West Midlands business views presented to the Government by Chambers of Commerce

The perspectives of West Midlands businesses were conveyed directly to the Government as the region’s three Chambers of Commerce presented findings from an economic report in Parliament.

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, in collaboration with the Black Country and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers, hosted a Parliamentary launch for the final Business Commission West Midlands report.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath and several regional MPs joined business community members in the Churchill Room to review the report, which outlines a roadmap for stimulating business growth.

After Tamworth MP Sarah Edwards welcomed the guests, Raj Kandola, the GBCC’s director of external affairs, highlighted key points from the report.

These included AI and digitisation, innovation, net zero, the built environment and people, processes and skills.

Fresh from a meeting with new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and fellow regional mayors, Richard Parker participated in a Q&A session.

Business community representatives then took the spotlight, as Business Commission West Midlands chair Mark Taylor moderated a panel discussion.

Panelists included Eleanor Deeley, joint MD of Coventry-based construction firm Deeley Group, Anne Green, professor of economic development at the University of Birmingham, and Uko Umotong, co-founder of UB Healthcare.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “We were delighted to take the voice of West Midlands businesses right to the heart of government.  From the conversations with our region’s mayor, newly elected and re-elected MPs, stakeholders and our business community in the room, there is real appetite and energy for working in genuine partnership to drive positive change on business growth.

“The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is proud to champion our members interests. While the Parliamentary launch of the final report of the Business Commission West Midlands: A Roadmap for Business Growth was a key moment in the programme, there’s plenty more to come.

“We will continue to champion the recommendations over the coming months with all political parties and look forward to reconvening to review the impact one year on from its initial launch. Thank you to all of our members and partners who have contributed to the Commission. It’s a privilege working with you.”