West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said that Coventry and Warwickshire is leading a ‘regional renaissance’ during a meeting of business leaders.

The latest instalment of the quarterly Coventry and Warwickshire First business breakfasts, held at law firm Wright Hassall’s headquarters in Leamington Spa, saw the Mayor deliver a speech highlighting how job opportunities, business development and transport links are continuously improving before taking questions from the 50-strong crowd on what lies ahead for the region.

He said: “We are currently in the middle of what I would call a regional renaissance, with Coventry and Warwickshire playing a major part in that.

“In Coventry, after years of strife, unemployment levels have dropped and of course, the city is looking forward to its time as City of Culture.

“Both Coventry and Warwickshire are also at the heart of this country’s plans to integrate Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, with plans for major developments already underway.

“There are also challenges that need addressing such as the skills gap and improving performance on our high streets, but there is a clear plan in place for sustained progress across Coventry and Warwickshire.

“The test run of 5G is a real win for the region as digital skills continue to grow in importance and we will see the benefits of that here in Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Coventry & Warwickshire First is a forum for professional and financial services firms in the region, offering advice and support to businesses from entrepreneurial start-ups to family firms and global organisations.

James Oliver, vice chair of the group, said: “We would like to thank Andy for taking the time to speak with our members while highlighting the excellent work being done across the region.

“The discussion was informative and well-received, it really gave everyone an insight into some of the positive developments taking place across the region and how they all link together.”

Wright Hassall, who hosted the event, are members of the Coventry and Warwickshire First group.

Pete Maguire, joint head of the firm’s manufacturing group, said: “The Coventry and Warwickshire First quarterly breakfast event was a huge success, which we were proud to host.

“For us it was great to welcome representatives from a number of key businesses across the region and get everyone networking.

“We look forward to assisting with future events.”