Business News
Sponsored by: Islamic Help
Calls for greater stability to encourage investment
By Jessica Brookes
When charity is a challenge
Businesses’ appetite for increasing investment in capital expenditure has not recovered since the financial crisis, according to analysis by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC). The findings, released as part of
the Chamber’s Invest to Grow campaign, follows examination of the GBCC’s Quarterly Business Report data from Q2 of this year. The report, sponsored by the
A common method used by the charity sector to boost donor participation and funds is the charity challenge. It can range from the fun run, bike ride or sleep-out to adventures in more exotic climes. The premise behind them is
simple; rather than just ask people to drop money into a collecting tin, offer them something in return. Not only are people more
likely to engage with charitable causes if they’re directly participating in something, so the thinking goes, but in many cases it encourages them to empathise and think more carefully and deeply about what they’re giving for. A common misconception
surrounding faith-based charities is that their work is restricted to solely helping those of that faith, and therefore – by logical extension – only people of that faith engage in raising funds. Thankfully, as far as we’re
concerned, that’s far from the truth. Not only does our work benefit those of all religions but those who participate in our fundraising activities are from all walks of life. For example, midwifery students from Kings College in London did a marathon walk around the capital’s hospitals to raise for a variety of causes including our Birth campaign for Syrian refugee mothers.
So if you fancy skydiving, climbing Kilimanjaro or bike riding around Andalucia and helping people in need at the same time, go online to
islamichelp.org.uk/events or call 0121 446 5682.
14 CHAMBERLINK October 2018
University of Birmingham and MCS Corporate, shows that businesses’ appetite for investment over the last 12 years peaked at Q4 2007 where 37 per cent of firms reported that their investment plans for equipment had been revised upwards in the last three months.
‘Businesses’ appetite for investing their assets has yet to fully recover’
The most recent results for Q2
2018 showed 30 per cent of businesses reported that their investment plans had been revised upwards but 15 per cent reported a decrease in spend. As a result, the GBCC are calling
on the Government to provide businesses with the stability and certainty needed to encourage greater investment. Henrietta Brealey, director of
policy and strategic relationships at GBCC, said: “Last month marked a
Talking investment: David Stevenson from HSBC, who spoke at the event, and Henrietta Brealey at the Invest to Grow business growth seminar. More pictures page 42.
decade since the start of the financial crisis and businesses’ appetite for investing their assets has yet to fully recover. “One of the most crucial
elements needed to encourage businesses to invest is confidence in stability of the UK economy. With Brexit looming and any detail on the UK’s future relationship with the EU frustratingly evasive, it is no wonder that businesses are opting for caution. “We are continuing to call on the
Government to put petty party politics aside and deliver the clarity and stability businesses need to plan ahead and invest accordingly.” The Chamber’s Invest to Grow campaign focused on investment in research and development (R&D),
innovation, technology and machinery. For two weeks a range of case studies, blogs, opinion pieces, podcasts and videos were promoted through the Chamber’s social media channels and website. Businesses interested in
investment were also invited to a Business Growth Seminar, sponsored by HSBC. David Stevenson, relationship
manager at HSBC UK, who was one of the speakers at the Business Growth Seminar, said: “It was great to meet businesses and discuss in detail ways that they can finance their investments. Invest to Grow is a poignant campaign that highlights how investment can aid businesses to achieve better productivity rates and future growth.”
5G test bed will be revolutionary
The introduction of the UK’s first 5G technology ‘test bed’ in the West Midlands will spark a revolution in the way the region’s firms operate, business leaders said. Greater Birmingham Chambers
of Commerce (GBCC) welcomed a decision to make the West Midlands home to a multi-million pound trial of new high-speed connectivity, which will pave the way for the future rollout of 5G across the UK. The Urban Connected
Communities Project, the next step in the Government’s 5G Testbed and Trials Programme, will develop a large-scale, 5G pilot across the region, with hubs in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
An initial £25m is being made
available from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), with £25m of match funding from regional partners. All funding is subject to approval of the business plan, and up to an additional £25m may be made available at a later stage, subject to the development of the project. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of GBCC, said: “The West
Midlands is home to world class research institutions and automotive organisations which are pioneering future mobility technologies, a largescale manufacturing base which is exploring new methods of innovation and automation, and a rapidly-expanding Financial Services sector – all of which will prosper from the transition to 5G technology. “A shift to 5G networks point
to a revolution in the way businesses operate, with higher download speeds increasing output, bringing about cost savings, enhancing efficiency and ultimately bolster productivity and employment levels.”
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