Chamber Means Business event will deliver latest info and insights on January 31

The latest business news, developments and insight from across Coventry & Warwickshire will be outlined at a brand new event for the region on Thursday January 31.

Organised by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Means Business event will offer the business community a chance to get right up to date with what is happening in the region and hear about the opportunities for economic growth.

The event will take place at from 11.30am to 2pm at DoubleTree by Hilton Coventry Paradise Way, Walsgrave Triangle, Coventry, CV2 2ST

Among subjects explored will the redevelopment of Rugby railway station. Guest speakers will include a representative of the company carrying out the work on this key gateway to our region.

There will also a full economic update including results of the most recent Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) which showed that business confidence in the region took a slight dip in the final quarter of 2018,.

The QES, conducted by the Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council, measures the feeling among firms in the service and manufacturing sectors across the region.

Figures for the final three months of 2018 show that business confidence fell, particularly in the service sector where it dropped from 76.2 to 69.8 (50 is the halfway figure between positive and negative). In manufacturing, the fall was less marked, from 78.4 to 76.0 and, while  confidence in the region has dropped slightly, it still remains ahead of the national average.

David Ayton-Hill, head of economy & skills at Warwickshire County Council, said: “On the whole, it is a hesitant and pessimistic outlook this quarter which was to be expected. Key events taking place this quarter, including the EU Summit and parliamentary votes on the Brexit deal forecasted, made it a key time for business to be cautious and aware, waiting to discover what the economic future may look like for them.

“Until there is more clarity on the future for the UK in terms of Brexit, it is likely for this type of behaviour and attitude from businesses to continue.”

With this in mind business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire have written to all the region's MPs warning that a ‘no deal’ Brexit could lead to cuts in investment and recruitment in the region.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has joined the British Chambers of Commerce and other business groups in the UK to add its voice to the growing concerns over the uncertainty facing companies.

The letter, signed by Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber, outlined that “businesses need clarity, precision and reassurance to bring about the confidence needed in our UK economy. Businesses need to know who and how they will be able to hire staff in future; how we will pay VAT; whether goods will be stopped at borders; and whether the contracts we enter into will be enforceable.

“With such confusion and political in-fighting, by some, even basic business planning for next year has become difficult, if not impossible, for many firms and their investors.  Research from the British Chambers of Commerce shows that in a ‘no deal’ scenario, many businesses would cut investment and recruitment, or move some of their operations elsewhere."

To book a place at the Chamber Means Business event please visit https: www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/chamber-means-business-january/