MIRA Tech Park,, one of Warwickshire’s foremost high‑tech assets, has welcomed a delegation of businesses from Cambridgeshire as part of a new partnership designed to strengthen industrial links between the two regions. The visit formed the first joint
Manufacturing, Automotive, Construction and Engineering (MACE) event of 2026, organised by the
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the
Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce.
The MACE Group, now six years old, was created to bring together companies involved in manufacturing, engineering and construction, enabling them to share best practice and develop new connections. Toward the end of 2025, the group extended an invitation to its Cambridgeshire counterparts, agreeing to co‑host events in both counties in an effort to widen participation and create a broader, more diverse network. Their first joint session at MIRA Tech Park provided a strong foundation for future collaboration.
Sarah Windrum, head of cluster development at MIRA Tech Park, said: “We were privileged to host the inaugural meeting of the CW and Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce MACE event and welcome manufacturers from across both geographies.
“We highlighted the investment we have made in virtual engineering and simulation to reduce the cost and carbon footprint of vehicle and vehicle technology development alongside showcasing the precision measurement equipment manufactured across the world by our parent company HORIBA. It was inspiring to hear from SME businesses on the positive opportunities they are creating by encouraging new talent into manufacturing and engineering and by embracing and investing in new technologies themselves."
Former Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce president Tom Mongan chaired the event and described the partnership as an ‘energising step for the sector’. He said: “I loved the idea of bringing two Chambers of Commerce’s manufacturing groups together and was intrigued and excited by the prospect of chairing the group once again.”
Inspirational planHe continued: “It was an inspirational plan and we were very lucky to have Sarah and her team host us at MIRA Tech Park. They put on a first class event, which left the Cambridgeshire delegation looking forward in eager anticipation to hosting the return event and they had to admit that the bar has been set extremely high!”
Delegates were given an introductory presentation before being taken on a tour of two significant projects currently underway at the site—projects that, according to Mr Mongan, underline why MIRA is viewed as one of the UK’s most valuable manufacturing and engineering assets.
He added: “MIRA Tech Park is a crown jewel in our region and all of the companies working within its cluster are truly world class. In my opinion there was no better place to hold the first collaborative meeting between two forward thinking Chambers!
“It was a great chance to come together to collaborate and discuss the issues faced by our sector, to meet companies not normally on our radar and to exchange views with like-minded individuals, all with the potential of finding a new customer or supplier. And I’m now really looking forward to the return visit and watching how this group grows!”
Zoe Brennan, events and training manager at Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the importance of the cross‑county approach for the wider manufacturing community. She said: “Cross-county collaboration like this is vital for our manufacturing community. By bringing businesses together to share knowledge, explore innovation and strengthen connections, we create real momentum across our regions. By working collaboratively and hosting regular cross-county events, we are helping manufacturers learn from one another, build resilience and drive growth across the wider manufacturing community.”