Business News Business News Latest news from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
West Midlands’ first mayor means business
By John Lamb
Andy Street, our first elected mayor in the West Midlands, has spelled out to Chamberlink four keys areas where he wants to work with businesses in the region. Following his narrow victory over the Labour
candidate Sion Simon, Mr Street underlined the important role business will play in seizing the “big economic opportunities”. He told Chamberlink: “Now the dust has
settled on the election result, I think it’s really important to hit the ground running and set about working to deliver on the promises made in the manifesto. “And business has such an important part to
play in seizing our big economic opportunities and, through success, tackling the social issues we face. My message is that I’m looking forward to working with business in many areas. “First, the profile of the West Midlands: our
mayor needs to be a strong voice for the region, accomplished at putting our case to government and being an ambassador around the world. It’s something I had to do for almost a decade at John Lewis and now I relish doing the same for my home region. “Second, the mayor will have a key part to
play in driving up skill levels. There is a significant amount of work to do here in terms of co-ordinating between business and the education sector. “Thirdly, our shared economic success must
continue to drive down youth unemployment as it is such a huge barrier to social mobility.
In Brief
A Birmingham bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 has been endorsed by the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bid Company – on the same day the UK Government said it was ready to work with cities interested in hosting the Games. It also received the support of the city’s
business community and Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GFBCC), said: “The business community in Greater Birmingham fully supports this initiative. “The city had originally been preparing to bid
for the 2026 Games but plans were brought forward following the news that Durban would no longer be staging the 2022 Games. “The business community will be keen to help
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street (right) offers Cllr Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, the region’s formal backing for the city’s 2022 Commonwealth Games bid
“And, last but not least, I want to tackle the
issue of homelessness and rough sleeping in our towns and cities. I know this is something people are deeply troubled by and I am committed to leading our response. “In all four areas business will, I know, step
forward to play its part. The scale of the challenges are big but together I know we can turn this region into the UK’s economic powerhouse.”
...and Chamber will play its part
The West Midlands newly-elected mayor Andy Street “must make the region the best place to start and grow a business”. That was the call from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) after it was announced that Conservative candidate Street was elected after receiving 238,628 of the votes with a majority of 3,766 over second-place Sion Simon, the Labour candidate.
‘We wish Andy many congratulations after a long, hard fought campaign’
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC,
said: “We look forward to working with Andy as the newly elected West Midlands mayor. We wish Andy many congratulations after a long, hard fought campaign. “Partnerships will be crucial in order to ensure the Mayor and the WMCA achieve their aims –
both cross political party partnerships (there are both Labour and a Conservative Local Authority leaders on the WMCA board) and cross sector. “Throughout the campaign period we have
worked with Andy and his team to promote the GBCC, Coventry & Warwickshire and Black Country Chambers of Commerce “manifesto” Business Priorities 2017: Vision for a West Midlands Mayor and were pleased with the support Andy showed for the work. “We look forward to working with Andy to
help make the region the best possible place to start, grow and move a business and ensure a strong business voice is heard in the West Midlands Combined Authority. “While the General Election is understandably
taking a significant amount of media and political attention at present, we would urge the new mayor not to lose time in their (relatively short) three-year term and get straight to the business of establishing their office and delivering for the region.”
meet the challenges of this earlier bid, which will present a huge range of opportunities for all businesses. The bid itself will bring a focus on Birmingham at a time when it is driving its importance on the global stage.” Mr Faulkner is also Chairman of Sport Birmingham and a Director of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bid Company.
A new body – tasked with attracting investment, jobs, visitors and businesses to the West Midlands – has been established. The creation of the West Midlands Growth
Company was formally agreed at a Marketing Birmingham general meeting at Birmingham’s Crowne Plaza. Birmingham’s strategic marketing
partnership will become a new organisation, with a broader remit and new board. Formed by the West Midlands Combined
Authority (WMCA) and aligned to the ambitions set out in the WMCA Strategic Economic Plan, the West Midlands Growth Company will raise the profile of the region in national and global markets, making it more distinctive and attractive to investors. The West Midlands Growth Company will
work in partnership with LEPs, local authorities, Growth Hubs, universities and the private sector. Birmingham Chamber president Paul Kehoe, chairman of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: “Marketing Birmingham’s journey began on 26 April, 1982. “It is therefore fitting that exactly 35 years
to the day that the company was formed, we and the WMCA are taking this significant step to create a new entity, showcasing the economic opportunities available across the whole of the West Midlands. “By working across a unified region, the
Growth Company will be able to tell a much stronger story internationally and use this collaboration to its advantage in securing more investment and visits into the West Midlands. “The decision to create the new West Midlands Growth Company will build on Marketing Birmingham’s expertise for the benefit of the whole region.”
June 2017 CHAMBERLINK5
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