Chamber Podcast

Colonel Richard Maybery, chief executive of the West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadet Association, and Juggy Kudhail, director of operations at Specialist Vehicle Rental, join us to discuss independent living - and how Greater Birmingham businesses can help more disabled people find employment.

Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner talks to ART Business Loans chief executive Steve Walker and director Professor Monder Ram about the company's work in lending to small businesses and social enterprises over the past two decades. They also discuss ART's new community share issue which will support the firm's work in the coming months.

A leading chartered occupational health physiotherapist from Chamber patron BHSF provides some top tips for employers on supporting the health and wellbeing of home workers. Stuart Nottingham talks about the responsibility of companies to their home-based employees and how home workers can ensure they are operating in a healthy way.

As the clock ticks towards the March 29 deadline for Britain's departure from the EU, Professor Alex de Ruyter from Birmingham City University's Centre for Brexit Studies and the Chamber's policy director Henrietta Brealey provide expert opinion on the latest Brexit developments. It follows a Parliamentary vote on a series of amendments to Theresa May's withdrawal deal.

In the second of a two-part mini series, Urban Growth Company interim managing director Philip Farrell, Birmingham Airport business development director Jo Lloyd and the NEC Group's operations director Will Heynes join the Solihull Chamber of Commerce's Lillian Elekan to discuss plans for the UK Central Hub in Solihull. The Hub is a 1,300 hectare area of land in Solihull, just off Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is home to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International Station; Birmingham Business Park; Jaguar Land Rover and the 340-acre Arden Cross development site which will be the location of the HS2 Interchange Station from 2026. Part two assesses the infrastructure, utilities and external support required to make the Hub thrive.

In the first of a two-part mini series, Urban Growth Company interim managing director Philip Farrell, Birmingham Airport business development director Jo Lloyd and the NEC Group's operations director Will Heynes join the Solihull Chamber of Commerce's Lillian Elekan to discuss top-level plans for the UK Central Hub in Solihull.  The Hub is a 1,300 hectare area of land in Solihull, just off Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is home to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International Station; Birmingham Business Park; Jaguar Land Rover and the 340-acre Arden Cross development site which will be the location of the HS2 Interchange Station from 2026.  Part one features an overview of the project, as well as examining how Birmingham Airport and the NEC's development plans tie in.

As plans for the 2022 Commonwealth Games take shape, chair of the organising committee John Crabtree joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner and president Saqib Bhatti to discuss how Birmingham can make sure the event is a success. They also talk about the opportunities available to businesses in the region.

International trade and the impact of foreign exchange volatility on businesses in the region come under the microscope in our latest Chamber Podcast. Nawaz Ali of Western Union Business Solutions joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner for the discussion.

The final episode of our Birmingham Economic Review 2018 mini-series focuses on inward investment. Former Chamber president and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chair John Crabtree and University of Warwick's Professor Nigel Driffield join Emily Stubbs and Dan Harrison from the Chamber to discuss Birmingham's potential to attract inward investment.

Ahead of Living Wage Week, Lucy Bannister from the Living Wage Foundation and Laura McLellan from Squire Patton Boggs join the Chamber's Dan Harrison to discuss responsible pay and how businesses can avoid inadvertently paying below the minimum wage.

Our mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 continues with a discussion on the business environment.  Former Birmingham Chamber president Steve Brittan of BSA Technologies joins Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs to discuss the region's rich manufacturing history - and what the future holds for this vitally important sector.

Part two of a mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is a discussion on people. University of Birmingham's Professor Anne Green and Asian Business Chamber of Commerce vice president Haseena Lockhart join Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs from the Chamber to discuss how the region can unlock the full potential of its people and ensure its diversity is reflected in senior leadership.

Part one of a mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is a discussion on ideas. University of Birmingham's Professor Simon Collinson and Curium's Andy Dawson join Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs from the Chamber to talk about innovation, R&D, artificial intelligence and the role of universities.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Lisa Ingram from Amey and Colin Corrodus from Deutsche Bank join the Chamber's Dan Harrison to discuss work that is being done to address mental health issues in the workplace and the challenges that lie ahead.

Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner is joined by HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston and LMJV project director Richard Kirkham to discuss the HS2 skills strategy and its impact on the region.

Saqib Bhatti, the new president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, joins chief executive Paul Faulkner and press and PR director John Lamb to discuss his two-year term in the hotseat.

Innovation Birmingham Campus CEO David Hardman, Jim Allen of energy equipment suppliers SIGinside and the Chamber’s director of policy Henrietta Brealey discuss investment in technology and machinery in Greater Birmingham as part of the Invest to Grow campaign.

Professor Simon Collinson from the University of Birmingham, Nic Young from the NEC Group and the Chamber's director of policy Henrietta Brealey discuss innovation, research and development in Greater Birmingham as part of the Invest to Grow campaign.

Dan Harrison is joined by Wesleyan's Jessica Wilkes-Reading to discuss 'Curse of the Nomed' - a new children's book produced by Wesleyan in conjunction with the charity Partnership for Children. The novel addresses the subject of youth mental health and was written to help children who are about to start secondary school.

Hilary Witts from Colliers International and the Chamber's Raj Kandola discuss controversial changes to the business rates system and what they mean for local firms.