Coventry & Warwickshire in business
News
Fatlab Designs carves out investment from family business A Warwickshire start-up business which specialises in the design and manufacture of engraved, carved and 3D printed artisan products has received investment from a fellow family business.
Fatlab Designs was started by David Leask in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and he is now beginning to grow and market the business more proactively.
The financial support has funded additional fibre and CO2 laser engravers and upgrades to its CNC machining capacity, as well as the provision of a cloud finance system (Xero) to streamline the accounting and bookkeeping processes as well as boosting the company's cash flow and working capital. David said: “There is real potential for Fatlab Designs to grow and really make a mark in the high-end, high-value area of the market. We’re much more artisan than we are high volume.
“We’re working in the business to consumer market but also very much in the B2B space too. If companies want their logo on a bespoke product or gift, we can do it whether it is for a single item or large batch.
“In this instance, we’ve been able to support Fatlab Designs with its ambitious plans and I know first-hand how fantastic the work is. “I’d urge other businesses that need help in this way to get in touch!”
“I can see an opportunity for growth and it’s great that our fellow family business, LeaskAS, has been able to support in this way.”
For more information about LeaskAS, please visit www.leaskas.co.uk
Julia said: “LeaskAS is here to support businesses with their growth plans through advice and, also, accessing funding.
For more information about Fatlab Designs, please visit www.fatlabdesigns.com
Coventry City Council’s Go CV app celebrates 20,000 downloads in its first year Coventry City Council’s popular Go CV scheme is used by over 100,000 residents across the city. It gives access to discounts and offers when visiting local attractions, but since the launch of its mobile app in October 2022, savings can be made when shopping at local businesses too. The app has seen over 20,000 downloads in its first year.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, has been involved in the project since the launch of the app, and added: "As a Council, we support Coventry’s businesses in a number of ways and working with them through the Go CV app benefits both businesses and residents too.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport at Coventry City Council, has been working on Go CV since its creation. He said: “Initially, our ambition was to create a scheme to support Coventry’s local attractions and sport venues whilst offering exclusive discounts to residents in Coventry.
discounts and offers at businesses across the city.
“Working with businesses to give members even more discounts has significantly elevated the Go CV offer. Using the app, members can access
“Having these offers available to Coventry’s residents is extremely important – more so than ever before due to the cost of living crisis.”
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
EBC Group hosted a Cyber Security Event at the prestigious 17th floor at the BT Building in Birmingham. The aim of the event was solely educational and allowed businesses to learn about cyber security and how to better protect themselves in a digital world. The event, which was held on 13th October, started by covering The Future of Network Security which highlighted the importance of secure networks, the necessity of robust security measures, and the eye-opening statistic that “there are soon to be 700 billion devices connected to the internet”.
Leask Advisory Solutions (LeaskAS), which is run by Julia Leask and has been operating in the region since 2013, has backed Fatlab Designs with seed funding and business advice.
The support is aimed at helping the business fuel growth, innovation, and collaboration within the bespoke and personalised gift market.
The Importance of Cyber Security – Event Highlights
An overview from the West Midlands Police provided some alarming statistics too, including that approximately 42 per cent of all reported crime is cyber crime and, as this is a heavily under reported crime, the true percentage is likely to be much higher. They also said that “only two percent of police resources are allocated to cyber crime”. There were also talks on cyber essentials, and testing and compliance, illuminating how businesses can better protect themselves via cyber essentials and gave insight to the process of penetration testing. Another alarming statistic shared was that 60 per cent of small businesses that suffer a cyber-attack go out of business within six months. The Importance of effective cyber insurance was highlighted stating that cyber threats continue to evolve, and that it has “become crucial for businesses to secure comprehensive insurance policies” to mitigate financial risks in the event of a cyber-attack. The guest speaker of the afternoon, Andy Gomarsall, talked about security and sustainability, showcasing the importance of proper data destruction upon disposal, followed by a complimentary lunch for all attendees. During the event, attendees were offered a free cyber security risk assessment, which is now being offered to the public.
Visit www.ebcgroup.co.uk/cyber-event to find out more.
“By using the app it’s really easy for any local companies, large or small, to profile what they do and provide a local offer. Plumbers, garages, cafes and independent retailers can all be found on the app - these are the types of retailers and services we use regularly and they provide good services for local people. “We know it’s tough for businesses right now, so it’s worth checking out the Go CV app. Joining is quick, easy and free.”
Businesses in Coventry can register at join.go-cv.co.uk.
29
