Black Country business leaders urge BCC to lobby on the area’s behalf
SENIOR business figures from the Black Country have held talks with the British Chambers of Commerce to encourage the body to lobby on behalf of the area.
Adam Marshall, executive director of policy and external affairs at the BCC, met with delegates from the Black Country chamber’s Platinum Group to discuss the needs of the sub-region.
Members of The Platinum Group participating were Colin Leighfield, from B E Wedge Holdings Ltd, Stewart Towe, from Hadley Industries, Kevin Rogers, from Paycare, Martin Dudley, from Thomas Dudley, Glenn Aston, from Ultra Furniture, Stephanie Maher, from National Express and Alastair Henman, from Zaun. The meeting was chaired by Ninder Johal, new president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
Issues raised included the area’s skills shortage and how Home Office restrictions prevented companies from acquiring high level technicians. Access to finance was also aired as was the problem of the area’s poor transport infrastructure and how it is eroding the competitive edge in manufacturing.
Other topics included a shortage of developable land, how more industrial land was being lost to residential use and how changes in the funding were affecting apprenticeships. They said there was a real risk that any new funding system would prevent SMEs from running effective apprenticeship programmes.
The discussion also touched on HS2 and the Black Country is pressing for clarity on the benefits of high speed service to the area. The Platinum Group also told Marshall that it was appalled by the short shrift Birmingham Airport received from the Davies Commission and saw the report as a missed opportunity for local businesses.
