Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - Rugby
Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Coventry is on the up! talk with some of these companies with Taiwo Owatemi in the room and to offer solutions. “That said, I think it’s really important to also recognise that Coventry has a huge amount going for it and has seen so much positive change in recent years, even in the face of Covid. “We held the meeting at the Charterhouse, which is a fantastic example of how the city is bringing some of its historic buildings back to life. Coventry is really getting it right from that point of view. “There are also exciting things happening up at the CBS Arena, where Harry Styles sold out two nights in May. MP Taiwo Owatemi meets the Coventry branch of the Chamber of Commerce
The future is bright for Coventry, a recent Chamber meeting has heard. Corin Crane, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, was speaking at the Chamber’s Coventry branch meeting at the newly reopened Charterhouse in the city. The meeting, which was attended by Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi and representatives from Coventry City Council as well as a cross section of businesses in the city, heard some of the issues facing firms which are holding back growth.
They ranged from recruitment problems through to high inflation, energy prices and interest rates. Crane said that it was vital for those issues to be addressed by Government but that there is a great deal to be positive about in Coventry. He said: “It’s always great to hear from businesses and our Coventry branch focusses specifically on companies in the city, which helps us to understand where the real issues lie locally. “There’s no doubt that businesses are still struggling to recruit and are managing increased costs. It was an opportunity to
“On top of that, we are at the cutting edge of manufacturing and technology in this area. “So, while it’s our job as a Chamber to ensure that decision-makers at a local, regional and national level understand some of the issues our businesses are facing, I think we also have to shout about the positives in our region and there are many of those in Coventry.” Taiwo Owatemi MP said: “Businesses are facing some real challenges and it was great to meet and talk those through.
“Whether it’s a workforce issue – in terms of recruitment and retention – through to the need for stability in the economy, it’s important to hear from companies on the ground in Coventry.” Tim Squires, the chair of the Chamber’s Coventry branch, added: “There was an excellent breadth of businesses at the meeting – from manufacturing through to technology – and that helps to ensure we hear from all areas of the local economy. “It’s been a tough few years being in business and, therefore, it is vital that we keep listening to local companies and feeding their issues back to Government.” Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce hosts quarterly meetings in each of its five Branch regions Coventry, Rugby, North Warwickshire, Mid Warwickshire and South Warwickshire - which are open to all Chamber Members to attend. The Chamber’s Branch Network provides businesses with the ideal space to learn about and debate business challenges and opportunities facing their locality.
To find out more about forthcoming meetings, head to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/chamber-branches/ or contact Sean Rose, Head of Policy, on seanr@cw-chamber.co.uk
Rugby needs to find a business balance The importance of Rugby promoting its strengths in logistics while balancing the need to attract and develop other sectors were among the topics discussed at a recent branch meeting.
“There are around 20 large-scale businesses based in Rugby, with around 5,000 businesses in all. And while plenty do engage, I think we could be networking better.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Rugby branch met at Rugby College, part of college group WCG, to discuss the various issues affecting businesses in the town and wider borough such as the need to diversify away from logistics, the skills gap, and the future of the town centre.
“It’s clear that when public sector, private sector, and education are all of one mind, achieving mutual goals such as finding employment land and upskilling our people becomes that much easier.”
MP for Rugby and Bulkington, Mark Pawsey, addressed the meeting by explaining his role as chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Manufacturing and how the sector is faring both nationally and in Rugby. He said: “Rugby’s location is its strength. We’re right in the middle of the motorway network so it is the perfect place for logistics. As a consequence, a large number of distribution warehouses have been developed by national and international businesses. “But we also need to see manufacturing increase here so that we can fill these warehouses with local products, rather than items from overseas.
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Sean Rose, Head of Policy at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the issues raised underlined the importance of the Chamber’s new Employment Land report that highlights the need for more space for businesses to grow. The Chamber’s Rugby branch met Mark Pawsey at Rugby College
“We have incredible organisations such as the Manufacturing Technology Centre in our borough which is imparting its knowledge onto lots of manufacturing SMEs to move them forward and develop the technologies of the future. “However, there are still challenges such as encouraging young people into the sector and bringing forward land so that these successful businesses are able to grow and expand.”
Karen Yeomans, Senior Economic Development Officer at Rugby Borough Council, explained how she is producing an Action Plan for economic growth in the borough and the importance of collaboration. She said: “While the strategic demand for logistics companies is clear, the need to diversify is also very important. That applies to existing businesses in the borough as well as business looking to set up here.
He said: “Many of the issues affecting Rugby businesses at this time are similar to those that face businesses across the whole of our region – including a lack of supply of employment land. “Our recently launched Employment Land Report details the situation on the ground and is creating a dialogue between businesses, land experts, and policy makers. “This meeting made it clear that a cohesive strategy in Rugby will be vital for the borough’s future, and the report should go some way to help make that happen.”
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