Two key topics affecting businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire will be addressed by expert panels at a major conference in the region.
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is holding its Annual Business & Economic Conference at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday, November 10 and has already announced multi-award-winning broadcaster Clive Myrie as its keynote speaker.
The conference is being delivered in partnership with PET-Xi Training and Prime Accountants Group. PLMR Advent is the media partner and Eskuta and Make Venues (Woodland Grange) have signed up as supporting sponsors.
The conference has a theme of ‘Doing Business with Purpose’ and as well as hearing from Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council, and Julie Nugent, chief executive of Coventry City Council, there will be a Business & Economic Panel and a Future Workforce Panel which will delve into two fundamental issues for firms across the region.
The Business & Economic Panel will explore the global, national and regional economic and business landscape and will look at a whole host of topics including inward investment, green innovation, interest rates, inflation, cashflow, cost of doing business, cost of living and international trade.
It will be chaired by Margot James, Executive Director of WMG, former MP and Chair of the Coventry Climate Change Group, and panellists include Steve Harcourt (Prime Accountants Group), Anna Bright (Sustainability West Midlands), Katie Trout, (West Midlands Growth Company), Roger Scott (Lloyds Banking Group) and Carol Thomas (Coventry College).
Steve said: “There is so much for businesses to think about in the current economic climate and, through this panel, we are looking to unpick some of that and make sure they understand how the big picture is affecting them on a day-to-day basis and how that might influence their decision-making.”
The Future Workforce Panel will look at how businesses can get their workforce ‘fit for the future’ and how to get local people into local jobs. It will delve into jobs of the future, how businesses can develop inclusive workforces, from upskilling people from disadvantaged backgrounds through to getting the over-55s back into jobs.
This panel will be chaired by Fleur Sexton DL, of PET-Xi Training and PET-Xi Hospitality (Metropolis) and panellists include Kevin Davis (The Vine Group), Annette Hay (Belgrade Theatre) and Gaynor Matthews (Olderpreneurs Alliance).
Fleur said: “Recruitment and skills is challenging right now for many businesses especially after Brexit, Covid and a series of other factors. This panel will look at how businesses can think in new and pioneering ways to find solutions and ensure that their workforce is diverse, committed and prepared for the exciting new challenges we face as a business community.”
Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Last year’s conference was my first in Coventry and Warwickshire and it was amazing to see the number of businesses and regional decision-makers coming together to listen, learn and network with one another.
“This year’s event builds on that and we are delighted to have so many great businesses and individuals on board as speakers, panellists and supporters.”
For more information or to book a place at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Conference, go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/annual-business-economic-conference-...