Business minister cracks the code as region showcases its digital talent

The strength of Coventry and Warwickshire’s creative and digital sector was showcased to Government minister Margot James during a visit to gaming company Codemasters.

The Business Minister was in the area to share details about how the Government’s plans for a new industrial strategy for Britain are progressing following the UK-wide consultation.

James met representatives from the growing Southam-based company and Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) to hear about the success of the gaming and creative cluster in the area and the challenges and opportunities facing scale-up businesses.

Working in partnership with games trade body Ukie, the CWLEP has launched ‘Games Industry in Coventry and Warwickshire – A Blueprint for Growth’ – a new strategy for growing the local games cluster and the wider digital creative sector.

James, who comes from Coventry and is MP for Stourbridge, was given an update on the strategy, Silicon Spa – which employs more than 1,000 people, and the growing Creative Quarter around Leamington Spa.

Jonathan Browning, chairman of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We were pleased to be given the opportunity to share details about our work with Ukie and world class games companies, such as Codemasters, with Ms James and also the investment into the Creative Quarter in Leamington.

“Promoting and growing our local digital and creative sector is a key part of the CWLEP’s Strategic Economic Plan and will create more jobs and increase the highly skilled workforce that will benefit the wider local economy.

“We were delighted to be involved in the process of helping to shape the Industrial Strategy. Creating a platform for companies like Codemasters to continue to grow is crucial to the strategy and strengthening the UK economy.”