PARTNERS Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT: Julia Gray T: 07753 453624
Aston Martin chooses Wales over Sutton - but still wants the West Midlands
N
ews that luxury car maker Aston Martin has opted to build a manufacturing facility in Wales, and not Sutton
Coldfield, has been tempered by the company’s announcement that a new electric vehicle will be made at Gaydon, Warwickshire. The electric car is the
RapidE, which will go into production in 2018. Gaydon is Aston Martin’s headquarters and main manufacturing centre. The Welsh factory will be at St
Athan, Glamorgan, and will build the company’s new ‘crossover vehicle’. Aston Martin said production of this vehicle, as well as the RapidE, would create 1,000 new jobs, with a further 3,000 in the supply chain. Dr Andrew Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin said:
“During our 103-year history, Aston Martin has become famous for making beautiful hand- crafted cars in England. Through a detailed evaluation of over 20 potential global locations for this new manufacturing facility, we were consistently impressed with the focus on
quality, cost and speed from the Welsh Government team. As a great British company, we look forward to St Athan joining Gaydon as our second centre of hand-crafted manufacturing excellence.” Julia Gray, business development
manager, Sutton Chamber (pictured), said: “Obviously there is disappointment that Sutton has lost out to Wales, as there is no doubt that Aston Martin would
have been a major boost to the local
economy. “However, the bad news is tempered
somewhat by the announcement that at
least part of the firm’s new investment will be coming to the West Midlands, in neighbouring Warwickshire.” Aston Martin has also confirmed that its new
DB11 model, which will replace the current DB9, will be going into production at Gaydon this autumn. The company said that Gaydon will become its sports car production centre, and will be gradually expanded so that it is making 7,000 cars a year by 2020.
Airport chief flies
in for breakfast Birmingham Airport chief Paul Kehoe was the keynote speaker at a breakfast event hosted by Sutton Chamber last month. The members’ only
event took place at Moor Hall Hotel, Four Oaks. Mr Kehoe (pictured) is
one of Birmingham business community’s highest profile figures. He joined the airport as chief executive officer in October 2008, after starting his career in aviation as an air traffic controller in the Royal Air Force. He has worked for a number of companies,
including British Aerospace plc, Serco Aviation and TBI plc, and has been CEO or managing director at a number of UK airports, including Belfast International, London Luton and Bristol, as well as non-executive director of a number of other UK and overseas airports. Mr Kehoe has been an active member of the
Airport Operators Association, being a director and chairman of that organisation between 2004 and 2005. He is chairman of Marketing Birmingham, a member of the Warwick Business School Strategy Board, board member on the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, chairman of the Skills for Birmingham Advisory Board and, most recently, vice-president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
First event of the year (L-R): Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner, Pat Murphy-Wright (Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer) and Julia Gray
A social success
The first event of Sutton’s 2016 business events calendar was a social which attracted more than 100 guests. The event – organised by Sutton Coldfield Chamber – took place at the
Brewhouse and Kitchen, who also sponsored the evening. Julia Gray, Sutton Chamber business development manager, said: “The
evening attracted businesses of all sizes and sectors at an event that looked to connect businesses and allow like-minded business men and women to network and share ideas. “The event, the biggest of its kind in the area, attracted members and
non-members alike and provided a social and relaxed networking environment. Delegates mingled around the real fires and soaked up the atmosphere the staff Brewhouse and Kitchen created. “Brewhouse and Kitchen, which opened just before Christmas, have their
own microbrewery on site and are part of a small independent pub group. Brewing ales named after the great and good of Sutton Coldfield, delegates from last night’s event sampled half of ale of their choice. “It was a pleasure to see so many enthusiastic local businesses, all passionate about Sutton Coldfield.”
MARCH 2016 CHAMBERLINK 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60