Coventry and Warwickshire must link its past to the future to achieve growth in an AI age
A major regional conference has heard how Coventry and Warwickshire’s heritage linked to the adoption of new technologies can drive economic growth in the future.
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business and Economic Conference at the IXL Events Centre in Southam, attracting more than 250 leaders from across the region.
The event, which was headline sponsored by Prime Accountants Group and supported by HCR Law, Coventry City Council and People Arches Ltd, heard from experts from a range of fields on the region’s strengths and its potential.
After being opened by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Corin Crane – who unveiled a new Business Manifesto for the region – the event heard from British Chambers of Commerce director general Shevaun Haviland CBE.
Emma Wilks, UK economist at HSBC UK, gave an economic overview on the back of the Chancellor’s Budget before joining a panel with Shevaun alongside Steve Harcourt, director at Prime Accountants Group; Eleanor Deeley, joint managing director at Deeley Group; Atul Lakhani, of the IXL Events Centre; Carol Rose Burke CBE, managing director of Unipart; and Dr Rebecca Gater, principal & chief executive of Solihull College & University Centre, which includes Stratford-upon-Avon College.
The panel explored the challenges facing firms in the region but also some of the opportunities, particularly around new technology.
Professor Elena Gaura, associate pro vice chancellor for research and AI lead at Coventry University Group, then gave her verdict on what firms need to do to embrace AI and offered information of where they can go for help.
A second panel – chaired by Chamber president Sandra Godley OBE – looked at how the city and the county remain as one economic powerhouse and how it presents a consistent message to rest of the country as well as the world.
It included Julie Nugent, chief executive of Coventry City Council; Greg Clark, executive chair of the University of Warwick’s Warwick Innovation District; Paul McMahon, managing director of Coventry & Warwickshire Convention Bureau; and Nicola Ibbetson, chief business officer at Coventry City Football Club.
Rob Law MBE, the designer, founder and former CEO of Trunki, the innovative company behind children’s ride-on suitcases, closed the event as keynote speaker and explained the lessons behind rejection and how he grew the business through refocussing and redirection.
Corin Crane, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This was one of our best Annual Conferences yet. To attract around 250 people from business and civic life – from micro businesses up to major multi-national employers and from MPs to education leaders – shows the convening power of this Chamber.
“And our speakers and panellists were genuinely incredible – bringing insight and inspiration in equal measure.
“There were several key takeaways and, of course, how firms adopt AI and adapt to a changing world is fundamental and this topic came up time and again throughout the event.
“However, it was really interesting to hear and understand how the heritage of our region is absolutely fundamental to our economic growth alongside embracing new technology.
“Our history of invention, our manufacturing base, our background in innovation, peace and reconciliation, our incredible cultural assets – from Shakespeare to 2tone – our brilliant universities and, of course, our Premier League football club all have a part to play in the growth of Coventry and Warwickshire.
“We know only too well that these are challenging times for businesses but our conference showed that there are exciting opportunities ahead for our region.”