News
Mirius listed in business growth index
Coventry College unveils new courses to aid COVID-19 recovery
Mirius has ranked 138th in the twelfth annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 – 2021. The index ranks Britain’s midmarket private companies with the fastest-growing international sales. This year’s special COVID-19 edition highlights the important contribution that private companies have made during the pandemic. Already a global manufacturer of cleaning and hygiene products, Mirius turned its attention to the production of antiviral cleaning products at the beginning of the pandemic to supply healthcare providers and consumers with high performance antiviral cleaning solutions. Mirius was able to develop, test and supply antiviral surface disinfectants, including its now flagship Hycolin brand, in record time. This vital disinfectant, which has shown to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19) by independent laboratory tests, has afforded healthcare providers and consumers around the country protection against harmful bacteria and viruses during the ongoing pandemic. Now, less than one year since its initial launch, Hycolin has become one of the fastest-selling cleaning products in the grocery sector, having sold millions of bottles in stores such as Savers, Dunnes, Lidl and Aldi as well as hundreds of independent retailers nationwide. Steve Quinlan, CEO at Mirius, said: “We’re proud to be recognised within the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 after several years of incredible growth. At Mirius, we have been committed to offering effective cleaning solutions for over 50 years, and this year we have worked harder than ever to deliver more scientifically excellent cleaning products – when our professional customers and retail consumers have needed them most. We look forward to continuing to expand our ranges and developing additional high-performance products for the future.”
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A bumper number of new courses are being launched at Coventry College as part of wider efforts to help the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. A minimum of 12 courses will be open to students from September 2021, including new healthcare, business and performing arts-related courses to reflect rising student demand. Three of the new courses expected to be popular following the pandemic
include the Level 3 Technical certificate in Health & Social care, Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health, and Level 3 Certificate Understanding Principles of Dementia Care. These three courses allow for flexible study and are backed by the government’s National Skills Fund, entitling most adult learners to free study. The college’s new premium Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship – which is targeted at school leavers – is also preparing for a swathe of interest from entrepreneurial hopefuls ahead of the new academic year. Paul Starkey, director of creative and service industries at Coventry College, said: “We know from our close links to industry that there is a need for more health and social care staff, as well as a need for existing professionals looking to up-skill.
“More people have expressed an interest in working within the health and social care sector after being inspired by the important role that healthcare professionals have played during the pandemic, and our new year-long Level 3 Health & Social Care course will play a key role in meeting this demand.” Another area key to the country’s long-term recovery is the business community. Donna Mason, curriculum manager for business at Coventry College, said: “Around 99.9% of British businesses are SMEs, which will have an important role to play in helping the economy to recover over the coming months. This course has an equally crucial role to play in bringing through the personnel to keep these businesses going in the longer run.” For more information visit www.coventrycollege.ac.uk
Wright Hassall completes two major property deals Midlands law firm Wright Hassall has competed two multi-million-pound commercial property deals within a week of each other. Anna Power, senior associate in Wright Hassall’s commercial real estate team, acted for a private property investment company in securing the acquisition of two properties, each for around £3.1 million. The first acquisition was of four industrial units covering 119,000 sq ft at Bridge Road in Brompton-on-Swale, Catterick from the existing tenant, who has taken a 15-year leaseback of the units as part of the deal. The second deal was the acquisition of the recently refurbished and
extended 53,000 sq ft industrial property on the Altham Industrial Estate in Accrington. The existing tenant will remain in occupation, having signed a 15-year lease less than a year ago. Anna said: “I was delighted to work with this client on securing these two properties. Commercial property deals are often a good indicator of the market. “These two deals underline the confidence investors still have, particularly in the industrial and logistics sectors with good long-term yields, and their resilience in the current economic climate. We also have a number of other deals in the pipeline for this client.”
Anna Power
Wright Hassall worked alongside the client’s property agent, Tom Bromwich from Bromwich Hardy, on closing the deals.
College reveals plans to boost skills and enterprise in Nuneaton the addition of a training restaurant that will be open to the public. The facility is expected to serve more than 2,600 students over the next ten years, support 290 business start-ups and deliver value to the economy worth £13.4m.
Outline plans have been revealed by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire (NWSLC) to launch a Digital Skills and Innovation Centre in the heart of Nuneaton that will help to regenerate skills and careers opportunities in the town. The plans follow news earlier this month that Nuneaton was named
as one of 45 UK towns to benefit from £23m from the government’s Towns Fund. NWSLC plans to deliver a new state-of-the-art centre in the heart of the town centre that will enable access to digital skills training, provide an incubation space for business start-ups, and deliver a lifeline to the hospitality sector with
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, principal and chief executive of NWSLC, said: “We’re delighted to be working with My Town Nuneaton to contribute to the regeneration of the town and boost opportunities for people to gain new skills that pave the way for exciting careers. “We know that the UK is facing digital skills shortages and that careers in big data, AI,
and superfast computing are set to grow on the back of swift developments in 5G connectivity. The Digital Skills and Innovation Centre is being designed specifically to address skills development in this area and provide space for entrepreneurs to thrive and grow. “In addition, we have seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality sector. By re-locating our training restaurant to the town centre, we will provide a boost for vocational skills that will help the sector’s recovery in Nuneaton.” For more information visit www.nwslc.ac.uk
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
