Help For Firms Hit By Rover Crisis

Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire affected by BMW’s decision to sell Rover are being invited to a special meeting to discuss the way forward.

The discussion is being hosted by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber, who recently ran a survey to find out how many firms would be hit by the sale.

More than 200 companies out of 600 contacted said they were affected by the sell-off and its knock-on effect in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Over a fifth of these asked for immediate help and have been given advice by experts from the Chamber.

Next week’s meeting, at the Oak Tree Conference Centre in Binley Business Park, Harry Weston Road, is being held for firms to find out what to do next.

David McGrath, managing director of Link Support Services UK Ltd, will be helping companies see where their futures lie.

Mr McGrath, who has spent three years working on programmes to help manufacturing companies unlock their potential, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for companies affected to see what short and long-term support is available. The Chamber is acting as both a conduit and a catalyst of important support to companies within the automotive manufacturing industry who require help.”

Concerns already raised by individuals affected by the sell-off include: immediate redundancies, ensuring training and re-training needs are met, keeping the high skill-base of workers.

Firms said they were worried about the immediate financial implications, their cash-flow, the long-term need to diversify operations and identify new markets and taking e-business on board.

More information about the meeting, which is on 18 April at 5pm, from Elena Zivinsky on 024 7665 4102.

There is advice available from the Rover Taskforce hotline on 0800 783 6414 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and further details about help from the Chamber at www.cw-chamber.co.uk