Niamh Carton, programming and partnership manager at Coventry Charterhouse, was a speaker at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Local Business Forum.
Niamh described how National Trust took over the management of Charterhouse a year ago, following the multi-million-pound conservation and restoration project by Historic Coventry Trust who own the Grade I listed building.
Initial forecasts anticipated 18,000 visitors in the first 12 months. Instead, they attracted 50,000 people from across the country to the former medieval Carthusian monastery off London Road.
The meeting took place at St Mary’s Guildhall – another heritage attraction in the city – and the gathered businesses heard how venues are starting to work together to enhance the experience of visitors to Coventry.
Niamh said: “We’ve just marked National Trust Coventry Charterhouse’s first anniversary, and it has been an extraordinary first year.
“The original business case anticipated around 18,000 visitors annually, but we have already welcomed around 50,000.
“That has been hugely exciting and shows the appetite people have for Charterhouse and for Coventry’s heritage more broadly.
“We’re seeing visitors travel in specifically for Charterhouse, many of whom then go on to explore more of the city.
“People often tell us they didn’t know this was here and didn’t expect to find something like this in Coventry. That tells us Charterhouse is helping to change perceptions and open up the city’s wider heritage offer.”
Mary Creagh CBE, MP for Coventry East, also spoke at the meeting and welcomed the positive impact National Trust was having on Charterhouse.
Mary also described some of the measures the Government has introduced in a bid to support businesses and outlined some of the opportunities for Coventry businesses, including the football club’s promotion to the Premier League.
The MP said: “As a Government, we have a positive story to tell. We are doing a lot to support jobs and businesses in Coventry.
“We’ve announced a £1.5 billion Youth Guarantee package to deliver 200,000 jobs and apprenticeships for young people, including six-month work placements fully funded by government and incentives for SMEs to recruit.
“I’m also very pleased we are bringing forward stronger protections for small businesses on late payments.
“Coventry has real strengths, and there are opportunities ahead in defence, tourism, hospitality and the wider local economy. And, of course, promotion to the Premier League has to be a good thing for the city’s economy.”
Tim Squires, the chair of the Coventry Local Business Forum, said: “We are very grateful to Mary Creagh for coming along and taking lots of questions from businesses from a cross range of sectors.
“We were also really pleased to hear from Niamh on the success of the Charterhouse and the positive effect that’s having on the city. As a Chamber, we’re really pleased we can use our platform to help showcase these great success stories for the region.”
