New manufacturing hub opens in Coventry

A NEW manufacturing hub has opened in Coventry, targeting businesses looking to achieve growth.

The hub, based in the offices of NatWest in Rowan House, aims to support firms in their ambitions to the benefit of the wider industry.

The centre, officially opened this month, includes a display of some of the products manufactured in the region and a celebrates some of the area’s great achievements.

Surinder Summan, director of commercial banking at NatWest, said: “Without question manufacturing businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire have developed innovative products and technology to support the manufacturing sector, and our hub has been created to celebrate these achievements.

“The ecosystem continues to evolve to meet the needs of the industry and businesses continue to develop with it, and will continue to do so well into 2017 and beyond.”

To encourage further enterprise in the region, Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust was awarded a £34,600 cheque as part of NatWest’s Skills and Opportunities Fund. Over 800 not-for-profit organisations across the UK and Ireland had a share of the fund, which supports organisations which have created programmes to enhance financial education and enterprise in their communities.

Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust’s Inclusive Enterprise aims to:
•         Raise confidence levels, financial competence, employability and enterprise awareness of 50 women in Nuneaton and Bedworth
•         Support a minimum of 10 women into business start-up through training and mentoring
•         Provide micro-loans on peer-supported lending principles for business start-up and employment-related education
•         Train four female community mentors.
 
“The Inclusive Enterprise programme is an exciting project that will support the development of new and young enterprises in the local community. We wish them every success for the future,” added Mr Summan.
 
The launch day also included a collection for Coventry Foodbank to support their activities ahead of the Christmas season.