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Leading Low Carbon Event Showcases Latest Technology in Coventry & Warwckshire

The Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) exhibition will showcase the latest in low carbon technology this September.

The exhibition is an initiative of Coventry and Warwickshire local authorities and Coventry University, and is a leading event in the low carbon industry.

Councillor Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for City Development, said: "The low carbon economy is an opportunity for major growth, both in England and worldwide. The businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire area are leading the way in the design, development and manufacture of the technologies required to meet the demand. It will hopefully bring new jobs to contribute to a sustainable future for local communities."

This will be the fourth year of the LCV exhibition, which will be held at Rockingham Motor Speedway, a larger venue than previous years to accommodate the increasing interest. Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Coventry University will exhibit as ‘Invest in Coventry and Warwickshire’ on the 7th and 8th September.

Coventry and Warwickshire has a strong reputation in the global automotive industry, and many major companies conducting some of the green industry’s leading R&D work are located in the sub-region, including BMW, WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, Ricardo, MIRA, Prodrive, and Coventry University. Jaguar Land Rover alone is investing almost £1billion in environmental innovations.

Featured at the Invest in Coventry and Warwickshire stand will be three low-carbon vehicles developed in Coventry & Warwickshire – the battery-powered Tata Ace EV, the Microcab, using hydrogen fuel electric drive, and the Mia, utilising Evida’s latest battery technology. An electric vehicle charging post will be supplied by Eon.

Councillor Alan Cockburn, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Communities at Warwickshire County Council, commented: “Coventry and Warwickshire is home to some of the world’s most renowned automotive companies. Many of these global organisations are leading the way when it comes to low carbon technologies, collectively spending billions of pounds on research and development. The Low Carbon Vehicle exhibition is the perfect platform to showcase these technologies to both the public and the business community.”

The stand will be a showcase for inward investment, demonstrating the region’s strengths as a UK leader in this sector. Both councils are involved in UK national programmes for Climate Change, including the Energy Savings Trust’s One-to-One Programme, the Climate Impacts Programme, and Carbon Trust’s Local Authority Carbon Management Programme.

Martin Yardley, Director of City Services and Development at Coventry City Council, will also be conducting a seminar to further highlight the advantages of doing business in Coventry and Warwickshire. The main points of the seminar will be an introduction to the initiatives and developments taking place in Coventry and Warwickshire, and the benefits of low-carbon organisations being located in the area due to its academic institutions. The seminar will take place at 11.45am on the second day of the exhibition.

The two-day business-to-business event provides the opportune networking environment for this sector, with exhibitors and visitors coming from a variety of sectors including vehicle manufacturing and its supply chain, technology providers, fuel companies, research organisations, and academia.

John Latham, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Development at Coventry University, said: “The Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle exhibition, as one of the foremost events of its kind, affords businesses both small and large the chance to take advantage of the business and manufacturing opportunities emerging as a result of the UK’s green revolution. Coventry University’s ongoing investment and research
into low emissions related automotive technologies is one of a number of initiatives in Coventry and Warwickshire underlining the region’s commitment to providing state- of-the-art expertise to help grow Britain’s green economy.”

To attend the event, register on the website.

For more information, email Gus Bhandal at Warwickshire County Council, or call 01926 412823.

Successful Growth Fund Bid - Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover has successfully bid for £70 million of government funding for two research projects, creating up to 6,500 jobs. The funding for the Coventry- and Warwickshire-based car company will contribute to a total of £1.3 billion of funding for research projects for the UK motor industry.

The bid was one of five successful Regional Growth Fund bids for the West Midlands, including one by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to upgrade and improve the A45 around Birmingham Airport. The A45 works, along with a planned extension to the airport, will help to create 3,400 jobs for the area.

The Regional Growth Fund was created by the Coalition Government to help boost job creation across the UK. 50 projects across the country were approved for £1.4 billion of funding, creating 100,000 jobs.

The second round of funding is now open and is inviting bids from projects looking to boost employment.

Coventry Airport to Provide 10,000 New Jobs

Coventry Airport announced plans to develop two sites near the airport. If the bids are successful, the £250 million
expansion could see a boost of 10,000 new jobs for Coventry and Warwickshire, and passenger flights would return to the airport.
Plans have been submitted to the Government for land identified around the airport, and a request has been made for the land to be given enterprise zone status. If approved, the site would encourage companies to set up business, due to more relaxed planning restrcitions along with business rate relief of up to £275,000 a year. The site would likely attract highly skilled manufacturing jobs. 

Sir Peter Rigby, who purchased the airport last year, said “Our plans to improve the airport’s infrastructure and facilities will benefit the entire West Midlands because we want Coventry Airport to act as an economic catalyst for job creation and income generation.”