One of Britain's foremost business figures will outline a hat-trick of essential policies to help the country recover from the recession when he returns to Coventry and Warwickshire later this month. (September)

David Frost, the Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, stepped down from his role this week - and will give his first speech since the move when he addresses a business audience in the city on Friday, September 16.

Frost, who spent eight years in the BCC role, is one of the keynote speakers at the 10th Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Economic Conference.

It will be a return home for Frost, who was chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber, before landing the top job.

But although he will no longer speak with his Director General title - the message will remain just as strong as ever.

He said: "From whichever way I look at it, the agenda remains the same - it is about the contribution that business and commerce makes to the economy at every single level.

"There are three core principles which will allow the economy to recover and there has to be action around them.

"Firstly, there has to be a real focus on the creation of wealth and measures to make that possible.

"Secondly, we need to stick to the austerity package. We cannot afford to waver from that. We still spend more than we can afford and the public sector grew at an unsustainable rate in the decade up to 2007.

"Business has had to pare back in the last few years and it is essential the same continues to happen in the public sector.

"Thirdly, we have to improve our education performance. We are, and will be, picking up the tab that is created by producing a group of school leavers who are not equipped with the right education and skills to play an active part in the work force.

"We cannot afford that on two levels - in terms of pure affordability or the fact that is makes it harder to compete globally.

"This has been a problem for a long time. Tony Blair stressed "education, education, education" back in 1997 and it is still at the top of the agenda.

"I am not rubbishing a whole generation of school leavers because there are many who have the qualifications, skills and capabilities which allow us and them to compete with anyone. 

"But there is also a proportion who do not."

Frost thinks that educational shortcoming "unquestionably" played a part in the summer riots.

He might be stepping down from his Chamber role, but he is not taking his foot off the gas.

He is the Executive Chairman of the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education, Chairman of the LEP National Network and Chairman of the education company Studio Schools Trust.

Frost still lives in the region and believes that - compared to other areas of the UK - Coventry and Warwickshire is in a good position.

"The resurgence of manufacturing and the recognition of how important it is to our future, positions Coventry and Warwickshire well," he said.

"Also, our geographical location again is important. We are in the heart of the country and look south to London and the South East which is booming. 

"There are many other parts of the UK without those advantages."

The Chamber conference is at the Coventry University Technocentre. Other speakers include Sir Peter Rigby and Lord Digby Jones. More information is available at www.cw-chamber.co.uk, or by emailing events@cw-chamber.co.uk