Welcome from Monica Fogarty
Hello and welcome to the October edition of Warwickshire Means Business.
Brexit continues to dominate the news agenda and we still wait to see how it will finally unfold. The uncertainty arising from this unprecedented situation is clearly difficult for the business world but with one of the fastest-growing economies since the recession a decade ago, Warwickshire remains in a strong position to meet the consequences of any Brexit outcome.
As a council we, along with our partners in the region, are doing all we can to help businesses to be as prepared as possible. No-one knows fully what the post-Brexit landscape will look like but I would urge all business to become as well-informed about the potential consequences as they can be.
As our Assistant Director for Communities, David Ayton-Hill, says in this edition of WMB, we haven't got a crystal ball so can't give definitive advice about what will happen. However, taking a co-ordinated approach along with the CWLEP, Growth Hub, Chamber of Commerce, Coventry City Council and the Federation of Small Businesses, we are determined to ensure that businesses are best-placed to deal with whatever Brexit brings. It is clear that half-an-hour spent going through a specially developed Brexit Checklist could be the most valuable time you spend this week.
Elsewhere in this edition of Warwickshire Means Business, we are delighted to unveil the £1 million second phase of the Business Ready programme, run by University of Warwick Science Park and funded by ourselves and the European Regional Development Fund as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.The first phase of Business Ready was a huge success, supporting more than 100 businesses and creating more than 70 jobs, and I don't doubt that the second phase, driven by people with such immense expertise and experience, will prove equally successful. In this edition of WMB you can read about how a sweet-supplier in Atherstone is blossoming with the right business support.
Another ongoing success story is the Supportive Employers initiative. Warwickshire County Council is proud to be part of this network of businesses who offer work experience and potentially apprenticeships to people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Warwickshire businesses, special schools, colleges and training providers recently came out in force for the third Supportive Employers forum to share ideas and best practice on providing supported internships. At a time when many employers are facing recruitment challenges, there is a huge pool of untapped talent here. Please do get involved.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Warwickshire Means Business. As ever, if there is a story or an issue that you would like to see covered in a future edition, please do get in touch with brianhalford@warwickshire.gov.uk.