Discover your Chamber

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) is helping even more businesses connect, support and grow as the business community emerges from the pandemic.

Having helped many firms weather the storm of over the past two years, the Chamber reported a positive sentiment among the business community in its final Quarterly Business Report of 2021.

The report – which surveys businesses from different sectors across the region – signalled a remarkable partial recovery in the final quarter of last year.

And while challenges still exist such as issues with recruitment, the positivity from the QBR data is backed up anecdotally by companies who have taken advantage of the Chamber’s vast array of services in order to grow and develop.

“I made more connections in one hour at a Chamber event than I’d achieved in months of online research,” said Laura Nott, from ovarian cancer charity Ovacome, who has utilised the Chamber’s extensive events programme which has returned largely to an in-person format after two years of online webinars.

Indeed, the businesses have shown a tremendous appetite for the Chamber’s live events programme since the resumption of face-to-face gatherings – with flagship events such as awards dinners and major networking opportunities like the Chamber Expo back on the calendar.

However, the online webinar format – one of many innovative additions to the Chamber’s services since the Covid-19 outbreak – still allows the GBCC and its network to be more far- reaching than ever.

For example, the Chapter Chat series, under the umbrella of the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce, has successfully connected West Midlands firms with those in areas of North America, such as Chicago and Texas.

Similar success can be reported for the Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber, with interest piquing ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Of course, there has never been a more important time for companies who do business overseas to be exploring new avenues and staying aware of changes to international trade that have come into force due to Brexit.

The international department at the Chamber is an invaluable one-stop hub for international traders – whether they require support with documentation, training, translation services or in-depth guidance on accessing new markets.

“The Chamber has been one of the best sources of support for businesses navigating changes in international trade,” says Trevor Thorley, director of Lakeside Products, the Solihull-based supplier of high-quality retail packaging.

In addition to making new connections and achieve growth, the Chamber also gives businesses a platform to tell their stories.

The monthly Chamberlink magazine is seen by nearly 10,000 people across the region.

Its online sister ChamberlinkDaily reaches around 15,000 contacts every morning and is packed full of news from across the Chamber’s 10 geographical and themed divisions.

Weekly bulletins for Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth and Cannock Chase continue to go from strength to strength, while filling a void created by the demise of local newspapers in some of those towns.

The potential for media exposure is another hidden benefit of Chamber membership. Over the past 18 months, learning provider Creative Alliance and sink manufacturer Teal are among those who have been featured on local TV news bulletins through opportunities that came via the Chamber’s Press & PR team.

The Chamber itself has also been thrust into the media spotlight, with appearances on national and local TV and radio to comment on the burning issues affecting business.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “The Chamber has been the leading voice of business in Greater Birmingham since 1813 – but we are far more than just a membership organisation that lobbies for its members.

“We help companies grow their profile, build connections locally, nationally internationally and adapt to the ever-changing world.

“What’s more, our initiatives have enabled firms to develop their workforces and future leaders too.

“I’d urge any firms with growth ambitions to get in touch and discover your Chamber.”

Find out more
LINK: https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/YourChamber