Welcome from chief executive Monica Fogarty

Hello and welcome to the September edition of Warwickshire Means Business. 

These continue to be challenging times as we find ourselves in the midst of economic instability and faced with rising costs, particularly of fuel and energy. At Warwickshire County Council we are fully aware of the pressure this is imposing upon businesses and we are committed to doing everything we can to offer support.  

The wide range of support, both in terms of advice and grant and loan funding, available from ourselves and our partners in the region, remains ongoing (please do have a good look around https www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business-support to see if any of it could help you) but we are also constantly implementing new projects tailored to the evolving needs of businesses. 

Energy costs are a major concern right now so please, if you are a manufacturing SME, join our collaboration SME breakfast event on November 9. Throughout the last two difficult years, WCC and the districts and boroughs across the county have given top priority to getting Government support directly out to businesses as swiftly as possible. That will always be the case, as with the new Multiply programme which supports adults looking to improve their numeracy skills. 

In this edition of WMB we focus on the Business Futures programme, which has helped 200 individuals in Warwickshire to launch their own business. We also report the relocation of Nuneaton Foodbank, whose excellent work in the community now has a new home in our Centenary Business Centre.  

Last week's mini-budget offered some relief for businesses and there was also exciting news for our county with the inclusion of Warwickshire on the shortlist for new Investment Zones designed to trigger growth and support skills development. 

Meanwhile, it is confirmed that England's 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships will disband next year. Warwickshire County Council, along with all of our partners in the region, shares in the pride of the achievements of Coventry and Warwickshire LEP. It has rightly been recognised as one of the top performing LEPs in the country with an outstanding track record for attracting investment and helping to create the conditions in which our regional economy has thrived. 

Looking ahead, the County Council will not waver from a commitment to work alongside public sector partners and business representatives to ensure that Coventry and Warwickshire continues to prosper as an area where businesses choose to invest and grow. 

Monica