Contents


Contents October 2018


Business News 4 Editor’s View Businesses need clarity on Brexit


5 New president makes Chamber history


6 Member services benefit from Chamber’s strong financial position


7 New members elected to Chamber council 8 President’s Profile: Saqib Bhatti 9 Long-standing members honoured


10 President’s Focus Keith Stokes-Smith, Commonwealth Chamber president


13 Change consultancy welcomed as patron 14 Greater stability is needed for investment 15 Free memberships offered to STEM start-ups


16 ABCC president Qasim Majid on the importance of diversity


19 The Griffin Report Chris Rogers, founder of Pivotal, discusses Birmingham’s music industry


21 HS2 centre opens at Millennium Point 22 Music legend joins podcast 25 Land Rover launch pet packs


Chamber Patrons 28 Support grows for mental health initiatives


1813 Club and Premier Members 31 Digital tax initiative has little benefit


International Trade 32 Europe is still open for business


Features


Enterprise & Innovation 48 Why aren’t more businesses investing in R&D?


Health in the Workplace 54 Managing stress in the workplace


57 Driving workplace mental health and wellbeing 46 30


Chamber Group 33 Commonwealth Director appointed to Commonwealth Association


34 Future Faces Gymshark join as patrons


35 BABC US firm invests in the region


36 Chase Council publishes Corporate Plan


37 Sutton Coldfield Free WiFi is launched


38 Burton & District Plans released for town centre


43 Lichfield & Tamworth Superfast broadband is rolled out


44 Solihull Support grows for local football club


46 ABCC A powerful message for patrons’ dinner


The Hub 39 Chamber network calendar of events


Sector Focus 60 Finance Should graduates rush to pay off debt?


62 Business Travel Rail services planned for Darlaston


64 Retail Historic firm opens new store


66 Legal Are you compliant with NMW?


68 Property Business park enjoys a boom


71 Manufacturing Design firm marks partnership with MTC


72 Sport Albion initiative is a dream come true for fan


Member Section 74 Competition Win tickets to ‘Peter Pan’ at the Hippodrome


75 Member Profile Veriserv


76 New Members The Chamber welcomes new members


78 …any other business A round-up of news from Chamber members


October 2018 CHAMBERLINK3


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