Business News
Annual Meeting Special CHAMBER PODCAST
‘I shall make sure we recognise good business people’
By Dan Harrison
Ensuring the region’s SMEs are ready to export in a post-Brexit world and championing business as a positive force will be Saqib Bhatti’s main missions during his two-year presidency of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The incoming president and
staunch Brexiteer believes Britain’s departure from the European Union will open up a raft of new opportunities to small and medium sized firms in Greater Birmingham. And Mr Bhatti feels the Chamber
is well positioned to help businesses seize those opportunities because of its vast international trade expertise. He told the Chamber Podcast:
“There are certain things that the Chamber is so well positioned to do, like getting our small and medium sized businesses ready to export. “The opportunities are out there.
As we start to look towards a post- Brexit environment we’re going to have to take advantage of those and it will be the Chambers leading on that journey. “If you are an SME in this region,
the very first port of call for you should be joining the Chambers of Commerce. They are such good tools to network, to connect with other businesses and to get your message out there. “Over the next two years it will
be about making sure our small to medium businesses – working with the Local Enterprise Partnerships and the West Midlands Combined Authority – are getting those opportunities so that we can grow and thrive.” Mr Bhatti is also keen to give
businesses who make a positive impact in society the recognition they deserve. He added: “I also think business
is often vilified when things go wrong but actually there is a lot of good stuff that happens that we are not appreciated for and we are almost seen as a go-to for when it comes to raising taxes or money or funds. “What I am also going to be
doing is championing business throughout the next two years, making sure good business people and good businesses are recognised for the contributions they make to the economy and to society.”
CHIEF EXECUTIVE: PAUL FAULKNER Strong finances lead to improved member services
member services through its investment plan, chief executive Paul Faulkner said. He added: “I am delighted that
T
we have again recorded a strong financial performance for the 2017/2018 financial year. The Chamber continues to make surpluses sufficient to fulfil our pension fund obligations and increase our revenue reserves. “And this has allowed us to
improve member services through our Investment Plan. We have deliberately reorganised our operations so that we could de-risk the business going forward by
6 CHAMBERLINK October 2018
he Chamber’s strong financial position has allowed it to improve
creating income streams that are less dependent on any single element of the business. “And in tandem with all of this,
we have created great policy and communication strategies backed by an amazing events programme, with over 250 taking place during the year. “Businesses still value the personal contact that takes place through networking at a myriad of events, which is headed by our annual dinner - now THE showpiece of the Birmingham business world. “I’d like to highlight and thank
the amazing team I work with at the Chamber, who strive tirelessly to support our members and make a positive difference every day.
“Welcome also to our new
president, Saqib Bhatti. I’ve been fortunate to see at close quarters over the past few years what an impressive person and leader Saqib is. His four years as president of the ABCC will certainly stand him in good stead for the next two years, and we are very much looking forward to working closely together and continuing to drive the Chamber forward. “I’d like to place on record my
thanks to our outgoing president, Paul Kehoe. I feel extremely fortunate and blessed, both from a
professional and personal perspective, to have had the opportunity to really get to know Paul well and to work in tandem over the past two years. “I have learned an incredible
amount from him and seen the massively positive impact he has had on the Chamber during his presidency. It has been a true pleasure working with Paul as our president, and I am delighted that he will be continuing to add his experience and leadership to the Chamber family as a member of our board.”
‘I’d like to highlight and thank the amazing team I work with at the Chamber’
Mr Bhatti was speaking on the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s podcast, which is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audioboom and
www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com
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