The Business Magazine SW&M - May 2024 Edition

SIZE REALLY DOESN’T MATTER

Whatever the size of your business, it’s helping the UK economy

Size doesn’t matter (well, perhaps it does in meal portions or spiders), but not in business. Because whatever the size of your business, it’s offering employment and contributing to the UK economy.

Small businesses are agile, flexible, often more innovative and personally rooted in their local communities. And there are around five million private sector small businesses in the UK (those employing up to 49 people).

Cumulatively, these businesses employ more of our population than big businesses – around 61 per cent which is 16.7 million, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.

Compare that to the UK’s 8,000 large private sector businesses (those employing more than 250 people). Big businesses have deeper pockets, more resources, can invest greater sums in research and development, have a wider global reach and can spend more on marketing and brand awareness.

There are also around 37,000 mediumsized private sector businesses in the UK –those employing between 50-249 people, but I’m trying to make a point here, so if you don’t mind, I’ll stick to little and large.

Big businesses rely on their supply chain, which inevitably will include smaller businesses, and many smaller businesses grow through selling to larger corporates.

One of the joys of editing The Business Magazine is being able to report on businesses of all sizes and treating them with equal importance.

But all businesses need support and in

“One of the joys of editing this magazine is reporting on all sizes of business”

this issue our front cover feature looks at what help is on offer for the regions now that most local enterprise partnerships (LEPS), which supported businesses in their regions, have been absorbed back into local councils.

Our second feature, written by our reporter Dan Face, looks at some of the most exciting product and technology innovations and who’s behind them.

This issue’s interviewees are Emma Willis and Ben Shorrock.

Emma is the only female shirtmaker on Jermyn Street. However, her men’s (and women’s) shirts are all made in her Gloucester “factory” (actually a gorgeous Grade II listed town house). But there’s more to Emma than attire, she’s also spent years setting up and supporting a unique military charity.

Ben leads TechSpark, the not-for-profit support network for technology companies across Bristol and Bath – helping young businesses make the connections they need to grow.

Both Emma Willis and TechSpark have received support from larger businesses and offered their support to smaller ones.

That’s how business works and this magazine is proud to be able to showcase and celebrate them all.

A NEW FUTURE FLIES IN FOR FILTON AS MASTERPLAN APPROVED

Filton in Bristol is known globally for more than 100 years of aviation history, most famously for Concorde, the FrancoBritish aviation technological marvel which changed how we thought about passenger flight for ever.

The airframe and the engines were largely developed in Bristol and all UK Concordes made their maiden flight from Filton's runway.

But for everything there is a season, and

by 2012, nine years after Concorde’s last landing at Filton BAE Systems, which owned the site, closed the airfield for business.

In 2015, Malaysian developer YTL Group bought the 380-acre site and is now investing millions in building a new community for Bristol.

The revised masterplan, approved by South Gloucestershire Council in February, includes more than 6,000 houses, three

million sq tt of commercial space, student accommodation, schools, manufacturing and research facilities, new transport links, public space and at its heart, a new arena, with the capacity to hold more than 17,000 people.

Renamed Brabazon (presumably after the first jumbo aircraft built by BAE Systems in the 1940s which was considered years ahead of its time but never flew commercially), work is now under way on this major project.

SILVERBACK GYMWEAR WEIGHS IN WITH £650K INVESTMENT

A Worcestershire gym wear brand has received a £650,000 investment to branch out into more sports and competitions.

Silverback Gymwear focuses on the strongman, strongwoman and strength sports markets, with 30,000 returning customers – from professional athletes to avid gym-goers.

Its latest standalone product range, Fortis, was co-developed with Britain’s Strongest Man, Adam Bishop, and will see the business expand into other areas including professional rugby and mixed martial arts.

Richard Gardener, founder of Bromsgrove-based Silverback Gymwear, said: “We will branch out into more sports and interests at all levels of competition.

“We’ll be releasing new products that are accredited and used in top competitions, all using designs that are much more user-friendly than current alternatives.”

The funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed

This is a historic place-shaping decision by the council for a major sustainable community with the necessary infrastructure to create a truly outstanding place

Seb Loyn, Planning and Development Director for YTL Developments, said: “The approval of the new masterplan for Brabazon is a once-in-ageneration opportunity. It will transform not just North Bristol and South Gloucestershire, but the entirety of the West of England.”

Cllr Chris Willmore, Cabinet member responsible for planning at South Gloucestershire Council, added: “This is a historic place-shaping decision by the council for a major sustainable community with the necessary infrastructure to create a truly outstanding place. The plans for Brabazon will create a major new community for South Gloucestershire and a new quarter for the wider Bristol area, built on brownfield land.”

Serial entrepreneur Bob Holt raises £4

million

to invest in energy and net zero

Bob Holt, the entrepreneur who took Mears Group from a small maintenance contractor in Gloucester to a London Stock Exchange star, has raised £4 million through Earnz Plc, a shell company listed on the AIM seeking to invest in companies in the energy services and net zero sectors.

Bob stepped down as chairman of Mears (which now supplies services to the affordable housing sector), in 2019 after 23 years at the company and has more recently lent his significant experience to a number of other companies including Revolution Beauty and Totally plc. He is also currently working with Bristol-based Cosgrove & Drew Engineering Services and Logical Utilities in Cheltenham, where he was appointed to the Board last year.

Bob is also known, and received an OBE, for his charity work, supporting more than 65 charitable organisations and individuals. He founded The Mears Foundation, The Footprints Foundation and The Holt Trust – which builds teams of volunteers to work on projects in the UK and overseas that have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Bob, who lives in Tetbury, said: “Mears became the most successful float on the stockmarket within 10 years. If we could build a quarter of that success through Earnz, I would be over the moon.”

by the Recovery Loan Scheme, will enable the recruitment of 12 new people, fund a move to larger premises and help boost sales and marketing functions.

Richard added: “The new sta will help us to expand further and faster as we disrupt the strength-based sports sector, bringing more options to the sector.”

Bob, 69, added: “I’ve worked every day since I was 16 and can’t see any reason not to continue. The key will be to build the right management team.

“Although I was proud to receive the OBE for my charity work in Africa, my biggest career achievement was buying control of Mears and 16 years later taking it from £9 million to £1 billion revenues. I bought control of Mears for £50,000 and at its peak it made £50 million a year profit. That was a massive achievement.

“But importantly it wasn’t just me – it was me alongside a great team of people.”

BUCKETS OF PRAISE FOR KFC KING

Global fast food brand KFC has recognised a Gloucestershire businessman who has spent more than 40 years building an empire of franchise restaurants across three counties.

It has made Gerard Nicholas’s franchise group NNA Ltd its top 2023 UK and Ireland partner, and giving it an award for Operational Excellence.

Coventry school to save

KFC franchises are graded on standards such as product quality, speed of service and customer satisfaction, and NNA's restaurants are ranked among the best within the UK.

With outlets in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Hereford, Tewkesbury, Ross-on-Wye, Evesham and Cirencester, Gerard Nicholas, owner of the family-run

“ ...always investing in the business and the people as we went along”

business said he was proud at the accolade arriving just as NNA marks its 42nd year.

Gerard said: "I began my career working in a KFC in London’s Camberwell Green, back in 1975 where I met my wife, Martina.

“In 1982, we came to Cheltenham to open our first KFC restaurant on the High Street and, after that success, went on in 1990 to open our second restaurant on Westgate Street, in Gloucester.

"By building carefully, the rest have all followed from those early days, always investing in the business and the people as we went along."

thousands of single-use plastics from landfill after switch to responsible packaging

A Coventry school has dramatically reduced the number of single-use plastics it sends to landfill after partnering with a sustainable packaging business.

The Romero Catholic Academy teamed up with Coventry-based Purple Planet Packaging to supply Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School with compostable or recyclable responsible cups, trays and cutlery.

It is the first academy in Coventry to be supplied by the company, which is based on Seven Stars Industrial Estate, saving thousands of pieces of plastic every week from going to landfill.

The link builds on the academy’s 2020 decision to bring its catering operation in

house to reduce food miles and provide more sustainable meals.

Marcus Chilvers, catering manager at the Romero Catholic Academy, said: “We have taken huge steps in recent years to reduce the impact our catering operation has on the environment across all of

our schools, including taking all food production in house.

“Showing we’re taking all possible measures to be more sustainable is crucial not just for the planet, but in making our young people aware of the impact everyday items can have and why it’s important to think about the products we use on a daily basis.”

Mark Farr, CEO and co-founder of Purple Planet Packaging, said: “Our ambition is to work with more schools across the city not just to reduce the amount of plastic that goes to landfill and slash delivery miles, but to educate young people and work alongside their eco-groups to close the product life-cycle loop wherever possible.”

CAN THE UK’S REGIONS BE POWERHOUSES FOR OUR ECONOMY?

With local economic partnerships now a fond memory, our regions need to look at the bigger picture

Editor

Over the years the government has struggled to understand what individual regions need to grow their economy. And that’s not surprising if the regions don’t even know themselves.

But policy-makers have long acknowledged that co-ordinated regional development is essential to grow the UK economy.

In 1998, the (Labour-led) government established Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to drive economic regeneration through regional investment in infrastructure, people, business and skills.

Even though “levelling up” was introduced much later (a phrase coined in the 2019 Conservative manifesto), this was a primary objective of the RDAs. The trouble was it was driven from the top down by government, rather than locally.

And some of the RDA regions were so unwieldy that at their extremes had completely di erent economic priorities (Cornwall and Gloucestershire were in the South West RDA but to those living in Gloucestershire, Cornwall is a holiday destination, not a neighbour).

Over 12 years, RDAs did achieve some notable successes in local regeneration projects, but increasingly attracted criticism for being unelected quangos. In 2010, the government announced that they would be abolished, citing the need for government to cut costs.

Growing

regional

economies is a long-term endeavour

But growing regional economies is a longterm endeavour, what could fill the void? Enter Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), also established by the government. While their objectives were largely the same, LEPs di ered from RDAs in that they were supposed to be private sector led and there were more of them (38 rather than nine), representing smaller regions.

LEPs engaged with local businesspeople to ensure their views were considered when planning local economic growth strategies. Each LEP set up sector working groups which included local people and businesses.

The LEPs also set up Growth Hubs – a network of physical business support

The Midlands Engine is a partnership built up from the region, rather than top down from government, and that makes a difference

centres which had funding to support ambitious start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs. These (sort of) replaced the government’s Business Link network, established in 1992 and abolished in 2012.

Local Enterprise Partnerships also secured millions of pounds in government funding for major strategic and infrastructure projects such as colleges, roads, educational buildings and tech hubs.

And the more successful ones rallied the business community around their causes.

But LEPs have now met the same fate as regional development agencies, after being abolished earlier this year.

Regional representation gets patchier

What comes next, from government anyway, is patchier. In some areas, much of the day-to-day work local enterprise partnerships were doing has been integrated into local councils, while other local enterprise partnerships, such as in Worcestershire, will continue (for now), having won enough local support.

But we’ve not mentioned other UK-wide business organisations such as the CBI (currently sorting out its own problems) and Chambers of Commerce.

Should these private sector-led organisations be supporting the businesses they represent to government in the national conversation for economic growth and investment?

The British Chambers of Commerce would argue that it already does, but with each local chamber being autonomous, it’s more di cult for the national chamber to fairly represent each region.

Some regions, such as the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce which includes Solihull (which has a strong chamber supported by thousands of members) can confidently say that they truly represent their members and engage regularly with local MPs and the government, other regions don’t.

So for the longer-term strategic work that was being done by LEPs, there’s a new phrase in town – pan-regional partnerships.

These are subnational bodies and there are two sorts – economic partnerships and transport partnerships (which support each other).

The most established economic partnerships are the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine. Others are emerging such as the Western Gateway (which is unique in that it straddles two countries, stretching from Wiltshire in the East across to Bristol, Cardi and right across to Pembrokeshire in the west) and the Oxford Cambridge Partnership.

These subnational bodies want to become regional powerhouses to drive economic growth from the ground up. The more established ones – such as the Midlands Engine which has been in existence since 2017, are doing a solid job, drawing together all partners (businesses, local authorities, colleges, universities and other organisations), and looking at its region’s particular strengths before identifying where investment has to occur to drive its long-term growth strategy.

Roger Mendonca, Chief Executive of the Midlands Engine, said: “The Midlands

Engine is a partnership built up from the region, rather than top down from government, and that makes a di erence. Our local authorities are good to work with, as are all our partners.

“From time to time there will inevitably be issues between areas within the Midlands Engine, but because we focus on working to achieve something beyond what they're doing individually, they largely see the partnership as a force for good.”

After a bit of a slow start the Western Gateway now has a clear set of objectives, but Oxford Cambridge Partnership is still in development. Elsewhere, particularly across the south east, there is still discussion and debate within the business and local government community as to what support they need – or indeed what their region is. Should the Thames Valley be a pan-regional partnership? If so where does it begin and end? What about Kent and the South Coast? Should they be the same region?

It's all a bit ad hoc, and this could come back to bite the government in a few years.

Where will the funding come from?

Another issue for the pan-regional partnerships is that they don’t have much money. The existing Midlands Engine, Oxford Cambridge Partnership and Western Gateway’s government funding runs out next year.

It is likely, given that there is an election pending, that funding will roll forward for another year while a new government decides how it is going to deliver vital regional support. But that’s not certain.

Talking to the key players for this feature it’s likely that, whatever the government decides to do, the regions know that they can’t rely on government funding, especially when national co ers are so empty, and they must drive growth themselves.

Local business ecosystems will have to step up. Regional powerhouses are the future, and those areas which haven’t yet embraced the concept risk being left behind.

ENGLAND AND WALES PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER TO BOOST THE REGIONAL ECONOMY

There’s strength in numbers as the West of England joins forces with South Wales

What started out as an informal conversation between regional leaders of Bristol, Newport and Cardiff about working together has become a wider coalition of local authorities and business leaders determined that Western England and Wales should be in the vanguard of driving a sustainable UK economy.

The Western Gateway Partnership is the first pan-regional partnership to straddle two countries. It was formally launched in 2019 and covers from Swindon in the east across to St David’s at the furthest point of Wales, with a total population of around 4.8 million people.

Discussions probably began in 2018, when Cardiff and Newport saw opportunities after the River Severn bridge tolls were abolished. At the time there were around 100,000 journeys across the bridge –the main route between England and South Wales. With the tolls abandoned, opportunities knocked for two of Wales’ core cities.

Those informal chats soon developed into some serious economic analysis which revealed what the region’s political leaders had already surmised, the huge amount of cross-border business and commerce already linking Bristol and Cardiff – and

beyond, and a new geographical region was born. Business doesn’t worry about county boundaries.

John Wilkinson, the director of the Western Gateway since November 2022, takes up the story.

£3m funding package helps identify regional priorities and gets the ball rolling

“The data actually revealed that our economic geography was much wider, encompassing Gloucestershire, Swindon

“We can genuinely say that in a UK context, we are already leaders in those fields. But the region does face other challenges, not least in our productivity where we lag behind some others”

Where will the money come from to continue the project? None of the panregional partnerships really know (it is an election year after all), but for all of them it’s likely to come from local authorities and increasingly the private sector. What the current funding deal from government has done is to get the project up and running and identify key priorities which everyone can get behind.

and Wiltshire in the east, across to Swansea in the West. Then when the rest of South Wales heard what was going on, they wanted to come on board too. When you are competing globally, scale matters.”

Government agreed and the group secured a three-year £3 million funding package from the Department for Levelling Up, which helped the Western Gateway establish itself, undertake more data research, identify the region’s key challenges and assets and create an identity. However, that funding runs out next March.

As with other pan-regional partnerships, universities play an important role, and in the Western Gateway that’s led by GW4 – an alliance established in 2013 of four of the UK’s most research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, and the Gateway is increasingly seeking to work with other universities across the region.

The Western Gateway’s Board, which welcomed a new Chair in March (Sarah Williams-Gardener, chief executive at Fintech Wales), includes representatives from across the whole region from local authorities of all political colours, and business.

Accentuating the positive and tackling the challenges

John said: “Politicians get a bad rap sometimes, but our Board have been great at putting aside politics to concentrate on the issues that we all know need tackling and are best done working together.”

So what are the issues?

“We have some significant clusters of strength we can shout about now, such

as cyber technology, green energy and the creative sector” John points out. “We can genuinely say that in a UK context, we are already leaders in those fields. But the region does face other challenges, not least in our productivity where we lag behind some others.”

The Oxford-Cambridge region, one of the areas against which Western Gateway benchmarks itself, is a much more productive economy.

“We've got cyber around GCHQ and the Golden Valley in Cheltenham. We’ve got AI and quantum in Bristol and Bath. We've got the semiconductor industry in Newport, FinTech in Cardiff and advanced manufacturing across most of the patch,” said John.

Then there’s Hyline, the plan for a major hydrogen pipeline in South Wales which could connect low carbon hydrogen production from Pembroke to Swansea. That could provide a low-carbon option to homes and industry.

“We're good at exporting goods, less good at exporting services and we see opportunities to develop that. Direct foreign investment into the region is growing – we have had a great deal of interest in the cyber development in Gloucestershire, in the Golden Valley.

“When you join the dots between those individual clusters, we have something that you can see from space.”

However, one of the region’s key priorities, along (it has to be said), with the rest of the country, is moving to a net zero economy.

Driving towards net zero

“The Western Gateway has all the elements to become a world-leading green energy cluster. We have the expertise and resources needed to deliver new types of energy for our area including hydrogen, tidal and fusion, but we must take our communities with us,” said John.

What also marks the region out is that it’s advanced in other specialisms too – high value manufacturing, technology and the creative sector and it’s the intersection between all four where innovation happens and new ideas can emerge.

The Western Gateway is also excited about Severn Edge, which it has promoted for three years. This is planned as a low carbon energy supercluster to include businesses working in nuclear, tidal, wind and hydrogen technology. This project took a major step forward in March when the chancellor announced a deal worth £160 million to buy Oldbury Power Station.

Berkeley Science Park, part of the Severn Edge project, has been sold to Chiltern Vital Group, a consortium including independent energy company Vital Energi, the University of Bristol and importantly Rolls Royce SMR (Small Modular Reactors), which the government is supporting.

Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Group also revealed plans last year to invest more than £4 billion in building a Gigafactory in Somerset and moves are under way (again) to see if a case can be made to harness the Severn Estuary’s potential to deliver tidal power.

“More than 20 attempts have been made to harness the energy from the Severn Estuary over the last decades, with the last really detailed one done probably a decade ago,” said John. “Since then, the energy needs of the UK have changed, technology and finance models have moved on.”

There is growing demand for investment finance into the Western Gateway, to fund not only major infrastructure projects, but also start-up and scale-up businesses.

“We want to showcase opportunities to the investment community which is currently heavily weighted towards London and the south east,” said John.

John Wilkinson, CEO at Western Gateway

“We have the expertise and resources needed to deliver exciting new types of energy for our area including hydrogen, tidal and fusion, but we must take our communities with us ...”

These are exciting plans, but where it all started for the Western Gateway was transport connectivity.

The Western Gateway 2050 Rail Vision was finally launched last year in partnership with Transport for Wales and the Western Gateway Sub-National Transport Body.

It shows how journey times between the region’s cities, and to London and the rest of the country, could be nearly halved and highlights the many organisations across the area that are working to develop the next generation of trains.

“Our 2050 Rail Vision looks at how we better link up the Western Gateway, with more rail services across our region to connect people to the jobs and new homes

that are being delivered,” said John.

“We now about to launch our £10 billion rail deal to government.”

That’s a lot of money – but the Western Gateway needs long-term plans. It took more than 30 years for a new bypass on the A419 at Birdlip between Swindon and Gloucester, one of the UK’s major bottlenecks, to get the go-ahead. But collective persistence from local authorities, businesses and MPs paid off and work has now started on what is now a £500 million project.

The Western Gateway may not be around in 30 years, but the work it starts now will benefit future generations. And surely that’s what we all want.

THE MIDLANDS IS THE ENGINE OF UK GROWTH

The largest regional economy outside London is talking with one voice

The Midlands Engine is by far the largest (by population) of the UK’s pan-regional partnerships.

With 11 million people across its area (from the Welsh border to Lincolnshire), it’s the largest regional economy outside London encompassing 65 local authorities, more than 800,000 businesses and 20 universities.

How can an area so large ever talk with one voice?

Surprisingly well, according to its chief executive, Roger Mendonca, former Chief Operating Officer at the West Midlands Growth Company and a civil servant before that.

“Fundamentally the Midlands Engine is a partnership built up from the region, rather than top down from government, and that makes a difference. Our local authorities are really good to work with, as are all our partners and universities.

“From time to time there will inevitably be issues between areas within the Midlands Engine, but because we focus on working

to achieve something beyond what they're doing individually, they largely see the partnership as a force for good.”

The Midlands Engine was launched in 2017 by local authorities and businesses – led by Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid and other local MPs, as a reaction to George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse. That had been set up the previous year to connect the “great cities of the north” as one economic project.

Like the Northern Powerhouse (which is a private company rather than a panregional partnership, but let’s not get caught up in semantics here), the Midlands Engine is focused on economic growth and collaboration.

“The Midlands Engine is three things,” said Roger. “It describes the region we cover, the partnership of local authorities, businesses and other organisations involved and our small team of 14, the secretariat, which supports the whole project, and includes our data observatory where we can produce regionally focused research to inform decision-making and policy creation for the whole area.

A light touch helps the Midlands Engine steer the region’s vision

“We don’t get involved in programmes led by local authorities or universities or any other partners, where they don't need the support of the collective partnership. We only get involved when coming together collaboratively is likely to achieve more than an individual organisation can achieve alone.”

The Midlands Engine isn’t a funding body, in fact it’s not got much money at all, but it is a convener, connector and an influencer. It works with decision-makers in the public and private sector, encouraging them to make decisions to enable the growth of the Midlands.

“You’d be amazed how often people in one part of the region don’t know what is happening elsewhere, even though they may have similar issues, objectives or interests,” said Roger.

“We’re advocates for the region as a whole, working with government and policy makers to help them see the bigger picture. Sometimes we can say ‘you don’t need to spend a lot of money on something, just change or adapt a policy and that will help us achieve an objective to benefit the region, and the country as a whole’.”

Getting out and about to listen and debate

To build their knowledge of the region and encourage collaboration, the Midlands Engine team get out and about a lot. “We spend time with all our partners, finding out what their priorities are, so that we can step back and look at how they can fit in with others,” said Roger.

“For instance, improving the infrastructure in one part of the region will impact on everywhere else. If we show everyone the bigger picture, there is more likely to be a consensus on strategic priorities.”

The Midlands Engine has been in existence for seven years and has clocked up some notable successes.

In October 2022 it helped secure government support for a new project to site the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s pioneering prototype fusion power station at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, which was home to coal and gas-powered energy generation for decades.

“The county council could have taken the project forward alone, but they saw that such a major project was about the region, not just the county,” said Roger. “That helped us create something that was bigger than a single redeployment of an old power station site in Nottinghamshire.

“We helped them to secure the project using our powers of advocacy, evidencing and convening.”

Another big win for the region was securing £30 million funding from

the Department of Transport (DfT) for hydrogen-powered buses in Birmingham. It will be the biggest such fleet in Europe.

“The Transport for the West Midlands team bidding for the funding had done a huge amount of work but hadn’t been able to get the project over the line with DfT. We connected them to academics working in this area who were able to improve the quality and the content of the bid,” said Roger. “We also helped them show government that it wasn’t just about Birmingham, but creating a hydrogen economy across the Midlands.”

More recently the Midlands Engine has launched a Food White Paper.

In the Midlands alone, the food and drink industry is investing more than £3 billion a year in expansion, innovation and technology to boost productivity, sustainability and jobs.

The White Paper presents a strong case for how Midlands industry, academia and public sector partners can come together, with government policymakers.

... improving the infrastructure in one part of the region will impact on everywhere else. If we show everyone the bigger picture, there is more likely to be a consensus on strategic priorities

Working together they can support the industry to benefit the whole of the UK –with the Midlands at its heart.

“The food industry is a massive part of the Midlands economy, but the private sector has told us that it is struggling to get traction with government,” said Roger.

“Working with them we came up with eight recommendations, ranging from skills to infrastructure.”

Holding government’s feet to the flame

However, coming up with a white paper is only the start. The Midlands Engine team now plans to work with government to make sure it understands and implements those recommendations.

Current priorities include energy security, and the Midlands Engine is working on another white paper for that, alongside universities and the private sector.

“We see the Midlands as being a home for much of the UK’s critical infrastructure. Logistics, energy, food, manufacturing – geographically, it makes sense,” said Roger.

The UK’s ambitions to be a science superpower are also relevant to the

region as much as to the Oxford and Cambridge pan-regional partnership.

The region’s med-tech and life sciences sector contribute an annual £6 billion GVA (gross value added) to the UK, and the Midlands Engine has submitted research to government on how to capitalise on that through greater support and collaboration between its universities and the private sector, including in advanced manufacturing.

Foreign direct investment into the UK is particularly important, and the Midlands Engine is performing well here. There were 265 foreign direct investment projects into the Midlands in 2022-23, an increase of 9.5 per cent on the previous year, more than double that of the UK as a whole.

If the other younger pan-regional partnerships are looking at what can be

achieved, the Midlands Engine is a great example. But what happens after the election?

No one knows, of course. The Engine receives around £2 million in funding a year. That includes £1.5 million from the government and the rest from local authorities and, before they were abolished, the local enterprise partnerships. This funding deal runs out early next year.

The expectation from all pan-regional partnerships is that a new government will extend their contracts into next year to allow time to look at priorities, but Roger –as a former civil servant, is pragmatic.

“We have done a lot,” he said. “There will likely be other funding, but what we all know is that with so little wriggle room, money will be tight and we will all have to do more with less.”

THE ONLY FEMALE SHIRT-MAKER ON JERMYN STREET

Emma Willis, MBE is an inspiration. While her first career ambition to be a singer didn’t work out, she’s created something of much greater value – and good

During the Covid pandemic in 2020, doctors on the intensive care unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital received the most beautifully-made scrubs out of material that, in normal times, would be adorning the likes of King Charles, Colin Firth – even Barack Obama.

It must have made the most desperate of times just a bit more bearable for those in the centre of the pandemic maelstrom.

So, it’s not surprising that four years later, many of those scrubs (made from pure cotton of the highest thread count), are still being worn as pyjamas by some of the medical staff lucky enough to have used them.

The woman behind the donation was Emma Willis, shirtmaker to the gentry and to the stars – and still the only female shirtmaker on London’s historic Jermyn Street.

“When Covid closed everything down, like everyone else we wondered what we could do,” said Emma. “A local surgeon gave me a set of his scrubs and my wonderful seamstresses at our Gloucester factory volunteered to make PPE.”

All told, Emma’s team made around 1,000 sets of scrubs. She covered the initial cost herself, but such was the demand, she had to fund raise. Clothing company Reiss, who Emma worked with on suits for injured service personnel, (of which more later) donated 1,000 metres of fabric and then a long-standing customer (let’s name drop a bit here – Benedict Cumberbatch), called Emma and asked if he could help. “I told him that we were around £12,000 short and he said: “Count it done,’.”

What attracts such loyalty and support from Emma’s suppliers, customers and staff?

Simply the beauty, tailoring and simplicity of her bespoke and ready-to-wear shirts, dressing gowns, pyjamas and, more recently, polo shirts and T-shirts.

From singing to selling in the City of London

Emma has been in the tailoring business since moving to London to study at the prestigious Slade School of Art.

“Unfortunately, I spent more time singing in a band than studying so they booted me out, quite rightly, and gave my place to someone more deserving.”

She sold clothing door-to-door to pay the rent. But it was a hard slog, so through friends, she began making appointments in the City. “One day I went to see a bank and sold 100 shirts before the markets opened.”

A decade later she opened her own shop on Jermyn Street. And around 10 years after that, she bought a building in the centre of Gloucester and opened her own shirt-making factory

Sitting on the bus on the way home Emma realised that she’d earned enough that morning to spend the rest of the week singing.

But sadly her singing was in less demand than her shirts, and by 1989 she was designing and making her own men’s luxury shirts, nightwear and boxer shorts from a workroom in the capital.

A decade later she opened her own shop on Jermyn Street.

Around 10 years later, she bought a building in the centre of Gloucester and opened her own shirt-making factory.

“I always wanted my own factory, but I didn’t want an industrial unit on the outskirts of a city. Then I found Bearlands, the elegant 18th century townhouse overlooking Gloucester cathedral where we are now

based. The big windows let in lots of natural light, and I’m sure one of the reasons we attract very talented young people is because of this beautiful house. It’s not like a factory at all.”

The hunt for talent takes Emma to Condé Nast

However, one of the biggest issues Emma faced when setting up her factory was finding talented seamstresses. In 2015, she met Jonathan Newhouse chairman of Vogue publisher Condé Nast and with his support launched a five-year sewing scholarship, awarded annually to a young person in Gloucestershire for whom studying for a degree in fashion wasn’t an option.

“It was really successful,” said Emma. “Four out of the five students are still with us.”

One of the apprentices, Aysha Randera, has set up the Emma Willis Sewing Studio at registered charity The Friendship Café, a cafe and community space in Gloucester.

Emma also began working with the University of Gloucestershire which had run degrees in fashion for years. “I persuaded the Vice-Chancellor to include sewing in the curriculum.

“We taught one senior lecturer how to make

our shirts and now I think our local university has more sewing machines than the London College of Fashion.”

Emma is doing more than most to bring clothing manufacturing back to Britain. While she knows it will never be mass production, she trains and employs the best seamstresses, cutters and craftspeople. And she puts great store on a happy working environment. “A job should be as interesting as possible, everyone should be valued –and not just for their speed.”

Wherever you are in the world, your measurements stay in Gloucester

Emma Willis customers are based all over the world. They choose the design, cut and fabric and the team at Bearlands keeps a paper pattern for each individual customer.

The business now turns over more than £2.5 million annually and employs around 30 members of staff, 26 in Gloucester and four in Jermyn Street.

Emma, who was awarded an MBE for entrepreneurship in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List, splits her time between both sites. “I love selling, but equally it’s about maintaining a close relationship with our seamstresses and cutters.”

“During the Covid pandemic in 2020, doctors on the intensive care unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital received the most beautifully-made scrubs out of material that, in normal times, would be adorning the likes of King Charles, Colin Firth – even Barack Obama”

And the business has flourished as Emma welcomes younger customers who appreciate bespoke shirts as much as her longer-standing clients. “That’s one of the reasons we’ve added polo shirts and T-shirts to our collection, we do more ‘smart casual’ now.”

She sources her polo and T-shirt material from a Swiss mill she has been working with for more than 20 years, which also spins, dyes, weaves and finishes the raw Egyptian cotton used to make an Emma Willis shirt. Other cotton suppliers are based in Italy, and her white cotton comes from the USA.

The company also sells ties made in Sussex and knits woollen socks in Gloucester.

Success has taken years of hard graft, but Emma enjoys it as much as ever.

“I have a wonderful team at Bearlands, who now handle some of the management. And I enjoy selling and the employment side.”

Really? Many bosses I know run a mile from the HR side of their business.

“There are times when it’s challenging,” she concedes. “But get through that and there

can be a great friendship and loyalty on both sides.”

Emma leaves the making to her team because she knows she’s most useful in the shop with customers.

“We’re in constant communication between Gloucester and London – sizes, fittings, measurements are all discussed in detail. Every shirt is made with the utmost care, from the linings to the buttons – our customers appreciate that.”

Investing in an Emma Willis shirt isn’t cheap – it’s not meant to be. And like the country coatmaker Barbour, which offers regular servicing of its eponymous jackets, customers can send their shirts back to Emma’s Gloucester factory to be recollared and cuffed.

Style for soldiers – a passion project

But there’s an important side of Emma’s work I haven’t yet mentioned, her Style for Soldiers charity.

In 2008, after listening to a BBC report on the young, severely injured servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan,

she founded Style for Soldiers as a registered charity.

It supports those injured by making them bespoke shirts to help them with interviews, or simply to lift their morale. For 10 years she visited the UK Forces military rehabilitation hospital (first at Headley Court in Surrey, now Stanford Hall in the Midlands), measuring the patients to make bespoke shirts and walking sticks.

The charity has now matured and concentrates on supporting injured service personnel and their partners and children through events.

“We have a dinner in the spring, a summer reunion in Gloucestershire, a family day at Woburn Safari Park and a Christmas Party in London – that's the biggest reunion for injured service personnel because there isn't anything else like this happening across the services.”

Emma is a force of nature. From shirtmaking to her charity work, she doesn’t ease up. This interview was conducted on her birthday – imagine agreeing to talk to a journalist on the one day of the year when you could be doing something, anything, rather than that. I just hope she enjoyed dinner with the family that evening.

FORMER HOME OF XEROX SELLS FOR £48.25M

The former European headquarters of photocopier manufacturer Xerox, has been sold for £48.35 million to an owner and operator of business and industrial parks.

Since 2003, when Xerox closed its Mitcheldean site and sold it to local businessman Brian Bennett, it has been a multi-let business park.

The acquisition adds more than 1.5 million sq ft of space to the new purchaser, Sirius Real Estate, as part of its BizSpace flexible workspace portfolio.

The 60-acre business park at Mitcheldean has a facinating history. It first manufactured Rank projection equipment. From 1961 and 2003 it manufactured Rank’s Xerox 914, the first and one of the most successful ever plain paper copiers.

This had become so popular globally that by the end of 1961, Xerox needed a site in Europe and chose Mitcheldean. At its peak, the site supplied all copiers in Europe and employed 4,500 people.

But by 2001, sales of photocopiers were in decline and numbers employed at the site had dwindled to around 750. In October of that year, Xerox shocked the small Forest of Dean town (which only had a population of around 4,000 and was the area’s

biggest employer) with the announcement that it would close the entire factory.

Riding to the rescue came Forest of Dean businessman Brian Bennett, who bought the site in 2002. Fast forward more than 20 years and he has transformed and vastly improved the site.

It is currently 81 per cent occupied and offers warehouse, production, storage, conventional and serviced office space to more than 70 companies across 119 units.

As part of the acquisition, Sirius has also acquired a PV solar business from Brian.

The solar business supplies most of the site’s electricity from panels installed on some buildings, providing energy security and an attractive income stream.

Andrew Coombs, Chief Executive Officer of Sirius Real Estate, said: "This sizeable strategic acquisition is transformational for our UK BizSpace platform, and increases its portfolio by more than 1.5 million sq ft.

“The 60-acre park generates strong cash flow from a stable, diversified tenant base and offers various synergies with our existing assets in the local area. It also presents a number of value creation opportunities by driving both occupancy and rental income."

Multi-million pound funding unlocks international growth for medical business

An award-winning medical device company has continued to expand its production facilities and created 300 new jobs globally, thanks to an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK.

The funding has enabled Gloucester-based Spectrum Medical to build a new global headquarters on Cheltenham Road East consisting of a 30,000 sq ft factory and 22,000 st ft of o ce space to expand development and production of its products.

Spectrum Medical is also expanding its capabilities in Europe, and moving into the Middle and Far East.

Mark Drain, Co-founder of Spectrum Medical, said: "The acquisition of our new global headquarters is a major phase in our growth, helping us to increase development and production and assist expansion into new geographical markets.”

James Shepherd, Area Director for Business Banking in the south west at HSBC UK, added: “Given the growing demand for life-saving diagnostic medical products, it is imperative companies like Spectrum Medical receive our support. We eagerly anticipate its continued success and growth."

In 2005, Spectrum Medical entered the global medical device market with its life-saving devices to be used during cardiac surgery.

Since then, the business has developed to become a world leader in perfusion systems (the flow of fluid or blood to cells and tissues) and health informatics for urgent healthcare.

FARMER HENSON GOES WILD ON THE LAND

Adam Henson, one of the UK’s best-known farmers and TV presenters, has launched a range of British wildflower seeds, the first product line from his new online store, Wildscape.

Inspired by the wildflower varieties grown on his farm, and on-site at Cotswold Farm Park, Adam said: “Everyone should consider growing wildflowers. Not only are they beautiful native British blooms, but they also support local biodiversity.

“Many organisations, including our farm, tirelessly promote the planting of wildflower meadows and restoration of habitats to ensure the continued presence of these botanical gems in the British summer.

“Embarking on a journey with UK wildflowers isn’t just about supporting nature; it’s also about transforming your own space into a haven of beauty and wellbeing.”

Great British Nuclear pays £160m for Hitachi’s Oldbury nuclear power station

The government-owned Great British Nuclear is buying the former Oldbury nuclear power station from Hitachi.

It has paid £160 million for the land at Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire.

... it’s also about transforming your own space into a haven of beauty and wellbeing

A percentage of proceeds from online sales of the wildflower seeds will help to support Adam’s habitat restoration projects, rare breed conservation programmes, and other initiatives aimed at preserving natural heritage at Cotswold Farm Park.

The range was developed in collaboration with experts in ecology and sustainable agriculture.

Earlier this year, the government published its Civil Nuclear Roadmap, setting out plans to boost the UK’s energy security and achieve net zero carbon emissions with up to a quarter of Britain’s energy produced from nuclear power by 2050. Access to nuclear sites is a critical factor in achieving these nuclear ambitions.

Great British Nuclear has also bought a second site at Wylfa in Anglesey.

Claire Coutinho, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, said: “We are already making progress on our nuclear revival, securing two sites with strong potential to host new projects and help deliver the biggest expansion of nuclear power in 70 years.

“Oldbury-on-Severn has a proud nuclear history and stands to benefit from local investment and high-skilled jobs, alongside cleaner, cheaper power for households across the country.”

A SQUARE FIT FOR A KING – AND MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS

It was built almost 100 years ago after the local council demolished slums that had grown up over ancient Roman remains.

While King’s Square in Gloucester has had several reinventions since then (for years after the wholesale building demolition, it was the town’s main bus station and car park), none are likely to change it as radically as the latest plans.

In 2021, the University of Gloucestershire bought the massive, art deco former Debenhams department store and has since been developing it into a city centre campus.

This is proving a catalyst for wider investment.

At the heart of the university’s plans are providing a home for Gloucestershire County Council’s new library, a health, arts and wellbeing centre in partnership with the NHS Integrated Care Board, and a public café overlooking King’s Square.

The phased opening of these will begin in late 2024, when more than 1,000 students will begin studying at the new campus.

When complete, the new campus will be home to nearly 4,000 students and 350 staff.

In support of the university’s plans in 2022, Gloucester City Council invested £5 million in a major revamp of the public square. Where public money invests, private money follows, in this case in the guise of developer Reef Group.

By the end of this year, Reef Group will have completed construction of its multimillion pound Forum development, next to King’s Square which includes city centre homes, offices, a hotel and car park.

And now the independent Gloucester Brewery has joined forces with The Corner Group, owned by local entrepreneur Rich Palmer, in a bid to secure the former Chambers site in King’s Square.

The two organisations aim to breathe new life into this long-vacant venue.

Managing director of Gloucester Brewery, Geoff Smith, said: "Our proposed venture holds immense potential to serve as a vital link between The Forum's imminent completion and the new University of Gloucestershire city centre campus. This is not just about revitalising a building; it's about community engagement.”

The proposal outlines a new food course, cafe, lounge and space for local independent traders and events.

King’s Square – a chequered history

In 1961 celebrated town planner Sir Geo rey Jellicoe was commissioned by Gloucester Corporation (now the City Council), to produce a plan for the whole of the city. His design for King’s Square included a fountain and waterfall. It was completed in 1972 and even won a Civic Trust Award.

But like many grand plans, it became costly to maintain and by the 1980s the water features had fallen into ruin, and attempts failed to reinvigorate what had become a vast expanse of paving, bu ered by huge buildings, including one occupied for years by the Golden Egg food chain, a 1970s shopping centre, Debenhams department store and a Weatherspoons pub.

WHERE CYNICISM COMES INTO PLAY

An acquaintance of mine once told me of his frustrations with his former company’s HR department, whose guidelines restricted his ability to phrase job adverts as he wished. A new law regarding ageism meant he could not give a minimum age for the role of commercial manager. Some editing and creative licence was required, and he managed to get away with “… it is unlikely that anyone below 35 will have reached the required level of cynicism for this role…”. Mark Wheeler, CEO of Diales takes at look at the role of cynicism in major projects.

Some cynicism can be a healthy thing. It comes with experience. It makes you want to test things, not take them at face value. Qualifications in cynicism are freely available from both the school of hard knocks and the University of Life. I have been fortunate enough to work on some of the world’s largest projects in recent years, and I have seen all kinds of new technologies deployed and a wide range of management styles and techniques employed. When I have seen these projects as an independent expert, in the context of a dispute, I almost always find very significant, often shocking, deficiencies in the records and documents.

It is not uncommon to find a 3D or 4D model that contains missing data, BIM that has not been set up correctly and has gaps in its data, and progress records on file that contradict the Primavera programmes in significant ways. I have seen both drawings extracted from models that are undated and without a revision reference, and drawings dated later than earlier drawings, but with far less detail on them and no record of any change. Data often conflicts between systems and sometimes even within the same system. The projects that have these issues are not being run by small companies, or those without good reputations. These issues exist on major projects run by some of the world’s leading contractors and consultancies.

So, what makes keeping construction data complete, accurate, and up to date such a challenge; and what can we do about it?

The first thing to do, is to accept that the data will come in many different formats, and that there will always be compatibility issues.

This is where there is a need for experienced construction professionals to work with top IT experts, to ensure that the requirements are clear and the integration requirements are identified for the IT team to assess and derive a solution.

There also needs to be a robust end-to-end test of the systems that have been installed, to ensure that they work, and an ongoing audit to ensure they will continue to work as intended. This is where cynicism comes into play – as the quality check. Cynicism will assume that the systems don’t work, and aren’t complete, until proven otherwise. Then you should check again, and again once more. If you change the systems, you need to do the checking again.

HOW?

I have advised on record keeping and software a few times and I usually suggest a four-stage approach.

STAGE ONE: scope definition

Setting out a briefing document which details what will be recorded and created, by whom, and in what format, what connectivity is required, and what will be the overall architecture for storage, retrieval, and reporting. This can be an involved process, but there is nothing more frustrating than a beautiful dashboard, that is obviously wrong. The types of software and file formats will need to be reviewed and analysed. One particularly useful strategy can be to create a data archive, which acts as a Single Source of Truth. This is then connected to all of the systems, rather than attempting to constantly translate formats directly between software.

STAGE TWO: design and build

This process should be straight forward from a well-defined brief, especially if you are using standard industry software packages. There really is no need to re-invent the wheel as all of this already exists, from record gathering apps to data storage and archiving, programme software to design suites. The real challenge is making it work together. Properly.

STAGE THREE: test and verify

This is the place for the cynics. Check it all, check it twice, then check it again based on real time tests, with real data input. I have been told more than once how time entry works, only to insist on being shown it there and then, and watching it fail at every entry. Only when fully signed off by the stakeholders can you progress to the next phase.

STAGE FOUR: operate and regularly re-verify

Operation is going to depend on the training of the operatives. Many problems are rooted in a lack of training and are often termed as ‘PICNIC’ problems. This acronym is used by computer experts to describe user issues. ‘Problem In Chair Not In Computer’.

Things change, software is upgraded, people leave or retire and are replaced, so make sure you get your cynics back once a month to ask some tough questions and verify that you are still working at the desired level of accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

On any project, record keeping, document control, and the integration of software systems is important. Critically important. Cynical checking is therefore required, and on mega projects, mega-cynicism is needed and on giga projects, well you can guess, so get in touch – mark.wheeler@diales.com

SOMETIMES, A ISN’T ENOUGH BRILLIANT IDEA

What do ambitious technology entrepreneurs need other than a great idea? You need help from others and a network of support

Nicky Godding, Editor

Mr Rolls had Mr Royce, Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak – even Elton John had Bernie Taupin.

While whoever helped Sir James Dyson and Sir Richard Branson build their businesses didn’t become as famous, I bet neither of them did it alone.

Starting a business isn’t just about the moolah (though of course money talks), it’s about collaboration and engaging with people who’ve been there and got skin in the game – and drawing from their experience.

Across the UK there’s lots of business support (although young companies invariably tell me it’s not enough), and in the south west, there’s TechSpark.

TechSpark is a not-for-profit support network for technology companies across Bristol and Bath. It supports ambitious entrepreneurs through around 200 events a year, including at school level, an investment arm helping young companies raising equity investment and organising other activities and collaborations.

Bristol and Bath have long been recognised as hubs of technology and creativity, and investors from all over the country are increasingly spending more time in both cities looking for the next big tech success.

TechSpark isn’t the only such support in the city, there’s also SetSquared, a successful collaboration between the universities of Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton, Surrey, Bristol and Bath, and Science Creates – the city’s first dedicated science business incubator. Barclays also established the city’s first Eagle Lab in Bristol (at the Engine Shed), last year.

These organisations are not in competition, they work alongside each other which TechSpark’s managing director 39-year-old Ben Shorrock, sees as a strength.

Ben moved to Bristol from Manchester around 10 years ago, where he had spent around five years working for the city’s development agency, encouraging new companies and investment into the city.

The good vibes of Bristol and Bath

“When I was looking around for my next career move, I visited friends in Bristol and felt the place had good vibes, so I stayed.”

Bristol and Bath have that effect on many people I’ve interviewed.

He brought with him his trade and investment experience, working first on inward investment, moving on to creating business development campaigns for Bristol and Bath.

“The work I did here helped cement my love of this area and what's going on here, so it was easy to sell Bristol and Bath as great places to do business.”

At the time TechSpark was a voluntary organisation, launched by a group of entrepreneurs and founders in Bath who invariably met in local pubs.

But they felt that something more formal was needed and kicked off a series of meetings and activities. Ben soon found himself volunteering.

Helping young businesses raise money and hire talent

“After 18 months or so it became clear that there was a real need for what TechSpark was offering and it couldn’t be fulfilled by a few volunteers,” he said.

With some funding secured from corporate and local government partners, TechSpark was established as a not-for-profit, which is how it operates today.

“One of the amazing things about the scale on which we work in Bristol and Bath, is that we can see outcomes from what we’re doing,” said Ben. “We’re helping young businesses raise money, hire talent, get started and meet the right people. That has a massive impact not only on the businesses, but on both cities too.

“I've worked on national projects and while it’s great if you can help the country as a whole, you don't have same visceral

“Companies which are now getting national coverage, such as Open Bionics, Ultraleap, Haboo and Graphcore all grew out of Bristol, and all these companies are making a real and positive difference to society”

connection as you do working in a city like Bristol.”

I wonder why Bristol and Bath have attracted so much tech innovation.

Ben explains his theory. “The area has long been home to industries that, over time, have built a set of skills that are really useful now, such as in aerospace and avionics.

“The region has a substantial base of technical engineers who, in the seventies and eighties, worked for big businesses such as Airbus, GE Aviation, Rolls Royce and their supply chain companies. That

deep hardware engineering produced amazing talent which can be traced through to companies such as Graphcore here today.

“On the other end of the spectrum there are the creative industries, including TV and film production companies. The BBC’s Natural History Unit in Bristol produces a third of all global natural history programming.

“Link this vibrant cultural sector with science and technology and you get a wonderful crossover of skills and tech which is where the magic happens. You don’t get that in many other places.”

“I've worked on national projects and while it’s great if you can help the country as a whole, you don't have same visceral connection as you do working in a city like Bristol”

And with Bristol and Bath being close geographically, Ben points out there are often just two degrees of separation to get to anyone.

“London has all the skills that we have but being many times bigger it’s more difficult to find them. Bristol and Bath can feel like a pretty small village sometimes.”

And that can be a problem, because sometimes small villages can be inwardlooking.

Ben says TechSpark is well aware of that and is working on shouting louder and further about what’s going on.

He’s also aware that many of the problems facing young Bristol and Bath technology

businesses are the same country-wide –limited pre-seed and early-stage funding, a shortage of appropriate lab space, and the high cost of living in both cities. But there is growing support from the universities (Bristol has shot up the ranking of universities producing the most spinouts), and increased determination from all tech support organisations that the region needs to sell itself globally.

Bristol is more than Banksy and Bath’s World Heritage status

“Bath is known internationally because it’s a World Heritage site, but people may not have heard of Bristol, or might just have heard of graffiti artist Banksy or Aardman

Animation’s Shaun the Sheep. We want to change that.

“There is much more we want to do as a city region.”

This month, from May 14-16, TechSpark is hosting the 2024 Bath Digital Festival. In October, it will hold the 2024 Bristol Technology Festival – the largest such festival in the UK it says.

The Technology Festival headline sponsor is software development company Ghyston and there are more than 30 other companies supporting.

Founded in 2012, Ghyston works with businesses across south west and beyond (its name, Ghyston, comes from a mythological Bristol character – the industrious giant who created the Avon gorge).

“Companies now getting national coverage, such as Open Bionics, Ultraleap, Haboo and Graphcore all grew out of Bristol,” Ben continued. “All these companies are making a real and positive difference to society.”

TechSpark is also engaging more deeply with UK angel investors and private equity, alongside overseas investors.

Taking the region global

Late last year TechSpark welcomed a high-profile West Coast US venture capital company, introducing it to more than 30 companies. “I’ve run many trade missions but it was even amazing to me, who knows the companies we visited, to see the true extent of innovation on display that day,” said Ben.

“From green hydrogen to cyber security, the reinvention of plastic packaging, to bionic arms and quantum computing, fintech and so many others.”

Three decades ago, the global tech city on everyone’s lips was San Francisco, the home of Silicon Valley. Now Bristol and Bath’s ‘Silicon Gorge’ is acknowledged as one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech ecosystems – home to around 5,000 tech companies with a nine per cent growth rate.

And if Ben and TechSpark has anything to do with it, this is just the start.

BRISTOL TEMPLE QUARTER PLANS POWER AHEAD

A new organisation established in March is all set to drive the extensive regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter.

The Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQLLP), a publicly owned company, formalises the longstanding collaboration between Bristol City Council, Homes England, Network Rail and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Operating as a joint venture, BTQLLP will include each partner as a member.

The move adds further momentum to the Bristol Temple Quarter programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, thousands of new jobs, alongside new and improved sustainable infrastructure and public spaces across 130 hectares of central Bristol.

Construction of a new entrance to Bristol Temple Meads station is already under way, alongside works at Temple Island, Silverthorne Lane and the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus on Cattle Market Road.

Creating the organisation will enable Bristol Temple Quarter to be driven by

Creating a bespoke organisation will speed up delivery of the first phase around Temple Meads station, helping us to bring forward coordinated development at speed

a single public sector body. Each of the partners has agreed to pool its land in the Phase 1 area around Bristol Temple Meads station, so development can take place in the best locations.

Later this year, the partnership will

select a development partner to deliver new housing, commercial space, and infrastructure.

Stephen Peacock, CEO at Bristol City Council, said: “Creating a bespoke organisation will speed up delivery of the first phase around Temple Meads station, helping us to bring forward co-ordinated development at speed, while retaining the democratic oversight to ensure what we are creating remains firmly in the public interest. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but by working together with our partners we are putting in place a framework for Bristol Temple Quarter to deliver for Bristol and the region.”

Richard Ennis, CEO, West of England Combined Authority, said: “Bristol Temple Quarter is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region.”

Francis McGarry, Investment Director, Network Rail, added: “With work already under way to preserve the station’s heritage alongside the construction of a new Eastern Entrance, this new enterprise will bring forward the planned new Southern and Northern entrances, and radically improve retail options by 2030.”

VERTICAL AEROSPACE TO FLY AT UK’S FIRST VERTIPORT TESTBE D

Vertical Aerospace, the Bristol aerospace manufacturer which is designing zero emission, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, is to undertake test and demonstration flights at a new vertiport being built by Skyports at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire.

Skyports Infrastructure is to develop the UK’s first vertiport testbed at Bicester Motion, the 444-acre estate dedicated to

pioneering mobility technology.

The new vertiport, which will include a compact 160 sq m passenger terminal, will be the testing ground for the new sector’s infrastructure and flight operations and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.

Andrew Macmillan, chief commercial and

strategy officer at Vertical Aerospace, said: “We are pioneering a new, hasslefree way to travel with zero emissions, but we can’t do this alone. Creating the right infrastructure is critical to getting electric aircraft into the air and the UK’s first vertiport will help accelerate this by providing crucial learnings to the industry.

“Along with our partners we are excited to show the world the benefits of electric aviation.”

The project is being developed as part of the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium and backed by Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge.

It will also provide a location for the Consortium’s wider testing programme alongside public and stakeholder engagement.

In February Vertical Aerospace secured a further £8 million in government grant funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, to develop its next-generation propellers for use on its VX4 aircraft.

Skyports will aim to open the doors to its UK vertiport by the end of 2024.

Bristol maritime engineering start-up secures £2.2m innovation grant

A young Bristol maritime engineering business has won a £2.2 million innovation grant to further develop its WingTek Wingsail.

WingTeks unique Wind Auxiliary Propulsion (WAP) system is designed to be retrofitted easily to existing commercial vessels.

Wind Auxiliary Propulsion technology complements existing ship propulsion systems; primarily the marine diesel engines burning fossil fuels. WAP enables significant reductions in fuel use limiting harmful emissions from ships.

The University of Bristol, which supported the grant application, will provide expertise in 2D and 3D computational fluid modelling of aerodynamics, wind tunnel facilities for physical model testing and energy system modelling.

Neil Richards, WingTek Managing Director, said: “WingTek’s innovative Wind Auxiliary

Propulsion system has received a significant boost thanks to the help and support of Innovate UK leading to this grant.

“We are delighted to work with a fantastic set of project partners at the University of Bristol and National Composites Centre and are now well supported to fast-track development to commercial production.”

The project will deliver two full-size operational prototypes, one on-shore for long-term testing and development and a second unit installed on a commercial UK vessel for sea-trials.

“Think of this as a renewable energy fuel saver for commercial ships,” explained Neil. “Wind is free, available across the planet and can be harnessed by the world’s existing shipping fleets to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.”

Worldwide, there are around 55,000

commercial ships heavier than 5,000 tonnes, burning an estimated 250 million tonnes of fossil fuels annually.

Neil added: “Any reduction in this colossal fuel consumption has immediate benefits.

“The commercial and environmental value of adding WingTek Wingsails is evident – on routes such as the North Atlantic and the North Sea, the savings can be substantial and rise significantly when used in conjunction with weather routing.

“We can save ship operators fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions, whether the ship has a traditional engine burning fossil fuels or one burning newer, but more expensive, clean alternatives.

“Our wind propulsion systems can be retrofitted to existing vessels, designed into new-builds, and easily removed when decommissioned or re-installed on another vessel in the fleet.”

CIRCUMSTANCE DISTILLERY UNVEILS ORGANIC SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY

Bristol-based Circumstance Distillery has launched its first organic single grain whisky.

It marks a significant milestone for English whisky as Circumstance says it is currently the only distillery in England to produce an organic whisky.

“Organic farming is vital for our planet because it reduces chemical inputs, fosters soil health, and promotes biodiversity. Because of this, we are committed to organic production principles and all the grain we use at the distillery is from organic farms,” said founder Liam Hirt.

Head distiller, Andrew Osborne, added: “Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean we have changed the way we make whisky. This release used organic malted,

“Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean we have changed the way we make whisky”

unmalted and roasted barley and had a super long 14-day fermentation on three types of yeast.

“It was then aged in ex-Bourbon, new Spanish oak and oloroso conditioned casks until it was ready for bottling.”

Circumstance Distillery is certified organic, carbon neutral and a B Corp.

Nova Motorsport heads into the fast lane

Nova Motorsport, a new global motorsport brand launched earlier this year, is aiming to revolutionise the world of premium competition and specialist tyres,

And it has wasted no time by acquiring Camac, Portugal’s national tyre manufacturer.

Bradford-on-Avon-based Nova now has access to a facility in Portugal which can produce more than 500,000 tyres annually. Camac is already established in the specialised tyre market, particularly within competitive motorsport.

Founded by Paul Hallas, Managing Director of SPC Rubber Group, Nova Motorsport aims to create superior competition and specialist tyres. This latest acquisition follows Nova’s purchase of the assets of Avon Motorsport and Avon Racing.

Avon Tyres closed its factory in Melksham last year and owner

Goodyear sold certain assets and Avon-branded motorsport tyres and the brand license Avon Motorsport and Avon Racing. Nova Motorsport’s new factory is already operational, with the first tyres anticipated to hit the market in the second half of 2024.

Bristol battery start-up secures

£1.6m to fastforward new tech

Battery innovator Anaphite has secured £1.6 million in government grantbacked investment in partnership with the Faraday Battery Challenge and UK Research and Innovation.

The grant will enable Anaphite to accelerate development of its drycoating technology to reduce the cost of EV battery manufacturing.

The Bristol-based technology company was supported by Elbow Beach Capital. The £1.6 million funding consists of £685,000 grant funding via the Investor Partnerships Future Economy programme and more than £880,000 committed by private investors.

Anaphite CEO, Joe Stevenson, said: “Anaphite has built a very strong IP position and expert teams working in electrochemistry, process chemistry and chemical engineering. We are directing all these resources into enabling the step-change in battery manufacturing that is dry electrode coating. We’ve made this choice because of the double impact of reducing the energy needed to make EVs and of increasing the uptake of EVs by reducing their cost. Our customers are excited by the cathode performance improvements and ease of processing using Anaphite’s composite materials. We are working with our customers to tailor formulations for their dry coating processes. We have a clear path to establishing a very valuable business.”

Jon Pollock, CEO of Elbow Beach Capital, added: “A transition away from fossil fuel powered transport is critical to achieving net zero but policy and regulation changes risk being regressive if there are not accessible, affordable options for consumers, particularly at a time of cost-of-living challenges. This makes technology like Anaphite’s critical to a fair transition and a very compelling investment for us.”

WORCESTERSHIRE LEP TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS

Other Local Enterprise Partnerships across the country might have headed into the sunset (read our front cover feature on pages 10-17 in this issue) but the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is set to continue operations after support from the business community, higher and further education and local government.

The government’s decision last August to transferred the functions of the LEP to upper tier local authorities – for Worcestershire this meant the county council.

Under government guidance, if upper tier authorities wished to continue with the current arrangements, they were free to do so. With the backing and support from local partners, the Worcestershire LEP will continue to operate and deliver its 20-year strategy for the county.

Over more than a decade, the county’s LEP has supported Worcestershire’s

economy through funding infrastructure projects such as Worcestershire Parkway Rail Station, dualling of Carrington Bridge, Kidderminster Rail Station improvements, and active travel improvements, including along the A38 in Bromsgrove.

Alongside this, the Worcestershire LEP has engaged with more than 10,000 Worcestershire businesses through its Growth Hub, to support growing businesses. The LEP has also directly supported innovation through its national award-winning technology accelerator, BetaDen, which has so far attracted more than £6 million investment.

Worcestershire LEP now plans to continue working with partners to ensure continued delivery of the shared strategy and 2040 vision for Worcestershire.

This message was reinforced with the business community at the Worcestershire LEP’s flagship event “Worcestershire: The BIG Conversation” in late February.

... my one key ask of the business community is, continue engaging with the partnership, keep talking to us about the good and the bad to help us better support you

Paul Walker MBE, Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It was a pleasure to showcase our strategy at the BIG Conversation. Bringing all stakeholders along with us on this journey is vital and my one key ask of the business community is, continue engaging with the partnership, keep talking to us about the good and the bad to help us better support you.

“Only by working together can we truly drive the county forward and ensure Worcestershire is a connected, creative, dynamic economy for all.”

Worcester’s Fine Agrochemicals secures

£2.6m from Lloyds Bank

Fine Agrochemicals, the Worcester manufacturer of plant growth regulators to the fruit and flower industries, has secured major investment from Lloyds Bank.

As some of its products are used seasonally, the company often doesn’t receive payment until a year after goods are purchased, once they’re ready to be delivered to customers.

To help smooth out cashflow, the team at Fine Agrochemicals turned to Lloyds for £2.6 million trade finance funding, backed by UK Export Finance.

Martin Prichard, director of finance and administration at Fine Agrochemicals, said: “We know that the competitive credit terms we’re able to o er play an important part of attracting new business, as well as maintaining loyalty in our current customer base.

“This is especially true for our USA customers who, in our experience, often find our longer payment terms as appealing as the price of the product itself.

“Investing in research and development is also an important factor for business growth in our sector.

“New products can take up to seven years from inception to registration approval for commercial sale, which means that a key part of the business’ growth plans will come from building a pipeline of new innovative products for the future.”

Founded in 1983 by two ex-Imperial Chemical Industries employees, Fine Agrochemicals now employs 40 people across 10 di erent countries.

Mark Smith, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, added: “Growing a business can be daunting, but Fine Agrochemicals is making it look simple through managing its operational costs, investing in research and fostering strong relationships with its customers.”

£26 MILLION FUNDING FOR NEW HEREFORDSHIRE SOLAR FARM

Virgin Money is providing £26 million in long-term funding to build a major new 45MW solar park in Herefordshire.

Larport Solar Farm has been developed by Abingdon-based independent energy provider Conrad Energy, and the 77,000-panel array is on track for completion by Ethical Power in the first half of this year.

It will include 40 hectares of native wildflower grassland to mitigate the impact to the local community and environment.

The energy generated by the Larport Solar Farm, equivalent to that needed to power an estimated 10,400 homes, has been pre-sold under a 15-year contract to a major banking institution to help decarbonise its UK operations.

This is the largest solar farm in Virgin Money’s portfolio of environmentfocused lending, and the third transaction the bank has funded with Conrad Energy. Larport Solar Farm will displace an estimated 9,400 tonnes of carbon each year.

Conrad Energy has 63 UK operational sites generating around 800MW per

year, with a further 16 under construction and a development pipeline of 2.4GW.

Conrad Energy CEO, Steven Hardman, said: “We have built a very successful relationship with Virgin Money on the basis of the total commitment we share to carbon net zero. Larport Solar Farm will be our flagship solar project and we are delighted to have secured a long-term customer with the same credibility and integrity as Virgin Money in their support for this vital transition to renewable energy.”

Virgin Money Senior Director, Renewable Energy, Adam Heslop, said: “Conrad Energy has an excellent track record of developing, constructing and operating energy generation in the UK and we’re pleased to be supporting them with this Herefordshire project that will have a positive impact on society and the environment.”

Solar panels will be installed on around 40 per cent of the total site area, and the project is fully reversible after 40 years. Conrad Energy says that the rested land will benefit from increased biodiversity and an improved ecosystem. As part of the planning process, Conrad Energy is required to demonstrate that there will be biodiversity gain on site.

GREENPOWER PARK IN COVENTRY WILL DRIVE GREEN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Britain's green industrial revolution ambitions are powering up again with the launch of Greenpower Park – the UK Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy.

With the West Midlands Gigafactory as its anchor tenant, the park hopes to create an end-to-end electrification and clean energy ecosystem at Greenpower Park campus in Coventry – the only site in the UK which has approved plans for a large-scale battery production facility with capacity for up to 60GWh. This is enough to power 600,000 electric vehicles and benefiting from significant incentives associated with investment zone status.

As we go to print, Chinese battery cell manufacturer Eve Energy is reportedly in talks with politicians to initially invest around £1.2 billion for 20 GWh of annual capacity in the planned Gigafactory.

Greenpower Park has been endorsed by local universities and businesses already engaged in electrification and clean energy.

The Greenpower Park campus will support new businesses and manufacturing

facilities with a unique package of incentives, combining investment zone status, approved planning permission and “an unprecedented regional incentives package” to kick-start development, according to its promotional material.

The project aims to attract major inward investment of £2.5 billion – creating 6,000 skilled jobs.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: "This ambitious initiative is not merely about setting the groundwork for the next generation of electric technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices. It is a clarion call to the world that the UK is open for business, ready to lead the charge in the green industrial revolution.

“With its strategic location, unprecedented financial support, academic partnerships, a ready-made skilled workforce, and oven-ready plans to build Britain’s biggest Gigafactory, Greenpower Park is poised to become the cornerstone of the UK's electrified future, driving our commitment to innovation, sustainability and growth."

Acoustics firm to revolutionise in-car audio with £7m fundraise

Warwick Acoustics, which says its patented loudspeaker technology will revolutionise in-car audio systems, has raised a further £7 million in a funding round led by Mercia Asset Management and including NFU Mutual and a range of private investors.

This will enable the company, which is based at Mira Technology Park near Nuneaton, to invest in a new, bigger manufacturing facility. It has also secured its first production contract with a leading global luxury vehicle manufacturer.

Warwick Acoustics’ electrostatic speakers provide superior sound quality compared to conventional speakers and, due to their slim profile, o er greater flexibility to designers in terms of cabin layout. They are also 90 per cent lighter and 90 per cent more power-e cient than conventional speakers, are manufactured from upcycled and easy to recycle materials, and use no rare earth metals.

A spin-out from Warwick University’s engineering department, the company has already launched a range of premium headphone systems, which have won more than 30 industry awards.

INDIGO FITNESS PARTNERS WITH STRENGTH BRAND PRIMAL

Nuneaton gym equipment manufacturer Indigo Fitness has signed a commercial partnership with fast-growing strength brand Primal Strength to provide a onestop-shop for all aspects of the fitness industry.

With combined sales of almost £30 million, the two businesses want to offer a greater range of products and services.

Robert Coleman, managing director of Indigo Fitness, which launched in 1996, said: “We pride ourselves on creating intelligent training spaces for health and fitness facilities through the design

and manufacture of bespoke training equipment made in Britain.

“By partnering with Primal, we can help accommodate more challenging and bespoke design concepts for their client base while elevating our brand on a global scale and offering our clients a greater product range.”

Steven Rinaldi, founder and CEO of Primal, added: “Everyone knows our passion for strength and functional training and creating world-leading functional spaces to equip everybody to discover their true strength potential.

Everyone knows our passion for strength and functional training and creating worldleading functional spaces ...

“Together with Indigo Fitness, we can build on our long-standing industry experience and strong client relationships to deliver even more state-of-the-art projects.”

County council distributes £2.5m to support region’s SMEs

A scheme launched by Warwickshire County Council to support the region’s start-ups and SMEs has distributed almost £2.5 million of funding in less than two years.

The Local Communities & Enterprise Fund (LCE) began in June 2022 to provide loans to businesses which struggle to access lending through the usual high street banking routes.

It’s since lent a helping hand to 44 businesses and social enterprises, with the funding expected to create 210 jobs

and safeguard a further 258.

Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “To have allocated nearly £2.5 million to businesses throughout the county will make a vital difference to the owners and employees as well as boost our economy.”

The fund is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust as part of the county council’s £64 million Warwickshire Investment Fund.

Sheridan Sulskis, CEO of the Trust, said:

“It’s not always easy to know where to turn when your investment plans are turned down by mainstream lenders.

“But the LCE has proved instrumental in negotiating that hurdle to enable those with sound plans to access affordable finance to start-up or to grow their business.

“It’s been willing and able to provide loans when mainstream lenders were hesitant because of the importance of supporting the economic recovery and future growth of Warwickshire.”

PREMIUM CAR STORAGE COMPANY BOUGHT

BY THE VAULT

Upmarket storage brand The Vault has acquired the storage operations of Wiltshire-based PaddlUp.

The Vault now operates sites in Wiltshire and Surrey.

Initially opened in 2021 by business partners George Howell, Dan Regan and Josh Roles, The Vault has established itself as a vehicle storage facility, and the hub for a growing petrolhead community.

The Vault co-founder, and former Formula 1 engineer, Josh Roles, said:

“The Vault was opened just over three years ago to offer owners and collectors somewhere to safely store their cars, looked after by knowledgeable car enthusiasts with automotive backgrounds. We look after every car as though they are our own.

“Whether it is an investment, or a weekend toy, each car is someone’s pride and joy, and we want to take any hassles away so they can focus on enjoyment.”

The new sites bring The Vault’s indoor, dry, secure and insured storage space capacity

to more than 200 vehicles across three facilities.

The recently-acquired Wiltshire and Surrey sites were set up and operated by online car auction and sales platform, PaddlUp.

Co-founder and Managing Director, George Howell, added: “We have worked previously with the team at PaddlUp, and their decision to shift focus to their innovative vehicle sales software platform presented an excellent opportunity for The Vault to expand its well-established operations across the south of England.”

Record growth for Wiltshire EdTech business Gaia Learning

Gaia Learning, an online learning provider for neurodivergent children has secured £100,000 in angel investment in just three months, o the back of a record year for growth.

Founded by Salisbury mum-of-three Kirstin Coughtrie in 2019, the ed-tech company has seen its userbase of families and schools triple since the start of the academic year.

The online platform delivers live learning for neurodivergent children aged eight to 16 with ADHD and autism.

“We’ve grown our team to 13 sta members and seen interest coming in from schools across the UK,” said Kirstin.

Kirstin, a tech-obsessed geography teacher, launched the online learning platform after facing inadequacies

in mainstream schooling for her neurodivergent son, who, like herself, has ADHD. Two years later, in 2021, she teamed up with experienced tech entrepreneur Kate Longworth.

Together they’ve taken Gaia Learning from a small, specialist tuition business to a registered online Cambridge International School and national alternative education provider.

GOVERNMENT VISITS TO SWINDON PUTS TOWN UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Swindon welcomed the Prime Minister and Trade Secretary to the town in March.

The first to arrive was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who paid a visit to the town’s former Honda site to see ongoing work by Panattoni on its £900 million logistics hub.

The development of Panattoni Park – a manufacturing and warehousing facility – could create 7,000 direct jobs, with another 5,000 in the supply chain.

The redevelopment is happening at the former Honda manufacturing plant, which built 3.7 million cars between 1985 and the factory’s closure in 2021.

The prime minster called the redevelopment “a huge vote of confidence in the UK,” noting that Swindon had the transport connectivity that makes it an attractive place.

Demolition of existing buildings on the 370-acre site is already under way.

The Honda factory provided around 2.2 million sq ft of space, but Panattoni says its buildings will occupy closer to 5.5 million sq ft, using more land across the site.

The complex is expected to be completed in around five years.

Two weeks later Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch MP visited leading battery manufacturer GS Yuasa’s headquarters and distribution centre in Swindon.

The visit followed the recent opening of the facility at Ignition Park, Swindon, which marked a new chapter for GS Yuasa as it aims to solidify its status as the world’s leading battery manufacturer. The new site serves both as headquarters for GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd and the sales and distribution centre for GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd.

Kemi Badenoch saw technologies and processes implemented by the UK-arm of the Japanese battery manufacturer to enhance operational efficiency. This includes sophisticated automated shuttle

racking, AGV reach trucks, and dedicated charging facilities.

GS Yuasa Chief Executive Andrew Taylor said: “This visit highlights our commitment to excellence and innovation in the battery industry and reinforces the significant government interest in UK business growth and development.”

Kemi Badenoch added: “We want to encourage more businesses to follow in their footsteps and choose the UK, helping create skilled, high-wage jobs.”

PM PRAISES STUDENTS DURING BERKELEY GREEN VISIT

Students at Berkeley Green University Technical College (UTC) got the opportunity to showcase their robotics, engineering and cyber skills to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he visited recently.

The visit was hosted by the local MP Siobhan Baillie.

Gareth Lister, Headteacher at the UTC said: “Our students excel in their specialisms – all of which are needed to meet the UK’s future engineering and cyber challenges. The prime minister was especially interested in meeting our female students, traditionally under-represented in the sector.”

Kevin Hamblin, CEO of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and the UTC added: “The government’s announcement in the spring budget that it had secured the former Oldbury site for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) was warmly welcomed. It will create thousands of jobs, many of them in engineering and digital specialisms.”

“It is clear that the UTC will play a central role at Berkeley as it becomes the primary training facility for newnuclear and clean energy production across the UK ...”

Chiltern Vital Group (CVG), will soon take over the development of the Berkeley site and have a vision for an Oldbury/Berkeley Clean Energy Axis in partnership with Rolls Royce SMR.

CVG also announced that it had signed a collaboration agreement with Polish firm SGP Industria which operates in Poland’s Central Hydrogen Valley. The company is planning to purchase up to 10 SMRs from Rolls Royce – and will train their staff at Berkeley.

These developments will complement the University of Bristol’s interest in establishing a Centre of Excellence in Nuclear on site.

Kevin added: “It is clear that the UTC will play a central role at Berkeley as it becomes the primary training facility for new-nuclear and clean energy production across the UK, and internationally.”

E.ON and STEM Returners launch engineering return to work opportunities in Coventry

Energy company E.ON has teamed up with return-to-work specialist STEM Returners to help engineers in Coventry return to work after a career break.

E.ON will host a STEM Returners programme within its engineering division where there will be at least 10 opportunities for people wishing to join the company for a 12-week placement.

Research from STEM Returners shows the challenges people face when trying to return to work following a career break, with recruitment bias shown to be the main barrier to entry. It also shows women trying to return to industry are more likely to experience recruitment bias than men.

STEM Returners’ programmes aim to eliminate these barriers by giving candidates real work experience and mentoring during their placement, as well as supporting them to adjust to life back in work.

Natalie Desty, Director of STEM Returners, said: “There is a misconception that a career break leads to a deterioration of skills but that could not be further from the truth. Only by working together will we make vital changes in companies’ recruitment practices, to help those who are finding it challenging to return to work.”

Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer at E.ON, said: “We are excited to be working with STEM Returners, supporting people from a range of different career journeys and helping them bridge the gap back into work. As a nation, we need more people with STEM qualifications and green skills.”

BRITISH AIRWAYS’ SPEEDBIRD TRAINEES BEGIN THEIR STUDIES AT SKYBORNE

Skyborne, the airline training academy based at Gloucestershire Airport, has welcomed its first cohort of British Airways pilot trainees.

The academy was announced as the official UK partner for British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy last September, which attracted more than 20,000 applicants.

“This is a life-changing initiative,” said Lee Woodward, CEO of Skyborne.

“By removing training costs, British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy levels the playing field for the best and brightest, driving change in our industry.

“The standard of applicants has been incredible and to see the first trainees here at Skyborne marks a proud moment for our team.

“The standard of applicants has been incredible and to see the first trainees here at Skyborne marks a proud moment for our team”

“We thank British Airways for their trust and confidence in us as a leading and innovative flight school.”

Skyborne is the only flight school to serve as official UK partner for both British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy and the Speedbird Self-Sponsored Pathway (SSP), offering integrated airline transport pilot licence applicants the opportunity to receive a conditional job offer from the airline before starting their flight training.

01 New appointment is picture perfect

Cheltenham film and photography production company Still Moving has appointed Joseph Turp as Head of Film. The company enjoyed a record year in 2023, working for clients such as Aston Martin, Disney and Lotus. StillMoving also works with Cheltenham Festivals and Superdry. Joseph (left) is pictured with Chief Creative Officer Spencer McPherson

02 Law firm appoints Partner to banking and finance group

Charles Russell Speechlys has appointed Philip Withey as partner in its banking and finance group. Philip joins the firm’s Cheltenham office from Womble Bond Dickinson, where he specialised as a partner in banking and finance for more than 17 years.

03

Cheltenham appoints new BID CEO

Cheltenham's Business Improvement District (BID) has appointed Francesca Inman as Chief Executive. Francesca joins from Bristol’s three BIDS – City Centre, Broadmead, and Redcliffe & Temple BID, where she was Head of Projects. Francesca will lead the work of the Cheltenham BID which has seen £3.8 million invested into the town centre since its formation in 2016.

04

Ken moves from Kensington to Cheltenham

Savills has appointed Ken Dowling (below right) to head up its Cheltenham residential office. Ken joins Savills from JLL, where he ran the firm’s Kensington office. Savills in Cheltenham also has promoted Omer Basharat (below left) to head of residential development sales.

05 Three new appointments at Loungers

Loungers, the café/bar/restaurants chain which operates the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside brands, has promoted managing director Justin Carter to the new role of Group Managing Director.

Kate Eastwood is joining the company from Fullers as Lounge Managing Director. David Matthews has been appointed as Lounge Operations Director (North).

06 Interaction bolsters office design team

Bath workplace design and build company Interaction has made six new appointments. The firm has appointed construction industry specialist Ollie Caunt as contracts director. Also joining are Tyler Doak, Siouxzee Cummings and three new graduates – Katherine Webb, Walid Nader and Tommaso Parenti.

Photo (left to right) Siouxzee Cummings, Walid Nader, Tyler Doak, Ollie Caunt, Tommaso Parenti.

07 Just (H)eat. David Buttress moves to Ovo Energy

Former CEO at Just Eat Plc and Just Eat UK, entrepreneur and investor David Buttress is taking over as CEO of Bristol-based energy supplier Ovo Energy. David started his career with Coca-Cola Enterprises before co-founding Just Eat UK.

08

Deloitte South West and Wales appoints practice senior partner

Consultancy Deloitte has appointed a new practice senior partner for the South West and Wales to lead a combined team of over 2,300 people. Dave Tansley will take over from Lizzie Hill. A chartered engineer who spent his early career as an engineering officer in the Royal Air Force, Dave joined Deloitte in 1994 and has worked across industry sectors in the UK and internationally.

09 Former BBC correspondent heads to university

The University of Warwick has appointed Satnam Rana-Grindley as Director of Communications. Satnam enjoyed a 21-year career at the BBC and was part of the presenter line-up for BBC Midlands Today before moving into communications at Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. She is iictured with the university’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Ajay Teli.

10 Trio of directors join South West farm veterinary practice

A Gloucestershire veterinary practice has appointed three directors after underlining its independence in the face of widespread corporatisation of the industry. Dursley’s Tyndale Vets has promoted Kit Heawood, Sam Ecroyd and Harry Dibble. They join Tyndale’s existing directors, David Preece and Bryony Kendall. From left to right: Sam Ecroyd, Harry Dibble, Bryony Kendall, David Preece and Kit Heawood

11

Hallmark to take on CEO role at Aston Martin

Adrian Hallmark is to join Aston Martin as Chief Executive Officer later this year. Adrian, 61, will join Aston Martin from his recent position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors. He brings more than 25 years of successful senior automotive experience from the US, Europe, and Asia with companies such as Bentley, Porsche and Volkswagen.

12

Crowe names new Office Managing Partner in Midlands and South West

Ross Prince (above left) has been appointed Office Managing Partner for national audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe in the Midlands and South West. He takes over from Johnathan Dudley (above right), Crowe’s National Head of Manufacturing. He will lead a team of more than 300 including 19 partners in the firm’s Oldbury, Cheltenham and Bristol offices.

UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE EXPANDS CYBER FACILITIES WITH CYNAM, HUB8 AND PLEXAL

A £5.8 million grant from the Office for Students is funding the development of new cyber and computing facilities at the University of Gloucestershire’s Park Campus in Cheltenham.

The project, an initiative between the university, cyber networking group CyNam and tech working space Hub8 and Plexal, will complete next year.

The new facilities will include a cyber control centre, virtual reality facility, digital lounge and enhanced teaching and learning spaces. They will feature photogrammetry equipment and Internet of Things kits.

Professor Jackie Labbe, Deputy ViceChancellor and Provost at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “This will strengthen our community, digital and employer connections, open the door to new research and development and see us play a leading role in addressing the skills gap in cyber and emerging technology.”

The partnership with CyNam, a Cheltenham-based not-for-profit organisation, aims to drive growth in Gloucestershire’s cyber and technology ecosystem.

Supported by UK Regional Innovation Fund financing, the collaboration seeks to foster innovation, bridge the skills gap in cyber, critical technologies like artificial intelligence, and future technologies.

The collaboration will facilitate a range of community-building events aimed at academia, the public sector and the cyber tech industry.

One such event, the EmPowerCyber event, aims to engage 1,000 Year 8 schoolgirls from across the region, encouraging them to explore careers in cybersecurity, thereby addressing the UK’s digital skills gap and promoting female representation in the cyber workforce.

Chris Dunning-Walton, Director of CyNam, said: “We will be able to supercharge networking, collaboration, and innovation in Gloucestershire’s cyber and tech community to drive growth and prosperity for the region.”

Gareth Nelson, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the university, will also play a dual role with CyNam to facilitate the development of this partnership and its objectives.

Business leaders urged to toughen up cyber attack protections

A draft Code of Practice on cyber security governance published by government will help directors and senior leaders shore up their defences from cyber threats.

The measures look to establish cyber security issues as a key focus for businesses, putting them on an equal footing with other threats like financial and legal pitfalls.

A key focus of the code, designed with the help of industry directors, cyber and governance experts and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), is making sure companies have detailed plans in place to respond to and recover from any potential cyber incidents. The plan should be regularly tested with a formal system for reporting incidents also in place.

Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, said: “Cyber attacks are as damaging to organisations as financial and legal pitfalls, so it’s crucial that bosses and directors take a firm grip of their organisation’s cyber security regimes –protecting their customers, workforce, business operations and our wider economy.

“This new code will help them take the lead in safely navigating potential cyber threats.”

Cynam founder takes senior consultancy role at cyber firm

Crossword Cybersecurity Plc, the London-listed cybersecurity company has appointed Chris Dunning-Walton to head up its cybersecurity consulting division. Chris will join the Group’s Executive Committee.

Well known across the cybersecurity and IT sectors, Chris has worked in the industry for more than 20 years.

In 2008 he founded Infosec People Ltd specialising in

cybersecurity recruitment. Last year he sold the business through a management buyout. Chris is also founder of Cyber Cheltenham (CyNam), the successful, not-for-profit company supporting the cyber security and tech SME community in Cheltenham and across the UK.

Chris said: “I am delighted to join a company with such a talented group of security professionals. We have big plans for growth.”

BRISTOL COMPANY IS ‘UNLOCKING THE POWER OF WASTE’

A Bristol company aiming to “unlock the power of waste” by producing more biogas thanks to its new technology, has secured £8.5 million investment to help it scale up.

WASE has developed an electromethanogenic reactor which enables the generation of more energy by treating waste faster.

The investment round was led by Extantia Capital, with participation from Hitachi Ventures, WEPA Ventures, the family venture capital firm of the European family business WEPA, and Engie New Ventures, part of global energy company Engie. Other investors included Elbow Beach Capital and Empirical Ventures.

The round earmarks funds for the company to scale operations and fulfil multi-million pounds of signed contracts and projects with customers.

From maximising the recovery of biogas from organic matter in wastewater to

ensuring anaerobic digestion plants get the highest yields, WASE's units increase biogas generation by 30 per cent. This is up to 10 times faster than anaerobic digestion. The technology also increases the methane content of biogas to more than 80 per cent compared to conventional anaerobic digestion where methane contents of 50-60 per cent are more typical.

The system fits into existing infrastructure and is 50-70 per cent smaller than that currently available.

Thomas Fudge, Founder and CEO of WASE, said: “We want our technology to set a new standard in the waste treatment and energy sectors, by not only optimising waste breakdown but by boosting methane production across the board.

“We’re seeing a future of waste-toenergy that maximises economic and environmental benefits for all players involved, and we aim to play a major part in this transition by becoming leaders in

We’re seeing a future of wasteto-energy that maximises economic and environmental benefits for all players involved ...

the biogas market. Extantia and ENGIE, who deeply understand this sector, and all the investors supporting us in this round, will be invaluable resources to help us achieve this.”

Carlota Ochoa Neven Du Mont, Principal at Extantia, said: “WASE’s approach doesn’t just increase biogas and biomethane yields from the anaerobic digestion process, making it more productive, it is reshaping the way industrial businesses are thinking about their resources.”

HyFIVE for UK consortium spearheading aviation hydrogen fuel system development

Bristol’s GKN Aerospace, The University of Bath and Parker Meggitt in Coventry are set to play key roles in a new consortium that will support the development and introduction of zero-emission aviation in the UK.

The HyFIVE consortium, led by advanced aerospace and engineering company Marshall, will make use of the specialised research and development capability at the universities of Bath, Manchester and Cardiff.

Marshall will deploy its knowledge in complex system design, integration and certification, GKN Aerospace is providing its expertise in cryogenic hydrogen systems technology and aircraft structures, while Parker Meggitt, now part of the Parker Aerospace Group within Parker Hannifin, will lead on sensing, thermal management and fluid conveyance.

The group aims to develop a world-leading hydrogen fuel system and supply chain to support zero-emission aviation in the 2030s.

The consortium will receive initial funding of £37 million, with an investment of £17 million from industry matched with £20 million from government. The project

is supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, a partnership between Department for Business and Trade, Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK.

Professor Carl Sangan, Principal Investigator for HyFIVE at the University of Bath, said: “HyFIVE is an ideal platform on which to build on the University of Bath’s growing capability and expertise as a place of nationally leading research and expertise in hydrogen energy storage and fuelling.”

The Universities of Bath, Manchester and Cardiff were selected for their research capabilities and advanced testing facilities in areas such as hydrogen-electric propulsion, cryogenic applications, power transmission, turbomachinery and next-generation material development.

Bath will also seek to harness the capabilities of its academics carrying out hydrogenrelated research.

Bath’s success in joining the HyFIVE project was underpinned by the testing facilities at Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS), a leading research and

innovation facility at Bristol & Bath Science Park linked to the university. Ten Bath academics, with expertise in materials engineering, turbomachinery and fluid power, will be involved in the project.

Jacqueline Castle, Chief Technology Officer of the Aerospace Technology Institute said: “The HyFIVE programme is primed to solve the significant technical, safety, certification and industrialisation challenges associated with the application of LH2 (liquid hydrogen) in aviation and those identified by our FlyZero programme and Destination Zero strategy.

“The HyFIVE team will work with key regulatory frameworks and infrastructure projects, including the ATI’s own Hydrogen Capability Network, to ensure the UK maximises the gains from such a significant industrial research project.”

The overarching objective of the HyFIVE consortium is to develop, test and validate a modular, scalable cryogenic hydrogen fuel system architecture that is suitable for multiple aircraft classes and compatible with either hydrogen electric propulsion or hydrogen combustion powertrains.

University of Warwick tech helps solve more than 300 murder cases

More than 300 murder cases have been solved over the last decade using 3-D imaging technology from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick.

The technology, which can produce images with resolutions 1,000 times more detailed than a hospital CT scan, has been used in murder cases by 30 police forces across the UK to view injuries in incredibly high detail.

This has helped to convict the guilty, as well as prove innocence. The technology is so advanced that it can show the difference between a wound inflicted with force, versus the typical profile of one delivered by natural causes. Cases have included strangulation, stabbing, blunt force trauma and bone fractures.

The technology was first used in 2014 when West Midlands Police approached WMG’s Professor Mark Williams. They asked him to help their investigation into

the grisly Birmingham canal murder, where a body was discovered in a suitcase in a Birmingham canal.

Professor Williams said: “We were able to help the police by examining a charred piece of evidence thought to contain human bone.

“We discovered that it was a perfect jigsaw fit to another piece of bone in the suitcase, and, using the very high-resolution scanning technology, we were able to show the tool marks on both pieces in micro scale (one 50th of a millimetre).

“These matched the characteristics expected for the type of saw the offender had disposed of, alongside the victim.”

This microscopic level of detail led to the conviction of murderer Lorenzo Simon, who was jailed for 19 years in 2015.

This marked the start of a productive

research partnership for WMG with West Midlands Police, which has now used the technology in dozens of murder cases.

Now 30 police forces across the country have used the technology.

It has also been used in other high-profile cases, including to rule out foul play. In one case where a 64-year-old had fallen, 3D model printing of the skull of the deceased showed exact matches with the geometry of the doorhandle, suggesting a fall. This resulted in the cause of death being ruled as accidental.

The high-resolution scans were also used in 2020 to help convict Tipton murderers Nathan Maynard-Ellis and David Leesley, who dismembered their victim. The scans helped prove the deliberate nature of their behaviour after their crime, including the direction and variation of their cuts. Both were convicted and are serving a life sentence.

THE LATEST DEAL ACTIVITY ACROSS THE REGION

has been acquired by Equipment specialist Teledyne Marine (Florida)

Ocean sensor firm Valeport (Devon) Charlton Networks (Gloucestershire)

has been acquired by Construction industry supplier Hill & Smith (West Midlands)

venue operator Family Adventures Group (Bristol) Cell imaging company Phasefocus Holdings (Sheffield)

has been acquired by Private equity firm Foresight Group (London) Buyside advisers include: PKF Francis Clark (Financial) | Shoosmiths (Legal) | Confidas (Management) | Vista (Insurance) | KyptoKloud (Cyber) | Whitecap Consulting (Commercial) Sellside advisers include: Evelyn Partners (Corporate Finance) | Michelmores (Legal)

has been acquired by Life sciences firm Bruker UK (West Midlands)

has completed an MBO with support from YFM Equity Partners Buyside advisers include: James Cowper Kreston (finance) | PKF-Francis Clark (financial and tax due diligence) | CIL Management Consultants (commercial due diligence) | Gateley Legal | Grant Thornton UK LLP (technology due diligence) | Confidas People (management and organisational due diligence) | Lockton (insurance due diligence)

has been acquired by Techsol Group (Wales)

has been acquired by Technology firm Deazy (Bristol) has been acquired by Smart Parking (Germany)

has been acquired by Digital marketing agency DRPG (Worcestershire)

St David Recruitment Services (South Glamorgan)

has been acquired by Abatec Recruitment (Somerset)

Buyside advisers included: Thinking Legal (legal) Four Fifty Partnership (accountants)

Sellside advisers included: GS Verde Group (corporate finance)

Andorran Chartered Accountants (Gloucestershire)

has been acquired by BK Plus (West Midlands)

Caster distributor Varley Castors (Cheshire)

has been acquired by Caster and wheel manufacturer BIL Group

Buyside advisers included: Dow Schofield Watts (financial) DSW Tax Advisory (tax) DWF (legal)

Sellside advisers included: Hill Dickinson legal)

WHAT DOES THE M&A LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE FOR THE REST OF 2024?

Alex Zachary, Corporate & Commercial Partner, BP Collins LLP

With increasing pressures to maintain a competitive advantage, there is a growing recognition of the transformative impact M&A can have, compared with the slower burn of organic growth.

The year’s M&A activity seems likely to continue being driven by the ongoing need for larger businesses to adapt to rapidly changing industries, embrace new technologies (such as AI) to keep up with (or ahead of) the competition, scale up to achieve economies and give security and greater scope for taking opportunities, expand into international markets and enhance their ESG credentials. A good example of this trend was the acquisition of Andigestion by Seven Trent Green Power from our client Summerleaze, which recently won Deal of the Year at The Business Magazine’s Deals Awards.

As larger companies are not impervious to the economic instability of late, there is an M&A strategy trend around focusing on making multiple smaller acquisitions, rather than larger, more expensive takeovers. On the other side, smaller business owners may be experiencing a static market with

slow organic growth and contemplating selling due to fatigue from tough conditions.

This appetite for M&A is good news for the UK market, which was recently ranked as the most attractive destination in Europe for domestic and inbound M&A activity. Deals are further encouraged by lower inflation and rates normalising. Private equity firms also continue to harbour substantial funds and are showing keen interest in businesses that have managed effectively to weather the recent market turmoil.

Although the upturn is expected to be more measured than in previous years, the rest of 2024 is looking positive with M&A activity likely to be influenced by ESG factors, cross-border activity and technological innovation.

DYMAG'S CARBON HYBRID WHEEL FITTED TO HYUNDAI PROTOTYPE

Dymag, which designs lightweight wheels for the automotive industry, has played a key role in the manufacture of a carbon hybrid wheel to be used by Hyundai.

The new wheel was made in partnership with South Korean composites material specialist Hankuk Carbon. It will be fitted to a new prototype Hyundai IONIQ 5 N NPX1.

Blending a composite carbon fibre outer rim with a precision-forged metallic centrepiece, Chippenham-based Dymag’s proprietary carbon hybrid wheel expertise makes the best of both materials.

Dymag says it is also in advanced stages with multiple car makers and expects further original equipment supply agreements to be announced soon.

We are delighted to showcase our new lightweight, advanced carbon hybrid wheel for Hyundai ...

Christopher Shelley, Chairman of Dymag, said: “We are delighted to showcase our new lightweight, advanced carbon hybrid wheel for Hyundai.

“This is the latest result of the collaboration between Dymag and Hankuk Carbon. The burgeoning relationship with Hyundai will

bring our game-changing wheel technology to a wider audience of global automotive customers through the N Performance products range.

“Carbon hybrid wheels from Dymag realise many benefits for high-performance vehicles, with very low capital expenditure for car makers thanks to our patented technology and lean production methods. This new wheel technology further cements Dymag’s position as a leading original equipment manufacturer for the global automotive industry.”

More jobs at Warwickshire manufacturer as new facility opens

A leading automotive manufacturing supplier in Warwickshire has doubled its operational footprint and created new jobs.

Following a significant uptick in demand for its products, in part fuelled by increased vehicle wait times since the pandemic, Leamington Spa-based Protec Group has seen its annual turnover increase by 30 per cent.

Now the business has invested in a much larger facility next to its original site, doubling its workspace to 10,000 sq ft, as it focuses on the next stage of growth with plans to increase its annual turnover by a further £1 million this year.

The move has enabled Protec to establish a dedicated assembly line and introduce

new services, such as leather wrapping, while also boosting its existing capabilities in electric vehicle manufacturing.

The expansion, supported by a £400,000 loan from Lloyds Bank, has already created three new jobs within the firm’s assembly line team and the company hopes that a further four team members will join Protec by the summer.

The firm uses a range of technologies and specialist manufacturing techniques to service projects for customers in the automotive, rail, defence, and aerospace sectors.

Lee Horton, managing director at Protec, said: “As a business that started in a serviced office where there was no room

for any equipment or machinery, it’s fantastic to see how much we’ve expanded over the years.

“Our philosophy has always been to look at the areas where we see the highest level of demand and invest in them. The new space has enabled us to win more production lines from clients and give the business and the team more opportunities to grow.”

Jessica Fox, relationship manager at Lloyds Banking Group said: “We are proud to be supporting Protec as it aims to expand its business and invest in its team.

“The business has been able to support its clients with a greater breadth of work, from manufacturing highly specialised car parts, to providing consultancy.”

WEST MIDLANDS MANUFACTURING

COLLECTIVE

UNDERTAKES MAJOR INVESTMENT DRIVE

A manufacturing collective that wants to bring work back to the UK has enjoyed a major sales boost.

The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which consists of six sub-contract manufacturers, an electric motor consultancy and a specialist engineering design agency, has seen a £20 million increase in orders, with several high-profile export contracts secured in the EU, the Middle East and the Far East.

These new opportunities are being reinforced by a £4.5 million investment drive in new equipment, automation, MRP (materials requirement planning) systems and a Precision Tooling Academy to train the toolmakers of the future.

Tony Sartorius, Chairman of Alucast, one of the founding members of MAN, said: “Despite really difficult trading conditions and high inflationary pressures, UK manufacturing continues to defy the odds, and this is reflected in the performance of the Manufacturing Assembly Network.

“A £20 million boost in sales is some achievement and we believe this highlights a change in purchasing attitudes where customers are now looking for more strategic partnerships and suppliers who can add value throughout the entire process. We’re also seeing new

“Despite really difficult trading conditions and high inflationary pressures, UK manufacturing has continued to defy the odds, and this is reflected in the performance of the Manufacturing Assembly Network”

opportunities in electrification and light weighting.

He continued: “One of the group’s biggest challenges is finding the right people as we plan for more growth in 2024.”

The Manufacturing Assembly Network encourages collaboration, best practice sharing and promoting UK manufacturing.

It is made up of Alucast, Brandauer, FluxSys, Grove Design, James Lister & Sons, KimberMills International, Nemco and PP Control & Automation.

Collectively, the group boasts more than £100 million in annual sales, employs more than 900 people and exports products across 50 countries from its 17 factories.

In May last year, it responded to the government’s strategic vision for industry, which it described as “faultering”, by delivering “MANifesto”, its own blueprint for making the country globally competitive.

Bosses highlighted four key pillars as being key to future UK growth: people, international trade, sustainability and net zero and investment

“We’ve certainly lived up to our MANifesto, with more than £4.5 million invested over the last 12 months,” said Tony Hague, Chief Executive of PP Control & Automation.

“This has ranged from the purchase of a high pressure die casting machine and automated SMT (surface mount technology) assembly equipment to new forging simulation software and high speed presses. In our case, it has included the latest automated cable harness production technology.”

The Manufacturing Assembly Network plans to host its largest ever Design and Make Challenge this year.

This is a competition that aims to inspire Year 10 and Year 11 students to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing.

Transformational effects of AI in office buildings

While everyone’s talking about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, we’re looking at its potentially transformational effects in office buildings, which shape how we work and our motivation to commute there in the first place.

Returning to desks: the

old, the new, the hybrid

For many companies, the office space has languished for decades beyond its shelf life, failing to attract the talented people who want more than a token plant on their pre-Covid desk. The fact is the next generation of workers expect AI in the workplace. For younger workers, the idea of having to schlepp to an office to use the photocopy machine is a thing of period dramas. Older workers also want more bang for their commuter buck. After all, this is a world that’s seen stay-athome mandates and the perks and possibilities of working from the kitchen table.

The office has never had to work so hard to draw people in

AI is a compelling differentiator that will only become more so as people’s homes get more and more high tech. With virtual assistants at the behest of every whim, our houses are already fitted with more AI than your average skyrise can dream to match. When it

does, there’ll be competition between employers to out-AI our homes – and to out-AI each other. AI has been poking around the workplace for a while – whether we’re aware of it or not – and is on the cusp of taking off. Here we look at the many ways we can harness AI to enhance the office experience for employees and their clients, while offering flexible, sustainable and cost-efficient options for those making the decisions.

Selecting a building

First on the decision makers’ to-do list: choosing an office building. This has traditionally meant perusing visuals – photos, floor plans, energy performance charts – and a rudimentary background check.

AI opens up a whole new galaxy of information to help tenants, landlords, agents and even sectors make the best selection for their base. AI can do an instant scan of everything in a building’s vicinity – from amenities and demographics to air quality, travel times, crime statistics and more. It can

also examine both historical and realtime market data to identify trends in property values, rental rates and demand for specific types of buildings.

It can then use algorithms to create predictive models showing a building’s future value or performance. How much will it cost to run in five years’ time? What will the area look like ten years from now?

Planning space for the future

Inside the building, AI can help architects and interior designers to visualise and map out space. Taking a floor plan, these teams can use AI to suggest optimal layouts according to people flow, sun position and workspace requirements on any given day, as well as scenarios for every permutation of work model. AI can then generate test fits and virtual reality simulations of the office layout – and umpteen future adaptations –before construction begins.

It can also help us optimise energy usage, lower costs and reduce our

carbon footprint – from deciding which walls, design features and furniture items are absolutely necessary (and/or fit for multipurpose) to choosing the most ecofriendly materials and sustainable building practices.

In short, AI can show and recommend how to build, use, grow into, reconfigure and repurpose a building for the years to come – and how to hand it over with the least possible waste.

AI is a cosy and clever addition to the office team

Once the contractors have gone and the occupants are in, AI can make a building so inviting it may lure even the most office-shy worker out of the house.

Firstly, there’s comfort. Smart office tech can customise a workspace according to personal preference and productivity. We’re talking heightmemory desks and automatic controls for temperature, lighting and music. Virtual meeting assistants can set up collaborative whiteboards for teams of remote and in-office workers, then take notes, make suggestions and order coffee along the way.

These digital aids are likely to grow for individuals too, as they’re able to access all our files, trawl heavy data and do the mundane and monotonous without effort or complaint. Tasks like data entry and timesheet submission.

AI offers foresight, flexibility and financial savvy

Aside from adding ambience and convenience, AI tools deliver significant cost savings. Smart sensors can optimise the lighting and heating based on natural light, climate and desk traffic from one day to the next. As AI in buildings will be lowering operational energy, this will make spaces more sustainable.

Intelligent tech can provide a constant cost analysis of office usage – staff movement, weekly activity, seasonal trends – and look at these in relation to energy consumption, market forecasts and supplier quotes to identify both cost-saving opportunities and ways

to adapt the space for now and projected growth.

AI can also predict when office facilities need an update or maintenance check and schedule these tasks. It may not be long before AI-powered robots actually carry out such jobs, along with cleaning or moving furniture to adapt to changing needs.

In terms of security, AI can use biometrics to control both physical and data access. It could even use voice and face recognition to monitor the emotional health and wellbeing of staff, and potentially adjust environmental factors to boost mood and productivity.

AI is not without its challenges, but nor is it optional

On the flip side, AI brings security risks too, with exposure to hacking as well as ethical concerns about surveillance, monitoring and data collection. Companies will need a raft of new policies to address privacy and compliance – and to be proactive with AI training.

But this is all part of running a business. And, like the internet before it, AI is not a nice-to-have. For employers wanting to stay competitive, it’s a must-dosoon whose absence will drive a bigger wedge in the case of home versus office – and company versus company.

The future is a happy and exciting blend

While offices will still be designed and fitted out by people, we see many benefits to using AI at different stages of the process – from selection and design to sustainable build, occupant experience and eventual hand over –thanks to its deeper and faster insights and analytics.

AI can streamline the fit out process, making it more eco-friendly and cost efficient, more customisable and collaborative, and altogether more conducive to employee wellbeing and productivity. Companies can scale without adding headcount and effortlessly adapt their workspace for changing business needs.

Beyond the workspace, we might even share our office data with the wider community for the benefit of all. For example, if we and other office buildings deduce that Wednesdays are a high people-traffic day, we could liaise with local companies, such as transport providers and sandwich shops, who may decide to scale up their services in line with our footfall.

But first things first. We need building infrastructure to catch up with all this tech – and for companies to invest in the notion of office life. For some, it may seem unrealistic to return to the big commute. But, with the right culture and AI capability, we believe the office could be entering a whole new level of water cooler love.

WHO ARE THE REGION’S INNOVATION HEROES?

Not all heroes wear capes... some also have great ideas

The telephone. Chocolate bars. An Aston Martin DB9. Three British innovations which also happen to have been picked as luxury items on BBC’s Desert Island Discs. (Elton John, Dame Kelly Holmes and George Michael respectively, in case you were wondering).

If there’s a point there – bear with me –it’s that these things, to some extent or another, have successfully entered into and transformed our daily lives.

The landscape for innovators is different now. It’s hard to imagine Alexander Graham Bell enrolling on a science park incubator programme or pestering Innovate UK for a grant.

But one thing has remained true – a good idea simply isn’t enough.

In this feature we’ll meet innovators from the south west and west midlands, many of whom have had little formal training in, or contact with the business world prior to pitching their products.

For them particularly, one of the most daunting tasks on the journey to commercial

success has been convincing investors not just of the practical application, but the value and market potential of their ideas.

Because any investor worth their salt has no doubt been burned before by a once promising start-up fizzling out with nothing to show for the time and money poured into their master plan.

Let’s say the investors, with a pinch of cautious optimism, are happy to come aboard for the ride. What can they bring to a fledgling brand? It’s not all blank cheques and pound signs – it’s also publicity, connections, mentors who have been there and done that.

But even the greatest start-up guru will face a new challenge with each new product. Every innovation will target a slightly different market – and some, entirely new markets.

One in a million ideas might be so revolutionary, they’ll sell themselves. For the rest, there’s a whole potential customer base out there who’ll not only need to find this innovative new product but believe in its value to their daily lives.

What separates our heroes from the rest of the pack is their proven ability to land the leaps of faith between drawing board, prototype and commercial product

Sound familiar? It’s not just investors that need convincing – they’re only the start. Even with all the backing in the world, many innovators just can’t bridge that gap to the customer.

What separates our heroes from the rest of the pack is their proven ability to land the leaps of faith between drawing board, prototype and commercial product.

Some have just made the jump, others are successfully finding their footing on the other side – but they all have something brilliant to show the world.

PEEQUAL EQUALS SHORTER FESTIVAL

LOO QUEUES FOR WOMEN

When Hazel McShane, 26, and Amber Probyn, 25, weren’t taking classes at the University of Bristol, they were earning some extra money over the summer working at festivals.

Hazel recalls a moment on her lunch break when she was forced to choose between getting food and going to the loo. Because, as any festivalgoer will know all too well, women typically have to wait up to 34 times longer than men at public toilets.

At the time, Hazel was doing a lot of work on particle physics, but her passion had always been for solving real-world problems. So she went to Amber – who was studying anthropology with innovation – and pitched an idea for cutting down those dreaded queues.

That idea has since evolved into PEEQUAL, the UK’s first ‘squat and go’ urinals which have quickly become a permanent fixture at several major events.

Manufactured in Somerset from a sugar cane biopolymer and recycled ocean plastic, they’re flat packed on to lorries and driven to festivals around the country, including Glastonbury, Green Man and even the London Marathon.

Once on-site, the urinals can be put up by a single person in under 90 seconds and arranged in circles, semi-circles, lines –whatever the space permits. They’re touch free to prevent the spread of germs and open air to allow for ventilation while still maintaining privacy.

And most importantly, they’re three times quicker to use than traditional portable toilets.

“The genie is out the bottle,” said Amber. “Why wouldn’t events that claim they are inclusive, sustainable and gender equal also have PEEQUAL urinals? They’re becoming must-haves.”

Almost four years in, PEEQUAL is booked

“Changing ingrained habits can be hard, but women gave us a chance. Without so many supporting the product we’d be in a different place. It takes an army to make a change”

for 30 events this year alone. Along the way, Amber and Hazel have learned both to weld and drive forklifts – but the greatest challenge was securing that initial backing and effectively ‘learning the language’ of investors.

Their first big break came in 2021, winning £15,000 through the University of Bristol New Enterprise Competition. Coupled with really positive feedback from festival organisers, it was enough to encourage the duo to see the idea through.

funding and mentorship to enterprising start-ups like PEEQUAL.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve had from women wherever we go,” said Hazel.

“Changing ingrained habits can be hard, but women gave us a chance. Without so many supporting the product we’d be in a different place. It takes an army to make a change.

“We’re really proud that women’s urinals are now a permanent fixture at UK events. PEEQUAL has enabled thousands of women to experience a freeing, peeing experience.

They’ve since secured investment from the likes of Monzo founder Tom Blomfield, former Gü COO Sarah Jones, and the Sapphire Capital Partners-backed British Design Fund, which provides

“Shorter queues are here to stay!”

This was the biggest single wastage in the sport’s history, although it’s far from an isolated incident. Even if the Australian Grand Prix had gone ahead, many of those same tyres would’ve been scrapped and burned after the race anyway. The same goes for all 17 races that season.

It’s a fact which has struck a chord with a growing cohort of eco-conscious F1 fans – including 26-year-old Alex Witty from Bath, the man behind sustainable sneaker brand Compound Footwear.

“Our motorsport-inspired sneakers are made using a patented process to combine used race tyre rubber with recycled shoe rubber to create the soles,” Alex explained.

“The uppers are made from waste leather and recycled polyester lining and laces. At the end of their natural life, the sneakers can be recycled into 100 per cent reusable raw materials to make new shoes and products.

A step towards a cleaner, greener future

“Our aim is to avoid the use of virgin fossil fuels and reduce the number of di erent materials that make most sneakers unrecyclable.

SNEAKERS ARE A SHOE-IN ALEX’S SUSTAINABLE WITH MOTORSPORT FANS

“One and a half billion tyres reach the end of their lives every year and 22 billion shoes end up in landfill. We’re looking to address those two waste streams and take a step towards a cleaner, greener future.”

The motorsport industry loves burning rubber – and not just on the track. No more so has that been evident than in March 2020, a month that will ring a bell for all the wrong reasons.

Formula 1 drivers from around the world had assembled in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. They were hours away from starting practice runs when the whole thing was called o in response to the emerging pandemic.

Fans were disappointed, but Pirelli, Formula 1’s o cial tyre partner, was devastated. Because once a tyre has been mounted on its rim, it can’t be safely removed and replaced.

With the cancellation arriving at such short notice, 1,800 tyres had already been mounted ready for the race. To Pirelli, there was no choice – every one of them was shipped back to Didcot to be incinerated.

While F1 bosses were adjusting to the pandemic, Alex was busy studying at the University of Brighton on a fairly unorthodox sustainable product design course.

Because as it turns out, lockdown didn’t just scupper the Australian Grand Prix –it was also just about the worst thing to happen to a degree built around making things.

“Our course leader said that, because of the circumstances, we didn’t need to make anything physical. We could just pitch concepts and digital renders.

“I really didn’t like that approach. So I went on Facebook Marketplace, to B&Q and clearance sales, trying to find

So I went on Facebook Marketplace, to B&Q and clearance sales, trying to find things that could emulate a workshop

things that could emulate a workshop.

“There was an alcove in my room that was just the right size for an industrial workbench. I also bought a bunch of panini presses from our local Lidl for 15 quid.

“I was picking up all this ocean plastic from the marina and melting it into sheet material in the panini presses.

“Which is all good fun,” added Alex, who shared the house with three flatmates, “until you want to make a toasted sandwich.”

With the home workshop up and running, it was soon put to the test. In their second year, the students were asked to design a wearable with a di erence.

Alex is the first to admit he’s no naturalborn fashionista, although he’s always been a fan of good-looking shoes. They were the wearable of choice for his ‘Piezo Project’ – referring to piezoelectric

crystals, which convert mechanical energy into electricity.

The plan was to fit these crystals to a shoe that generated power from footsteps and could charge a phone or smartwatch.

“I thought that was a really fun, wacky idea, like a hamster wheel keeping the lights on. Very Flintstone-esque.

Diving deeper into the world of shoes

“That got me into the footwear space, and I did a lot of research for the whole year on the make-up of shoes, how they’re constructed, what makes it challenging.”

As most of Alex’s peers went o on industry placements, he opted instead for a hybrid entrepreneurial course, spending a few months with London design agency Seymourpowell – all the while tinkering with the Piezo Project and diving deeper into the world of shoes.

That brings us to March 2020. Alex hears of the 1,800 tyres destined for the incinerator, the thousands more scrapped after each race, and wonders where they could be put to better use. After his years of research, the natural solution was Compound Footwear.

So, armed with some business smarts from his third year, Alex launched his company the following February – and soon found himself tackling the usual start-up obstacles.

“The problem with getting something o the ground is that you end up having to do every job.

“I’ve now brought in a very talented finance manager and accountant. In terms of shoe design, I’ve done a lot myself, but hired some fantastic freelance designers.

“The same goes for logistics, manufacturing, EU and customs regulations – all these lovely things that Brexit has brought to my desk.

“One and a half billion tyres reach the end of their lives every year ...”

“I’ve always tried to delegate what I needed to. But I certainly have a vision – as cliched as it is to say – and then it’s just about trying to find the right people to make it happen.”

Like many fledgling businesses, last year the Compound Footwear team turned to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Hopes of overnight virality pushed Alex to set an optimistic funding goal of £40,000.

Now all they had to do was put together some marketing materials. In the meantime, however, the manufacturers were facing major delays.

“We received one pair of shoes about five days before our launch, which meant all our photography and marketing had to be done in those five days.

“I had to dust o the workbench, start cutting out leather panels and sticking them on the old models to try and match the designs that were held up at the factory.

“It was a bit of a botched job, but we did our best and learned a lot from it.”

Although the campaign ended shy of target – meaning the team would see none of the money – it did attract 105 backers, showing clear interest for the product among consumers.

Plus, there was still another avenue to explore in business to business (B2B). Four years prior, Formula 1 had announced its aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and Compound Footwear found themselves ahead of the curve.

Drivers wearing shoes from tyres they race on

“There’s now a noticeable shift towards circularity and sustainability within the sport”, said Alex, “with quite a few very talented and focused individuals pushing for it.

“So our plan this year is B2B first, working with drivers who want to wear shoes made from the very tyres they race on. Doing bespoke orders for teams is a lot more manageable than producing thousands of shoes in di erent sizes for business to consumer.

That’s a lot more manageable for us because we won’t have issues with minimum order quantities and sizing.

“Then we can go and reinvest the profits from B2B sales into stock and a marketing campaign to take a direct-to-customer route next year.”

The brand has also switched manufacturers, with their current Portuguese partners supplying a number of major high street brands.

They’ll be able to handle more complicated and unique designs, so Alex and the team have been back to the drawing board on their two core sneakers – an all-round leather pair for use in the o ce, out driving, or with a suit, and a mesh upper shoe for sport and leisure.

Once the B2B clients are happy with the new designs, they’ll be ready once again to share them with the world. And next time the grand prix is rained o by some force majeure, maybe those tyres will have somewhere else to go.

TOUCHLESS TECH MAKES AN ULTRALEAP FORWARD IN BRISTOL

Extended reality (XR) – that’s virtual, augmented and mixed reality, all wrapped into one – is growing by the day in both scope and utility. From immersive tours to surgical training, these technologies are seeing use across all manner of industries.

But what if you could feel a digital space as though it were really there? Ultraleap reckons it can do just that.

Born from the transatlantic merger of Bristol University spin-out Ultrahaptics and Silicon Valley innovators Leap Motion, the company combines advanced hand tracking with what’s currently the only technology on the market to create the sensation of touch in mid-air.

It uses an array of speakers to transmit ultrasonic waves which stimulate the surface of skin, producing a tactile

sensation. The aim is to do away with the usual clunky hardware of controllers and touchscreens and focus instead on ‘natural interaction’.

Ultraleap also makes the 3Di, which can be hooked up to interactive screens in shopping centres, museums and theme parks. Users are then able to flick through menus with a wave of their hand – think person casting a spell on a fast food order monitor.

Bike security innovators have the market locked down

Hiplok HQ in Leamington Spa is a hive of innovation for the biking world, starting with the world’s first wearable bike lock.

Designers by product designers by trade and cyclists by heart, co-founders Ben Smith and John Abrahams kicked o their business in 2011 launching the Hiplok Original – a sturdy, adjustable chain which can be worn around the waist without locking to the body.

More recently, they’ve turned their attention to the rising threat of angle grinders.

The D1000 contains a graphene-reinforced composite designed to disintegrate the cutting wheels of power tools, enabling the lock to withstand a sustained 90-second attack.

And weighing in at just 1.9kg – comparable to many other locks on the market – its

portability makes it another world-first innovation.

“As the thieves’ weapons of attack improve, it’s imperative we keep one step ahead”, said the duo.

Nowadays, the business employs 150 staff between Bristol and San Fransisco, with CTO-turned-CEO Tom Carter at the helm. Ultrahaptics, as it was then, originally stemmed from Tom’s research into ultrasound technology during his master’s in computer science.

Tom and team have since attracted investment from Mayfair Equity Partners, British Patient Capital and Chinese tech giant Tencent.

“Working with experts in the field and independent security accreditation houses around the world, we conducted real world security testing using the latest equipment.

“The result is quality security products which riders around the world can trust.”

Hiplok has struck up a number of industry partnerships over the years, including with British Blind Sport in 2023.

This August they’ll be cheering on Oscar Kelly and his guide Charlie Harding in Paris to compete in the para-triathlon.

MORE SPACE IS NEEDED FOR LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES TO THRIVE

The commercial property sector needs to build more lab space for ambitious life sciences companies to scale up

In 2022, there were 6,850 life sciences companies operating in the UK, together generating more than £108 billion in turnover.

And if the UK is to become the science superpower the government wants, there must enough laboratory space for more of them to launch, thrive and grow.

A big opportunity for the commercial property sector, then. As demand for research laboratories and, to a slightly lesser extent, life sciences manufacturing facilities rises, more developments are getting investment and construction is ramping up.

Demand in many areas is expanding

The south east continues to have the UK’s highest share of both life sciences industry employment and turnover, accounting for 23 per cent of total employment and 30 per cent of total turnover in 2021-22, according to a report published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry last December.

But other regions around the UK, notably in the West Midlands, Birmingham and Bristol, are catching up.

In fact, demand in many areas is expanding more quickly than developers can build.

According to Ben Green, Director at commercial property company Eddisons: “Before the pandemic, there was a

real shortage but since then there has been substantial investment and a spurt of development which is now coming through.”

And what has been completed is being taken up immediately, he adds. Ben cites a raft of laboratory developments across Cambridgeshire, where he’s based.

Most recently, in March, experienced investor-developer Bruntwood SciTech got the green light for its proposed £250 million Melborn Science Park.

And there are significant developments already under way at the other end of the “Golden Triangle” in Oxfordshire. Drive along the A40 into Oxford and, at Wolvercote, the landscape is changing fast. This major new development being undertaken by Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, will see a completely new life sciences and innovation district for the city. The joint venture between Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan will invest around £700 million to deliver 939,000 sq ft of laboratory and workspace along with residential space, amenities and infrastructure.

Across the city, The Oxford Science Park has started work on building three new office and laboratory buildings to the west side of the park.

Elsewhere around the city, Begbroke Science Park is expanding with two new buildings for office and laboratory space,

and Oxford University Developments is consulting local councils on a 190-hectare site, five miles north of Oxford, for a new Begbroke Innovation District.

ARC Oxford (The Advanced Research Clusters Group, a UK network of science and innovation clusters), is creating a science campus at Garsington, Oxford. Property investment and development company MEPC has recently started on a £40 million research and development scheme at its huge Milton Park science and technology campus near Didcot. The 80,000 sq ft development will combine high-tech, flexible R&D spaces with offices.

Even former department stores have their uses

Even Oxford’s former Debenhams department store looks like it will become a life sciences hub too. Property developer Pioneer Group is reportedly close to sealing a £30 million deal on the building for a 175 year-long lease on the building is close to completion.

At Culham Campus, near Abingdon, the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority is building a £40 million science and engineering and office complex, scheduled to be finished this year, while at Harwell Campus, more than one million sq ft of projects are currently under development or have been completed. By 2027, the campus will have delivered more than 1.5 million sq ft of labs, offices and advanced manufacturing space alongside a new hotel, conference centre, homes and amenities.

“We needed separate lab space and support from those operating between academia and the commercial world”

And property investor Kadens is building new laboratory space at Abingdon Science Park.

But the laboratory development bonanza isn’t restricted to the Golden Triangle. The Midlands is home to the largest cluster of health/med tech companies in the UK.

The region’s health and life sciences supercluster generates an estimated £20.5 billion GVA per annum. And more than half of recent foreign direct investment into high growth firms in the UK life sciences sector were made in the Midlands, according to the Midlands Engine Pan-Regional pPrtnership.

Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC), in the heart of the city’s critical cluster of health excellence, is being developed through a long-term collaboration between the university and Bruntwood SciTech.

Bristol University is working with the city’s deep tech support organisation Science Creates on a major £8.5 million new incubator in the heart of the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. This will be

Science Creates’ third deep tech incubator with the university.

Science entrepreneur Dr Harry Destecroix, founder of Science Creates, said: “We have been working with the University of Bristol to help improve the conditions for deep tech spin-outs for nearly a decade.”

Hampshire’s life science sector has also grown significantly over the last five years. More than 150 life science companies are based in the region, many at Southampton Science Park.

Government support for life science sector

Discovery Park, Kent, the thriving life sciences and technology science park near Sandwich is another of the UK’s most important science parks and home not only to global pharma company Pfizer’s UK base, but also to more than 160 start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses –from bio-techs to healthcare, technology, professional services and more.

The science park covers more than 220 acres and is also home to a Barclays

Eagle Lab, one of the UK’s largest coworking and incubator networks for young companies.

And the government is supporting this expansion of science facilities. Last year it announced funding of £103 million to help upgrade the UK’s research infrastructure.

Locations to benefit include Cambridge, Bristol, Warwick and Southampton.

This is good not only for the construction sector building the laboratories, but for the life sciences companies themselves. More dedicated lab space for start-ups means that they can focus on their research.

Letting scientists focus on their research

Bristol’s Science Creates founder Harry Destecroix founded the deep science startup incubator because he’d struggled to find lab space for his biotech start-up Ziylo, which he sold in 2018. If Ziylo’s discovery fulfils its potential to improve the lives of millions of diabetes sufferers around the world, the deal could eventually be worth upwards of $800 million.

“We couldn’t find anywhere for Ziylo to grow. We had nowhere to put the company, we were paying a lot for the lab space at Bristol university, and we wondered – how do we commercialise the technology and give it back to the world?

“We needed separate lab space and support from those operating between academia and the commercial world,” Harry added.

So even while developing Ziylo as a start-up, Harry also designed his own incubator.

“We found a building in Bristol, hired an architect who we still work with, and designed our own research facility on Albert Road.”

Eight years on and the commercial property sector has recognised the value in creating new laboratory and manufacturing space for the life sciences sector, so it doesn’t have to be left to science entrepreneurs like Harry to do it themselves.

COUNCIL SET TO APPROVE MIRA TECH PARK'S SOUTH SITE EXPANSION

The expansion of MIRA Technology Park’s South Site near Nuneaton, which will deliver 2.3 million sq ft of large scale manufacturing and industrial facilities, has been unanimously approved by local councils.

The site will deliver a high-quality development alongside the extensive research and development facilities and campus already operating at the park.

This major expansion is expected to create 2,500 skilled jobs and will be supported by a major investment in power and road infrastructure. Building sizes will range from 250,000 sq ft to suit tenant requirements.

Tim Nathan, Managing Director of MIRA Technology Park, said: "This is a key milestone unlocking the next phase of this long-term project which will further establish MIRA Tech Park as a globally attractive location and UK national asset.”

The concept for MIRA Technology Park was announced in 2010. It was to be a national automotive centre of excellence.

Given Enterprise Zone status by the government the following year, it has since secured multi million pound investment for

new infrastructure, and many automotive companies have taken space there.

What sets the new South Site apart is the integration with its established sister site. The whole site is now a highly strategic development in the Midlands Engine.

As part of the larger MIRA cluster, the South Site enjoys the benefits of the existing Tech Park planning consent and infrastructure investment, to grow to an impressive four million sq ft on completion.

This expansion presents opportunities for large-scale advanced manufacturing in next-generation mobility and cleantech technologies. Construction should begin next year.

The joint venture project will be delivered by Evans Randall Investors alongside Swanvale Developments. Cushman & Wakefield are the appointed leasing agents for the South Site. Masterplans have been drawn up by Stephen George + Partners and Stantec has provided planning consultancy for the project.

Final planning consent is subject to confirmation on section 106 and Highways final approval.

Stoford begins roadworks at Worcester Six Business Park

Commercial property developer

Stoford has begun enabling works at Worcester Six Business Park, to unlock more than 60 acres of development land.

The company is building an extension to the southern estate road, linking the existing business park to a new access point on to the B4636 Newtown Road.

Stoford has appointed Worcesterbased firm, Montel Civil Engineering, to deliver the road and infrastructure works, which are expected to be complete this autumn.

The extension of Worcester Six is part of a long-term development strategy and is included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan. Once complete, phase two will deliver up to a further 680,000 sq ft of new employment accommodation on around 60 acres of land.

Cllr Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “I am pleased to welcome further development to the Worcester Six Business Park, where local jobs are being created. We are continuing to work with our district council and wider partners to bring the site forwards and ensure it remains a high quality location for businesses to thrive in. The site has seen significant investment from inside and outside the country, and this latest stage of development will help to ensure we can continue to meet the current demand from companies who are looking to use the site to expand and grow.”

Midlands science park “one of Europe’s best”

A Midlands science park, which is home to dozens of innovative companies, has been named as one of the best in Europe for helping start-ups thrive.

The University of Warwick Science Park has been identified as one of Europe’s leading start-up hubs in the inaugural edition of The Financial Times’ ‘Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs Special Report.’

It is the only Science Park in the UK to be included in the list.

The report is based on research undertaken by the FT and global data and business intelligence specialists Statista.

They interviewed thousands of companies to find the best 125 for accelerator and incubator programmes in Europe, and used a combination of independent desk research, surveys of alumni and peers, and public calls for participation to create the report.

The news comes as the science park marks its 40th anniversary, with its first site at the Venture Centre off Sir William Lyons Road having been opened by Margaret Thatcher in 1984.

Mark Tock, Chief Operating Officer at the park, said: “It’s clear recognition of the strength of the support we give to all sorts of start-ups.”

The inclusion of the science park in the top tier of European business hubs highlights a 40-year history of success for start-ups there.

Support for young businesses include the Ignite Incubator programme which has seen more than 700 companies access affordable office and lab space, high-growth and innovation programmes such as Business Ready, and the Minerva Business Angel Network which helps startups attract investment.

The park’s link with the University of Warwick allows start-ups to benefit from access to world-class talent and research facilities and expertise.

SIEMENS TO INVEST £100M IN NEW CHIPPENHAM R&D CENTRE

Siemens Mobility is to invest £100 million in a new manufacturing and R&D centre in Chippenham.

The facility will replace the company’s current Chippenham factory, where for years workers have designed, manufactured and delivered signalling and control systems for networks across the country.

It’s expected to open by 2026 as around 800 skilled roles transition to the new site with no interruption in production.

Rob Morris, joint CEO of Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, said: “This investment is a strong commitment to Chippenham and our country.

“Siemens Mobility’s Chippenham site,

along with our 30 sites across the country, has been transforming rail, travel and transport in Britain.

“We’re very excited to soon start construction of one of the most sophisticated rail factories, digital engineering and R&D sites in the UK.”

The announcement comes in the wake of the government’s advanced manufacturing plan, published last year alongside a £4.5 billion investment pledge to ensure that the UK continues to lead the development and deployment of digital manufacturing technologies.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt added: “This new commitment from Siemens is a big boost for Britain’s world-class manufacturing sector.”

HOUSEBUILDER POWERED BY VEGETABLE OIL

Gloucestershire housebuilder Newland Homes has reduced its operational carbon emissions by almost 50 per cent in a year.

Newland Homes’ energy use and greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 475.70 tonnes of CO2 in 2022 to 241.59 tonnes last year, the equivalent of 1,801 oneway flights between London and Edinburgh.

The greatest savings have been achieved by switching all site machinery to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and phasing out diesel.

HVO is a 100 per cent renewable and sustainable biofuel derived from waste vegetable oils and fats. It produces fewer particulates than fossil diesel, so is better for the environment and air quality. Around 80 per cent of Newland Homes’

car fleet is now fully electric, and fossil fuel heating in the company’s zero carbon homes has been replaced with renewable energy sources, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels with battery storage. Further initiatives are planned to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

Tim Sergeant, Corporate Services Director for Newland Homes, said: “As a private company committed to environmental stewardship, we recognise that reducing carbon emissions isn’t just a responsibility, it’s an imperative.”

The Gloucestershire company has approximately 200 zero carbon homes underway or in the pipeline across the South West, including affordable properties for those most at risk of fuel poverty.

The Francis Hotel in Bath destined for £13m renovation

The Sutton Hotel Collection has announced a £13 million refurbishment of The Francis Hotel on Queen Square, Bath. The work is due to begin in July.

Led by London interior design company 3DReid, the renovation is set to include a full revamp to all 98 bedrooms and suites, reconfiguration of the hotel’s lobby, a new restaurant, and the addition of a dedicated spa and snug.

Towards the end of the programme, a new thermal spa and three treatment rooms will be created, tapping into Bath’s ambition to be the UK’s number one city for wellbeing.

It’s hoped the refurbishment will attract both domestic, international leisure and business tourists.

Shaun Bowles, cluster general manager of The Francis Hotel, Bath, said: “Our vision is to create something incredibly special in the heart of Bath that offers truly personalised experiences to guests.

“Our location is already one of the best in the city”

The Sutton Hotel Collection also includes The Castle Hotel, Windsor and The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham.

Hobbs House Bakery rises to the occasion

A 100-year-old family bakery has expanded to a new headquarters in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire.

West of England Mayor Dan Norris officially opened the new site, which takes Hobbs House Bakery’s head office from 20,000 to 30,000 sq ft.

Jenny Greenway, Hobbs House Bakery’s head of people and culture, explained how the move will enable the bakery to serve even more hungry customers at its locations in Bristol and Chipping Sodbury.

Hobbs House Bakery also offers apprenticeships to local individuals and is signed up to the West of England Good Employment Charter.

The family-owned firm provides dedicated wellbeing support alongside group yoga and staff football – plus a unique scheme offering baby hampers to working mums and dads.

Mayor Norris said: “There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread.

“I’m pleased that thanks to this revamp, more locals will get to enjoy delicious bakes and cakes of the highest quality from this much-loved, family-owned West of England firm.”

WHITBREAD AND OLYMPIAN HOMES TO REDEVELOP LANDMARK BRISTOL HOTEL

Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, and its development partner Olympian Homes have secured planning consent from Bristol City Council to redevelop the site of the Bristol City Centre (Haymarket) Premier Inn.

The consented plans will see the 20-storey 1970’s building redeveloped to create two new buildings providing 132 co-living homes and 442 purpose-built student accommodation bedrooms.

The footprint of these buildings – of 18 and 28 storeys – would occupy one third of the current site with the remaining two-thirds of the site’s ground floor being public open space.

Richard Pearson, Development Manager for Whitbread, said: “The Bristol City Centre Premier Inn has reached the end of its operational life. Constructed in the early 1970’s, the building now requires substantial investment to meet our current brand and sustainability standards. We are also fortunate in having another Premier Inn hotel serving the same city centre catchment. By redeveloping the site into student

accommodation and co-living homes we can realise the true potential of the gateway location at the same time as releasing capital back into the business to invest in our growing estate.”

Olympian Homes appointed RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architect Hodder+Partners to design the scheme alongside landscape designers McGregor Coxall.

Oliver d’Erlanger, Associate Director at Olympian Homes, said: “This development has been three years in the making and I would like to thank councillors and Bristol City Council Officers for their proactive engagement in the design and planning of the new development.

“The development will replace a very tired building with the most elegant, tall building in Bristol, and will transform the public realm”

Hat-trick for Barberry as developer seals another land deal

Stourbridge commercial property developer and investor Barberry has acquired a West Midlands warehouse development site – the third completed since the start of the year.

Barberry has bought the last remaining plot at Tournament Fields Business Park in Warwick. The company plans to deliver a 80,000 sq ft Grade A distribution and logistics unit on the site after buying the land for an undisclosed sum.

Barberry, a leading mid-box industrial unit developer, exchanged and completed the purchase within 10 working days of instructing solicitors, according to development director Jon Robinson.

“Our acquisition of an excellent site at Tournament Fields Business Park is the latest significant investment by Barberry, and the third to be completed in the first three months of 2024.

“The development of a best-in-class 80,000 sq ft unit will help to address the ongoing shortage of new, high quality industrial accommodation in the West Midlands.

“New buildings such as this help to create the quality accommodation that local, regional and national businesses need in order to expand their operations within the Midlands, delivering new jobs and attracting investment,” added Jon.

Plans approved for Greenlight Urban’s Redditch industrial/logistics scheme

Greenlight – a logistics joint venture between Coltham and Delancey client funds – has obtained a resolution to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of an existing manufacturing complex in Redditch, Worcestershire.

A pre-let to retain existing occupier Honeywell has also been secured.

This retention of Honeywell’s existing

building, which is being fully refurbished, reduces embodied carbon emissions by retaining the structure of the building and introduces photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps to remove reliance on natural gas within their operation.

Mark Enderby, Director of Development at Delancey, said: “We are thrilled to secure Honeywell, a firm which is dedicated to driving technological transformation

for a sustainable future, to Greenlight Redditch. We are already in talks with other companies on the scheme looking for highly sustainable mid-box industrial accommodation in the area.”

Simon Pursey, Partner at Coltham, said: “Greenlight is leading the way in developing outstanding, mid-box assets with first class ESG credentials, and we’re delighted that Honeywell has recognised this.”

HOTELS COOL 10

What do you want from a hotel?

We pick the coolest hotels for business or pleasure

A comfy bed is a given, a good breakfast too. But less of a home-away-from-home, more of the home you wish you had (or could afford).

Glorious luxury for a few days away is what these hotels offer, for business or for pleasure, along with large dollops of history in most cases. We had difficulty picking just 10 – across the region there are literally dozens of amazing hotels we could have chosen.

The Bull, Burford

“A gorgeously appointed jet-set bucolic boutique hostelry with 18 beautiful rooms …. Saatchi-worthy artwork, deliciously cocooning bed linen and at least four premium dining options.”

So says a review on this hotel’s website. It’s also got an underground poker room. Which is rather cool in such a traditional Cotswold town.

The New Inn, Coln-St-Aldwyns

A 16th-century coaching inn set in a gorgeous Cotswold village with 15 luxurious en-suite bedrooms. Owned since 2020 by Baz (Henriques) and Fred (Hicks), the hugely successful pizzamaking duo who made The New Inn their first hotel investment. They’ve since bought The Stump at Foss Cross near Cirencester.

Artist Residence, Bristol

St Paul’s in Bristol, minutes away from the city centre, is the location for this very cool hotel. A Georgian townhouse and former boot factory has been redesigned with really cool vibes. And with rooms light heartedly called the Broom Cupboard, boot Factory and Club Suite, you can’t complain about being misinformed about the size of your sleeping quarters, large and small. There are also Artist Residences in Oxfordshire, Cornwall, London and Bristol.

Number Thirty Eight Clifton, Bristol

There are just 12 rooms in this refurbished Georgian merchant’s house in the exclusive Clifton neighbourhood overlooking the city.

It has panoramic city views from the rear of the building and the glorious expansive Clifton Downs to the front.

Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, Worcester

A glorious Grade II listed building, with 70 bedrooms and gorgeous gardens, part of the Handpicked Hotels chain.

Whatley Manor, Malmesbury

Earlier this year, Whatley Manor Hotel announced that it was the UK’s first climate positive hotel and spa, and if that’s not a cool claim, we don’t know what is. This beautiful hotel opened in July 2003 with just 23 bedrooms and the dry stone wall along its regal lime tree-lined drive took two men a year to build using 90,000 handcut stones.

Woolley Grange, Bradford- on-Avon

Built in 1665 for Francis Randolph, Woolley Grange was sold to the Baskerville family in 1726. Both families had made their fortunes in the region’s wool trade. It has since been an antenatal hospital and an ambulance station for the early NHS. In 1988 it was bought by Luxury Family Hotels, a family focused hotel group that has four other properties within its portfolio across the south of England.

Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo Coventry opened in January after the completion of a multi-million pound project. The stunning boutique new-build property is part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, and draws on the history, rhythm and pulse of the city of Coventry.

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Coombe Abbey has o ered a bed to royals, been part of the Gunpowder Plot and was surrendered to King Henry VIII as part of the dissolution of the monasteries.

It’s been owned by Coventry City Council since 1964 and after vital restoration, was opened as an hotel in 1995, managed by the No Ordinary Hospitality group. Recent investment in the hotel has included a 1950s themed dessert parlour and party room.

Cowley Manor, Cheltenham

This hotel was, apparently, once owned by the kings of England. It was exchanged by Edward the Confessor for the land on which he built Westminster Abbey. It was also the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland (so they say locally).

It’s also been a council-owned outwardbound and conference centre and a nursing home. In 2022 it was bought by the French-owned Experimental Group. The Grade II listed property in lovely grounds now has 31 bedrooms and a spa.

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