Region has "outperformed the rest of the UK" in economic growth

“We cannot be complacent but all the data coming out of businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire suggests it is stronger than most other regions to deal with the Brexit fall-out.”

Coventry and Warwickshire is in a strong position to meet the economic fall-out of Brexit after emerging as one of the fastest growing regions since the recession a decade ago.

That was the message at the Chamber Means Business event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in in Coventry, organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

The new event, which will deliver the latest business insight to firms across the region on a quarterly basis, heard from Dave Ayton-Hill, the Economy and Group Skills Manager at Warwickshire County Council.

Mr Ayton-Hill said the potential economic storm clouds on the horizon in 2019 had subdued confidence slightly but that the majority of firms in both manufacturing and services were positive about the future.

He said: “Since the recession a decade ago, Coventry and Warwickshire has outperformed the rest of the UK when it comes to economic growth. Many might say that is all because of the Jaguar Land Rover effect, but even when we strip that away from the numbers, the region has still seen strong growth.

“The forecasts for global growth are weaker for several reasons. There is a slowdown in China, the automotive sector is suffering from the diesel crisis and Brexit is going to have an impact.

“Until we know what Brexit is going to look like and whether it is going to be orderly or messy, we won’t know the full extent of what that impact is going to be. So we cannot be complacent but all the data coming out of businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire suggests it is stronger than most other regions to deal with the fall-out.”

Sport, leisure and culture will play a key role in the region’s economic growth in the coming years and Jonathan Hunt, from Coventry City Council, revealed that £100 million of sport and leisure facilities are being opened in Coventry during 2019. That will be followed by UK City of Culture in 2021 and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

Chris Nagle, events and marketing manager at the Chamber, said: “Chamber Means Business is a new format for an event that we have introduced for 2019. It’s a chance for businesses to network but also hear the latest insights into the economy and developments in the region. We had a great mix of speakers who all gave a very positive message about Coventry and Warwickshire."