Rugby businesses meet ahead of General Election

One of MP Mark Pawsey’s final duties before Parliament was dissolved ahead of the General Election was to meet businesses from across Rugby.

Mr Pawsey attended the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Rugby branch meeting at the Dunchurch Park Hotel to hear the latest updates on the local economy and issues concerning business.

The event heard how the economy in Rugby was holding up strongly against several indicators compared to the national average – especially on business creation.

Despite all the headlines around Brexit, the main focus of the meeting was skills and firms heard about a new initiative from Warwickshire County Council that will see thousands of school students visiting companies in the New Year.

Karen Shuter, the chair of the Chamber’s Rugby branch, said: “The Chamber is not a party political organisation, we work to ensure that the views of businesses across our area are heard by key decision makers.

“That includes our MP and, over the past nine years, Mark Pawsey has used this meeting as a great way to engage with companies from across our patch.

“Although there is a real focus on Brexit right now, the meeting looked much more at skills and some of the issues businesses are facing right now.

“It also heard about the support that is on offer to businesses across the area through the Chamber – both those who are starting up and those who are looking to speed up their growth.

“As well as the positive economic figures for Rugby it was also good to hear how well this area is doing when it comes to a joined-up approach between organisations such as the Chamber, the Growth Hub, the LEP and the local authorities.

“The economic uncertainty is going to continue for some time so it is great to see our region doing all it can to push for growth.

“One of the many positives to come out of the meeting was some of the connections that were made between different people and organisations.

“Long after the meeting had finished, several people were still talking about how they might be able to work together which is exactly what the Chamber is all about.”

For more information, or to attend a future meeting contact the Chamber on 024 7665 4321.