 A £126m battery facility to keep the West Midlands at the forefront of the automotive industry has been supercharged by an £18m grant from the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry will be key in growing industrial battery manufacturing capability in the UK.
The West Midlands Combined Authority Board (WMCA), chaired by Mayor Andy Street, has approved a repayable grant of £18m to help ensure UKBIC has the latest technology to attract top-tier automotive manufacturers and research and development companies.
A consortium comprising Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Warwick Manufacturing Group were awarded £80m by the Government towards the UK BIC in November 2017, before then Business Secretary Greg Clark announced a £28m boost in May 2019 as his department launched the first Local Industrial Strategy in the West Midlands.
UKBIC is a new national open access industrialisation facility supporting the national and regional industrial strategy focus on UK design, development and manufacture of battery technology”.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council and CWLEP board director, said: “As part of our vision for Coventry, we identified the need to locate UK BIC right here in the heart of the manufacturing centre of the country.
“I want our city and our workers to have the opportunity to take advantage of what will be the new green industrial revolution, starting here in Coventry. This is a step towards realising that dream of mass employment opportunities creating both the jobs and the products of the future. Coventry stands ready to deliver.”
Jonathan Browning, chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “UKBIC will play a vital role in helping the UK to become a global leader in the manufacture and scale-up of batteries and is truly a collaborative project.
“Coventry and Warwickshire has been at the forefront of innovation and expertise in a number of vital areas, and UKBIC will see us leading a project which will have a major influence on the sector.”
The 18,000 metre-square facility, which is due for completion in March 2020, will initially employ an estimated 100 people once fully operational. Additional jobs will also be generated in the supply chain, and further employment and training opportunities will be created in the future.
For more information about UKBIC please visit the website or contact us at business@coventry.gov.uk
Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth (CWS4G) is a unique project which delivers skills support to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) located in Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership postcodes. The range of training available is extensive and supports individuals to gain accredited full qualifications or units of qualifications at various levels.
An Organisational Training Needs Analysis is conducted with eligible SMEs to identify the skills gaps in the workplace which are creating a barrier to growth. CWS4G, together with the employer, identify what the skills gaps of the business are and a Skills Training Package is developed to meet those needs.
The programme is part funded by the European Social Fund and managed by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP. Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub, Warwickshire County Council and other major stakeholders. A 50% contribution of funding for all eligible training costs is made by the project.
Beechwood Trees & Landscapes Ltd are one of the country’s leading arboricultural, fencing and landscaping contractors. Established in 1998 the company is continuing to show sustainable growth and development and is now recognised as one of the forward thinking, innovative businesses within the industry.
Simon Rotheram, Managing Director of Beechwood Trees & Landscapes Ltd, said “We take great pride in our reputation of being a company that delivers a safe and environmentally compliant service, on time, within budget. Our commitment to quality, safety and the environment has gained us recognition and a number of accreditations such as ISO 9001 (Quality), 14001 (Environmental), OHSAS 18001 (H&S) and Arb AC (Industry Specific). The support received from the Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth Programme has enabled us to ensure that all employees are appropriately trained, competent in what they do and enhance our standards.”
Beechwood Trees & Landscapes Ltd first contacted the Programme in 2017 after seeing publicity about the Programme on Coventry City Councils website and have received support for a wide range of training including Felling Trees, Chainsaw Maintenance, Stump Grinder and Climb Trees and Perform Aerial Rescue. Training provider Jill Salt of Middle England Training said “Simon Rotheram is committed to ensuring that all staff at Beechwood Trees & Landscapes are appropriately trained and hold relevant qualifications in order to undertake their allocated tasks. It is refreshing to work with a company that puts the continuous development of its employees at the forefront of what they do and the funding support from Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth has helped to support this.”
Beechwood Trees & Landscapes also received a free energy and environmental audit through the Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme (which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund) and are planning to implement actions from this to reduce their use of energy.
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 Coventry and Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth is part funded by the European Social Fund and received further funding support from Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council
For more information and contact details please visit: Skills4Growth
 Date: Friday 15 November 2019
Time: 8am – 2pm
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Coventry, Paradise Way, Walsgrave Triangle, Coventry, CV2 2ST
Conference Overview
The Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Economic Conference 2019 is an unmissable event for business leaders and those involved in corporate affairs or public policy. Keep up with the key developments from across the region and understand how they will affect your business – book your place now to avoid disappointment and attend one of the region’s largest, and most important, business events on 15th November 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Coventry.
Following on from the hugely successful Annual Economic Conference in 2018, your Chamber of Commerce will once again deliver an event packed with prestigious panel sessions, engaging keynote speakers and stimulating "Interview With..." discussions. The Chamber's conference is the highlight of the business events calendar in our region. Headline sponsored by WCG, the conference brings together over 250 business & civic leaders, MP's, local councillors and a wealth of Chamber members to discuss the issues that matter most to business, as well as looking to the future and the opportunities we have for sustainable business growth.
The Annual Conference will be hosted and facilitated, throughout the morning, by presenter and business journalist Naga Munchetty.
And for 2019, Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE, the world’s greatest living explorer, will address the business community as the keynote speaker to share inspiring stories at the region’s largest business event.
Coventry & Warwickshire has much to discuss since the last conference and look forward to seeing you there - an event not to be missed!
Price
Member Ticket: £50.00 + VAT
Non-Member Ticket: £65.00 + VAT
Booking
www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events
Email: events@cw-chamber.co.uk
Email: business@coventry.gov.uk
www.coventry.gov.uk/investincoventry
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