Opinion CHAMBER LINK


The Official Publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of commerce


Editor’s View


By John Lamb


We didn’t actually gather for group hugs, holding hands or community singing, but we did enjoy a regional love-in on a chilly Friday morning in central Birmingham. The occasion, rare in itself in the heart of Birmingham, was to celebrate Coventry and Warwickshire and although there was talk of an “invasion” there was unanimity from the great and the good (or would-bes, anyway) that we are better together. And the fact that there must have been 350 present was testament to that. Mayoral candidates Beverley Nielsen and Andy Street were spotted pressing the flesh, and Neil


Sutton Coldfield


Chamber of Commerce


Rami, boss of Marketing Birmingham, pitched in. There were even words, albeit brief, from John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, and


Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and chairman of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Many different political colours there but they were all united in one mission – the region must


pull together. Host Adam Dent, the PR man who is now “Mr Coventry”, remarked that the presence of Bob


Sleigh was not a good portent for the kind weather they had hoped for on the day of the event. Bob must be tired of hearing funnies about his name but I was amused by the tale of one


Front cover: Douglas Wright joins as Chamber patron See page 8


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


Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 607 1887, 0797 1144052 d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com


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


prominent Birmingham businessman who while attending a Test match at Edgbaston, was seated between Bob Sleigh and Neil Snowball, chief executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. In spite of that, the weather stayed perfect for cricket. Back to the regional love-in. The event was organised by Coventry and Warwickshire Champions, which is dedicated to bringing organisations and individuals together on behalf of the region to promote everything good in that parish, not the least of which is the city’s bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2021. This is, of course, something Birmingham has heartily endorsed. However, there is an air of “you


scratch my back…” with Coventry supporting Birmingham’s bid to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games. So all is sweetness and light. A good omen for the mayoral candidates and for the future of the


West Midlands Combined Authority and, of course, the wider Midlands Engine. And it was nice to see my home town shouting up for itself and we were grateful for the goodies


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they provided, including bacon sarnies and a very pleasant Coventry God Cake, which apparently dates back to the 14th Century at least. Let’s hope He’s on their side too…


‘A good omen for the mayoral candidates and for the future of the West Midlands Combined Authority and, of course, the wider Midlands Engine’


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Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth


Advertising 0121 765 4144 jon.jones@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 March 2017


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