ABCC
Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK
Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 603 6650
Be brave, bold and emphatic - president
By Jessica Brookes
Be bold, be brave, be empathetic – that was the recurring theme at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce patrons dinner. Patrons of the Chamber, including West
Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Mazars, Edgbaston, Aston University, FBC Manby Bowdler, RBS and South and City College, attended the event held and sponsored at Malmaison in the Mailbox, Guests heard from president Qasim Majid,
who described the transformation happening in Birmingham. He said: “You can see the transformation that
is happening in Birmingham right now, but most importantly you can feel it. We as a Chamber and we as a community can harness what is happening in Birmingham.” He also discussed the core strengths of Birmingham being its young and diverse population, and how larger businesses may be able to learn from small businesses regarding diversity in leadership. “We’re small businesses, and I think a lot of
larger businesses can learn from what is happening in small businesses. “Our diversity policy is not by design, it’s a
natural selection - the right people for the job. “But I am preaching to the converted, its how
we get the message out of this city and beyond the region to really sing the praises of Birmingham to the world not just UK wide. He ended his speech with a simple message
to attendees that resonated throughout the event, “be bold, be brave, be empathetic.” He said: “We are all in this together, and I
think if we are brave, bold and empathetic we can make for a much better community.” Dawn Baxendale, chief executive of Birmingham City Council, also spoke to guests and reflected on her new role in the council and her relationship with the city. Originally from Huddersfield, Ms Baxendale
has a 25-year career in local government, most recently at Southampton City Council as their chief executive before moving to Birmingham City Council. She previously visited Birmingham in the 1980s,
and recounted to guests how her opinion of the city had changed when she visited in 2016. She said: “I came here in 2016, to a local
government association national conference. “I walked around and my jaw hit the floor, I
could not believe what I was seeing. Because outside of Birmingham that bit about reputation still lingers, about a place that is still lagging behind and not a place you want to be. “However the opportunities here are immense.
The economic fundamentals are better here than in Greater Manchester. In terms of SME growth, in the last seven years and especially in the last
46 CHAMBERLINK October 2018 Bold: Dawn and Qasim
year, are better than London. “You’ve only got to walk around the city to
see what is happening. This is a phenomenally exciting place to be.” She described the power of the young
population in Birmingham, the ongoing improvement of the skills agenda, the opportunities the Commonwealth Games will bring to the region, the Channel 4 bid and HS2. She said: “The real winner is HS2, I would describe HS2 as the same when railways first arrived in our country, cities and towns. It has the potential to be that significant.”
Pledge: Mike from Sport Birmingham with Anjum from the ABCC with the signed pledge.
Guests at the ABCC patrons dinner were also given an update by vice-president Dr Haseena Lockhat on the Diversity in Leadership pledge. There are now nine firms who have signed
the pledge or are set to sign the pledge, including Arup, West Midlands Police, Princes Trust and Sport Birmingham. Mike Chamberlain of the latter is pictured signing the pledge with the ABCC’s Anjum Khan. Firms who have signed the pledge will
take part in six workshops delivered by the Chamber. More details about the diversity pledge can be found in the November edition of Chamberlink.
Dinner guests (left to right): Lakhir Singh, Dr Haseena Lockhat, Dawn Baxendale, Saqib Bhatti (rear), Qasim Majid, Damian Goom (Malmaison), Tom Gallimore (Hotel de Vin) and Russell Jeans
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