Warwickshire Investment Partnership - Case studies
Case Studies for Warwickshire Investment Partnership
BMW - Plant at Ham's Hall
The the state-of-the-art engine production facility that opened in 2001 was the first BMW engine plant to be built outside Germany and Austria.
Located in North Warwickshire, the plant has established itself as an increasingly important part of the BMW Group’s international production network as the centre of competence for production of all four-cylinder petrol engines for both BMW and MINI vehicles.
The facility employs people from across the West Midlands, and around half of current output goes to the MINI plant in Oxford. The other engines are exported to BMW vehicle assembly plants in Germany, Austria and South Africa.
Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is a Public Body funded by the agriculture and horticulture industries through statutory levies. Their role is to help improve the efficiency and competitiveness of various agriculture and horticulture sectors within the UK.
AHDB restructured and relocated to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire during 2008-9. "We extend our thanks to Warwickshire Investment Partnership for the professional help and support we received during that period," said AHDB Chairman John Bridge. “We are pleased to be one of many progressive organisations to have chosen Warwickshire as our operational base. The central location and excellent road and rail infrastructure helps us to attract high calibre staff from a wide catchment area – and we are equally well placed to access and serve the interests of our levy payers, who are based across the length and breadth of the UK.”
Valpak
Valpak is the UK’s largest environmental compliance scheme, managing the recycling obligations of more than 3,500 UK businesses, under producer responsibility laws. They sought the help and advice of Warwickshire Investment Partnership prior to their move from central London to the Midlands in 2003.
The growth of the business had meant they had too many employees for the size of their London office. The cost of renting larger offices in there was prohibitive so they took the decision to relocate to Stratford-upon-Avon - "By moving to Stratford Business Park, we reduced our operating costs, and were able to expand more efficiently."
"Warwickshire’s central location and excellent transport links make it easily accessible from all parts of the UK, allowing our staff and members to travel easily to and from our head office", they said.
Valpak has now been based in Stratford for a number years, and the employees working from there have increased from 70 to over 100. They commented that, "We are continually expanding and contributing to the local economy, and hope to remain one of Warwickshire’s most successful businesses."
