Business Engage Profiles
New chapter for Coventry Building Society Arena The project will also see the development of a pavilion entrance at the south side of the venue, which will be a gateway to the new Commonwealth Convention Centre. Lift access will ensure easy accessibility and inclusivity for all users.
A multi-million pound investment is leading Coventry Building Society Arena into an exciting new chapter in the venue’s development. The world-class exhibition, event and conference centre took on its new name earlier this year and has also seen work begin on the new state-of-the-art Commonwealth Convention Centre at the venue. Wasps Group agreed a major new 10-year deal with Coventry Building Society for the naming rights to the Arena in May, and the Arena has undergone major cosmetic changes since the deal came into effect in July. It comes as the Arena strengthens its position as a market leader in the exhibition industry with the Commonwealth Convention Centre project, which includes a major refurbishment of the existing 1,750 square metre conference and exhibition space in the lower halls. Work on the lower halls will seamlessly connect them to the rest of the venue and give organisers access to 7,750 square metres of space, including the newly refurbished Indoor Arena – Coventry which hosted its first event in July.
The work is being funded with £3.8 million granted to the venue by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), which secured the funding through the West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund. The Commonwealth Convention Centre is expected to open its doors by Q1 2022 and is only one of the exciting recent developments at the Arena.
Coventry Building Society Arena sees one-and-ahalf-million visitors through its doors on average annually and has a packed schedule of conference, exhibitions, concerts and sporting events over the coming months. Paul Michael, Commercial Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “It’s been a very exciting and action-packed few months for us here at the Arena and that will continue as work completes on major projects around the venue.
As Coventry City fans returned to the Arena, The Anecdote sports bar opened its doors for the first time and has since been packed out with punters for some of August’s biggest sporting events.
“From the new name and new looks, to The Anecdote and the Commonwealth Convention Centre, this really signals a new era for the Arena and the changes taking place will cement our position as one of the leading multi-purpose venues in the UK.”
The bar is now open seven days a week from 11am to 11pm and is establishing itself as the perfect backdrop for a social occasion, welcoming individuals, families and groups of friends.
To find out more about Coventry Building Society Arena and to see its upcoming event schedule visit www.CBSarena.co.uk
“From the new name and new look, to The Anecdote and the Commonwealth Convention Centre, this really signals a new era for the Arena and the changes taking place will cement our position as one of the leading multipurpose venues in the UK.”
LDP Luckmans continues to innovate to grow Lockdown did not mean a slowdown for one of the region’s most respected Chartered Accountancy practices. In fact, the past 18 months has seen LDP Luckmans, which is based in Coventry, surpass 50 staff for the first time in the firm’s 65-year history as the firm reacted to the pandemic by implementing new systems and services. The company is now emerging in a stronger position to support its many hundreds of clients to grow through business and taxation advice – from accountancy through to corporate finance services. “We adapted quickly to the first lockdown,” said Director Ash Rishiraj. “We kept our clients fully informed of what was happening through daily email alerts and developed new CRM management systems to help with the changing work practises.” LDP Luckmans was a first responder to the Job Retention Scheme for more than 600 employers and assisted a range of businesses in accessing vital cashflow through the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. It raised more than £10 million under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for SMEs and offered a
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weekend and out-of-hours hotline for clients in need of support. It saw the company add more than 400 new clients at a time of great uncertainty. “We’ve developed a range of new services which will stand us in good stead as we continue to grow,” Ash said. “We now offer an online platform for fully integrated book-keeping and payroll services which helps to put our clients in control. “We are now helping to identify detailed cashflow planning in order to support clients in micro-managing their business during the ups and downs of these uncertain times. “On top of that, we have launched a service to get ahead of the game of the forthcoming ‘making tax digital’ which is going to affect more and more businesses moving forward. “The team has also recognised, due to the ageing population, the need to increase our offering in the planning for inheritance tax by getting ready to be authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales as an approved provider of probate services.
“We are also offering new tax planning for businesses that are experiencing difficulties with importing and exporting goods and services post-Brexit.”
associate tax director for tax planning and changes, a new associate director in accounting and audit, and two new managers in audit, accounting and tax.
Those new services, with more on the horizon – such as an open platform for digital services relating to accounting and tax and a new management development programme, led to the addition of 11 new employees.
There are also new seniors in the fields of VAT, payroll, book-keeping and accounts preparation.
Over the past 18 months, the company has added – among others – a new
Ash said: “We are open for business and want to work with local businesses and professionals by offering services to them that are innovative, relevant, efficient and value for money for their investment.”
“We are now helping to identify detailed cashflow planning in order to support clients in micro-managing their business during the ups and downs of these uncertain times." www.cw-chamber.co.uk
