Business News Growth Hub to help with Brexit
Many West Midlands businesses remain completely unaware of how Britain’s decision to leave the European Union will affect them, according to trade experts at the Chamber-based Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub. This lack of awareness extends
far beyond those who are in involved in importing and exporting, says Christine Hancock, one of two new account managers at the Growth Hub who have been brought in specifically to address ‘business resilience’ in the wake of Britain’s EU exit. “This will affect a lot of
companies – but, for example, we see a lot of companies who say: ‘we don’t export’ who go on to say they deal with Ireland, but they don’t realise it is part of the EU,” she said. Christine has joined the Growth
Hub from the Department for International Trade (DIT), where she spent three years working as an international trade adviser in Birmingham and the Black Country. Prior to that she was a
consultant with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), advising businesses on international communications strategies. She has also lived and worked in
Germany, France and Italy, running her own language and communications business The other new face at the
Growth Hub is James Roberts, who has experience of both the public and private sector. Earlier in his career, he set up and
ran a successful confectionery manufacturing business which was
then bought by investors. He then held a senior role in local government economic development in Staffordshire, and more recently has acted as a business adviser at the Growth Hub. “We will be working with
companies to look at overcoming barriers to growth, but at the moment the focus is on preparing them for changes and adapting to the new rules coming in over the coming months to do with leaving the EU,” said Christine.
‘Most companies probably need to review how leaving Europe will affect them’
“Companies may not be hugely
international, but don’t realise the impact this may have on them.” The new rules and regulations
will certainly affect importers and exporters, but also those in their supply chain, and any business that employs EU nationals. “The challenge is also for service
companies or firms travelling overseas for work – if a company has exhibited in the past at a trade show in Europe, it is now going to be different – for instance, they will have to pay customs on any samples they may take with them.” Christine said the first time many
companies might be aware that they needed to address the EU exit issue would be when they started receiving alerts from the taxman linked to their VAT status. However, the Growth Hub has
James Roberts and Christine Hancock: Many businesses are still ‘Brexit unaware’
already started receiving requests for advice from such companies, usually about a specific issue. Christine added that the Growth
Hub was also anxious to communicate generic advice to businesses, adding that whilst rules and regulations governing relations with the EU would stay as they were until the end of the year, there was a pressing need for companies
to take action immediately. She said: “Most companies
probably need to review how leaving Europe will affect them, directly or indirectly. Many companies are not prepared, but they have got to act now.” The Growth Hub plans to hold an
event at the end of this month to update companies on the latest position on leaving the EU.
Property chief named as Colmore Bid chair
Lettings specialist Nicola Fleet- Milne has been appointed the new chair of Colmore Business Improvement District (BID). Ms Fleet-Milne, who owns a
residential property agency on Colmore Row, has been on the BID board for seven years and replaces another property expert, Gary Cardin. Alex Tross, associate director at
property firm LSH and Paul Fielding, chartered wealth manager at Brewin Dolphin, have been appointed joint deputy chairs of the BID. Colmore Business District is the
Exciting period: Nicola Fleet-Milne
26 CHAMBERLINK March 2020
commercial heart of Birmingham, and is home to five million square feet of office space and a
workforce of 35,000. The BID plays a big role in enhancing the district by paying for various improvements and also looks after other aspects, such as security, via such initiatives as the Safe and Sound Working Group. The BID also hosts the Colmore
Food Festival, which attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year, along with various arts exhibitions. Ms Fleet-Milne said: “My time as
chair comes during an exciting period for Colmore Business District with 103 Colmore Row continuing to reach for the sky, the announcement that BT will be basing thousands of staff at Three Snowhill and the huge Paradise regeneration scheme taking shape.
“We will continue to grow our
busy events schedule, our Safe and Sound ambassador presence to reflect the changing face of the BID and its new bars and restaurants, along with our work enhancing the district with public realm improvements and seasonal dressing.”
Describing his role as ‘a privilege’, outgoing chairman Gary Cardin said: “It’s been an honour to be a part of the BID from its inception into its third term. “We’ve achieved well beyond
the successes we thought possible. I leave the BID in the best shape possible for its continued and future success and for it to develop along with the city.”
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