A leading business figure has told a meeting of Coventry firms and civic leaders that the future is bright for the city.
Corin Crane, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, was speaking at the Chamber’s Coventry branch meeting at the newly reopened Charterhouse in the city.
The meeting, which was attended by Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi and representatives from Coventry City Council as well as a cross section of businesses in the city, heard some of the issues facing firms which are holding back growth.
They ranged from recruitment problems through to high inflation, energy prices and interest rates.
Crane said that it was vital for those issues to be addressed by Government but that there is a great deal to be positive about in Coventry.
He said: “It’s always great to hear from businesses and our Coventry branch focusses specifically on companies in the city, which helps us to understand where the real issues lie locally.
“There’s no doubt that businesses are still struggling to recruit and are managing increased costs. It was an opportunity to talk with some of these companies with Taiwo Owatemi in the room and to offer solutions.
“That said, I think it’s really important to also recognise that Coventry has a huge amount going for it and has seen so much positive change in recent years, even in the face of Covid.
“We held the meeting at the Charterhouse, which is a fantastic example of how the city is bringing some of its historic buildings back to life. Coventry is really getting it right from that point of view.
“There are also exciting things happening up at the CBS Arena, where Harry Styles sold out two nights in May.
“On top of that, we are at the cutting edge of manufacturing and technology in this area.
“So, while it’s our job as a Chamber to ensure that decision-makers at a local, regional and national level understand some of the issues our businesses are facing, I think we also have to shout about the positives in our region and there are many of those in Coventry.”
Taiwo Owatemi MP said: “Businesses are facing some real challenges and it was great to meet and talk those through.
“Whether it’s a workforce issue – in terms of recruitment and retention – through to the need for stability in the economy, it’s important to hear from companies on the ground in Coventry.”
Tim Squires, the chair of the Chamber’s Coventry branch, added: “There was an excellent breadth of businesses at the meeting – from manufacturing through to technology – and that helps to ensure we hear from all areas of the local economy.
“It’s been a tough few years being in business and, therefore, it is vital that we keep listening to local companies and feeding their issues back to Government.”
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce hosts quarterly meetings in each of its five Branch regions - Coventry, Rugby, North Warwickshire, Mid Warwickshire and South Warwickshire - which are open to all Chamber Members to attend. The Chamber’s Branch Network provides businesses with the ideal space to learn about and debate business challenges and opportunities facing their locality.
To find out more about forthcoming meetings, head to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/chamber-branches/ or contact Sean Rose, Head of Policy, on seanr@cw-chamber.co.uk
Pictured: MP Taiwo Owatemi meets the Coventry branch of the Chamber of Commerce