Opinion CHAMBER LINK


The Official Publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of commerce


Editor’s View


By John Lamb


The UN estimates that by 2030, 70 per cent of people will live and work in our global cities. How these cities develop will critically affect


the lives of people around the world. We are already seeing huge moves forward,


with cities like Birmingham eradicating the mistakes of the past and transforming themselves into places where people want to live and work. Solihull is perhaps not the first place you


would think of as needing regeneration is nevertheless forging ahead with plans to create a new city, or Garden City as they are calling it.


Sutton Coldfield


Chamber of Commerce


‘Ambitions for the future of our cities are bold and adventurous’


Front cover First retail award winner. Selfridges general manager Adam Hockney See page 6 and 7


Editor John Lamb 0121 607 1781, 0797 1144064 j.lamb@birmingham-chamber.com


You can now read the latest issue of CHAMBERLINK and view back issues online at: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com


Plans are embryonic but there is no doubt about Solihull’s ambitions. A report prepared by Arup and Solihull Borough Council spells out the vision for UK Central, a concentration of economic assets in Solihull that includes Jaguar Land Rover, Birmingham Airport and the NEC. And, of course, HS2, the new high speed rail link between London, the Midlands and the North, is very much an integral part of these plans. And this fits very well with the government’s


agenda of creating jobs and economic growth sustainable over a long period. As the UK/Arup report says: “The


Government’s agenda to create jobs and economic growth can be sustained here over a long period, with UKC in pole position to be the engine room of the West Midlands economy. “A strategic Masterplan has provided us with a


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clear roadmap for realising this potential in a managed way building on the qualities and assets that make UKC a location of choice - creating employment as well as economic growth.”


The future of cities is now a nationwide and


global phenomenon bringing together a new awareness that cities are the future and should be transformed into desirable places to live and work. That’s why the government has created a


network called the Future Cities Catapult, which includes Birmingham and nine other UK cities. Catapults are designed to transform the UK's capability for innovation in specific areas and help drive future economic growth. And they aim to bring together the best of the


UK’s businesses, scientists and engineers to work side-by-side on late-stage research and development – transforming high-potential ideas into new products and services to generate economic growth. They are designed to bridge the gap between


research and commercial reality and work with UK businesses, scientists and engineers to turn ideas into new products and services that will generate economic growth. The ten Catapults around the UK each specialises in a different type of technology. This will also be the theme of the annual


transatlantic business conference being organised this month by the British America Business Council, part of which is the Birmingham Chapter (see page 27). This transatlantic conference in London also


seeks to address what challenges cities and businesses face in a changing world. It will bring together business from across the US and the UK covering all 20 major business areas of the British American Business Council. Ambitions for the future of our cities are bold


and adventurous, creating low-carbon environments for areas that have for too long been neglected.


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Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth


Advertising 0121 765 4144 eamon.malin@kempspublishing.co.uk


CHAMBERLINK is produced on behalf of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chambers nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.


4 CHAMBERLINK May 2016


Birmingham Chamber Patrons


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