41 minute read
Chamber Training
L-R: Efstathios Larios, Haider Akbar, Georgios Papastamopoulos and Alan Glaister from Embed Limited.
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training is working in partnership with Embed, an automotive embedded systems designs consultancy, to provide a specifically designed training solution for creating new processes and procedures across its workforce.
Established in 2005, Embed Limited designs bespoke solutions for the automotive market which are aimed at improving quality and productivity. Their customers range from small startups to established Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers.
Tracy Sawrey, the Management Trainer at Chamber Training engaged with the senior management team to examine current issues and a desired outcome for the training. After careful consideration, a tailored, hands-on training solution was created to provide Embed Limited with the fundamental support and guidance they were looking for. The bespoke package encompassed the ILM 5 leadership and management qualification, which encourages strategic thinking and is designed to provide clear, measurable benefits to career-minded individuals.
Commenting on the bespoke training package, Efstathios Larios, Operations Director at Embed Limited said: “The ILM 5 project management training covered the basics and more complex project management topics. It was created in accordance to our organisation’s specific requirements and has led to an improvement of internal processes and the way in which we deliver projects. The ILM module assignment offered a hands-on experience in running real projects in the workplace and helped to identify areas where project managers can improve on.
“Our team found the training extremely useful and delivered points that have been instrumental in making changes to the policies we have in place. It also offered a fantastic way to re-baseline project management skills and provided a very good mixture of theory and real-world practices. Collectively, we were really impressed by Tracy Sawrey’s business experience and her knowledge of what style of training would work for us. Her teaching style was excellent and provided a good mixture of theory and real-world practices. We found the training extremely beneficial and instrumental in making changes to the project management practices and providing an avenue to take Embed forward in a very positive way.”
Tracy Sawrey from Chamber Training remarked: “It is great to see that Efstathios and his team are already reaping the benefits of the ILM Level 5 training. The training covered a wide range of tools and techniques which will help the team at Embed to focus on enhancing their skills and experience in managing projects for the company.”
Chamber Training’s bespoke training solutions are available from the main suite of seminars. Alternatively, the team can research and design training and development programmes to help your workforce meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Prior to course delivery, one of our Business Advisers and Trainers will discuss your individual requirements and tailor a programme to meet specific business needs.
Specialised Training for Property Development
A Coventry-based property development, investment and construction firm has worked in association with Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training, to develop succession planning strategies and build staff leadership and management skills.
The Wigley Group, based in Stockton, Southam was formed in 1964 and the management team quickly recognised the growth potential of commercial property. The company has doubled in size over the last three years and continues to invest in additional training opportunities with Chamber Training. The latest training initiative, the ILM 3 Award in Leadership & Management, included modules such as effective ways to motivate staff to improvement performance.
Members of the management team at The Wigley Group who benefited from the ILM 3 Award were Jean Swidryk, Alexis Considine and Laura Branson.
Commenting on the ILM 3 training opportunity, Jean Swidryk remarked: “After having a family at a young age and starting my career later on in life, I was lucky enough to join The Wigley Group in January 2018. Although I was excited about the prospect of returning to studying, it had been a long time since I’d been in a classroom.
The ILM 3 training was a great opportunity to prove myself and my abilities. I persevered with the assessments and assignments and looked to Tracy Sawrey, from Chamber Training for guidance and inspiration. My hard work certainly paid off when I achieved 70% in my first assignment.”
Commenting on how the training has helped her career progression, Jean said: “Tracy Sawrey has a beautiful way of teaching and she really helped me to understand and apply the training to my job role. During a problem solving assignment, I was able to stop duplication, save time and ultimately produce cost savings. I feel more confident now about working with new processes and the training has certainly been instrumental in helping me to gain a recent promotion too. I am so grateful to Wigley for giving me the opportunity.”
Tracy Sawrey, a Management Trainer at Chamber Training remarked on Jean’s progress: “The ILM 3 Award in Leadership and Management is ideal for the individuals who are seeking to build their key management skills, develop leadership capability, understand team motivation and confidently manage people. It is an ideal foundation to start building a career in management and it was a perfect platform for relevant staff at The Wigley Group.
L-R: Jean Swidryk, Alexis Considine and Laura Branson from The Wigley Group.
“Jean’s learning journey was inspirational and evidences wherever someone is in their life it is possible to achieve a qualification that delivers practical benefits to them and makes a difference to their organisation. Although nervous at the start, Jean has developed a newfound confidence and a determination to succeed. I’m sure this is not the end of her learning journey, just the beginning.
“Alexis and Laura also found the training extremely useful and beneficial. They have all found the modules in ILM 3 relevant, engaging and applicable to their job roles. We are delighted to hear that the training has provided them with practical, hands-on experience that can help them develop and grow.”
To find out more about how Chamber Training can help your company to develop its workforce, please contact a member of our Business Development Team on 024 7623 1122, enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk
Congratulations to our advanced apprenticeship stars
At Chamber Training, we would like to congratulate our outstanding Apprentices who have achieved a Distinction in their Advanced Apprenticeship Programme.
In addition to achieving their Level 3 AAT exams, all four students had to pass an additional test which involved a professional discussion with an End Point Assessor. We are extremely proud of them and wish them every success with their continued studies and their future careers.
Jack Baker
Jack Baker began his accountancy career as an Accounts Apprentice at McGlone Wardzynski Limited in Coventry in 2017. “Being part of the Apprenticeship Programme has really helped to build on my confidence, increase my knowledge and gain further experience in the accountancy sector. I am now able to enjoy a more complex accountancy role and look forward to continuing to grow and flourish.”
Deeqa Maigag
Deeqa is a trainee accountant at Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT) and thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the Apprenticeship Programme. “Although the course was challenging, the specialists at Chamber Training were able to help and advise me on the best resources and revision notes available. I was delighted to pass my exams with flying colours and I am now able to conquer new challenges and continue to develop in my role.”
Nathan Ellis
Nathan started as an accounts apprentice at Thomas & Co in Coventry in 2018 and found the Apprenticeship programme extremely rewarding.
“My current role involves completion of advanced accounts and VAT returns alongside supporting new junior apprentices with training and support. The Apprenticeship Programme has helped me to further develop in my current role and become more effective at monitoring and reviewing the apprentices’ progress.”
Euan Quinney
Euan, a trainee accountant at TGFP found the experience at college a very different one to what he expected, due to Covid-19.
“When all classes were delivered remotely in March, I found it quite daunting but with the support of Chamber Training and my workplace, I was still able to achieve the desired result. I am looking forward to continuing my studies in January 2021.”
To find out more about the Apprenticeship Programme with Chamber Training, contact a member of the Business Development Team on 02476 231 122 enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk
Training Courses 2021
Professional Telephone Techniques (AM) Professional Email Writing (PM) Key Account Management (PM) Microsoft Excel - Basic to Intermediate Effective Communication Training and Coaching the Team Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems Building the Team Motivating the Team Managing Difficult People Understanding Discipline in the Workplace Time Management ILM Level 2* Setting Goals and Targets Microsoft Excel - Intermediate to Advanced Emergency First Aid in the Workplace Microsoft Excel - Advanced Plus Appraising People and Performance
Chamber Member Price + VAT
£110 £110 £110 £130 £110 £110 £175 £110 £110 £110 £110 £220 £600 £110 £130 £115 £130 £220
Non-Member Price + VAT
£135 £135 £135 £160 £135 £135 £195 £135 £135 £135 £135 £245 £600 £135 £160 £140 £160 £245
Duration
Half Day - AM Half Day - PM Half Day - PM 1 Day Half Day - AM Half Day - PM 3 Days Half Day - AM Half Day - PM Half Day - AM Half Day - PM 1 Day 4 Days Half Day - AM 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day
Jan 21
26 26 27 27
Feb 21
2 2 8, 15, 22 9 9 16 16 17 17, 24 23 24
Students from WMG Academy Coventry have been crowned national champions in an engineering competition to design a boat to assist people in a hurricane.
The five students, all aged 15 and 16, took first place in the Royal Navy Engineering Challenge to design a vessel capable of delivering humanitarian aid – such as water, food and medicine – in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
This is the second year in a row that WMG Academy, based in Mitchell Avenue, has won the UK 14-16 title in the annual competition, which featured 60 teams from across the country.
Team member Lawrence McCoy-Phelan, 16, said: “It’s an honour to win this competition with my teammates as we have worked very hard for a long time on the project.”
The team – known as HMS Seals - designed their
Teenagers take national title in boat challenge
vessel and created a working model, which was praised by Royal Navy engineers for its directional propeller mechanism, manoeuvrability, reliability and loading system.
The event usually takes place in Portsmouth, with competitors demonstrating their working models in water before a panel of judges. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the boats were collected by the Royal Navy and tested by engineers.
As well as scooping the national title, WMG Academy’s team also won three of the four available category awards in innovation, sustainability and manufacture.
Matt Brady, WMG Academy’s associate principal, said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious national title for the second year running. Our students are incredibly talented young engineers with bright futures ahead of them and this award is well-deserved recognition for their creativity, teamwork and technical skill.”
Commodore Andy Cree, the Royal Navy’s lead for training projects, said: “ We are delighted to have completed the final of the 2020 Royal Navy Engineering Challenge, which remains a key component of our schools STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] programme.”
New financial director at steering system manufacturer
Steering system maker Pailton Engineering has appointed Karen Birch as finance director.
The appointment aligns with a five-year growth plan, reaffirming the company’s unique position in the vehicle design market as it looks ahead to a post-COVID economic recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a swift and severe impact on the globally integrated vehicle manufacturing industry. While the bus sector has been hard hit with commuters working from home, road freight has seen a surge attributed to the £5.3 billion boost in online shopping and e-commerce.
One business that is pivoting with market changes is Pailton Engineering. The company has made a series of strategic appointments to remain strong during the economic volatility, including the recruitment of Karen Birch.
Karen is no stranger to niche manufacturing and global exports, with more than two decades of experience in the financial field. She is responsible for implementing changes that push growth, improve profitability and promote financial stewardship at Pailton Engineering.
Karen said: “In one respect, Pailton Engineering is unlike any businesses I’ve directed before. The level of design flexibility it offers its vehicle original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers is unparalleled.
“We will look to add value at every opportunity in the next five years to ensure quality, profits and growth, even in these uniquely challenging times. Pailton intends to fully exploit every avenue of growth and has ambitions to build its customer portfolio through carefully considered opportunities.”
Coventry-based Pailton Engineering designs and manufactures steering system parts for heavy duty vehicles, including military vehicles, commercial vehicles and buses. The business has logged record-breaking growth in the last three years, attributed to several major project wins spanning the UK, Europe and North America.
For more information visit www.pailton.com
ISO compliance boosts confidence in open source for UK healthcare
Applications and software are increasingly being developed using open source. This means that licence confidence is now critical in open source applications for health and social care.
The Develop in the Open (DITO) project team has asserted that an ISO standard awarded to OpenChain will enable best practice sensible defaults to organisations that invest in open source.
OpenChain is an auditable system of recording provenance, modification and license of digital assets and has now been approved as ISO standard ISO/IEC DIS 5230. This ISO certification is based on the ability to audit software to ensure it can be used for its intended purpose. Compliance enables the user to understand their licence obligations, which is vital when using open source for professional and business critical applications.
Stuart Mackintosh, DITO lead, said: “Without a licence audit such as OpenChain, an organisation can’t confidently determine if they can use, support or distribute software without inadvertently contravening a licence.”
Open-e-REACT, an electronic patient observation solution developed using the DITO process under the custodianship and governance of the Apperta Foundation, is open source and stores clinical data using open standards. It is due to be launched to the market in 2021. Through the Custodian Model, all health and care organisations can use the product and contribute to its development, either directly or through an implementation partner.
David Jobling of Apperta Foundation said: “The OpenChain process is crucial in the development of an application like this. As part of the DITO project we’re creating automated tools that will enable organisations to complete the audit of open source code required for the Openchain ISO certification, in a manner which is more effective to implement than if the auditing was attempted with manual or human processes. Any software developed through the Custodian Model will be automatically scanned to ensure ISO standards are met.”
Premier Education announces new project in Atherstone
Premier Education has announced it will be running a new project for unemployed women in Atherstone and the surrounding areas.
The Premier Education – Active Tutoring project is part of the European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grants programme, which gives funding to small organisations in the voluntary and community sector to support unemployed and inactive individuals.
The programme is funded by the ESF and Education Skills Agency, and led by community charity, Groundwork.
Each week, local unemployed women will have the chance to take part in fun, active sports sessions and learn new skills in workshops on health and safety, first aid, safeguarding, equality and diversity, autism awareness and more.
The tutors will work closely with the participants to give them the best opportunity to move into employment or training with interview preparation and support.
The project will also provide healthy snacks each week as well as the chance to socialise and relax in a safe, secure environment.
Premier Education’s Active Tutoring will run for six months and begin week commencing January 11, 2021. More information will be released in due course.
New partnership set to boost energy efficiency
Utility Team and Clearworld have forged a new partnership aimed at helping their customers to become more energy-efficient.
The ground-breaking collaboration will also help customers to reduce their energy costs and take big strides towards achieving net zero.
Award-winning energy consultancy Utility Team has implemented several carbon reduction strategies for organisations such as DPD and Thales over the last 12 months. These strategies have delivered significant commercial and environmental benefits.
The Coventry-based organisation has been strengthening its portfolio of services over the last 18 months and, with the formation of the Clearworld partnership, says it now has a market-leading carbon reduction and net zero offering.
Clearworld, a sustainability and energy reduction specialist, has been helping multi-site organisations such as Morrison’s and BP realise the environmental and commercial benefits of implementing energy reduction solutions. By utilising the energy strategy, procurement and lowcarbon investment expertise of Utility Team, Clearworld says it can deliver an end-to-end solution to its customers.
Delvin Lane, CEO of Utility Team, said: “We are delighted to be working with Clearworld and their team of sustainability and energy reduction practitioners. We are fully committed to helping our customers become net zero and know the expertise Clearworld have will help us accelerate our plans.”
Gary Scaife, director of Clearworld, said: “We are looking forward to a joint approach to making net zero happen. A partnership between Utility Team and Clearworld will enable us to offer our clients the benefits of years of experience and realise the operational, environmental and financial benefits of energy reduction.
Electric Zoo presents e-bike to Mayor of Leamington Spa
Electric Zoo had the pleasure of presenting the Mayor of Leamington Spa, Cllr Susan Rasmussen, with a new e-bike earlier this year.
This was one of the first Vanmoof e-bikes in the UK and is now being ridden daily in and around Warwickshire. It will be very easy to spot with its distinctive pink zebrastriped artwork all over the frame. This e-bike has the future tech that’s expected from an innovative company such as Electric Bike, with full GPS tracking and a personal app that can be used to lock and unlock the bike.
The mayor will be conducting her ceremonial duties in the town of Leamington Spa on her new Electric Zoo-branded e-bike whilst also promoting the Leamington Spa clean air programme.
Electric Zoo said: “We hope that the mayor’s Electric Zoo e-bike will encourage others to take up cycling. The electric assistance removes the strain of riding around a varied landscape whilst reducing our carbon footprint by not using petrol or diesel road transport.
“We hope many other people will see the benefits of e-bikes around our local towns and cities for the short journeys that many people tend to use a car for, even though it’s not needed.
Expansion for EcoClean & Maintenance
Commercial cleaning firm minds at ease. The company Eco-Clean & Maintenance believes that it is important has expanded in many to give an extra helping hand different ways during the to schools to help combat the pandemic, from winning spread of COVID-19 and stave big contracts and taking on off the potential closure of a new apprentice. educational sites.
Throughout both lockdowns, Eco-Clean has also the Coventry-based company gained several contracts in Not only is Eco-Clean has helped to keep its existing recent months, including expanding on the back of and new clients as safe as a big win with Syncreon, contract wins, it is also possible, giving them peace which specialises in the strengthening its team of mind while working and design and operation of of staff by recruiting new being at school. supply chain solutions for hires. Rebekah Peach has
During the second lockdown, automotive and technology joined as digital marketing Eco-Clean gave extra support customers. Syncreon deals apprentice and is responsible to multiple schools to keep with many high-profile for managing marketing children and staff safe while companies including Apple, campaigns, social media putting worried parents’ Dell and Samsung. and the company website.
Meanwhile, Jamie Atkins has been recruited to beef up Eco-Clean’s team of mobile cleaning operatives. He delivers a high standard of cleaning to a range of clients and has already become a fantastic asset to the company.
For more information visit www.ecocleanservice.co.uk
Innovative site set to transform dating industry
One of the first dating sites in the world to require every one of its members to verify their identity through a valid photo ID is on a mission to help singles find genuine and lasting relationships this Valentine’s Day.
DateSmart® has partnered with Yoti, an award-winning British digital ID company, to make it as simple and secure a process as possible.
Using the Yoti app, people keen to join DateSmart® verify their identity by matching their personal biometric features with an existing government photo ID. They can then share that result to DateSmart® with just a tap. Users can also be reassured that DateSmart® is designed to protect their privacy so that they can feel safe in sharing sensitive information online.
The need for greater transparency in the online dating world has been apparent for many years. In the BBC1 programme For Love or Money (series1, episode 3, November 2019), it was reported that up to 20% of profiles online can be fake. DateSmart® is one of the first dating sites to address this by banishing the fear of fake profiles and only allowing verified users to connect.
Iona Anderson, founder of DateSmart®, said: “We are incredibly excited to have a dating site that makes online dating safer, more secure and ultimately more authentic. Trends are shifting towards online dating, which has escalated because of the global pandemic.
“The idea behind DateSmart® is to make finding real connections with real people straightforward, as it should be.”
John Abbott, chief business officer at Yoti, said: “It’s great to partner with DateSmart® to make it safer for people to find love. We have a safe way to verify people’s identity without compromising their privacy. With Yoti, you’ll always catch a catfish.”
Coventry breeds engineering excellence
Feraru Dynamics is one of many success stories that have come out of Coventry University.
In August 2016, a young mechanical engineering student was starting his placement secured with the help of EC Futures at Rolls-Royce Derby. In his words, the experience was career changing: ‘’I have learnt so much from being part of the product safety team at Rolls-Royce. It was here that I understood the industry problem revolving around Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome. This exposure to the real industry world has changed my career path and awoken my ambition to innovate and improve health and safety standards.”
The founder of Feraru Dynamics started a research project as part of his mechanical engineering degree at Coventry University. Entitled Enhancement in Hand Arm Vibration Monitoring Technology and Technique, the thesis was produced alongside a working prototype that conformed to current BS-ISO-5349 and BS-ISO-8041 standards.
The novel monitoring technique and innovative mathematical additions to the standardised exposure assessment were patented. Shortly afterwards, a group of creative people with complementary skills was formed with the aim of developing a revolutionary product to benefit the tool operator. The initial team of five volunteered daily for six months to keep the vision alive and seek funding.
The company was incorporated in August 2018, before the founder and the team graduated from their degrees at Coventry University in November 2018. With an existing team fully engaged in synchronising their individual passion for entrepreneurship, engineering, programming and design, Feraru Dynamics embarked on a journey of commercialising the intellectual property to ensure employees maintain resilience in the face of inevitable hazardous exposures at the workplace.
Fast-forwarding to October 2020, after two years of intensive product development, product trials with industry partners and many validation tests, the Coventry University-bred team successfully launched HAV-Sentry, a revolutionary wearable technology product.
HB&O launches new website as part of brand refresh
Accountants and business advisors, HB&O, has launched a new website showcasing a new logo and refreshed brand.
After months of hard work, the new site offers a simplified user experience, a modern interface and a fresh design to allow users to easily find information about the company and its services. It contains a dedicated knowledge hub that HB&O will be regularly updating to help business owners access advice to help them run their business.
Mark Ashfield, managing director at HB&O, said: “Our old site was not reflecting our brand or our personality so we wanted to make sure this was a priority on our new site, which we feel does now shine through. We have always said that our team is what truly sets us apart, as well as our commitment to the local community, both in terms of business and in the wider sense.
“Our new site will now provide a platform for us to bring a better experience, not only to our existing clients but to those who are looking for resources to help them run their business.”
Visit www.hboltd.co.uk to take a look around the new site or get in touch with HB&O’s team of specialists to find out how the company can support your business.
Leamington chosen for new business programme
From left to right, Clare Green (University of Warwick); Toby Flynn (Icycle); Rachel Davis (University of Warwick); Emilia Moniszko (Blunt & Brave); Kirk Hastings (Blunt & Brave); Chris Knight (Creative Leamington); Martina Bussi (Creative Leamington); Shaquira Lue (Open A cappella Community); Beth Newell (Common Story); Catherine Callicott (1 Mill Street)
A new vibrant co-working space in the heart of Leamington is set to help hone the next generation of regional entrepreneurs as part of a new programme.
1 Mill Street is working with the University of Warwick, BT and Warwickshire County Council as part of the university’s Creative Futures Incubator initiative, which is helping to educate and incubate start-up businesses in a bid to support the largest creative cluster outside of Greater London.
Over the next 12 months, ten new businesses will have access to state-of-the-art offices, meeting spaces and collaboration networks at 1 Mill Street, which is based on the corner of Mill Street and Leam Terrace.
As part of the partnership, each business in the Creative Futures Incubator will be given six months of free access to 1 Mill Street to work with the university to develop their business. This will include weekly coaching sessions, access to enterprise experts and mentors and the ability to network and learn from other businesses in the incubator and Mill Street members.
Each start-up will be able to benefit from the transformation of the 12,000 sq ft Victorian building into a modern creative enterprise hub, incorporating flexible offices, dedicated desks and hot-desking, a video and sound studio, The Muse Coffeehouse, meeting areas and a worldclass events space.
Rachel Davis, director of Warwick Enterprise at the University of Warwick, said: “1 Mill Street offers a glimpse into the collaborative nature of the future working world. The time these microbusinesses spend here will no doubt serve as a launchpad for them to grow their organisations further.”
Nigel Shanahan, founder of 1 Mill Street, added: “This partnership with the University of Warwick helps to build upon the broad variety of organisations that we have operating out of the complex - not just in terms of their sectors, but also the varying stages of development that they are at.
For more information visit www.1millstreet.com
Alchemie investment is key to survival
Alchemie is a privately-owned negatively affecting the company’s business located in the rural village of existing customer base as well as Kineton, Warwickshire. The company hampering its plans for new product specialises in the formulation, development. manufacture and supply of epoxy and polyurethane resin systems used throughout a diverse range of At the beginning of 2019, Alchemie took the decision to invest its capital in a large-scale development that industrial sectors. These include oil & gas, nuclear, automotive, aerospace, film & television, rapid prototyping, electronics, Formula 1, hobby & crafts, modelmaking and patternmaking. Due to a number of successful innovative product developments, the company has seen significant increases in demand for its diverse product range. This demand has seen the company operating at full manufacturing, warehousing and dispatch capacity would see its current manufacturing site double in size. The development would allow for increased manufacturing capacity with the purchase of new bespoke mixing equipment. It would generate more than double the space for the warehousing of raw materials and finished goods, and provide a state-ofthe-art research and development facility and a new sales office. Aimed at future-proofing the business, the development was intended to markets and targeted new ventures. Alchemie took full possession of its new factory in November and is already reaping the benefits. It now has sufficient space to store extra raw materials and additional machine capacity to manufacture finished goods to cope with the potential issues of Brexit. The company has also been able to attract new business in toll manufacturing products for other companies. and as such has seen its product lead facilitate the company’s ambitious For more information on Alchemie visit times increasing – which is ultimately expansion plans within its existing www.alchemie.com
Comedy festival to bring laughter back to Coventry Coventry University Students’ Union is delighted to announce that the Coventry Comedy Festival will be returning in May 2021.
Forming a key part Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, it will be one of the first events on the calendar.
With world-class comedy coming to Coventry, the festival will be bringing the funny back after a difficult 2020. It will focus on wellbeing, both mental and physical, and how laughter can have a positive effect – they do say that laughter is the best medicine!
There are plenty of ways local companies can get involved and support the event. This could include joining the list of corporate partners as festival sponsors; bringing employees together and getting engaged; or taking advantage of the corporate block booking ticket scheme.
Taking place over 11 days, the event will appeal to a wide demographic and includes family-friendly and kids’ shows in the schedule. It’s a celebration of comedy and will include famous faces as well as new performers and homegrown talent too!
Previous acts include Tom Allen, Tez Ilyas, Darren Harriott and Catherine Bohart.
Further details of the event can be found at www.enjoycoventry.com
Deal of the Year honour for property specialist
An artist’s impression of the new Coventry Telegraph site
A partner at commercial property specialist Bromwich Hardy has scooped a prestigious award for his work on the redevelopment of a landmark city centre site.
James Brookes took the Deal of the Year honour at the FirstPro 2020 awards with client Complex Development Projects for the deal behind the £120 million redevelopment of the Coventry Telegraph site.
Judges heard that the prestigious scheme had transformed 2.5 acres in the heart of the city to create a four-star boutique hotel and 1,200 student bedrooms.
James brokered the deal for the site, working with Ian and Brian Harrabin of Complex Developments Projects and Coventry City Council.
James – who was also named Dealmaker of the Year for the West Midlands for the second year running earlier this year – said he was delighted with the latest success.
“The Coventry Telegraph deal is one of the most challenging I have been involved with and one of the most satisfying to have achieved,” he said.
“It involved a complex network of stakeholders, imaginative cross-funding and the need for a series of related land deals all to come together at the same time, but we knew the result would be a development which the whole city could be proud of.
“The creation of a prestigious boutique hotel in the heart of the city not only adds to Coventry’s visitor offering but makes a significant political and social statement ahead of the City of Culture experience and brings around 120 new jobs with it.
“It also regenerates a major city centre site and historic building of some importance, bringing jobs and a stamp of quality to the city. None of this would have been possible without some very creative thinking and Ian and Brian Harrabin and their team deserve particular praise for the work they have done.”
For more information visit www.bromwichhardy.com
CALGAVIN wins national accolade
CALGAVIN has won the collaboration category at the annual Energy Industries Council (EIC) 2020 Awards.
The specialist provider of heat transfer solutions was also a finalist in the exports category. The virtual event took place on Thursday December 3 this year and was hosted by Stuart Broadley, CEO of the Energy Industries Council.
The finalists and winners for each category were pre-recorded a few days prior to the broadcast event, with the announcement given by the collaboration category sponsor PX.
All of the finalists in all categories had been interviewed via video link in the summer of 2020 by Stuart Broadley, prior to the publication of an article in the annual EIC Survive & Thrive magazine edition IV.
CALGAVIN managing director Martin Gough said: “This is just a wonderful award for CALGAVIN as we are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year and have been growing each year.
“The most marvellous part is that I always dreamed of having our own specialist headquarters; we are signing a £6 million contract this month for new premises. This new facility will encompass the Centre for Flow Processing, which will include work with a number of universities, or consortia of them, in the area of fluid flow.
“I would hugely like to thank the EIC, whom I have been involved with for 35 years, as well as category sponsor PX.”
Coventry College invests £70k in science facilities
A five-figure investment has been made in Coventry College’s science facilities to attract and hone the next generation of talent.
Around £70,000 has funded state-ofthe-art equipment to support students who are studying one of the college’s science-related BTEC or Access to Higher Education courses.
Coventry College is one of only a few further education institutions to boast a cutting-edge Compact FT-IR Spectrophotometer, which can analyse samples in 40 seconds to identify contents using infra-red technology, and is widely used for testing pharmaceuticals, forensics, food and other substances.
The college is also the first education provider to have MiniOne Systems – a portable piece of innovative equipment that enables students to be taught in finer details about the workings of DNA, as well as concepts that can be applied to various areas of science.
More than 100 pieces of bluetooth data logging equipment have been funded – enabling students to digitally record onto mobile devices data related to breathing, respiration, heart rates and temperatures.
Medical testing equipment including ultrasound machines, electrocardiogram and vein scanners have also been purchased, so that students can create their own understanding of how it works and build upon the knowledge learned in theory lessons.
Science and public services students will also be able to benefit from a digital finger print scanner, and simulate in lessons how modern-day biometric identification is carried out by police forces.
Kayleigh Vice, lecturer in forensic science at Coventry College, said: “This is a game-changing investment, not just for the college’s ability to attract further talent, but for our students too. They will be using industry-leading equipment that will help them to be one step ahead of competition when studying at university and going for a job in the real world.”
For more information visit www.coventrycollege.ac.uk Royal Mail and WCG launch new apprenticeship scheme
A college in Warwickshire is helping WCG is the largest apprenticeship to keep the Royal Mail fleet moving training provider in the region, training over nationwide with a new apprenticeship 2,500 apprentices each year and working training scheme for its technicians. with more than 1,100 employers annually. Warwick Trident College, which is part of WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group), is helping apprentices from the postal service complete their technician qualifications for heavy goods vehicles. Mark Eden, director of work-based learning at WCG, said: “We’re excited to be working in partnership with Royal Mail on this scheme and helping to keep their trucks on the road up and down the country. The first cohort is made up of 16 apprentices who work day-to-day as technicians in depots all over the UK. “Our facilities at Warwick Trident College are excellent and it is the perfect location for these technicians to progress their skillsets with heavy goods vehicles. Royal Mail has provided the college with two trucks for the apprentices to use for the training and continue their development in repairing and maintaining “We work with businesses from a wide range of backgrounds, from SMEs to large companies such as the Royal Mail, supporting the progression and heavy goods vehicles. development of workforces.
The apprentices have already completed “We look forward to continuing to their light vehicle qualifications and study work with Royal Mail in the future and at the college for nine weeks over the strengthening our partnership on the course of the year. apprenticeship scheme.”
From left to right: Front – Michael Baillie (Inverness depot), Katie Malin (Leicester depot), Doug Parkes (WCG) and Mark Eden (WCG). Back – Stewart Lawton (Royal Mail), Sam Chandler (Gloucester depot), Marc Roberts (Exeter depot), James Nutt (WCG) and Muhammed Waterfall (North London depot).
Stewart Lawton, fleet apprenticeship manager at Royal Mail Group, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with Warwick Trident College to build an apprenticeship scheme that is market-leading and delivers the highest quality technicians.”
For more information visit www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships
Wright Hassall solicitor supports world-leading institution
Hassall, has been appointed more than 100 arbitrations. recommended to the LCIA by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) as an arbitrator to help resolve a multi-million-pound dispute within the energy sector. Philip – who has handled several £20 million-plus arbitration cases in his career and sits on panels for the Chartered Institute of by a third party so hopefully this can lead to involvement in further LCIA-based cases for both myself and Wright Hassall in the future. Arbitration is where parties Arbitrators, the Law Society “I see coronavirus acting A Leamington-based construction solicitor has been called upon to support a world-leading institution that is dedicated to resolving international commercial disputes. Philip Harris, partner and involved in a dispute agree to an out-of-court process where an impartial tribunal delivers a fair and binding resolution. The LCIA has been using the most experienced arbitrators, mediators and experts to resolve high-profile disputes ever since the late 1800s, and it’s the first time that Philip has been appointed by the LCIA in and the Institute of Chartered Accountants – spoke of his pride at being selected by the LCIA. He said: “Bodies such as the LCIA handle various multimillion-pound cases, including disputes between countries and global organisations, so I am honoured to be given a seat at what is an incredibly prestigious table. as the catalyst for more and more businesses to turn to arbitration. The virus is likely to trigger a future rise in demand for arbitration services because there will be more creditors seeking owed money from struggling businesses, coupled with a realisation that arbitration can provide a quicker, easier and more cost-effective alternative to commercial arbitrator at his 35-year legal career during “What makes it more formal litigation through the Midlands law firm Wright which time he has undertaken humbling is that I was traditional court system.”
Chamber member plays key role in COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
A Warwick-based medical in the medical sector, from will go to vaccination points all supplies company is playing kidney dishes and gallipots over the country. its part in the historic fight against COVID-19. Warwick Sasco, which is based on the Heathcote Industrial Estate, is supplying 40,000 medical trays to the NHS for use in the coronavirus vaccination programme. The firm’s tray was used during the historic moment that through to instrument trays and instrument protection and transportation units. The company’s products also include bed pans and urinal bottles, all of which are made by suppliers in the UK, particularly in the West Midlands. It’s not the first time the firm has been part of the fight against COVID-19, having Managing director Darby Booth said: “It was a wonderful moment for everyone to see the first vaccination against COVID-19 being administered here in the UK after such a difficult period. “Of course, it was a very proud moment for us as a business to see one of our products being 90-year-old Margaret Keenan received the first vaccination in the UK at University Hospital answered a call to supply the Nightingale hospitals at the start of the crisis. beamed all over the world as it was used in that very first vaccination just down the road use with the vaccine all over the country. We are very Coventry and Warwickshire. Now its trays are being from our HQ in Warwick. pleased to be playing our part.”
Warwick Sasco produces sent to a distribution hub in “We are providing an initial For more information visit a range of products for use Coventry and, from there, 40,000 trays to the NHS for www.sasco.co.uk
Warwickshire launches Tech Challenge to aid economic recovery
Warwickshire County Council is set to • helps to create a town centre’s sense highlighted and the council is welcoming launch an £80,000 project to support of place everything from start-up ideas to an digital initiatives that will encourage people to visit the county’s town centres for leisure and business post-lockdown. • helps consumers to feel confident about visiting their favourite businesses in town centres existing initiative which needs to be scaled or accelerated. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of The Town Centres Tech Challenge fund is to be established after a business survey undertaken by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) identified the need for digital products which help support and promote town centres, engage existing and new customers and boost consumer confidence following the end of the current national lockdown. The scheme will be looking at projects that will reinvigorate town centres in the future when lockdown restrictions are again lifted. • supports the promotion of businesses both individually and collectively • increases engagement between the local community and town centre businesses • increases engagement between a wider audience and town centre businesses The council is to begin the search for businesses to kick-start a bigger project to identify and support an initiative that will focus on promoting the county’s town centres as places to visit, enjoy and engage with safely. Funding between £10,000 and Warwickshire County Council and portfolio holder for economic development, said: “Our town centres were already facing significant challenges and the announcement of further restrictions to the hospitality sector and non-essential retail will be another blow. “The increased difficulties that businesses are facing has accelerated the need for creative and innovative approaches to redefine how town centres promote themselves and our reasons for visiting them.”
The innovative scheme will support £80,000 will be available for companies For more information visit: proposals that address one or more of that clearly demonstrate they can address https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ the following goals: at least one of the goals which have been coronavirusbusinesssupport
Coventry & Warwickshire in business Top 5 tips for planning your Digital Strategy
Amid the backdrop of a global pandemic, businesses putting their people and digital strategy first are more likely to thrive. By creating a workplace environment that provides security, motivation, and belonging, they are more able to weather the fiercest of storms.
By Jack Hazell, Director of Operations
Many leaders have announced their intention to make their businesses more resilient. But how? In this article, we examine the case for building digital resilience for the digital economy and why every leader should consider developing a digital strategy.
A digital strategy is effectively how you are going to use technology to integrate with your business in any shape or form through processes, sales etc. Some organisations may have very detailed strategies in place and road maps of perhaps two years from now to where they want to be, whereas others might be responding to challenges as they come, this is more common within SMEs (small to medium enterprises).
Our top 5 tips for planning your digital strategy: 1. Define your process and operation
The first step in building a robust digital strategy is deciding how? What? And why? This is very crucial as ultimately, technology can solve problems, but it can only solve what is asked to be solved. Ask the wrong questions, and your business can find itself with the wrong advice and technology. It is essential to know what your business problems are, start by outlining your business needs, goals, high-level objectives and what can be solved with technology. The importance of this step cannot be overstated; the most successful organisations align their IT planning and strategy with their business strategy to make both a success. Without defining your strategy from the start, you can end up with the wrong technological answers for your business.
2. Choose your technology
There are often two clear technology choices, out of the box or bespoke technology. Out of the box, technologies are ready to go and designed for a specific purpose such as the Xero accounting software range. Bespoke applications are ones that are specifically designed, configured and built to meet a businesses needs – these usually come with a hefty cost. By understanding your businesses processes and needs, your company can select the right technology and find ways to leverage it creatively.
3. Use of technology and agile ways of working
Businesses tend to be used to being in an office, with a calendar and notice boards on the wall. These are replicable in digital platforms, in particular, Microsoft Teams which we at Nimbus use, it’s not only a platform for video chat. Microsoft Teams has functions that improve agile ways of working, which helps your business to maintain delivery. Microsoft Teams has a fantastic task function, where you can assign tasks to individuals and update and track progress. Teams also has a whiteboard functionality helping businesses host workshops and team meetings.
4. Embrace the cloud
This pandemic has highlighted the need for flexibility of working location. As a cloud expert firm, we have seen a significant increase in businesses bringing cloud technologies to the forefront of their IT strategies. These technologies allow for flexibility of location, scale up and scale down. Understanding and implementing cloud technologies can help your business prepare to quickly adapt to unprecedented change. How your IT can utilise and embrace cloud technologies should be at the forefront of any digital strategy.
5. Security
Last but not least, security. Security is a complex and very in-depth topic, simply put. The impact of a security breach to a business can be devastating for both the business and customers. Our top recommendation of where to start is to pursue Cyber Essentials Certification. This Government recognised certification acts as a security audit and remediation of your organisation’s IT security. Which is a great start point, and it will start your thought process about what else can be implemented to ensure systems and data are safe.
If you are considering how your business might start benefiting from cloud computing or you are part way through your journey and would like some expert guidance about what your cloud journey may entail, including challenges, costs, risk and timescales, please get in touch with Jack Hazell, Director of Operations Jack.hazell@nimbusdti.co.uk
Nimbus lead the way in providing collaborative, agile and adaptive digital and technological innovations that enables our customers to benefit from running their business and IT services in the cloud.
