University chief welcomes launch of Government's Midlands Engine Strategy

The government first outlined its plans to create a “Midlands Engine for Growth” in December 2015, with the ambition to grow the regional economy by £34bn by 2030. The Midlands Engine Strategy published today (9 March 2017) provides a blueprint for achieving this growth and tackling "productivity barriers" across the region.

In July last year, Coventry University along with six others joined to form the Midlands Enterprise Universities partnership to support the Midlands Engine for Growth.

Professor John Latham, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University said:

Universities in the Midlands are perfectly positioned to help deliver the surge in innovation and employment envisioned by this strategy.

Where else but universities do academia, teaching and industry meet in such an effective partnership, sharing skills development, research, innovation and enterprise?

I am talking about creating the spaces where experts and students can meet, take an existing, essential product - even something like an exhaust pipe - and improve it. Our creation, with Unipart, of a ‘faculty on the factory floor’, is a good example of the enterprising partnerships already going on in the region.

For further information please contact Mark Farnan, press officer, marketing and external affairs, on +44 (0)24 7765 8245 or email mark.farnan@coventry.ac.uk.