10 minute read
President & People
It’s quite astonishing what can happen in a few short weeks and I, along with most of the of the world, have looked on in horror at what is happening in Ukraine.
The lives of countless people have been totally and utterly destroyed, life for all those affected will probably never ever be the same again – or will take a long, long time to recover any form of normality; and for what?
It’s beyond my comprehension and I long for a day when all countries are ruled or governed by people who should know better, have the best interests of their fellow citizens at heart and instead of self-perceived glorification. Start acting like true leaders!
However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also having an affect closer to home, with all of us facing huge increases in our energy bills and fuel costs, which obviously hits businesses and I know the Chambers of Commerce are lobbying Government to help ease the burden.
I just hope that after the enormous economic cost of the pandemic, the Government has some money left in the pot!
On a lighter note, I had the honour of attending the Coventry and Solihull YOU WM launch event at Coventry College, supported by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
I met some truly inspirational young people from the Army Cadets, Boys’ Brigade, Combined Cadet Forces, Fire Cadets, Girlguiding, Girls’ Brigade, RAF Air Cadets, Sea Cadets, Scouts, St John Ambulance and the Volunteer Police Cadets.
They were all a great credit to the organisations they represented, and it was both fascinating and uplifting to hear of their aspirations and career plans.
Now they say there is no such thing as a free lunch, well, I’m here to inform you there certainly is; especially if you are a Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce member!
It comes in the form of the Big Business ‘Thank You’ lunch, to be held at the fabulous IXL Centre in Southam, complete with an incredible keynote speaker, none other than Lord Coe CH KBE.
Whom after his career as a sportsman, went into politics and became an MP, before he took on a role of leading the bid, and ultimately delivering the hugely successful London 2012 games. So, get the date in your diary Thursday 31st March, 11.30 to 15.30.
It has all the makings of being a spectacular event, for further information please contact a member of the Chamber events team on 024 7665 4321 Opt 1, or email events@cw-chamber.co.uk.
Finally, the process has begun of finding a replacement for Louise Bennett OBE DL, the Chamber’s long-standing CEO, of whom I paid tribute to in last month’s column. There were over 100 applicants for the position, such is the standing of this great Chamber. There were some outstanding individuals and a huge thank you to all that applied.
New MD for
Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre
One of the UK's leading figures in vocational and technical learning has been appointed as managing director of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre.
David Grailey has more than 30 years’ experience in the UK education and skills sector. He will take on the role of leading the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC) – based on the Manufacturing Technology Centre campus in Coventry – as it continues to fortify the UK’s manufacturing sector with the next generation of future-proofed engineers and technicians.
For the last 20 years David has led two commercially successful qualification businesses. For the last 13 years he was chief executive of NCFE, one of the UK's largest awarding bodies for vocational, technical and academic qualifications.
While at Newcastle upon Tynebased NCFE, he and his team grew the number of student registrations from 75,000 to more than 616,000. The business was listed in The Times Top 100 Companies to Work For nine times, while significantly increasing profits and turnover. He led the significant investment into setting up an apprenticeship End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), which delivered more than 7,500 assessments in its first full year in operation.
Before this, David Grailey was chief executive of Food & Drink Qualifications, the qualifications organisation for the food and drink manufacturing sector. Previously he held several education and skills appointments, including at University College Salford. A former butchery apprentice himself, he went on to obtain an MSc from Cranfield University.
He said: "I’m delighted to be joining the AMTC team and the wider MTC team. Leading and growing an important educational business such as the AMTC is a great opportunity to help more apprentices and existing manufacturers achieve higher skill levels, equipping them to be trailblazing for UK manufacturing and impacting on our global competitiveness.”
For more information visit www.the-mtc.org
Richard scoops top award
Gail Duxbury, Richard Duxbury, Julie Whelan and Peter Deeley
A senior employee of a top Midlands-based developer has joined a select group of workers, both past and present, who have been named winners of Deeley Group’s top internal prize.
Richard Duxbury, senior design and build manager at Deeley Construction, has become the tenth recipient of the Gary Neville Award, set up as a lasting legacy to one of the firm’s finest ever employees.
This award was created in 2012 in tribute to the former Deeley Group contracts manager and is voted for in-house, crowning the staff member who never hesitates to go above and beyond.
Richard’s coronation is a significant one, as his award win marks a decade of the initiative’s existence.
He said: “To win the Gary Neville Award at Deeley Group is a special moment for me personally. I’d like to thank all of my colleagues, both in the office and on site. It’s been a joy to work with you these last eight years.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Gary but his achievements speak for themselves. When somebody wants to describe how things should be done from a construction point of view within the organisation, Gary is always the benchmark. His mentality continues in Deeley Group today, through the approaching of challenges head on, working together as part of a collective effort and producing results.”
Peter Deeley, joint managing director of Deeley Group, said: “Richard is an extremely wellregarded member of our team, with so many of his values matching those that Gary himself possessed.
“Over the past decade, everyone at the company has embraced the award as we remember Gary and the popular, talented and largerthan-life figure that he was.
“Whilst employed by the Deeley Group, Richard has carried himself with great integrity and worked diligently, building a reputation as an approachable, gifted colleague who is always the first to lend a hand.”
Partner promotion for local Coventry businesswoman
Local businesswoman Lianne Payne has recently been promoted to partner at Askews Legal LLP, a leading Legal 500 firm based in Coventry.
Heading up the employment law division, Lianne has worked at the company since 2014, when it incorporated her previous business, DeMarco Solicitors.
Working tirelessly over the last eight years, Lianne has made a big impact and brought an employment law specialism to Askews that had previously been missing. She has also revolutionised the company’s HR policies, being instrumental in bringing in ‘hybrid working’, enabling all staff to employ a greater work-life balance; ultimately boosting morale and increasing turnover.
Lianne said: “It’s a real honour to be made a partner at Askews. To play a major role in such a forward-thinking company is fantastic. It’s such a fastpaced and demanding business we’re in, and as a mum-of-two, working for a more traditional ‘9 to 5’ company just wouldn’t be possible, especially at partner level.”
Alongside her day-to-day work, Lianne also finds time to deliver topical employment law seminars to the firm's clients, HR professionals and external organisations, as well as being invited to speak as a guest lecturer on employment law at some of the region's universities.
Pritpal Chahal, practice manager and solicitor at Askews, added: “To have someone with Lianne’s expertise working for the company is a real boost. Since she started with us, she has been a vital part of our growth structure. Making her a partner in the company was a natural progression for us and one that we’re very excited about.”
For more information visit https://askewslegal.co/
Woodland Grange
appoints new business sales manager
Make Venues’ Woodland Grange property in Leamington Spa has appointed Isabel Weir as its new business sales manager.
Isabel joins the team from the Mercure Hotel in Daventry where she was tasked with proactive sales as well as account management of more than 70 corporate clients.
Isabel’s role at Woodland Grange will see her take this experience into the award-winning property to generate new business bookings, while increasing brand awareness for the venue across all sectors.
Her ambition is to cultivate new business leads and bring new ideas, clients and relationships to the Make Venues portfolio.
David Vaughton, managing director of Make Venues, said: “Our outstanding team is what has helped us over the years, through thick and thin, and this is what continues to stand us apart from others. I’m personally delighted that Isabel is joining us at such a pivotal time for our venues and look forward to mentoring her within an already excellent team at Woodland Grange. She brings with her a wealth of experience as well as a fresh outlook, and with her on the team we’re looking forward to what is shaping up to be a busy 2022.”
Isabel said: “During my time in the industry, Woodland Grange has always been commended as a five-star conference and training venue and recommended by many. As soon as I stepped into the venue, I instantly knew why. I can’t wait to become part of the team and bring with me new ideas and experiences.”
Isabel has worked within the sector for more than 12 years, having first dipped her toe into the world of M&E during her time at HRG (now American Express Travel).
Flooring company
strengthens management team
A Midlands-based national flooring company has added to its senior executive team with a major appointment.
Faye Summers, who joined UK Flooring Direct in 2018 as head of HR and people development, has been promoted to become the company’s new HR director.
Faye has been an integral part of the company’s growth over the past four years and has helped to oversee UK Flooring Direct’s COVID-19 response in supporting members of the office team in working from home and making the warehouse environment COVID-safe for staff.
She also led the drive for the business to be recognised as One to Watch by Best Companies on top of a range of business and industry awards that the firm has received over the past 12 months.
Her appointment is the latest promotion from within as part of a focus for the company to grow and develop its own talent.
Faye joined the company, which sells a range of flooring including real wood, laminate and vinyl via its website www. ukflooringdirect.co.uk from locations in Hinckley and Coventry, after rising through the ranks at Phones 4u in a HR capacity.
She said: “I’m delighted to move into the role as HR director. This is a fast-paced business and we’ve achieved a great deal in the past few years, especially when you consider we were faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Moving into this new role will really help me build on the success we’ve achieved of making UK Flooring Direct a great place to work and a key contributor to the local community.”
Jason Ashby, who established UK Flooring Direct in 2005, said: “Faye has been a major part of our success over the past four years and we’re very pleased to promote her to HR director to continue to place our people at the heart of what we do.”
