Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Chris Brewerton T: 0845 6036650
Sutton Coldfield Chamber Patrons
Charity of the Year
Chamber lends support to YMCA By Dan Harrison
Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce will be supporting children and young people’s charity YMCA Sutton Coldfield following a vote at the organisation’s AGM. Four charities were given the opportunity to
pitch to delegates and Chamber committee members at the meeting, which took place at Aston Wood Golf Club. YMCA Sutton Coldfield, led by Anita Ellis, won
the vote ahead of the Alzheimer’s Society, Good Hope Hospital Charity and The Buddy Bag Foundation to become the Sutton Coldfield Chamber’s charity partner for the next two years.
Chris Brewerton, head of the Sutton Coldfield Chamber, said: “It was an incredibly tough
decision for those voting but it’s fantastic that Anita Ellis and her team have been selected to promote local, Sutton Coldfield-based fundraising for such a positive and at times underestimated cause.” Services provided by YMCA Sutton Coldfield
include youth clubs for young disabled people, support and respite services for young carers, affordable housing and outreach work on the streets. Katie Hale, president of the Sutton Coldfield Chamber, said: “We are really excited about working with YMCA to help them build their profile and make a difference to young people in the area.” Meanwhile, Naeem Arif has been appointed to
the Sutton Coldfield Chamber’s executive committee.
Local knowledge: New committee member Naeem Arif (right) with president Katie Hale
Naeem is the head of consultancy firm NAC
Consulting, a director at United Carpets and vice-chair of the Midlands Retail Forum. The father-of-four has also written five books, including his latest release ‘Customer First’, which looks at how businesses convert and retain customers through good customer service. He was a pupil at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar
School and also represented the Royal Town’s hockey and cricket clubs – becoming chairman of the latter in 2008. Naeem said: “I have been a member of the
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for a number of years now. “In joining the Sutton Coldfield Chamber’s
Perfect pitch: The YMCA team were voted as the Chamber’s new charity partner Accountants find a new home
Sutton Coldfield accountants Inform Accounting are settling into their new home in Emmanuel Court, following a short move across the town. The new office is just a couple of minutes’
walk from the previous address, maintaining Inform’s long-standing presence in the town and ensuring continuity for local clients. Inform remains the only platinum Xero
accountant in Sutton Coldfield, and one of only a handful in the Birmingham area. Inform’s managing director, Sian Kelly, said:
“With the recent boom in Cloud accounting, plus new initiatives like Making Tax Digital, we’ve seen a number of new clients come on board recently to take advantage of our technology- driven services. “It’s allowed us to grow the team from three
to 18 over the last seven years – and a move to a new office was the logical next step. “We’re really happy to be staying in Sutton
Coldfield, and to continue serving the fantastic small businesses in the local community.”
executive committee, I will look to make use of my local knowledge in a community that I grew up in.”
Town centre plans
are put to residents Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell, West Midlands mayor Andy Street and local councillors are consulting residents in a bid to draw up a masterplan for the town centre. The planned summer closure of Marks
and Spencer has raised concerns over the future of Sutton Coldfield town centre, leading to a meeting between Mr Mitchell, Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and Gracechurch Shopping Centre owners M&G Real Estate. Now Mr Mitchell, Mr Street and Conservative councillors have launched a survey asking Sutton residents for their views on the town’s main shopping area. They are backing the Town Council’s bid
for a slice of cash from the Government’s High Street Futures Fund, which provides capital to put local ideas into action. Mr Street said: “We have got to think
about what else local consumers really want, and what would make them want to go into the town.”
June 2019 CHAMBERLINK 39
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