Opinion CHAMBER LINK
The Official Publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Editor’s View
By John Lamb
Younger generation poised to have its say
Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce
I challenge anyone not to feel a rush of emotion and pride if you walk into Birmingham’s magnificent Symphony Hall to be greeted by a choir of hundreds of schoolchildren singing their hearts out on the stage. They were having a ball and they are part of a
youth culture (I hate that phrase but it seems to work in this case) of which the city can be proud. In this issue of Chamberlink you will notice
that we are rightly celebrating the young people of Birmingham. From Rebecca Halbert, who won our Future
Front cover: Rebecca Halbert, winner of the Future Face of Greater Birmingham award See page 5
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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Face of Greater Birmingham award, to the fact that the city is home to one of the leading school symphony orchestras in the UK, there is, indeed, much to celebrate. Clearly, not all is sweetness and light among
the city’s young people and many organisations and businesses are working extremely hard to make it a better place for them to live. Under 25s account for 40 per cent of Birmingham’s population so keeping them and getting them to stay in the city is vital. Also in this issue you can read about an
organisation which is giving a voice to Birmingham’s younger generation. They are launching a major report which it hopes will change the way businesses interact with the city’s youth. Beatfreeks Collective, based in Digbeth,
Published by
commissioned a report into the younger generation’s attitude to a range of issues - everything from transport to arts and culture. The survey recorded the attitudes and
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4 CHAMBERLINK September 2018
opinions of 1,000 young people. Their responses are being analysed and we eagerly await Beatfreeks’ presentation on the results at the Town Hall next month. I’m sure it will make interesting reading and
may well shape our attitude to Young Birmingham for years to come. This should attract interest from Future Faces members because here we have a group of young people who undoubtedly care about the city and have great faith in the future of it. We can easily be lulled into the idea that “the
kids of today” belong to an entirely different culture from the “good old days”. Ok, a few years ago there was nothing like
today’s attractions to keep kids amused. The Boy Scouts and cricket on gravel in the narrow alleyway at the back of your house were about your lot. Today, anything seems to be within the grasp
of everyone, including those who think they might be “past it”. With this in mind, the Chamber is supporting
Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra – once described as ‘Birmingham’s best kept secret’. Our aim is to help make a secret no more. It comprises 85 children from Birmingham
schools and is recognised as one of the most accomplished school orchestras in the country (see page 7). Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands
is undoubtedly a young and diverse place. It is our duty to ensure that we give them all the best chance, which will, of course reflect on the region in years to come.
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