BUSINESS NEWS
Christine Braddock hands over the Birmingham Chamber presidency to Michael Ward, with vice president Steve Brittan
Two new members bolster affiliates
BY PHILIP PARKIN
Two new affiliate members have joined Birmingham Chamber, one of which is an organisation which represents the interests of co-operative businesses in the region. Co-operatives West Midlands is one of nine regional councils set up to promote this increasingly important sector. Jenny de Villiers, of Co-operatives
West Midlands, said: “Co-operatives are based on a set of values and principles working towards shared aims, trustworthiness and working together and addressing wider issues that impact on society. “There are over 800 million members globally, a turnover of $1.1 trillion and employing 100 million people.”
In the UK, there are 5,450 co-
operative businesses in the UK and 12.8 million members. The co- operative businesses employ 236,000 people and have a combined turnover of £33.2bn. In the West Midlands, there are
‘There are some tremendous organisations we could work with – like Marketing Birmingham, Birmingham Forward, the CBI and the law society’
Chamber on behalf of Birmingham and the region so I hope you feel the Chamber has represented you well. The Chamber Council confirmed the appointment of Steve Brittan, managing director of BSA Tools, the Birmingham-based machine tool manufacturer, as vice-president. Simon Warr was due to assume the presidency this year but work
commitments abroad mean he will remain a vice-president. Mr Brittan said: “I am passionate about UK plc and Birmingham in particular. There is going to be a real challenge to encourage vocational skills so that we can get talented technicians planning the future and turn those ideas into reality. “The issue of red tape must be tackled to help the smaller business. A lot of companies in this category do not really know if they are breaking the law or not because they cannot afford to get the advice that cuts through legislation. We have got to consider this impact on smaller businesses.” The meeting, held at the Sutton Coldfield campus of Birmingham
Metropolitan College, was also addressed by Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield and Secretary of State for International Development.
Pictured (left to right): Ian Harvey, The Wine Tasting Company; Kate Gilbert, Whitewall Galleries; Sadie Qureshi, Kids Out; John O’Sullivan, Towry Ltd
Raising a glass to charity
A Birmingham firm of wealth advisers, which provides independent financial advice and independent investment management to private clients, has raised £580 for the charity Kids Out. Towry Limited held an evening of wine tasting with professional partners
at the Whitehall Galleries in Birmingham City Centre and raised money for the organisation which helps disadvantaged children.
NOVEMBER 2011 CHAMBERLINK 7
207 co-operatives, employing some 14,000 people. The co- operatives range from retail co- operatives, such as The Midcounties Co-operative, Midlands Co- operative Society, The Co-operative Group, Tamworth Co-operative Society and Heart of England Co- operative to smaller co-operatives such as the Foster Care Co- operative, Telford Tigers and Redditch Co-operative Homes. Ms de Villiers said: “Co-
operatives West Midlands is delighted to be part of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce - linking and sharing values to promote business enterprise in the West Midlands to mutual advantage. “The UK is more willing than ever
to learn how co-operatives are good for everyone. Co-operatives are different in three ways: they share their ownership, share their profits and share global success. “The workers and consumers are
the owners and often give priority not only to pursue profit but to support local community projects and ethical campaigning.” The other new affiliate member is the Women’s Networking Hub, an online resource to help women launch businesses and share skills. Co-ordinator Shahida Choudhry said: “I hope this initiative will inspire women to be the best they can be and also support local communities across the Midlands.” Birmingham Chamber’s affiliate membership scheme may have only been running for nine months – but it has already been a huge success. There are now 21 affiliate members of the Chamber which gives the Chamber a greater voice throughout the region, by engaging with sectors of industry and commerce that otherwise would not be reached, such as small retailers and the construction industry. The organisations are
automatically given affiliate member status, which gives them a limited range of Chamber services.
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