The SCR Chambers: East Midlands Chamber Events


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Leaders call for HS2 Eastern Leg


Political leaders in the Midlands have united with their northern counterparts to press the case for building the HS2 Eastern Leg earlier than planned – as new research showed it could create up to 150,000 jobs. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, they urged him to back his infrastructure pledge by clearing the way for Phase 2b of the high-speed network to begin ahead of schedule as they seek to revive economies in the wake of Covid-19. New figures show that the area linking


Leeds and the East Midlands has witnessed a £58bn shortfall in infrastructure funding over the past decade when compared to Greater London. Kay Cutts, the Conservative leader of


Nottinghamshire County Council, and Leeds City Council’s Labour leader Judith Blake also told Downing Street their economies are missing out on billions in potential every year because they struggle with unreliable and overcrowded trains, while communities are being cut off from good transport links. They said early investment in new


infrastructure is critical to Government achieving the goals implied by its levelling up agenda. Councillor Cutts said: “Our strategy goes


further than high-speed trains. We have developed detailed plans to make sure the benefits of HS2 extend to people at community level. So this is our route to future prosperity for everyone and the sooner we start building, the better.” Councillor Blake added: “We now need


Government to reverse historic under- spending and unleash the economic capacity of counties like Nottinghamshire.” Research commissioned by the councils,


and carried out by Volterra Partners, forms part of their submission to the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. Among the findings were that the Eastern


Leg is home to 13 million people and about six million jobs, equating to 20% of the UK, while 14% of the area’s working population is in transport poverty. Without HS2, it found that choked transport would lead to people across the area missing out on jobs. East Midlands Chamber backed the letter


by saying the additional capacity provided will “help our businesses to connect, compete and grow”. Mr Knowles added: “Bringing the HS2


eastern leg to fruition is particularly pertinent in a post-Covid economy, where connectivity between regional cities unlocks more opportunities for both businesses and the labour market.”


Despite the ongoing challenges associated with coronavirus, East Midlands Chamber is pushing ahead with plans to host the 2020 Business Awards – which continue to be backed by headline sponsor Mazars, which returns for its fifth consecutive year as a partner. Alistair Wesson (pictured), Nottingham office managing partner for the global audit, accounting and consulting group, discusses the importance of the awards and life in lockdown.


What are you most looking forward to about this year's Business Awards? I am looking forward to seeing how the underlying quality and resilience of the region's businesses shine through and hearing their stories, as well as how they are coping with the current trading environment and planning for the future. I think the awards provide a great showcase for businesses to remind us what they’re all about.


Do you think it's perhaps more important than ever to celebrate success at a time when every business is feeling the challenges of Covid-19? Yes – we are moving through uncertain times so every success should be celebrated and marked. We have all been battening down the hatches and dealing with the very real and significant issues out there, and moving our businesses through unprecedented times. To hear about and then celebrate the success of our businesses will provide some real positivity to take us into the new year.


How can awards like these help businesses to kickstart their marketing strategies for a new era? The awards provide a vital chapter in the marketing story of all applicant businesses, enabling them to gain insight from presenting their strategies - and then momentum - from showcasing their strategies and business successes to the region.


Do you have any favourite success stories from previous Business Awards? There are too many to mention – each year has had its stand out successes which have really impressed judges, sponsors and the region's business owners .


How has Mazars fared during Covid-19? What are the key lessons you've learned? We have managed the business positively and successfully. We have learned how to communicate electronically and how to work remotely without seeing anything other than a positive shift in efficiencies. We have ensured focus remains on communication and delivery, and we have re-enforced the need for our teams to engage with one another frequently and positively in order to stay together. We have also learned to operate outside the traditional office environment, something which I think will feature significantly for all professional services companies throughout the coming years.


If there was one thing from lockdown you could keep permanently going forward, what would it be and why? The increased feeling of community: an appreciation of those going the extra mile for us and the need to watch out for one another.


East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2020 will be split into three ceremonies for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, taking place in November and December. Each will feature 14 categories, ranging from Small Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year to Business Improvement through Technology and Commitment to People. This also includes the Business of the Year winner, which is chosen from the other 12 categories. Entries have now closed, with shortlists due to be announced at the end of August. Finalists will then be able to present to a judging panel via video call in September, ahead of the awards ceremonies.


FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES VISIT: www.emc-dnl.co.uk/businessawards


Summer 2020 CHAMBERconnect 43


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