Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby
Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Boxing legend inspires new special edition rums A Warwickshire boxing legend is the inspiration behind two new specialedition rums released by an awardwinning distillery. Warwickshire Gin Company has released the spirits in honour of Randolph Turpin from Leamington Spa. The Pugilist - Sting Like A Bee - Honey Rum and Pugilist Ghost Edition White Rum, are in honour of the sporting great who went down in British boxing history for his sensational World Title win against the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson and earning himself the nickname ‘The Leamington Licker.’ His statue can be found in Warwick’s Market Square. The rums are new recipes based on the company’s existing Spice Blended Rum, which took Bronze at last year’s International Spirits Awards. Dave Blick, who established Warwickshire Gin Company in 2018, said: “With our local legend being Randolph Turpin, boxing is still a very strong sport in Leamington and Warwick. We are using Guyanan rum spirit as a base in honour of Turpin’s Guyanan family heritage. “Born in Leamington of Guyana heritage, Turpin became a hero overnight! To commemorate this fabulous son of Leamington we have celebrated his Guyanan heritage and added our special Warwickshire spice blend to create a warming, rich rum. “For the new Sting Like A Bee edition, we have rectified with orange peel, and finished off with local honey sourced from Kazim’s
The inspiration behind the Warwickshire Gin Company collection comes from a desire to capture a moment in history, developing flavours to fully represent the county’s own unique story and bringing the range of hand-crafted flavours to life. These include Leamington on Parade, inspired by the true story of three elephants brought over from Sri Lanka to Leamington by circus elephant trainer Sam Lockhart in the 1880s; The Kingmaker – named after Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick and Peeping Tom – inspired by the legend of Coventry’s Lady Godiva. The distillery also offers visitor experiences - Gin Tasting, Cocktails at The Distillery and their new Afternoon Gin & Tea plus a range of build-your-own branded gift bundles, including spirits, goblet, mixers and gin or rum-infused chocolates. Bees and Honey in Warwick, to deliver a beautifully smooth sweet mouth feel. It is best enjoyed neat over ice or pairs well with Sicilian lemonade. ”The Pugilist Ghost Edition White Rum is more one for the rum purists and is best enjoyed neat over ice or maybe with a drop of lime.” Both rums are 37% ABV and available to buy in 5cl, 20cl and 70cl bottles or as part of gift packs. They are the latest to join the independent craft distillery’s portfolio of artisan copper pot-distilled premium spirits, including five artisan handcrafted gins and a vodka.
In a further nod to the drinks’ heritage, the distillery is also sponsoring the expansion of a local community boxing gym in Whitnash. The money will fund new kit as well as amateur boxers’ expenses for competitions and events abroad. Facilities at Clearys Boxing Gym now include three boxing rings (one championship size), a media suite - to record podcasts and do TV and radio interviews - a small conference room for career talks, homework space, lounge area, and showers and changing rooms. Visit The Warwickshire Gin Company: https://warwickshiregincompany.co.uk/
Stratford poised for positive future Stratford is in a prime position for strong economic growth – but the opportunity must be matched by investment in infrastructure and skills, a business meeting has heard.
James McDonald of IPP and Phil Henshall of Summer Berries tee off for charity
RBLI charity golf day goes with a swing It was tee time at the recent Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) charity golf day where IPP was proud to sponsor a hole. ‘Tommy Tee Off’ took place at The Weald of Kent Golf Course and IPP, which has a long-standing relationship with RBLI, also took to the fairway with some of its customers to support the good cause. The fun day of golf raised £30,000 and IPP’s involvement saw its logo displayed on its sponsored hole, along with appearing on various other promotional materials. James McDonald, account manager at IPP who swapped the office for the greens, said: “Tommy Tee Off was a great opportunity to show our support to some of the UK’s most vulnerable veterans. “The RBLI does an amazing job creating homes and jobs for those in need and we were delighted to sponsor a hole.”
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s South Warwickshire Branch met at Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa and heard from Cllr George Cowcher, who holds the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio at Stratford District Council.
The RBLI has been providing high quality and life changing support to the Armed Forces community every day across the UK ever since its inception in 1919.
It was Cllr Cowcher’s second meeting with the Chamber since the Liberal Democrats took overall control of the District Council in May.
Through its various divisions it provides homes, welfare and jobs to veterans along with their families.
He said: “We are very keen to hear the views of businesses and to make sure we are in regular dialogue with organisations such as the Chamber. “There is great potential for growth in this region but it’s important to ensure that everything is joined up. “We need to build more homes in order for people to be able to live in the area and fulfil the roles that businesses need to grow, but the infrastructure has to keep up. “For example, we’ve built one new primary school in the district over the past 20 years and the transport system hasn’t kept pace with growth. “When I speak to businesses, they talk about skills and labour shortages as a barrier to growth. “So, when we draw up a new iteration of the Local Plan and create a new economic strategy for South Warwickshire, it will be
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Larry Coltman (Chamber), Cllr George Cowcher (Stratford District Council), Heather Docksey (Warwickshire County Council), Corin Crane (Chamber).
with all of this in mind and it will be ensuring that new development happens in the right place.” Larry Coltman, the chair of the South Branch of the Chamber, said: “We are always listening to the views of our members who are businesses of all sizes and sectors and we are able to feed that back into decisionmakers. “It was great to hear from Cllr Cowcher and we look forward to having ongoing engagement with the new administration.” Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, updated the meeting on two key
strands of work being undertaken by the Chamber on skills and employment land. The Chamber’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) was recently given the green light by Government and puts business at the heart of improving skills in the region. The Chamber has also recently published a report on employment land in the region to highlight how a shortage of space is holding back business growth. Corin said: “These are two of the key factors that our members cite when they talk about being unable to grow at the pace they would like and that is why the Chamber is leading in these areas.”
IPP has a strong association with RBLI, having previously worked with its veterans to repair its pallets at the RBLI site in Aylesford in Kent. “What another fantastic Golf Day had by all today; as a number of RBLI partners, supporters and veterans took to the Weald of Kent Golf Course raising vital funds for the Armed Forces community. I’d like to thank all of today’s sponsors who made today such a huge success,” said Lisa Farmer, Chief Executive of RBLI.
For more information on IPP, visit www.ipp-pooling.com For more information on the RBLI, visit www.rbli.co.uk.
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