Business News
Bring the games to Birmingham
By John Lamb
Birmingham’s business community has thrown its weight behind the city’s bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in 2026. The city has officially entered
President’s farewell
Greg Lowson was presented with gifts from Birmingham Chamber staff to mark his two years as president at a patrons’ lunch at Opus restaurant. Tributes were paid to the head of the Birmingham office of lawyers
Pinsent Masons at the lunch, sponsored by the Birmingham office of global recruitment firm Robert Walters. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of
Commerce, said: “It’s been a great pleasure to work with Greg and he has been a fantastic president, getting involved in the major issues impacting on the region as well as being the driving force behind CSR City.” Mr Lowson’s successor, Paul Kehoe, managing director of Birmingham Airport, was guest speaker and he urged Birmingham to take advantage of its resurgence by making a success of all the opportunities available to it. Pictured (left to right): Dawn May (Robert Walters), Paul Faulkner,
Paul Kehoe, Greg Lowson and Chris Poole, Robert Walters’ managing director – UK regions.
the race to host the Games and those looking to bring the global sporting event to the city are calling on the entire region to get behind the bid. The initiative has the full support
of Birmingham City Council, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Midlands Engine and is recognised as having the potential to generate in excess of £390 million GVA for the local economy, create thousands of jobs and catapult the region onto the global stage. And Paul Faulkner, chief executive
of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “The business community in Greater Birmingham will fully support this
initiative. It would present a huge range of opportunities for all businesses and the bid itself will bring a focus on Birmingham at a time when it is driving its importance on the global stage. “We already have a great track
record in delivering huge sporting events, including the World Indoor Athletics Championships, ICC Champions Trophy, Davis Cup tennis, the British Basketball League Finals, the All England Open Badminton Championships, the Rugby World Cup and championship boxing. “We greatly look forward to
actively supporting the bid, in which they will be competing with other cities, believed to include Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Edmonton in Canada and Liverpool.” Birmingham City Council will
now commission a full feasibility study and form the Commonwealth Games 2026 bid organising committee to progress the city and region’s ambition to host this high- profile event.
November 2016 CHAMBERLINK9
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