23 minute read
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The Armed Forces Covenant is good for business
A ‘Call to Arms’ to all Employers and Businesses…
Our mission; to encourage businesses to sign the Armed Forces Covenant!
Why? Because pledging support for the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) makes sound business sense. Aligning values to those of the Armed Forces Covenant can bring tangible rewards, both hard and soft, and we are keen to see if we can accelerate the rate of awareness amongst businesses and organisations from Coventry & Warwickshire who are business leaders and can influence. As members of the Chamber, YOU ARE THAT COHORT!
Businesses strive to recruit applicants who can demonstrate good leadership and resilience, who possess skills in organisation, communication, problem solving and teamwork, as well as demonstrating a strong work ethic. Members of the Armed Forces community, which not only includes Service leavers, Reservists and veterans, but also military spouses and those that volunteer to support the nation’s Cadet Forces, all have these key personal attributes.
Members of the Armed Forces are trained in a variety of diverse trades, which can help add value to your workforce. At the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association we build and maintain relationships with employers in the region by creating strategic partnerships. Promoting the skills that our Armed Forces community can bring to your business and encouraging employers to cement this partnership through the Armed Forces Covenant: a voluntary pledge, which builds a two-way relationship between business and Defence By supporting the Armed Forces in any or all of these ways, you are supporting and directly contributing to the UK’s Defence operational capability and its people agenda, in a positive and extremely valuable way. When you do so Defence is keen to reward and recognise that support through their Employer Recognition Scheme, but more about that in a future edition!
If you would like to learn more, please contact our Regional Employer Engagement Director, Bobby Birdi via wm-reed@rfca.mod.uk
Coventry training provider growing after successful 2020 despite pandemic
A leading Midlands training provider is set to build on virtual development with some very real growth in 2021.
Coventry-based PET-Xi is to expand its team across the UK with eight new senior roles, after a successful 2020 despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.
The firm works with adults and young people in schools to teach them key skills to help them find quality work and fulfil their potential.
But over the last year, PET-Xi has had to adapt massively to the challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis.
It moved much of its training work online by developing its own virtual learning environment, with features that allowed for better interactions between trainers and trainees than were available on standard platforms.
PET-Xi loaned out more than 750 laptops to leaners who were not able to access the virtual learning environment from their homes.
It meant that more than 400 adult learners found work after completing PET-Xi’s courses, and more than 1,000 young people took part in NEET (not in employment, education, or training) programmes.
PET-Xi’s support in training people during the pandemic also saw it awarded a UK Business Heroes Stamp after being nominated by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
Its commitment to quality online learning has seen the firm finish 2020 in a stronger position that initially expected, and it is now adding to its team to reflect that success.
Simon Fitzgerald, Head of Funding at PET-Xi, said: “Like many other businesses, the pandemic forced us to find new ways of doing things to keep going.
“A year ago, we were planning on improving our online capabilities to give our trainees more options when it came to accessing our courses.
“This ended up being a crucial decision when the country went into lockdown and the pandemic caused all sorts of problems for our trainees.
“Thanks to our specialist virtual learning environment, we have been able to deliver our courses to trainees remotely without compromising on the quality of our teaching.
“With further demand for our services because of the upheaval caused by COVID-19, it was especially important that we were able to find a way to help as many people as we could.
“Because we were able to use our online platform successfully, we are now in a position to strengthen what we have at PET-Xi by creating eight new jobs to help bolster our company.
“Receiving the UK Business Heroes Stamp was a lovely surprise too – it’s really nice to be recognised like that after such a tough year.
“We’re very proud of our success in 2020 and we hope to continue to help as many people as we can get the skills they need to get back into work as we head into 2021.”
How can an intellectual property audit help your business?
Pure Ideas recently carried out an IP Audit with a Warwickshire based company called torcProtective Ltd.
The audit is to help them identify the intellectual property within their growing business portfolio and how best to protect and commercialise this to meet their future growth plans.
One way that we assist clients with an audit is via the IP Audits Plus Scheme, which gives financial support to businesses who are looking to identify opportunities across all aspects of their IP. The scheme covers the “lions share” of the Audit costs (providing you meet the criteria) and gives your business a really good insight into all of the intellectual property that you own and what you should consider protecting for the future.
We often find that business owners are unaware of the commercial value of their intellectual property. Our advice is that you carry out a simple audit of your company’s intellectual property to check that you are properly protected. This can be from the more obvious things like patents and trademarks to discussing licensing opportunities.
This is what the CEO of torcProtective Ltd had to say: “We have now worked with several members of the Pure Ideas team following our other Company being granted a European Patent. The whole experience to date has been a very enjoyable one with their approach being very personable but still extremely professional and instructive whether that be handling the validation process or discussing a range of IP opportunities going forward. I would be very happy to recommend the services offered by Pure Ideas to any company contemplating entering the Intellectual Property minefield.” Gary Blundell CEO, torcProtective Ltd & torc2 Ltd
If you would like to find out more, please contact Pure Ideas. Katia.douglas@pure-ideas.co.uk www.pure-ideas.co.uk
Glide Group strengthens leadership team
Glide Group, a market leader in ultra-fast broadband connectivity and deployment of fibre infrastructure, has announced the senior leadership appointments of Sean Lowry and Phil Duggan.
Sean joins as group chief technology officer (CTO) and Phil Duggan takes on the role of chief operating officer (COO).
Sean joins Glide having previously worked in the student broadband industry at Keycom and most recently as CTO at business internet service provider, Solar Communications. In his new role as group CTO, his experience will complement all of Glide’s market segments: student, residential and business. He will lead and direct Glide’s product innovation, future technology strategies, and software development and data insights.
Sean said: “I am confident that our team will continue to grow our fibre footprint rapidly whilst driving innovation and change which the UK deserves.”
Phil Duggan has more than 25 years’ experience deploying and maintaining large infrastructure projects at large tier one carriers. In his new role at Glide, he will be responsible for all operations including logistics, provisioning, fibre delivery, field maintenance and customer services.
He said: “I am excited to be joining the Glide Group at a time where best-inclass connectivity is more important than ever. I look forward to helping our team deliver a superior customer experience to UK and European customers.”
Tim Pilcher, Glide Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to have Sean and Phil joining us here at Glide during this exciting growth period. They both have outstanding backgrounds in the fibre sector, plus a strong track record of outstanding operational performance.
“We look forward to scaling our business growth to meet the flourishing fibre demand in 2021 and beyond.”
Welcome for SME fund to ease EU trade
A multi-million pound fund to help SMEs adapt to new trading rules with the EU has been welcomed.
The government has announced a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund to support small and medium sized businesses who trade exclusively with the EU in adjusting to new customs, rules of origin and VAT rules.
It means that from next month traders will be able to apply for a grant of up to £2,000 to pay for practical support and training related to importing and exporting, and the funding will also help businesses to prepare for the implementation of import controls which come into force from April and July.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This will be welcome news to those SMEs who were facing the prospect of having to dip into their already depleted cash reserves caused by Covid to then seek professional, technical advice on how to navigate new trading rules with the EU.
“Whilst this will help some businesses to carry on trading with the EU as they continue their recovery from the pandemic, those businesses that trade both domestically and with the EU appear to have been omitted – which needs clarity.
“It is going to take time for this support to have a positive impact on businesses cash flow – which needs to be recognised by government when reviewing future financial support packages – but it is an important first step nevertheless in helping firms to acclimatise to these complex rules.
“The Chamber will, as always, be liaising closely with its members over the coming weeks to help those that qualify for the funding to maximise its use, as well as relaying back to government any concerns that businesses are having in adapting to the new rules.
“On top of that, businesses can come to the Chamber’s International Trade Hub for support when it comes to advice, support and training while our recently launched ChamberCustoms service is already helping businesses with the new declaration processes that have come into force since the Brexit transition period ended.”
Commenting on the announcement of the fund, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is a welcome first step in dealing with some of the major issues that small businesses trading with the EU are facing. With their finances already under a significant squeeze firms, particularly those which export, are inevitably encountering difficulties in adapting to the complexities of the new arrangements.
“It is now crucial that the grants provide sufficient funds to make a real difference and the government should stand ready to increase their size if needed. We will continue working closely with government to make sure this scheme is delivered as quickly and smoothly as possible for firms still adapting to the new EU trading arrangements and the impact of the pandemic.
“The BCC will also continue to offer as much direct support as we can to SMEs especially through ChamberCustoms – our dedicated customs advisory, training and brokerage service.”
Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce
If you’re fed up with home schooling and box set bingeing but still want to learn, look at beautiful things and be motivated to try something different, then look out for Love Compton Verney – a series of short films about the incredible objects, idyllic landscape and unusual wildlife to be discovered at the historic location.
Every week a new film reveals something different about the gallery’s famous collection and 120-acres of Lancelot
Get your culture fix with Compton Verney’s online flix
‘Capability’ Brown landscaped grounds: from vibrant, sulphur-yellow aconite flowers to the rare, bejewelled Trapani casket that was made in Sicily and contains a secret compartment.
Five films are scheduled for March, with a focus on Compton Verney’s fabulous forest school, how x-ray technology revealed that Lucas Cranach the Elder’s Venus and Cupid hasn’t always looked the same, and planting a new hedge with ace gardeners Adam and Chris. Also featured is a behind-the-scenes look at the Mary Newcomb exhibition as it is installed in the gallery and a featurette about willow tunnels and other favourite aspects of our park, as recommended by some of our most discerning visitors, kids!
Julie Finch, Compton Verney’s director and CEO, said: “The ongoing lockdown restrictions mean that visiting many places is very difficult at best. So, for those people who aren’t able to visit our grounds, which are currently open, we’re bringing some of the highlights and wonders of the gallery and park directly to their homes via our website. Each film lasts less than two minutes but shares what our experts, volunteers and visitors love most about this unique place.
“We hope you feel inspired and please do join the conversation by sharing what you love about Compton Verney with the hashtag #LoveComptonVerney. Your recommendation could even be made into one of our next films.”
You can access each film for free via Compton Verney’s website: https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/
Do something amazing to support The Myton Hospices
If winter lockdown has given you the urge to get out there and get active, The Myton Hospices has a fantastic line-up of events and challenges to help you banish the blues.
Just like many of your businesses, Myton’s finances have been hit hard by the global pandemic and we know many people may not be in a position to be able to help.
But if you do have a little spare time and some generous friends, family, colleagues and companies, we would be ever-grateful for your support
We’re working hard – and can’t wait to get back to – our usual face-to-face fundraising events. In the meantime, however, we hope the many COVID-safe offerings we have will inspire you to hit the fundraising trail for us.
Our events calendar – www.mytonhospice.org/our-events - features all the fun ways you can get involved. From abseiling down Coventry Cathedral to taking on one of our many challenges and running events, we hope there will be something to suit everyone.
But, if these don’t take your fancy, we have devised two great new challenges we hope will.
Our Myton Mountain and Myton Marathon campaigns are the perfect way to raise the much-needed money we need to continue caring for terminally ill patients across Coventry and Warwickshire, by putting your best foot forward for the cause. The challenges are simple.
The Myton Mountain campaign features six challenges, ranging from the Malvern Hills to Everest, to ensure there is something for everyone and can be completed in your own home or in the office, simply by walking up and down your stairs (a lot).
Meanwhile, the Myton Marathon is asking supporters to run, walk or jog a marathon over the course of the month of March. It doesn’t matter if you do a marathon in a day or a mile a day at your own pace – all we ask is that you complete the 26.2 miles at some point in the month.
Shakespeare Martineau raises £2.1m in two days on deal duo
Law firm Shakespeare Martineau helped raise more than £2.1 million in just two days by advising a pair of businesses on placings and subscriptions on the Standard List and Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
Clients of the firm, Crossword Cybersecurity and One Heritage Group, announced the share issues on February 10 and 11 2021. Both had high demand from new and existing investors.
Property developer One Heritage Group undertakes development and re-development of new and existing buildings, as well as facilities management and managing the letting of the properties. The new shares generated an additional £548,500 investment in the business to expand its property portfolio.
Crossword Cybersecurity, a cybersecurity and risk management expert, undertook an oversubscribed fundraising of more than £1.6 million. The technology commercialisation company will invest the funds into sales and marketing resource for product development and support for general working capital purposes.
Hybridan acted as broker to both companies in connection with the placings.
Keith Spedding, partner and business transaction and growth specialist at Shakespeare Martineau, who advised on both deals, said: “These deals go to show that money is out there and available for good companies with good stories, and there is no sign of it drying up. Property and technology sectors are seeing a huge amount of investment, with other sectors such as medtech and fashion also making stock market headlines. We are very pleased to have helped these two excellent companies on their growth plans.”
A specialist in fast-growing businesses, Shakespeare Martineau is reporting high levels of transactions in the Midlands and nationally – with the corporate team having supported several multimillion-pound sales and mergers across the property, biotech and finance sectors. In addition, the company has advised the founding family of Dr Martens on its recent admission to the market as well as on One Heritage Group’s original submission in December 2020.
Digital skills boost for retail, hospitality and tourism firms
Emma Woodward (left) with Sam Yair of Stories Marketing
More Warwickshire businesses are set to get help with improving their online presence after a successful scheme was extended and is now being offered to more sectors.
The advice and training are being offered as part of a larger package of support from Warwickshire County Council to continue to support economic recovery within the county. This includes the Survive, Sustain and Grow programme, Adapt and Diversify grants and the business start-up programme.
Independent businesses in retail, hospitality and tourism can benefit from the new programme of workshops and one-to-one support being delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the county council through the Warwickshire Towns Network Programme.
The Chamber is working with Stories Marketing to deliver the programme, which includes a taster session, two three-hour workshops and one-to-one help.
Previous programmes run in 2020 were aimed at independent retailers but, such was their success, they have been extended to incorporate hospitality and tourism which has been so badly hit during the coronavirus crisis.
The workshops will cover a range of topics, such as how social media marketing can help businesses connect with customers, and how to use online tools to blend with a “bricks and mortar” business and drive customer footfall.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, leader of the county council and portfolio holder for economic growth, said: “It’s vital that our businesses embrace the possibilities that digital marketing offers to reach new markets and respond to consumers’ rapidly changing habits.”
Keely Hancox, operations manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to be working with Warwickshire Towns Network and Stories Marketing to deliver a new phase of digital skills support for businesses.”
To book your place on a workshop, go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/digital-town-centres-27905402961
TruTac proves cyber credentials with multiple accreditations
TruTac has achieved further accreditations to demonstrate its industry expertise and reliability in the safe, secure handling of customer data.
Adding to its ISO 9001 accreditation – the internationally recognised standard for quality management – TruTac has been awarded ISO 27001. This is the equivalent standard of recognition developed to help organisations of any size or industry protect their information in a systematic, cost-effective manner through the adoption of an information security management system (ISMS).
Commensurate with this security accreditation comes another datarelated credential in the form of Cyber Essentials: a simple but effective government-backed scheme designed to protect organisations against a whole range of the most common cyber-attacks.
A fourth and equally important recent attainment is G-Cloud 12 status. Aimed primarily at users in the UK public sector, the service helps businesses find and buy cloud computing services from approved government suppliers.
For TruTac, this means official approval to supply the latest technology and innovation to the entire UK public sector – including TruTac’s expanding customer base of councils and other public sectorfunded clients.
TruTac is part of the Microlise group and a designer and supplier of compliance software for PSV and HGV compliance control.
Jemma James, TruTac’s commercial operations and marketing director, said: “Our ISO and cyber accreditations serve to reassure vehicle operators that TruTac designs and delivers software solutions for them to manage compliance, data accumulation and analysis to the highest standard. Furthermore, our customers can be guaranteed provision of bespoke tachograph analysis, training and consultancy services, knowing their confidential information will always be safe and secure in our hands.”
DON’T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN?
We’ll help you sail over your financial maze.
Whatever your circumstances, trust BRI to help you get your business back on track.
From business recovery to CVAs, administration, debt advice and more, our highly-qualified insolvency experts are dedicated to giving you the best advice.
Whatever your business financial concerns, talk to BRI –we can help you on your way to a healthier future. Our services: • Restructuring • Corporate Insolvency • Personal Insolvency
For a FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and NO OBLIGATION consultation Call now on 02476 226839
Property firm appoints finance specialist after period of growth
West Midlands property firm Lets Delight has continued its expansion with the appointment of finance specialist Adam Revill.
Adam has experience of leading successful businesses and consulting with a wide range of companies within property, international trade and banking.
He will work remotely to support Coventry-based Lets Delight as part of the senior management team. His role will include further developing the firm’s investment opportunities and supporting those who are interested in beginning their journey into property investment.
Ian Boddison, director of Lets Delight, said: “Adam is a great addition to the Lets Delight Team. His experience within the property sector and finance solutions is invaluable to us as we grow our number of holiday lets and shared living projects.”
In 2020, Lets Delight expanded its portfolio. The properties are divided between furnished holiday lets for short-term guests, including corporate and leisure travellers, and shared living projects which provide longer term accommodation for young people beginning their careers. Due to the diversity within the business offering and customer types, Lets Delight has reported its most successful year despite COVID-19 affecting the hospitality sector.
Adam said: “Joining Lets Delight is an exciting opportunity to work with an ambitious property investment company. Alongside managing my own buy-to-let portfolio, I have assisted companies to raise funding in excess of £25 million and look forward to bringing some of these ideas and structures to Lets Delight.
“I will be focusing on developing products to give investors healthy returns, whether they are property experts or dipping their toe into the water to increase their personal wealth.”
To find out more visit https://www.letsdelight.co.uk/
WE SUPPORT PEOPLE AND FINANCE BUSINESSES
SUPPORTING COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE INDIVIDUALS, START-UPS AND BUSINESSES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
SUPPORT
• Pre-starts - The JumpStart project, funded by
Warwickshire County Council and CWRT, offers you informal, flexible support designed to give you an insight into what it means to be your own boss and gives you the tools, knowledge and resources to make that all important decision about whether starting up a business is for you. • Access to Finance - CWRT has a range of loan packages specifically designed to support you through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions. We take a transparent, fair and relationship-based approach in our decision-making process because we know that accessing the right support and finance can be transformational for your businesses.
FINANCE
Our packages include:
• Traditional Commercial Loans – from £1,000 to £100,000. • Duplex Investment Fund – a grant and loan in one easy deal. Loans are typically between £30,000 & £100,000. • Start Up Loans – loans from £1,000 to £25,000. • Enterprise Loans – new loan fund available to pre-starts and newly started businesses that assists with covering start-up costs and initial running costs.
Loans from £1,000 to £7,500.
• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme –
Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is a not-for-profit ethical lender supporting entrepreneurship and jobs in communities under-served by mainstream providers.
Our mission is to create a positive and beneficial impact upon the local community.
Garden Studios launched by Heart Pods
The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre has been hit hard by Covid like so many other businesses.
With a loose timeline and roadmap set out although yet to be confirmed on when the hospitality industry is likely to be reopened, the
Managing Director –
Stephen Hammon has had to be innovative in looking for ways to diversify to keep the business ticking along whilst protecting jobs.
On top of doing some remodelling work and maintenance on the buildings and grounds, Stephen and the team have utilised their pod building creative expertise and designed an outdoor bar, dining pods and toilets ready for the reopening on the 12th April of The Quicken Tree Bar & Grill for Alfresco Dining set in the beautiful grounds of the Heart of England.
While that work is ongoing by his busy team, he is putting a lot of work into designing and building Pods, Domes & Garden Studios and has created a new addition to the offerings at Heart of England with ‘Heart Pods’.
They’ve just launched their new range in Garden Studios. These high-quality flexible spaces can be installed and ready to use very quickly. Available in three sizes and specifications, they are built in a contemporary design with floor to ceiling windows and doors and are fully lined and insulated. Whether you need office space, a gym, playroom, bar, man cave or somewhere to escape and relax, the Garden Studios are a great alternative to an extension and at just under 2.5m high, in most cases, no need to apply for planning permission.
The Garden Studios are a great addition to the fantastic Glamping, Office & Dining Pods and Shepherd Huts already on offer at Heart Pods. Along with the new Garden Studios, they’ve also just added Dining Domes which are individual domes with a clear front, perfect for restaurants wanting to add quirky outside space for private dining.
Stephen Hammon said “I wanted to offer something different. Something high quality and adaptable. Our range of pods, huts and garden studios are only limited by your imagination, we can adapt them for whatever purpose you require. We are in talks with some care homes at the moment who want to add a room separate to their main building so that residents can meet their families in a safe and controlled environment.
You can see the entire range of Pods, Shepherd Huts and Garden Studios on their new website at www.heartpods.uk To arrange a show-round on site, Email info@heartpods.uk or call 01676 540333.
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