Pictured: Ali Kurji, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society.
HEART OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY THROWS ITS WEIGHT BEHIND COVENTRY’S UK CITY OF CULTURE BID
Monday, June 26, 2017
The Society has become a member of the 2021 Club, which has been set up to allow companies of all sizes and sectors to show support for the bid.
Coventry is one of 11 cities vying for the title – competing against Hereford, Paisley, Perth, Portsmouth, St David’s and the Hundred of Dewisland, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Swansea, Warrington and Wells.
A shortlist of four is expected to be announced before the summer while the winning city is expected to be revealed by the end of the year.
The team behind Coventry’s bid say the long-term effects of winning the 2021 title are far reaching – with more job prospects, more things to see and do in Coventry, more places to eat, shop and visit, and changing the reputation of a city. The current title holder, Hull, has organised a programme of cultural events to run every day this year to celebrate its title.
Ali Kurji, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: “We are delighted to support Coventry’s bid to become the UK City of Culture for 2021.
“This city has been instrumental in helping to build our Society over the past 185 years. Generations of families throughout the city have remained loyal to us from when we were first formed by nine ribbon weavers in Foleshill in 1832, through to our continued expansion across Coventry and into south Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
“The UK City of Culture title is hugely important for Coventry and would bring dramatic social, cultural and economic benefits to the city and the wider region.”
Michael Mogan, of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said; “Our 2021 Club has proved to be hugely popular with businesses across the region and we are so pleased that the Heart of England Co-operative Society has come on board.
“The support we have received from business is helping us to put together an outstanding bid for Coventry.”
To show your support for Coventry’s bid on social media, go to @Coventry2021 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information, log onto www.coventry2021.co.uk
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