Around 100 engineering and manufacturing companies are to meet next week to discover how they can benefit from a new initiative designed to grow the economy.
Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) has created a Clearing House as part of its successful City Deal bid, designed to help Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering companies grow and create more jobs.
The Clearing House will provide access to advisors on key matters relating to business support, access to finance, planning related matters and contacts related to employment requirements and skills as well as providing strong links to government organisations and services.
Details of how companies can access the Clearing House services will be outlined at a networking event organised by the CWLEP and Coventry City Council.
The meeting will take place at the International Digital Laboratory, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick in Coventry on Thursday, April 10 with registration taking place at 7.30am ahead of starting at 8am.
Dr Richard Hutchins, LEP Board Member and LEP Skills Champion, said this meeting had been organised for the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector to find out more about the successful City Deal bid which was formally agreed by Minister for Cities Greg Clark last month.
“The CWLEP, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and district councils have recognised that the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry is a vital cog in the area’s future growth and it was the core theme of our successful City Deal bid,” he said.
“It is a cutting-edge sector because of its innovative, high-profile work and the fact world-class businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin and BMW are based in the area which all helps to make a major contribution to our economic performance and enhancing our national and international reputation.
“We now want to bring businesses connected with the sector together to find out more about the City Deal and how its services can help grow their companies further.
“We believe the City Deal – which is a one-stop shop for all businesses will provide valuable assistance in making that happen as well as having the added benefit of promoting the sector within the area.”
Martin Yardley, chief executive of the LEP, said the fact over 100 companies had already committed to attending reflected the interest of the business community.
He said: “This meeting about the City Deal is for businesses to hear about our progress and the tangible ways they can access all its services.
“The City Deal is designed to stimulate the economy, initially in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector, by improving skills, innovation, productivity and creating jobs and it is an important aspect of our future plans to grow the area’s economy.”