In summary
We will remain busy with events into the summer with networking events including our in-person in Coventry breakfast and our virtual Solihull networking taking place during August. Please do join us at one of these events. Following the outcome of the general election we also look forward to meeting and engaging with new and returning MPs across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull over the next few months to outline key local issues and themes within our General Election Manifesto.
Featured news and events
Low Pay Commission regional visits 2024 – Your chance to be heard
Low Pay Commissioners (LPC) will be meeting workers and businesses across the UK, on six regional visits. Locations have been selected based on their minimum wage coverage and unemployment levels. The aim of these visits is to listen to a diverse range of people from across the UK and visit locations they have not been to before or recently. They are looking to ascertain how businesses have responded to the rising National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), other factors which affect businesses alongside the minimum wage, views on compliance and enforcement of the NMW and NLW and how businesses are raising their productivity. Commissioners will be visiting Coventry/Wolverhampton – 31 July/1 August. This is your chance to let Government know how your business is affected. If you would like to participate and meet the Commissioners, email: [email protected] or call 07511 162 380.
Solihull and Birmingham Virtual Networking
We are delighted to invite you to join us for our virtual networking for small business owners in and around Birmingham and Solihull. This is an opportunity to connect with other local entrepreneurs online on the first Thursday of each month. Book here.
In other news
Free road to rail event for West Midlands businesses
A free event to give West Midlands businesses an opportunity to become involved in changing the way people travel is to be staged in July. Road to Rail: Supply Chains for the Future of Light Vehicle Manufacturing has been organised by C&W Business Solutions, alongside partners the West Midlands Growth Company and the Finditin Network. The online session between 10.30am and noon on Wednesday 10 July is designed to help SMEs across the region to develop an understanding of the emerging technologies required for the future of light vehicle manufacturing. Register here.
New shopping venture to be launched at Fargo Village in Coventry
A new shopping venture will be launched at Coventry’s innovative Creative Quarter to attract independent businesses as part of its tenth anniversary. Fargo Village has announced Indie Mart – will be unveiled in the Market Hall in September. This will involve up to 60 small independent makers and curators selling from space on the shop floor while not having to be physically present. Traders making suitable items, creative and crafted goods, gifts, vintage or handmade clothing and furniture can request a trader pack and application form to join Indie Mart from [email protected]
Still in the news
Help Cash Access UK understand the cash needs of small businesses
Cash Access UK is a not-for-profit company who provide cash and basic banking services in communities across the UK. In order to support businesses to continue to accept cash from their customers, Cash Access UK have commenced a trial of multi-bank deposit taking ATMs, designed to enable small businesses to pay in cash to their account at a time and location convenient to them.
The new machines are accessible during extended opening hours and enable customers to pay in up to 100 notes / £5000 per transaction, with customers able to undertake multiple transactions if required. Initially the service is available to customers of Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland. CAUK is also looking to develop a coin deposit facility to expand the service before the end of the year. The service is free to use, subject to any service charges already in place between customers and their bank, and a machine can be accessed in Atherstone.
If you use the new deposit ATM Cash Access UK are keen to hear how the service was for you. Please email them with feedback [email protected]
They would also like to hear from FSB members to help them to better understand the cash needs of small businesses by completing this short survey.
More news and activity near you
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for Warwickshire and Coventry is Lee Osbourne. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on x: @FSBWarksandCov
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.Coventry.Warwickshire
- connect with me on LinkedIn: Lee Osborne