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Birmingham must ‘grip the potential’ says president
L-R: president Tim Pile, George the Poet, compere Emma Jesson and chamber chief executive Jerry Blackett
BY JOHN LAMB B
irmingham has been urged to “grip the potential before us” and work towards being labelled by future generations as the “New Victorians”. This was the message from Chamber
president Tim Pile, speaking to an audience of nearly 800 business people at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) annual dinner and awards at the ICC. He said: “We should be proud of what we have become. Of our potential. We
are Birmingham and have an incomparable history, a fabulous present and a hugely exciting future. “This great city, that was the home of the first industrial revolution, that
brought so much economic progress to the world, is at it again! “HS2, which delivers two new stations and the national maintenance depot,
will catalyse economic growth in so many ways. UK Central will bring together the exceptional assets we have around Solihull and the M42 Corridor. “Airport expansion. Digital investment. Transport infrastructure. NEC
development. The New Library. Paradise circus, the economic zones, new businesses, new innovation…
..the list goes on and on ….and represents £1.4bn of investment already under way.” He added: “I genuinely believe that if we do grip the potential that is before us, then not only will we benefit, and our businesses benefit – but also future generations will thank us and label this period as the New Victorians.” To support his view, Mr Pile spelled out the support that the Chamber can
bring to ensure that “business was at the heart of progress”. He said there were five keys areas of focus for a modern Chamber to serve
business – infrastructure, skills, innovation, exports and collaboration. “Tonight I am emphasising the role of business in transforming our economy. But business can’t do this on our own. “We have learned that shifting the dial on a regional economy needs a shared vision amongst business, local authorities, colleges and universities. Plus of course central government. “That’s why the Chamber has been such a dogged champion of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. You all will recall that three years ago, the Chamber led the writing of a bid to set up the LEP.
6 CHAMBERLINK MAY 2014 “Then, we ensured the LEP became independent of the Chamber so that it
could be representative of as many businesses as possible. “With heavy input from our members, the LEP has just submitted an
economic plan to Government that we are confident is strong enough to lever out more than our fair share of the £1 billion that is on offer to all LEP’s. “Moreover, we are delighted that the LEP has identified the creation of a
business support sign-posting service with the Chamber at its heart of one of only a handful of “game-changing” initiatives that it wants to start. “It was only 12 months ago that Lord Heseltine stood on this very stage,
urging the Chamber and the LEP to get on with this. We should hear very soon what Government thinks of our bid.” Mr Pile concluded by saying: “To a large extent here in Greater Birmingham
we must shape our own destiny. Determine our own future. Be the change we want to be. Obviously, the process of devolving resources to the region will help this process and help accountability. “A compelling and shared vision; a clear and purposeful strategy; real and
profound collaboration. These are the ingredients that will encourage those at the centre to loosen their control and allow us to take responsibility for transforming and improving lives of our citizens. “The best people to determine the allocation of resource to address economic and social need are the people in the region - you. “The signs are good. But we have a huge amount to do and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of commerce will do all we can to continue to build a thriving and successful economy. “We will ensure that we remain relevant in a modern socially connected world.
We will ensure we play our part in promoting the levers of growth. Helping exports, encouraging innovation. “Improving connectivity and infrastructure. Removing the barriers. Driving the skills agenda. Ensuring access to finance. Reducing youth unemployment. Connecting needs with providers. Encouraging collaboration so as to compete more effectively. “The Chamber will help business succeed. Help business thrive. Help business
grow. It will be the voice and the soul and the catalyst of business in any way it can.” Co-principal sponsors of the dinner were Mondelez International, Birmingham City Council and Total Gas & Power.
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