University Vice Chancellor appointed to chair city business group

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton has been appointed as the new chair of one of the city’s business organisations.

Professor Ian Oakes has taken over the role as chair of the Wolverhampton Business Champions.

The group brings together some of the city’s most prominent employers including the University, Marston’s, UTC Aerospace Systems, JLR, Moog and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

The role of the Business Champions is to work with the city council, local politicians and other key stakeholders to help make Wolverhampton a better place to live, work, invest and visit.

Prof Oakes has been a member of the group for a number of years and takes over as chair from Phil Barnett, former divisional director of Marston’s.

Prof Oakes said: “There is a lot of optimism in Wolverhampton at the moment in terms of regeneration and investment.

“The role of the Business Champions is to help businesses in the city to prosper and to work closely with the city council, the (Black Country) Local Enterprise Partnership and other key organisations including the newly established Combined Authority to do all we can to benefit the local economy and create jobs and investment.

“The outlook for the city is very positive with a number of projects coming to fruition like i10 and the recently completed Science Centre on the University’s Science Park and many more in the pipeline including Westside, Springfield, Canal Side, i9 and the area around the railway station and transport interchange.”

He also said the city’s strong manufacturing base was evolving towards high value manufacturing and the production of high cost precision components.

“This is especially relevant when you consider recently the UK recorded its highest manufacturing output for 10 years and Wolverhampton has been highlighted as one of hotspots for starting a new business. Working together we must ensure that the city can benefit from projects such as HS2 and the creation of the new West Midlands Combined Authority,” he added.

In an issue close to his heart, he said every effort had to be made to retain graduates in the area and to ensure their skills were industry-ready.

Prof Oakes is a former member of the Black Country LEP and a current member of the Marches LEP. He is also chief executive of the University of Wolverhampton Science Park.