24 minute read
Around the region
New Central Campus Venues spaces to enhance delegate experience
Two new spaces have been added to Warwick Conferences’ Central Campus Venues, further improving delegate experience and providing more flexibility for organisers than ever before.
Bringing together world-leading culture and leisure, hotel-style accommodation and cutting-edge large-scale venues, the £57.5m Faculty of Art Centre and recently renovated £25.5m Warwick Arts Centre have been added to the service. As a result, Central Campus Venues offers 300 spaces in total.
A complete package for event organisers, Central Campus Venues is capable of hosting meetings, conferences and exhibitions for up to 1,200 delegates and has been designed to provide completely bespoke packages.
Organisers are now able to pick and choose from a number of add-ons to suit their needs. These include food and dining – ranging from threecourse meals to barbecues – overnight accommodation requirements and additional facility support services.
Paul Bartlett, director of Warwick Conferences, said: “Central Campus Venues has been launched to provide a one-stop-shop for events, meetings and conferences. No event is the same and we wanted Central Campus Venues to reflect this. Designed with flexibility in mind, the enhanced service will allow organisers to create the ideal event for their delegates, whatever the budget.”
Central Campus Venues is located at the heart of the University of Warwick, creating a village environment for visitors to experience. The central location also allows delegates to explore the campus and take advantage of the world-class facilities on offer, including the Sport and Wellness Hub.
Sustainability will also play a leading role in the new campus. Like the rest of the Warwick Conferences packages, booking an event at Central Campus Venues will provide organisers with the assurance that materials are reduced, reused and recycled where possible.
For more information visit www.warwickconferences.com
Transport museum launches Women in Motorsport exhibition
Coventry Transport Museum has opened a new interactive exhibition celebrating the inspiring diverse roles women play in motorsport, past and present.
Women in Motorsport launched in January and runs until May 31 amid Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture.
The exhibition provides the opportunity for visitors to fuel up on their knowledge of the fastest women in motorsport and explore their varied roles within the industry through personal stories – as well as capturing an exciting glimpse of the future of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Women in Motorsport curator Elisabeth Chard-Cooper said: “It’s really great to be able to open this new exhibition focusing on diversity and inclusion in motorsport and the automotive industries during Coventry’s City of Culture.
“We felt it was hugely important to celebrate some of the UK’s fastest women in motorsport and those working in roles behind-the-scenes. One of our aims is to inspire future generations.”
The exhibition features interactive family-friendly elements, including a pit-stop experience, DIY-tracks and projections which allow visitors to race their designs against each other.
Highlights of the exhibition range from a helmet belonging to ‘speedqueen’ Jill Scott-Thomas, a British racing driver of the 1920s and 1930s along with a race car driven by Canadian-born Kay Petre, another early British motor racing star from this era, who was 4ft 10 inches tall.
There is racing gear owned by recent professional racing drivers Susie Wolff – now the CEO of Venturi Racing in Formula E – and 28-year-old British W Series driver Sarah Moore, who became the first woman to win the Britcar Endurance Championship in 2018 and an LGBTQ+ rights ambassador for Racing Pride.
Other interesting things to see include dramatic moments in motorsport, a Jaguar Racing Formula E, a Le Mans suit, Limited Fundz Junior Dragster and a Williams Racing F1 Show Car along with famed trophies, examples of cutting-edge technologies and rare interviews.
For further information visit https://www.transport-museum.com/events/1525/women_in_motorsport
Grant paves way for V-Farm launch
From the left, Ilektra Alma Fronista (Coventry University Enterprises), Justine Chadwick (CWLEP Growth Hub) and Stuart Green (V-Farm)
A high-tech horticultural company in Coventry is launching a groundbreaking system for growing crops indoors.
V-Farm, which is a spin-off of HydroGarden, a European manufacturer and distributor of indoor plants, has spent the last seven years developing a vertical farming concept from its base in Progress Way on the Binley Industrial Estate.
It is designed to be used worldwide from a rooftop in Canada to a warehouse in Hong Kong by using the latest hydroponics technology – which is the process of growing plants indoors – through a mobile rack structure fitted with trays, lighting and ventilation equipment which can be adapted to meet the available space.
Stuart Green, of V-Farm, contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub to discuss grant opportunities.
The business secured a £10,000 Proof of Concept grant which forms part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Coventry University Enterprises. A match-funded grant was awarded at a rate of 40 per cent with V-Farm’s 60 per cent contribution.
Stuart explained: “Food production is a global market and years have been spent developing the technology but it hasn’t been commercialised until now. We knew we had a great product but wwe needed help in taking it to market.
“The Growth Hub has helped us reach our ambitions by developing the equipment that we’ve spent the last seven years researching, as well as securing patents now that we’re in a position to commercialise V-Farm.
“We’ve already supplied units to Brazil, Australia and China and we’ll be fully launching V-Farm towards the end of the year.”
Justine Chadwick, account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “One of the many ways we assist SMEs in Coventry and Warwickshire is by supporting their innovative ideas to help with their growth plans.
“V-Farm’s new urban farming idea has been brilliantly developed and now manufactured here in Coventry to maximise areas throughout the world where food can be grown.”
Engineering firm reborn after multi-million-pound investment
A well-known Coventry engineering name has been reborn after a £4.2 million investment and is looking to expand.
Penso Group, which was based in Woodhams Road off Siskin Drive, went into liquidation in May 2021 due to a combination of COVID-19, the fall in demand for the production of new aeroplanes and taxis, and a global shortage of semi-conductors it needed to produce lightweight pods for the home delivery sector.
Directors Jevon Thurston-Thorpe and Dave Roche contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub as part of their plans to establish a new business in the wake of the liquidation of the previous group of companies.
The expert team at the CWLEP Growth Hub helped Penso Consultancy, Penso Composite and Penso Manufacturing to secure a 29,000 sq ft Technical Centre in Westwood Way, Westwood Heath, and help secure targeted COVID-19 support from Coventry City Council, which assisted the new company to get off the ground.
The three businesses have also received £4.2 million investment from the McDermott Group and currently employ a total of 45 people, with Darren McDermott taking office as chairman of the group, and Iain Muir as commercial director.
Jevon Thurston-Thorpe, a director at Penso Consulting, said: “It was really difficult when Penso Consulting went into liquidation because we had built up so much expertise and relationships, and the Growth Hub and Ian Flynn from Invest in Coventry & Warwickshire helped us in several ways because they had a deep understanding of our business and knowledge of the local commercial space available.
Justine Chadwick, account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “It is great the Growth Hub has played a part in finding a big enough space to incorporate all the different elements of the new Penso business and our specialists are now on the hunt for a new base in the area to help the business realise its growth potential.”
From the left, Richard Middleton (Coventry City Council), Ian Flynn (Invest in Coventry & Warwickshire), Justine Chadwick (CWLEP Growth Hub), Iain Muir (Penso Consulting Ltd) and Jevon Thurston-Thorpe (Penso Consulting Ltd).
Coventry hotel makes senior appointment
A Coventry hotel has welcomed a new general manager to drive its growth and improve customer experience.
Raj Balsaraf has been appointed at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Coventry – a 121-bedroom hotel on-site at Coventry Building Society Arena.
Raj has more than 16 years’ experience working in the hotel and leisure industry and has worked for some of the biggest brands in the UK.
It is his first appointment in the position of general manager and sees him return to Hilton after starting his career at the Hilton London Croydon Hotel in 2006.
Raj spent the first seven years of his career working for Hilton across three different sites in London: Croydon, Bracknell and Kensington.
Since first leaving Hilton, he has worked with major brands including InterContinental Hotels Group, Jurys Inn Hotel Group, Accor Hotels and Millenium Hotels and Resorts.
In the new role at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Coventry, he will lead a team of 40 staff and be responsible for driving standards throughout the property.
Raj said: “I’m excited to be taking on this new role and to work with the established team here to drive improvement across the hotel.
“It’s a great time to be joining the hotel, particularly with the eyes of the world set to turn on the venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in a few months’ time.
Paul Michael, commercial director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Raj on board as part of the senior leadership team here at the Coventry Building Society Arena. We’re excited to see what Raj can do to grow the business.”
Paul Michael and Raj Balsaraf outside Coventry Building Society Arena
It was a year in January since law firm Alsters Kelley Solicitors acquired Stratford-based Bonell & Co Solicitors.
During that time, the firm has been expanding its range of legal services and busy repainting the offices in Chestnut Walk.
The original Bonell & Co staff, including founder Andrew Bonell, traditionally dealt with conveyancing and family law, but now the offices are home to Alsters Kelley staff from the other services areas on a regular basis. These services include criminal litigation & motoring offences, dispute resolution, medical negligence, personal injury, wills, probate and trusts.
Still offering high levels of personal and friendly service, the Stratford office is growing and there are plans to further develop it over the coming years.
Cathy Wahlberg, managing director at Alsters Kelley, said: “When we acquired Bonell & Co during lockdown in January 2021, it was a nerve-racking but exciting time. We’re delighted with how the first year has gone and are looking forward to building on what has already been done to ensure local clients continue to receive kind, helpful and excellent legal support.
“Stratford is a wonderful town and we feel honoured to be able to add to the impressive pedigree that Bonell & Co had achieved. By retaining some of their staff and introducing increased technology, compliance and new service areas, we’ve been able to respond promptly in what is a changing legal landscape.”
Bonell & Co clients have also adapted quickly to the change in ownership. Consistency and continuity have been key factors here, as well as being accessible, listening, understanding and acting promptly to ensure client needs are met.
Our Stratford office is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.30pm.
Flagship Coventry hotel enjoys glowing reviews
Coventry city centre’s new flagship hotel is blazing a trail for a new standard of hospitality in the city.
The Telegraph Hotel only opened last May but has already made its mark, having recently been included in the prestigious Sunday Times 100 Best British Hotels guide and winning a string of glowing national reviews.
The 88-room hotel, which has won outstanding reviews from national and regional press, has already hosted a string of stars appearing at events in Coventry during its year as UK City of Culture.
General manager Amy Windsor said: “To be named as one of the UK’s top 100 hotels so soon after opening is a reward for everyone involved and we want to build on that in the next six months and beyond.
“We believed we had a really good offer in a unique setting but it’s great that this view has been shared by reviewers from across the UK who’ve stayed with us.
“It took a while to get here as we had to twice delay our opening because of COVID, but it has been a whirlwind first six months since!
“Opening in a pandemic is a unique challenge in itself but the feedback has been brilliant and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from our guests.
“People have loved our 1950s design – transforming a former newspaper office into an iconic hotel – and said it’s a real homefrom-home when they stay, which is lovely to hear.”
In its first six months the hotel saw more than 15,000 guests stay for the night, took more than 27,000 bookings to its three bars and restaurants – and even used 24,000 toilet rolls!
For further information visit www.telegraph-hotel.com
Nuneaton firm aims to reduce motorists’ carbon footprint
Rita Booth (CW Chamber of Commerce), Gemma Worthington (Tree-V), Cllr Kam Kaur (Warwickshire County Council), Amanda Bourne (Tree-V)
A newly launched Nuneaton business is set to help motorists across the UK become more environmentally-friendly.
Tree-V has been created by Tom and Gemma Worthington and Amanda Bourne and is designed to help drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles better understand the amount of carbon they produce, using a special calculator.
Then, with the help of a forestry partner, the company supports motorists in balancing their emissions through treeplanting in the UK or forest maintenance around the world.
The company was supported by the start-up team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce after the founders had worked with the Chamber on other business ventures.
The help from the Chamber was part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Warwickshire County Council and all five District and Borough Councils.
Chamber business coach Rita Booth supported the firm in identifying the different markets it could tailor its services towards, supported its marketing and branding, as well as helping to structure the business and its processes.
Tom said: “Before Tree-V, as a family of car enthusiasts, we struggled to balance the desire for classics and consciousness for the environment during the search for our first classic car.
“We discovered there wasn’t a service in place that could allow us to calculate our classic car’s carbon output and offset that specifically, without the need to calculate the carbon from every aspect of our lives in order to get started. Following this experience, Tree-V was formed.
“We’ve had great support from Rita at the Chamber. We knew we had a viable business idea but needed help in turning that into a reality and the one-to-one help we have been given has been invaluable in getting us to this stage.
“We have worked with the Chamber on another business and would urge anyone who is looking to establish a business to seek their support.”
Tree-V helps environmentally conscious drivers, who are currently unable to transition to an electric vehicle, balance out their carbon emissions until they can move to a greener alternative.
The business offers a number of solutions that allow drivers to display their green credentials, with packages for everyday and classic vehicles.
Rita Booth, Business Coach at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce said: “After working with the family on their previous business venture, we were pleased to once again support them, this time turning Tree-V from concept into reality.
“Our start-up support scheme is there for those people with a great idea for a business but who need advice, guidance and support to take it to the next stage. We are also a sounding board on what may work and what may not to help individuals make more informed decisions at the early stage of their business.
“It’s an exciting time to be a new business in Coventry and Warwickshire and we’re looking forward to seeing Tree-V’s progress in the coming weeks, months and years.”
Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Kam Kaur, said: “Tree-V is a great example of the sort of enterprising start-up that the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme is designed to support.
“I am delighted that the programme has proved so beneficial to Tom, Gemma and Amanda and helped them transform a good idea into a new business full of potential.”
To find out more about Tree-V’s mission to help car, bike, lorry and bus owners balance their vehicle’s carbon emissions, visit www.tree-v.com.
*Eligibility criteria applies.
The Chamber has a range of support for start-up businesses, whether you want to make your business idea a reality, or require advice on how to build your new businesses. For more information go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-start-up/
Three quarters of rural manufacturers move towards sustainability
Almost 75% of off-the-mains gas grid manufacturers are making changes to their business processes, with most saying both environmental and commercial benefits have impacted their decisions.
These were the key findings from a survey commissioned by Calor.
Adrian Heath, national accounts manager for industry and transport at Calor, looks at the main drivers behind these changes…
A sustainable future
With sustainability consistently topping the headlines, it’s hard to ignore the impact fuel emissions and choice of energy sources has on the environment.
As such, 42% of rural manufacturers have stated that sustainability was important to their organisation, and they were keen to make a positive impact, with a further 12% stating that they felt their commitment to sustainability gave them a competitive advantage.
Security of supply
A further 20% of manufacturers stated they planned to change their energy supply to a more sustainable source within the next five years.
With so many challenges around supply chains globally, it’s no surprise that when asked about selecting a new energy source, reliability was the deciding factor for 84% of respondents, closely followed by its suitability for the manufacturing processes.
Cutting emissions
The survey showed that lots of rural manufacturers are reviewing their energy practices, but that a number of them had very limited knowledge about what was available on the market as alternatives.
Switching to LPG can cut businesses emissions by 16% compared with oil and is ideal for rural businesses where electricity is simply not viable due to the processes needed or simply because of limited supply to the location.
LPG
LPG is readily available and can bring immediate carbon reductions and environmental benefits of switching from other fossil fuels. For those looking to move away from oil, diesel, solid fuel, or kerosene, Calor is on hand to guide businesses through the process, provide a seamless switch and deliver a substantial cut in emissions, whilst setting the scene for when more of our sustainable fuel solutions become available.
Former nurse returns to NHS wards to combat COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, former nurse Sharon Swords was frustrated that she couldn’t return to the wards to help the NHS – but thanks to Coventry University she’s now back on the frontline.
Sharon fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a qualified nurse in 1984 but later moved into the pharmaceutical industry so she could spend more time with her son.
Fast forward two decades and Sharon’s employers Johnson & Johnson UK gave qualified doctors, nurses and pharmacists medical personnel leave to return to the NHS and care for patients due to the global health emergency.
As her registration had lapsed, Sharon was unable to return but after joining Coventry University’s Return to Practice course in May, she secured a placement to help fight coronavirus at Warwick Hospital.
She said: “I left nursing due to personal circumstances, not because I didn’t want to be a nurse. Nursing is in my blood and it was the pandemic that really inspired me to return.
“When our medics, pharmacists and nurses that still had their registrations went back to care for patients, I felt useless because I didn’t have my registration. I was so frustrated, knowing that I had skills and the passion but couldn’t help.
“I found the Return to Practice course, realised I could run it alongside my full-time job and returned to the wards to care for patients.”
The Return to Practice course can take three months to a year to complete, consisting of a 12-week module, an assignment and a clinical placement of a minimum of 150 hours.
The Health Education England (HEE)backed course has supported 7,978 nurse returners like Sharon since its inception in 2014.
For more information visit https:// www.coventry.ac.uk/coursestructure/health-and-life-sciences/ cpd/returning-to-practice-3009cpd/
A Coventry office block has changed hands for more than £400,000 in an investment deal concluded by award-winning commercial property specialist Bromwich Hardy.
PLP Investments of Leamington Spa has acquired the offices at 6 Cobalt Centre on Siskin Parkway East from Inspire Investments Holdings in a deal overseen by Bromwich Hardy partner David Penn.
David said the sale – for £410,000 - showed there was considerable interest in investment opportunities in high-quality, modern offices as business started to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
He said: “The picture which is emerging is one of a hybrid culture 6 Cobalt Centre
in which office space will continue to play a central role for the vast majority of businesses for many years to come. That being the case, it will remain an attractive proposition for investors.
“Well-built, modern and wellpositioned accommodation such as this will continue to generate strong interest, particularly when it comes with a high-quality tenant on a long lease.
“In this case, the office is home to Polar, an international manufacturer of high-tech health and fitness monitoring equipment, which only recently agreed a five-year lease on the two-storey offices in a deal we again concluded.”
David said the 3,178 sq ft site was superbly located – close to Coventry Airport and with good access to the motorway network – and ticked many of the boxes that investors were looking for in the current market. The deal is the latest success for Bromwich Hardy, which consistently features at the top of the rankings for most successful commercial property agencies both in the West Midlands region and further afield.
Office sale highlights strong demand for investment opportunities
For more information visit www.bromwichhardy.com
Businesses struggle to meet COVID loan repayments
Duncan Swift, restructuring and insolvency partner at accountants Azets, said that a “substantial and increasing number of businesses are already struggling to make their loan repayments” on the Bounce Back Loan and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes.
The Times reported recently that “one third of small businesses are worried they will not be able to repay COVID loans, as billions of pounds of government and bank support measures are withdrawn. More than half of firms told a survey by EY that recovering from the pandemic was a “main challenge” and indicated they may need continuing help.”
There is widespread concern that many businesses will take the bankruptcy route to removing these burdens. This will further damage our public finances, meaning we all suffer.
What can be done when help for such businesses is somewhat lacking?
If your company is faced with this problem, the first logical step is to speak with the lender to explore how flexible they are prepared to be for you.
Then the focus should be on improving cashflow. This may include checking any obsolete or surplus stock or assets, which could be sold for a quick cash injection.
Chamber member John Holder said: “The best way to achieve sustained and sustainable improved cashflow is through low-cost business improvement strategies to quickly grow your profits.”
His firm, Profit-Growth Unlimited, can advise on this, initially at no cost to members.
UK City of Culture stars on show in local exhibition
Internationally celebrated cultural and political figures who were born or are associated with Coventry are featured in an exhibition of portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
Featuring George Eliot, EM Forster, Philip Larkin, The Specials, Susan Hill, Vanley Burke, Sarah Siddons, Ellen Terry, Billie Whitelaw, Graham Sutherland, John Piper and Mo Mowlam, the Creative Connections exhibition opened on March 4 and runs until 30 May 2022.
It connects artworks from the two galleries by highlighting the creative links between the people on display and their work. Highlights include a portrait of Vanley Burke displayed next to commissioned photographs from the Herbert’s collection; portraits of Basil Spence and Graham Sutherland, presented alongside the Trial Piece for the tapestry within Coventry Cathedral; and a portrait of Benjamin Britten, who wrote the War Requiem for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral. This is displayed next to work by Matthew Picton, who uses the score of War Requiem to create a map of Coventry showing the destruction of the city in the Blitz.
The exhibition includes portraits recently acquired for the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent Collection, including Rankin’s photograph of the comedian and actor, Guz Khan, and politicians Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, and Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West and shadow minister for women and equalities, taken by Charlotte Hadden.
Local art students from Barr’s Hill School in Coventry have worked with artist Maryam Wahid and the Herbert’s learning and engagement team to explore the collections of the two galleries to celebrate the inspirational stories of people associated with Coventry.
Francis Nielsen, culture and creative director of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said: “An exhibition celebrating iconic people linked with Coventry seems an incredibly fitting show to have on display as we end our celebrations as UK City of Culture.”
Myton’s It’s a Knockout is back for 2022
The Myton Hospices’ annual It’s a Knockout event is back for 2022 – bigger and better than before and featuring an amazing line-up of six fabulous brand new games.
The charity, which provides free of charge, end-of-life care to terminally ill patients across Coventry and Warwickshire, is calling on businesses across the region to sign up for what is promising to be a fantastic afternoon of fun, foam and fundraising.
It’s a Knockout takes place on the afternoon of Friday, June 24 at Leamington Rugby Club and will feature six all-new games: Hats On, Perilous Pendulum, Crazy Climber, Giant Obstacle Course, Pizza Run and All Hands on Deck.
Chris Willmott, corporate fundraiser at Myton, said: “We’re delighted to be back after a COVID-enforced break and hope our amazing corporate supporters, old and new, will sign up to what is a truly fantastic afternoon of fun, foam and fundraising.
“We’ve hand-picked the very best offerings from the IAK catalogue – based on feedback from previous year’s teams – and are proud to be offering a jam-packed afternoon of team-building at its very best as intrepid competitors battle it out for the title of Myton’s It’s a Knockout Champions 2022.
“We hope to see you there.”
Entry costs just £40 per person (£320 per team of eight) if you take the Early Bird offer which runs until Monday, April 25. Entry after April 25 costs £360 per team.
Myton also ask teams to collectively raise a further £380 in sponsorship – whether this is through bake sales, something out of the ordinary or simply by family and friends sponsoring people to take part.
The last outing of It’s a Knockout in 2019 was so popular that all 36 team places were snapped up in record time – so participants are urged to make sure they sign up as early to avoid disappointment.
