C&W in Business September 2020 by Benham Publishing Limited

Issue 79 September - October 2020

Andrew Houston A Results Business Page 20

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Foreword

Contents

Dear Chamber of Commerce Member, As summer has turned to autumn, our minds would normally start to turn to end of year events and, dare I say it, Christmas and New Year But these are not normal times. Thankfully, children have returned to school and more and more companies across Coventry and Warwickshire are getting back to business. There is no ‘one size, fits all’ model to the way firms are starting to operate as we have all had to adapt over the past six months as the circumstances have changed.

by Louise Bennett OBE DL Chief Executive Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

All you, our very loyal and valued members, need to know is that your Chamber is here to help you and can offer advice on making sure you are up to speed with the very latest advice from Government – whether that’s socially distancing in the office or the phased end of the furlough scheme. Speaking of normality, we will soon begin to see face-to-face events beginning to happen again and that will bring its own challenges but also marks another step on the road to getting back to business. The events and hospitality sector has been badly hit by the Coronavirus crisis and we have pushed for additional support for the industry from Government due to the sheer impact it has felt during these times. From a Chamber point of view, the team here has delivered some incredible online events throughout this period – which have offered members the opportunity to stay informed and also speak to decision-makers at a local, regional and national level through our #PolicyHour sessions. Our Growth team recently launched a new series of one-toone conversations with owners and managers of companies of all sizes and sectors every Tuesday between 11am and 1pm. The 111 Take Action Tuesday calls will offer 20-minute slots for businesses to book in with Chamber business advisers who will be able to offer information on everything from business planning and marketing to grant funding. These have proved to be extremely popular and can be booked via the Chamber website.

Further to that, independent retailers across Warwickshire are being offered free expert advice on how to grow their businesses out of the Covid-19 recession using social media and other digital tools. The advice is being offered as part of a £5million package of support from Warwickshire County Council to boost the immediate economic recovery of the county. The programme is being delivered for the Chamber by Stories Marketing and will work with retailers on how they can drive footfall and online traffic to their business using tools such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as being able to accept online payments – even if they don’t have an eCommerce website. The first taster session will take place on Wednesday, September 23, with a host of further online workshops and 1:1 support available from October through to March 2021. And, in terms of our Annual Economic Conference, we are currently looking at a date of November 11 and while it will be an online broadcast, it will follow a similar format to our hugely successful conferences of recent years. More on that soon! Despite the great success of our online events, I know the team is also very much looking forward to beginning face-to-face events as soon as possible – although clearly in a safe and Covid-compliant way.

September - October 2020 Economy

News

7-8

Member Update

Corporate Profiles 10-11 News

12-13

Chamber Training

Chamber Talent

News

16-18

Profile

20-21

CWRT

23-26

News

27-28

What I believe has remained clear during the course of the past six months is just how important your Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is in both supporting business but also speaking on its behalf and that will continue to be the case. So please do get in touch with us here at the Chamber if you have any issues or would like help in anyway to ensure your business can survive and grow. That’s what we are here for. Stay safe. Kind regards, Louise, Mrs L Bennett-Bayliss OBE, DL Chief Executive

Around the Region 33-38 Education & Skills 41-43 President & People

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Economy The official publication of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce ••••

CONTACTS

Mayor says start-up revolution will need big business survival

At the Chamber News desk Members are encouraged to send any news about their firm - new orders, staff, new products, expansions or relocations for publication in C&W in business. Whilst every effort will be made to publish submitted articles, we cannot guarantee inclusion. Send them to: news@cw-chamber.co.uk Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Chamber House Innovation Village Cheetah Road Coventry CV1 2TL T: 024 76 654321 F: 024 76 450242

At the publishers Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ T: 0151 236 4141 Advertising Contact Karen Hall karen@benhampublishing.com T: 07801 788880 Production Manager Mark Etherington Accounts Director Joanne Casey Media Number 1733 © Benham Publishing 2020 C&W in Business is produced on behalf of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce by Benham Publishing Limited and is distributed to members free of charge. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in C&W in Business, neither Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber.

•••• C&W in Business Advertising Features for 2020 November - December 2020 Pre-Festive Looking to book a Christmas party for work? The region is blessed with excellent restaurants, hotels and venues as highlighted in our timely feature.

City of Culture 2021 A focus on the benefits City of Culture will bring to the region in 2021.

Copy deadline 28th October 2020 For further information on the forthcoming features please contact: Terry Brannigan Chamber Sales DD 07841 115444 Terry@benhampublishing.com

Louise Bennett with Andy Street (prior to the Coronavirus crisis)

A rise of small and start-up firms in Coventry and Warwickshire on the back of the Coronavirus crisis will only happen if bigger businesses are supported to grow again, according to the Mayor of the West Midlands. Andy Street was speaking to companies across the region on the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce #PolicyHour call and outlined the West Midlands’ response to the crisis. He talked through a £3.2 billion ‘ask’ of Government through a Recharge WM document to help tackle the economic fall-out of the virus after it was revealed that the West Midlands would be one of the hardest hit regions due to the make-up of the economy. The measures, he said, would protect 135,000 jobs

and create thousands of training opportunities. Street said the crisis could lead to a rise in start-up businesses but that their success would rely on the region’s larger firms being able to grow again after the pandemic. He said: “It will be positive if people do decide to move towards selfemployment but, either directly or indirectly, their demand comes from the region’s really big businesses. Companies such as JLR are mission critical for our region. “The next challenge is to help smaller businesses become medium-sized businesses. It’s great that we are able to generate start-ups but if we can speed up their growth, that helps the economy to grow.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “In recent weeks we’ve seen a real spike in the enquiries from people who want to start a business through our business support team. “That is something many will be thinking about at this time and we’d encourage them to come to us for support. Andy Street is absolutely right that their growth will be supported by helping and protecting the wider economy.” The wider Recharge WM plan details the need for support for the electrification of the automotive industry, including investment in a giga-factory. It also outlines the need for ‘green growth’ including making more homes energy efficient as well as wider investment in housing, transport and skills. Street said: “We are the first region to get this kind of ‘bid’ into Government for what we need to respond to the Coronavirus crisis and we felt it was important for the West Midlands to make its case. The fact that the Prime Minister was here in our region announcing his plans to ‘build, build, build’ shows that Government understands the need to make this a national recovery.” Louise added: “We were delighted to have Andy with us on our very popular #PolicyHour call. He answered a series of questions on a whole host of topics. “As a Chamber we are very pleased to back his £3.2 billion Recharge WM plan to help our region recover economically from the pandemic.”

Interest rate decision backed by the Chamber The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Bank of England’s decision to keep interest rates at their record low but say its forecasts underline the economic tightrope firms are facing. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to leave rates at 0.1 per cent while it forecasted that the economic downturn would be less severe than originally predicted, however the recovery, it believes, will take longer. The economy is expected to fall by 9.5 per cent in 2020 – compared to an original forecast of 14 per cent – and the

Bank of England then expects it to grow by nine per cent in 2021 and 3.5 per cent in 2022. Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The decision to leave interest rates at 0.1 per cent is welcome and was just about the only option for the Bank of England considering the economic tightrope that businesses across our patch are facing. “There is encouragement in the Bank’s forecast that the downturn will be less severe although that would still be the sharpest decline for 100 years.

“We must also account for the fact that the Bank’s forecasts are based on two factors which are still uncertain – that there will not be a second wave of COVID-19 that leads to similar disruption to that which we’ve already seen and that the UK will strike a new EU trade deal that makes our exit from the European Union a smooth one. “The Bank also recognises that unemployment is going to rise and that is why the Chamber is calling upon Government to reduce the tax burden on employing staff in a bid to save as many jobs as possible.”

Further help needed to stem job losses Employment will fall further without additional help for firms to keep people in work – that’s the message from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. The number of people in employment across the UK dropped by 220,000 in the quarter between April and June as the economic fall-out of the Coronavirus pandemic continued to take its toll. Louise Bennett, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the coming months

would see firms across the region making critical decisions. She said: “Each individual person losing their job as a consequence of the crisis is extremely sad. “These have been extremely difficult times for everyone and businesses across our patch have been working incredibly hard to survive. “The Government support – particularly furlough – has worked to limit jobs losses but as that scheme is being phased out in the next couple of

months, the evidence from Chamber surveys suggests more jobs will go. “Therefore, it’s vitally important that the Government does all it can to lower the costs of employing staff, such as reducing employer National Insurance contributions and expanding the Employment Allowance. “As well as that, we still need to see further targeted support for certain sectors that have been more severely affected by the crisis.”

•••• 4

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Get on the starting line for Commonwealth Games contracts

Firms in Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to put themselves in the frame for £145 million worth of Commonwealth Games contracts available in 2020. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce organised a video conference call with the organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to discuss the business opportunities available from the event. Firms heard that of the £330 million worth of private contracts on offer, £145 million were expected to be awarded this year while, overall, the Games is expected to be worth in excess of £1 billion to the regional economy. Contracts available include everything from fleet vehicle hire to security and from uniform production to construction work. They can be found at the www.finditincw.co.uk platform. David Grady, Chief Financial Officer for Birmingham 2022, said: “It’s not quite business as usual because of the current circumstances but we are very much open for business. “Now, more than ever, the Games are a critical opportunity for this region and they can be a catalyst for change for the local economy.

“The Commonwealth Games has a history of delivering much more than just a few days of sport. There are the procurement opportunities – which this year alone amount to £145 million – there are jobs directly associated with the Games which will see around 1,200 people employed by us. “This is a critical time for our procurement programme as we are engaging the market with several key contracts and we really do want to see local suppliers putting themselves forward. “When you look at it in light of COVID-19, this is a fantastic opportunity for companies and the whole region and Birmingham 2022 can be a major part of the recovery and resurgence.” Chris Nagle, Events, Communications and Marketing Manager for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This has been a tough time for the whole country and businesses are starting to emerge from the crisis. “Having the Commonwealth Games in our region in 2022 – on the back of UK City of Culture in 2021 – can be a massive boost for everyone, including our business community.

“We are very grateful to David Grady and the team for providing this update and we would urge firms from across Coventry and Warwickshire to find out about all the contracts available through the FinditinCW portal.” For more information go to www.finditincw.co.uk and for information about how to tender for Birmingham 2022 business go to www.birmingham2022.com

of Commerce holds School Forums to bring together employers and education, while Shropshire Chamber works as part of a wider network to connect education and business. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce successfully launched Chamber Talent in 2019 and has a range of members from education, while education establishments are represented on Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber’s area councils. Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce manages the Southern Staffordshire Schools Forum, which 25 schools attend, while Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has 186 educational institutions as members. Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said now, more than ever, it was vital that young people are equipped with the skills that will be needed as firms look to grow again out of the Coronavirus crisis.

The UK economy officially entered recession after a 2.2 per cent drop in GDP in the first quarter of 2020 followed by a massive fall of 20.4 per cent in the second quarter as the country was in full lockdown.

She said: “The fall-out from the Coronavirus crisis is going to impact our economy for years to come and unemployment, which has remained very low over a sustained period of time, is expected to be one of the major issues. “Young people are already disproportionately affected by unemployment and that is set to rise in the coming months. “It’s vitally important, therefore, to listen to businesses when new programmes are being devised to help equip young people with the skills they need to get into, and stay in, the workplace. “Chambers are a long-standing bridge between the business and the education sectors and we’d urged Government to tap into those links in order to ensure that the needs of employers and the practicalities of delivery are fully appreciated. “Getting young people to be work-ready is not something that has been brought on by Coronavirus but tackling it will give us a solid foundation for rebuilding our economy in the aftermath of the crisis.”

New immigration rules explained to businesses Coventry and Warwickshire businesses have learned more about how they would be able to hire overseas workers for skilled roles that they are unable to fill domestically when freedom of movement with the EU ends in January. The government has published further details about how its immigration points system will operate for overseas workers for which they will need a minimum of 70 points to gain entry into the UK. Mandatory measures including having a licensed job sponsor, the job meeting a minimum skill level, and being able to speak English to an acceptable standard will earn the applicant 50 points. The applicant must then obtain a further 20 “tradeable” points, whether that is through their salary - which has to be at a minimum of £20,480 - or a job in an occupation where is a shortage of skills, or a relevant PhD. The Government has also announced it will set up a cross-departmental unit called the Office for Talent, which will make it easier for leading global scientists, researchers and innovators to come and live and work in the UK.

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Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This update is welcome news for businesses in our region who are looking to address any skills gaps in the medium to long term future - particularly in within the science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors. “That said, the immediate short-term priority for the majority of firms is surviving the impact left behind by the Coronavirus lockdown - and as businesses start to turn their attentions to thriving from longer term growth opportunities, so will the need to recruit additional talent. “While we now have clarity over how hiring overseas workers looks, it is by no means a straight forward process, and it’s vital that businesses receive as much support as possible right from the moment they begin to explore overseas recruitment to ensure as a region - and country - we are maximising the talent available to us.” British Chambers of Commerce Director General Adam Marshall said: “The government has listened to calls from the Chamber Network and provided

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive says a deep economic drop was inevitable in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis. Louise Bennett believes bold action is needed to help restore confidence and build on a rise in economic output in June.

Chambers across the Midlands make united plea Business leaders across the Midlands have issued a united call to Government to do more to help get young people ready for the workplace in the aftermath of the Coronavirus crisis. Unemployment is forecast to rise steeply over the coming months as support such as the Job Retention scheme begin to be phased out and companies assess the true damage that has been done by the crisis. Young people are predicted to be the hardest hit and Chambers of Commerce across the Midlands are urging Government to link any investment in skills training with engagement with employers in order to meet the needs of business. Chambers across the Midlands have more than 8,000 business members but also engage heavily with the education sector through schools, colleges and other educational establishments. Across the region, Chambers have well over 300 partners from education including schools, colleges and universities but also work with education in a range of other ways. The East Midlands Chamber

Bold action needed to build out of recession

welcome clarity on how firms can hire skilled workers from overseas as the UK completes its departure from the European Union. “Businesses are investing in homegrown talent across the UK, but will still need to fill some roles from overseas. The new immigration system will mean that thousands more firms will bear additional costs and bureaucracy when the skills they need cannot be found or developed locally. Carrying these new costs could be particularly challenging at a time when many businesses face reduced demand and historic cash flow difficulties as a result of Coronavirus. “As the new system is implemented, businesses will need help to become sponsors - and will need to see immigration applications turned around quickly. The government must do everything it can to reduce the cumulative cost of employment, including the costs associated with immigration, to help businesses recover from the pandemic, hire with confidence, and seize future opportunities.”

The figures also show that the economy actually grew in June by 8.7 per cent as lockdown measures were eased. Bennett said the shape the economic recovery will take is unclear and will be impacted by major events such as a potential second wave of Coronavirus and the striking of a trade deal with the EU before the end of the transition period. She said: “It isn’t flippant to say that the UK entering recession was to be expected, it was inevitable when you consider the position the country was in, particularly at the end of March and in April. “The crisis has caused the deepest recession of our lifetime although we can see from the figures that the economy grew in June – probably due to the pent-up demand after lockdown. “We have to be cautious in thinking that this is the start of a sustained recovery as there will be many more hurdles to come as some of the support mechanisms for businesses are taken away and we start to see the true impact the crisis has had. “Of course, a recovery will be affected if we see a second wave while our future trading relationship with the EU will also have a strong bearing on economic growth. “It’s vital, therefore, that we see further bold action from Government to limit the number of job losses over the coming weeks and months including a reduction in employer National Insurance contributions. Businesses will also require targeted help – especially in the event of further lockdowns either at national or regional levels.”

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Major contract win for Midlands law firm

Leading Midlands law firm Wright Hassall has signed two major deals to supply legal services to the housing association sector which is on an expansion drive to meet rising demand.

Wright Hassall, which is based on Olympus Avenue in Leamington Spa, triumphed in a competitive tendering process to be appointed to the Central Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) and the South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA). The firm, which works with around 50 different UK housing associations, will be assisting with a range of legal support from land acquisition through to conveyancing and litigation work for at least the next three years. CHIC is a consortium made up of 70 landlords which service over half a million social housing homes across the Midlands, South and South

Wales. SYHA provides nearly 6,000 homes that supports more than 10,000 individuals. Andrew Dudley, partner and social housing sector lead at Wright Hassall, said: “The social housing sector is set to grow exponentially over the coming years to meet an increasing demand for housing – particularly as the government looks to accelerate construction to boost the economy – so we are delighted that as a firm we will be able to play our part in supporting this growth. “As such, the tendering process for both contracts was extremely competitive, and winning both tenders reinforces

the firm’s reach beyond the Midlands and into other areas of the UK. “CHIC set out three separate areas for companies to submit tenders – including corporate, governance and finance; housing and asset management; and property and development across England and Wales – so we were delighted to have secured a place in all three. “Wright Hassall has been advising housing associations ever since the sector was created in 1965, and takes great pride in strengthening its presence in a sector that is a key part of the company’s history.”

PET-Xi offers support to local residents Through its partnership with Serco, PET-Xi is offering local residents the opportunity to upskill with fully funded level 2 qualifications. The initiative is being offered as part of the Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) scheme, which is funded by European Social Fund and Education and Skills Funding Agency, and is ideal for people who are at risk of redundancy or have recently been made redundant in the past three months.

As well as level 2 qualifications in team leading, IT user skills, customer services, health and social care and Sage, there is full support available from PETXi’s progressions coordinator to help people move back into employment. Brendan has completed level 2 IT user skills with PET-Xi through his employer and has since been informed he is at risk of redundancy. He has decided to use the opportunity to gain some more qualifications

to add to his CV and build his confidence to attend interviews and find new employment. He said: “Within my role I use Excel and spreadsheets on a daily basis, but with quite limited knowledge so only using basic functions. I really wanted to learn how to use Excel more effectively to make me more attractive to employers. The PET-Xi programme exceeded my expectations and was fastpaced and well organised.”

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme already in excess of £30 billion, it should not come as a surprise that HMRC are working hard to recover overpayments made under the scheme.

Legislation has been introduced to recover overpaid sums, with penalties of up to 100% possible on top of the recovery of overpayments identified. There is also the possibility of those who have deliberately made incorrect claims having their details published. To avoid penalties, anyone who has overclaimed should notify HMRC and repay the overpaid amount.

New brand for Coventry Moves

Coventry City of Culture Trust has unveiled a new brand for the upcoming year-long programme, Coventry Moves. The creative vision is brought to life in the vibrant new

brand design, website and a powerful film telling the story of Coventry’s history, featuring two Coventry-born artists – Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated composer

Laura McMillan, director of operations and legacy at Coventry City of Culture Trust, who led on the brand work for the trust, said: “It’s a major milestone on our journey to be launching the new brand. Coventry Moves has been developed alongside partners and communities across the city following hours of consultation with thousands of people since this adventure began back in 2015. Our year as UK City of Culture allows us to tell our city’s story, and use everything that makes Coventry unique to shape its future.” For more information visit https://coventry2021.co.uk

Keir Starmer visits Coventry College Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has visited Coventry College to hear how the further education (FE) institution is equipping young and mature students with the skills and experience to thrive in a post-Covid world. Starmer, along with shadow education secretary Kate Green, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill Liam Byrne, and councillor George Duggins, leader of Coventry City Council, dropped by the college’s Henley campus to find out more about the opportunities and challenges facing the FE sector. They met with students, apprentices and employers who are benefiting from apprenticeships during the COVID-19

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pandemic, as well as finding out more about the college’s careers clinics that are helping adults who have been furloughed or made redundant to re-train in a new career. The visit also incorporated a tour of the college’s industry-focused facilities, ranging from engineering and catering to sport and digital, followed by a Q&A session with employers, learners, apprentices and staff. Gill Banks, CEO at Coventry College, said: “The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has thrust the role of colleges and further education further into the limelight now more than ever, as we provide students, including those who have been furloughed

HMRC on the hunt for furlough overclaims With the cost to the taxpayer of the

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Clint Mansell, who provided the score, alongside a voiceover by actress Manjinder Virk. Movement plays an important role in the brand design strategy for Coventry Moves. It takes inspiration from the city’s story, modernist built environment and celebrates the people, cultures and histories that have contributed to its international reputation. It highlights Coventry as a city of welcome, a city of activists and pioneers, a city of peace and reconciliation, a city of innovation and invention, and now a City of Culture. All aspects of the campaign were developed in partnership with Uncommon Creative Studio.

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Chamber Training

(L to R): Jemma Anspach, Sarah Williams, Heena Chauhan, Angela Williams and Carla George

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training Celebrates Apprenticeship Achievements Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training is celebrating the functional skills achievements of all 60 apprentices who recently obtained their Maths & English results. Leading up to the lock down they had all been working hard on developing their skills in this area ready to take the exams planned between March and July 2020. As lockdown became apparent all the exams were cancelled which impacted on the progression within their respective apprenticeship programme. Exceptional times calls for exceptional measures. Fortunately the government responded with mitigation arrangements and it was announced that for these apprentices Tutor Assessment was to be permitted and Centre Assessment Grades were submitted to City & Guilds. A centre assessed grade is the evidence-based, provisional judgement of a candidate’s component result which a centre submits to the awarding organisation. The results are then confirmed by the Awarding Organisation in our case City & Guilds. This was something the team at Chamber Training had not experienced before. The teaching team were challenged to devise a process for measuring the attainment of the learners course work to ensure it was up to the standards required. Throughout a 4 week period in June the learners collated all their course work for the tutors to assess culminating in 60 learners achieving 73 qualifications in all. A few learners also passed their ICT resulting in three achievements for them. Jan Ryan Operations Director at Chamber Training stated: “These are unprecedented times that we are working in. As a training provider we remain agile and are working very hard to ensure our apprentices reach their planned goals by applying all of the opportunities presented. This has been a real change in the way we operate and I am pleased to see the staff and all the apprentices rewarded for all their hard work. Demonstrating high level literacy and numeracy skills is essential to succeed in today’s workforce and as a result of this achievement our learners can go forwards and prosper with their roles.” To find out more about how Apprenticeships can help you and your business, please call the Business Development Team at Chamber Training on 024 7623 1122 or enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Another accountancy partnership success for Chamber Training Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber Training is proud to be working in partnership with Coventry based accountants McGlone Wardzynski to develop a continued pathway for Apprenticeships across its workforce. The accountancy firm has been supporting businesses for over 20 years and provides a wide variety of services including business start-ups, compliance services, consultancy, investment and pension and taxation services. During Covid-19 Nicky Cheshire, account manager at Chamber Training worked closely with the accountancy firm to provide flexible, online interviews to source accountancy Apprentices. After sourcing two suitable apprentices, she was able to offer them advice on developing practice interview sessions, CV writing and other aspects of working within an accountancy environment. James Rose, Director at McGlone Wardzynski has worked alongside Chamber Training to develop the company’s training and development programme whilst gaining their support and specialist guidance in identifying skills gaps within the business. Both companies have already been successful in the implementation of a number accountancy Apprentices and is making solid plans for the future of the business. Commenting on the support gained from Chamber Training, James said: “We were originally looking to source

one accountancy Apprentice, however Ella Pollard and Sumaya Miah were both perfect candidates so we decided to create another position to accommodate both of them. They have gained a vast array of experience from working within our company whilst also receiving offthe-job training with Chamber Training whilst being supported by our existing level 3 Apprentice Jack Baker who we also sourced through Chamber Training. He has worked for the company for over two years and is performing extremely well. Based on the success of the apprentices, we are now keen to develop the team further with assistance and guidance from Nicky.” Sally Lucas, Executive Director at Chamber Training said: “We are absolutely delighted about the Apprenticeship success within McGlone Wardzynski and we would like to take this opportunity to wish Jack, Ella and Sumaya every success in their future goals and aspirations. “Accountancy Apprenticeships offer a structured approach to training and developing qualified accountants and they can gain skills that will apply to so many professions. In addition, the prospective salary for qualified accountants or those working in the financial profession can be attractive. “We are currently working with a number of accountancy firms to help provide their Apprentices with a valuable pathway to a rewarding career. The mixture of on and off the job learning

(Front) Nicky Cheshire (right) with Jack Baker, Sumaya Miah (middle), Ella Pollard and Amanda Asbury

ensures they develop the skills that work best for the business involved. It is a good time for employers to take full advantage of additional Government incentives supporting businesses to create new jobs and Apprenticeships. From August 2020 until January 2021 employers can access £3,000 for each new apprentice aged 16-18 recruited into a new job, £2,000 for 19-24 year olds and £1,500 for those aged 25 and over. “So, if any companies are looking to recruit Apprentices, remember they can be used to train both new and existing employees and there are highly flexible programmes available, so it is certainly an option for all businesses to consider in their business planning.” To find out more about how Chamber Training can help you to source Apprentices for your business, please call a member of their Business Development Team on 02476 231 122 or enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Did you know funding is available to support eligible businesses to build the skills needed for your workforce? Chamber Training is pleased to announce the new Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth programme that supports local small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) to train and develop their employees with the skills needed in our changing environment. Chamber Training is able to offer 50% ESF funding to eligible businesses towards the costs of the one day seminar programmes; Managing Change, Time Management, Effective Communications together with accredited qualifications such as ILM Management Development Level 2, 3 and 5; Award in Education & Training (City & Guilds); Certificate in Mental Health Awareness; and Train the Trainer.

Emergency First Aid ILM Level 2 (Accredited) SUPERVISORY SUPER 7 TOOLKIT: Effective Communication Training & Coaching The Team Building the Team Motivating the Team Managing Difficult People Understanding Discipline in the Workplace Setting Goals & Targets Accreditation session (if all courses are done and accreditation applied for) Suite Full Discount ILM Level 3 (Accredited) ILM Level 5 (Accredited) Microsoft Excel Basic to Intermediate Communicating Assertively Complaint Handling Excel Intermediate to Advanced Professional Telephone Techniques Professional Email Writing Managing Change Successfully Time Management

The ESF funding is for SME’s (a maximum of 249 employees) operating across the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership area, working in advanced manufacturing and engineering including aerospace and rail, health and social care, logistics, construction, education, culture and tourism, digital and creative industries, IT services, professional services or retail.

Chamber Member Price + VAT £115 £600

Non-Member Price + VAT £140 £600

Duration Full Day 4 days

£110 + VAT £110 + VAT £110 + VAT £110 + VAT £110 + VAT £110 + VAT £110 + VAT

£135 + VAT £135 + VAT £135 + VAT £135 + VAT £135 + VAT £135 + VAT £135 + VAT

Half Day - am Half Day - pm Half Day - am Half Day - pm Half Day - am Half Day - pm Half Day - am

£700 £2,000 £2,400 £130 £110 £110 £130 £110 £110 £220 £220

£850 £,2000 £2,400 £160 £135 £135 £160 £135 £135 £245 £245

Half Days x 7 29 Days 37 Days Full Day Half Day - am Half Day - pm Full Day Half Day - am Half Day - pm Full Day Full Day

Sep-20 18th

Chamber Training will work with you to identify your organisation’s training needs and recommend appropriate training. A development programme will be agreed that will deliver the practical skills needed to take your workforce into the future. For more information, or to see if your company may be eligible for 50% ESF funding, please contact our Business Development Team on 024 7623 1122 or enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Oct-20

Nov-20

20th & 27th

17th & 24th

Dec20

6th 6th 13th 13th 20th 20th 27th 27th starting 12th starting 15th 21st

3rd 3rd 18th 10th 10th 17th

15th

Prices subject to VAT. Please note: Chamber Training courses will be delivered remotely between September to December 2020 (unless otherwise advised)

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Chamber Talent

Chamber Talent members prepare for the future The region’s future business leaders have been using lockdown to develop their skillsets in preparation for a post-Covid world. Members of Chamber Talent, a network of young professionals and entrepreneurs, have continued to work together to stay positive and learn new skills from home through workshops on resilience and negotiating sales online. Sarah Alexander, Executive Coach and Director for Vivid Communication, delivered the Resilience in Times of Adversity Workshop which shared tips on how to continue working from home, how to stay positive and to network with other Chamber Talent members. Phil Ingle, from Phil Ingle Associates, also helped members to improve their mindset when it comes to negotiating skills - which included exploring ways to prepare for negotiations, as well as analysing habits and traits of successful negotiators, before encouraging participants to identify approaches that work for them in an online world. Sarah said: “Resilience is a hot topic right now, and rightly so - as it is our ability to bounce back - as we are all

facing challenges and changes in the way we live and work. “Developing skills such as resilience is a key part of the Chamber Talent Programme as it is about developing rising star professionals as the new generation of leaders, and how they can increase not just the resilience of themselves, but also of their teams. “My business, Vivid, a local training and coaching practice, is supporting the Chamber Talent Programme by leading virtual workshops on key skills such as resilience, managing time effectively, presenting with impact and influencing others. “The professionals who attended the recent sessions had great questions and input, bringing the topics to life with their own examples.” Phil’s negotiation session followed on from Sarah’s, and he was keen to emphasise that negotiating online is set to become the norm. He added: “Many things have moved online this year, and that includes every aspect of negotiation. This means business professionals need to enhance their skills in this crucial area, and in negotiation there is no limit to how good to you can get. “Everyone can think more about what they want to negotiate and work out

how to achieve it by adding structure and flexibility to their approach. “I really enjoyed working with the Chamber Talent members, and having been a Chamber of Commerce member for nearly 20 years, I know how important it is to develop skills and nurture business relationships – something at which the Chamber excels.” Sean Rose, Chamber Talent Lead at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added:

“This was the perfect subject matter for helping our Chamber Talent members to not only stay positive during lockdown, but to also prepare for working life after it too. “We have been working hard to continue providing training opportunities for all our members during lockdown after listening to their feedback, and to engage them on interesting subject matters while they work from home.”

For more information on upcoming Chamber Talent events, visit https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/membership/chamber-talent/

BLOG: Alejandro Perez - Llabata Chamber Talent Board Member Why I joined the Chamber Talent Board In my experience before moving to the Midlands, where I lived lacked opportunity and advice, in commercialisation and entrepreneurship. So I made a promise to myself to offer any support, advice and experiential insight I had, to young high-potential individuals that also didn’t have any opportunities or guidance – a promise I think all entrepreneurs should make. IUDRO was fortunate and grateful that last year, after quite a relentless effort, we were the sole company that successfully graduated from the Coventry University Tech Incubator in 2019, and I’d love to share the lessons learnt to as many people as possible. Its an honour to be the sole

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managing director on the Chamber Talent board, and I look forward to helping as many upcoming startups as possible in the region.

What’s it like launching a new product during COVID? Sincerely? Far more exciting and impactful than if we had made the same announcement pre-COVID. From at least our experience, it whittles down to a few key considerations • We had to be aware of the latest changes before they’ve even happened Attending conferences, listening to podcasts, reading industry news on Reuters - understanding the market change was crucial for us to find out what we needed to do and when.

Being also inquisitive about how our customers have been affected, and the knock-on effect it had on our service, was essential to identify the exact means of delivering it. • In times like these, in-kind contributions and partnerships are worth more than they ever have Working alongside those that share the same position as your business and sharing mutual strengths with one another, is of priceless value – dare I say, as valuable as cash over fist! This mindset singlehandedly allowed us to attain our IUDRObranded world-class racing software, and most importantly, created the authentic content the community was looking for.

• We stayed true to our core values and what we believed in We knew we had to deliver on the promise we had made to both our corporate partners and university teams, to create a racing platform to showcase their creativity and determination. When we were in the concept stages of our new series, we made sure that it didn’t deviate from our key goals and objectives we sought for pre-COVID.

News

Local retirement Employee village provides new benefit kit for club coaches specialist launches new brand and website Health Matters has gone through a complete rebrand and relaunch of their website after over 20 years in the industry. The company is a specialist team dedicated to providing a tailored service of health benefit packages to businesses across the UK. Its vision is to shape the future of organisations to create a work culture that promotes happier and healthier people, ensuring optimum productivity. Health Matters rebranding is not just cosmetic. In addition to the new graphics identity, the concept is based on the five principles of health and, more importantly, the five brand values including quality service, pure transparency, peoplefocused, forward-thinking and making a difference.

The tennis and squash coaches at not-for-profit Leamington Lawn Tennis & Squash Club (LLTSC) have a smart, top-of-the-range kit, thanks to a sponsorship agreement with local retirement village, Austin Heath. The kit, featuring training tops, sweatshirts, waterproof and winter jackets, is the first of its kind at LLTSC and the coaches are delighted with their fantastic new look. This unlikely relationship started nearly a year ago, when local marketing executive for Austin Heath, Janine Devaney, was walking her child to school and happened to notice a high level of activity going on at

the club, with many people, of various ages, milling about, playing tennis and generally having a good time. She recognised a potential mutual interest and the following day got in touch with the club’s marketing and sponsorship coordinator, Sara French. Soon afterwards, an agreement was reached between both organisations and following much input from the fashion-conscious younger coaches, and a three-month hiatus during lockdown, the final delivery of kit was received last week. Austin Heath is part of Inspired Villages, which operates six retirement villages and has an exciting pipeline of future villages that will deliver a further

Jason Pike (Head Squash Coach), Ben Franklin (Tennis Coach), Miguel Espada (Head Performance Tennis Coach), Tony Pillinger (Head Development Tennis Coach), Jake Adams (Tennis Coach), Carl Gallagher (Tennis Coach), Fiona Roche (Tennis Coach).

2,500 homes for older people across the country in a mix of edge-of-town, coastal and countryside locations. Janine Devaney said: “Inspired Villages is delighted to support Leamington Lawn Tennis & Squash Club with sponsorship. We are always keen to support organisations local to our villages because building communities is what Inspired Villages is about.” Sara French said: “We have an exceptional coaching

programme at LLTSC, with friendly, highly qualified, DBS-checked coaches, who offer individual and group lessons. However, up until last week, everyone wore different clothing, making them difficult to identify, particularly for new visitors to the club. However, thanks to our partnership with Austin Heath – Inspired Villages, our team are easily recognisable and they also look incredibly smart.”

Mecalac appoints new general manager business growth. Leading the company’s Coventry operations, he will play an instrumental role in driving profitability and increasing market share. Prior to joining Mecalac, Juergen founded leadership consultancy Kooperationsgemeinschaft Ostendorp & Kreienbaum. This was preceded by time spent as managing director of IMI Hydronic Engineering and managing director of JCB Vibromax GmbH. Throughout an illustrious career, Juergen has also held senior-level roles at Deutz-Fahr, John Deere and Kverneland Group. Paul Macpherson, commercial director at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, said: “We are delighted to finally announce Juergen’s appointment. He brings substantial experience from senior international roles with some of the world’s most successful construction and agricultural machinery brands, as well as offering significant consulting expertise. His role as general

manager will be central to our success in the coming years as we focus on our strategic ambition of driving continued global growth with investment in continuous quality improvements, as well as new and innovative products that will delight our customers.” Juergen added: “During my career I have worked with many different global brands, but Mecalac certainly brings something special to the table. The company’s dedication to innovation, quality, capability and versatility means that its products are truly class-leading and its brand is hugely respected across the globe. “There is significant demand in the construction sector for high-quality equipment. I see great potential in Mecalac’s product portfolio and aim to establish and implement a strategic plan that secures an ever-stronger market position.” For more information visit www.mecalac.com/en

The new website offers practical information on employee health benefits from private medical insurance to EAP. With its streamlined features, modern design and improved functionality, it is designed for easy access to essential information to help employers make well-informed decisions about their employee health care benefits.

Mecalac Construction Equipment UK has announced the appointment of Juergen Kreienbaum as general manager. Joining the business with immediate effect, his appointment demonstrates Mecalac’s commitment to continued global growth. With significant board-level experience from positions around the world – including Russia, the Netherlands, USA, India and Norway – Juergen is an expert in change management and

Rabia Bagurai, group marketing manager, said: “I am delighted to see the brand and website come together and I am looking forward to everyone getting a chance to see it. The Health Matters brand has been around for over 20 years and so it was the perfect opportunity to move with time to give us a more competitive edge and a fresh new feel.

Midlands firms invent coronavirus queuing system

“Whilst working on the brand and the website, our focal point was our people to ensure we are offering the best solutions to business across the UK. The website truly ties this all together to ensure that our users are getting the same experience and access to services and information regardless of what platform they are using.”

Two Coventry firms are at the front of the queue in helping retailers attract customers back to town and city centres. Stadium, which specialises in security, safety and traffic management, has teamed up with Flood Engineering to design and produce a queuing system, Q-Smart, which will keep shoppers socially distanced as well as dry, and allow retailers to double the number of people they have waiting to enter their stores. The new portable Q-Smart system allows two parallel lines of people separated by an anti-bacterial perspective dividing wall, while a roof keeps them dry as they wait outside a store or business. The structures can either be surface-mounted or fixed

more permanently to the floor using a patented locking system, and can vary in length to suit the requirements of the business. David McAtamney, founder of Stadium, said: “The lockdown and partial re-opening has, by and large, coincided with some good summer weather but that will change and with social distancing here to stay for some considerable time, people’s appetite for queueing when the conditions are not so good, may start to wane. “We have worked in stewarding and safety for ten years, and we know that creating conditions that allow people to queue in safety and in a way which is very obvious for them, is best.

“As more normal conditions return and there are more pedestrians in town and city centres, stores are going to have to be very organised to ensure the highest levels of safety, and people will only

use those businesses which now have the best measures in place.” The two companies have already trialled Q-Smart in Coventry city centre, where it has proved successful.

David McAtamney, Fred Turner, Anthony Turner, Mick Welland, James Melia, Chris Melia

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Take action - every Tuesday! with owners and managers of companies of all sizes and sectors every Tuesday between 11am and 1pm.

A new online support line has been launched for start-up firms and businesses looking for support to grow out of the coronavirus crisis. The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Accelerated Growth team is holding one-to-one conversations

The 111 Take Action Tuesday calls offer 20-minute slots for businesses to book in with Chamber business advisers who will be able to offer information on everything from business planning and marketing to grant funding. The support line is part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme and is partfunded by the European Regional Development Fund

and Coventry City Council. It launched on Tuesday, August 11 as a platform to help firms grow out of the current crisis but could be continued if it proves popular. Helena Bassett, a business adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “When the virus first hit, we were getting dozens of calls a day from businesses looking for advice to help them survive. “It was very much a case of all-hands-on-deck to help businesses get through the very strict lockdown period.

“In the past couple of weeks, we have been starting to see more businesses looking for advice to help them look to the future, how to diversify, how to manage their operations within government guidelines, and ultimately how they can grow. “We would have held this kind of session at venues around the city and the county prior to COVID-19, but thanks to the way that businesses have taken to online video calls, we believe it makes sense to do it this way.”

You can book directly via the Chamber event website at https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/ or through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/11-1-take-action-tuesday-business-helpline-tickets-113324622998

Lucketts go the distance with TruTac’s compliance software Lucketts Travel, based on the south coast and part of National Express, have been using TruTac compliance control software for more than ten years and in recent times, TruTac’s TruLinks API suite has enabled the company to automatically integrate verified vehicle and driver tachograph data direct into other systems.

In ‘normal times’ with 160 coaches operating throughout Europe on day-trips, holiday breaks and corporate services, Lucketts is presented with the challenge of keeping tabs on every journey distance and start/stop time – not only to monitor drivers’ working hours for payroll purposes but also to keep in line with EU drivers hours regulations.

For example, the powerful vehicle distance data is used in systems such as planning maintenance schedules, fuel usage and vehicle utilisation. Live, verified data is vital for reports and critical business decisions. TruLinks allows Lucketts to access key data and removes the need for manual intervention or data duplication.

Tony Lawman, Lucketts’ group managing director, said: “Like any operation of our size and type, there is a host of data to be gathered, analysed and acted upon. Using TruTac’s TruControl software, including the TruLinks module, this is all made possible. For example, we integrate all vehicle and driver information into our

vehicle management system to monitor each driver’s hours and calculate their wages.” Tony added that every time a driver reads their card, the cloud-based system sends instant start and stop data into Lucketts’ automated payroll, and the process couldn’t be faster or more accurate. Also, for enhanced control over driver and vehicle activities and as part of

Owner Colin Jones contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub for advice on how to apply for a loan and he was introduced to the Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT). This led to the business receiving £28,000 from the Duplex Investment Fund, which is a combined grant and loan, and is an initiative between the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and CWRT.

An expanding Warwickshire printing company has invested in two stateof-the-art machines and moved premises. XPD Print needed to replace its old printing press with more modern and efficient models.

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A new academy offering free courses in digital skills is poised to support the economic recovery following the coronavirus crisis as the pace of digitisation gathers momentum. The Digital Skills Academy, from North Warwickshire and South

TruTac’s TruControl analysis and reporting system, an Unknown Drivers Report feature enables vehicle operators to set a distance and time, so they can see ‘unknown’ drivers who fall within those parameters. This provides a simpler way of filtering out depot or other unrecorded movements of coaches and makes data more relevant.

Printing firm on expansion trail

Colin Jones (left) and Stuart Chalmers from XPD Print Limited

College support for digital workforce revolution

The project is being funded by £3.9 million of grants from the government’s Local Growth Fund and the CWLEP. Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council are each investing a further £2 million in the scheme, which is managed by CWRT. Following the investment exceeding £30,000, Colin is now the proud owner of a Robust Digital Press and an automated digital Die-Cutter and Creaser.

Having traded for eight years, the company is now situated in a new home at Manor Farm in Hunningham Road, Offchurch, Leamington, after moving from Stockton Hall Court near Southam. Colin said: “We are a digital print firm which amongst many other things undertakes lamination and foiling in-house and we concentrate on producing high-quality bespoke embellishment work. “The Robust Digital Press enables us to print to a much larger format than our previous one. In addition, it is significantly quicker and the quality is better so we are providing a greatly improved service to our clients. “We also decided to invest in an automated digital Die-Cutter and creaser, the VeloBlade, from Vivid Laminating Technologies. This allows us to offer many additional products and services including packaging and point-of-sale, giving us the platform we need to grow the business.”

Leicestershire College, which was launched to help businesses across the West Midlands to transform their workforces, is expecting demand to increase dramatically due to digital skills transformation seen during lockdown. Courses, including CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) and apprenticeships at a range of levels, are available online and are running at the academy’s base which is being set up at the Coventry University Technology Park in the heart of the city’s technology zone. Matt Smith, director of the Digital Skills Academy, said: “The digital sector is booming and we have seen over recent months how businesses that use technology creatively can succeed under even the most difficult circumstances. GPs are moving to video consultations, up to 60 per cent of the adult population has been working productively at home, and there has been a huge increase in e-commerce with online retail sales increasing by around one third compared with the same period a year ago. “Never before has the importance of digital inclusion been more apparent or more urgent. The drive to get the remaining one fifth of the UK population who currently don’t use the internet to join the online community represents a significant challenge. “There has never been a better time to focus on upskilling your technical capabilities and the Digital Skills Academy is here to help. Whether you are new to IT or inspired to join or progress in the sector, we can offer routes that will help you at home and in your career.” Tech and digital is the fifth largest sector in the West Midlands economy with nearly 14,000 tech and digital businesses – more than any other combined authority area in the country. For more information visit www.nwslc.ac.uk

News

Local MP discovers development thriving post-lockdown Five-figure donation to help Junior MasterChefs at Leamington school Pupils at a Warwickshire primary school can start their journeys to becoming Junior MasterChefs in a new kitchen thanks to a major donation.

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey has paid a visit to the town’s growing new neighbourhood, Houlton, to discover how the development is thriving in the wake of lockdown. The sun shone as the MP met with locals and explored the latest progress at the community, accompanied by Richard Coppell, group development director for Urban&Civic and Johanne Thomas, communities, communications and partnerships for Urban&Civic. During the tour, the MP saw the live construction site of Rugby’s newest secondary school, Houlton School, where work is forging ahead to transform the Grade II-listed Radio Station into a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the development. Delivered by main contractor Morgan Sindall, which has continued to operate throughout lockdown, MP Mark Pawsey and Darren Eaton, Morgan Sindall

Radford Semele C of E Primary School in School Lane, Radford Semele, Leamington, is transforming one of its ICT suites into a teaching kitchen for children throughout the school to enjoy cooking.

Katie Benson, head teacher at Radford Semele C of E Primary School, said: “We wanted to create a mini kitchen where there is a cooker, fridge, store cupboards for pots and pans, and tables to prepare the ingredients so it is a replica of a proper cooking space. “We have identified an ICT suite that can be used because we have a couple of other spaces where ICT can be taught, particularly since the children are using laptops rather than desktops so they can be moved around more easily. “The PTA approached AC Lloyd and we are very grateful for their £10,000 donation towards making this idea a reality.” Alistair Clark, managing director at Warwick-based AC Lloyd Homes, which is creating a 67-homes development nearby called The Cricketers, said the teaching kitchen would make a big difference to the school. He said: “We place community at the centre of our business and since we are building a development in Radford Semele, we were only too happy to provide a donation when we were asked to help by the PTA.”

where they are now welcoming future residents and regaining momentum on home sales in the popular area. Johanne Thomas said: “We were keen to show Mark just how resilient Houlton has been through this challenging period – from all perspectives.” MP Mark Pawsey added: “I was delighted to be able to visit Houlton to see how Rugby’s newest community has been continuing to develop despite the challenges of recent months.” For more information visit www.houltonrugby.co.uk

Top tips for making or updating a will

The £16,000 project is going ahead after property development and investment company AC Lloyd was approached by the school’s Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and offered to contribute £10,000. Work on the three-week building project will be completed over the summer holidays for the teaching kitchen to be ready for the start of the new school year in September.

Construction’s area commercial director, discussed the challenges of operating throughout the pandemic. Despite the restrictions in place, construction work has continued to progress safely within government guidelines and remains on track to welcome its first intake of pupils in September 2021. Throughout the morning, he also met with resident Brendan Mitchell for a doorstep chat about life at Houlton, as well as Andy Taylor, head teacher of the development’s first primary school, St Gabriel’s CofE Academy, and Elaine Enticott, operator of award-winning restaurant, The Tuning Fork. The MP also got the opportunity to see construction work continuing on the development’s four housebuilder parcels – Davidsons Homes, Redrow Homes, Morris Homes and Crest Nicholson –

By Corrine Seabourne, chartered legal executive in the private client department at Alsters Kelley Solicitors…

1. Executors Most of the time it is practical to appoint your children to act as the executors of your estates, but in some cases, this may not be appropriate. If your children are minors you need to carefully consider who you would trust to look after and invest their inheritance wisely. Most people look to appoint the guardians; however, I would always recommend perhaps the guardians and one other person to retain an independent party within the trustees.

This independent person may then monitor payments made to the guardians for the maintenance, education and support of your children.

2. Trusts More people are incorporating trusts in their wills as families evolve and stepchildren become more common in families. Many couples have children from previous marriages and wish to ensure that they are well provided for, whilst making provision for a new partner/ spouse. A property trust that protects half of your property for your children whilst allowing your

partner/spouse full protection to reside in the property is a very popular option. More couples are aiming towards this type of will that provides flexibility for the partner/ spouse and full protection for your children.

3. Businesses Executors have very limited powers when it comes to the business assets in an estate. In the absence of a correctly drafted will with additional administrative provisions, the executors have no power to continue running the business but must wind up the business. This may not always be the best solution.

It is important to consider if anyone else could run your business (it may be specialised to your skills) and, if so, if you would like your executors to have the option to continue or wind up the business. Also consider the royalties and income and to whom this should be paid.

4. Funeral wishes Where possible the preparation of a funeral plan also helps considerably and relieves the pressure of choosing the right coffin and flowers. This is not something everyone can do, however if you can, it immensely assists your loved ones.

Expanding medical centre signs joint venture with national pharmacy A Warwickshire medical centre has expanded its comprehensive primary care provision for its growing community by creating a joint venture with a multi-national pharmacy company. In a deal led by the corporate and commercial team at Lodders Solicitors, Wellesbourne’s Hastings House Medical Practice has purchased a half share of the pharmacy business and taken on leases for the pharmacy premises and adjoining GP surgery, in the neighbouring village of Kineton. Lodders has worked with the practice’s medical team for several years, and the joint venture is the latest in a number of deals completed

by the firm for Wellesbourne Medical Centre in recent years. In 2018, Lodders’ Real Estate practice handled the land acquisition deal for the medical centre. The firm’s team was led by Paul Mourton and Constantine Berry who worked with Hastings House’s healthcare practitioners in a complex transaction that paved the way for the newbuild, state-of-the-art £4million medical centre, which has 24 clinical rooms and opened last year. Working on this latest joint venture deal was a team from Lodders’ corporate and commercial practice, including associate Leanne Lawrence, a specialist in mergers and

acquisitions, company and business sales, partnership and shareholders agreements. She explains: “The joint venture means Hastings House Medical Centre has now further enhanced and expanded its primary healthcare provision for the local Warwickshire community to include the onsite pharmacy and GP practice in Kineton. “Joining forces with a multinational pharmacy company is a significant step for the practice and its medical teams, not least as it enables an even more comprehensive onestop GP practice for the local community and its’ circa 13,000 patients, as well as business potential to cross-refer work.”

Lodders’ Kim Klahn is partner and head of the Corporate and Commercial team in Stratford upon Avon.

Dr Martin Read-Jones, senior GP partner at Hastings Medical Centre, said: “This is a significant development and step for Hastings House that delivers even more pharmacy services for our patients and community.” For more information visit www.lodders.co.uk.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Nimbus DTI

Business problems that cloud migration can solve Would you like a FREE, NO-OBLIGATION WORKSHOP to find out if the cloud is right for you? There is a wealth of information about the technical benefits of migrating your IT solutions to the cloud. However, the benefits are not just technical; there are business problems that a cloud migration might solve.

1. Decreasing employee turnover

How many times have you heard that the system is being slow today, or that it simply isn’t working? Technology can have a drastic impact on employee performance and experience, with many employees becoming frustrated in their role if systems are inefficient or slow. This frustration can lead to disengagement, which can lead to turnover. Employee Turnover can be expensive, replacing a high-level worker can be costly. Embracing cloud technologies ensures that your company stays at the forefront of technology whilst benefiting from the latest developments and innovations, even benefiting from technology that may seem out of reach for many organisations, Such as AI. This can make employees’ day-to-day work easier while improving the experiences of customers, partners and suppliers.

By Jack Hazell, Director of Operations

2. Benefit from disaster recovery Have you ever wondered what would happen if all of our data was lost or destroyed?

Hosting systems and storing documents in the cloud provides a smart safeguard in case of an emergency. Man-made natural disasters can damage equipment, shut off power and incapacitate critical IT functions. With cloud computing in place, your company can have a process that enables them to continue to operate if the worst were to happen.

3. Boosts cost-efficiency

Are you spending large sums of money on technical equipment that devalues, takes up space and becomes outdated within a year? Cloud computing reduces or eliminates the need for businesses to purchase equipment and operate data centres. This presents a significant saving on hardware, facilities, utilities and other expenses required from traditional computing. Your business can benefit not only from cost savings but also utilisation of staff members. A reduction in on-site maintenance means that IT teams can be tasked with improving your businesses IT, not just maintaining it.

4. Increases flexibility

Has the COVID-19 pandemic hit your businesses productivity? Businesses have historically been tethered to wherever their equipment

is located because that’s where they access their information. This becomes a problem, though, when employees need to work outside of the office as it may limit or eliminate their ability to work from home. Additionally, there may be challenges in meeting with clients out in the field or network away from their workspace. With the cloud, however, users can take their data with them wherever they go. The cloud not only makes businesses more flexible but allows them to use their personal devices to securely access their information if need be, which means that work can be done from any location with an internet connection. Your business can be prepared for the future with increased remote working options. It also prepares your business for the impact of shocks, such as the COVID-19 lockdown. Nimbus is excited to offer a free, no-obligation workshop to discuss your potential cloud journey. If you are considering how your business might start benefiting from cloud computing or you are part way through your journey and would like some expert guidance about what your cloud journey may entail, including challenges, costs, risk and timescales, please get in touch with Jack Hazell Jack.hazell@numbusdti.co.uk

Nimbus lead the way in providing collaborative, agile and adaptive digital and technological innovations that enables our customers to benefit from running their business and IT services in the cloud.

Our success has been built by forming partnerships with our customers, allowing us to provide ‘best in class’ cloud solutions that meet their needs and solve their challenges. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

nimbusdti.co.uk

Profile: Andrew Houston

Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation: A Results Business In the mid-1990s, Andrew Houston had a big decision to make. Houston was skipper of Moseley Rugby Club and was not long into his career in wealth management at a Birmingham company that would eventually be acquired by Barclays. Rugby Union was on the verge of turning professional and would see many players choosing between their day jobs or the pursuit of their sport full-time.

club or the working environment that was difficult at that point, it was combining the two. “I just had no life! I was either training, working or sleeping! Then, at the weekend, I could be travelling anywhere in the country to play. “There was very little let up apart from a summer holiday and even then it had to work alongside pre-season training.

“When the game went professional, I didn’t give up my job,” he said. “I trained professionally and I agreed with the business how my hours would work so I could train at the relevant times.

“But it was wonderful. If my body would allow, I would do it all over again. Eleven operations in ten years made it even more challenging. I’d often be stretching and doing rehab exercises in a meeting room at the office whenever I got the chance!”

“It was difficult. I was trying to maintain the right sort of diet and the right physical condition and getting the right level of rest. It wasn’t the

Houston, who grew up in the West Midlands and attended Solihull School, was more drawn to sport than business when he first started out.

Houston opted to do both.

“My real passion was sport early on, so when I took my first job in the commercial world, I wasn’t 100 per cent sure what I was taking on,” he admitted. “I’d played to a good standard of rugby during my schooldays. I made it into the England Under-18s squad with the likes of Martin Johnson and Neil Back, who went on to achieve big things in the game! “In those days, the sport was still amateur so I chose Moseley as it meant I could work in Birmingham in the investment management business and so the two complemented rather than competed with each other. “I liked the idea of the job. I didn’t know everything about it but I was curious and keen to learn, which I think is important. “My real driver at the time was how good I could be at rugby. How far could I go?

“Work were very understanding of the fact that I played for Moseley and, actually, it helped with my profile and that of the business. I wrote a column for the Birmingham Mail as captain and that was no bad thing when growing a wealth management business. It’s good for networking and getting to know the right people.” By the time his sporting career came to an end, Houston’s business life was taking off in a big way. Between 2003 and 2016, he rose from a Regional Centre Head with Barclays Wealth Management to Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management, overseeing £27 billion worth of assets and 600 employees. He left Barclays as part of a restructure in March 2019 and it was a chance to seek a new challenge. “There was always something bubbling that meant I wanted to do

“I went through some non-exec courses, which I found really interesting and I looked at some other opportunities. I knew I wanted to work in a business that was going to stretch me in a different way to where I had been previously.” 20

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Profile: Andrew Houston something different at some stage in my career,” he said. “I went through some non-exec courses, which I found really interesting and I looked at some other opportunities. I knew I wanted to work in a business that was going to stretch me in a different way to where I had been previously.” As soon as he met Bob Massey and Clive Ponder (the Co-Founding directors) of Countrywide Tax & Trust, he knew he’d found a company that matched his core values around integrity, teamwork, innovation and development – but also one where he could make a significant difference. “What I saw with Countrywide was a business that had consistently grown and was agile in the things it had done and was doing,” he said. “I was looking for a cultural fit that go back through my experiences and my links to sport. I didn’t really appreciate when I started my sporting career how important those core values were and the constant need to improve yourself, develop and learn. “Innovation, teamwork and a need for people to improve themselves is something I am a firm believer in. In sport, you are only as good as your last win and, as people in business, we have to strive to improve all the time too.” Constant improvement has been a consistent factor in Countrywide’s growth. It started in 2003 with four staff and now has 90. It has just moved from Kenilworth to a 10,000 sq ft office in Leamington. And its services to clients continue to evolve – particularly with technology. Houston is determined to ensure that the local community is made aware of this hidden gem on their doorstep and to drive recruitment from the area into the business. “We’re a really interesting business,” he said. “We’ve just moved to Leamington and, since I arrived, I’ve been saying to my fellow directors that we are one of the best kept secrets in the area. “This is a really interesting, entrepreneurial company that we really want the wider community to know about. There are huge opportunities for people here. If they are at the start of their career, or need a new challenge they can come and grow with us.” So, what sets Countrywide apart? “You can think of us as a private client firm, but with a real difference. “The core of what we do is helping businesses and their underlying clients to make good decisions around how they protect their wealth and look after those that they care about in the future. “We have Legal, Financial Planning, Taxation and Trust expertise all in-house. The vast majority of our business comes direct from those professionals who already operate in those areas and we provide a number of services to those businesses. “We have a software and technology platform that can help with will writing and other legal documentation. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Another area is providing technical training for people coming into those businesses or acting as a support desk for those who come across more complex cases. “Those are the elements that make us a little bit different. “On top of that, we have a trust management business so, again, when you are thinking about structuring people’s wealth, trusts are often used. “So, we are not your typical private client practice and to give an idea of scale, last year alone we wrote 67,000 wills through our software.” Even during lockdown, the company has been innovating and growing. “What has happened has made a lot of people look at their existing business model and has made them realise that they need to make some changes because of lockdown and the inability to see people face-to-face,” he said. “It’s been beneficial for us, especially around the technology we’ve introduced to make the client experience better – to make it easier for the adviser to give advice. When the world came to a halt, suddenly we had a lot of interest from people who had heard about the technology we had and wanted to see how they could adapt. “We’ve seen an increase in software sales and its partly because people’s business models had to change and lockdown proved to be the catalyst for that.” The firm is slowly easing people back to the office after a long period of working from home. So much so that most have never worked in the new Leamington premises. It’s a base that suits the culture of the company and can help to shape its future as a firm that strives to innovate and evolve. “There are great comparisons between sport and business – if you sit still you go backwards,” he said. “Other teams will see what you are doing and will match you, so you have to get better. The same is true for the workplace. “You also have to be able to deal with change and adapt. If businesses can deal with uncertainty – knowing they can’t always predict the future – the easier it can be. “Don’t put things down to luck – whether it’s sport or business – you want to give it your best. You have to always learn, be self-critical when you need to be and take feedback from the right people. “I look at how Countrywide has grown from four people to 90 and, just like sport, business is a great place to be when you are winning. The company has done that from a position where it is unique in the set of services that we offer, in an environment that is fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute so far. “If you create a culture, it becomes a living, breathing thing. It’s not just a set of values that you write down on a piece of paper. It means something and makes a business special.”

Andrew Houston Born:

24/10/1968

Live:

Hampton-in-Arden

Married:

Yes, to Lisa

Hobbies:

All sport – played professional rugby and whilst my mind thinks I can still play, the body is telling me something else!

Children:

Two step children

Favourite Book: Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts – just reading it so don’t ruin the end for me! Favourite Film: Too many to have one favourite but the following is right up there and topical given recent events – Men of Honour – Robert de Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. Last Holiday:

Seems like a long time ago, long weekend with Lisa at a fantastic boutique hotel in Spain

Gadget:

Mobile phone/Alexa 21 21

Warwickshire’s best kept secret... We support business owners, helping them get the most out of business profits to build their personal incomes and assets. We help protect your assets from creditor claims, divorce claims, HMRC, family care costs and much more. How? With a hand-picked group of professionals, Independent Financial Advisers, Trust and Estate Practitioners for Trust and Taxation advice, Lawyers, Solicitors and Accountants. By providing straightforward and easily understandable advice. By helping you transform hard work into personal wealth, protected for you and your family’s future. With Legal, Taxation and Financial Advice that is specific to your personal situation. Through community engagement and fundraising. Last year, we raised over 10k for The Children’s Trust and we are proud sponsors of Coventry Rugby Club.

HELPING EVERY BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL GROW. Our Directors

Our Group of Companies Include:

lucyt@countrywidegroup.co.uk

01926 514 390 (ext 9150)

countrywidegroup.co.uk www.cw-chamber.co.uk

PERSONAL Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust LOANS

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

CWRT'S SERVICES We help people and finance businesses... Who we are PERSONAL & what we do: LOANS We can help individuals with all types of finance, including purchasing furniture, school uniforms, holidays, placing a deposit on a rental home etc. Our aim is to assist people with a line of credit at an affordable rate to avoid people reverting to Pay Day Lenders and other High Interest Lenders. Loans range from £300 to £500 over a maximum repayment period of 12 months to new borrowers, and between £300 to £1,000 over a maximum We can help individuals with all types of finance, repayment period of 12 months to existing including purchasing furniture, school uniforms, borrowers.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is holidays, placing a deposit on a rental home etc. a not-for-profit, FCA accredited, specialist finance Our aim is to assist people with a line of credit at an and business START-UP LOANS affordable rate to avoid people reverting to Pay Day Lenders other High Interest Lenders. support provider committed toandsupporting businesses and is a referral partner for the Loans range from £300 to £500 CWRT over a maximum repayment period of 12 months to new Warwickshire. borrowers, individuals primarily based in Coventry and government-backed Start Up Loans scheme and between £300 to £1,000 over a maximum

CWRT’s mission is to create a positive and beneficial impact upon the local community by helping people and financing businesses. They understand that businesses need the right support and finance to survive and thrive. Yet many struggle to access the business support and finance products and services they need to do so. This holds back their ability to safeguard and create jobs and contribute to local economic activity.

helping repayment period of 12 months to existing borrowers. the UK.

businesses with an alternative route to access the finance that they need.

individuals start or grow a business in Loans start from £500 and go up to £25,000 at fixed 6% interest rate. “Customers area at the centre of everything START-UP LOANS Wedosupport in preparing the we at CWRT.customers We take a transparent, required documents, such plan fair andisrelationship-based approach that CWRT a referral partner for as thea business and cash flow of forecast, and refer them to meets the needs our customers because government-backed Start Up Loans scheme delivery partner, Transmit for assessment we know individuals that accessing the rightUK support helping start or grow a business in the UK. Loans from £500 and to gothe up to andfinance approval. and canstart be transformational

Sheridan Sulskis, Executive Director, explains further, “Local businesses play an important role in society by creating £25,000owners at a fixed interest rate. from business and6% their employees and sustaining jobs for local people and We support customers in preparing the the local community.” supporting local economic activity. Yet required documents, such as a business plan many sustainable small businesses in these and cash flow forecast, refer them to CWRT provides loans from £1,000 up to Leah Blocksidge, Head ofand Programmes, delivery partner, Transmit UK for assessment communities cannot access mainstream £100,000 to existing businesses primarily expands, “CWRT are well positioned to and approval. finance and remain underserved.” operating in Coventry and Warwickshire. channel investment into traditionally

COMMERCIAL LOANS COMMERCIAL LOANS

We take a transparent, fair and relationshipoverlooked businesses, helping them “CWRT is an ethical lender supporting based approach in our decision-making to rebuild, adapt, process diversify, and add new entrepreneurship and jobs in communities The lack of a track record, unreasonable CWRT provides £1,000 the up in toright because we knowloans thatfrom accessing employment the months to come. We are under-served by mainstream providers. £100,000 existingcan businesses primarily security arrangements, past financial support andtofinance be transformational for disparity in the devoted to tackling this local operating in Coventry and Warwickshire. Our services are designed to fill the gaps in problems or simply not meeting conventional your business. If you have been unable to raise market by offering dedicated loan packages Wemarket take a transparent, fair and relationshipmainstream lending, address failures credit scoring methods may raise barriers specifically designed to support these sufficient, if any funding from your bank, then based approach in our decision-making process and to offer affordable alternatives high to obtaining funding. CWRT are here to SMEs through volatile credit markets and webecause may betowe able to help. know that accessing the right credit conditions.” help remove these barriers and provide interest doorstep lenders.” support and finance can tightening be transformational for your business. If you have been unable to raise We help entrepreneurs, people and finance businesses... sufficient, if any fundingcan from access your bank, the then following: Aspiring existing businesses and social enterprises we may be able to help. The Duplex Investment Fund is an altogether

CWRT'S SERVICES

DUPLEX LOANS

new way of helping to finance investments DUPLEX LOANS by local businesses that combines public

PERSONAL LOANS

sector grants and loans. can The Duplex Investment Fund Businesses is an altogether enjoy the full cost of a capital investment new way of helping to finance investments project in cash asthat a loan on day one. Once by local businesses combines public sector andhave loans.been Businesses can and paid capitalgrants item(s) acquired enjoy the full cost of a capital investment for they receive a grant which can be up to project cashtotal as a loan day one. 40% ofinthe cost.onLoans areOnce typically capital item(s) have been acquired and paid between £30,000 & £100,000 for they receive a grant which can be up to 40% of the total cost. Loans are typically between £30,000 & £100,000

We can help individuals with all types of finance, including purchasing furniture, school uniforms, holidays, placing a deposit on a rental home etc. Our aim is to assist people with a line of credit at an affordable rate to avoid people reverting to Pay Day Lenders and other High Interest Lenders. Loans range from £300 to £500 over a maximum repayment period of 12 months to new borrowers, and between £300 to £1,000 over a maximum repayment period of 12 months to existing borrowers.

START-UP LOANS CWRT is a referral partner for the government-backed Start Up Loans scheme helping individuals start or grow a business in the UK. Loans start from £500 and go up to £25,000 at a fixed 6% interest rate. We support customers in preparing the required documents, such as a business plan and cash flow forecast, and refer them to delivery partner, Transmit UK for assessment and approval.

COMMERCIAL LOANS CWRT provides loans from £1,000 up to £100,000 to existing businesses primarily operating in Coventry and Warwickshire. We take a transparent, fair and relationshipbased approach in our decision-making process because we know that accessing the right support and finance can be transformational for your business. If you have been unable to raise sufficient, if any funding from your bank, then we may be able to help.

DUPLEX LOANS www.cw-chamber.co.uk

The Duplex Investment Fund is an altogether new way of helping to finance investments

BUSINESS SUPPORT BUSINESS SUPPORT

The JumpStart project, funded by Warwickshire County Council and CWRT, offers a 'pre' start-up support package that is designed to support individuals in Warwickshire to become County ‘enterprise The JumpStart project, funded by Warwickshire Councilready’ and . Delegates will have access to asupport varietypackage of business CWRT, offers a 'pre' start-up that is workshops designed to support individuals Warwickshire ‘enterprise ready’ . specifically designed inand delivered to by become specialist business mentors to willinto haveself-employment. access to a variety So of business giveDelegates an insight if you'veworkshops ever thought about specifically designed and delivered by specialist business to the starting your own business, then JumpStart could helpmentors give you give an insight into self-employment. So if you've ever thought about courage, confidence and skills needed to take the leap to the next starting your own business, then JumpStart could help give you the stage! courage, confidence and skills needed to take the leap to the next stage!

The Creative Springboard project is part-funded by the European The Creative Springboard part-funded European Reginal Development Fund project (ERDF)isand managedbybytheCWRT and Reginal Development Fund (ERDF) managed by bespoke CWRT andproject Warwickshire County Council. This and exclusive and Warwickshire County Council. This exclusive and bespoke project offers specifically tailored workshops, networking opportunities and offers specifically workshops, networking and advice from industrytailored experts to freelancers and opportunities businesses trading advice from industry experts to freelancers and businesses trading (trading under 2 2years) sectorin in Warwickshire (trading under years)inin the the creative creative sector Warwickshire who who would likelike to to enhance foundations prepare would enhancetheir their business business foundations to to prepare for for growth, build onontheir & business businessskills skills become growth, build theirpersonal personal & andand become moremore digital. aspectto tothis this project project isisoffering hands-on support with with digital. TheThe keykeyaspect offering hands-on support a practical approachthroughout throughout the a practical approach the vulnerable vulnerableearly early stages developinga acreative creative business. business. stages developing “CWRT IS AN ETHICAL LENDER SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND “CWRT IS AN ETHICAL LENDER SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOBS IN COMMUNITIES UNDER-SERVED BY MAINSTREAM PROVIDERS. JOBS IN COMMUNITIES UNDER-SERVED BY MAINSTREAM PROVIDERS.

Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust Business Support & Lending Activity Social & economic impactCWRTCWRT Business Support & Lending Activity Andrew Scarborough, Head of Lending at CWRT, adds “Many underserved small businesses require unsecured loans on flexible terms given a lack of, or limited, collateral which many lenders find challenging to provide given their risk appetite. By having a more relationship-based decision-making process, I’ve had the privilege to see first-hand the difference our support and finance packages have made to people’s lives and the local community.” “We have stayed true to our core mission, even more so through the COVID-19 pandemic, by ensuring that we continue to support positive economic and social impact in Coventry and Warwickshire.” CWRT are committed to using their finance in a creative and positive way to support the social and economic wellbeing of Coventry and Warwickshire. Crucially, their interventions can lead to improvements in living standards, individual’s sense of well-being, wealth creation, new entrepreneurial ventures, new jobs as well as a more vibrant economy. This is facilitated through ensuring that these communities are better positioned to generate local opportunities for themselves and withstand the impact of economic shocks by becoming more economically resilient.

250 250

Individuals Assisted

Personal Loans

5,684

5,684 £2,558,287

£2,558,287

1,166

241 241

Start Ups Created

Start Up Loans

241

241 £3,575,218

£3,575,218

Variety of Sectors Supported:

Media Variety of Sectors Supported: Construction Jobs Safeguarded Education Media Professional Services Construction Retail Safeguarded Education Hospitality Professional Services New Jobs Created Manufacturing Retail Hairdressing & Beauty Hospitality Health & Social Care

1,166

Jobs

728

New Jobs Created

151 151

Creative Businesses

Creative Supported Businesses Supported

Commercial Loans

656

656 £13,100,545

£13,100,545

Economic Value Impact

£38.3m

Manufacturing Hairdressing & Beauty Health & Social Care

Scaling Up Investment in Coventry & Warwickshire CWRT understands that now more than ever, small businesses and individuals will need support as the situation surrounding COVID-19 evolves. Small businesses and communities across Coventry & Warwickshire may face liquidity challenges, job losses, and project stagnation, in addition to tightening credit which may impact on the ability of small businesses to make payroll, make the necessary changes to ensure their business is COVID-secure and have enough cash flow available to survive the storm. As an accredited Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) provider on behalf of the British Business Bank, CWRT has collaborated with Warwickshire County Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Warwick District Council, Coventry City Council and the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) to make £5.5m of investment available to local businesses who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruptions to their cashflow. Sheridan mentions, “I am incredibly proud of how we have come together in these unprecedented times to make sure that our crucial, collaborative interventions can facilitate the survival of local businesses, protection of local jobs and in some cases, the creation of new employment opportunities. Together we can help create an environment for individuals and businesses to better position themselves to generate local opportunities and withstand the impact of economic shocks by becoming more economically resilient.”

“We’re really pleased to be able to provide the much-needed support to local businesses in partnership with CWRT. Working with an organisation that can create products and services to meet local need means that we can increase our collective reach to support economic recovery for all, particularly where mainstream funding is not an option for everyone.” Executive Director of Rugby Borough Council

“Warwickshire County Council is incredibly proud to have developed a strong partnership with CWRT over many years, helping provide funding to support much needed loans to our business community when other mainstream finance opportunities were not possible. It was a natural development of our partnership to expand our investment to provide further support to the CBILs initiative, and we move swiftly to release funding at an early stage and we are pleased to have lead the way in terms of investment in the business community from the local authorities.” Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr Izzi Seccombe “We’re really proud of the work we do with CWRT to provide much needed finance for businesses. Small and medium sized businesses are the economic backbone of our region. Together, they employ more people than the big companies combined and with our work with CWRT means that we can support these businesses to safeguard as many jobs as possible in these challenging times.” Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council

“We are working with a wide range of partners to help our local economy recover from the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are pleased to now be working with the Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, with whom we’ve set aside £250,000 to offer as business loans, backed by the Government’s 80% guarantee, with the opportunity to put forward another £250,000 if demand justifies it. This scheme will provide ready cash flow to companies in Warwick District which are having difficulty getting backing from their banks. We’ll monitor the demand for this cash flow support, to ensure we do all that we can to help protect vital local jobs.” Cllr Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council “Small and medium sized businesses are vital to the economy of Nuneaton and Bedworth, and the Council is pleased to be able to support these businesses during these particularly challenging times. Working in partnership with CWRT the Council has been able to put forward investment of £250k which will help to safeguard jobs across the borough where other funding options may not have been available.” Julie Jackson, Leader of the Council

Alongside CWRT’s support packages, they are working closely with their networks, such as the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub and Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to further amplify the support available for local businesses to survive and thrive.

“As an accredited Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) provider on behalf of the British Business Bank, we are devoted to tackling this local disparity in the market by offering a dedicated loan package specifically designed to support these SMEs through volatile credit markets and tightening credit conditions.” 24

Sheridan Sulskis, Executive Director www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Case Study – SirGordonBennet.com ABOUT YOU: What motivated and inspired you to start your own business? My motivation as a business owner is to create something exciting. Something that is bigger and better than anything that has come before. And most importantly, I am motivated and inspired to build something with a cause that will leave a lasting positive legacy.

Tell us about your business:

Name: Dan Colagiovanni Business Name: SirGordonBennett.com Brief summary SirGordonBennett.com is a specially curated, online retailer - marketplace that purveys modern heritage Great British goods & gifts which guarantees craftsmanship and provenance from the four corners of Britain all on one platform. The products we purvey must comply to four cascading pillars. •

Look beautiful.

•

Be made well.

•

Do the job intended.

•

Made in Britain.

SirGordonBennett.com is a place to explore the quirks, pomp & circumstance, history and future of Great Britain through the lens of design and manufacturing. We celebrate and sell some of the finest goods made in Britain, bringing you gift ideas to treat yourself and the special people in your life, people that have an eye for quality. Our cause was born out of frustration that British manufacturing did not have a real cheerleader. There wasn’t a place that showcased the amazing brands still manufacturing goods in traditional ways, producing beautiful things that are made to last. There is also frustration as a consumer too. We wanted to create a place that cuts through the crap. There are a lot of companies out there which use the British flag and will go out of their way to be associated with Britain but only so they can sell you something. They will bamboozle you with phrases such as ‘Designed in England’ but dig a little deeper and the items will probably be imported from China. If you have experienced this before, you will know like us that it is deeply frustrating to find out that whilst you thought you were supporting British craftsmanship brands and contributing to your local economy and the British economy, in fact you have instead been sold a trick by a savvy marketing department. There is none of that at SirGordonBennett.com British provenance is guaranteed on all of the products we purvey. And you can

be certain that the products curated for your pleasure have been handmade by craftsmen and women in Britain.

How did you go about setting up your business?

We spent a long time developing the idea and an equally long time making it happen. Neil, my business partner, had the genesis of the idea whilst working abroad. He spent 2 years developing the business plan and then we spent another 18 months bringing the concept to life and producing everything you see now branding, visual assets, website. After investing our own money to get up and running, buying stock and trading for 12 months in a ‘proof of concept’ phase, we were ready to raise capital to move onto the next stage and really give the marketing a push.

What has been your biggest challenge so far with running your own business? Managing time and money has been the biggest two challenges. With 2 people in the business you have to do everything from answering the phones to customers to financial projections. Which is tough.

How did/have you overcome these challenges? To overcome the challenges we faced we hired a business coach to help us focus on what is vital to drive the business forward. We learnt to manage the time spent in the business as much as possible and work more on the business. And there is now a real focus on ensuring that you spend as much time as possible on sales. Will this definitely make me money? Probably make me money? If not, give it to someone else to do or just forget it. What do you love about running your own business? There is no better feeling than finding a customer who loves the brands we curate, can’t live without the products in their life, and really gets why we do what we do and why we do it. Are there any top tips that you would like to share with others thinking about starting or growing their own business?

Good tips for anyone starting a business are: • fail quickly, and by that what I mean is learn quickly and move on • test and measure everything • ‘pay as you go’ is the only way to go at the start • don’t wait until it is 100% done, because nothing will ever happen • if you haven’t launched yet, launch now with a stripped down version to get some market proof before you invest more time and money

ABOUT THE LOAN: How much did you apply for and over what term? We received two start up loans worth £32k over 5 years

Why did you access financial support through CWRT? CWRT is my local point for start up loans as I live in Stratford-upon-Avon. My bank business manager at Santander recommended that I speak to CWRT as I needed capital to aid business growth.

What support did you receive from CWRT? Dominic and Andrew were very helpful. They got hands on when we needed to get across the line. They used their expertise to improve my business plan and financial model to ensure that it would be agreeable for funding.

How has the loan provided helped you? The loan has been a huge help. We now have working capital and our business decisions are made knowing we can afford to make the right decision now. We have been able to invest heavily in marketing and our sales are growing week on week.

Has the loan helped you to create any jobs? We are nearing the threshold where we will need to hire a local team member to assist us with fulfilment of our orders. And we will be expanding our team regularly as we grow.

Case Study – Unique U Sport & Fitness ABOUT YOU:

Name: Courtney Smith Business Name: Unique U Sport & Fitness Website: www.uniqueupfc.com Brief summary A small personal training studio which has now progressed into a bigger fitness studio. We specialise in helping lose weight, burn fat and improve their health and quality of life. www.cw-chamber.co.uk

What motivated and inspired you to start your own business? Having not being able to get off to great start in my fitness career, I thought I’d take the plunge of building a studio with my business partner determined to make it a success. Tell us about your business: Established July 2013, Unique U Sport & Fitness implements a bespoke fitness service providing instruction & coaching tailored to you. Working with a variety of different people, our clients range from teenagers right the way up to senior citizens.  At Unique U, we focus on the highest quality of training, whilst incorporating a detailed nutritional plan to assure you achieve the best possible outcome throughout your journey, whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, strength or sports performance. What has been your biggest challenge so far with running your own business? The biggest challenge we have found is staying relevant and keeping things

fresh to ensure we acquire customers, help them succeed and also retain them too.

How did/have you overcome these challenges? We had to come up with new ideas whether that be in customers workouts, challenges or even external competitions. We always have to keep our customers and clients engaged. Challenges and progression helps us do this. What do you love about running your own business? Making people happy is massive for us. The ability to put a smile on someone’s face and them achieving their goals. Are there any top tips that you would like to share with others thinking about starting or growing their own business? Consistency is king and also building a strong brand whilst delivering an excellent service.

ABOUT THE LOAN: How much did you apply for and over what term? We received a loan from CWRT for £25,000 over a 5-year period. Why did you access financial support through CWRT? We had to explore every possible avenue to make our dreams a reality and CWRT were willing to take a chance on us and support our dreams. What support did you receive from CWRT? We were supported with how to put together our cash flow forecasting & planning. I came into the office and went through the necessary paperwork with the members of the loans team – they were there to support us every step of the way. This helped us a lot and we felt confident with our application after this. How has the loan provided helped you? It has helped us renovate the building, purchase equipment and safeguard jobs. We are going to be in a better position to then start taking on employees or work with other coaches.

Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust

Case Study – Torc2 Ltd ABOUT YOU: What motivated and inspired you to start your own business? From the experience of one of the co- founder’s daughters of Hip Dysplasia over 25 years ago. A situation that has not seen any significant change in all that time – check out our website for more about our journey https://torc2.com/the-torc-story-so-far/

Tell us about your business:

Name: Kathryn Whatton Business Name: Torc2 Ltd Brief summary The business, made up of a small team of passionate individuals, was formed initially for the purpose of developing an alternative to the Plaster of Paris (PoP) method for limb immobilisation. This was based on early research of polymeric materials that would phase change from solid to malleable gel and back again to a solid in the temperature range 37 degrees (normal body temperature) to 55/56 degrees (comfortable for human tolerance).

The business, made up of a small team of passionate individuals, was formed initially for the purpose of developing an alternative to the Plaster of Paris (PoP) method for limb immobilisation. This was based on early research of polymeric materials that would phase change from solid to malleable gel and back again to a solid in the temperature range 37 degrees (normal body temperature) to 55/56 degrees (comfortable for human tolerance). To determine the viability of the torc concept, discussions were held with leading Orthopaedic specialists who felt that the most effective use for the material would be in more niche splinting and casting applications (see the torc system) where the properties of the material would have the most impact on issues relating to time for manufacture, fit, comfort and re-use. The solution to most of the issues with existing devices as identified by the clinicians is a system of modelling directly onto affected limbs using the torc material that can be re-shaped many times at 56-60 degrees C but which on cooling back to body temperature becomes a rigid support structure again. Following further research and development work the torc materials blend was created and testing was carried out at the temperature range required using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis at The University of Warwick’s Digital Laboratory. To create a smooth and even transition into its malleable phase the material has been developed to use an embedded heat source with thermostatic protection to ensure complete patient safety during the process. Further developments of torc material continue with testing and trialling of latest conductive ink technology as well as sensors and additives including anti-microbial formulations. See www.torc2.com

How did you go about setting up your business? The two cofounders set up torc2 in 2014 working with academics at various local Universities https://torc2.com/torc2-supporters/

What has been your biggest challenge so far with running your own business? • Working with academics is a lengthy process and very slow. If we have had the investment, that many medical start-ups have, it would have been a different story • Funding, as you know banks are now not willing to assist new enterprises, so different from years gone by • One founding Partner suffering a stroke in 2017

How did/have you overcome these challenges?

• Strength & Tenacity • Dogged determination and a belief in what we are trying to achieve • Stripping out disruptive elements • Working for little or no monetary reward over a 5-year period • Having a clear vision as to the end products • Without the support of CWRT we would not be in the position we are today, especially in today’s world climate

What do you love about running your own business? It’s not very often called love but a satisfying challenge when you climb over each wall and find yourself standing upright on the other side. We at torc 2 have had to climb many but we are still standing upright and now after having been granted our European Patent standing taller than ever …now we just need to raise the finance to fund it which we are in the process of doing via a GOFUNDME campaign. We are reaching out to the families that the conditions we care about touch… https://torc2.com/gofundme/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/ph43kmdonate-to-help-us-make-positive-change

Are there any top tips that you would like to share with others thinking about starting or growing their own business? • You won’t be working 9-5 • Be prepared for the long haul …if you think something will take 3 years plan for 5 • Make sure you keep on top of finances • If you can invoice don’t wait to the end of the month do it as and when keeps the cash flowing • Make sure you keep a current up to date cashflow as things can change very easily and as they say “forearmed is forewarned” • Make sure you keep on top of your debtors • Ensure customer satisfaction is good … one bad word from an unhappy one can destroy a lot of hard work but could have been nipped in the bud early on • Don’t be frightened of turning work away. Working with the wrong companies can often cost you, not make you money • Market yourself well …dependant on the type of business.

• •

•

The form of this is continually changing with social media, but it needs to fit with your product or service Surround yourself with people you can trust If the skills aren’t in house maybe look to employ external resources rather than always add to your head count – they are easier to part with if times get tough especially in the early years Keep an eye out for good candidates to employ when the time is right to do so Make sure you have all the processes in place to ensure employees don’t give you headaches in the future …I have the experience of a friend working for you often turns into an enemy if things are not in black and white There are many more which I have encountered over the past 20 years…

ABOUT THE LOAN: How much did you apply for and over what term? We received a Rugby Borough Council CBILS loan for £60,000 over a 5-year period

Why did you access financial support through CWRT? Consolidate 2 existing loans and Bounce Back Loan, and small amount of working capital. This has resulted in lower interest rates and repayment holiday to see us through these strange times.

What support did you receive from CWRT? CWRT have been very supportive over the past 5 years and without them we know that we would not have been able to see our goals come to fruition. Our business plans and financials have always been very strong, and the process has been simple as we always have to hand instantly what has been required. The Loans Team, headed up by Andrew Scarborough, have been extremely efficient and supportive.

How has the loan provided helped you? Ensured that our monthly outgoings have decreased and given us a window while the global situation improves, and universities return to continue with the various projects we have started with them, plus safeguarding our jobs.

Anything else that you would like to add to your case study? Please support our campaign as we need to raise £150k that will enable the company to produce a range of fully developed and tested devices, such as Ankle Foot Orthosis, Hip Spica Suit, and Prosthetic Socket Liner ensuring that they are clinical trial ready within the next 12 months https://torc2.com/gofundme/

Going from strength to strength CWRT’s contribution to the region’s small businesses and the communities in which they operate across the region is colossal - and going from strength to strength. Not only have they taken on three new staff members during the pandemic, they are also on target to lend £6m this financial year. Jacqueline Maya, Head of Operational Risk, adds, “We are dedicated to

being the social investment vehicle in Coventry and Warwickshire and honoured to be a part of our customers enterprise journey. Further to this, we are committed to supporting equality in our organisation’s interactions with entrepreneurs, in considering investment proposals, and in our funding decisions.” “CWRT has signed up as one of the signatories for the Investing

in Women Code, a commitment to support the advancement of female entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom by improving female entrepreneurs’ access to tools, resources and finance from the financial services sector. Sheridan concludes, “We have a diverse and inclusive business ecosystem for our customers and guarantee that we support

equality in all our interactions with entrepreneurs.” If you are thinking about starting a business, an existing business or a social enterprise in Coventry and Warwickshire, then get in touch with your local business support and financial provider to see how they can help support you on your enterprise journey.

www.cwrt.uk.com | enquiries@cwrt.uk.com | 02476 551 777

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

News

Primary Goal announces new Digital Champion training programme Primary Goal is excited to announce a new Digital Champion training programme, launching this September through a partnership with teacher training provider Tablet Academy. The 24-month programme is accessible to staff at all levels throughout schools, from teaching assistants to headteachers. The programme is specifically designed to enable primary and secondary schools to support their teachers better, and further engage learners with new and existing digital technologies. The Digital Champion programme is delivered as a Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard. It can therefore be funded through companies’ existing Levy

contribution (or via a Levy transfer), essentially making it free or schools. The blended training programme responds to key challenges faced in schools today concerning technology adoption amongst staff and students. The emphasis is on improving school outcomes, highlighting financial savings and efficiencies, reducing staff workload, and increasing social mobility to contribute towards improved Ofsted outcomes. The training programme involves support from many leading industry partners, including Microsoft and Google.There’s also the option to recruit a new member of staff for the role of your Digital Champion. Primary Goal can offer you a free

recruitment service and support you to take advantage of the government incentive payments available for new staff from August 1 2020, which offers up to £3,000 towards the salary cost. Louise Campton, managing director of Primary Goal, spoke previously at a TEDx Conference. She said: “It was with great thanks and appreciation that I was asked to do a TEDx Coventry talk by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

As a business owner with a true passion for employability and skills development, the TEDx platform enabled me to share my personal and business journey with other like-minded individuals who may be inspired to follow their career dreams and/ or challenge the audience to become the best version of themselves possible.”

You can watch Louise Campton’s Tedx talk via the following link – https://www.ted.com/talks/louise_campton_unemployable_now_what? For more information visit www.primarygoal.ac.uk/digital-champion

Transport specialist switches to TruTac for improved driver control Travelstar European, the continental group-travel specialist and CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) member, has switched to TruTac’s compliance control software for improved reliability and tighter control, particularly regarding potential European tour-driver infringements.

Formed in 2005, family-owned Travelstar operates a modern fleet from its Walsall base throughout the UK and Europe. The company needed a system which could provide real-time monitoring and checking of each driver and the vehicle in their charge. To ensure this, TruTac’s CPT Tacho Analysis software provides automatic digital reporting of all key information including mixed EU and domestic drivers’ hours and is fully WTD-compliant. Travelstar operations manager Craig Jackson said: “The system was developed

by TruTac in partnership with the CPT so it’s borne from real operator and regulatory requirements, plus it’s intuitive and simple to use. All we need is a portal and we can monitor any vehicle and driver at any time, with the knowledge that all data is secure and instantly retrievable – with auto email reporting – should we need it for any random inspections.” For additional compliance control and insurance protection, TruTac’s CPT Licence Check module – also fully approved by the CPT – enables Craig and his team to carry out online verification checks on UK driving

More support available for people affected by ovarian cancer Emergency funding for the West Midlands office of a leading ovarian cancer charity is being used to encourage people who might not have had their symptoms checked during the pandemic to talk to their GP. The £86,485 grant is especially vital as during the COVID-19 lockdown, referrals to the two-week-wait urgent pathway for suspected cancer in England are reported to have fallen by up to 84%. People often delay getting symptoms for ovarian cancer checked out in normal times because the signs of the disease, including bloating, can be dismissed as something less serious, says Ovacome’s West Midlands regional hub coordinator, Laura Nott.

She said: “This grant is enabling us to get the message out there that if you have bloating, which is unusual for you, are eating less, have abdominal pain or changes in your toilet habits, it is important to get checked out. “Ovarian cancer is one of those diseases where the prognosis improves significantly if it is detected early. With no screening available for ovarian cancer – the smear test will not pick it up – this is especially important.” The money from the government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund will allow the charity’s new West Midlands hub to produce awareness material about the little known about disease in multiple

languages including Polish, Panjabi, Urdu, Bengali and Arabic, as well as English. The aim is to reach 40,000 people in harder to reach marginalised and rural communities in the region with the message that symptoms of the disease if new and persistent, lasting for more than two weeks, should be checked out. The grant - distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund - will be used partly for handouts, posters, films and social media campaigns in the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. For more information visit www.ovacome.org.uk

Food on the move as IPP helps Fowler Welch’s model of success stack up

Fowler Welch, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider to the ambient and temperaturecontrolled supply chain, has become a model of its own success by taking over the distribution of some of the country’s biggest food brands. The Lincolnshire-based business, which has been shortlisted for the Hauler of the Year in the Motor Transport 2020 Awards, has in the last two years seen an increase in volumes across its estate of eight strategic sites around the UK as more food businesses outsource their transportation requirements.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Part of this success has seen the 2018 winner of the Grocer’s Gold Logistics Supplier of the Year Award working collaboratively with IPP, one of Europe’s leading poolers, to ensure that a guaranteed supply of cost-effective and quality pallets is available to guarantee the smooth shipment of products from manufacturers to retailers and back again. In the last two years IPP has seen an almost 1,000 per cent increase in the pallet traffic generated from two of Fowler Welch’s locations. Nick Hay, CEO of Fowler Welch, said: “Our success has been our expertise in the consolidation and distribution of products on behalf of major household names who want to focus on their core proposition – the making or selling of quality products.

“It’s a partnership approach that works well for all parties in the supply chain. By providing quality pallets to us as we need them, IPP has enabled us to be flexible and expand our operation to meet the changing demands of our customers.” Phil Storer, IPP’s director for UK and Ireland, said: “Collaboration and partnership are how modern supply chains operate in the circular economy, where interdependency and the sharing of assets and resources create efficiencies that not only reduce cost and environmental impact, but also deliver competitive advantage in what is a tight-margin sector.” For more information visit www.fowlerwelch.co.uk and www.ipp-pooling.com

licences and CPC (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) information. As with all TruTac software, the system saves time and improves accuracy by cutting out manual procedures and providing alerts for monitoring key compliance data. According to Craig, Travelstar European also benefits greatly from TruTac’s CPT Daily Checks. This software, designed by TruTac and the CPT specifically for the coach and bus industry, makes it easy for drivers to carry out inspections and send photographs and detailed notes regarding any faults or recommended actions.

Fire service promotes fire safety The West Midlands Fire Service is committed to supporting businesses to keep them safe from the effects of fire and to ensure businesses adhere to their legal responsibilities under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Good fire safety management is essential to ensure fires are unlikely to occur, when they occur they can be controlled quickly, and to enable everyone in your premises to escape to a place of total safety easily and quickly. A fire risk assessment ensures your fire safety procedures, fire prevention measures, and fire precautions are in place and working properly. Please take some time to look at the attached links that offer help, support, advice and signposting to fire risk assessments, fire safety advice and fire safety training. For more information on WMFS Fire Safety, visit www.wmfs.net/fire-safety For more information on WMFS Fire Safety (BEST) Training, visit www.wmfs.net/training

News

Membership and networking success!

Scheme to support local producers gets off to a flying start

Nicola Cairns, director at Good Egg Recruitment and member of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber, reflects on the successful combination of Chamber membership and networking. She says: “After taking the gigantic step of setting up and starting my own recruitment consultancy from scratch back in 2016, I knew I had to network hard to find clients and candidates. After a couple of months of networking, I met an inspiring business owner called Karen Guile of tobook, a specialist venue sourcing and accommodation booking partner for corporate clients. “A Birmingham Chamber of Commerce member, Karen was looking for a new team member so we discussed how we could work together. We set about understanding more about the requirements, the role, culture of

the company and personality fit to find a “good egg” to join the team. We successfully found a great candidate for the role and four years on we are delighted to say we continue to support Karen and her colleagues at tobook, adding a number of “good eggs” to her team.” Karen Guile, director of tobook, says: “Having worked with other recruitment agencies, I feel Nicola and Annette have a high level of integrity as recruiters. I value their expertise, passion and partnership approach which has enabled me to build a strong, successful team. I would have no hesitation in recommending Good Egg Recruitment for their excellent, cost-effective service.” Good Egg Recruitment is a local independent consultancy with a

Ricoh Arena secures funding for major redevelopment

A scheme launched by the Heart of England Co-operative Society to support local producers by selling their goods from its stores has hit the ground running with more than 350 different products from local suppliers flying off the shelves. Local @ Heart gives producers of a wide range of fresh, frozen, chilled and ambient products the perfect platform to showcase their offerings in many of the society’s 35 food outlets. The initiative is already proving to be popular, with sales projected to double by the end of the year. Although only recently given a real presence in stores, Local @ Heart has garnered interest from many suppliers who have signed up to give society customers a new and exciting choice from a wide range of goods. The vast majority of suppliers are from the society’s trading area of Coventry, Warwickshire, west Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, with others coming from nearby counties. The locally produced offerings range from cakes to sausages and from flowers to beers, wines and spirits. There are already 12 local suppliers in the fresh products category and 10 ambient suppliers with a range of more than 30 different lines. Rob Mackay, category manager for fresh food, frozen food and food to go at the society, said talks with most suppliers had been underway last year, with plans to implement the scheme later this year. But with the unexpected shutdown of the hospitality sector due to COVID-19, the project was fast-tracked to help safeguard local businesses and expand the choice of products for shoppers. Rob said: “As a result of the pandemic, our suppliers had an urgent need so we fast-tracked partnerships to provide them with an outlet to sell their produce. “In part we have helped to protect some companies and their employees and we are proud of that.”

difference. We pride ourselves on a true partnership approach and have over 20 years of recruitment experience, sourcing amazing people for fantastic organisations across all business sectors. For more information visit www.goodeggrecruitment.com

Further details have been revealed about Ricoh Arena’s plans to enhance its conferencing and exhibition facilities ahead of the Commonwealth Games after it received multi-millionpound government funding. Around £3.8 million has been made available to the venue via the Coventry and Warwickshire Local

Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), which successfully secured the investment from £66 million worth of government funding that was provided to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the government’s Getting Building Fund. An additional £1.4 million has also been made available

to Ricoh Arena via CWLEP from the Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund. The estimated £5.3 million investment will see a new pavilion installed – complete with digital signage – at the south entrance of the venue as part of plans to launch a Commonwealth Convention Centre that will offer 1,847 square metres of state-ofthe-art AV and conference facilities. The Commonwealth Convention Centre will be created as a result of major refurbishment of the lower halls on the south side of the venue. This means that visitors to the venue will soon have seamless access to more than 8,000 square metres of conference and exhibition event space. The existing 6,000 square metre exhibition hall will also undergo state-of-the-art

cosmetic refurbishments in preparations for hosting judo and wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, while additional food and beverage offerings are also being introduced in the venue atrium. Stephen Vaughan, chief executive at Ricoh Arena, said: “This investment ensures that Ricoh Arena and North East Coventry will continue to feel the economic benefit of having the Commonwealth Games for many years to come thanks to its top-class facilities. “This is an exciting time for Coventry with City of Culture and Commonwealth Games on the horizon, and we are looking forward to playing our part in helping the region to flourish from both of their legacies in the years to come.”

360 virtual tours can help firms in post-COVID era Warwick-based Soft-Focus explains the powerful business benefits of using 360 virtual tours post-lockdown… The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on businesses in almost every industry. One of the most obvious impacts is the massive drop in customer confidence over their personal safety in public spaces such as shops, restaurants and hotels. If you’re a business owner looking to get back on your feet post-lockdown, you might be wondering how best to restore buyer confidence. We at Soft-Focus are here to share our top suggestion: interactive 360 virtual tours. These tours are the easiest way to show that everything is safe. They allow customers to take a look at everything from the comfort of their own home, on their computer, phone or tablet. Soft-Focus creates some of the highest quality tours that are also interactive. This means that customers can load the tour on their device at home and take a look around your business to check what

safety measures you have put in place to keep people safe and healthy. Our 360 virtual tours are customisable to fit your brand and colour. We can add videos, photographs or other relevant media to help further explain any areas of concern. Just let us know what you want to include and we’ll get it done. One of the best features of our 360 virtual tours is that they can be uploaded to several different platforms. They’re really easy to embed directly into your company’s website. Also, you can add

them to your social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube. This is a big advantage to businesses that use social media for customer interaction. You’ll probably find you’re getting lots of messages from customers asking about your new measures. If so, direct them to your interactive tour where they’ll be able to find the answers. For more information visit www.soft-focus.uk

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

If you are ‘downsizing’ your office and all employees are working from home, let’s talk to book some get together days in our diary! • FREE WIFI • FREE coffee or tea in the room for you to enjoy • Opportunity to schedule days in advance • Keep the team connected • Ideal for saving on annual office space rental • Embrace a new way of working apart and working together

HYBRID MEETINGS

There is great benefit in face-to-face team meetings, but so too in on-line video conferencing. At the Welcome Centre you can combine both, particularly important in a post COVID-19 environment where vulnerable groups may have to continue to self-isolate, or where for example teams operate split working patterns.

Please contact Lee Hart info@thewelcomecentre.co.uk 02476 226 064 www.thewelcomecentre.co.uk

The Welcome Centre 47 Parkside Coventry CV1 2HG

GRACE AUDITORIUM

The Grace Auditorium is an impressive, climate controlled purpose-built room designed to accommodate up to 650 delegates theatre, and 300 cabaret, and around 300 and 120 with social distancing measures implemented at 1.0m (110 and 116 at 1.5m). Flexible seating layouts, a large raised stage and no pillars, provides a blank canvas suitable for showcasing any exhibition, corporate event or celebration. Located on the ground floor, the auditorium offers easy access for guests and loading.

Has your insurance broker publicly pledged to put your interests first? There’sananeasy easyway waytoto tell. There’s tell. Thebadge badgesays saysit itall. all. The

Looking for an insurance broker? Choose Chartered. Chartered status, explained

Chartered status in business

Royal charters go all the way back to the 13th century. The idea was simple: serve society by creating and defining the highest professional standards, uphold those standards, and drive them forward. The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) achieved its royal charter in 1912. The CII has been entrusted with raising standards in the insurance and personal finance sectors ever since.

Attaining the highest standards in insurance isn’t easy, but with Chartered status, demonstrating a commitment to those standards is. Chartered status allows firms to make a pledge to uphold good practice. It tells their clients everything they need to know about working with Chartered professionals. It says this firm is committed to a level of client-centricity rooted in professionalism and ethics.

Chartered status is awarded to individual professionals such as brokers, underwriters and claims practitioners who display eminence in their field, as well as to firms themselves. To become a Chartered firm involves a commitment to expertise, integrity and clientcentricity. Standards of excellence in qualifications, ethics, business practices and professional development must be maintained. By choosing Chartered, you are choosing an insurer or insurance broker that has made a public commitment to professionalism.

Chartered status allows customers to recognise this excellence. It represents a pledge of enhanced standards. That’s what the Chartered badge stands for.

Why choose a Chartered insurance broker? Quite simply, it’s about dealing with a professional. Chartered insurance brokers have made a joint public commitment with the CII to deliver the highest standards of professionalism, then placed a public badge on that commitment.

It’s about being transparent, having integrity and being committed to serving society. In fact, Chartered status cannot be attained without a clear customer focus. By choosing Chartered, customers can benefit from professionals who put their needs and ethics at the heart of their business.

Where to find a Chartered firm Many insurers, brokers, underwriting agents and financial planners have been awarded Chartered status. To Choose Chartered, simply look out for the badge on a firm’s website, email or letterhead. Alternatively, go to cii.co.uk/charteredinsurancebrokers where you can check whether your broker is CII Chartered, and find more information about what it takes to achieve Chartered status. The Chartered badge proudly tells you when a professional has made a public commitment to upholding the highest standards and putting you first.

The badge says it all.

The CII sets the bar, a firm meets it.

Chartered Insurance Institute Standards. Professionalism. Trust.

cii.co.uk/charteredinsurancebrokers

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Needham Insurance Services

Nuneaton’s only Independent Insurance Broker that is proud to be local Founded in 1973, Needham Insurance Services Insurance Brokers is a proudly independent insurance intermediary. Whether you run a small business serving the local community, manage a large limited company operating internationally or are simply a medium or high net worth individual looking for the best value and high quality service from your insurance partner, we are here to help. We can accommodate all business trades and occupations, and in an increasingly diverse commercial, social and legislative environment, consider ourselves uniquely able to customise covers for just about any eventuality. We stand out as a broker with a thriving private client department. Rather than offering ‘one size fits

all’ policies typically found on the internet, we take time to understand a clients individual needs and, by applying our professional knowledge, can tailor cover to suit precisely what’s required – ensuring you don’t pay for cover you don’t need. We’re proud of our small, close-knit team. Combining traditional service values with market leading technology, we pride ourselves on the strength and depth of our relationships with our insurance company partners. For our clients, this means access to highly competitive pricing and an increased flexibility in terms of the structure of risks we can provide cover for. The high quality of our staff, our close relationship with clients and our standing in the underwriting market ensure a quality of service that we believe cannot be matched by the large insurance brokers.

“It is a great honour for myself and my business Needham Insurance Services to have been elected your President for the next twelve months. Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak the Coventry Insurance Institute held a virtual AGM where we conducted the necessary business and laid the groundwork for the next twelve months. I would like to thank the other members of Council who have shown faith in me and we promise you that Coventry Insurance Institute will continue to thrive and be relevant for all of its members.

CII PRESIDENT We’re extremely proud and honoured to announce that Neal has taken over as President of The Insurance Institute of Coventry for the 2020/21 year.

With that in mind each month we arrange for Lunchtime Lectures to be held on a variety of subjects and I would encourage business owners to encourage their staff members to attend these. We are even holding some virtual ones until we are able to meet face to face again. My nominated Charity for this year is Georgie’s Gift which is a local charity

To get in touch, simply call us on 02476 354569 or 02476 326213

very close to my heart and a charity that I have supported in the past by climbing Kilimanjaro and a charity I am supporting this year by running the London Marathon. Please check out their website to see the amazing work they do: www.georgiesgift.org As many of you know I am a very keen runner and I plan to hold a Fun Run for all of our members that wish to take part so please look out for this later on in the year. Our Annual Dinner is already booked for next year at the Coombe Abbey

Hotel in Coventry and this will be held on Friday 29th January 2021. This event always sells out very quickly so if you are interested in pre-booking please email enquiries@needhaminsurance.co.uk to register your interest. As a final footnote I would ask that all members engage with the Institute and look to attend some of the events that we arrange, keep an eye out for the e-flyers and I look forward to meeting you over the next 12 months.” To find out more please visit: www.localinstitutes.cii.co.uk/ coventry/home

ABOUT NEAL LOWE, MANAGING DIRECTOR Started working as an Insurance Broker in 1988 and purchased Needham Insurance in 2001. I have been Managing Director for the last 17 years and the business has grown year on year. My favourite holiday destination is Spain and I do also like to have the occasional road trip around Europe. My dream car is a Tesla and to own one is definitely on my bucket list.

We compare, so you don’t have to.

Challenge us to beat your renewal quote and save ££££’s

Personal Lines: 02476 354569 Business Lines: 02476 326213 enquiries@needhaminsurance.co.uk

www.needhaminsurance.co.uk 18 Arbury Road, Nuneaton CV10 7NA www.cw-chamber.co.uk

IC Solutions

COVID-19 Coronavirus Rapid Response Whole Room Decontamination Service We are Europe’s leading decontamination service provider. We provide a rapid response for a wide range of industries including Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Food facilities. We are available to deal with outbreaks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Ionised Hydrogen Peroxide Fogging Technology is an excellent choice when it comes to decontamination A range of equipment and services are available, designed to provide biodecontamination of equipment, vehicles, rooms or entire facilities. These solutions are applicable for airborne and surface contamination control and unlike some other alternatives, we use a “dry mist” solution, this means fabrics and electrical equipment including computers etc. are completely safe to be left in-situ while the fogging takes place.

“It is very important to check out how long the contractor has been established, many have only started offering this as a service since March 2020! With the explosion of people now offering fogging disinfection services anybody thinking about using a company or provider of disinfection fogging services should ask the following four important questions”; 1. Are you insured to carry out work in my premises, do you have a minimum £5m insurance indemnity? 2. Can you supply me with your disinfectants Safety Data Sheet and proof that it meets WHO & Public Health England Standards? 3. Have you a minimum of five years’ experience in carrying out fogging services? 4. Can you provide me with three references from your recent work? 5. Do you provide full transparency which should include your full business address rather than a mailing address on all of your marketing material?

Efficiency – Clinically Proven Technology • Highly effective in eradicating all COVID-19 Viruses that may be present in the room or area being treated. • Our decontamination process is proven to reliably combat and kill 99.9999% of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and fungi. • No known microbiological resistance (2-phase product); depot effect (inhibits recontamination with germs). • Without scents and colorants; environmentally friendly (practically disintegrates 100% into water and oxygen = evaporation) • Used Globally

Here at Rapid Response, we can... • Decontaminate whole offices, kitchen areas, meeting/training rooms and toilets etc. • Work can be completed out of business hours, on weekends, or bank holidays to minimise disruption • Decontaminate hard-to-reach areas i.e. tops of cupboards, underneath desks, behind printers etc. • Leave no residues or waste; safe on electrical equipment and fabrics such as computers, phones, printing equipment, desk chairs and more.

024 76 34 77 22 info@icsolutions247.com Rapid Response Decontamination Service Unit 2 Industrial Park Henley Road Coventry West Midlands CV2 1ST

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: Coventry

Two deals done on Coventry industrial estate

Two new deals have been concluded to let industrial properties to new tenants on a popular Coventry industrial estate. Joint agents Holt Commercial and Bromwich Hardy have secured new tenants for two vacant units at the Central City Industrial Estate on Red Lane during the lockdown period. Deals have been concluded on a 1,509 sq ft unit at £10.27 per square foot and on a 2,384 sq ft unit at £9.44 per square foot, representing record rents on the estate.

Chris Hobday, associate at Holt Commercial, said: “It is great news to have secured such strong rents on these two units after a short, sustained marketing period which took place while the country was in lockdown. “This follows a steady but consistent increase in rents on the estate over the past couple of years and helps prove that proactive estate management and quality refurbishment reaps rewards when attracting and keeping tenants.” Charles Lochrane, who represents the owner of Central City Industrial Estate, said: “This is a testament to everybody’s efforts on this estate. We have been very impressed at the way some of our tenants

have adapted their businesses to suit the extraordinary challenges of the lockdown. It is the flexibility and resilience of the SME sector that justifies our focus on supporting these companies on our estates. “During the COVID-19 crisis we have given assistance to tenants when they have asked for it and, as a result, we have lost none of them and have achieved 100 per cent rent recovery for both March and June quarters. “The fact we have secured new tenants in diversified business sectors is even better news for everyone.” Central City Industrial Estate is located half-a-mile from Coventry city centre and is well connected to the region’s road network via the A444.

Bounceback bus boost

National Express Coventry will reinvest all of the money from the government’s Job Retention Bonus into reducing bus fares. The city centre-based bus operator will cut the price of tickets when the current COVID-19 restrictions on public transport are lifted. Tom Stables, managing director of National Express UK, said: “This is the right thing to do for our customers. By using our allowance from the Chancellor’s Job Retention Bonus to reduce fares across Coventry and the wider West

Midlands, we are investing in the future of our region. “Making bus travel cheaper will help get our local high streets back on their feet, lock in the environmental benefits that came out of lockdown and get the people of the West Midlands back to work. We know that 77% of all job seekers, and 87% of young jobseekers, have no access to a car, van or motorbike and are completely reliant on their local bus networks, and 75% of bus users have jobs which mean working from home is not possible. Buses are therefore part of the solution.

“As a transport operator, we always want to persuade more people to get the bus. It’s good for us and it’s good for the environment – travelling by bus is the quickest and easiest thing we can all do to bring clean air to our cities and tackle climate change.” National Express Coventry kept bus services running throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, getting hundreds of thousands of key workers safely to where they needed to be. There were fewer buses running in the early days of lockdown because people were staying at home, so thousands

of the company’s drivers, engineers and back-office employees were furloughed, although most of them are back working now. Under the government’s Job Retention Bonus scheme, employers are able to claim a one-off payment of £1,000 for every employee who was furloughed and stays employed to the end of January 2021.

Social enterprise announces COVID-19 back-to-work service

A Coventry-based social enterprise has been helping businesses to return to work safely. Spring Action Cleaning is a social enterprise founded by the Coventry Refugee & Migrant Centre. It supports refugees and migrants in their efforts to find employment by providing an exceptional cleaning service for a range of clients. Initially, as for most businesses, the pandemic provided a challenge for Spring Action who had to be sure they could

provide a service that would be safe for their brilliant team of cleaners and loyal clients. Their solution was to upskill their workers, so during furlough they all received cross contamination and infection control training from the British Institute of Cleaning Science. This course covers the best value techniques for infection prevention, as well as how to prevent a breakout from occurring and spreading. The workers also received a generous donation from fellow Coventry business Mirius so they could stock up with a supply of industry-leading cleaning products. This has allowed Spring Action to diversify its range of services to include a COVID-19 back-to-work deep clean serv ice, so employees and customers in Coventry can return to the workplace with peace of mind and confidence that the space is safe to be in.

The service includes a thorough evaluation of the business premises, and a deep-clean of all surface areas including furniture and wall fixtures, with special attention to touch points and high-risk areas such as door handles – all using disinfectant endorsed to protect against the coronavirus. The Amethyst Centre, a wellness therapy centre in Coventry, was a beneficiary of the deep-clean service and gave this glowing review: “We booked Spring Action Cleaning for a full deep clean of The Amethyst Centre, which is a therapy centre and as such needs to be kept as clean as possible. We were so impressed that we have requested that they provide a regular cleaning service to the centre from now on.” For more information visit www.springactioncleaning.co.uk

PET-Xi backs Coventry City of Culture A training and education company that’s rooted in Coventry has thrown its support behind the city’s year as UK City of Culture. PET-Xi, which was formed in the city by Fleur Sexton DL 25 years ago, is supporting the Coventry City of Culture Trust as a City Champion. The financial support will help the trust to deliver an ambitious programme of events and activities across the city as well as leaving a lasting legacy of change for Coventry, with a particular focus on ensuring that young people across the city are supported to take part. PET-Xi has supported more than 200,000 learners over the past two-and-a-half decades,

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working tirelessly to improve people’s life chances. It has adapted to the coronavirus outbreak by offering online learning support, which has opened new domestic and overseas markets. Fleur Sexton and the team have supported Coventry’s UK City of Culture campaign over several years including sponsoring a film and working with local schools during the bidding phase. Martin Sutherland, chief executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome PET-Xi as a City Champion. “The company supported the city’s efforts during the

bidding phase, financially and as fantastic advocates for everything Coventry wanted to achieve from securing this prestigious title. We are delighted that they continue to back the vision for 2021 and that they will support us to deliver our promises.” Fleur Sexton DL said: “I am a passionate supporter and ambassador for Coventry, and we have been right behind City of Culture from the beginning. “It was great to take the message about Coventry into schools during the bid and we were so thrilled when we won because of the huge positive effect it can have on the whole of the city, especially our young people.

“We are very excited to become a City Champion and to be giving our support to what will be a superb programme of events that will showcase Coventry in a wonderful light and will leave a lasting legacy – particularly for our young people.”

Antimicrobial technology protects COVID-19 health check station A COVID-19 health check station, designed to ease the transition back to work and school as lockdown restrictions are relaxed across the UK, has been given an extra level of protection through the addition of antimicrobial technology from Coventry-based company BioCote. The health check station, manufactured by West Midlandsbased Contour Heating Products, provides a designated area for monitoring temperatures and is ideal for organisations and schools that are implementing voluntary temperature checks as part of their health and safety procedures. Ideal for use in entrances to commercial and public sector buildings, the health check station comprises a partially enclosed cubicle that people stand in front of to receive a temperature reading. Constructed from painted Zintec steel and having a Perspex screen with a small thermometer slot, it creates an effective shield around the person responsible for taking temperatures. It also includes a counter and document slot, which is useful for exchanging paperwork. BioCote’s antimicrobial technology is incorporated into the health check station’s paintwork as standard, providing an additional level of hygiene. It permanently protects the surface of the station by preventing the growth of a wide range of microbes, such as bacteria and some viruses. This makes the station easier to keep hygienically clean, reduces material degradation and decreases the risk of cross-contamination. Regular quality control testing and on-site field studies commissioned by Contour have demonstrated a reduction of up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria within two hours. David Hall, managing director of BioCote, said: “We’re very impressed with how Contour embraced the current challenges arising from the pandemic by developing a product that offers support to companies that are going above and beyond to ensure a safe return to work for their employees. “Integrating BioCote antimicrobial technology – especially in high-traffic areas with multiple touchpoints – offers a second line of defence, constantly working in between cleans to control the levels of microbes on surfaces.”

Area Focus: Mid Warwickshire

Illuminating open air experience at Coombe Abbey A spectacular seasonal light show is set to illuminate a beautiful Warwickshire park to help celebrate the Christmas period.

Events centre ready to reopen The IXL Events Centre, like many others in the hospitality and events industry, has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, our award-winning prestigious conference and wedding venue set in a stunning 600-acre estate in beautiful Warwickshire countryside within the grounds of Dallas Burston Polo Club had to close its doors during the pandemic. The IXL has welcomed the government’s announcement that conference venues will be permitted to reopen from October 1 and our highly committed team are busy ensuring that all health and safety measures are in place to ensure events can take place in a safe and compliant environment. For the time being, the IXL is delighted to host celebrations for up to 30 guests. The IXL Events Centre is ideally placed for those clients that need to bring larger audiences together, by having a small team onsite and running a ‘hybrid’ event, which is live-streamed to an interactive audience remotely. Have your core team and speakers on site in our stunning venue, streaming into individuals’ homes, where they can participate in polls, they can ask questions and feel like they are part of the event but they are working within their safe place – all whilst keeping your core team and your speakers socially distanced on site. To find out more information about The IXL Events Centre, visit www.ixleventscentre.com

The magical light trail is heading to Coombe Abbey Park and will help to herald in the festive season. A joint venture between Coombe Abbey Hotel, Luminate and Coventry City Council, the brandnew special event is set to run from November 25 to December 23. Perfect for all the family, it will be a chance for everyone to immerse themselves in a sparkling trail as darkness descends. Set to ambient music there will be an array of stunning lighting elements and light play within the historic grounds and countryside. The mesmerising mile-long walk will feature three different themes including wild woodland to incorporate the stunning surroundings. Following a sell-out debut year last year, Daniel Maycock, one of the organisers, is thrilled to be bringing the special event to Coombe. “We are really excited to bring this magical event to Coombe,” he said.

“It’s a stunning setting and perfect for an enchanting light trial. “It’s something different; we hope most people won’t have seen anything like it before – we look forward to welcoming people to this captivating event over the festive period and hope it becomes a favourite family tradition for years to come.” A number of Christmas chalets selling festive food and drink will be available and there will be fit pits for visitors to toast marshmallows as well. The team from Coombe Abbey Park operated by Coventry City Council, Coombe Abbey Park

which operates the hotel and cafes within the park, and Luminate came up with the idea to bring it to the park as it was something fresh and new for families to enjoy in the run up to the holidays. Richard Harrison, managing director of Coombe Abbey Park, said: “Luminate Coombe is something completely different and brand new for the area. We are so pleased to be working with Luminate and Coventry City Council on this Christmas project.” You can follow Luminate Coombe on Facebook and Instagram. Tickets are on sale now and for further information or to book visit www.luminatecoombe.com

NAEC welcomes events industry reopening date Conference and exhibition centre NAEC Stoneleigh has welcomed the government’s announcement that event venues will be permitted to reopen from October 1, subject to pilot schemes and industry guidelines. The events industry has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with venues across the country having to close their doors. However, the government’s announcement has come as a welcome boost for NAEC Stoneleigh, which is based at Kenilworth’s Stoneleigh Park, and the venue has been working hard to ensure it is ready. Chris Hartley, managing director at NAEC Stoneleigh, said: “We’re delighted to be able to reopen but our key priority is to make sure our delegates, exhibitors and visitors feel safe and are fully protected at all times.

“The return of event activity will be under rigorous health and safety measures, developed in partnership by the venue, event organisers and industry associations. “We have introduced, and will continue to review, stringent health and safety measures to ensure all of our events can take place in a safe and controlled environment. “These have been developed in line with the industry’s All Secure Standard, a best practice guide published by the Events Industry Alliance and endorsed by UK Government as the framework for the safe delivery of conferences, trade shows and exhibitions. “By working collaboratively with all of our customers, contractors, partners and stakeholders, we

know we can get back to delivering what everybody wants – great events – which are also safe events, while recognising that each one is different and presents its own unique challenges.”

To find out more information about NAEC Stoneleigh, visit www.naecstoneleigh.co.uk

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: North Warwickshire

Chamber support provides the key ingredient for success An Atherstone mum has found a recipe for success as a professional cakemaker after starting up her own business just before lockdown. After two years of planning, furloughed office manager Katie Keates officially launched The Real Cake Company in March from her kitchen – just days before the coronavirus pandemic struck the country. The 31-year-old baking enthusiast bakes a range of cupcakes, brownies and celebration cakes – and business has been booming ever since. The company’s customer base is continuing to grow and Katie is working with local cafes and businesses to develop her wholesale and corporate services. Prior to launching her business, Katie was assisted by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale Programme, part funded by the Eu-ropean Regional Development Fund, Warwickshire County Council and the district & borough councils.

Kate’s business advisor helped her to develop an initial business plan, an action plan ahead of launch, as well as marketing methods and financial forecasting. She said: “My business adviser told me to ask myself two key questions: why do I want to run a business and what do I want people to say about my business? “From then, I realised that I wanted to focus on making cakes that people can enjoy at an afford-able price, and to have a business that is flexible around my family life; the meeting I had with the Chamber was a lightbulb moment for me.” Keely Hancox from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce added: “Starting up a business is a brave move in itself, let alone during a pandemic, so Katie deserves a great deal of credit for getting her business off to a strong start.” For more information visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk

“My business adviser told me to ask myself two key questions: why do I want to run a business and what do I want people to say about my business?

MP backs businesses to build recovery

North Warwickshire MP Craig Tracey is tipping the region’s high street businesses to build on the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation as they emerge from the coronavirus lockdown. Mr Tracey was speaking with companies on a Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce #PolicyHour video call after visiting high streets in Bedworth, Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth to gauge the mood and concerns of small businesses. And despite UK GDP falling by 20.4 per cent during the second quarter, GDP grew by 8.7 per cent in June – a statistic that Tracey is keen for North Warwickshire businesses to hold on to.

He said: “I believe we are starting to see the shoots of a recovery, as seen by the GDP statistics for June, and should give businesses increasing optimism as they look to the future. “The country - and North Warwickshire - are emerging from one of the most challenging periods on record, but from talking to business owners and shop keepers across the region, a big theme has been that it has created an opportunity for businesses to hit the pause button and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. “The beauty of owning a smaller business is that it is a lot easier to react and adapt to situations, and many firms I’ve spoken to can’t believe just how much social media and digital channels have helped them to adapt during the pandemic. “We are now seeing more shops using click and collect services and home delivery, which has worked well for the most vulnerable people in our communities who have had to shield.

“Diversification into products and services has also been key for some companies to stay relevant to its customers during lockdown, and this entrepreneurial approach of spotting gaps in the market needs to continue so that both our region and the wider country can continue to thrive. “The pandemic has also enabled us to re-evaluate Great Britain PLC, and I’d love to see our region increasing its contribution to the national effort in manufacturing more of our own products moving forward, not just for our own consumption, but to be able to export and strengthen our economy. “Shopkeepers across Bedworth, Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth – who have been among the unsung heroes during this period - have all spoken about how more people have been coming out to support their local shops, and we need this to be one of the lasting economic legacies of the pandemic. “As a previous business owner myself I know first hand the challenges that

come with running a company, so would urge them to initially contact the Chamber first for some initial advice, or contact me directly.” Tom Mongan, chair of the North Warwickshire branch of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and also Vice President, added: “Having been involved in manufacturing for the best part of 50 years, I have used the Chamber’s #PolicyHour sessions to speak directly to elected officials about support packages that will benefit the sector that my business operates in, and help to rebuild the economy and kickstart a recovery. “Never has there been a more important time for local businesses to have a line of communica-tion into Government either via the Chamber or their local MP, and it was reassuring for our members to hear from Craig on the work he has been doing in terms of helping businesses to access funding and helping them to interpret Government guidance.”

Eskuta helps businesses in lockdown Based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Eskuta is a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles for the e-cargo and leisure markets. The company is the largest e-cargo bike brand in the UK and works with companies such as Just Eat, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Subway, both in the UK and internationally. Hundreds of Eskuta’s products have been delivered all over the UK to help restaurants, café’s, shops and takeaways to deliver their goods to customers safely and efficiently. Eskuta contacted a couple of their customers to see how they have been getting on with the products over the past couple of months.

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Croxteth Family Matters Food Bank said: “We are doing emergency deliveries, perfect for what we are using it for. With the big box on the back, we can get 4-5 shopping bags out and everyone loves it.” Lyme Regis Butchers purchased the SR-1200 Electric Scooter to add to its delivery team and said: “Introducing the newest eco-friendly member of our growing delivery fleet... fully electric meaning zero emissions with a range of 60 miles on a single charge! We will be using this new addition for our local deliveries.” The leisure industry has also been loving the SX250 Electric Bike for commuting, socially distanced meet-

ups, and a reliable, affordable, and sustainable way of transportation. David Hope, an individual who uses the product for leisure use, said: “The Eskuta SX250 does even more than it says on the box. It’s a stunning bit of kit that takes steep hills in its stride – not going below 22kmph. Nicely made and built, it looks and feels quality – a real joy to ride. Delivered several days ahead of the scheduled date by Eskuta. Fantastic pre- and post-sales service. All so very helpful. Magnificent communication too, being kept informed every step of the way and answering queries promptly. Seven stars (out of five). Very highly recommended.”

With new products coming in the next couple of months, keep an eye out on Eskuta’s website at eskuta.com to be the first to find out what other exciting and environmentally friendly products that the company has on offer!

DC Express Ltd

Warwick based transport company DC Express have recently undergone a re-brand and have plenty more to shout about! This will improve their existing ability to collect and deliver palletised freight nationwide and into Europe. Dave Cleaver (Managing Director) on the left and George Gailey (Operations Director) on the right

Previously trading as Streetwise Couriers (Midlands) Ltd, the company has been providing distribution services to Coventry and Warwickshire businesses for over 12 years. Managing Director Dave Cleaver lead a management buy-out 5 years ago, however have continued since to use the Streetwise trading name. In December last year they moved into a brand new warehouse facility on Tournament Fields in Warwick and their sister company Heart of England Distribution Services joined them in January. Both companies are member depots of APC Overnight and specialise in nationwide nextday parcel delivery. The name change has also opened the door for a new trading company to be added to the group ‘D&G Global Logistics’, who have recently become one of the newest members of Palletforce.

Operations Director George Gailey said ‘’ As a business our strategy was always to diversify and support our customers in different market sectors. With the group now covering Warwickshire and Oxfordshire and having unrivalled delivery capabilities through our networks our added value has become very beneficial in supporting them coming out of the pandemic. We have storage opportunities for all types of business and all the services to support the delivery requirements.‘’ Michael Warren, Sales Manager for the group added ‘’Even with the uncertainty of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have invested heavily back into the business in the last 12 months. Improving our working environment, adding value into our extensive range of services, and ultimately enhancing our value added proposition to our customers. The re-brand has given us a fresh new identity and reflects our independence.

Our group is very unique in the market place as truly offers a one stop shop solution to our trading base and potential new customers. There are very few companies who offer next day parcels, pallets, fulfilment, sameday services, as well as international parcel and freight solutions. We look

forward to continuing this journey and growing our reputation in the Midlands. This will be also supported by a brand new website which is currently in development’’. For further details on their range of services, contact info@dcexpressltd.co.uk

“As a business our strategy was always to diversify and support our customers in different market sectors. With the group now covering Warwickshire and Oxfordshire and having unrivalled delivery capabilities through our networks our added value has become very beneficial in supporting them coming out of the pandemic. “

National Parcel and Logistics Services Tel 01926 456150 email info@dcexpressltd.co.uk 36

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Area Focus: South Warwickshire

Raising a glass to new gin distillery

David Blick with Hardeep Sandhu of the Chamber

Leamington’s first ever gin distillery is a step closer to opening after the start-up company behind the concept toasted strong levels of trade. Dave Blick launched The Warwickshire Gin Company last year, selling gin inspired by historical Warwickshire tales, with a view to eventually opening up a gin distillery of his own in the town.

Orders came pouring in throughout 2019 at various food and drink festivals – generating more than £60,000 in revenue – but then Dave and his team found themselves having to suddenly adapt when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Dave used the online marketing knowledge he gained from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce via the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale Programme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Warwickshire County Council and the district & borough councils to ramp up his online presence to maintain a strong level of trade. The business fulfilled more than 1,000 online orders between March and July, and diversified by using the alcohol used in the gin to make thousands of litres of hand sanitiser for frontline workers.

The Warwickshire Gin Company is gearing up to open its distillery in September where the gin can be made on site at its Neilston Street premises. Dave, who used to own a parcel carrying franchise for 23 years before going solo, said: “Even though we launched 18 months ago, with the help from my business advisor at the Chamber, I’ve probably learned the most in the past four months because we have had to adapt the way we attract business.” Keely Hancox, operations manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “We have worked with Dave to help him to develop a multi-channel approach so that he is maximising sales from online platforms, as well as being ready when physical events get going again.” For more information visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk

NEW co-working space launching in Leamington Spa A new collaborative workspace is launching in Leamington Spa this autumn. The revolutionary complex – on the corner of Mill Street and Leam Terrace – will feature hot desking, dedicated desks and flexible offices, production studio, meeting areas and events spaces. The Muse Coffee House, currently in Regent Grove, is also expanding into the new building. 1 Mill Street has been designed for the creative and digital community including all of the tools needed to be successful. Founder, Nigel said: “Leamington has a highly creative and entrepreneurial community and we believe there is a real need for a centre which allows flexible, collaborative

space to enable people, ideas and businesses to flourish. “People will be able to have access to a desk on a shared basis, a dedicated desk, or a team office which will fit between 4 – 10 staff for growing companies. “It will suit a range of people from those who work for big companies but do not have a base, to people launching enterprises and those already established in business.” Nigel is also hoping 1 Mill Street will help retain talent in the town and is in discussions with the University of Warwick to help attract and develop graduates, while there is potential for it to be a hub for 5G technology. “We have had some great feedback and high levels of interest from local businesses involved in different

industries who not only want a space which is much more than a serviced office with cutting-edge technology, but who also very much buy into the community aspect of what we are doing.” A new Mill Street app has been launched as a platform for local entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses to network, collaborate and be part of a digital community. For more information visit www.1millstreet.com

The Myton Hospices receives early Christmas present

The Box Factory MD Neil Price is hoping the company’s donation will inspire other businesses to donate to The Myton Hospices.

Leamington-based The Box Factory is one of The Myton Hospices’ most valued corporate supporters – making generous donations every Christmas to mark the season of goodwill. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on Myton’s fundraising has seen the company bring forward a portion of its annual donation to help the charity through these difficult times. Its generosity has seen Myton benefit to the tune of £5,000 – money vital to helping the charity continue to provide

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its services following the crippling of its fundraising efforts at the hands of the coronavirus. The Box Factory’s managing director, Neil Price, said he hoped the donation would inspire other companies to support Myton in its hour of need. He added: “We have been supporting The Myton Hospices for 13 years and traditionally make a donation at Christmas time. “But we know how hard Myton’s fundraising has been hit by coronavirus, so we thought that making a donation now would be a big help when it is needed most. “I would like to urge fellow businesses who may have some charity money in reserves, or who are lucky enough to be in a financial position to do so, to donate that money now rather than hold onto it – Myton needs your support now, more than ever.”

Over the years, The Box Factory has donated many thousands of pounds to the hospice, supporting its amazing work caring for terminally ill people across Coventry and Warwickshire. The early Christmas present has been welcomed by corporate fundraiser Chris Willmott. He said: “Box Factory are such fabulous supporters and I was delighted when I received the call from MD Neil Price to say the company wanted to break from tradition and make this wonderful donation to help Myton at this hugely difficult time. “Our fundraising was literally crippled overnight and it is thanks to the support of everyone who has donated, taken part in our virtual events, responded to our urgent appeal, or brought forward their usual donations that we have been able to maintain business as usual, government restrictions aside.”

Chamber inter-trading: when it’s all in the name Two chamber members, Phil Ingle Associates and Glued, have discovered the fruits of working with one another. As what Phil Ingle offers has evolved, the relevance of the strapline for Phil Ingle Associates needed updating so he decided to turn to brand specialists Glued. Phil’s business had shifted away from consultancy and training around the sales aspect of business development and towards consultancy and training for leadership, finance, negotiation and communications. His brief was not simply about relevance but also to develop a strapline that stirred him more than the original “Empowering Business Development” had when he first used it. Glued took the initiative by looking at part of the business name as well as the strapline. More meaning could be conveyed and more options for straplines, where the term following ‘Phil Ingle’ could be used more meaningfully. Trialing a change from “associates” to “training”, “learning” and “development” allowed Glued to consider a whole range of sentiments in the strapline. These included the notions of: “having the right attitude for…”; “not just training but also action or performance or profit”; “effective training being about behaviour”: and “being grown-up about training”. Phil Ingle said: “Working with Rob and David on my new logo really pushed my boundaries and maybe their patience, but they were so professional. What came through was their great expertise, willingness to get things right, and some provocative thinking to help me get to something I never expected – but am delighted with.” Rob Harrison of Glued said: “Working on Phil’s strapline was really stimulating, in no small part due to Phil’s unique approach to learning and to the specialisms he focuses on. His style is wryly humorous; his focus is on behaviour and attitude; and his use of “it depends” is refreshing and thought provoking. We are proud to have been involved.” For more information visit www.philingleassociates.com and www.gluedlimited.co.uk

Area Focus: Rugby MP offers insight on the lessons to be learned from COVID-19

The Government must learn lessons from its response to the Coronavirus crisis, a Warwickshire MP has told businesses in the region. Mark Pawsey, the MP for Rugby and Bulkington, was speaking to companies on the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest #PolicyHour video call. Pawsey, who sits on the Business, Energy and Industrial

Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee, said the overriding feedback from firms was that they were grateful for the speed of the response from Government in its support packages through the crisis. But, he said, the BEIS Select Committee was writing to the Secretary of State, Alok Sharma MP, on the back of its research to help Government learn key lessons should a second spike occur and lead to more support being required. He said: “The message I have picked up from companies is that they recognise how quickly the Government responded to the economic impact of the crisis and immediately put support in place. “In ordinary circumstances, these kinds of measures would

have taken much longer to implement because they would have undergone a lengthy assessment process to test their potential impact. “But there wasn’t the time for that as support was needed urgently. Of course, what that speed meant was that there were gaps in the support and businesses and organisations such as the Chamber were very quick to highlight those. “For example, the option to furlough staff proved very popular with companies at the outset of the crisis but some businesses asked for greater flexibility – which the Chancellor later introduced. “There were some concerns that the CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) was

too strict in its criteria. Again, the Bounce Back Loans helped to address that. “So, it’s important that we learn these lessons because if we do have to go through this again we can be better prepared and more targeted with the support on offer.” Pawsey added that businesses will have learned valuable lessons too. He said: “I believe it will give some companies food for thought on where they source their products. You may have found something cheaper overseas previously but, when it comes to the crunch, if you can’t rely on your supply chain in a crisis you may want to be able to source it more locally in the long run.”

Sean Rose, policy officer at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are very grateful to Mark Pawsey for joining us on our

despite the challenges of COVID-19. The 44,000 sq ft industrial unit will also create opportunities for new manufacturing at Europark, which will help to grow Rugby’s local economy.” Elsewhere on Europark, marketing is underway on

phase 2, which comprises two industrial units with ancillary offices and storage of approximately 27,000 sq ft and 36,000 sq ft respectively. The units are available on a bespoke design and build basis to purchase or alternatively a pre-let leasehold basis.

#PolicyHour call and providing such an open and honest insight. “Mark was our very first MP to join us on this kind of video call back in March when the crisis was first hitting and he listened then to all of the concerns of businesses and fed that back. “There is no doubt that Government support for businesses is going to continue and the feedback from the BEIS Select Committee will be extremely insightful.”

New warehouse completed at Europark, Rugby A local family-owned property company is celebrating completion of a new speculative industrial warehouse building at Europark Industrial Estate, on the A5 just outside Rugby town centre. Richard Utley, the landlord of the industrial estate, has recently completed construction of the new 44,000 sq ft industrial unit. The new building will cater for distribution and manufacturing companies and will complement existing industrial units on the established estate.To celebrate the milestone, Richard

Utley invited members of the project team and the local Rugby MP Mark Pawsey along to a key handing over ceremony. Christopher Utley of Richard Utley said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have worked with a fantastic project team on Europark 44. The main contractor, Northampton-based Warwick Burt, along with their sub-contractors were able to continue work during the lockdown period through the successful implementation of a COVID-19 safe work policy.

“The UK commercial property construction sector has been one of the few sectors in the economy that was able to continue throughout the pandemic. Rugby and Warwickshire are one of the beneficiaries of this in employment terms, which is a positive in terms of local GDP figures.” MP Mark Pawsey said: “A key part of Rugby’s economy is in logistics and freight, so I was delighted to be able to visit Europark and see how they have continued to deliver investment in the constituency

News Triple shot tonic to Coventry offices leaves the market giddy!

Bromwich Hardy has a history of bucking the trend in terms of market activity – and has done so again.

It has been well documented that the commercial property office markets have been in a state of flux due to the increased homeworking during the COVID-19 lockdown period, creating increased uncertainty. However, this is by no means certain and in reality a hybrid of home and office usage for the future seems most likely. The Coventry office market, however, continues to provide

green shoots of recovery and some inspiration. Bromwich Hardy recently completed four separate office deals in the city within the space of a week. Firstly, Partner James Brookes completed the sale of 8-14 Harnall Row, a four-storey self-contained, four-year-old office in Coventry city centre at a record setting £196 per sq.ft. This followed the leasehold acquisition of a single floor at Friars House for vendor

Row in Coventry city centre at a value of £15.50 per sq. ft. Partner James Brookes said: “We are all aware times have recently been difficult, but Bromwich Hardy did not furlough any employees through lockdown and we have continued to keep our feet firmly pressed to the metal throughout the whole period. This is clearly reaping its rewards with a continued stream of deals completing.”

Actions to take when preparing for renewal in a challenging market

IGNITE project to transform modern construction Technologists at the Manufacturing Technology Centre are starting work on a newly-awarded project which will transform how domestic buildings are designed, manufactured and delivered in the UK. The project is part of a suite of key projects awarded to the MTC, which are part of the Transforming Construction sector deal initiative, funded through Innovate UK. IGNITE will create digital tools to support the transformation of the construction domestic supply chain. It is led by Places for People Group with consortium members LYNQ, Totally Modular, Northmill Associates, ModularWise and Project Etopia UK. Project delivery starts this month for delivery in April 2022. Susan Hone-Brookes, chief engineer at the MTC, said: “The overall aim of the project is to develop an end-to-end digital platform which integrates design outputs, on and offsite programme activities, and supply chain readiness. We think of it as bringing the learning of the automotive sector, with their car production flow lines and just-intime supply chain integration to the construction sector.

Reall late last year, facilitating the move. Secondly, Partner David Penn completed a disposal of Oak House on Binley Business Park for £159 per sq. ft to Coventry City Council. Thirdly, James Brookes completed a letting of Unit 4 The Cable Yard at Electric Wharf at a new record rent for the development of £14.29 per sq. ft. Finally, James Brookes completed the letting of First Floor 1 Harnall

“Creating a digital portal to share options for housing developments will enable developers and construction supply chains to gear up in a more strategic way, unlocking value through optimisation of manufacturing processes and understanding economies of scale.” IGNITE will introduce a tendering process to enable housing providers and developers to obtain prices from across modular manufacturing companies in one sweep. They can then shortlist or move forward from that information. This can potentially save months off a project’s lead time as well as the costs associated with the current process. IGNITE will also enable developers to influence the manufacturing supply chain by procuring the same housing product across different modular manufacturing companies, so efficiencies can be achieved and better prices can be negotiated on manufacturers’ products, reducing the overall cost of the homes. For further information visit www.the-mtc.org

The UK insurance landscape is currently undergoing a ‘hard market’ cycle which has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Insurers are being impacted by increased claims, higher risks, and due to a challenging economic climate, much lower financial returns on the premiums they charge – meaning that the price of insurance cover is increasing and they are being more selective of risks they are taking on. The hard market we are seeing now is expected to continue for the foreseeable future and is impacting the majority of different types of insurance and industry sectors. In this article, insurance, risk management and consulting firm Gallagher offers guidance on steps Coventry and Warwickshire businesses can take when preparing for renewal to ensure they get the right insurance cover at the most attractive terms available.

Work with a specialist broker Businesses should work with a broker who understands what they do, is well-resourced to absorb the additional time that renewals will take, and who has built strong, collaborative ties with a wide range of insurers. Make an early start With insurers currently applying greater scrutiny and due diligence than they have done in the past, it is advisable for businesses to start the renewal process early, to ensure their broker is in the best position for negotiating and securing the best deal. Choose the right insurer As insurers become more selective, it may not be possible for businesses to use the same insurer that previously provided their cover. However insurance brokers will take time to understand the risk profile of the business and support them to find alternative insurers and work with them to achieve optimal terms.

Create transparency Businesses should be prepared to answer more in-depth questions from insurers, and provide as much information as possible on any previous claims, so that insurers can determine whether they are a one-off scenario or part of a larger issue that may continue. Be flexible Brokers will look at all available options to secure the renewal, and a flexible approach to the level of cover purchased is recommended. They can obtain a range of limits so that cost and risk can be fully considered, giving businesses the option of adjusting their level of cover up or down as necessary.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Lodders Solicitors

How to handle redundancies as a result of COVID-19 With redundancies looking inevitable in the coming months, particularly as the government’s furlough scheme finishes on 31 October 2020, Faye Reynolds, associate at Lodders Solicitors and a specialist in employment law, explains what employers must consider at this difficult time. The recent COVID-19 outbreak and UK-wide lockdown has impacted the finances of many businesses, forcing them to now make difficult decisions relating to staff.

Furlough timeline The flexible furlough scheme is only available for employees previously furloughed for at least three consecutive weeks between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. The last date for furloughing employees for the first time was 10 June. Those returning from familyrelated leave do not need to have been previously furloughed before the 10 June cut-off date, provided their employer has made use of the furlough scheme. With the scheme closing at the end of October, business owners must now assess whether their business remains sustainable without closures, or staffing reductions.

Avoiding compulsory redundancies The economic impact of COVID-19 means many businesses are no longer viable with current staffing levels. If forced to consider redundancies, in every case, employers must consider whether compulsory redundancies can be avoided, for example by seeking voluntary redundancy or early retirement, and also laying off self-employed contractors and freelancers, limiting recruitment, and filling vacancies with current employees.

Redundancies must be genuine Before consulting with employees or dismissing for redundancy, employers must be satisfied the statutory definition of redundancy applies, based on three circumstances: • Closure of the business altogether; • Workplace closure (i.e. closure of one of several sites, or relocation to a new site); or, • Lower demand for employees to do a particular kind of work. Once genuine redundancy is identified, employers must ensure employees are not unfairly selected for redundancy, by considering

About Lodders: Lodders Solicitors LLP is the premier law firm in Warwickshire, the West Midlands, the Three Counties and the Cotswolds and offers expert legal advice across agricultural law and landed estates; private client work, dispute resolution, business and commercial law, commercial property, employment law, charity law, residential conveyancing, equine law, and family law, for private individuals, family businesses, landowners, rural communities, real estate and property owners, developers and investors.

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factors including skills, qualifications, and performance. Length of service can be considered, but not as a lone factor, as this can be seen as age discrimination. The list of unfair criteria - available on the government website - also includes pregnancy, parental leave, acting as an employee or trade union representative, age and gender.

Making furloughed employees redundant Furloughed employees can be considered for redundancy, as long as a wider pool of employees is also considered. Identifying the correct pools of employees at risk of redundancy will differ for individual businesses, but they should not consider furloughed employees exclusively; COVID-19 meant that, in some cases, the furlough selection was conducted quickly, and therefore may not stand up to scrutiny as a fair redundancy selection process.

Employment law specialist Faye Reynolds is an associate at Lodders

it must consult on its proposal with representatives of the affected employees, and notify the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 2. There are no set guidelines when making fewer than 20 employees redundant, however, consultation with employees, and ensuring a fair procedure, is essential. 3. Employees with at least two years’ continuous service at the relevant date, who have been dismissed by reason of redundancy, or become eligible for a redundancy payment because they have been laid off or kept on short-time working, are entitled to a Statutory Redundancy Payment (SRP). In some cases, employees may be contractually entitled to receive more than SRP, or to a contractual payment in circumstances where they do not qualify for SRP (for example, where they have less than two years’ service).

Employers must follow the following employee rights to ensure legal compliance:

4. Businesses must give employees notice and agree a leaving date once they have finished redundancy consultations. As a minimum, employees must be given a statutory notice period, dependent on how long they have worked.

1. For redundancies of 20 or more employees within 90 days or less (collective redundancies),

For more information contact Faye Reynolds on 01242 229093 or email faye.reynolds@lodders.co.uk

Employee rights when being made redundant

“If forced to consider redundancies, in every case, employers must consider whether compulsory redundancies can be avoided, for example by seeking voluntary redundancy or early retirement, and also laying off self-employed contractors and freelancers, limiting recruitment, and filling vacancies with current employees.”

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education & Training

Teenage entrepreneur from Coventry sets up office in the city A teenage entrepreneur in Coventry, who was turning over £12,000 when he was in Year 9 at school, has moved into his first office and is preparing to take on his first member of staff. James Cousins, now 19, began his YouTube channel when he was a 12-yearold schoolboy at Caludon Castle and, as interest grew in his channel, he set up a business bank account to help monetise his content. His focus on tech helped him stand out from the crowd and now his company – Geeka Media – has carved out a niche in creating online videos and social media content for a range of corporate clients such as Intel, Samsung and ASUS. The company has now moved into the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre in Binley and James is preparing to take on another staff member when social distancing measures are eased. He has been tapping into advice from the University of Warwick Science

Park’s business support team and has plans to grow the company. James said: “When I was around 12, most of my friends had YouTube channels but mine just took off. It was focused very much on tech and I started to grow an audience. “And when it brought in £12,000 when I was in Year 9, we decided it was time to set up a business account. I think my parents thought I was going to start paying for the family holidays! “I think there was a little bit of concern that I was spending too much time on YouTube but I worked hard at school too and got good GCSEs and A-Levels. “Once some of the teachers saw the kind of potential in the business, a lot of them encouraged me to stick at it because they could see it was something I really believed in. “Now, I am at the point where I have an office and I’m ready to employ somebody, which is something I’ve always dreamed of. “I signed the lease here at the Business Innovation Centre just before lockdown and because my parents have been working from home, I’ve been coming into the office because I’m here on my own.

“I must be the only person who stopped working from home and started working in an office in the past three months! “I really like the surroundings because it’s got a professional feel and the team at the Science Park are great too. There’s also lots of support on offer, which is helpful because I have no experience in so many aspects of business. “We’ve kitted out the office with a studio and it’s the perfect place for us to produce the kind of content our clients are looking for. We’re working with some great businesses already and we’ve got some exciting work in the pipeline too. “Once social distancing measures are lifted, I’ll definitely be ready to take on our first employee.” Penny Robb, the centre manager at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Geeka Media to the centre. It’s been a very tough time for businesses so it’s great to have such as positive story about a young entrepreneur in Coventry. “It’s a great base for the company and the Science Park team will be ready to offer a range of support to help James realise his ambitions for the business.”

Partnership funds £1.8m for new apprenticeships A partnership of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) with one of the UK’s biggest banks is helping the region’s economy to recover from the COVID-19 shutdown by funding £1.8m for apprenticeship training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The WMCA set up the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund to cover the costs of training apprentices at SMEs in the West Midlands, through large employers pledging their unspent levy. Lloyds Banking Group was one of the first large employers to join the scheme with a pledged spend of £1.8m. Over the past year, this has funded the training costs of 250 apprentices at 135 SMEs in the region’s fastestgrowing sectors including business

and professional services, adult care, construction, digital and engineering. Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It is critical that we support new jobs and training opportunities for people right across the West Midlands as we move through the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. This applies particularly to young people, who we know historically are disproportionately affected by economic downturns. “Thanks to Lloyds Banking Group and other big employers who have contributed to the levy transfer fund, we are helping more and more local people find work by equipping them with the skills employers need. The region must do everything it can to keep people in work or support those who fall out, and our apprenticeship

training is just one part of our wider employment work. “I’d urge any SMEs in the West Midlands that are thinking about taking on new apprentices, or anyone out there looking for a job or change of career, to get in touch with us and find out how we can help.” For more information, visit www.wmca.org.uk/apprenticeship-levy

Coventry College backs City of Culture Coventry College has backed Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture with a major partnership. The College, which boasts two campuses since the merger of City College and Henley College, is supporting the Coventry City of Culture Trust as a City Champion. The supportive partnership will help the Trust to deliver an ambitious 12-month programme of events and activities across the city from May 2021, as well as leaving a legacy of change for Coventry. Coventry College provides education and training for over 8,000 learners, including a wide range of further education, apprenticeship opportunities, higher education and university level courses. They offer training and development for businesses and those looking to gain professional qualifications, careers advice and upskilling opportunities.

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The College boasts outstanding industry level facilities and a wide range of provision; from performing arts and games design through to construction, motor vehicle and public services. With expert staff and experienced professionals, the College also holds strong partnerships with Coventry City Football Club and Wasps, as part of its innovative sports academies. Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Coventry College as a City Champion. “It is a mainstay of the city and we look forward to working with Coventry College and its team to engage the fresh talent that study there each year. We truly believe that through investing in skills we can secure a meaningful legacy for the city. We are so pleased to have the support of Coventry College at this time.”

Gemma Knott, Assistant Principal Business Growth of Coventry College, said: “Coventry College is a leading provider of further education in the city of Coventry and it is proud to serve the needs of the community in a city which is regenerating. “Culture is at the heart of every programme, course and job prospect that we offer. We want to see our city placed on the map as the innovative and forward thinking place

we know it to be. Our staff, learners, employers and stakeholders demonstrate creativity and innovation in all that they do, and the College is inspired to showcase and harness this talent through the UK City of Culture 2021 programme. “We continue to encourage our community to dream big, to understand the importance of culture and to engage with the life-changing opportunities that it brings.”

College group selected to deliver three new T Level routes

A leading college group which operates across Warwickshire and Worcestershire has been selected to offer three new T Level routes. WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) will be delivering the Health and Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Construction routes from the 2022/23 academic year – the first year these qualifications are available. This adds to the existing Digital T Level route which the college had already been approved to offer from 2021/22. T Levels (or Technical Levels) are part of the Government’s flagship reforms to technical education in England. The qualifications are similar to A Levels and are designed for students after GCSEs who wish to follow a technical pathway at further and higher level, rather than a solely academic route. They can lead to employment, an apprenticeship or higher study. The college group will be among the first to introduce the new technical qualifications, which are primarily aimed at learners aged 16 to 18 years. T Levels will be based on employerdesigned standards and will have a focus on gaining workplace experience to help students be employment-ready. The courses will include a significant industry placement equivalent to 45 days or 315 hours. The two-year qualifications will become one of the main choices for students after completing their GCSEs – alongside taking an apprenticeship or A Levels. By 2022/23 there will be seven T Level delivery routes available for providers and four of these will be on offer for students at WCG. Angela Joyce, CEO of WCG, said: “To have been selected to deliver four T Level programmes over the next three years is fantastic for our college. “We have strong foundations already in place to deliver the routes in these subject areas and are well-positioned to be one of the trailblazer providers. “T Levels have been designed in a partnership of education providers and employers, ensuring students are ready to go into employment after concluding their studies. “The work placement is a key aspect of qualifications and we will be working closely with businesses to provide placements of the highest possible quality. “We hope that delivery of T Levels at WCG will help to create more skilled workers for the region, fill the skills gap and be of great benefit to the regional economy.” WCG includes seven colleges including Royal Leamington Spa College, Rugby College, Warwick Trident College, Moreton Morrell College, Evesham College, Pershore College and Malvern Hills College. To find out more about T Levels and upcoming delivery at WCG go to www.wcg.ac.uk/tlevels or call 0300 456 0049.

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Coventry & Warwickshire in business

Education & Training

A leading apprenticeship provider is urging employers to take advantage of new government incentives as it continues to successfully deliver assessments for existing trainees. WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) is the largest apprenticeship training provider in the region, training over 2,500 apprentices each year and working with more than 1,100 employers annually. All employers that hire an apprentice between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021, will be entitled to government incentive payments of £2,000 for apprentices aged between 16 and 24 and £1,500 for apprentices aged 25 and over. The incentives are in addition to the £1,000 incentive already in place for those hiring 16 to 18-year-old apprenticeships. WCG has been delivering learning to apprentices across all sectors during lock-down through remote delivery and virtual one-to-one sessions. The college group is now completing end point assessments for all apprentices and for where these aren’t able to be completed remotely, the college has opened facilities specially to complete training.

Businesses urged to take advantage of new government apprenticeship incentives

Apprentices have been welcomed at the colleges at Rugby, Moreton Morrell, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick Trident, Evesham and Pershore. The trainees have ranged from engineering to equine and in some cases live video has been set-up to allow assessors to complete the end point assessments. Mark Eden, Director of Work-Based Learning at WCG, said: “The new incentive scheme introduced by the government means that there is no better time to look at taking on a new apprentice. “In times of financial difficulty, apprentices are a cost-effective way of supporting your workforce and can provide huge return on investment in the long-term. “The last few months have been unprecedented for education and training delivery, however all of our staff, apprentices and employers have risen to the challenge to ensure no drop off in delivery. “Even if apprentices have been furloughed by their employer we have continued their training and utilised their time in the best way possible – which has been well

received by employers, who have received regular contact from our team. “The difficulties have come in keeping apprentices up to speed on practical elements, but we have been inviting them in to complete these assessments or in some cases been able to carry them out remotely by video call. “The small groups we have had in at college sites have worked well, particularly in areas such as engineering where the practical assessment is crucial to their development. “We have been successfully progressing apprentices through their assessments and the feedback we have received from assessors so far has been very positive. “As a training provider we are ready to welcome the next cohort of apprentices and will continue to support employers regarding the requirements for their business.” WCG offers a wide range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information visit www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships

Student satisfaction with College Higher Education soars Students have provided a ringing endorsement for higher education provision at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) in a national survey that has seen satisfaction rates rise, putting the college ahead of the sector both regionally and across the UK. Results from the National Student Survey (NSS), published today, show that nine out of ten students are satisfied with their experience of higher education at NWSLC with overall satisfaction seeing an increase of 12.5 per cent over the last two years. The college’s HE provision was also highly rated for the quality of its teaching, assessment and feedback, organisation and management, and the learning opportunities in which students can engage. Data shows that satisfaction with the college’s learning community and Student Voice activities has significantly increased and is ten per cent ahead of sector averages. The 90 per cent satisfaction rate amongst NWSLC students is seven points above the national average and NWSLC now heads the leader board of 12 regional further education colleges and eight universities in terms of student satisfaction with higher education courses. The NSS, the largest of its kind in the UK, is managed by the Office for Students (OfS) and gathers students’

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opinions on the quality of their courses which helps to inform prospective students’ choices, provides data that supports universities and colleges to improve the student experience, and supports public accountability. Every university in the UK and many colleges take part in the NSS and response rates are consistently high. Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive at NWSLC said, “We are delighted with these fantastic results which are a fitting tribute to the hard work of our staff during what has been a difficult year for everyone. Our students have really risen to the challenge of maintaining a focus on their studies during the coronavirus lockdown and our staff have consistently worked to support them above and beyond normal expectations, keeping them on track and helping

them to complete their qualifications. We are very proud of the whole team that has worked so hard over the last few years to improve the learning experience for our HE students.” NWSLC offers an extensive range of Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) that can be converted into full degrees with a further year of study at university. The college works closely with its partner universities Coventry University, De Montfort University, the University of Warwick, and the University of West London to deliver a range of foundation degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Specialist provision for the automotive sector is available through the MIRA Technology Institute. For more information on higher education at NWSLC visit the college website www.nwslc.ac.uk

MTC apprentice applications hit record high MTC Apprenticeships has seen a surge in applications from prospective apprentices, with more than 700 young people looking to join the awardwinning programme.

Now 135 successful candidates are in a talent pool ready to be snapped up by employers who can now take advantage of the recently-announced government scheme to pay an additional, temporary, six-month bonus of up to £2,000 per learner for employers taking on new apprentices. The apprentices have passed the MTC’s rigorous screening process at the assessment centre. MTC Apprenticeships is looking for new employer partners who want to futureproof their workforce by creating the next generation of engineers. David Hughes MBE, managing director of the MTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, said that incorporating apprenticeships into a training and recruitment strategy offers great benefits to any business, with apprenticeships providing a costeffective way to attract enthusiastic, motivated, young talent, while helped by temporary government funding. Recent figures from the National Apprenticeship Service show that 75% of employers believe that taking on apprentices has lowered their recruitment costs. Firms stand to benefit from increased employee retention and loyalty, as well as higher levels of staff performance, with 92% of businesses who employ apprentices saying that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce. Apprenticeships also help address the engineering skills shortage by providing learners with the skills and experience to help them add value to their organisation from the start of their careers. Apprentices on the MTC’s programme gain additional expertise compared to other learners through their exposure to the latest engineering technologies, crucial to the success of the manufacturing sector. David Hughes said: “MTC apprentices are exactly what the industry needs to fill the high-tech jobs of the future. Our programme produces apprentices capable of rapidly adding value to their employers, and several of our apprentices have gone on to win awards and accolades in recognition of their exceptional skills.” For more information visit www.the-amtc.co.uk/apprenticeships/

President & People Absolute Works takes on new apprentice

NOT SO GLOOMY I am tempted to ignore national media such as the doom mongers at the BBC and I won’t be picking up the Daily Mail any time soon. How often do I hear “It’s going to be awful... but I’m really busy!” Many local national and international companies are very active in our region and I am confident that the death knell for the office is somewhat premature. I have sizeable development enquiries from sectors including automotive, energy, telecoms and public sector. My firm have been back at the office fully staffed from the 14th September. By making sensible arrangements we can operate fully keeping safety at the forefront. Will there be an exodus from the major cities? Coventry was recently stated by the Estates Gazette (our property “Bible”) as being the UK’s top town or city for increased enquiries for satellite offices with a percentage increase year on year of 112% (Preston was next highest on 88%). I was delighted to see Coventry City Council yet again putting their full support behind the Friargate office scheme at Coventry Station, where construction will soon commence for a new 130,000 sq ft office building. By the time of publication significant new plans for Coventry Station will also have been unveiled. HS2 is happening (whether you like it or not) and the new Battery Industrialisation Centre is almost complete. Manufacturing clients and Chamber members are in many cases at or near full capacity and take up of industrial and warehouse properties in the sub region remains extremely buoyant. I know it’ going to be very tough for many, but not all people and businesses and this region’s entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude abound and businesses must do everything they can to be busy, rather than hiding because of grey clouds on the horizon. Your Chamber continues to do a fantastic job in supporting businesses. For example: • We will be contacting you shortly to consult your views on business rates. • The International Trade Hub is bringing together key voices in monitoring Brexit so that businesses can prepare. • We are fully supportive of major initiatives such as Transforming Nuneaton. • We continue to signpost small businesses in applying for new grants from Warwickshire County Council and the Government to boost recovery. • Chambers of Commerce will help to pull together bids for the £2 billion kick start schemes offering youngsters claiming Universal Credit a six month work placement. Please continue to read member and media output from your Chamber and contact the team wherever necessary. Above all, be safe and work hard.

Best regards David Penn

HR consultancy Absolute Works is delighted to welcome Tom Young to the team as apprenticeship business development manager. Tom has a wealth of experience in the apprenticeship sector, starting his own career as an apprentice in a small family-run business and quickly gaining experience in dayto-day business operations before spending time in the civil service. He then moved on to support SMEs as a business advisor with Business Link. Stepping into the apprenticeship field almost ten years ago, Tom hasn’t looked back. Tom has supported SMEs and large employers to set up

their apprenticeships from the ground up, creating bespoke programmes, supporting with screening and recruitment of high-calibre candidates, and assisting and guiding businesses and apprentices to achieve success through an engaging learning journey. Joy May, founder and CEO of Absolute Works, said: “Tom’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable in supporting our apprenticeship division to grow and go from strength to strength. We are very pleased that he has joined us and we look forward to seeing him develop his role with us.”

On July 8 2020, the Chancellor made announcements that will have a huge impact on training opportunities for young people. Businesses will be given £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the government already provides for new 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an education, health and care plan. It was also announced that if a business were to take on a new apprentice over the age of 25, it would be given £1,500 for each apprentice. Tom said: “The recent announcement by the Chancellor is a positive step

to support businesses that may be able to offer new opportunities to those who may have found themselves at risk of redundancy, or having been made redundant, due to the fallout from COVID-19.”

Exciting expansion for Armstrongs Chartered Accountants

Director Muhammed Shabbir, consultant Michael Lester, director Sarah Van Ristell, consultant Mark Lester and director Paul Farmer

A national award-winning firm of chartered accountants based in Coventry & Warwickshire has merged with a practice in the East Midlands. Armstrongs Chartered Accountants has come together with Hinckley-based firm Lester & Co as part of its expansion strategy for Leicestershire. The Hinckley

venture, known as Armstrongs Lester & Co, means Armstrongs now has three offices across the Midlands. Mark and Michael Lester, who have run Lester & Co since they took over from their father in the 1980s, decided that the time had come to prepare for their retirement. The merger is part of their succession plan to exit the business. Mark Lester said: “There were a number of options available to us but with a longstanding client base we wanted to ensure that our clients would be well serviced after our departure. “Armstrongs is highly regarded across the Coventry & Warwickshire area and shares similar values to Lester & Co, so was the perfect fit.” Paul Farmer, director at Armstrongs Lester & Co, commented: “As a firm, we have been looking to have a presence in Leicestershire for some time.

So, when the opportunity arose to take over Lester & Co, we knew this would be the ideal route to grow our practice. “The merger is good news for local businesses. Clients will continue to receive outstanding customer service and will also reap the benefits of the knowledge and expertise the Armstrongs team brings to the new firm.” Armstrongs Chartered Accountants provides a wide range of services including accounting, tax, corporate finance, wealth planning, audit and assurance, business support and business development. In 2019, the company was crowned Professional Services Firm of the Year at the Coventry Telegraph awards and was a finalist at the British Accountancy Awards in the Independent Firm of the Year – Wales & Midlands category. For more information visit www.armstrongs-accountancy.co.uk

Lodders announces new head of private client team Law firm Lodders has appointed Louise Igoe as the new head of its top ranking private client practice. A specialist in estate planning, wills, trusts and probate matters, Louise joined Lodders 17 years ago as a trainee and qualified into the private client team. In 2011, she made history at the firm when she became its youngest partner at the age of 30. Described by the Chambers UK Legal Guide as “an accomplished adviser to private clients” and a “notable practitioner”, Louise is widely respected for her quality advice on a variety of private client estate planning matters, and for her work with farming estates and family businesses. Louise takes over as head of the private client department from Martin Green, who originally joined the firm as a partner

in 1986. Since then he has led the team’s phenomenal expansion; today it is one of the Midlands’ largest dedicated private client practices with 32 team members, including three partners and 22 fee earners, with a national reputation for excellence and consistent top tier rankings for the last 20 years from both Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession and the Legal 500. Martin will continue to support Louise, the team and its clients, and remains Lodders’ senior partner, a position he has held since 2014. Louise said: “The private client department is an exceptionally talented and skilful group of people. I am honoured to lead such a great team.” Martin added: “Not only is Louise a brilliant private client lawyer, she is highly efficient and organised, and combines her

Louise Igoe is the new head of Lodders’ private client team, and takes over from Martin Green, the firm’s senior partner

legal prowess with strong client and team management skills and competencies.” For more information visit www.lodders.co.uk

Industry recognition for Midlands law firm

One of the Midlands’ top law firms has been shortlisted for its work in the wills and probate sector at a major industry awards ceremony. Wright Hassall’s 12-strong private client team has beaten

off stiff competition to be one of three law firms shortlisted for the Regional Solicitor Firm of the Year (Midlands) accolade at The British Wills and Probate Awards. Now in their third year, the awards were set up to discover and recognise outstanding achievements, highlight progressions and champion innovation amongst firms and individual private professionals across the wills and probate sector. News of Wright Hassall’s shortlist comes off the back of a busy period for the firm’s private client team, which has seen enquiries around wills increase significantly over the past three

months versus the same period last year. The Leamington Spa-based firm’s award entry highlighted the multi-faceted presence of the team which has substantial combined specialist experience in wills, probate and estate planning matters, through to extensive work in the community with charities via pro bono work and fundraising, staff development via the Wright Hassall Academy, as well as comprehensive steps taken to protect customer data. Tracy Ashby, head of the private client team at Wright Hassall, said: “The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has understandably brought wills

and asset protection to the front of the public psyche. Our team has had to adapt not only to meet this demand, but to find alternative ways of maintaining a top-quality service – such as facilitating will witnessing via video links – and consulting with health professionals where face-to-face appointments have had to be a necessity. “Being shortlisted is fantastic news in itself, but to win would be a fitting way to reward the team for performing admirably during what has been an unprecedented period.” The winners of The British Wills and Probate Awards will be announced online on October 22, 2020.

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Coventry & Warwickshire in business

New Members

Welcome to New Members International Trade Members

DBSR Travels Ltd

Mental Health in Business Ltd

Travel Agents

Mental Health Training

Carian Wines

01926 739083

01788 340180

sales@dbsrtravels.com

info@mhib.co.uk

Wholesalers

https://dbsrtravels.com

www.mhib.co.uk

02475 119776

Napton Cidery Ltd

info@carianwines.co.uk

Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)

www.carianwines.co.uk

Educational & Training Establishments

01926 811910

Magnete Limited

0121 204 3430

jolyon@naptoncidery.co.uk

bioenergy@aston.ac.uk

www.naptoncidery.co.uk

https://bioenergy-for-business.org/

Passive Fire Limited

office@magnete.co.uk

Formation Media Ltd

Fire Safety Consultants

www.magnete.co.uk

Digital Marketing

01564 637197

Essential Members

01926 298777

curwen@Passivefireltd.co.uk

hello@formationmedia.co.uk

https://passivefireltd.co.uk

ActionCOACH Stratford

www.formationmedia.co.uk

Pink Connect Ltd

Business Consultants

Growth in Business

01386 896550

Telecommunications

Financial & Business Consultants

03454 509393

Info@actioncoach.co.uk

0121 389 5053

sales@pinkconnect.com

www.evesham.actioncoach.co.uk

tim@growthinbusness.com

www.pinkconnect.com

Cardinal Newman Catholic School

www.growthinbusiness.com

Schools and Colleges

Jefferson Finance Limited

Premier Education Nuneaton & Hinckley

02476 332382

Finance Brokers

Educational Services

admin@cncs.school

01926 969110

07977 708193

www.cardinalnewman.coventry.sch.uk

office@jeffersonfinance.co.uk

scarline@premier-education.com

https://jeffersonfinance.co.uk

www.premier-education.com/

Just Pure Vanilla

RDM Industries Limited

Food Distributors

PPE Provider

07964 042265

07877 216410

justpurevanilla@gmail.com

ramon@rdmindustriesinc.com

http://justpurevanilla.co.uk

https://rdmindustries.co.uk

Just Solutions Group Ltd

Soft-Focus

Construction Services

Video Production

02476 717999

01926 298088

info@justsolutions.uk

info@soft-focus.co.uk

http://justsolutionscoventry.com

www.soft-focus.co.uk

Covenant and Kingdom

Lindsay Woodward Marketing Ltd

WM Project Installation Ltd

Charities & Benevolent Organisations

Marketing Consultants

Cleaning Materials & Supplies

07506 150236

07939 432249

07887 527440

info@covenantandkingdom.org

lindsay@l-w-marketing.com

wmprojectinstallation@gmail.com

www.covenantandkingdom.org

www.l-w-marketing.com

www.wmprojectinstallation.com

Exporters & Importers 01789 293569

Caremark Warwick Health Care 01926 257524 warwick@caremark.co.uk www.caremark.co.uk/locations/warwick

CN Management Consultants Management & Business Consultants 07866 804195 colin@cnmanagement.co.uk www.cnmanagement.co.uk

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

Cider Makers

Members Offers Featured Offers

Holiday Inn Coventry, M6 J2 Need somewhere to work? Choose from our 13, socially distanced meeting rooms. Then, enjoy a bite to eat in our Open Lobby or from the comfort of your modern bedroom. Contact Natalie, our Events Manager, at EventsMgr@HICoventry.com or call 02476 587472 to find out more. Expiry Date: 31/12/2020

Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Coventry Book your overnight stay directly with our sales team and receive a room upgrade and free breakfast to go. Contact our sales team book and quote ‘CHAMBEROFFERS’ - 02476 238110 or email sales@ramadacoventry.co.uk Expiry Date: 31/12/2020

WCG For courses offered through the Centre for Digital and Cyber Skills at WCG, these online digital courses are free to employed and self-employed individuals working or living in Coventry and Warwickshire. Get in touch to find out more: centreforskills@wcg.ac.uk Expiry Date: 30/11/2020

Member Offers

Catthorpe Manor Hotel & Estate We have some fantastic rates to welcome you back. Overnight stay, breakfast ‘to go’, Monday to Thursday from £54.00. Email us to book: reception@catthorpemanor.co.uk Expiry Date: 23/12/2020

SawiTECH I.T. Recycling & Disposal Solutions Upgrading or replacing your old computers, mobile devices and other IT equipment? We are offering a FREE collection of more than 5 items! Call Brandon: t: 02476 682933 or e: info@sawitech.com Expiry Date: 23/12/2020

UBCUK Meeting rooms at Forward House, Henley-inArden: do you need to hold a face to face meeting? Book your first meeting here at Forward House and get 20% off. If you book on line we will donate 5% to our chosen Charity - Rainbow Trust. Expiry Date: 31/10/2020

Nettle Hill Training & Conference Centre We would like to offer Chamber members a special offer on our Day Delegate Package. We will provide 1 free place, for every 10 delegates you have when booking a meeting room on a day delegate rate. Expiry Date: 30/09/2020

EncodeDotHost Exclusively for FindItInCW members, we are offering 2 months free hosting (12 months for the price of 10) AND our professional setup of your new WordPress website to ensure that your site is ticking all of the right security and configuration checkboxes. To discuss your next project contact us on 01789 330 270 Expiry Date: 30/09/2020

The Leadership Coaches We are currently offering free coaching to help leaders who wish to develop their diversity and inclusion approach in relation to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Expiry Date: 01/10/2020

Soft-Focus We are offering all Members a custom stock photography package for £475+VAT. You will receive a gallery, with 10 images included in the package, with any further images at £25+VAT each. Call us on 01926 298088 or email beckie@soft-focus.co.uk Expiry Date: 30/09/2020

The Leaflet Distribution Company (TLDC) We are offering Chamber Members 10,000 leaflets designed, printed and delivered to 10,000 houses within Coventry & Warwickshire the discounted rate at £500+VAT. Call us on 02476 016500 or alternatively, email info@theleafletdistributioncompany.com Expiry Date: 30/09/2020

The Business Partnership We are offering Chamber Members a market appraisal at our expense and without any obligation for you. This will include a meeting (circa 60 minutes) at a confidential location to suit you (Virtual or in a COVID Safe Environment) Expiry Date: 31/12/2020

To view these and all of our Member Offers, head to cw-chamber.co.uk/marketplace 46

www.cw-chamber.co.uk

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