Bumper shortlist announced as firms vie for Chamber awards success

Seventy-eight businesses are chasing glory at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 2024 annual dinner and awards on Thursday 15 February 2024.

Bumper shortlist as firms vie for Chamber awards success

A record 85 companies are vying to be named Greater Birmingham’s top business in the region’s biggest virtual awards extravaganza next month.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual awards will take place online in an evening of drama and entertainment on Tuesday 27 July.

Supported by headline sponsors Birmingham City University and Inspired Energy PLC, the free-to-watch ceremony will be hosted on the Chamber’s website where the winners of 12 categories will be named before the overall Business of the Year is revealed.

Birmingham City Council are also supporting the event.

As well as the 12 sector awards and the Greater Birmingham Business of the Year, Chamber president Steve Allen will announce the winner of his President’s Award.

The 85 shortlisted firms were chosen by a judging panel including Inez Brown (president, Birmingham Law Society), Stuart Thomas (head of BBC Midlands), Ian Reid (CEO, Birmingham 2022), Kelly Haslehurst (marketing director, NEC Group) and Jodh Dhesi (CEO, The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham).

Chair of the judging panel was the Chamber’s chief commercial officer Katrina Cooke (pictured), who said: "Despite the challenges facing businesses over the past year, we still received a tremendous number of entries for our annual awards. This presented our judging panel with an unenviable task.

"The quality of entries really highlights how businesses have shown resilience and, in many cases, adapted their offering in the most challenging of environments."

The shortlist - from which the category winners and the Greater Birmingham Business of the Year - will be crowned is:

Excellence in Contribution to the Community
(Sponsored by South & City College Birmingham)
5UP CIC
ACE Dance and Music
Birmingham City University
Digital Innovators
Gro-Organic CIC
Midland Sailing Club
Millennium Point
Services For Education

Excellence in Customer Service
(Sponsored by runyourfleet)
Evac+Chair International
Inform Accounting Ltd
Intercity Technology
Lloyds Bank
Midland Health
National Memorial Arboretum
Unique Venues Birmingham
Urban Body

Excellence in Hospitality & Retail
Caviar & Chips
Millennium Point
Selfridges
The Barn at Berryfields
The Night Owl
Touchwood Solihull
Unique Venues Birmingham
United Carpets

Excellence in International Business
Flexeserve
International Synergies Limited
Lakeside Products Ltd
Y International UK Ltd

Excellence in Manufacturing
Deakin & Francis
Evac+Chair International
Hardy Signs Ltd
Selwood Pump Company Limited
Shelforce

Excellence in People Development
(Sponsored by Aston University)
Acorn Analytical Services
Curium Solutions Ltd
EiB Group Ltd
Entec Si Ltd
Fortem
Grant McKnight Ltd
Mills & Reeve
PI-KEM Ltd
Shelforce

Excellence in Responsible Business
Creative Active Lives CIC
Ebikebrum CIC
FareShare Midlands
Lapal Canal Trust
Legionella and Fire Safe Services
Sustainability West Midlands
Unity Trust Bank
Wesleyan

Excellence in Sales and Marketing
Ark Media Productions
Digital Ethos
EiB Group Ltd
Finance 4 Business
Flexeserve
HDY Agency
Lakeside Products Ltd
Midland Health
Osborn Communications Ltd

Excellence in Sustainability
Advanced Engineering (UK) Ltd
Enzen
International Synergies Limited
Northern Gas and Power
RMF Installation & Services Ltd
Sustainability West Midlands

Excellence in Technology and Innovation
(Sponsored by RSM)
Adoption Focus
Air IT
Ark Media Productions
INFINITY IT Solutions
Innovating Minds CIC
Jumar Technology
Mills & Reeve
Northern Gas and Power

Excellence in Third Sector
Beating Time
FareShare Midlands
Forward Carers
Gro-Organic CIC
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Sense Touchbase Pears
Sport 4 Life UK
The Haven Wolverhampton

Excellence in Training & Education
BMet College
Digital Innovators
Open College Network West Midlands
Oxbridge
Services For Education

Business and Trade Secretary kicks off 2024 with trip to Turkey to boost trade ties

Ahead of the launch of talks on an upgraded trade deal with Turkey, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch visits Istanbul to strengthen trade ties and kick off a year of boosting services trade.

Business confidence on the up as restrictions ease – Chambers

Business confidence rebounded sharply during the second quarter of 2021 as coronavirus restrictions were eased across the country, according to a major report released today by three regional Chambers of Commerce.

The latest results from the West Midlands Quarterly Economic Snapshot shows that more than three in five (62 per cent) businesses expect to increase their turnover over the course of the next 12 months, compared to 43 per cent in Q1. The snapshot, which covers the West Midlands Combined Authority area, is the most comprehensive regular report of its kind in the region.

Business failures set for record high in 2023, warns expert

An insolvency practitioner of one of the UK’s leading accountancy firms predicts the number of company insolvencies in England and Wales will set new records during 2023. The warning comes as latest quarterly insolvency statistics for January to March 2023 (Q1) reveal there were 5,747 company insolvencies in England and Wales, 18% higher than in Q1 2022.

Business festival brings the business community back together

There was a relatively even split of in-person (44 percent) and digital (56 percent) events this year, which included an interesting mix of interactive webinars and workshops as well as exclusive tours and the return of the BCBF Golf Day. 

Nearly 70 percent of attendees had not been to a business event in the 12 months leading up to the BCBF, which is a great demonstration of how the Festival has been able to bring the local business community back together after a challenging period. Interestingly, around 30percent of attendees were from outside the region, which highlights how accessible digital events are, and the benefit they bring to the programme. 

James Thomas-Horton, Commercial Director at Casino36 said “Casino36 are delighted to have been part of the BCBF 2021 again this year. The Festival has once again showcased the best the region has to offer and we are proud to be part of that.”

Over 85percent of attendees said that the events they had attended had positively impacted their business. This is more important than ever, after the difficulties faced recently. Initiatives like the BCBF provide a great opportunity to encourage inward investment and economic growth in the region. 

Corin Crane, CEO of Black Country Chamber of Commerce reflected on the BCBF said: “This year’s festival was set in a backdrop of genuine business challenges around supply chains, energy costs and staff and customer safety and it has addressed all these issues through knowledge sharing, networking and a wide range of events.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way that businesses have once again risen to the challenge and run brilliant events across the area. Thanks to everyone who has been involved – you’ve been amazing.

“We’ll be back again next year – bigger, louder and with even more energy.” The BCBF will be returning in 2022, further information will be shared on the website.

The BCBF relies on sponsorship from organisations across the region. Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Talbots Law and Dudley Business First are Partners for 2021.There is further support from Festival sponsors Thomas Dudley, Walsall Council, Casino36, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Sandwell Business Ambassadors.

Business Festival event application process opens next week

It is the fourth year of this exciting, annual two-week event, which this year will run from 4 to 15 October.

Event organisers will be able to choose how to run their events. Although it is hoped that in-person events will have resumed by October, the digital route is also an option again and may still be preferred by many.  Last year’s Business Festival was predominantly on-line and successfully saw 96 registered events and nearly 900 businesses involved, despite taking place in the height of the pandemic.

The Black Country Business Festival remains one of the largest and most established business events in the region and BCBF2021 is predicted to have a strong impact as the country emerges from the pandemic.

This year will see some changes to the structure. New themes have been established, which represent key areas within the Black Country that have either thrived or been impacted over the recent months, or where support and assistance can be offered to businesses to help them bounce back. 

The new themes are:

·         Inclusive Growth - to include events such as leadership, selection and recruitment, diversity, HR, sustainability in the workplace, training, mental health, education etc.

·         Innovation – covering manufacturing, vehicles, strategies, dealing with the impact of COVID 19, collaborations etc.

·         Business Growth – exploring such elements as support, training, education, legal, finance, bounding back after Brexit, marketing and advertising.

·         ‘This is the Black Country’ – events which place the region at the forefront including for example, created and made by local businesses, tourism, arts, culture, leisure etc.

·         Regeneration – where development and growth is key, covering retail, office space, transport, construction, zero carbon economy events etc.

As well as fitting into the themes, events must fulfil certain criteria to be able to take part. Each event application will be assessed and scored on how well it meets the conditions set. 

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “Black Country businesses have faced the most challenging time over the last year, but the Festival remains a constant feature in the calendar and will certainly offer a variety of opportunities to reboot and reconnect.

“This year we have taken steps to develop the BCBF by bringing in new themes and a process to assess the event applications. This will help us to ensure the events are of the highest quality so the Festival remains beneficial to the business community as well as meeting the objectives that it was originally set up to achieve.”

The application form along with information on the criteria, application process and themes will be available on the BCBF website from Wednesday 28 April.

The final deadline to submit event applications is Friday 13th August 2021.

Business Festival set to help region bounce back

Black Country Business Festival (BCBF) looks set to help local businesses bounce back after the pandemic by offering opportunities to showcase their innovation and resilience. The annual two-week Festival is back from 4 to 15 October for the fourth year and is going to be bigger and better than ever.

With restrictions easing in the next few months many companies will be starting to hold in-person events once again. As part of the new event application process event hosts can choose to hold their event in person, digitally (using either Zoom or their own choice of platform), or as a hybrid event, whereby people can physically attend, but the event will also be live streamed to capture all audiences.  

The Festival would not be successful without its sponsors, partners and supporters. Not only do they help the Festival survive, but they also aid in showcasing to the rest of the UK what the Black Country has to offer. This is now more important than ever, as businesses begin to emerge from lockdown.

Becoming a partner is more than a financial backing. The BCBF team will work with each business on an individual basis to ensure they get what they need from the partnership. There are four levels of partnerships: headline, partner, affiliate and supporter, which can all be individually tailored.

In addition to this, there are a number of benefits to getting involved with the BCBF, the most obvious being the exposure across the region and beyond. Last year saw a phenomenal amount of international guest attendance with 60 people registering for events from 19 different countries.

The total reach in 2020 was 161,560,419, which was a nearly 100 million increase from 2019. Another benefit is the BCBF team who will be on hand to aid partners with everything from event idea generation and planning, to help and guidance with the application form.

Partners will have regular meetings with the team to discuss their event and how they will work within the Festival programme. Talbots Law have signed up to support the BCBF for a fourth year to show their loyalty to the Black Country business community.

Talbots Law are one the largest independent law firms in the region offering a full range of services to businesses, individuals and families since 1828. They are proud of their heritage in the Black Country and have the expertise of a ‘big city’ firm with friendly local delivery and value for money.

Festival Partner, Matt Wistow, Client Relationship & Business Development Director at Talbots Law said “The Black Country Business Festival has given the business community a huge number of opportunities in the last four years. As a business we have developed countless new relationships thanks to our involvement in previous years and look forward to this continuing in October.

“We have backed the Festival since the start, and we want to encourage more businesses in the Black Country to support and get involved to help take BCBF to the next level and bring the community back together.”

Business figure calls for graduates to invest in city and lower poverty threshold

A new recipient of an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University has urged graduates to invest in the city and help remove the poverty threshold for children and young people. Speaking at a graduation ceremony, Paul Cadman - Vice President of charity Acorns Hospice and Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University - highlighted that over 40% of children in the city live below an internationally recognised level of living standards.

Business grants expanded to support independent retailers and low carbon initiatives

City of Wolverhampton Council has expanded its Relight Business Programme grant to support independent retailers and help businesses across the city invest in low carbon and other environmental measures.

The move comes following feedback from businesses across the city on how best they can be supported after being hit hard by the pandemic.

Business leader's plan to hurl himself out of a plane for charity

One of the leaders of Westside Business Improvement District (BID) plans to throw himself out of a plane to help raise £25,000 for charity.

Saqib Bhatti, a director and company secretary of the BID, will be jumping from a plane at 15,000-feet on 28 June to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

Saqib, who’s also president of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, planned the skydive after Chamber chairman David Waller and past president Greg Lowson were both diagnosed with – and successfully overcame – prostate cancer.

He has convinced six other brave souls to join him: entrepreneur Joel Blake; marketing executive Sophie Drake, recruitment specialist Leanne Perry, Professor Martin Levermore, and bank managers Rebekkah Tait and Felix Peter-Thomas.

Mr Bhatti, whose day job is a director at Younis Bhatti & Co. Chartered Accountants, said: “I had this crazy idea and now that idea is becoming a reality.

“I am putting my life on the line to raise awareness so all those men who have suffered or who will suffer know that they aren’t alone.

“Two of our board members at Chamber were diagnosed with prostate cancer and were able to get treated. We’re a bit like a family here at the Chamber, and I felt I had to do something.

“Also, when you speak to people, more and more start speaking of loved ones who have suffered from prostate cancer. It’s one of the biggest killers of men in the UK, yet it’s not spoken enough and there is a taboo around getting yourself checked out.

“It’s really easy to do and is a simple blood test. Catching it early means you can treat it and the chances of survival are higher. This is one of those cancers that is beatable in the next 10-15 years. We just need to raise awareness and do the relevant research.”

Ahead of the big jump in Oxfordshire, which coincides with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s ‘Giving Day’ on 28 June, Saqib visited the state-of-the-art Bear Grylls Adventure at the NEC for a trial run in their iFly simulator.

He and his intrepid team have already raised more than half their £25,000.

Business of Sport conference adds fire to the spark as new speaker announced

A big female sports personality has been added to the list of impressive, confirmed speakers for the one-day event. Downtown in Business, in association with VSI Executive Education, is hosting its inaugural Business of Sport conference on Thursday 7th September 2023, at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Stadium, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Business pledges to work with Mayor Street on region’s recovery

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham pledged today to work with Andy Street (pictured) to help the region get back on its feet after being “shaken to the core” by Covid-19 and Brexit.

The Conservative candidate will begin his second term as mayor after it was announced that he defeated Hodge Hill Labour MP Liam Byrn in Thursday’s election.

Before being elected mayor in 2017, Mr Street was boss of retailer John Lewis for more than a decade. He also led the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership as chairman from 2011 to 2016.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “We congratulate Andy on his re-election as West Midlands Mayor – it’s been a hard-fought campaign which has taken place in the most extraordinary circumstances.

“Having worked closely with Andy and the senior team at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for a number of years, the Chamber look forward to building on that spirit of collaboration and ensuring that the voice of business is central to the mayor’s plans for revitalising the region.

“During the election campaign, the Chamber worked to get businesses’ needs front and centre on candidates’ agendas with our manifesto, produced with and for our members: Rebounding for Business: Vision for the West Midlands Mayor.

“It was great to see Andy back a number of the actions we called for around getting the region back on track as we emerge from the pandemic, green growth opportunities and maximising the impact of two once in a generation opportunity: HS2 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Between Brexit and COVID-19 it has been quite the year for the business community to put it mildly. As a Chamber we stand ready to work with the mayor and ensure that the West Midlands emerges from the pandemic ready to drive ahead on jobs, investment and innovation, re-establishing our place in the country and the world.”

Business travellers set to see steep prices

Global travel prices are predicted to continue to increase in the remaining months of 2022 and throughout 2023, according to the 2023 Global Business Travel Forecast, published today by CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry. 

Businesses and employees asked to report Covid-19 concerns

There has been a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Sandwell in recent weeks. This has been partly driven by outbreaks in workplaces.

Lisa McNally, Sandwell Council’s Director for Public Health, said: “We need businesses to let us know if they have two or more cases of COVID-19 among their workforce. We can help to prevent a larger outbreak. If businesses delay in letting us know then outbreaks can become out of control and the business may need to close.

“Businesses should also contact us is they need advice on how to prevent coronavirus infection in the workplace. We can offer a telephone or on-site visit and really help them make their workplace COVID safe. 

“Business owners can get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling the Healthy Sandwell team at 0800 011 4656.

“If employees are concerned about COVID cases or prevention at their workplace they can also contact us at the details above.  Obviously, anything they tell us will be treated in confidence and they can remain anonymous if they wish.”

Councillor Maria Crompton, Deputy Leader for Sandwell Council wants to reinforce the message to businesses and asks for everyone to work together. She said: "We are ramping up our efforts with local businesses as these potentially hold the key to making sure we don't get large outbreaks of Covid-19 in Sandwell.

“We need everyone to work together to stop outbreaks and I urge business owners and employees to get in touch with any concerns they have.

“It is in the interests of all businesses to contact us so we can provide the necessary help to business owners and save them from a potential closure.” 

For more details about getting in touch, go to www.healthysandwell.co.uk/covid19.

Businesses and employees should adhere to the following advice:

Anyone who develops symptoms – persistent cough, temperature or loss of smell or taste – needs to immediately self-isolate for 7 days.
Where possible people with symptoms should be isolated from others in the household who do not have symptoms. If you develop symptoms book a test immediately online or by calling 119.
Avoid any unnecessary interaction with people from outside your household. Crowded environments should be avoided. 
If you have to go out, maintain a distance of at least 1 metre (preferably 2 metres) from other people and wear a face covering.

Businesses benefitting from city Relight Programme

City of Wolverhampton micro and small businesses have started receiving specialist support as part of the first cohort of the Council’s new Relight Business Programme.

Applications are now also being invited for the second cohort, with a deadline of Wednesday, March 31. The programme went live last month, and the Council’s Business Development team is already working with 30 city businesses in sectors such as hair and beauty, health and wellbeing, photography, manufacturing, painting and decorating, retail and hospitality.

The programme provides financial management advice and digital guidance and is being run in conjunction with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses. Each business will receive at least £750 worth of professional support in the form of financial health checks, analysis of funding and cashflow, reviews of products and services, and ways to improve market awareness, with the aim to rapidly build their capacity to survive and grow in the Covid-19 hit economy.

Membership of the Federation of Small Business or the Black Country Chamber of Commerce is also included as part of the programme. One company that is being supported is photography, graphic design and print company, Image Squad Ltd.

Its Creative Director/Owner, Lee 'Bear' Guest, said: “It has been a breath of fresh air to be involved in something positive during this testing time. I’m finding that as a small business who is cut off from both clients and freelance staff that being part of this scheme is a positive beacon. 

“Too many people are struggling to see a way out of this pandemic, myself included.  However, I refuse to accept that today will be the same as tomorrow. I can start to make changes to ready my business for reopening, whenever that may be.

“The support I have had so far has been helpful and, as someone who is in their 50s, I am embracing both the education and advice available. I am a realist and I also know what I have built so far has a long way to go and grow.”

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “These are incredibly difficult times for our small businesses, and we are constantly looking at new ways we can support them and help them bounce back from the current crisis.

“Through our work in administering thousands of vital business grants during the Covid-19 pandemic we have identified where some small businesses need more than just financial support.

“The Relight Business Programme provides more tailored support from business professionals that will help some of our smallest, but most ambitious businesses, survive and grow.”

The programme is aiming to support up to 200 micro and small city businesses in total. Applications must show ambition and passion about the business and programme.

Businesses can now apply for new lockdown grants

Eligible City of Wolverhampton businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors can now apply for an additional one-off national lockdown grant of up to £9,000. The application process is now also open to the latest Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed), which cover the period Wolverhampton was under Tier 4 restrictions (December 31 to January 4) and the current national lockdown. It relates to businesses that are ratepayers and are required to close under national or local Covid-19 restrictions.

For anyone who has already made a recent application for a business grant then you can use this information and evidence as the basis for any subsequent application. A further discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant to support other businesses impacted by the national lockdown is expected to be confirmed once government funding arrives. These grants are in addition to previous Local Restrictions Support Grants and the Additional Restrictions Grant established during the pandemic, which continue to receive applications.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “I am urging Wolverhampton businesses to check what they are eligible for by visiting the website and apply for these critical grants. As a council, we have ensured thousands of eligible businesses have had quick access to vital funding to help them.

“We appreciate this is an extremely difficult time for businesses and assure you that these payments are our priority. We will ensure these new grants get allocated swiftly and that no business is left behind as our city looks to recover from the financial impact of Covid-19.”

With extremely high levels of demands experienced, businesses are urged to remain patient. All of the grants are subject to State Aid rules and are treated as taxable income.

Businesses encouraged to help local communities as WMCA gears up for Mayor’s Giving Month

Businesses from across the West Midlands are being encouraged to support their local communities by signing up to the Mayor’s Giving Month.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, today hosted a virtual event with some of the region’s biggest employers and local charities to call on businesses of all sizes and sectors to give something back to communities in the region.

This could be through financial donations to charities and community groups, or practical help by offering time and expertise.

The Giving Month, which starts on 21 September, will also celebrate the work that local businesses are already doing to help communities.

The Mayor said: “The events of the last 15 months have been unprecedented, and I would like to thank the many charities and voluntary groups who have selflessly helped us get through these difficult times by working harder than ever to support vulnerable and isolated people.

“We have seen throughout the pandemic that businesses are keen to volunteer and help their local communities by offering their skills, knowledge, expertise and time along with raising essential funds and donations.  

“Their generosity has been fantastic – including helping young people learn valuable job interview skills – and I look forward to us working with businesses of all sizes during the Giving Month and beyond, as the region starts to recover from the pandemic.”

Jo Harris, Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for the Midlands, said: We know that funding is really important to charities and community groups but they need more than just money to really thrive, and volunteering and the sharing of skills, experience and resources all make a vital contribution.

“When businesses and charities work collaboratively together, they can a make a big impact in their local community, and we have seen so many examples of that through the pandemic.  

“It’s great that the Mayor is offering West Midlands charities and businesses this opportunity to share and gain together. Lloyds Banking Group are proud to be supporting the Mayor’s Giving Month and I look forward to seeing relationships between charities and business strengthen over the months to come, as we help our local communities to recover.”

The launch event will include an ‘in conversation’ with the Mayor and Jean Templeton chief executive of St Basils charity. She said: “There has never been a more important time for sectors to work together to ensure the most vulnerable are not disproportionately disadvantaged as we rebuild. The voluntary and community sector make an important contribution but can’t do it alone.

“Our ‘offer’ is to work with partners to ensure your contributions make a real difference. Our ‘ask’ is that you use your skills, knowledge and resources to work with us to make that difference.”

Businesses that would like to contribute to the Mayor’s Giving Month can sign up at: https://www.wmca.org.uk/who-we-are/meet-the-mayor/giving-month/

Businesses encouraged to sign up to fleet payment demonstration ahead of launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone

Businesses with vehicles that may be subject to the daily charge when Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone launches on 1 June 2021 can join a demonstration of the payment service.

On Thursday, April 15, the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) will host a free webinar with Birmingham City Council to guide businesses through the process of checking and paying for multiple vehicles using the online service. The webinar will provide an opportunity for businesses to view a step-by-step demonstration of how to check and pay for multiple vehicles, with an opportunity to ask any questions.

Stephen Arnold, Head of Clean Air Zone at Birmingham City Council, said: “There are less than 10 weeks to go until the launch of the Clean Air Zone.  And as we get closer to the 1 June go-live date, we’re encouraging businesses to get ready.

“The business account will enable fleet operators to check and pay for any UK registered vehicles that may be subject to the daily charge in Birmingham and the other Clean Air Zones around England, which are due to be introduced over the next few years.  The webinar will be hosted by JAQU so will provide a great opportunity to better understand how the payment service works and what steps businesses need to take now to get themselves ready for June 1.”

The demonstration will take place via Teams and run for an hour from 10am – 11am. It is free to attend and open to all businesses with commercial vehicles that are registered in the UK. JAQU representatives will demonstrate how businesses can create an account; manage vehicles and view charges; add team members to help manage the account and how to pay for charges.

Head of Policy at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Raj Kandola, said: “As we approach June 1, it’s vitally important that businesses are familiar with the payment process and how it will function before the Clean Air Zone goes live. With the Clean Air Zone in Bath starting earlier this month, it’s essential that businesses in our city are fully up to scratch with the process and use this session to iron out any concerns or queries they may around the process.”

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone will go live on June 1 and charge owners of the most polluting vehicles to drive within the A4540 Middleway (but not the Middleway itself). Businesses can check multiple vehicles and whether they will charged using the Government vehicle checker  and sign up to the payment demonstration via the Brum Breathes website.

Businesses encouraged to sign-up for second phase of ICLP Programme

Businesses in the West Midlands are being urged to sign up for the second phase of a training programme designed to help build the capacity and capability of businesses who are seeking global growth opportunities. 

The Inclusive Commonwealth Legacy Programme (ICLP), which is fully-funded by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), supports SMEs from within diverse communities to accelerate their growth. 25 companies have already benefited from the scheme and a second cohort of businesses are set to begin the programme from October 2020.

One of the businesses to take part in the first instalment of the programme was Great Barr-based Green Sisters, founded by sisters Geeta and Reena Salhan. The business produces award-winning ‘free-from’ Indian food.  

Geeta Salhan, Green Sisters, said: “While helping us access advice and funding, the programme has also helped us develop our entire philosophy of our food being ‘free from compromise’, which means working with like-minded individuals and companies to take our products forward in the way we want to. 

"If you're passionate about growing your business and you're a small business owner I would encourage you to apply for the next cohort of the Inclusive Commonwealth Legacy Programme." 

The ICLP is an innovative partnership delivered in collaboration between the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, CRÈME (Centre for Research for Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship) and the Legacy Centre of Excellence Birmingham.  

The programme provides six months of peer to peer learning and development, where business owners will complete a series of interactive modules of action-learning, training and support facilitated by leading industry experts, in an inclusive and supportive environment.

The sessions were originally delivered face to face; however they have been adapted to be delivered online whilst social distancing measures are in place.  

An additional benefit for businesses involved is a fully-funded bilateral trade membership to the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, which offers additional support through events, training and opportunities to export to commonwealth countries. 

Joel Blake OBE, award-winning businessman and ICLP Lead said: “The first phase of the ICLP Programme has seen some real success stories and has provided businesses in a variety of different sectors and from all parts of Greater Birmingham with free access to business experts to help them accelerate their global growth potential.

“The first cohort of businesses not only benefitted from picking up new skills to help them expand and adapt their models for future growth, but from sharing their experience with fellow business owners. A real sense of camaraderie has been developed within the cohort, with many collaborating with and supporting each other throughout Covid-19, whether it be providing their services, sharing premises or experience to help where possible. 

“The word has spread about the ICLP programme and diverse businesses from Leeds to Hampshire joined our online workshops but only those in the GBSLEP region can have access to funded help. 

“This is an immensely challenging time for SMEs, and this programme has shown how a truly inclusive approach with positive action can add tremendous value for our businesses, here in the region and abroad. For those who could benefit, we would urge them to sign up as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out.” 

The final deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 30th September 2020.