July 2015

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Be proud of Warwickshire - a small county with a global reputation

The LeaderThis is an exciting time for Warwickshire's business community and I hope you enjoy reading about it here in our bi-monthly update. 

In terms of square miles, Warwickshire is relatively small, but the county's reputation as a place brimming with skill and innovation is global.

That was brought home to me recently when I attended the Coventry and Warwickshire Showcase event, organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board, at The Shard in London. I was delighted to hear Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, say that Coventry and Warwickshire’s unique strengths have been a key factor in driving his company forward.

This region, he said, is a centre for over 400 advanced manufacturing and engineering companies within an hour’s drive from 15 universities, producing 100,000 graduates each year and "that is a success story that would be the envy of any region anywhere in the world."

That was music to my ears because Warwickshire County Council is committed to making Warwickshire the business centre of choice with an economy which provides quality jobs and unlocks entrepreneurism and innovation.

We are constantly working towards that objective and it helps that there are so many entrepreneurial skills to work with in Warwickshire. There are many recent and ongoing examples of our county's buoyancy and commitment to future growth.

A recent UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Inward Investment Report revealed that Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) ranked second in the country for new jobs by employment through foreign investment. 'Silicon Spa' again took honours at the recent Gaming Awards. Aston Martin, another local firm with a global reputation, has backed Warwickshire County Council's employability charter. Warwickshire College Group will soon open a fantastic new apprenticeship centre built to meet huge demand for the training of engineering apprentices.

There is no room for complacency, of course. As our economics blog, the Warwickshire Outlook, points out, Warwickshire's economy still has significant scope for growth and we, along with the rest of the country, need to address 'the productivity challenge.'

I am confident this will happen because there is so much going on to promote economic growth and productivity in Warwickshire. And so much to be proud of. On a global scale.

Of course, there is an extra reason why people from all over the world will be visiting Warwickshire later this year. In September and October the UK will host the Rugby World Cup, an event which will pump an estimated £2.2 billion into the country's economy with more than half a million visitors generating £869 million of expenditure. It is wonderful that the organisers have awarded the town of Rugby, where the sport originated, unique 'Proud Home' status equivalent to the 11 cities which will host games.

Our story in this newsletter about PDK Exhibitions, a small company in Long Marston whose skills are at the heart of preparations at Twickenham, the home of the great tournament, shows the benefits are being felt long before the World Cup begins. PDK have also received a micro enterprise grant from the Rural Growth Network, which will help take the business even further forward.

I am sure that Rugby, and the county of Warwickshire as a whole, will offer the warmest of welcomes to visitors from around the world. Just one more reason to be proud!

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