32 minute read
Around the region
Hillmorton Craft Studios has been acquired by Warwick-based Prova Investments from property investment company The Wigley Group, which has its headquarters in Warwickshire.
Coventry University is offering free training to bar staff in the city to help them identify harassment, spot drink spiking and make nights out safer.
The Girls Night In campaign saw women in the UK boycott nightclubs earlier this year to highlight the issue of drink spiking and called on clubs to deliver welfare training.
Case manager Amber Taroni, who specialises in harassment and hate incidents, had already planned to work with university bar Square One to deliver training on how to spot, report and tackle harassment and spiking before the boycott.
She recently delivered a pilot session at Square One and to widen the training to help more venues across Coventry, she’s developing a 15-minute training webinar that can be provided free of charge.
Amber said: “This training session included identifying harassment and knowing when it is safe to intervene, addressing stereotypes around sexual violence, licensing rules and highlighting the university’s reporting procedures.
“There is an expectation that the bouncers deal with harassment but actually it is everybody’s responsibility to recognise harassment and know how to deal with it.
“It’s about giving bar staff more confidence to identify and report any concerns they may have.”
Anthony Malone, licensee holder for Square One, says his staff benefited greatly from Amber’s training.
He said: “Spiking has been around for a long time but the levels and awareness of it and the key indicators of what to look for haven’t always been communicated.
“That’s why training is important as our staff are frontline in the fight against it. They can spot something potentially before anyone else sees it. Amber empowered our staff by giving them the skills, knowledge and tools to intervene.”
Coventry BID director joins Chamber board
The director of Coventry’s Business Improvement District (BID) has been announced as the newest addition to the board of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Trish Willetts will take up the role with immediate effect, bringing decades of business experience and extensive knowledge of Coventry to the board, which is made up of representatives from a diverse range of business sizes and sectors, who work to inform, support and provide expertise on a wide range of business areas.
The BID represents nearly 700 businesses within Coventry’s ring road, with the remit of promoting, developing and boosting the city centre to make it a great place to work and visit. Its work aligns closely with that of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, which acts as a local hub for businesses to access a broad offer of business support.
Trish, who has been director of Coventry BID since 2016, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the board of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber does wonderful work for the city and wider area and I’m looking forward to bringing my own experience, knowledge and passion for Coventry & Warwickshire to a great organisation run by a brilliant board.”
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is one of 53 accredited Chambers of Commerce in the UK and, as well as supporting businesses locally, plays a role in a wider network that works to champion business, destinations and trade nationally and even globally.
Chamber president Tom Mongan said: “We're delighted to welcome Trish to the Chamber board and she is a very welcome addition. The board is made up of a diverse range of representatives, elected by our members who ensure that the vast range of sectors in our Coventry & Warwickshire economy have a voice.”
Chamber members join forces for awards success
Tom Mongan (Chamber president), Lee Corden (Advent) Joanna Farr (Purple Planet Packaging), Mark Farr (Purple Planet Packaging).
A Coventry business has been helped to awards success thanks to a Chamber introduction.
Purple Planet Packaging is run by husband-and-wife team Mark and Joanna Farr, who bought the Devonbased company in 2019 and moved the whole operation to Coventry.
After seeing a major rise in sales for the company, which is on course to go from £120,000 a year turnover when the couple bought the business two years ago to around £1.6 million in 2022, they decided they wanted to shout about their success.
They contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to ask about support in entering the Coventry Live Business Awards 2021 in the Small Business of the Year category. The firm was put in touch with Advent Communications – a PR company in the city that has a proven track record of supporting victorious award entries.
Mark and Joanna briefed Advent director Lee Corden who compiled the entry which scooped the honour at a ceremony at the Coventry Building Society Arena in October.
Mark said: “We sell a range of environmentally-friendly food and drink containers, from hot and cold drink cups to takeaway cartons, to a range of sectors, from schools through to the hospitality trade.
“Since buying the business, we have put in long hours and it has been really hard work, especially having two young children. But we really wanted to grow the company and be a success story for the city.
“When we heard about the Coventry Live Business Awards, we thought it was something we should go for because we knew we had a good story to tell, we just needed someone to help us tell that story.
“The Chamber introduced us to Lee at Advent, and we just talked through our story and he took it from there. It was just a case of him getting all the information he knew the judges would be looking for and putting it into the right format.
“We’re grateful to the Chamber for making the introduction and it was great to pick up the award on the night. We have had lots of positive comments since winning the award and it has helped to raise our profile in the region.”
Lee, a director of Advent – which was bought by the PLMR Group in October, said: “It was great to work with Purple Planet Packaging and to hear their incredible story.
“From our side, we can help businesses to tell their stories in the best possible way – whether through press stories, blogs, social media or award entries. In this case, the amazing story was already there, it was just a case of making sure we presented all of that in a way that would capture the imagination of the judges. Thankfully, Purple Planet Packaging won!”
Hazel Pilling, membership manager at the Chamber, said: “The Chamber is here to help companies across the region come together and do business.
“In this instance, that has led to an award-winning outcome thanks to the efforts of both businesses, which was fantastic news all round.”
Chamber staff support drive to feed more families
Staff at a leading business organisation supported a drive to help feed more families in Coventry in the run up to Christmas.
A team of ten from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training went along to the Halo Centre to help pack food to be delivered to a network of food banks across the city.
The Halo Centre is a distribution centre run by Feed the Hungry and offers a range of ways that businesses can get involved with supporting those in food poverty.
The team at the Chamber packed thousands of items to help make recipe bags for a chilli con carne meal including stock cubes, tinned mince beef and tomatoes that were distributed to families in Coventry.
The packs are for a specific packing project this winter which are being created in partnership with Coventry City Council and Groundwork to pack and deliver 2,000 food hampers for the Christmas holidays under the council's HAF (Holiday and Activity Fund) programme.
The parcels, which include kitchen cupboard essentials and fresh fruit and vegetables will teach children invaluable, life-long cooking skills and enable families to come together to prepare and enjoy food to celebrate the festive season.
As well as packing food, the Halo Centre also offers business conferencing space to help create revenue to further support the effort to feed more people in need.
Sophie Brew, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We were all very proud to support the efforts to help ensure people across Coventry don’t go hungry.
“We all enjoyed the experience and it got quite competitive between a men’s and a women’s team, but we also knew the seriousness of what we were doing and the impact it will make. Many more of the team would have come with us on the day but, because of Covid-19 restrictions, only ten were allowed on site at the time.
“It came about when the team from the Coventry Foodbank met our membership manager at a Chamber networking event and got talking about how we can help and also how we can encourage other businesses to get involved too.
“Between us and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training, we also collected in a lot of food to take along with us on the day as well as taking part in the packing.
“We would all definitely recommend attending the Halo Centre to see the brilliant work that the whole team do as that can have a really positive impact on people most in need in the city.”
Coventry Foodbank, operated by Feed The Hungry UK, will feed more than 20,000 people across the city in 2021. Gavin Kibble, Regional Director for Feed The Hungry UK, said support from companies across Coventry was vital in ensuring that positive work can continue.
Gavin said: “It was great to have the Chamber of Commerce team on-site helping us to pack food that was sent out to children and families locally this Christmas. The support of local businesses is vital to the running of our charity, and we were delighted that the Chamber wanted to support us and share the work that we do across the business community in Coventry and Warwickshire.”
The Chamber team at the Halo Centre
For more information on getting involved, go to https://feedthehungry.org.uk/volunteering/ or email claire@feedthehungry.org.uk
Sheltered rooftop offers great views of Coventry skyline
With funding from Coventry-based MCS Control Systems and its major shareholder Fresh Equity, a leading system integrator to industry, Sidney Stringer’s Year 12 pupils and architectural social enterprise, CAUKIN Studio, have hammered a final nail into an impressive sheltered, timber-framed structure which now sits proudly on top of the academy’s rooftop.
The new structure now allows pupils and teachers to comfortably enjoy some fresh air and amazing views over Coventry’s skyline, all year round. MCS Control Systems funded a series of learning workshops for Sidney Stringer’s Year 12 pupils, and the materials and resources required to construct the final design solution.
The learning sessions delivered by CAUKIN Studio enabled Sidney Stringer’s pupils to develop teamwork, creative thinking, design, analytical, presentation and practical skills over eight weeks to develop and consolidate ideas into a democratic design solution to green light for construction. Most hands-on tasks such as setting out, levelling of footings, marking, measuring and cutting timber were undertaken by the pupils.
Registered in Lapworth, but with bases in London, Cardiff, New York & Jakarta, CAUKIN Studio is an architectural design and construction social enterprise that partners with end-user communities, businesses and skilled professionals locally and globally to co-conceive, co-create and co-deliver architectural solutions which make real differences to peoples’ lives.
Another key aim of CAUKIN Studio’s work, especially domestically, is to increase diversity in architecture and related industries. By engaging with schools in BAME and lowerincome areas, CAUKIN delivers design workshops that educate and enable pupils to work together to create and construct architectural solutions to benefit the built environment of their school – and hopefully become inspired to further explore a career in the creative industries.
With more than 45 years’ experience as a leading cross-sector systemintegrator, with particular experience delivering solutions for the water and utilities industry, MCS Control Systems recently came under new ownership and leadership, experiencing significant growth in the process.
Society unveils Ansty Road store
The Heart of England Co-operative Society has started welcoming shoppers through the doors of a Coventry Food store following a £198,000 re-fit.
An improved Food to Go offering, a new off-licence and self-scanning tills are among the improvements to The Co-operative at Ansty Road.
There is also an Amazon locker and a life-saving defibrillator on the outside of the store, as well as a new digital photo booth inside.
Children from Richard Lee Primary School in The Drive, Wyken, were among the guests at the launch, and were invited to cut the ribbon to celebrate the new-look store.
Steve Browne is the general manager of the food division at the Heart of England Co-operative Society, which operates a network of 35 food stores in Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
He said: “Since our last investment in the Ansty Road store the needs of the local community have changed. Shopping today is all about convenience – completing as many tasks as possible under one roof.
“With this in mind, we have carefully selected a range of new features which we believe suits the requirements of the modern-day shopper. More than somewhere just to shop, we see Ansty Road as a store where our members and customers can tick off various items on their list – whether picking up their Amazon orders or choosing a bottle of wine for dinner.”
The scheme includes new branding with a wood finish, new fixtures and fittings, changes to the in-store layout, a new floor and ceiling, new shelves, LED lighting and energy-efficient refrigeration.
Every member of staff has been equipped with headsets, helping to improve service and security in the store. The society has also installed new CCTV cameras and volumatic cash boxes to further enhance security.
Shoppers can also benefit from the society’s click and collect service and its partnership with mobile app Gander, which enables customers to snap up reduced-to-clear items from the shelves, driving down the amount of food waste from the store.
Secret ingredients to success
Shiksha Gill, owner of Sugar & Spice, with Russell Grant, business adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
A regional business support programme has given the owner of an independent bakery in Coventry the secret ingredients to post-lockdown success, helping revenue to double.
The owner of artisan cake business Sugar & Spice, Shiksha Gill, has praised the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for its role in bringing about a two-fold profit increase in the space of a year and building a substantial customer base across the city and beyond.
Shiksha, 25, who has run Sugar & Spice from her home in Coundon since January 2020, now has her sights set on moving into a permanent premises and employing her first member of staff after utilising advice given to her as part of the Chamber’s Accelerated Growth programme.
The bakery makes personalised cakes and seasonal treats influenced by her Indian heritage available to order online and via social media, delivering throughout Coventry and Warwickshire and as far as Hinckley and Birmingham.
After a steady first year where Shiksha adapted to the early challenges of the pandemic, the Coventry resident noticed a decline in sales and sought support from the Chamber’s Accelerated Growth programme.
She received tailored advice from Russell Grant, Business Advisor at the Chamber, on how to refocus her business and plan for the future, with an emphasis on financial forecasting and building personal relationships with corporate partners and customers.
Shiksha said streamlining her menu and boosting her online presence have been crucial to her success over the last year, as well as running a loyalty scheme and engaging with other local businesses for wholesale catering opportunities.
She is now taking advantage of inperson events after restrictions were lifted earlier this year to further grow her brand’s reputation.
She said: “The advice I have received from Russell and the Chamber has been absolutely instrumental in getting the most out of my business during a time when others have been struggling.
“The growth has been noticeable not just in balance sheets and cash flow forecasts, but in my online interactions with customers and the number of opportunities I have to attend local markets and events.
“I could not be more grateful for the support that I have been given. It has made me aware that despite running a business by myself there is so much potential for growth if you are prepared to get your name out there and build connections with other businesses and the general public.”
Sugar and Spice has also been nominated in the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards for The Problem Solver Business Diversification Award, supported by Cisco.
The award celebrates businesses that have either transformed the market that they operate in or their product or service in order to gain a strong position in their market.
Russell Grant, business adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce said: “It is fantastic to see the way that Shiksha’s business has developed so strongly over the course of this year since getting in touch with us in February.
“It is the sign of an astute business leader that she was so eager to seek out advice and implement that guidance into her day-to-day operations. She works extremely hard and deserves all of her success, but we are delighted to have helped her along the way.”
The Accelerated Growth Programme is part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and by Coventry City Council.
For more information visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk/businesssupport/fully-funded-businessassistance To view Sugar & Spice’s online store visit www.sugarandspicebys.co.uk
Lord Mayor pays tribute to manufacturer
The Lord Mayor of Coventry has paid tribute to the boss of a Coventry manufacturing business who helped to save the firm and the jobs of its loyal staff.
MPL Fabrications, based on Alderman’s Green Industrial Estate, is a light sheet metal company working for clients in a range of sectors - from making parts for lifts through to bespoke prototype projects for the Ministry of Defence.
The company, which employs 15 staff, is now run by Director Kevin Duffy who has kept the business going as a legacy to his father-in-law Roy Hill, who started the business 35 years ago but passed away eight years ago.
His successor died in 2020, leaving Kevin, who had taken early retirement from Jaguar Land Rover, to manage the company.
MPL Fabrications is now back in profit and has taken on another apprentice to continue the company’s growth.
Coventry’s Lord Mayor, Councillor John McNicholas, paid a visit to the company along with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber president Tom Mongan and membership manager Hazel Pilling as the Chamber has been supporting the company.
Councillor McNicholas said: “It was great to see a Coventry manufacturing company bouncing back after such a difficult period.
“Great credit has to go to Kevin for leading the business a nd supporting the employment of so many people.”
Kevin said: “Many of the staff started as apprentices and have been here for many years. It was important to my wife and I that we kept the business going for them and I am delighted that we have been able to return a profit and take on a new apprentice.
“We are grateful to the Lord Mayor for visiting and for all the support we have had from the Chamber.”
Tom Mongan said: “I am very pleased that, after meeting Kevin Duffy at his first Chamber networking event, that we have been able to support the business in a number of ways.
“When we talk about the positive impact that business has, this is a great example of that. It is providing employment to 15 people and is supporting the next generation of engineers.
“It was great to go out and see Kevin alongside the Lord Mayor, who was very impressed by the company’s story.”
Back Scott Stephenson (MPL), Councillor Kevin Maton. Centre Hazel Pilling (Chamber), Tom Mongan (Chamber president). Front Councillor John McNicholas, Kevin Duffy (MPL)
Muna recognised in Acts of Kindness campaign
A Coventry and Warwickshire volunteer who has supported charities in the region for more than 30 years has been named as the latest winner of a campaign that celebrates the community’s kindness.
Muna Chauhan, who has given back to local and national causes for more than three decades through voluntary work and fundraising, has been recognised by Wright Hassall’s 175 Acts of Kindness campaign.
The law firm, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, has been asking the public to nominate members of the community who have gone above and beyond to support others.
A monthly winner is then selected by staff to receive a £175 donation to be given to a charity of the winner’s choosing.
Muna combines a wide range of voluntary work with her role as development coordinator at Safeline, a charity that works to prevent sexual abuse and support those affected.
She works to raise funds and awareness to support men, women and children who are victims of or are vulnerable to sexual abuse in Stratford, Warwick and Leamington.
The funds donated by Wright Hassall equate to roughly five hours of child counselling as part of Safeline’s national support network.
Muna said: “It was a real shock to be named as the latest winner as there have been so many incredible acts of kindness shared since the start of the year.
“The funds will make a real difference to the life of a child who is being supported by Safeline, so I am extremely grateful for the nomination and for being selected.
Robert Lee, corporate partner at Wright Hassall, said: “Muna is a very popular and respected figure in the volunteering community, and I hope that this award goes some way to revealing her incredible work to people in the local area. It might inspire others to give back to their communities by volunteering where they can, including at the charities we have highlighted over the last year.”
Muna Chauhan with Robert Lee, Corporate Partner at Wright Hassall
A regional accountancy firm will deliver a fully-funded eight-week intensive business mastermind group to help businesses navigate the challenges that the new year is set to bring.
Burgis & Bullock, which has offices in Leamington, Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon, will be helping SME businesses in Warwickshire to tackle the significant challenges they will face in 2022 through the programme.
The programme is fully-funded by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub and will see businesses come together to discuss the challenges they face and share knowledge to overcome them.
Businesses will be given the opportunity to join one of three groups set up by Burgis & Bullock, with sessions being delivered via Zoom.
More than 15 businesses have already signed up for the programme, with space for a total of 33 businesses. To join, businesses must be based in Warwickshire, have been operating for at least one year, have a turnover of at least £100,000 and have an aspiration to improve their business.
Expert coaches will also deliver oneto-one support as part of the initiative to help guide and advise business owners and senior managers on the actions they can take to grow and develop their organisations.
Research carried out by Burgis & Bullock with local businesses has shown that 100 per cent of business owners believe they and their team can learn from others, while 62 per cent want to engage their team in improving performance and 56 per cent want support with a specific challenge.
Sean Farnell, partner at Burgis & Bullock, said: “The programme is designed to help businesses overcome challenges and act on new opportunities. This is achieved by building a trusted support network of connections, with the end goal of improving long-term personal and business performance.”
To find out more and reserve a place on the programme, visit https://www.bb-bmg.uk/8-week-challenge-register/
Myton Hospices celebrates 40 years in 2022!
A very Happy New Year to all of our fellow Chamber members.
The year 2022 is a landmark year for The Myton Hospices as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. We would love for you to join us on our fundraising mission to raise the £7.8million we need to raise this year to continue to provide our services, free of charge, to terminally ill patients across Coventry and Warwickshire.
There are so many ways you can get involved – whether that’s by taking part in one of our many events – or by dreaming up a fantastic moneymaking plan yourselves.
Back for 2022 after a COVIDenforced break is our ever-popular corporate It’s a Knockout event – taking place on Friday, June 24 at Leamington Rugby Club.
A sell-out set of 36 teams took part in our 2019 event, so be sure to sign up quickly to avoid disappointment.
Our annual Myton Golf Day at Coventry Golf Club is back bigger and better than ever before to mark our 40th anniversary – with more details soon to be announced. All our usual offerings and calendar highlights are also back for 2022 – Walk for Myton, Cycle Challenge, Santa Dash and the return of Glow – again our biggest yet to mark our special year.
There’s also all of the fabulous challenge events people can take part in on our behalf, from marathons and half marathons, to mud runs, coastal challenges, mountain climbs and more besides.
And these are just for starters – as we’re always delighted when our corporate supporters come up with their own ways of fundraising.
Details of all the fabulous ways you can get involved in supporting Myton this year are available on the website: www.mytonhospice.org
2021 Coventry & Warwickshire Thrive at Work Wellbeing Awards
Each year the Thrive at Work team organise an awards event to celebrate the success of those achieving the Thrive at Work accreditation.
Last year even more organisations were officially recognised in the Coventry and Warwickshire areas for their work in actively promoting the health and wellbeing of their staff.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, and Cllr Izzi Seccombe, WMCA portfolio lead for wellbeing and leader of Warwickshire County Council, joined a virtual event at which 32 employers received accreditation for their work under the Thrive at Work scheme.
Thrive at Work is a workplace commitment with criteria and guidelines on creating a workplace that promotes employee health and wellbeing. It focuses on key organisational enablers of health such as attendance management, policies and procedures in addition to areas such as mental, musculoskeletal and physical health and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Accreditation enables organisations to demonstrate their commitment to good employee welfare and how they have worked to improve health in the workplace.
It hasfour levelsofaccreditation, starting at the Foundation level and progressing on tobronze, silver and goldlevels.
Congratulations to everyone and if you missed our event, or would like to see the individual videos showcasing winners based in Coventry & Warwickshire, plus what they did to achieve their Thrive accreditations, please visit our webpage:
https://www.coventry.gov.uk/ info/134/thrive_at_work/3750/ thrive_at_work_wellbeing_awards
Jim Vithanage (CWLEP Growth Hub), Tom Screen (Everyware) and Annette MacDougall (Everyware)
A Leamington technology company is to implement a programme that can track and monitor thousands of pieces of medical equipment required by the NHS to assist patients across the UK.
Everyware, which is based at the Chandos Business Centre in Warwick Street, has been helping businesses in the UK and Europe to digitally track and remotely monitor critical or high-value products since 2015.
Now, after receiving a grant from uxplore, the business is working with
Tech firm embarks on major healthcare project
the NHS on a pilot scheme to add sensors to equipment including 24/7 syringe drivers for pain relief for patients on the move who are receiving cancer treatment. uxplore is a project delivered by Coventry University, in conjunction with the wider CU group, in partnership with the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub and the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The programme aims to provide digital connectivity support for businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire with fewer than 250 employees, to pilot new products, services and business models by harnessing broadband, WiFi, 4G and 5G connectivity.
Annette MacDougall, managing director of Everyware, said: “Working with uxplore, we’ve been able to demonstrate that using 5G capabilities is important on many levels, particularly for fixed assets indoors or mobile assets outdoors.
“We currently do this using 2G, 3G or 4G but extending it to 5G totally transforms our offering to the healthcare market, because often this equipment is needed to reach patients as quickly as possible. 5G gives us quicker access to high volumes of data indoors and outdoors for the assets we’re digitally tracking and monitoring.”
Jim Vithanage, uxplore project account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, added: “As Everyware has demonstrated, uxplore is perfect for SMEs looking to develop their innovative ideas using 5G and digital connectivity as they can apply for the match-funded grants that are available.”
The uxplore project runs until June 2023.
WA Management’s new Leamington Spa office
WA Management has moved into its new office on Dormer Place.
The health, safety, quality and environmental compliance management consultancy grew last year, and as a result sought a new space to house its expanding team.
The charming regency-era property, 13 Dormer Place, is just a ten-minute walk from the Leamington Spa train station – ideal both for the company’s team of consultants to visit their customers, but also for hosting guests for training sessions.
As lovely as the office space is already, with its period features and large sash windows, WA Management has its own vision in mind to make the space truly its own. The company plans to add feature walls, artwork chosen by the team, and more to personalise the office, all while preserving the building’s original features.
The new office also brings new opportunities for the team. The larger space means more of the team can be present in-person upon return to working in the office, while still adhering to social distancing guidelines, allowing for more collaborative work and increased contributions to the company’s operations meetings.
William Whittaker, managing consultant of WA Management, said the new office represents an exciting time for the company.
He said: “It’s great to be in a bigger space, where the team can all be together at the same time once safe to do so. We’ve grown as a company since we moved into our previous office eight years ago, and while it’s served us well, it was time to take the next step as a company!
“We’ve got big plans, both for the office and as a business, and we can’t wait to get started in the new year.”
Exasoft strengthens team with new appointment
Coventry-based Exasoft has added to its workforce with the recruitment of an apprentice software developer.
Mohammed Joof has joined Exasoft and is utilising and building on his skills in asp.net to work with the team, delivering a wide range of projects for the business.
Exasoft Group specialises in financial, digital, and educational software and solutions. It supplies rectification software for large banks and financial institutions and digital solutions for clients such as Coventry UK City of Culture and Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the pandemic it has seen an increased demand for its services and has spearheaded a recruitment drive to attract talented developers and testers, and to provide opportunities for young apprentices.
Alan Malik, CEO of Exasoft Group, said: “Providing opportunities and nurturing young talent is key to the company’s continuity and success. We’re delighted to welcome Mohammed on board and equip him with the key skills, experience and enable him to not only learn whilst he earns but also learn from experienced colleagues.”
Mohammed said: “I’ve really enjoyed the learning opportunities and experience that I’ve gained so far and I’ve been able to do a lot of practical training, working with tools and frameworks which are used by industries to create their applications. I’ve also really enjoyed getting to meet and work with the team. It’s a very friendly environment with very knowledgeable people so there’s a lot of valuable knowledge to be gained.”
Nooreen Hashambhoy, development manager at Exasoft, is managing Mohammed as part of her team and is delighted with his progress.
Road named in honour of former priest
The impact a former Coventry priest had on his local community has been recognised with a road named in his honour in Wyken.
Father Robert Wright – who was fondly known in the community as Father Bob – passed away last year at the age of 68 and had called St. John Fisher’s Church home for a quarter of a century.
Robert Wright Drive can be found on a new housing scheme in the area being delivered by Deeley Group’s affordable living division. The development is being delivered in partnership with housing provider Stonewater and will see the construction of 39 affordable new homes on Tiverton Road.
Robert was born in Hillfields in 1951 and ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1977. He served in Bicester, Nuneaton, Redditch and as chaplain to the West Indian community in Birmingham, before returning to his home city of Coventry as parish priest of St John Fisher in Wyken in 1995.
He ministered at St John Fisher and St Gregory primary schools and worked closely with children at Cardinal Wiseman School, as part of his work with the Romero Academy.
Liz Carr, Robert’s sister and a former teacher at St Augustine’s School, said: “We were delighted to hear that a road was being named after Rob, especially given its proximity to St. John Fisher‘s Church, his home for 25 years.
“He spent many happy years there, serving his parish and the local community, devoting his life to his ministry.”
Peter Deeley, managing director of Deeley Group, added: “We’ve been working in the community here in Wyken for many years and for the last quarter of a century Father Bob has been right at the heart of that community.
“It is fitting and rightful honour for a great man who had such a profound impact on those he met and supported during his life.”
Father Des Devenney (St. John Fisher Church), Nora Mole, Liz Carr (Father Robert Wright’s sisters) and Peter Deeley
Rob packs a punch to raise money for charity
Retail Transport Limited, based in Coventry, is celebrating Freight Forwarder Rob Harrison’s achievement of winning a Charity boxing event which took place on Friday 19th November at Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue in Coventry.
Rob raised a whopping £1,316 for the Children’s Air Ambulance which the company has pledged to double, resulting in a £2,632 donation for such an incredible charity.
Dave Lewis, Director at Retail Transport Limited, said “The teams from our Coventry & Manchester offices went along to support Rob in his challenge as we are all immensely proud of him. To put himself out of his comfort zone and win shows his determination to overcome his social anxieties ‘
Robert Harrison, Freight Forwarder at Retail Transport Limited, said "I overcame a fear that has troubled me since the day I was born.
“A dream of mine was to have a boxing match which is something I was afraid to do.I have social phobia, which is a form of anxiety, where I struggle to socialise and be in the eye of the public.
“Not only did I get out there in front of a crowd of around 700 people, I managed to sell the most tickets for the event, I raised the most money for my charity and I came out with the win.
“On top of the pressure of having this fight I had the BBC following my every move which was daunting in itself, but it was for a great cause that I believe in and is raising awareness of people who struggle with anxieties like myself. I’m on a mission to tell people like me, you really can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
During this year Rob has featured on BBC Midlands Today, CoventryLive and local radio to share his remarkable story about his social anxiety disorder.
A thriving centre that is home to small businesses in Rugby has been sold
Hillmorton Craft Studios has been acquired by Warwick-based Prova Investments from property investment company The Wigley Group, which has its headquarters in Warwickshire.
The 11 units range in size from 250sq ft to 1,000sq ft and are currently fully let.
The Wigley Group acquired the 3,163sq ft business centre, near the historic Hillmorton Locks on the Oxford Canal, in 2016. The sale means the company - recently named Coventry and Warwickshire’s Property and Construction Business of the Year — has been involved in property transactions totalling over £7 million in 2021.
Louis Washington-Smith, Director of Estates at The Wigley Group, said: “In the six years that this property has been part of our portfolio it’s been satisfying to have been able to give start-ups and small enterprises a place to dobusiness and grow.
“With all the units fully let, we felt like it was the right time for us to focus on our core portfolio strategy which places much focus on assets that have development potential.”
Hillmorton Craft Studies was marketed by Loveitts and sold prior to auction to Prova Investments, which was represented by Bromwich Hardy.
Tom Bromwich, founding partner of Bromwich Hardy, said: “This is an excellent site in a wonderful location, and we are delighted to have been able to conclude this deal for our client. The studios have proved to be a wonderful home for new and growing businesses, and we look forward to that success continuing.”
Sarah Hookey, of Prova Investments, said: “The craft studios represent a great addition to our current portfolio and a diversification away from industrial units. We are looking forward to building long-term partnerships with the Hillmorton studio business community.”
