Business News
Online platform cuts through Brexit ‘noise and confusion’
A free online tool launched by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) aims to cut through the “noise and confusion surrounding Brexit”. The Business Brexit Health
Check helps businesses find information on how Brexit may impact their organisation, tailored to answers they provide to in a questionnaire. Businesses will also receive a
personalised report which includes suggested steps for preparing for Brexit related risks or taking up opportunities. According to research released
by British Chambers of Commerce, 62 per cent of businesses in the West Midlands had yet to undertake a risk assessment on the impact of Brexit on their business. Henrietta Brealey, director of
policy and strategic relationships at the GBCC, said: “We are starting to get more and more questions from businesses on what they can do to start preparing for Brexit now. “You asked – and we
delivered. There are thousands of pages of Brexit related advice, guidance and news reports published each day. With this tool we’re aiming to cut through the noise and confusion
‘This tool can help businesses get started’
surrounding Brexit and get businesses the information they need to start planning. “While there are still a number
of uncertainties surrounding Brexit there are practical steps that businesses can take now to understand how it may impact their organisation and reduce their exposure to potential risks. This tool can help businesses get started. We will be continuing to update the Business Brexit Health Check with the latest available information on key Brexit scenarios and how they may impact businesses over the coming months. “I’d particularly like to extend
my thanks to our GBCC Brexit Advisory group for their support in creating this resource.” The GBCC Brexit Advisory
Group is a sounding board of Brexit experts and business representatives who act to inform the GBCC’s Brexit activity.
To complete a free Business Brexit Health Check please visit:
www.greaterbirminghamchamb
ers.com/brexit
Current members of the GBCC Brexit Advisory Group are:
• Clare Francis - partner, Pinsent Masons • Jennifer Crisp - public affairs manager, University of Birmingham • Mark Modena - director, Winning Moves • Martin Hanson - regional director business banking, HSBC • Omer Simjee - partner, Constantine Law • Paul Knobbs - EU and large projects partner, Aston University • Richard Guy - co-founder and joint managing director, SimkissGuy Recruitment
• Rick Grain - Managing director, Effigy Blinds • Rachael Maloney - business development manager, RSM • Steve Brittan - Managing director, BSA Technologies
City in strong employment growth position
Birmingham’s employment growth is expected to be in the top 10 across UK cities in the three months following the UK’s scheduled date for leaving the EU, according to a new report. The UK Powerhouse study by
law firm Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), says that Birmingham’s year-on-year employment growth in Q2 2019 will reach 1.6 per cent. According to the league table,
Coventry is down in 34th position with a 0.7 per cent growth in jobs, while Wolverhampton’s 0.1 per cent increase puts it down in 43rd place. Despite the relatively strong
performance in terms of employment, Birmingham’s annual
GVA is forecast to fall from 2.1 per cent in Q2 2018 to 1.1 per cent in Q2 2019. The report commended Birmingham’s efforts for pursuing a policy to reduce youth unemployment. The city secured funding from
the EU for a Youth Employment Initiative in 2016, which has been supporting the rate of employment growth recently. However, support from the EU will end when the UK leaves the EU. It also raised a number of other
concerns for the future, stating that the difficulties that are expected to be faced by the automotive sector could hit the Midlands region hard and eventually see a shift in migration towards London and the South. Chris Rawstron, partner at Irwin
‘The report commended Birmingham’s efforts for pursuing a policy to reduce youth unemployment’
Mitchell in Birmingham, said: “The overall impacts of Brexit on the West Midlands in the long term prove difficult to measure without clear guidelines and a deal in place. “The UK will ultimately be
responsible for managing and securing its own trade deals and though there are clear opportunities, these will have to be balanced alongside the short term risks which will be realised shortly after the UK’s official departure. “One thing that the last decade
has taught us is that despite the hugely disruptive force of the financial crisis, the UK economy has been incredibly resilient. It is vital that we tackle the challenges head on and take advantage of the new opportunities that emerge. “The UK is a global powerhouse
and the Midlands region plays a big role in this. We need to stay positive and work together to ensure this remains to be the case.”
Chris Rawstron: UK economy is ‘incredibly resilient’
December 2018/January 2019 CHAMBERLINK 13
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