Auto Industry Summit sends out a message
Feb 4 2009 by Alun Thorne
Head of Business Alun Thorne spoke to delegates at the Auto Industry Summit in Birmingham to find out what they thought it had achieved.
* James Watkins, from the West Midlands Business Council, said: “I think the event outlined the urgent need for quick government action. What Lord Mandelson has already announced is good but more is certainly needed.
“The problem is credit insurance. The market has completely broken down and is in need of strong government action. This event has shown there is a strong desire to move forward and now we need a common sense plan to achieve this.”
* Chris Clifford, from the CBI in the West Midlands, said: “I think the timing of the event was extremely timely on the back of Lord Mandelson’s announcement and it is important that we deliver a very clear message to the business secretary when he attends the CBI dinner. Considering the weather and the short turnaround in getting this event on, I think it is testament to the importance of the issue at hand that we have seen such an exceptional turnout.”
* Rob Laidler, sales director of LTI Vehicles, said: Everybody spoke the same language for the common cause and hopefully Lord Mandelson will recognise what we are saying. Since October when the global economy went into meltdown we have carried out a series of internal cost-cutting measures that have been successful and we have had the support of our bank during this period but our major issue now is time.”
* Sir Albert Bore, leader of the Labour Group at Birmingham City Council, said: “I think the event went very well. There was a very clear impression that the proposals announced by Lord Mandelson were welcomed but that we need to get on with their delivery.
“This is a short-term crisis we need to deal with now and get through the next few months and ensure that we are well placed for the long term.”
* Trevor Foster, former managing director of Kaupthing in the UK, said: “I don’t think there were any surprises here today. What we are seeing is extreme pain in the supply chain and one question that is being asked is could Jaguar Land Rover be doing more? Also there is a need for more clarity regarding the recent government announcement. People just don’t understand and what they are looking for is clear solid advice.”
* Richard Brennen, from Birmingham Forward, said: “The general mood was one of ‘stop telling what you are going to do and start delivering’. The industry is not looking for soundbites. What they want is if there is talk in the morning they want action in the afternoon.”
* Mick Laverty, chief executive of regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, said: “It was an extremely good event with a solid consensus about what the supply chain wants and needs. It wasn’t a moaning session but something much more constructive. I probably expected more finger pointing but it was just a good collection of people trying to solve a really significant problem.”
