Coventry entrepreneur encourages other local businesses to take advantage of Brexit help on offer

Tuesday 12th of November 2019 02:29 PM

A Coventry entrepreneur who benefited from a Brexit roundtable event organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub is encouraging local businesses to take advantage of the help on offer.

Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Alejandro Perez-Llabata is founder and CEO of the world's first university-dedicated drone racing company, the International Universities Drone Racing Organisation (IUDRO). The organisation, which facilitates and regulates inter-university drone racing events, seeks to propel the sustainable adoption of drone technology.

IUDRO was one of more than a dozen local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that attended the roundtable which was held at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Ansty Park in Coventry and led by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Andrea Leadsom.

The event provided guidance on how Coventry and Warwickshire’s SMEs can best plan for the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU). It also outlined the support that is on offer to help businesses prepare for challenges but also highlighted opportunities associated with Brexit – something which Perez-Llabata found reassuring.

Perez-Llabata said: “I am grateful to the Growth Hub for having the opportunity to raise IUDRO’s concerns with the Government, alongside other local high-profile companies.

“One of our biggest concerns relates to data management regulation and how this might be affected by the UK leaving the EU, and we’re glad that they were addressed.

“Finding out more about how Brexit might impact on laws and regulations is crucial to us in an industry that is constantly changing. Nevertheless, the opportunity to outline the UK’s unique chance to be a globally-renowned urban air mobility test-bed to the Secretary of State was invaluable.”

Within a week of the meeting, the Secretary of State’s policy advisor Gordan Baker, alongside other key stakeholders, contacted IUDRO about how the Government can help IUDRO maximise its potential once Brexit has been settled.

Perez-Llabata added: “The Growth Hub plays an important role in grouping together local businesses and allowing them to sustain each other, keeping commerce within the region. This sustainability will be key when it comes to adapting to a post-Brexit landscape.”

Craig Humphrey, managing director at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “Young businesses like IUDRO are central to growing the regional economy and the Growth Hub is committed to ensuring they have access to as much support as possible.

“Brexit will pose challenges for local business but it will also create opportunities. It is important that SMEs throughout Coventry and Warwickshire are aware of the resources on offer.

“I would advise all businesses across the region to take advantage of the support that the Growth Hub is providing. From roundtable events – such as the one attended by Alejandro – through to skills workshops, everything is geared towards getting businesses ready for Brexit.”

For more information about how the CWLEP Growth Hub can assist businesses in planning for Brexit, click here.