Stratford event to focus on Warwickshire tourism opportunities

TOURISM opportunities for businesses in Warwickshire will be among the subjects discussed at an event organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Robin Tjolle, destination manager at Shakespeare’s England, is one of the participants in the event, which takes place the Menzies Welcombe Hotel Golf Club in Warwick Road, Stratford, between 8-9.30am on December 6.

Shakespeare’s England is a public-private partnership which has been launched by tourism businesses and cultural organisations along with Stratford and Warwick District Councils to market and manage the area’s visitor economy.

CWLEP chief executive Martin Yardley will also use the event to give an update on the LEP’s City Deal bid, which is in its final stages. The bid focuses on the advanced manufacturing engineering sector in the region and his speech will also explain how the CWLEP aims to help local businesses.

Also speaking will be Judy Lambourne, project manager at Coventry University, who will discuss the benefits of Innovation Networks, which provide grants of up to £10,000 to help cover the costs associated with developing a new product, process or service. She will be joined by Tony Turner, from Greenmech, who will talk about the help he received from the scheme.

The final speaker will be Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, who will discuss access to finance and the business support available for companies in the region.

“The purpose of the Inform events which are staged regularly throughout Coventry and Warwickshire is to explain how the CWLEP can help their business whether they are a sole trader or a global organisation,” said Yardley.

“We have a varied line-up of speakers to offer information on a wide range of subjects which are aimed at providing help and support to businesses across the area.”

He said the subjects under discussion would range from making the most of tourism opportunities to growing individual businesses, as well as how the area can make the most of ERDF funding to develop innovative ideas.

“We all want Coventry and Warwickshire to be the best place it can possibly be to work, live or visit and this event will also highlight all the business support that is available.

“There is plenty of financial assistance available – often it is just a case of knowing where to look in the first place and that is where the CWLEP can help,” he added.