POLICYNEWS Left to right: Kev Sankar, Adam Marshall, Sharon Smith, Andrea Borwell-Fox and Sophia Haywood.
REDDITCH FIRMS DISCUSS REGENERATION WITH LOCAL MP On Friday 2 February, a group of Chamber Members from Redditch gathered to discuss barriers to growth with Rachel Maclean MP.
CHAMBER BUSINESS MANIFESTO 2018 LAUNCHED Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has officially launched its Business Manifesto for 2018, which outlines the main policy objectives and campaigns for businesses in the two counties, at an exclusive launch event at Worcester Bosch. Building upon a turbulent twelve months, this year’s manifesto focuses on the following themes: Skills, Brexit, Infrastructure, Connectivity, Reducing the cost of doing business, and Cyber Crime. Nationally firms have experienced a snap election, the triggering of Article 50 and a web of complex negotiations taking place. Locally, low unemployment and the skills shortage continues to challenge businesses, as do struggling infrastructure and temperamental connectivity. These priorities have been narrowed down following feedback from over 600 local businesses, including results from our
Quarterly Economic Survey, Area council and the regular interaction the Chamber has with local firms every day. The manifesto aims to tackle these issues head on and work towards solutions with the support of the business community. As the voice of business in the two counties, the Chamber will relate these concerns back to politicians and work to influence government, locally and nationally, on the key priorities needed to make Herefordshire and Worcestershire an even better place to do business. Over 130 businesses attended the launch on Friday 26 January who heard presentations from CEO of Worcester Bosch, Carl Arntzen, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, Chamber CEO Sharon Smith and Chamber Policy Manager, Sophia Haywood.
Businesses of all sizes and sectors across the constituency were present at the roundtable held at Rockline Industries. Space was a key theme of the discussion, not the extra-terrestrial kind, but business space is an issue that firms feel is worlds away from being solved. The ability to expand, grow and stay in the area should not be a big issue. However, the much needed regeneration of Redditch can be seen as an opportunity. Development could potentially provide a solution to the skills shortage, by helping attract and retain skilled individuals in the area. It was agreed that industrial estates and business parks needed an upgrade, with all around the room agreeing that tired 70s builds don’t draw in the talent they’re after. Topically, following the announcement of the closure of M&S in the town centre, firms agreed that the centre needed a major overhaul too if Redditch wants to reach its full potential.
CHAMBER TAKES HEREFORDSHIRE BUSINESS VOICE TO WESTMINSTER Transport infrastructure, in particular roads and rail, is raised as one of the biggest issues affecting businesses across Herefordshire. To highlight the importance of local infrastructure at a national level, the Chamber hosted a lunchtime event in the House of Commons to discuss this at the heart of policy making. Held on Tuesday 6 February, the event sponsored by Keepmoat Homes and Bill Wiggin MP saw members from the local business community come together to discuss how infrastructure is affecting local business, what the priorities for the region should be and how we can turn these priorities into reality. The event ties in with previous activity around the manifesto including a roundtable discussion recently held in Ledbury.
Hereford Bypass which has recently gone out to consultation and what that might offer for firms in the future. Moving away from roads, improving rail was a strong theme of the discussion with calls from around the table to improve the Hereford to London Paddington line and the Hereford to Birmingham New Street line. Business leaders highlighted that they often drive out of the county to catch the train as its more reliable and that the long and arduous journey disappoints clients, especially those having travelled internationally. There was strong support for more passing places on a number of A Roads in the region, which would not just improve efficiency but safety too, plus improvements at junctions which were not designed for the amount of traffic now on our roads. There was also discussion of the
Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
A set of priorities will be formed this year following this lunch and engagement with the new Chamber Manifesto Working Group on Transport. For more information or to get involved in future policy activity please contact Sophia Haywood, Policy Manager on sophiah@hwchamber.co.uk
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