Pictured above: Paul Reeves

Agricultural businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire were given the chance to quiz one of the UK's leading economists to learn about the pressures and opportunities emerging for the sector at an event conducted at Yorkshire Bank's Financial Solutions Centre in Coventry. 

Businesses from across the area joined Yorkshire Bank's chief economist Tom Vosa and head of agribusiness James O'Mahony for a question and answer session as part of a national teleconference. The key speaker Tom Vosa said the agricultural sector was going through a period of major change.

He said: "It was valuable to be able to hear first-hand the issues that matter to people directly involved in one of the country's key industries. In the UK the agricultural sector has been badly affected by the global downturn and any signs of recovery need to be nurtured. There are likely to be opportunities to grow in the years to come but the UK market will also need to adapt to the possibility of rising interest rates while managing energy budgets."

Paul Reeves, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank's Financial Solutions Centre at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, said he was confident the teleconference had provided a range of answers on emerging trends.

He said: "We are living in a period of massive change for the agricultural sector and to gain an expert view on emerging markets and the state of the UK sector gives food for thought as we look to the future. To have such a comprehensive overview of the world and home markets is an invaluable tool for all those who took part and I am sure that all those involved took something positive from the conference."

The agricultural teleconference was part of a nationwide series of events being hosted by Yorkshire Bank to allow corporate and business customers the chance to network and hear from some of the UK's leading economists and professionals.