Opinion CHAMBER


The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce


LINK Cannock Chase


Chamber of Commerce


Editor’s View


By John Lamb


What will the new normal mean for our businesses?


Sutton Coldfield


Chamber of Commerce


Greater Birmingham


Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce


that brighter days are on the way. With Boris easing us out of lockdown and the


S Greater Birmingham


Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce


Front cover: Stuart Cain, chief executive of Edgbaston Cricket Ground See page 20-21


Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3237, 0797 1144064 j.lamb@birmingham-chamber.com


Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144052 d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com


Reporter Jessica Brookes 0750 8317356 j.brookes@birmingham-chamber.com


You can now read the latest issue of CHAMBERLINK and view back issues online at: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com


prospect of finally beating the virus, hope springs eternal. And that is one of the great assets our region seems to have – a determination to beat whatever is thrown at us. This has been evident in most of the surveys undertaken among the Chamber membership and the shape of that bright future has been given a great boost by increased electric car production in the region. The prospect of a giga- factory making batteries for these cars and Royal Assent for another stage of HS2. And, of course, as our front page testifies –


cricket is back! What better or more certain confirmation do we need to prove that life is slowly returning to normal? But what will normal look like in, say, 12


months time? Every business is anticipating changing times, not the least following the government’s announcement that rapid workplace testing will be expanded to office and businesses that are unable to work from home. The lateral flow testing regime will be offered


Published by


to businesses with more than 50 employees, down from the previous 250. But this brought some unexpected results. A survey revealed that 57 per cent of workers


Kemps Publishing Ltd 11 The Swan Courtyard, Charles Edward Road, Birmingham B26 1BU 0121 765 4144 www.kempspublishing.co.uk


Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth


Advertising 0121 765 4144 jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk


Printers Stephens & George Print Group


PRIVACY NOTICE: Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber members and Kemps' customers; and


• To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects.


Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. If you wish to, you can visit www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard.


CHAMBERLINK is produced on behalf of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chambers nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.


4 CHAMBERLINK March 2021


– 11.8 million – did not want to go back to normal ways working in an office environment with regular office hours. And 65 per cent of them said they would not feel comfortable using public transport to go to and from work.


pring might not quite be sprung but at least our front page picture can be interpreted as offering a little bit of hope


Accountancy and consultancy firm Theta


Global Advisors also discovered from national search that 44 per cent of people currently working from home do not expect to return to the office until next year. This presents a worrying picture for most


firms, who may have to face the prospect that normal working practices will take some time to reintroduce. And that will mean many businesses will have to adapt new policies for a workforce reluctant to return to normal business. The pandemic has taught us all that there is


no need to flog into cities by road and rail to complete a day’s work given digital technology. And that has, of course, led to experiencing working practices that staff don’t want to change. It has given them an opportunity to enjoy a better work-life balance and the world of work has changed, possibly irrevocably. So employees and managers will have to face


up to some tough issues as the lockdown starts to ease. If they cannot guarantee that their workforce is as productive at home than it is in the workplace, will they be able to insist on a return to old ways? And in that case, companies could risk losing


some of their best talent to businesses with more flexible practices or freelance and consultancy work. In that sense, repercussions from the pandemic


are likely to last into next year and there will be much debate about the future of the office in particular. Will some changes become permanent and can remote working achieve the desired outcomes? The debate will go on and a vaccination will not come up with the answers.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72