A business group has set its sights on growing its presence across Coventry and Warwickshire – supported by the launch of a new affiliation.
Coventry and Warwickshire First is a forum exclusively for businessmen and women operating in the professional services and financial services sectors and is run by members for its members.
The organisation, has signed an agreement to outsource its administration and secretarial services to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
The deal will also see the two organisations to not only strengthen the voice of the professional sector but will support its respective membership across the area.
Paul Carvell, managing partner at accountancy firm Stewart, Fletcher & Barrett and chairman of Coventry and Warwickshire First, said the group was moving into an exciting new era.
“Coventry and Warwickshire First is the only exclusive forum for professional and financial services in the area and working with the Chamber will only serve to strengthen our support for our members and our standing as one of the leading business forums,” he said.
“We’re thankful to Karen O’Donoghue for the sterling work she has done over the years to support the group and we look forward to building on the foundation she provided us and growing membership, while keeping our own identity.
“The quality of business people in our area is fantastic and, as a group, we can be extremely powerful together and support each other to move forward and grow.”
He added strengthening the group’s presence across Warwickshire is among one of the board’s top priorities, while a new website is also due to be launched shortly.
The partnership with the Chamber was launched at the latest First Friday event, which was held at Belgrade Theatre. First Friday networking events are held by Coventry and Warwickshire First at different venues across the area on the first Friday of every month.
Angela Tellyn, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce partnership manager, added: “The Chamber offers a wide range of services to support organisations and business groups to grow and thrive and we’re pleased to have been able to tick all the boxes Coventry and Warwickshire First required.
“The ties between both membership groups have been extremely strong for many years and we look forward to working in partnership together.”