New call to build gigafactory in region

BUSINESS leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire have added their voices to a call to build a gigafactory in the area.

The latest calls for a huge gigafactory - which would make batteries for the electric cars of the future - come fom the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).

They are backing calls made by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and former minister Margot James for the Government to build a gigafactory in the region.

All believe a gigafactory is desperately needed and could create thousands of jobs.

Such a move would also help to kick-start the regional economy following the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest backing for the scheme came during the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce #Policyhour video call.

It saw businesses in the region and invited representatives from the CWLEP discuss a reset strategy for the regional economy.

The event heard from Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, as well as Paula Deas, deputy chief executive of the CWLEP and Nick Abell, the chair of the CWLEP.

All three recognised how difficult the past six months have been for companies in the region and that there will still be tough months ahead as firms face up to the continuing Covid-19 crisis.

Both organisations said, however, that there are reasons to be optimistic in Coventry and Warwickshire in the medium to long term and both cited the building of a gigafactory in the region as having the potential to be a game-changer.

Mr Abell said: “The Government is going to back a gigafactory and, wherever it goes, it is going to create thousands of jobs, potentially tens of thousands.

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“There is no doubt, we want it here. When you see the arrival of Lotus to the region recently, the development of the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and the other incredible companies we already have on the patch, this is the place to be when it comes to the future of automotive.

“If we could bring a gigafactory here, it would be huge for the area.

“Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, is pushing for one to come to this region and, who knows, the Government might back more than one. “It’s important, not just on this topic, that we all stick together and that Coventry and Warwickshire continues to work as one which organisations such as the LEP and the chamber do extremely well.”

Ms Bennett added: “Margot James, a former MP and now of WMG, was on a #PolicyHour call a few weeks ago and called for a gigafactory to come to this region and it’s clear what a massive positive effect that could have for the economy. We can’t say anything other than this has been a really tough time for all of our businesses but we can be optimistic about the future if we can, with government support, get as many companies as possible through this incredibly difficult period.

“And it’s vital that as business bodies in the region, we all work together to support that.”