Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby
Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Electric Zoo sparks interest in sustainable car options for Glued Agency Lash Saranna, Electric Zoo, with the Hyundai Kona Electric and Rob Harrison, Glued Agency.
Electric Zoo, the electric car company based in Holt Street, Coventry, have inspired Leamington Spa-based marketing firm Glued Agency to test-drive their Hyundai Kona Electric – with roaring results!
Rob Harrison, partner at local branding firm Glued Agency, test-drove the new Hyundai Kona Electric in a bid to decide if electric cars were an affordable and sustainable option for him and his business. The pay-as-you-go car company said: “When it comes to choosing an electric car, it’s a jungle out there so when Rob decided to look into leasing a new company car, he spoke with fellow Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber members about their electric and hybrid offerings.
Rob said: “I was surprised how enjoyable it was to drive – a totally different driving experience from a geared petrol or diesel car. I am now a convert and just working out the affordability to make my next lease an electric car.” To take a step into the world of electric cars, visit www.electriczoo.co.uk for more information. Stuck with a boring brand and need some design and marketing support? Visit www.gluedlimited.co.uk
Security firm supports showpiece event The Libertines, Roni Size and The Lightning Seeds were supported by Kopek Security for a four-day festival curated by musician Terry Hall. The Coventry City of Culture event, which Specials singer Mr Hall helped to deliver and took part in, was the first time he has performed in more than two years. Some of the events that were held in the ruins of the city’s cathedral, which was bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, included fans favourite Pete Docherty singing Coventry City football songs and many more. Mr. Hall described it as “a live version playlist of my favourite artists.” The festival, which took place on the July 29-August 1, featured live music, DJ sets, films and spoken word events in locations around the city.
There were also performances by Libertines who Mr Hall joined on stage and sang songs with, which was a real hit with the crowd. The full festival line up which was announced in early July was fully supported by Kopek Security, which had been part of the planning for more than six months. Marketing director Anthony Johnson said: “It was a huge task and an honour to be able to supply all of the security for this event. It did show the extent of Kopek Security’s capabilities with a team of over 65 fully qualified and local managers, supervisors, security guards and stewards.” Kopek Security also supplied monitored mobile CCTV towers for the control room to monitor the whole event in real-time, drug detection dogs, overnight assets and protection dog handlers.
Mr Hall said curating the event in the middle of a pandemic had been an extraordinary experience. He said: “It was my first live performance for two years and very unlike anything I’ve performed before. I enjoyed performing in front of an audience again and seeing some live music in my hometown of Coventry.”
Restart Scheme already changing lives in Coventry
Serco is proud to have been selected by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver its Restart Scheme alongside regional and community-based delivery partners in Coventry.
Tom Beard, Employment Engagement Manager, says, “We work with a diverse range of employers to minimise their recruitment challenges and bring job ready candidates through the door. Feedback has been really positive, particularly because employers enjoy a fully funded service and benefit from one point of contact to reach a vast pool of candidates sourced through our network of delivery partners.” We want candidates to add value to employers from day one. So, when Jobcentre Plus refer eligible Participants onto the DWP Restart Scheme, we assign a dedicated
Job Coach to prepare them with the skills and resilience that businesses need. For example, pre-employment training may come from partners with a stake in the local community and the expertise and funding to upskill candidates. And after they start work, we offer further support to make sure businesses have the employee skills they need to flourish. We’ve had numerous successes helping people to be job ready. James* was a graduate struggling to find work in the UK, despite being open to any sector and any role. But after looking for three
years his confidence was low. His Job Coach trained him and helped reposition his language skills and overseas work experience as a positive. Shortly after joining the Restart Scheme, James was able to accept a permanent role on the shop floor within a large manufacturer of windows and doors in Warwickshire. If you want to know how the Restart Scheme could benefit your business and help someone turn their life around, get in touch: www.serco-ese.com/ restart-scheme *James is not his real name
Coventry-based XL Motors scoops major win at British Bodyshop Awards XL Motors, an automotive repair centre based in Longford, has won the prestigious Kitemark Excellence Award at this year’s British Bodyshop Awards. Winning the accolade is no mean feat – the hotly contested award recognises Bodyshop’s that have excelled in the way they promote their Kitemark certification, and the positive impacts it has had for their business. The accolade reflects XL’s commitment to ensuring that it goes above and beyond in everything it does, from the way it interacts with customers to the training and support it offers staff.
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
To even qualify for the award, Bodyshop’s must hold the BSI Kitemark standard BS 10125 for Vehicle Damage Repair, which XL Motors has proudly held since 2008. The category’s judging criteria focused on whether nominees have excelled in promoting their BSI Kitemark, whether they have boosted customer satisfaction and engagement, and how successfully they have embedded the Kitemark into their business. Based in Longford, XL Motors has experienced significant growth and development over the last few years, winning plaudits in the local area for its high level
of service. The business is an approved repair centre for a wide array of vehicle brands, including Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo. Having invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, as well as in training and customer service. Reflecting on XL’s award win at the glitzy London awards ceremony, XL’s Managing Director, Rob Ally, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised with the Kitemark Excellence Award. It is a real testament to the dedication of every member of our team, and it shows how far we have come as a business in recent years.
XL Motors Managing Director, Rob Ally (left) and Operations Manager, David Lloyd (right)
This is a clear sign that what we are doing is working, but the hard work won’t stop here.” For more information about XL Motors visit www.xlarc.co.uk
Freight Forwarder puts himself in the ring Coventry-based Retail Transport is extremely proud of its freight forwarder Rob Harrison for putting himself in the ring for a good cause. The company has spent the last two years raising money for a local charity, The Children’s Air Ambulance. Many staff have taken part in different events to raise money and the company will be doubling whatever is raised by the end of 2021. Robert Harrison said: “I’ll be taking on the biggest challenges of all. I’ve struggled with social anxieties throughout my life and even though I find being the centre of attention excruciating, I’ll be taking part in a charity boxing match on Friday November 19 at Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue in Coventry. Rob started work at Retail Transport as an apprentice in 2010, gradually working his way up from administration roles to running his own groupage department and taking on sales & marketing roles. Managing director Dave Hughes said: “We’re extremely proud of Rob; he really has taken on all the opportunities that have come his way whilst working for RTS. The proof of this personal quality to take himself out of his comfort zone is shown in his determination to take on this challenge.” During this year, Rob has featured in BBC Midlands today, The Coventry Telegraph and local radio to share his remarkable story about his social anxiety disorder.
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