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Opinion CHAMBER


The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce


LINK Cannock Chase


Chamber of Commerce


Editor’s View


By John Lamb


A new way of working through difficult times


Sutton Coldfield


Chamber of Commerce


Greater Birmingham


Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce


T Greater Birmingham


Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce


Front cover: Henrietta Brealey, director of policy and strategic relationships at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and (on screen) Jo Rix, senior consultant at Curium Solutions. See page 5


Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144064 j.lamb@birmingham-chamber.com


Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3238, 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


his edition of Chamberlink comes to you largely from the homes of the people who produce it.


Readers who have had difficulty getting their


copies of Chamberlink have been able to read digital copies at www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com by following latest news and in the Chamberlink app. These are just a few of the changes we are


being forced to make through the Covid-19 crisis – we are all having to re-assess the way we work and maybe this crisis will change life-long practices for ever. Working remotely is just one of the ways we


are cutting face-to-face business in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19. A great deal of what we do actively promotes


social gathering and networking as a valuable way of doing business, sharing contacts, best practice and supporting one another. That’s why we have launched several


Published by


measures (see pages 5, 6, 7 and 8), including a social media hashtag #KeepBusinessMoving to keep businesses up to date with the latest information. And you can also join our new virtual networking hour known as #GBChamberChat on Twitter each day between 11am and midday. A number of Chamber events are also being


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 April 2020


delivered online in a webinar format and we’re encouraging members to share best practices. As well as signposting firms to necessary guidance and advice, we’re encouraging businesses to continue feeding the Chamber, its


Council and Growth Hub so they can be helped to access the necessary support. And this magazine needs to hear from you. So


please keep your news, views and pictures coming to the contacts on the left hand side of this page. The Chamber is also continuing to lobby


regional and national stakeholders to ensure the support pledged by the Government reaches businesses. The situation is changing continually so the Chamber will be keeping abreast of the latest information from regional and national sources. The Chamber’s documentation department


will remain operational at this critical time, ensuring that businesses that rely on shipping goods are still able to do so. Anyone looking for a cheer among the gloom


could look, of all places, to Italy, the hardest hit European country. The current lockdown in Italy has actually instigated a significant boom in eCommerce sales. With people quarantined at home, and


schools, universities, theatres, cinemas, museums, bars, restaurants, churches and most shops except grocery stores and pharmacies closed, purchasing behaviour has been affected and online sales are now skyrocketing. Who can say that this won’t happen in the


UK? The pace of change and progress we were enjoying a few months ago has been tragically interrupted by Covid-19. We will pick it up again – but business life will have changed beyond recognition.


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