Business News
‘Having worked in Greater Birmingham for all of my working life, there has never been such positivity, excitement and anticipation for the future’
“Businesses of all sizes want to
know what the ground rules will be in future, so that they can make changes to fit the rules in their businesses and plan around them. A key issue for forward thinking businesses is how to go about investment for the future in a rapidly changing technological and social environment. “We have the fourth Industrial
Revolution going on and a lot of businesses will need to, and want to, re-invest, but will only do so when they can be certain as to the business model which they will be operating under. “In today’s global economy, the
basis by which we will continue to trade with the EU states and also gain access to global markets further afield - essentially the ‘Brexit Deal’ - could dictate where that investment is made and its volume. “There remains to be a good
deal of confidence in the manufacturing and indeed other sectors, of an ability to cope and thrive, with whatever deal is done by the negotiators, but businesses do require certainty and whatever deal is done, all require clarity, and therefore speed, in coming to a deal. “That all said, having worked in
Greater Birmingham for all of my working life, there has never been such positivity, excitement and anticipation for the future in our city region. We live and work in a fast-developing world class city to be proud of for the first time in many of our lives and this factor itself will instil confidence and drive into the businesses of the region and the people who work in them.” Johnathan said the
manufacturing sector was evolving to embrace additive technology and the likes of artificial intelligence (AI), printing and more advanced and widely deployed robotics. “There are going to be challenges to IT, with more robotics, artificial intelligence and the like. People are going to need to re-invest, to not get left behind while also having ever-greater care over the security of the data used in driving these technologies.” He said the “march of the machines” presented massive opportunities for the West Midlands. “A rethink needs to be done about the way things are manufactured. “There will always be a place for
the more traditional, ‘reductive technology’ but it will not be as dominant in the future as it has been. Additive technology will
enable you to manufacture things that in the past were impossible. AI and robotics will create an environment to manufacture faster, cheaper and more accurately than ever before. Therefore, the way is left open for the great manufacturing skill base of the Midlands to create high value solutions for a new age and put the Midlands Engine into overdrive. “There is a massive opportunity -
the West Midlands has always had a tradition of changing to meet changing circumstances and the opportunities for business are greater than they have ever been.” An office in the city centre
enhances the ability to deliver services locally and conveniently. He attributed the growth of
Crowe to “being client-focused and recruiting the right kind of people with the right set of values and principles. “We are celebrating our 175
years but we have evolved and will continue to evolve - whilst we evolve, we do not change, our principles and values continue to remain the same. “I am celebrating my 30th year
with the firm this year and we have a good, strong number of people who have been here for a long time. “We invest in training, we invest
in people and it’s rewarding to see people coming up through the system and growing with the firm.” Crowe UK employs 150 people
across its Midlands locations and over 800 people nationally. The firm is also an independent member of Crowe Global, the eighth largest accounting network in the world. The business was launched by
London accountant William Edwards, with the firm later becoming Edwards and Price. Clark WhitehIll was formed in
1982 following a merger between Clark Pixley and Fryer, Whitehill and Co. The firm subsequently became Horwath Clark Whitehill (1998). Horwath International became
Crowe Horwath International on April 1 2009. On 1 October, 2010, the firm became Crowe Clark Whitehill and on 4 June, 2018, rebranded to Crowe. “Helping clients to make smart decisions that create lasting value is at the heart of the Crowe value proposition. Our people work with clients to build something valuable, substantial and enduring with a seamless service to help achieve success wherever clients choose to operate or do business,” said Johnathan.
September 2018 CHAMBERLINK 13
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