food innovations on the high street by bringing similar provisions to the contract catering world.

Joining fresh from his three-year tenure as head chef at The Old Stocks

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Inn, Stow on the Wold, Wayne bring a wealth of experience honed from his culinary career.

Nearly two years ago, the talented chef reached the semi-final stages of the BBC show Masterchef: The Professionals, impressing its judges Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace.

Wayne said “I am excited to take this step into contract catering as it offers me a wealth of opportunity for

me to harness my twenty years culinary experience.”

Andrew Odell-Rourke, T (n) S Catering’s Managing Director, said: “Wayne will re-enforce our commitment to drive quality and innovation, whilst delivering new styles of food, making a positive impact upon our services and further developing our stake in B & I, education and healthcare sectors’.

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New Members

Welcome to new members Corporate Members Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited 12 Queen Victoria Road Coventry CV1 3PJ 02476 232600 www.ajg.com DoubleTree by Hilton Coventry Paradise Way Walsgrave Triangle Coventry CV2 2ST 02476 841018 www.doubletreecoventry.com

Essential Members Ablaze Green Energy Solutions Ltd Sherbourne House Humber Avenue Coventry CV1 2AQ 03332 205498 www.ablazegreenenergy.co.uk B Style Studio Unit 4 Coventry Enterprise Centre Bilton Industrial Estate Coventry CV3 1JL 02476 444438 www.bstylestudio.co.uk Baxter Development Solutions

Divergent Limited 51 Field View Close Exhall Coventry CV7 9BL www.divergentpeople.co.uk

Prepared Series 5 Top Road Barnacle Coventry CV7 9LE www.preparedseries.co.uk

Escape Live Ltd 54 Grafton Street Fargo Studios Coventry CV1 2HW 02477 674646 www.escapelive.co.uk

Recycle IT 4U Ltd Unit 1 Cedar Court Halesfield 17 Telford TF7 4PF 01952 580814 www.recycleit4u.co.uk

Flourish Health and Wellbeing Suite 2 Building 16 Coventry CV3 1JL www.flourishhealthandwellbeing.com

RJM Travel Ltd 211 Station Road Balsall Common Coventry CV7 7FE 01676 533233 www.businesstravelleruk.com

Hart & Co Jax Barn Flecknoe Road Broadwell Rugby CV23 8HS 01926 941463 www.hartrestaurants.co.uk Majestic Bingo Limited Grand Bingo Camp Hill Road Chapel End Nuneaton CV10 0JP 02476 392221

4 Bitham Hall Avon Dassett Nr Southam CV47 2AH 01295 690554 www.baxterdevelopmentsolutions.com

Mother Earth Recycling Limited 41 Bayton Road Industrial Estate Exhall Coventry CV7 9EL 02476 362622

Brighter Productions

My Own Tutor Expert 23 Dean Street Coventry CV2 4FD www.myowntutorexpert.co.uk

Unit 2B Loades Ecoparc Blackhorse Road Exhall Coventry 02477 220200 www.brighter-productions.com Community Engagement Limited 24 Oberon Close Nuneaton CV11 6NT

Nailcote Hall Nailcote Lane Berkswell CV7 7DE 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk

Relate Coventry & Warwickshire 1110A Elliott Court Herald Avenue Coventry Business Park Coventry CV5 6UB 02476 225863 www.relatecoventry.org Salaisoft 33 Shropshire Drive Coventry CV3 1PH SH & D Smith Office Supplies 11 Berrington Road Sydenham Industrial Estate Leamington Spa CV31 1NB 01926 427146 www.smithsofficesupplies.co.uk

Strongman Tools Ltd Unit 1 Coventry Bridge Yard Tomlow Road Napton CV47 8HX 01926 298800 www.sm-t.co.uk The Communication Leadership Academy Ltd Ravenhurst Hazeley Road Twyford Winchester SO21 2PX www.theacademy.biz The Stratford Park Hotel & Golf Club Ingon Lane Stratford Upon Avon CV37 0QE 01789 731857 www.thestratfordpark.co.uk The Technical Production Group Ltd (TPG) 5 Old Farm Lane Coventry CV6 6HN www.tpg.events The Wheelhouse Group Ltd Earl Street Coventry CV1 5RR 01865 920999 www.thewheelhouses.com UK Change's

Sky Blue Safety Ltd 6 Hillside Chelveston NN9 6AQ 01933 625542 www.skybluesafety.co.uk

Grand Union House

Stoneleigh Abbey Ltd Estate Office Kenilworth CV8 2LF 01926 858585 www.stoneleighabbry.org

Vetsa Consulting Services Ltd

Budbrooke Road Warwick CV34 5AR 01926 626300 www.ukchanges.com

21 Coundon House Drive Coventry CV6 1EW www.vetsaconsulting.com

When contacting members listed above, The Chamber request that, in line with the Marketing and Advertising Law, you provide a clear 'unsubscribe' option.

Further details can be found via www.gov.uk/marketing-advertising-law/direct-marketing

46

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Training & Events Chamber Member Price +VAT

Non-Member Price +VAT

Duration

Oct 2018

Effective Communication

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

2

Conducting Team Briefings and Meetings

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

2

An introduction to Microsoft One Note - New

£65

£85

Half Day - Am

5

Emergency First Aid in the Workplace (EFAW) HSE

£105

£130

Full Day

Communicating Assertively

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

6

Complaint Handling

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

6

Principles of Manual Handing

£90

£100

Half Day - Am

Import Procedures & Inward Processing (IP)

£260

£295

Full Day

Building The Team

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

9

Motivating The Team

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

9

Understanding Sales - ILM New

£250*

£250*

Full Day

10

Online Marketing

£215

£240

Full Day

11

Time Management - Get More of the Right Things Done

£215

£240

Full Day

11

Microsoft Excel - Forumlae Top Up - New

£65

£85

Half Day - Am

12

Microsoft Excel - Data Tools Top Up - New

£65

£85

Half Day - Pm

12

Microsoft Excel - Intermediate to Advanced

£120

£150

Full Day

14

Social Media Strategy - Facebook, Twitter and Blogs

£110

£120

Half Day - Am

15

Practical Social Media

£110

£120

Half Day - Am

Settings Goals & Targets

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

16

Training & Coaching The Team

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

16

Negotiating to Win

£215

£240

Full Day

20

Developing Effective Presentation Skills

£215

£240

Full Day

27

Appraising People & Performance

£215

£240

Full Day

18

Letters of Credit/Methods of Payment

£260

£295

Full Day

18

Managing Difficult People

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

23

Understanding Discipline in the Workplace

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

23

Principles of Continuous Improvement - New

£100

£125

Half Day - Am

30

Problem Solving Skills

£100

£125

Half Day - Pm

30

Finance for Non Financial Managers

£215

£240

Full Day

31

C&W Chamber Training Seminars

Nov 2018

Dec 2018

5

6 8

13

Prices subject to VAT. *Subject to optional accreditation fees. ** Plus registration

Course dates for the quarter are shown above, please contact C&W Chamber Training on 024 7623 1122 or visit www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk for other course dates and further information

Events

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth Information Session

Free Trade Agreements

Tuesday 29th May 2018 12.00pm – 1.30pm Thursday 24th May 2018 8.30am – 10.30am CW Growth Hub, Coventry, CV1 2TT Ramada Hotel & Suite, Coventry, CV1 3GG FREE £25.00 + VAT Chamber Networking in International Trade Members FREE

Stratford-upon-Avon

Women in Business Networking Lunch Friday 25th May 2018 11.00am – 2.00pm Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6YR Member: £30.00 + VAT Non-Member: £45.00 + VAT

BIG BISCOTTI Friday 25th May 2018 08.30am – 12.30pm Crowne Plaza Hotel, NEC, B40 1PS Charges Apply

Thursday 31st May 2018 4.00pm – 6.00pm Ettington Park Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 8BU FREE

Chamber Networking in Coventry Tuesday 5th June 2018 08.30am – 10.30am Fig Offices, Friars House, Coventry, CV1 2TE FREE

Chamber Masterclass: Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Chamber Networking in Nuneaton

Thursday 14th June 2018 09.00am – 1.00pm The MTC, Coventry, CV7 9JU FREE

Tuesday 26th June 2018 08.30am – 10.30am SFB Group, Nuneaton, CV11 6RU FREE

Q2 Chamber Branch Meetings Rugby Branch: Thursday 7th June 08.00 – 09.30 CV21 3BX South Warwickshire Branch: Friday 8th June 08.00 – 09.30 CV37 6YR Coventry Branch: Friday 15th June 08.00 – 09.30 CV1 2TL Mid-Warwickshire Branch: Friday 22nd June 08.00 – 09.30 CV8 1ED North-Warwickshire Branch: Friday 29th June 08.00 – 09.30 CV11 6RU

International Trade Hub Briefing: Brexit Implications for Business Wednesday 4th July 2018 09.00am – 11.00am Coombe Abbey Hotel, Coventry, CV3 2AB FREE

Warwickshire Economic Review & Q1 QES Results Friday 6th July 2018 08.00am – 10.00am Billesley Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV1 2TE FREE

Find out more information or to book a place please see the events pages at www.cw-chamber.co.uk or contact events@cw-chamber.co.uk www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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