Coventry and Warwickshire success the "envy of the world" says JLR chief

Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, has paid a glowing tribute to Coventry and Warwickshire for its part in the company’s international success.

Dr Speth, speaking at the Coventry and Warwickshire Showcase event at The Shard in London, said that the area’s unique strengths had been a key factor in driving the company forward.

The showcase, organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board, highlighted the business and investment opportunities in the area to around 150 leading national figures from industry sectors – including development and investment.

Dr Speth said: “Our own recovery and transformation at Jaguar Land Rover has been driven by a number of factors – our investment, a global approach and the quality of our people. And I am convinced that the role of Coventry and Warwickshire as a partner, supporter and business location has helped Jaguar Land Rover immensely.

“Coventry and Warwickshire is among the top 10 per cent of the fastest-growing economic areas in the country, with a Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy of £17.8 billion.

“It is a centre for over 400 advanced manufacturing and engineering companies and it is within an hour’s drive from 15 universities, producing 100,000 graduates each year.

“That is a success story which would be the envy of any region anywhere in the world. Yet success does not happen by accident.

“Local government, local businesses, organisations and academia should all take a proactive and cohesive approach to investment. We come together on the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board to make a difference: it is something we are proud to chair. Local partnerships can lay the foundations for a strong future in UK manufacturing.”

Dr Speth highlighted the company’s links with the area’s two universities and its on-going investment at its Whitley headquarters and its new Special Operations base at Oxford Road.

He was joined by several other business leaders from the area as well as national commentators and local MPs for the event which was hosted by BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey.

Les Ratcliffe, chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board, said the Showcase had delivered a very strong message of opportunity to an audience which was normally hard to reach.

“We believe Coventry and Warwickshire has a very strong message to deliver, but the only real way of having it heard by the decision-makers in London is to tell them about it in their own back yard,” he said.

“The range of speakers and the consistently strong messages they had to deliver certainly made an impact and we will be following that up in the coming weeks, so we can bring many of the audience to the area to see for themselves."

Photo left to right: Jonathan Browning (CW LEP chairman), Izzi Seccombe (Leader of Warwickshire County Council), Ralf Speth (Jaguar Land Rover), Ann Lucas (Leader of Coventry City Council), Les Ratcliffe (Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board)