ABCC
Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK
Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 6036650
Business support campaign launched By Jessica Brookes
A campaign to provide free business advice and guidance to firms which have struggled to access Covid-19 related support due to language and technological barriers, has been launched by Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC). The ABCC Business Support Campaign will
provide free advice and guidance specifically for businesses in Birmingham and Solihull owned by those which have limited or no English language skills, and those which have limited access to the internet and mainstream media channels. The project is being supported by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). As part of the project, a hotline for inquiries will
be managed by a multilingual business adviser, who will direct businesses to free legal, financial,
Digital support
for Armed Forces A Birmingham-based digital agency has become the first company to sign the Armed Forces Covenant ‘virtually’. The Wow Group, whose CEO is Asian
Business Chamber president Qasim Majid, demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community by signing up to the covenant. Mr Majid was joined at a virtual signing
ceremony by Colonel Chris Ledaham, representing the Ministry of Defence, and Colonel Richard Maybery, CEO of the West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (WMRFCA). By signing the covenant, Wow Group
recognises the value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and military families bring to the business community and the nation. Mr Majid’s long-standing support for the
Armed Forces comes from his family’s military roots. His grandfather, father, and father’s brothers all served in the military. He said: “The WMRFCA have been doing
some sterling work in engaging the ABCC and the GBCC and we thank them for all the support that they’ve generously offered over the years. “The WMRFCA have recognised the need
to engage with BAME communities and wholly understand that diversity and inclusion is an integral part of the society that we live in today. Therefore, it is only befitting that on behalf of Wow Group of Companies, we sign the covenant to provide those much-needed opportunities to regulars, reservists, and cadets.”
40 CHAMBERLINK August/September 2020
property and accounting advice being offered by the ABCC executive committee members. Advice and guidance will be provided in a
range of languages, including, but not limited to, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali and Bangla. ABCC president Qasim Majid said that certain
areas of the Asian business community have been struggling to access virus related support, and the project from the Chamber aims to bridge the gap in the region. He said: “Members of the ABCC executive
committee have heard from all corners of the Asian business community that they have struggled in the last few months with gaining access to information on coronavirus support, due to language and technology barriers. “This has resulted in some businesses misunderstanding the nature of support, such as believing that grants will have to be paid back or needing to pay an intermediary in order to
In person: The ABCC executive committee at last year’s annual dinner and awards event
complete applications and receive funds. “We want to break down these barriers and
are committed to ensuring every single business in Birmingham and Solihull can gain crucial information, which may very well save a business from folding or making redundancies. “This campaign targets those businesses specifically, and will be ran solely by volunteers and members of the executive committee.” GBSLP chairman Tim Pile said: “The Asian
business community is a crucial part of the economic fabric of the region, with a huge role to play in our region’s recovery. It is imperative that any business owner who may be experiencing language or technology barriers is properly supported through this challenging period and that no business is left behind. “We are very pleased to be able to support
the ABCC with this extremely important campaign.”
President to step down at AGM
Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) will, for the first time, appoint its new president virtually. The organisation has announced that its
annual general meeting will take place on 23 September, where it will announce a new president, vice-presidents, and five new executive committee members. The annual meeting was originally planned to
be held in person in April, but was postponed due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. At the event, Qasim Majid will be stepping
down from his post as president of the Chamber, alongside vice-presidents Dr Haseena Lockhat and Lakhbir Singh. The trio have served for two years in the Chamber’s top team. Qasim, also chief executive of WOW Group,
said before the annual meeting about his tenure: “It has been a real privilege to serve as president of the ABCC. During my tenure the Chamber has
been hugely successful in a number of endeavours. “I’ve had the pleasure of highlighting excellent
businesses that are a part of our community during two wildly successful annual dinner and awards, we’ve ramped up our diversity and inclusion pledge, a benchmark of how businesses can weave inclusivity into the fabric of their operations, we’ve supported members through the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the devastating impact of the Covid- 19 crisis. “I extend my thanks to everyone who has
been apart or followed my presidency, and I wish the very best of luck to my successor.”
To find out more about the annual meeting or to book your place visit
greaterbirminghamchambers.com/networking- events/events-calendar/listing/
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