Opinion CHAMBER LINK
The Official Publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of commerce
Editor’s View
By John Lamb
Expansion at Birmingham Airport is back on the political agenda at no lesser location than the Treasury. According to a report in the Financial Times, Jim O’Neill, the treasury minister, has urged No 10 to
look at the growth potential of Birmingham Airport, which, he points out (surprise, surprise!), will be less than 40 minutes from London after HS2 reaches the Midlands in 2026. He also says, according to the report, that Birmingham would offer exceptional links to the Northern Powerhouse cities of Leeds and Manchester when the northern extension is completed in 2033. In addition, Lord O’Neill is reported as saying a big expansion at Birmingham would send “a
massive signal on rebalancing the British economy”. All of those facts will come as no surprise to those of you who have been following this saga but if
Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
the penny has dropped in Downing Street it can only be a cause for celebration in these parts. Inevitably, there are many complications but maybe this is an opportunity for the whole region of
the Midlands to come out of the closet and support Birmingham Airport expansion. Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands
Front cover Paul Kehoe, president-elect of the Chamber See page 6
Editor John Lamb 0121 607 1781, 0797 1144064
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birmingham-chamber.com
Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 607 1887, 0797 1144052
d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com
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Engine, has repeated what he told Chamberlink last month – that Whitehall should back the largest economy outside London in its efforts to shape a new industrial strategy after the Brexit vote. So the time is probably ripe for the region to give itself a huge group hug. It is clear that the whole of the Midlands and the West Midlands in particular must work together to
‘This is an opportunity for the whole region of the Midlands to come out of the closet and support Birmingham Airport expansion’
drive home the message to Whitehall. While the Midlands Engine starts to catch up with the Northern Powerhouse, Sir John reiterates the
view of Paul Kehoe, who takes over the presidency of Birmingham Chamber this month (see page 6 and 7) that the regions must forge links with the rest of the world. And in order to do that there is strength in numbers. The region’s 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships
have pledged to work together, says Sir John, and that unity has already brought success. Foreign investment grew 130 per cent between 2011 and 2015 and Chinese investors have bought
the four biggest football clubs in the West Midlands. Fans may be learning to get over this huge takeaway with the view that if that’s the route to
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success, then so be it. There was an unobtrusive ceremony at Birmingham Airport which underlined the new spirit of Midlands togetherness and the need for the region to exploit all opportunities, whether global, national or local. The event was to mark the airport throwing its weight behind Coventry’s bid to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2021. As are Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
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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 October 2016
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