County will get major boost from Coventry's City of Culture status
Warwickshire shared the celebrations when Coventry was named the 2021 UK City of Culture last month - and businesses across the county will share the economic impetus from the accolade in the years ahead.
When Coventry came up trumps on that momentous night in December, their bid team was quick to voice their appreciation of support received from beyond the city boundary. Support from the wider region was absolutely crucial to Coventry winning, a point that was specifically mentioned in the judges' feedback.
Warwickshire played a significant part in that support, providing ongoing backing for the bid which culminated in a prestige event at Warwick Castle.
Now the serious planning starts, not just for what will happen in 2021 but events in the lead-up to it with Warwickshire's economy sure to receive a major boost from increased tourism and investment.
Evidence from Liverpool, which was European Capital of Culture in 2008, showed a 34 per cent rise in visitors to the region, generating a direct spend of £754 million. Hull, the UK City of Culture in 2017, has received a commensurately huge lift in profile.
For Warwickshire, the years around 2021 amount to a fantastic opportunity, believes Mark Ryder, head of transport and economy at Warwickshire County Council.
"For Coventry to win the bid was just brilliant," he said "Brilliant for Coventry and also for the wider region including us in Warwickshire.
"Coventry's bid fully-deserved to win. It was a really well-researched, evidence-based bid which we were proud to support.
"Now, as the dust settles, the planning gets underway. There is a lot for the bid team to do, of course, so we have just said to them that we are ready to get involved again whenever they want our input.
"In the meantime, we will think about what we can do in Warwickshire. We have such a culture-rich county, there is massive potential and we want to ensure that every corner of Warwickshire, north, south, east and west, shares the benefit."
More good news for the region arrived when Birmingham was named as host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Jonathan Browning, chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Following hot on the heels of Coventry winning the bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021, it is great news our area will be very much involved in Birmingham being the Host City for the Commonwealth Games just 12 months later.
“We will be further building on our national and international profile since netball will take place at the Ericsson Indoor Arena at the Ricoh Arena and lawn bowls at Victoria Park in Leamington which will attract thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe to Coventry and Warwickshire."