Car plants much better for city than universities

ONE of the daftest suggestions this year to come from the office of Coventry’s highly-paid chief executive is the idea that having two universities is better for the city than having two more car plants.

When I hear statements like this, it is hard to believe that Martin Reeves has a PhD in economics.

If we had two more car plants, they would directly employ at least 10,000 local people full-time. That would generate 20,000 to 30,000 full-time jobs in the components and service industries that support motor manufacturing.

Being in full-time work would take all those people out of the benefits trap. They would also be paying full council tax and would be spending their wage packets in local shops.

Those car plants and associated firms would also be sending their staff to Coventry Tech to be trained. Most of the staff, again, would be local. The standard of teaching is higher than in most universities – and the majority of the teaching staff would have worked in industry, so know what they are talking about.

I beliebe the two universities employ almost no local people in full-time posts. Those who are local tend to be doing low-paid jobs in ‘hotel services’ on zero hours contracts. Most of the people who have the better paid jobs have come from outside the city and have a poor knowledge of what industry needs. Many of them live outside Coventry, so don’t spend their wages in the city. Most students only buy food and drink, therefore they also put little into the city’s economy.

Given the choice between allowing largely better-off people take five or six years out of the nation’s workforce and having them start real jobs at 16, I know which option gets my vote every time.

Chris Youett Earlsdon