Ambassadors

Photography by Jan Sedlacek

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Introduction Welcome to Worcestershire. The place in the Midlands to do business and enjoy a quality of life that is second to none.

Worcestershire Sauce, Morgan Motor Cars, Royal Worcester Porcelain, Sir Edward Elgar and the rolling beauty of the Malvern Hills and Broadway gateway to the Cotswolds. Known and loved across the United Kingdom and indeed the world, these are Worcestershire icons. But they are just part of the story of Worcestershire.

With its central location and fantastic infrastructure, Worcestershire is easily the place to be. Easily, because the easy access to the UK motorway network is right on our doorstep, the M5, M42, M40 and M6, giving quick, practical access to major airports and key cities. From the rural beauty of Worcestershire, commuters can get to London within 2 hours.

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The sporting success of the county continues apace with the Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club at the magnificent Sixways Stadium and Worcestershire County Cricket Club at the world famous New Road, both playing to win.

The University of Worcester is setting standards in selected areas of education, whilst at the same time leading the way in research into allergens and allergies at its National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit.

And in the business world famous Worcestershire brands including Worcestershire Sauce, Morgan Motor Company and Worcester Bosch are making their presence felt across the globe.

Located in the heart of the West Midlands, Worcestershire and it`s key centres of Worcester, Malvern, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Redditch, Evesham and Droitwich are easily accessible both in and around the County with excellent transport infrastructure.

Read on to learn more about what makes Worcestershire an interesting, beautiful, successful and simply wonderful place to live, work, invest and do business in. Learn more about some of the key businesses in Worcestershire, and their history and successes to date. Find out more about what makes Worcestershire a great place to live, by getting a closer insight into the beating heart of this county.

Compiled in partnership by the Worcestershire Ambassadors, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Destination Worcestershire and Worcestershire County Council , turn the pages to gain a greater insight into what makes Worcestershire tick.

Learn more about the history and economy of the county, as well as the wider success story of Worcestershire.

Worcestershire Ambassadors The Worcestershire Ambassadors are individuals who care passionately about the future health and prosperity of the county. Drawn from senior positions in local commerce and the public sector and supported by Worcestershire County Council, the Ambassadors share a common enthusiasm to create a county to be proud of. The Worcestershire Ambassadors’ objective is to promote all that is great about living and working in this county, linking organisations together and developing the social and economic prosperity of the county.

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Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce exist to support local businesses to achieve growth and success. Companies join to be more visible, to make business connections and to access professional expertise, knowledge and experience.

The Chamber plays an active part in encouraging involvement and participation in local initiatives in Worcestershire, including charitable work, environmental issues and support for the education sector.

Worcestershire County Council The Worcestershire County Council Corporate Plan, ‘Fit for the Future’ sets a new direction for the county council and a new vision which is ‘A Prosperous Worcestershire’.

The vision is being delivered around four key areas of focus: •

Open for Business

•

Children and Families

•

The Environment

•

Health and Well Being

We believe it is vital that Worcestershire has a strong and diverse economy and is known to be Open for Business.

We will provide an environment where local businesses can thrive and new businesses are welcomed, barriers to growth are removed and where all partners can work together to increase economic prosperity.

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Business heritage introduction The agricultural and manufacturing history of Worcestershire has resulted in a wealth and diverse range of heritage businesses including a number of major brands. Companies represented in this publication include Lea and Perrin’s who famously produce Worcestershire Sauce from their Worcester factory, The Morgan Motors Company who build Sports Cars in Malvern, LG Harris who are brush makers for Royalty situated in Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Webbs Garden Centre whose origins are traceable to an agricultural seed merchant from the middle of the nineteenth century.

We also feature the Carpet Museum as carpets have been a important part of Worcestershire’s business history and Worcester still has the oldest continually published newspaper in the world Berrow’s Worcester Journal now published by Midlands Newsquest.

In this section you will be able to see and read a little bit more about the heritage of these businesses, how they developed, why they continue to be popular.

Courtesy of Worcestershire Records Office

Lea and Perrins Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce was first created by the Worcester chemists John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins. The story of the origins of the recipe is entangled in a web of legends, but the common but it is commonly believed that on returning home from his travels in Bengal, Lord Sandys, a nobleman of the area, was eager to duplicate a recipe he had acquired.

On Lord Sandys’ request, two chemists, John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins made up the first batch of the sauce. When Lea & Perrins was first created, it wasn’t to their liking and was set aside and forgotten about. It wasn’t until the barrels were rediscovered many months later that the taste had mellowed into what we now know as Worcestershire Sauce.

020 8573 7757 | www.leaandperrins.co.uk

To this day, the ingredients are allowed to ‘mature’ for 18 months before being blended and bottled in Worcester.

The Lea & Perrins brand was commercialised in 1837 and has been produced in the current Midlands Road factory in Worcester since 16 October 1897. In the early days they also sent representatives to the docks of English ports in order to convince the stewards of passenger ships to take cases of the condiment on board liners so that bottles of the product could be set on the dining room tables. The tangy meaty-flavored sauce caught on, and soon Lea & Perrins opened more retail shops in several English towns. The sauce was also exported to other countries around the world and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is now available in over 75 countries worldwide.

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LG Harris and co. ltd.

Founded in 1928, Harris is a world class manufacturer of decorating products using some of the finest materials at its large manufacturing site in Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove.

In 1961, the company was awarded the Royal Warrant

by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the preferred manufacturer of paint brushes and decorating tools to the Royal Sandringham Estate. Harris still holds the Royal Warrant to this very day, demonstrating a level of product excellence suitable for a Royal household.

Harris continues to be a thriving company leading the way in product quality and innovation; successfully supplying millions of decorators around the world. Its sister manufacturing plant opened in China in 2003 which allows Harris to supply decorating brushes, rollers, tools and sundry items into export markets all over the world.

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01527 575441 | www.harrisbrushes.com

The Morgan Motor Company 180 skilled employees at Morgan’s Malvern factory design, engineer and assemble approximately 1000 cars a year.

The production breaks down into 3 model ranges; the new Morgan 3 Wheeler, the Morgan Classic and the Morgan Aero range. 70% of production is exported mainly to Europe but also to the USA and Japan.

Each Morgan car is truly handcrafted. Lightweight aluminium panels are sculpted over an ash wood frame.

This coach built body is dropped onto a very stiff light modern chassis with the latest drivetrain and engine technology.

01684 573104 | www.morgan-motor.co.uk

A current Morgan 4/4 weighs 780 kgs and combines 0-60mph in around 7secs with an average of 50 miles to the gallon. The Morgan Aero SuperSports is the lightest V8 engined car in the world at 1250 kgs accelerating to 60 mph in 4.5 secs reaching a top speed of 160 mph.

Yet the Aero returns excellent fuel economy and low carbon emissions. The new Morgan 3 wheeler weighs only 450 kgs and the combination of acceleration with economy is unique, 0-60 in under 5 seconds and 45 mpg.

A study by Cardiff University suggests that the purchase of a Morgan is a more environmental choice than a hybrid or an electric car. The carbon footprint of the manufacturing process is much lower and the continual use of the car over a long period (Morgans never die) is very efficient.

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THE MUSEUM OF CARPET In 1981 two Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers, a Kidderminster Solicitor and the Wyre Forest District Council founded the Carpet Museum Trust to create a museum for the exhibition of items of local, historical and educational interest and in particular in any way connected with the manufacture of carpets and similar textiles.

It is projected that the Museum will be a considerable tourist draw which, when added to the other existing sites. will greatly enhance the attractions of the area for visitors.

The intervening years have brought delay and disappointments but the determination of the Trustees has now succeeded. With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donors, the selected museum building in Green Street, Kidderminster is now in the hands of builders and museum designers whose work will result in the opening of the Museum of Carpet in October 2012. It is believed that it will be the only museum in the United Kingdom devoted to carpet manufacture.

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01562 69001 | www.carpetmuseum.co.uk

Webbs Webbs, the independent garden centre group, is a family business with garden centres at Wychbold, near Droitwich, Worcestershire; West Hagley in the West Midlands and Ryton Gardens in Warwickshire as well as an online garden retail site.

The origins of Webbs business are traceable to the middle of the nineteenth century when Edward Webb was a successful agricultural seeds merchant trading from Wordsley near Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

By the end of the century Webbs seeds had become a household name and Webbs were appointed seeds-men to every monarch in succession from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Edward’s grandson, William, took over the business and involvement in the Wychbold area began in 1925.

In 1937 the famous Webbs thatched building, the floor of which was designed to incorporate wood from

01527 860000 | www.webbsdirect.co.uk

all countries of the Commonwealth at that time, was completed as a reception centre and the Wychbold Trial Grounds became a local landmark. During the late 1960s and early ‘70s, the English seed trade was transformed by a series of mergers. Webbs Garden Seeds joined with Bees and moved to Chester leaving the Wychbold site occupied by a fledgling garden centre started by William’s son Michael in the late 1960s.

In 1971, Richard Webb, great grandson of the original Edward Webb, purchased the site with his wife and so began the development of Webbs as both a Garden Centre & Nursery. Throughout the years the site at Wychbold has expanded and developed with Webbs establishing itself as a leading horticultural centre and regional tourist attraction, with a succession of retail awards recognising Garden Centre expertise. Richard and Marigold’s son Ed Webb is the Executive Chairman.

Webbs has expanded and now has additional garden centres at West Hagley and Ryton Gardens.

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Berrow’s Worcester Journal Berrow’s Worcester Journal and its sister daily title the Worcester News, are part of Newsquest Media Group, one of the UK’s largest regional newspaper publishers with more than 200 newspapers, magazines and trade publications.

The Journal first appeared in 1690 and is proud of its claim to be the world’s oldest continuously published newspaper.

Worcester Journal, Berrow was incensed and indignantly inserted his own name into the title so that readers could be sure they were buying the genuine article.

The title has endured to the present day and remains one of Worcester’s and the wider county’s most recognised brands.

It is distributed free of charge to more than 41,000 homes and businesses in the city every week.

It was published irregularly until 1709, the period following the deposing of James II which saw the beginning of a free press in Britain.

The history of the paper does not become clear until 1709 when Stephen Bryan became the first proprietor, printer and editor.

Shortly before his death the Journal passed into the hands of Harvey Berrow. When in 1753 a competitor appeared in Worcester, also calling his paper the

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01905 748200 | www.worcesternews.co.uk

Inward investment Worcestershire is widely considered to be one of the most attractive areas in the UK. A rich cultural and stunning rural environment combines with a number of key commercial centres to provide an excellent location for business, at the heart England.

Worcestershire has much to offer businesses either located in or thinking of locating in the County: excellent transport links, a highly skilled and diverse workforce, a thriving business environment, high quality business and technology parks along with excellent support services.

Worcestershire has a mixed economy. Economic activity is not focused on a principal urban area but is distributed across a range of key centres: Worcester, Malvern, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Redditch, Evesham and Droitwich.

Manufacturing remains a key sector within Worcestershire; however the last decade has seen growth in innovation and technology-led sectors.

The mature commercial property market in the County provides a range of buildings to meet the dynamic requirements of modern business; from Technology and

Science Parks to traditional office locations to edge of town and strategic highway based locations..

Worcestershire is very much ‘Open for Business’ and the county council work with partners to provide a package of support services to encourage Inward Investment including: • • • • •

Business support programmes / initiatives Property search service Planning advice and support Business professional services, networks and forums Extensive partnership network of support organisations including Chamber of Commerce • Aftercare programme for businesses location in the County We understand that communications networks are vitally important for the local economy, the county council is investing £8.5m into the £20m Local Broadband Plan ‘Connecting Worcestershire’ to ensure that 100% of the county has broadband access, and that 90% of business in the county can access superfast broadband (24mbps or above) by the end of 2015.

Photography by Jan Sedlacek

“Even when starting out in the humble beginnings at the Old Vinegar Works, the aim was to ensure the Worcester name was synonymous with excellence, quality and innovation. From pioneering the first domestic oil-fired boilers in 1962 to creating the first combination boilers in 1971 we are extremely proud that the Worcester name continues to stand for these values and now leads the way for innovative heating and hot water solutions in the UK.”

Worcester, Bosch Group Worcester began manufacturing boilers in the UK in 1962, and is now one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of high-efficiency gas, oil-fired and LPG boilers for the domestic and specification market.

The company now employs more than 1,800 people at its headquarters and manufacturing plants in Worcestershire and Clay Cross in Derbyshire, including a nationwide network of over 300 service engineers and over 80 technically trained field sales managers.

Dedicated to energy efficient and sustainable heating solutions, Worcester is a name that stands for reliability, quality, efficiency and value for money and this passion was only strengthened when Worcester became part of the Bosch Group – one of the world’s leading names in high-end technology.

0844 892 3000 | www.worcester-bosch.co.uk

The winner of 23 Which awards for Greenstar gas boilers and recommended recommended by the Energy Savings Trust as being among the most energy efficient boilers available in the UK, Worcester’s award-winning portfolio of Greenstar boilers are all A-rated on the SEDBUK scale, which means they convert over 90% of the energy used into heating and hot water. Worcester also boasts an extensive renewable product range, which includes Greenskies solar thermal panels, Greenstore ground source heat pumps and Greensource air source heat pumps plus highly efficient Greenfloor underfloor heating.

Year of establishment 1962 in Worcester Number of employees 1,800 Sector Manufacturer of boilers and renewable technology

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Kanes Foods Ltd Kanes Foods Ltd. is a privately owned family business which has developed, since its incorporation in 1989, into one of the largest employers in Worcestershire.

The company processes fresh vegetables for consumption as ready meals. The range of products covers salads, stir-fry meals, bean sprouts, noodles, fresh sauces and coleslaw.

Turnover is in excess of £100 million per annum with all sales going to the major supermarkets. The company has a reputation for innovation and flexibility which, allied to good management, has kept it at the forefront of the chilled food market for many years.

The latest development of Kanes Foods is a self financed new salad factory costing £30 million. The technologies incorporated into this factory are at the cutting edge of food processing and will make this the most advanced vegetable processing plant in the UK. The factory will be officially opened in early Spring 2012.

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The Vale of Evesham has a long history of market gardening and innovation in horticulture. It was this availability of good quality produce which encouraged Kanes to originally locate in the area.

“Kanes Foods Ltd and the growers in the Vale of Evesham have established a relationship of trust and inter dependency over many years. Kanes has always been willing to pay fair prices and the growers have been prepared to invest in modern growing methods in order to satisfy the requirements of Kanes.”

Year of establishment The company was incorporated in 1989 Number of employees 1700 Sector The company processes fresh vegetables for the chilled food convenience market.

01386 830471 | www. kanesfoods.co.uk

“the importance of manufacturing to the UK economy and the local region cannot be overemphasised.

Each year we welcome thousands of visitors to the region to tour our facilities and see the latest manufacturing technology and also encourage students to understand more about manufacturing and its importance to our future. We are proud of our links with the city and the contribution we have made”

Yamazaki Mazak Yamazaki Mazak is the world’s largest producer of computer-controlled metal cutting machine tools. The company’s headquarters are near Nagoya, Japan. It is privately owned by the Yamazaki family, from whose name the brand “Mazak” is derived.

Mazak was established in Worcester, England, in 1981.

With the completion of its factory in 1987 it became the first Japanese machine tool builder to establish a manufacturing facility in Europe. It was expanded in 1996 and in 2007 to its current 29,000 square metres.

A continual and continuing programme of investment to update its production equipment has made the factory not only the most advanced in Europe, but one of the few machine tool plants in Europe that not only assembles, but makes the complete machine - machining the castings, making the spindles, the turrets, the magazines and the sheet metal covers. More than 85% of the production is exported to customers in over 30 countries.

01905 755755 | www. mazak.eu

Worcester was chosen as the location for the manufacturing facility due to its historic links to the machine tool industry and availability of key skills in the region. The atmosphere for inward investment for state of the art manufacturing to the region was extremely positive.

Year of establishment Japan, 1919; UK, 1981 Number of Employees 500 Sector Manufacturing

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“Being Located in the middle of the country, means we are in the perfect position to take advantage of fantastic road, rail and air links.

Which means the business is never very far from anywhere!”

Steatite Ltd. Technology Company Steatite, part of the Solid State PLC, continues to improve its performance across all divisions with growth in all areas and technologies, bucking the trend with double digit growth starting the year and new contracts worth over 4 Million pounds.

Established in 1938, Steatite is a leading technology, engineering and manufacturing provider of Industrial and Rugged Mobile computing platforms and integrated Battery solutions for customers who demand high performance and reliability in mission critical and environmentally challenging environments.

Having developed a proven track record in supporting clients and applications across a variety of markets, combined with a strong and successful history of acquiring complimentary business’s, Steatite affords a high level of expectation by all of its stakeholders.

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Steatite moved to Worcestershire because of its excellent transport links coupled with its long history of innovation.

The new purpose built 26,000 Sq ft business premises in Redditch is set amid the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, which helped to make Worcestershire a location of choice for Steatite Ltd.

Year of establishment 1938 Number of employees 85 Sector Electronics

01527 512400 | www.steatite.co.uk

Kerry Ingredients & Flavours The Tenbury Wells site is part of the Kerry Group, a global business that was formed in 1972 with its roots in Irish dairy farming. Kerry launched as a public company in 1986 and now has 140 manufacturing facilities in 23 countries and sales to 140 countries.

The site supplies a variety of sweet ingredients, primarily fruit based, to Dairy, Bakery, Desserts, Ice Cream, Cereals & Confectionery manufacturers and to a diverse range of customers through the Foodservice channel which include products to in-store bakeries, retail outlets and coffee shops to name a few. The products are packed in containers ranging in size from small portion retail packs to road tankers depending on customer needs.

“Our Tenbury site has a long and distinguished heritage of fruit processing. We are committed to our Tenbury site and we continue to invest heavily in the development of our business here.�

01584 810366 | www.kerry.com

The Tenbury Wells site has major plans to grow its ingredients base and Kerry has invested, and continues to invest, substantially in the site. This growth will create employment opportunities within the manufacturing operation, warehousing, supply chain, quality, development centre, process, finance and administration departments over the coming years.

Year of establishment 1869 Number of employees 350 Sector Food Manufacturing

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Malvern Instruments Malvern Instruments develops and manufactures analytical instruments that are used to measure properties that influence the performance of a wide variety of materials. The company sells and supports these products directly and through its distributors and partners worldwide. Scientists, technologists and engineers use Malvern’s instrumentation to understand their materials and processes, to guide product development, manage and control manufacturing quality, and optimise output.

Three entrepreneurial friends got together and started up a business in a garage in Malvern in the early 1960’s. A few years later their success encouraged them to build a new facility and Malvern Instruments was born. The company continued to grow and prosper; establishing several overseas sales offices and soon the company was deriving more than 90% of its sales from exports.

As a result, by 1997 the company once more needed to expand its operations in the UK but once again decided

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to remain in Malvern and invested £6m in designing and building, what was by now, the headquarters of an international business. The decision to remain in Malvern was driven by the importance of being able to attract and retain the highly skilled and experienced people, across a wide range of disciplines that are critical to our continued success. Worcestershire continues to offer a quality of life, supported by high standards of housing, transport and education that meet the needs of both our employees and our business.

“The company’s success has been built upon the highly skilled people we have been able to attract who not only see our company being able to meet their career aspirations, but see Malvern, and Worcestershire, as a place that can deliver a quality of life that is hard to match.”

Year of establishment 1962 Number of employees 600 Sector Scientific instrumentation

01684 892456 | www.malvern.com

“Titan Steel Wheels is very proud of its heritage, and our history in the village of Cookley makes us who we are today. I think our location is fantastic – we have all the benefits of being close to a major city with none of the drawbacks.

Who wouldn’t enjoy working in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.”

Titan Steel Wheels Titan Steel Wheels is a subsidiary of Titan Europe Plc, and is the market leader in the manufacture and supply of wheels for the ‘off-highway’ vehicle industry. Based in Worcestershire, the facility produces wheels for the world’s most respected OEM’s including Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo and Liebherr. Over 600 wheels per day are exported to the Americas, the Pacific Rim and mainland Europe.

Titan continually improves current designs and research technology to develop more effective products. The on-site manufacturing facilities include advanced production machinery and instruments such as CAM, microprocessor control, plasma cutting and robotic welding.

The history of manufacturing in Cookley, Worcestershire goes back as far as 1650 when the location was first set up as a forge next to the canal. The benefits of this location for manufacturing were further strengthened when the Cookley section of the Stafford and Worcester canal from the River Severn was opened to traffic.

01562 850561 | www.titaneurope.com

During the past 100 years this site has passed through many different hands and had many different names, but it was in 1950 as part of Sheffield Steel Products that the first earthmover wheels were produced under license for Goodyear. Many years later in 1995 this plant was purchased by Titan International, USA and Titan Steel Wheels became the biggest earthmover wheel plant in the world. In 2004 the company (along with its sister companies ) were floated on the AIM stock market to become Titan Europe PLC and in 2011 are still the largest earthmover wheel manufacturing plant in the world.

Year of establishment In 1995 as Titan Steel Wheels Number of employees 435 Sector Manufacture wheels for construction industry

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English Mutual group In this fast moving and ever-changing world, certain things remain ever constant; the requirement for good, old-fashioned customer service and the need for the delivery of tailored, straight forward financial planning and wealth management. At English Mutual, the belief in this forms the very bedrock of their business. The English Mutual Group is a value driven organisation; who recognise the value of expertise and experience, the value of careful research and the use of modern technology.

But most of all they recognise the value of their clients and their need to react appropriately, empathetically and professionally to their requirements.

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Year of establishment Whilst the ‘organisation began life in the mid – 1990’s, The English Mutual Group was launched in 2004

Number of employees 80 Sector Financial Services

“English Mutual, a company whose heart beats firmly in Worcester, has grown into a financial services group of national substance with offices across the country. However, despite its growth and continual development, the aim and ambition of the English Mutual Group remains unchanged; to consistently deliver the finest financial services experience available to both clients and practitioners in the United Kingdom. ” 0845 6033679 | www.englishmutual.com

“Joy manufactures gearboxes, roof supports and has inhouse design facilities for armoured face conveyor systems at the Worcester site, which is situated in an excellent location, with good road and rail links.�

Joy Mining Machinery Joy Mining Machinery has more than 90 years experience as a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution and service of underground mining machinery for the extraction of coal and other bedded materials.

Our vision is to be the leading global supplier of underground mining systems and services in partnership with our customers to enable them to consistently produce at the lowest cost per ton over the life cycle of the equipment.

For use in longwall room and pillar mining operations, Joy manufactures longwall shearers, roof supports, face conveyors, stageloaders, continuous miners, batch haulage vehicles (shuttle cars and battery haulers), continuous haulage systems (continuous chain haulage and flexible conveyor trains) and bolting products (mobile, onboard and portable), crushing equipment and conveyor systems.

Year of establishment 1919 Number of employees 661 Sector Mining Machinery Manufacture

0870 252 1000 | www.joy.com

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LESK Engineers (Worcester) Ltd. Lesk Engineers has over 45 years experience in the subcontracting industry. Over this time they have specialised in work for the aerospace industry, defence and machine tool industry and have regular, long standing, satisfied customers. This has been achieved by quality, service and attitude ( Lesk are aerospace accredited).

The work force consists of first class experienced programmers and operators who work with the latest Machine Tools. The most up-to-date CAM software is also used to program the machine tools.

The Production Control is fully computerised using the latest RedAnt Production Control System which links the system through to the shop floor to enable them to track work from entry up to despatch.

Worcestershire has a wide range of international and local companies with a broad range of expertise. The workforce are particularly loyal and have a passion to promote all that is good within the County. With industry, sport and other facilities all improving this is THE place to be for a successful future.

Year of establishment 1965 Number of employees 20 Sector Engineering/Manufacturing sector

“Being based in Worcester City places us at the heart of our customers.

With good access, modern equipment and a highly trained local workforce we are able to meet our customers needs. That’s why we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”

They manufacture in a wide range of materials varying from soft (aluminium, brass, plastic etc) to hard (inconel, titanium, tool steels etc.) with a wide range of machining operations.

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01905 23187 | www.leskengineers.co.uk

When we originally launched Oakland International, Worcestershire was the ideal place for us due to the positive nature of the people and its central location.

Worcestershire continues to be an excellent location from which to do business.

Oakland International Oakland International is an award winning logistics company, providing multi-temperature distribution for food and consumer goods using ambient, chilled and frozen transportation. They also offer multi-temperature storage, picking and consignment consolidation.

With depots in the West Midlands and in County Meath, Ireland, Oakland International has a highly effective distribution network, successfully servicing a range of logistics needs to the retail, cash and carry and foodservice industries. They are a reliable and flexible multi temperature storage and logistics service, helping suppliers and manufacturers to manage peak seasonal demands, effectively taking the pressure out of the whole supply chain process. Since our launch in 1998, Oakland has maintained its commitment and support of the local and extended communities, a policy which is maintained today.

01527 596 222 | www.oakland-international.com

Oakland International when launched was a small Worcestershire local family firm. Today the business enjoys a multi-million pound turnover and employs 200 people, working closely with leading multiples, retailers, wholesalers, cash and carrys, independents and food service outlets across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Their Redditch HQ provides an ideal distribution base due to its central location and close proximity to the M6, M42 and M5 motorway networks.

Year of establishment 1998 Number of employees: 200 Sector Supply chain logistics and warehousing and distribution

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Thomas Vale Construction Thomas Vale Construction plc is one of the largest, privately owned principal contractors in the UK, employing over 730 people across the Midlands and beyond; their in-house expertise ensures that they can offer their clients a full turn-key solution from concept to post completion and facilities management.

They undertake core project programmes in Housing New Build, Housing Regeneration, Education, Development & Mixed Use Renewal Programmes, Industrial, Community Facilities and Spaces, Healthcare, Retirement and Extra Care, Commercial, Interior Fit-Out, Sustainable Solutions, Retail, Infrastructure and Facilities Management, including comprehensive experience in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs).

Thomas Vale, a young victorian engineer designed and built the unique cast iron bridge spanning the River Severn at Stourport in Worcestershire. The bridge still stands and sports cast iron shields on each spandrel. It is these shields, designed by Vale in 1869, which form the

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basis of the Group’s corporate identity today and which continues to represent their traditional values of honesty, integrity and trust.

“We are proud of our heritage and our 140 years working in the local communities, delivering economic viability and sustainability alongside some of the most prestigious projects across Worcestershire and beyond for public and private sector clients.”

As a county, Worcestershire is a core enabler in creating and sustaining economic, social and environmental sustainability. It is a thriving and historical backdrop for businesses to locate to.

EST. ST. ST T.

Year of establishment 1869 Number of employees 730 Sector Construction/Principal Contractor

01299 827770 | www.thomasvale.com

Visit and Live Enjoy a visit or choose to live in Worcestershire and you’ll be enchanted by a landscape that is quintessentially English, a county steeped in heritage and a region that takes pride in the fantastic array of local food and drink produce on offer which is served in an abundance at pubs and restaurants across the county.

Worcestershire has so much to offer and given its accessibility from most places in the UK, it’s becoming increasingly popular as the perfect short break destination. Whether it’s culture, the great outdoors or simply relaxing that appeals to you, Worcestershire has something for everyone. Many visitors to the county are so amazed they choose to move here with growing honey-pots of new residents enjoying everything the county has to offer.

The University of Worcester has a growing reputation amongst scholars and attracts students from across the globe for courses in an array of subjects and at various levels. There is also a mixture of government funded schools with good Ofsted reports and many outstanding independent schools and colleges located across the county.

Please read on to find out more information about living in and visiting Worcestershire ot visit: www.visitworcestershire.org

Medieval event held in Worcester

University of Worcester Campus

Universities and schools Worcestershire’s schools, academies and colleges deliver high quality education and learning opportunities to children and young people. Worcestershire is welcoming the formation of academies because we believe they can help us to drive up educational standards. The county council is working closely with businesses and other organisations and to link education to skills, training, and ultimately the needs of local employers, developing Apprenticeship opportunities, foundation learning provision and working with partners to secure appropriate funding such as European Social Funds, to develop and run programmes that meet the needs of residents. There

New University facilities located in City centre

is a strong emphasis in Worcestershire on prevention and early intervention, ensuring problems and issues are dealt with as soon as they emerge. Worcestershire’s Family Information Service also offers information, advice and guidance to families, professionals working with children and young people, and also employers, about the many support services available in and around the county, childcare, activities for families, money matters, and the rights working parents.

For more information please visit www.worcester.ac.uk

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Arts and culture Whether you are visiting, working or living in Worcestershire the county has a wealth of arts and entertainment for you to enjoy.

There are major arts centres in each district, including Malvern Theatres which often hosts first-run shows before going on to the West End. Shindig rural touring theatre programme ensures that high quality theatre gets into every corner of the county. There are also many theatres dotted throughout the county providing a great night out with a varied events calendar.

As the birthplace of Elgar, Worcestershire is well known for its music; the Worcester Music Festival includes a wide selection of professional and community events and Upton hosts folk, jazz and blues festivals. The most famous county festival is the Three Choirs Festival, held in August each year since the early 18th century.

Rotating between the three cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford it is one of the world’s oldest classical choral music festivals.

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The county’s market towns have also given rise to a number of food related festivals including The British Asparagus Festival in Evesham and the Pershore Plum Festival. The Tenbury Mistletoe Festival is nationally renowned.

Worcester has an outstanding art gallery and museum with an excellent collection of contemporary and fine art. The arts and craft tradition across the county means there are regular open studio events and the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen has its own shop at the County Museum at Hartlebury. There are also bustling arts and crafts markets in many of the county’s towns.

For events and activities across the county see http://www.visitworcestershire.org/events As well as the county’s thriving cultural scene a short trip across the border brings you to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, and Birmingham and its excellent theatres and music venues is a short distance away.

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Worcester Art gallery

Heritage and Gardens Worcestershire is a great place to step back in time to a bygone era and cherish the delights of days gone by as well as enjoying the sights and smells of some beautiful English country gardens. Worcestershire also has two arboreta which are located in the north of the county and keen gardeners can also visit the Midland’s largest garden centre.

Witley Court (English Heritage) Heritage).jpg

Worcester Cathedral

Severn Valley Railway

There are a great selection of historic houses with fantastic gardens to explore including Hanbury Hall (National Trust), a delightful early 18th century William and Mary style house, Witley Court & Gardens (English Heritage), a spectacular ruin and Croome Park & Court (National trust), “Capability” Browns first complete landscape design. Broadway Tower is a lovely Folly located on the edge of the Cotswolds with great views and a country park to enjoy.

Worcester is home to Worcester Cathedral built in the 11th century and the county also boasts Britain’s finest Baroque church with amazing ceilings painted by Antonio Bellucci situated next to Witely Court.

The north of the county has museums and a lengthy canal network providing a wonderful insight in the industrial heritage of the county and the Severn Valley Railway, Britain’s premier steam railway provides some of the best riverside scenery in the country winding its way alongside the River Severn.

There are also various other museums across the county depicting the history of the county including the Morgan Visitor Centre where visitors can still see skilled craftsmen at work.

For more information please visit www.visitworcestershire.org/heritage

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The great outdoors Worcestershire has a huge amount of vast open spaces where visitors can enjoy the great outdoors. Many recreational pursuits are on offer including walking, cycling, horse-riding, water-sports, fishing, golf, boat trips, quad biking, land-boarding plus so much more!

The dramatic Malvern Hills rise out of the Severn Valley providing stunning views across the Severn Plain and across Herefordshire to the Black Mountains in Wales on a clear day. The Hills provide many walking routes allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty on a relaxed walk or a more energetic ramble.

The ancient woodland of the Wyre Forest (Forestry Commission) is a great destination for cyclists as well as for visitors who love adrenalin pumping activities who can also enjoy swinging from the trees on a high wire forest

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adventure course. There are also many country parks dotted across the county all offering a different landscape and a different view across this beautiful county. Visitors can also enjoy the sights and smells of blossom, lavender, sunflower and confetti field’s which can brighten up even the dullest summer’s day.

The vast river and canal network provides an excellent playground for leisure pursuits as well as a great place to relax in the picturesque countryside. The network includes the introduction of the Mid Worcestershire Ring linking up the River Severn, the Birmingham-Worcester Canal and the historic Droitwich Canals making the UK’s newest edition on the short break boating circuit.

Cycling in the Wyre Forest (Forestry Commission)

For more information please visit www.visitworcestershire.org/greatoutdoors

Broadway Tower

Malvern Hills

Sports Worcestershire is a great destination for sporting enthusiasts with a variety of fixtures and events on offer throughout the county for spectators as well as a huge amount of activities to be involved in for the active sportsman.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Europe’s oldest motor-sport venue which is still in use today is located in Shelsley Walsh and is a great asset to Worcestershire’s sporting calendar. Worcester Racecourse set in the heart of the city of Worcester is one of Britain’s oldest racecourses, where racing has been taking place since 1718.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club plays first division cricket and was formed way back in 1865. New Road has recently been named as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world.

Worcester Warriors

Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb

Worcester Warriors is situated in the heart of the county just seconds from Junction 6 on the M5 and is a professional rugby union club that currently competes against the best players in world rugby in the Aviva Premiership. The Worcester Wolves basketball club play in the UK’s premier league, the British Basketball League (BBL).

There are also a huge variety of golf courses around the county as well as activity centre’s for water-sports, rock-climbers, many leisure centre’s, swimming pools, gymnasiums, tennis courts and sports clubs. www.visitworcestershire.org/sports

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family fun Worcestershire is a great destination for some family fun with many attractions aimed at the family market and many fun filled events and action-packed outdoor activities.

West Midland Safari & Leisure Park is a great day out for all the family offering a drive through safari with many animal reserves and an amusement park. Across the county there are various other places to have animal encounters including the Ark Animal Sanctuary and Top Barn Farm which also offers tractor trails around the farm.

Go Ape! High Wire Forest Adventure in the Wyre Forest is available for older children. The treetop adventure course is made up of a mixture of zip wires and assault courses high in the trees and is great way to get the adrenalin pumping as well as team building amongst the family.

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By exploring the countryside visitors will come across play grounds and assault courses at country parks and in the towns there are various activity centres for younger children including soft play areas. Families can also go to the cinema, ten pin bowling, ice skating, go-karting, swimming, horse-riding and on boat trips. There are also water-sports centres across the county offering windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and other recreational activities which are fantastic for an active family day out or short break. www.visitworcestershire.org/familyfun

Shopping Worcestershire is a mixture of old and new which is definitely represented in the shopping opportunities. In Worcester you can shop until you drop on the High Street and in the shopping centres with a variety of chains on offer, or why not buy a treat and experience some fantastic boutique shopping.

Across the county are many antique shops, arts and craft retailers where visitors can buy something special for themselves or a loved one. There are also plenty of opportunities to purchase local food and drink produce grown and produced from the fertile plains of the river network which meanders through the county.

Asparagus, plums and apples are a particular favourite amongst residents and visitors especially during the festivities celebrating the crops harvest. Market towns across the county offer fresh seasonal produce as well as smaller specialist shops where visitors can purchase an assortment of items.

Worcestershire is also a great base for some further afield shopping with the fantastic road and rail links. A short distance away is Birmingham, home to The Bullring Shopping Centre with Selfridges and The Mailbox full of luxury brands as well as Harvey Nichols. Gloucester Docks is even closer, home to a factory outlet shopping centre with designer clothes at bargain prices. If you want to experience shopping in London for the day Worcestershire is only 2 and half hours direct into London Paddington. www.visitworcestershire.org/shopping

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Accommodation Worcestershire has high quality accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you are drawn to the peace and quiet of the countryside, the cosy intimacy of village life or the hustle and bustle of the towns, you’ll discover a tempting choice of places to stay from quality hotels to the homely comfort of a farmhouse bed and breakfast or wide selection of self catering options including secluded cottages and log cabins. Camping and caravanning is one of the best ways to experience the great outdoors and there are many options dotted across the county including award winning campsites.

Country House Hotels are a great place to stay with many offering fantastic views with a variety of facilities on offer including spas as well as award winning restaurants.

Bed and Breakfasts provide that home away from home feeling with bumper breakfasts and many serving homemade jams with food and drink sourced from providers on their doorstep. Many small accommodation providers are located on farms which is a great way to experience the countryside. Alternatively, why not stay in an inn where you can be served breakfast as well as lunch or dinner after a tiring day exploring the county.

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Other options include boating up one of the various waterway networks including the River Severn, River Avon, Birmingham to Worcester Canal and Staffordshire to Worcestershire Canal on a narrow-boat holiday. www.visitworcestershire.org/accommodation

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Dormy House Hotel, Broadway

Elms at Abberley

Conclusion With so much to shout about, now is the time to put Worcestershire on the map! This is a great time for the county, as our businesses flourish and the history and heritage of Worcestershire continue to enrich and develop the loves of all who live and work in Worcestershire.

We hope that this closer insight in Worcestershire inspires you to find out more. Visit Worcestershire! Come and meet us and see just why Worcestershire is a great place to visit, live, work invest and do business.

Worcestershire Ambassadors

www.worcestershireambassadors.com

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce www.hwchamber.co.uk

Destination Worcestershire Visitworcestershire.org

Designed by

Produced by

Worcestershire County Council

www.worcestershire.gov.uk

Worcestershire Local Enterprise PArtneship

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http://www.worcestershirelep.org/

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