Annual Conference

The positive impact that business has on society

will be explored at a major conference in Warwickshire in November

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business & Economic Conference is taking place on Friday, November 12.

The event will be a hybrid of a live and virtual audience hosted from the IXL Events Centre on the site of the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Southam.

The conference, sponsored by Prime Accountants Group and supported by WCG, will be based on the theme of ‘Against All Odds’ and will hear from a range of businesspeople and key decision-makers looking at some of the inspirational stories of the past 18 months and looking ahead to brighter economic times.

The conference is being hosted by Dr Adam Marshall CBE who, in addition to being the former British Chambers of Commerce Director General, is now a senior adviser and Non-Executive Director to a range of business organisations, including the Government's Trade Remedies Authority.

Adam will lead a panel focused on the economic and social landscape of the region. Mark Berrisford-Smith, Head of Economics at HSBC UK, will provide the conference with an economic outlook before joining a panel with Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council; Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council; Declan Allen, managing director of HORIBA MIRA; Steve Harcourt, director of Prime Accountants Group; and Angela Joyce, CEO of WCG.

The panel will look at some of the challenges that businesses – and individuals – have faced over the past 18 months and look at the contribution that companies across the region make to wider society.

The keynote address at the event will be given by one of Team GB’s greatest ever Olympians as Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, who won rowing gold medals at the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, will be speaking.

Louise Bennett, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are looking forward to this year’s Conference and, once again, being in a room with colleagues, stakeholders and businesspeople across the region.

“At the Conference, we often look at the economy in isolation but this year we wanted to widen the conversation and look at the huge contribution that businesses make to society, particularly after what we’ve all faced over the past year-and-a-half.

“The theme of the Conference is Against All Odds and for firms in the region it really is testament to their resilience and innovation that they have come through the past 18 months.

“Not only that, they continue to provide employment and create the wealth that pays for public services as well as a range of other ways that business is at the centre of communities, so the link between business and society is stronger than ever.”

The event will also feature video contributions from the likes of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and CWLEP Chair Sarah Windrum.

The Chamber’s Business Influence and Business Engage Members will be invited to be part of the live audience at the event, which will start at 8.30am and finish at 1pm, with live streaming available to all other businesses. Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE

❛❛ We are delighted to be headline sponsors of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference once again. The past two years have been a challenge for every business; with business owners and managers having to make tough decisions while looking after their teams and customers. However, as business now starts to pick up and return to pre pandemic levels, it is essential that we all now pull together to support each other, to ensure our region comes back stronger than ever. We look forward to seeing everyone and catching up with you all, so we can start putting this message into action at the conference. ❜❜

Steve Harcourt, Director Prime Accountants Group Main Sponsor

The Government’s skills agenda means that is more important than ever before that colleges build effective ❛❛ partnerships with business. We are committed to strengthening partnerships with regional business across all areas of our operation. Alongside apprenticeships, we have introduced T Levels this academic year and local employers will be integral to their success with relevant work placements essential to developing highly-skilled young people. The Chamber’s Annual Business & Economic Conference is an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire and ensure that we are delivering the right skills to support the regional economy.❜❜

Angela Joyce, CEO WCG Supporting Sponsor For more information go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events/annual-business-economic-conference-2021/