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Community fund awards largest regional grant to HCT
Ambitious plans to create a two-mile countryside walk and cycling route next to the city centre have taken another big step forward after Severn Trent’s community fund awarded its largest grant in the West Midlands region.
Created for community groups and projects that aim to improve community wellbeing, the fund has awarded a £198,460 grant to Historic Coventry Trust (HCT) to complete a 330m-long section of the former railway Loop Line.
Severn Trent launched its community fund in 2020 and aims to donate £10 million over the next five years to community groups and projects across the region.
Across Warwickshire the company has awarded 11 projects in its first year, with funding for community projects that aim to improve the environment and the lives of local people.
The grant is not only the largest the fund has given in the West Midlands, it is also the closest to Severn Trent’s headquarters, with the project less than a mile from the organisation’s offices in Coventry.
Historic Coventry Trust will use the grant to transform the central section of the former Loop Line as part of a planned two-mile route along the River Sherbourne and through woodland around Charterhouse Heritage Park.
Sue Heyes, Community Fund Officer at Severn Trent said: “We’re so proud that our community fund has been able to support such a fantastic local project, which will create a lasting legacy for years. We believe this project will not only bring massive environmental benefits, but will also play a huge role for Coventry and the people who live here in terms of volunteering, boosting wellbeing and encouraging communities to connect with nature.”
Graham Tait, assistant director at the HCT, said: “We are really grateful for Severn Trent’s support, which allows us to open up a major part of the former railway for public access. It really is a magical place, a stretch of countryside woodland right in the heart of the city.”
Graham Tait from Historic Coventry Trust with Sue Heyes, community fund officer at Severn Trent
EMKA has announced it is now offering a comprehensive range of door locking hardware for the railway industry to suit specialist cabinets on-board or lineside, as well as for passenger doors and storage lockers.
Train installations are particularly rigorous with respect to special requirements for safety – even in the smallest detail. For example, the regulations on fire protection play a major role in this area, where EMKA provides its customers with complete systems consisting of closures, hinges, sealing and accessories that comply with sector standards.
EMKA locking solutions for the railway industry
They also offer a range of purposedesigned seals for interior and exterior use, which are integrated in a well-thought-out closure program specifically for the railway industry.
This railway range is signposted in the new EMKA guidelines on its website which connects to a comprehensive range of locking solutions characterised by their modular design, versatility and high quality. The highest standards are guaranteed at EMKA through the company’s extensive manufacturing know-how and a production control process certified according to ISO 9001. EMKA also provides individual special solutions derived from new customer design requirements.
Typical products include a compression latch with flap and an optical opening indicator with an integral 90° opening flap that serves as a visual opening indicator, which is clearly visible when the lock status is open/uncompressed. There is also a quarter-turn railway lock for use outside the gasketed area and a railway compression latch with opening indicator – the lock is both tamper and vibration proof as is the safety latch lock with status marking.
Furthermore, there is a 90° 3D hinge with integrated 3D adjustment by use of eccentric discs and a 180° concealed gear hinge with 180° opening angle.
Further information on EMKA locking solutions for the railway industry can be found at www.emka.com/uk_en/ sectors/railroad-industry/.
Funded training available for furloughed employees
Have you got staff on furlough?
You could access funded training for your furloughed employees through the Skills Support for the Workforce programme.
Staff who are on furlough may be feeling detached from the team or their job role. Training through the programme could help to motivate these employees and reengage your team. Training can address skills gaps and make sure your employees have the most up-to-date skills to drive your business forward.
We have a network of expert training providers who can deliver hundreds of fully funded and accredited training courses in a range of subject areas including: digital & IT skills, customer service, business administration, retail and manufacturing.
Many of the courses on offer are virtual so employees can learn remotely at home.
The SSW programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency so the training can be accessed at no cost to your business or the individual.
To find out more about the Skills Support for the Workforce programme, visit www.serco-ese.com/ skills-support-for-theworkforce
Sponsored Column
Plan B for Business!
By Graham Freakes
Coming out of lockdown presents most businesses with a changed landscape, so if you had a Plan A you’ll be reviewing it and producing Plan B. If you don’t have a Plan A now is a crucial time to create one – otherwise you risk becoming an eternal firefighter! Don’t miss out on the opportunities offered by Brexit, tax incentives and the new working paradigm!
But why plan? Fail to plan – plan to fail! Let’s take a poignant example: Why is England winning the war against Covid more effectively than most of the rest of the World? Planning – pure and simple. Before Christmas Boris had no plan and was firefighting. Then came a plan which has all the necessary features to succeed; • Specific milestones • Measurable indicators • Achievable tasks • Relevant to end result • Timeliness By providing this roadmap to freedom he gave hope, silenced his critics and brought the public onside. You can use this opportunity to bring your team together to create a plan with SMART tasks.
You inspire your team to produce a credible plan that will inspire and motivate them
to achieve the goals you set. At the end of a short but intense process you’ll have a Single Page Business Plan that shows where you are now, where you want to be and a small number of key SMART projects with actions, dates and owners that will get you between the two. You’ll have molded your team, got the right players in the right positions on the pitch, and all aiming for the same goal. The SPBP acts as your management meeting agenda and each of the projects updated to show progress. If there are deviations from the plan they can then be dealt with appropriately before the project gets out of control. I’ve delivered this simple but effective process to a wide variety of businesses including as an associate of Winning Pitch delivering of the High Growth Programme. It’s intense, simple, hands on, no nonsense business planning in the space of a few days.
So when you’re ready to rally your team and create a plan call or email me to make it happen for you! Call 07774 200321 or email graham.freakes@handgtechnology.co.uk
Peer Networks initiative praised for essential pandemic support
Organisers and facilitators of a Coventry and Warwickshire Peer Networks programme say the initiative has provided essential support and counsel for businesses during the pandemic.
Accountancy firm Burgis & Bullock has been delivering four cohorts of The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Peer Networks programme since October.
The firm has been supported by partners from Trinity CPD Training, business growth specialists Enquir3 and LinkedIn expert Charlie Whyman.
Partners involved have all called for the Peer Networks scheme to be extended throughout 2021 to help realise the full potential of the groups already created and for more businesses to experience the benefits.
The Peer Network programme is funded through BEIS and delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.
Burgis & Bullock has supported businesses from across the manufacturing, retail, professional services, IT and digital sectors.
David Mack, from Trinity CPD Training, facilitated some of the groups and says it has given businesses a vital sharing space during the pandemic.
He said: “When you get a group like this together, it can be very powerful; it has been like a non-executive board for members and provided support through a difficult time
“It’s a place to share your problems, the challenges being faced and then be supported by like-minded businesses to find solutions. It’s has been a reinvigorating experience for businesses.”
Sean Farnell, partner at Burgis & Bullock, added: “We have been running four cohorts and for us it’s about doing what we can to support local businesses to grow and develop.
“It’s essential to society that SMEs are successful. They are the underlying engine for growth of the economy. The more we can do to throw support behind SMEs as they recover from the pandemic, the quicker and stronger the bounce-back will be.”
Coventry College strikes agreement with Alan Higgs Centre
A premier further education provider in Coventry has struck a long-term agreement to move some of its sporting and public services provision to a state-of-the-art centre in the city.
Coventry College has agreed a partnership with leisure operator CV Life for its 230-strong cohort of sports and public services students to access facilities at the Alan Higgs Centre on Allard Way from September 2021 onwards.
It will see these students use the centre’s facilities for practical and theory sessions alongside additional academic study at Coventry College’s city centre campus.
The move is hot on the heels of the Alan Higgs Centre undergoing a major transformation – including the opening of a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool, along with new indoor and outdoor 3G football pitches.
Carol Thomas, principal and CEO at Coventry College, said: “This is fantastic news for the college, as the elite facilities at the Alan Higgs Centre are ideally suited to help us nurture the next generation of athletes and sports professionals.
“This move will strengthen our appeal as the go-to destination for the next generation of footballers, rugby players and other sports professionals, and we look forward to working with CV Life on developing our partnership further over the coming years.”
Paul Breed, chief executive at CV Life, added: “Working with Coventry College forms a key part of our overarching aim of ensuring that the wider community is able to benefit from the Alan Higgs Centre’s cutting-edge facilities.
“We’re thrilled that the centre is now going to be able to play its part in helping many young people to realise their career ambitions, on top of the 539,000 visitors we receive to the centre every year.”
Coventry College 2 - From left, Joe Farmer, Carol Thomas, Paul Breed, Joshua Hill
MTC apprentices work with the latest manufacturing technologies
The Manufacturing Technology Centre and Lloyds Bank have joined forces to offer free support and resources to help UK manufacturing and engineering SMEs embrace innovation, develop their workforce and increase productivity.
The new SME Support Service includes advice, guidance and access to additional funding and resources for smaller organisations. This will help SMEs recruit the next generation of apprentices, upskill their existing workforce, and identify opportunities to deploy emerging technologies to solve productivity challenges and improve business performance.
MTC and Lloyds Bank launch support service for SMEs
The SME Support Service is the latest initiative in a five-year partnership between Lloyds Bank and the MTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre. It aims to increase the collaboration’s reach to deliver greater positive impact. The package includes up to £3 million from Lloyds’ Apprenticeship Levy Fund.
In addition, the SME Apprenticeship Support Service provides financial and practical assistance to help SMEs take on new apprentices. The MTC’s training experts will offer one-toone advice and guidance to help SMEs understand and navigate the complexities of apprenticeship funding, including the government’s apprentice incentive scheme.
They will also provide a full recruitment service to identify and secure the best talent for each business’s specific needs. Eligible SMEs will have access to salary support funding for the first 12 months of their apprentice’s training. Colin Bancroft, strategic development manager at MTC Training, said: “Our goal is to provide the knowledge, skills and support that industry needs to implement the technology of tomorrow, today. In partnership with Lloyds Bank, the SME Support Service will help us reach even more businesses, delivering real impact and driving positive change to empower the UK to realise its potential in advanced manufacturing.”
David Atkinson, UK head of manufacturing, SME and midcorporate at Lloyds Bank, said: “The new SME Support Service, in conjunction with the MTC, helps us deliver on our commitment to manufacturers by helping UK SMEs recover strongly from the recent impacts of the pandemic.”
For more information visit www.the-mtc.org
COVID Business Pledge goes live
Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire councils have gone live with an initiative to support businesses to show they’re doing the right things to be COVID-safe for customers and staff.
The Business Pledge is aimed at all businesses across the sub-region, including shops, factories, offices and eventually hospitality, as a way of reassuring staff and customers that businesses and venues are operating in a COVID-secure manner.
The pledge has been developed to support businesses as England takes the next step on the roadmap out of lockdown.
It is entirely voluntary, but by signing up to the pledge, businesses are making a positive statement that they are following the relevant guidelines and are putting in place measures to ensure their premises are COVIDsecure to safeguard the health and wellbeing of employees and visitors alike.
The pledge covers social distancing, face coverings, ventilation, vaccination, testing and isolating, employee health and wellbeing and risk assessments.
Warwickshire County Council has worked in partnership with BIDs and local councils of Warwickshire, as well as a range of local agencies to ensure a comprehensive level of support to local businesses.
Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We want to work with businesses and offer whatever support we can to ensure their re-opening and ongoing operation is as successful as possible.
“The Business Pledge is our way of encouraging businesses to do the right thing and demonstrate to their customers – our residents – that it’s safe to shop and do business.”
Louise Bennett OBE, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “Our businesses have been working incredibly hard to ensure they’re COVID-19 secure, and it’s vital that we work together to restore business and consumer confidence. By applying for the pledge, they can show that shopping, visiting businesses or returning to work really can be a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Day to remember for toastmaster Reuben Lynch
“My Lords, Ladies, and Ladies and Gentlemen…
“After celebrating 25 years as a toastmaster last year, with many national and international highlights after hosting an event in the desert in Dubai, I thought surely nothing else could equal that. However, on March 30 this year, I was invited to officiate as toastmaster at the declaration ceremony of the High Sheriff of the County of West Midlands. To make it even more special, our new High Sheriff just happens to be our very own CEO of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber, Louise Bennett OBE DL.
“This event was different to the way that I am used to doing events as it was virtual and the first time that I had my full regalia on in twelve months because of the pandemic. With just Louise and myself in the room it felt a little unreal, but looking back it was a most enjoyable experience. I was participating in a most prestigous event which is part of English history because the office of High Sheriff is the oldest seculare office in the UK after the crown and dates back to Saxon times. Whilst the duties of the role have evolved over time, supporting the crown and judiciary remain central elements of the role today.
“Looking back, travelling to do an event on such a lovely sunny day after twelve months out of action due to lockdown combined to make it a most memorable day for me. And I do hope that many of my colleagues in the hospitality industry will also have something to look foward to and lift their spirits in the next few months after what has been has been a very stressful for year them.
“On behalf of the Circle of Toastmasters we raise our glasses in a toast to Louise and to wish her all the best for the coming year.”
New fleet management tool for coach and bus industries
TruTac and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) have launched a new fleet management tool onto the market.
New to the coach and bus industry, CPT Fleet Management offers PSV operators a system to plan and manage all vehicle maintenance and compliance requirements using the latest technology from TruTac.
Developed in conjunction with the CPT, the easy-to-use software enables PSV operators to plan, organise and control all aspects of day-to-day fleet maintenance management.
The system replaces traditional wall planners with a fully interactive online calendar to automatically plan schedules and alert on upcoming events.
Using EPMI electronic document control, fleet managers can easily access vehicle history, maintenance records, safety inspections, defect reporting, rectifications and audit checks – all in real time and captured in easy-to-view digital format.
Jemma James, commercial and marketing director at TruTac, said: “Together with the CPT, we see this addition to our existing suite of CPT-dedicated PSV compliance software as an essential tool for coach, bus and mini-bus operators to stay compliant and in control of mandatory vehicle maintenance procedures – while focusing on the busy demands of running a passenger transport business.”
Peter Gomersall, commercial manager at CPT UK, said: “CPT has worked in partnership with TruTac over the past five years to ensure that our bus and coach operator members have access to the latest technology and management tools needed to help maintain a compliant and efficient vehicle fleet.
“CPT Fleet Management provides operators with a comprehensive online dashboard presenting key dates – engineering and maintenance inspections, MOTs, vehicle taxes – and a comprehensive vehicle history in a platform that’s easy to access and administer.
“I’m sure that the addition of CPT Fleet Management to our exclusive range of CPT/TruTac products will benefit members greatly.”
Free training for adults as part of lifetime skills guarantee
Adults can retrain at advanced level in subjects vital to help the UK’s post-pandemic recovery for free as part of the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
Any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma or two A levels, will be able to access dozens of fully-funded courses via NWSLC. (Those aged 19 to 23 will continue to be eligible for their first full Level 3 at no cost as before).
At NWSLC, the offer includes full-time courses in the priority sectors of construction, engineering, automotive, digital skills, health and social care, computing and business. Advanced level courses available to study remotely online on a parttime basis include accounting (AAT), management (ILM), autism, dementia and mental health.
This offer is part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee announced by the Prime Minister as part of a longterm commitment to remove age constraints and financial barriers for adults so that they can access training to enable them to progress.
Sally Denning, director for adult education at NWSLC, said: “We welcome the offer of support for adults who want to retrain or improve their current skills and are looking forward to signing up new students next month. We know that many individuals are facing challenging circumstances including redundancy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and hope that we will be able to offer them a lifeline with a route into a new career.
“The government is targeting support to those areas of the economy that are forecast to grow and are most heavily impacted by current skills shortages, meaning that job roles are likely to be available.
“Colleges are leading the way to help reenergise the UK economy and NWSLC is in a great position to make links between organisations that need skills and individuals looking for work.”
For more information visit www.nwslc.ac.uk
Kickstarting campaigns, kickstarting careers
The Campaign House is a campaigns and communications agency based in the Warwickshire town of Atherstone. Launched in 2020, we support progressive causes and political candidates to strengthen their audience engagement and maximise the impact of their message.
Though our clients are spread throughout the UK, supporting the local community is of vital importance to us. We understand that businesses do not exist in a vacuum; they’re part of the social and economic fabric in the areas they’re based.
With unemployment having risen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young people, we asked ourselves how could we grow our business and support young people in Warwickshire and the surrounding area at the same time?
The answer: Kickstart. This scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16-24-yearolds on universal credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment. It provides funding to cover the national minimum wage for 25 hours per week for six months, and additional funding for training. We’re taking this further as a living wage employer, topping up our Kickstart staff salaries to the real living wage.
Managing director Chris Clark said: “The Kickstart scheme is going to bring a new wave of energy and skills to The Campaign House, helping to extend our offer to clients while improving the life chances of our young people in Warwickshire.”
Over the course of the summer, The Campaign House will be hiring 18 new staff members through Kickstart, covering a range of roles from customer service assistant to photographer, web developer and accounts executive. Using Kickstart allows our business to grow at a faster rate than would otherwise be possible while supporting communities in Warwickshire by helping its young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
The Wigley Group signs Armed Forces Covenant
Midlands-based property, development and construction company The Wigley Group has formalised its commitment to support ex-armed service personnel by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
The company, based in Stockton, Warwickshire, has supported the forces since 2013.
The covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect, and to ensure they have the same access to government and commercial services and products as any other citizen.
The Wigley Group has raised more than £100,000 for the official Parachute Regiment charity, Support Our Paras, through its annual golf day since it was first held in 2013, and in 2017 it established the Wigley Support Fund (WSF) to support and help re-train injured serving and veteran service people in all areas of their transition from military to civilian life, such as physical and mental rehabilitation to further education and skills training.
Jaco van Gass, a former paratrooper, is a brand ambassador for The Wigley Group and a driving force behind the WSF. He served two tours of Afghanistan during five years in the Parachute Regiment, and overcame life-changing injuries on the front line to become a champion para-cyclist and adventurer.
He said: “The Wigley Group is well-known as a company that’s prepared to do whatever it can to help ex-service people and really does go above and beyond with that support. So, it’s fantastic to see it formalising that commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure that level of support and understanding continues for many years to come.”
James Davies, managing director of The Wigley Group, said: “Being part of the communities in which we operate is important to us. We recognise the real value that the Armed Services community can offer, both as employees who bring a wealth of skills and experience, and as customers.”
A new hospitality company that has increased the turnover of a landmark country park during the pandemic is now offering its expertise to other leisure operators.
Coombe Abbey Park, which is behind the award-winning Coombe Abbey Hotel, has now formed No Ordinary Hospitality Management.
The move comes after the team took over the park’s three catering outlets in May 2018 and for the third consecutive year in a row saw revenue growth, despite national lockdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coombe Abbey Country Park’s three catering outlets generated more than £490,000 of income in 2020 compared to £400,000 of income in 2019, despite a two-and-a-half month closure as part of the national lockdown.
It means the park’s catering operation has recorded its third consecutive year of growth since Coombe Abbey Park – which is the operator of Coombe Abbey Hotel – took over the running of the park’s catering facilities in May 2018.
No Ordinary Hospitality Management brings together decades of hospitality, conferencing and events experience.
The company works with all types of properties including the award-winning and nationally renowned venue Coombe Abbey Hotel through to an independent café. The people behind this new venture are members of the Coombe Abbey management team.
It works with company owners to develop and implement creative strategies and best practices to help venues fulfil their commercial potential through operational management, human resources, sales and marketing and project management.
Richard Harrison, managing director of No Ordinary Hospitality Management and Coombe Abbey Park, said: “The past year has proven that any business needs to be broader and more diverse than ever before.
“This venture is a chance to showcase the huge amount of experience that we have collectively within our own business and then be able to apply that into creative and dynamic support for other companies.”
For further information visit www.noordinaryhospitality.com
New hospitality firm offers expertise to other leisure operators
Richard Harrison, MD of No Ordinary Hospitality Management and Coombe Abbey Park, with Ron Terry, operations director of No Ordinary Hospitality Management and Coombe Abbey Park
Industrial Temporaries signs Armed Forces Covenant
Industrial Temporaries is the latest organisation to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
A spokesperson said: “This is our commitment to those serving or have served in any of her majesty’s armed forces – the Navy, Army or Royal Air Force and their reserve forces.
“We recognise the value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business and to our country.”
Industrial Temporaries will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant by: • Promoting the fact that we are an
Armed Forces-friendly organisation to our staff, customers, suppliers, contractors and the wider public. • Supporting the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process; and working with the Career
Transition Partnership (CTP) to support the employment of service leavers. • Supporting the employment of service spouses and partners; partnering with the Forces
Families Jobs Forum; and providing flexibility in granting leave for service spouses and partners
before, during and after a partner’s deployment. • Supporting our employees who are members of the Reserve Forces; supporting any mobilisations and deployment; actively encouraging members of staff to become
Reservists. • Supporting our employees who are volunteer leaders in military cadet organisations; supporting local military cadet units; recognising the benefits of employing cadets/ ex-cadets within the workforce. • Supporting Armed Forces Day,
Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal
Day and Remembrance activities. • Supporting Armed Forces charities with fundraising and supporting staff who volunteer to assist.
The Myton Hospices reflects on one year of hospice care since first UK lockdown
After what has been an extremely challenging year for everyone, The Myton Hospices wanted to reflect on the last year and share some of its journey with the local community.
The organisation asked Myton nurse of ten years, Chad Khaira, to write down her experiences over the past 12 months and reflect on what it’s been like on the front line of hospice care.
Chad said: “When it all started back in March 2020, I was extremely worried that I would get COVID, but more so that I would take it home to my family. I have been exposed to COVID but thankfully I haven’t caught it. I have been so careful and sacrificed a lot, as have all my family.
“The hardest part of my role is the emotional aspect of caring for patients who are dying and the most rewarding is the difference we make to ensure that they are as comfortable as can be. This has remained the same throughout the year and not changed during the pandemic. Although the public closed their doors to protect themselves, we kept open our doors at the hospice. The thank you clap on Thursdays was a humbling time as a nurse, but we’ve always provided this care. It’s what Myton is all about.”
CEO Ruth Freeman said: “We are incredibly proud of our frontline teams and their commitment to providing the very best palliative and end-oflife care. They have been working in a constant crisis situation for 12 months now and continue to play a vital role in the ongoing response to COVID-19. Despite facing huge professional and personal challenges, their dedication
L-R Myton Ward Manager Sharon Kelly, CEO Ruth Freeman and Deputy Director of Nursing Jodie Morris
has not wavered. They have pulled together more than ever to look after our patients, families and each other.”
