The conference, which was headline sponsored by Prime Accountants Group and People Arches, saw the Chamber announce its new president as Sandra Godley OBE – taking over the role from Steve Harcourt, of Prime Accountants Group.
But the conference also heard from a range of speakers and panelists, and there was strong sense of how interconnected the city and county are as an economy running throughout.
The event was kicked off by Chamber chief executive Corin Crane and also heard from Steve Harcourt, who described how he, as president, has travelled the length and breadth of the region meeting firms and seeing some of its success stories.
Liz Martins, Senior UK Economist at HSBC, described the national and international economic picture – from interest rates through to GDP and from inflation to the Chancellor’s budget.
Sarah Windrum, the Head of Cluster Development at HORIBA MIRA, chaired a panel on driving growth in Coventry and Warwickshire, which included contributions from Liz Martin; Steve Harcourt; Dawood Ibtehsam, Director of People Arches Ltd (McDonalds); Mitchell Barnes, CEO & Founder of RYSE 3D; and Carol Thomas, Principal & CEO, Coventry College.
MPs John Slinger and Jeremy Wright KC joined Corin on stage for a session on the future of the region and the changes through Local Government Reform.
That was followed by exciting plans for Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington delivered by Catherine Marks, of Warwickshire County Council; and Adam Hunt, of Coventry City Council.
The conference – which also welcomed a range of exhibitors including Ezoo, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, Destination Coventry, Azets, Graphic Arts Group, Stratford-upon-Avon College, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, HSBC and NHS SWFT Charity – was concluded by an inspirational story from Kieran Joseph, the Founder & Chief Executive of Guardian Ballers CIC.
Keiran described his journey to creating the organisation which empowers young people through the power of sport to better mental health.
Corin Crane said: “This year’s conference was an incredible show of faith in Coventry and Warwickshire as a region.
“We know it has been an uncertain period economically and that times have been tough for many businesses.
“But what came shining through from businesses and politicians is that the city and county can look forward with confidence because we always innovate and grow as a region.
“We heard from some amazing businesses and also some of the future plans for Coventry city centre and Nuneaton and Leamington town centres.
“And, what is absolutely clear is that Coventry and Warwickshire are interconnected and, no matter what political and structural changes take place, we work brilliantly together as an economy that represents the best of UK business.”
