October 2021

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

New national Investment Atlas highlights two major opportunities in Coventry and Warwickshire

An online platform that maps high priority investment hot spots across the UK has identified two Coventry and Warwickshire opportunities to international investors.

The Department for International Trade has launched a new Investment Atlas on the eve of COP26 to highlight dozens of nationwide strategic investment opportunities with a strong sustainability element – including two in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The launch has been timed to coincide with the Global Investment Summit (GIS) in London, attended by 200 global CEOs and international investors, looking at the role of the private sector in reaching global net zero and achieving green growth.

The two opportunities are testament to Coventry and Warwickshire’s strength for developing and deploying net zero transport technologies as green transport drives the UK towards net zero.

They also highlight Coventry and Warwickshire as a global centre of future mobility research and development across many sectors, including aerospace, automotive, rail, marine propulsion and last mile delivery.

The opportunities include: ‘Net zero transport in Coventry and Warwickshire’, which provides a guide to the first-class research universities with strong links to industry, the leading cluster of public and private R&D assets, and the opportunities here to connect with a robust supply chain of transport technology businesses.

CAM modelling and simulation in Oxfordshire and the Midlands’ focuses on the opportunities around CAM (Connected Automated Mobility) Testbed UK, a globally significant cluster of R&D and test facilities for autonomy in transport technology.

According to DIT, the global market for CAM technologies will be £100 billion by 2035 and £6.4 billion in the UK, while CAM Testbed UK comprises six nationally significant facilities located between London and Nuneaton along the M40/M42/M1 corridor, with three of these located in Coventry & Warwickshire.

It offers investors access to an advanced, comprehensive, and coordinated CAM testing ecosystem, a world-class academic research community, a growing industry cluster and an impressive talent base.

A number of Coventry and Warwickshire institutions are well represented on the atlas, with the local universities, HORIBA-MIRA, University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus and local supply chain featured.

Cllr Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for economy and place, said:  The launch is well-timed for us as it comes as we are prepared to move on with the Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund.  The GIS Investment Atlas is closely aligned with our aims and ambitions for the WRIF – to stimulate the county’s economy, create jobs, support local businesses and bring investment into the county.

“It is very exciting that the national recognition of the region as a priority investment area highlights its readiness to expand and take the lead in providing a base for these critical sectors.  We have the talent pipeline, the expertise and the infrastructure in place. Now we have the recognition to attract interest from far afield and, in conjunction with that, the WRIF allows us to work with businesses and help them to expand, taking advantage of our growing reputation.”

To coincide with the Global Investment Summit, the Prime Minister also announced that at least 30,000 new jobs would be created around the UK thanks to £9.7 billion of new foreign investment.

This included investment from Prologis, which is developing manufacturing and logistics space locally at Hams Hall and Ryton. 

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:The UK is the best investment destination in the world and our Investment Atlas will help to drive more investment into green industries across the UK, and make it easier for businesses to make decisions on where and what to invest in.”

The Investment Atlas is available here.

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