Welcome from Cllr Izzi Seccombe

Welcome to the first Warwickshire Means Business of 2016.

I hope that 2016 began well for you and I wish you a prosperous year ahead.

We have started the year with the good news that the prosperity of Warwickshire's residents remains among above the national average - and among the highest in the Midlands.

Many factors lie behind this and high among them is the continuing growth of the county as an industrial base.

As we explain in our economic blog, the Warwickshire Outlook, the county continues to perform strongly as a base for industry with our distribution, transport, accommodation and food industries which have led the way with a combined growth of 10%.

This positive theme also applies to the car industry. Nationally, the car industry enjoyed a boom year in 2015 with a record 2.63million new cars hitting the UK roads. On a local level, Jaguar Land Rover achieved record UK sales of more than 100,000 which is excellent news not just for JLR and all the people it employs, but for the many connected smaller businesses as success spreads along the supply chain and in the local area.

There is a long and proud history in the automotive industry in Warwickshire, of course. And it is great to report a buoyant present, auguring well for an exciting future.

Warwickshire also remains at the very forefront of the technology sector. The county council is proud to support the thriving games industry in and around Leamington. In this edition of Warwickshire Means Business, one of the prime movers behind that success, Ollie Clarke, reflects upon the rise of 'Silicon Spa' and ponders the challenges ahead.

Businesses of all sizes and types are embracing the advances in technology. The internet has transformed the way we do business and attract and interact with customers. Our story of Nuneaton-based Haswell Shoes illustrates how traditional, longstanding businesses are moving with the times to reap the benefits waiting.

A less welcome dimension to the internet is the rising threat of cyber-crime. That is something we are determined to do all we can to help the police to combat, so please read our guide from Warwickshire Trading Standards on how to keep your business secure online.

At the start of a new year many of you are no doubt thinking about expanding your business and perhaps looking at exporting. If so, please take a look at the top tips offered by our friends at the Federation of Small Businesses.

Many forecasters are predicting that this year will be a difficult one for the global economy. The months ahead will no doubt bring their challenges but in Warwickshire we look to 2016 from a position of strength with a business community teeming with skills, enterprise and innovation.

At Warwickshire County Council we will continue to do everything we can to support businesses large and small, rural and in towns, in all sectors and in all parts of the county. I hope you enjoy this edition of Warwickshire Means Business and if you have a story which you think should be included in the March edition please do get in touch.