Executive Director’s Report

                                                November 2007

Ministers were challenged to ensure the transport network was up to scratch in the Black Country and that the housing led Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area works for our business community. The transport priorities for the West Midlands region were prepared at the request of a Government Minister. The Romanian Embassy reached out to Midlands firms. Firms will get fresh advice on how to get work from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Businesses were given a new service to avoid being caught on the hop following this summer’s floods.

Transport

The West Midlands Business Council’s lead on transport, Brian Summers, has taken a leading role in ensuring action is taken on the most pressing transport issues across the West Midlands region.

This work began after the Minister for the West Midlands, Liam Byrne MP, challenged regional public bodies to establish a transport priority list for him to consider and take forward. This work is still continuing with the full support and engagement of the West Midlands Business Council.

Communities and Local Government Secretary, Hazel Blears MP, was urged to beef up the Black Country’s transport network.

The call came from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and the West Midlands Business Council who expressed surprise that that clear recommendations to improve transport in the Black Country had seemingly been watered down by the Government.

West Midlands Business Council’s lead on transport, Brian Summers, said:

“Business welcomed the radical proposals to regenerate the Black Country as a result of the Government’s instigated Black Country Study to deliver clear recommendations for change”.

“However, we were disappointed that the original transport proposals in the Black Country Study were not up to the mark and so we were delighted that the Government’s Planning Inspector, who held an inquiry to consider this issue, agreed with our representations to beef up the transport proposals”.

“Now – though – the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Hazel Blears MP, has suggested the Inspector’s ideas for transport improvements are not necessary”.

“We strongly disagree. With the inspector calling for action for a better bus network and better links for freight, this must be the way forward to enhance the Black Country economy – which is critical for the wider West Midlands regional economy”.

“We welcome moves made by others across the West Midlands region for key transport policies - such as improving access to town centres – also to be taken on board by the Government”.

“We have made representations to the Government not to water down the transport proposals – but to support them for the sake of jobs and prosperity for families across the Black Country”.

Paul Coxhead from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Kingswinford based Targeted Training Projects Ltd added:

“The Chamber’s Get Moving campaign had made significant headway when the Government’s Planning Inspector agreed with our call to beef up the transport network in the Black Country - including ensuring there are better freight routes such as to the western part of the area”.

“We are surprised that the Secretary of State - so far - has suggested that the Inspector’s recommendations should be deleted as we believe this would be a set back for the future of the Black Country”.

“We have decided to team up with our colleagues at the West Midlands Business Council to demonstrate that business – in the Black Country and across the West Midlands region – are united in calling on the Government to heed the Inspector’s wise words”.

“Super City” Concerns to Government

The Government was urged to tackle the worries of the West Midlands regional business community following Government plans to make Milton Keynes and its surrounding area twice the size of Birmingham.

Communities and Local Government Minister, Iain Wright MP, was urged by the West Midlands Business Council to ensure his committee that makes key decisions on this growth area – the Milton Keynes South Midlands (MKSM) Inter Regional Board – acts positively on the concerns of the business community.

Senior Institute of Directors figure and Chairman of the West Midlands Business Council’s Milton Keynes South Midlands Working Group, Richard Ward, said:

“The massive development of the Milton Keynes area - all the way up to Daventry and Northampton -could lead to new business opportunities – but only if this growth area is planned in the right way”.

“We are worried that the Government is just thinking that this growth area will help relieve the housing crisis in London and the Home Counties – and forget the fact that any development that is a stone’s throw from the Warwickshire border and with Milton Keynes itself just 70 miles from Wolverhampton – is bound to impact on livelihoods here in the Midlands”.

“That is why we have asked the Communities Minister, Iain Wright MP, to ensure the MKSM Inter Regional Board takes the following decisions for the good of people in the growth area and here in the Midlands:

·        Improve the transport network before this huge development causes road and rail bottlenecks;

·        Ensure business developments – as well as new housing – is part of the growth area so that the area does not become one huge sink estate and that jobs can also be gained by commercial links between the Midlands and the growth area;

·        Guarantee that the implications of the growth area are not left to chance – by setting up a monitoring system that monitors its impacts so that decisions can be made to ensure the growth area helps – not hinders – the development of the Midlands”.

“These are modest aims – but aims that the Government has so far ignored”.

“The Government will soon start to feel the consequences of its actions – and we will continue to lobby until common sense prevails”.

Severe Weather and Business

Severe weather warnings will be given directly to the business community – after an agreement was reached between the Government’s Meteorological Office and the West Midlands Business Council.

The move made in conjunction with the Meteorological Office – also known as the Met Office - followed the chaos caused by the summer floods with many businesses having been unprepared and with traffic stuck on the M5 for 12 hours.

West Midlands Business Council Chairman, Barrie Williams, said:

“The floods of 2007 have hit many businesses very hard - with many firms taken by surprise by the catastrophic impacts of the severe weather”.

“Many businesses across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire are still recovering from these floods which harmed the livelihoods of families across the Midlands”.

“From today severe weather alerts will be displayed on the West Midlands Business Council website – www.wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk – which can be linked to all businesses wanting to be warned of bad weather that can impact on their bottom line”.

“The Met Office will be providing this service and we are delighted we have been able to work with them to ensure that we can do as much as is possible to reduce the impact on firms that may be hit by severe weather patterns”.

The Met Office’s Malcolm Weatherall added:

“It is very likely that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events so businesses need the best advice available. The Met Office can deliver real benefits in mitigation and risk with its unique expertise in weather and climate”.

To be on the look out for severe weather that could impact on your business please go to www.wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk

Romania Reaches Out to the Midlands

A top Romanian diplomat was in Worcester in a bid to reach out to Midlands businesses.

West Midlands Business Council’s Exports Champion – and President of the Midlands World Trade Forum as well as the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Peter Mathews CMG, said:

“When it comes to Midlands firms accessing emerging markets its pretty hard to beat the record set by Romania”.

“Following the end of Communist rule, Romania has become a rising star with its growth rate over the past five years making it one of Europe’s fastest growing economies”.

“On top of this, Romania is now a member of the world’s largest single market – the European Union – and this means even greater opportunities for Midlands businesses, whether small, medium or large firms to tap into the action”.

“We are delighted that – with the support of the University of Worcester and Mazars LLP – and by working with the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce – Midlands businesses will have a chance to find out how trade with Romania can boost their bottom lines”.

“We would urge any business that wants to know more about the opportunities from Romania and other emerging markets to contact UK Trade and Investment – free of charge – on 0121 380 3500”.

Ian Holder of Mazars LLP added:

“The range of joint ventures and partnering opportunities for Midlands firms to tap into with the Romanian market are significant”.

“With unemployment at an all time low in this central European nation, this a great time to think about working with Romanian businesses and exporting to Romania”.

“Mazars is delighted we can play our part in strengthening the business links between the heart of Britain and the heart of Europe”.

To find out how international trade can help your business, please contact UK Trade and Investment on 0121 380 3500 or by going to ww.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/west_midlands

Black Country in TV Bid

People are being urged by the business community to vote for the Black Country – in ITV’s The People’s £50 million Contest.

Business representative on the Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region Board, Glyn Pitchford, said:

“To make the West Midlands an even greater place to live there is just one major thing people can do to help make that happen – by voting online from 9am today on www.thepeoples50million.org.uk”

“It takes just seconds and by doing this, we could win the contest to get Lottery money for a new Urban Park to open up across the Black Country – from the unveiling of the forgotten caverns beneath Dudley to a 12 mile park linking Walsall and West Bromwich town centres right through to the regeneration of Wolverhampton’s canals”.

“With more than 800,000 people within a 15 minute walk to the new park this will massively improve the quality of life for people in the Black Country”.

“But, for business, it will do even more than that. Ensuring a good quality of life in the Black Country will help lever in inward investment into the area which is not just good for creating local jobs - but will help boost the whole of the West Midlands regional economy”.

“That is why the West Midlands Business Council – with its members stretching from the Chambers of Commerce to the Institute of Directors and across to the Engineering Employers Federation and many, many more – has thrown its weight behind the campaign to win the TV vote”.

“Together – by voting online on www.thepeoples50million.org.uk – we can win for the Midlands”.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce President, Peter Mathews, CMG added:

“I am delighted that the West Midlands Business Council and its members are supporting the Black Country in its project”.

“Sometimes, this region is forgotten as the original heart of the Industrial Revolution and the Urban Park itself would heighten the profile of this historic and very interesting area of the West Midlands”.

“This will help us to put the Black Country on the map in its rightful place in the history of the United Kingdom and – indeed – the driving force behind the original growth in the world economy”.

To vote for the Black Country please go to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

Olympic and Paralympic Games

Over 50 businesses attended a workshop in West Bromwich to find out about the commercial opportunities from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Further events are planned across the Midlands.

In addition, Nyas Communications, of Solihull, was chosen to produce a guide for businesses to help them bid for work from the Games.

If you want to find out about the free events near you to help you find out about the commercial opportunities from the 2012 Games please contact the West Midlands Business Council on 0121 245 0142, v.day@wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk

To find out about the many opportunities, please go – free of charge – to www.ready-for-business.co.uk

House of Commons and Scrutiny

The West Midlands Business Council responded to the inquiry of the House of Commons Modernisation Select Committee by supporting calls for a House of Commons West Midlands regional select committee to scrutinise the work that takes place across the West Midlands region.