About Us

Coventry & Warwickshire First is the only forum exclusively for professional and financial services firms in the region, run by its members for its members.

The voice of professionals in Coventry and Warwickshire
Developing relationships that grow business
Events that deliver valuable business insights

Our members advise and support businesses from entrepreneurial start-ups to family firms and global organisations.  They include leading local accountancy, legal, banking, property, insolvency and recovery, and PR and marketing firms as well as both the main local authorities.

Providing a voice for professionals within the region, Coventry & Warwickshire First draws on the talent within its members to give expert opinions on a wide range of business and economic issues.

The organisation’s leadership represents members’ interests on relevant local boards and through its work with other organisations including Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and other key stakeholders across the region.

Members get the inside track on key developments and initiatives within Coventry and Warwickshire through a varied programme of events that includes:

First Friday lunchtime networking
Quarterly Keynote breakfast briefings
Social meetings including cross sector dinners
The FirstPro and YoungPro Awards

Fostering strong collaborative relationships between its member firms, Coventry & Warwickshire First promotes the collective capability of its members within and beyond the sub-region. It also campaigns for local organisations to procure from members based in the area and the members’ directory provides a quick and easy way for companies to find the right professional for them.

Coventry & Warwickshire First is governed by its board.  Click here to find out how the board is structured and selection criteria.

Led by the members themselves, the Young Professionals is a networking group that encourages the growth and development of the next generation of leaders in the professional and financial services sector.

1

Board Members

Chair

Kristy Ainge

Lodders

Chairman 2022-2023

John Rimmer

BRI Business Recovery and Insolvency

Board Member

Simon Cossey

The Yellow Growth Company

Board member

Dawn Cooper

Bromwich Hardy

Board Member

Ian Flynn

Invest in Warwickshire

Board member

Sue Ford

ActionCOACH

Martin Gibbs

Board Member

Martin Gibbs

Dafferns Chartered Accountants

Board Member

Wayne Gutteridge

HB&O Limited

Board Member

Tracey Hudson

The HR Dept

Board Member

John Norton

Coventry City Council

Board member

James Oliver

Yorkshire Bank

Board member

Brett Salisbury

Handelsbanken

Board Member

Jamie Skelding

Prime Chartered Accountants

Andrew Smith

Board Member

Andrew Smith

Shakespeare Martineau

Board member

Jonathan Wilby

Band Hatton Button