The Business Manifesto was launched at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Conference on Thursday 30 March. The Chamber outlined their plans for the next financial year detailing the priorities for local and national government, as identified by local businesses during research carried out throughout the year. This valuable information finds its way through the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) through to government. Making local voices heard at the highest level.
The event was sponsored by our Patron Members, Bishop Fleming, and welcomed high profile speakers including Shevaun Haviland (Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce), Grahame Chaplin (the Bank of England’s Agent for the West Midlands and Oxfordshire) and Tom Barton (Co-founder of Honest Burgers).
Once more, the Chamber’s 2023/24 Manifesto reflects the key aspects of business life upon which their Members look to them for support – managing costs, being proactive in workforce strategy, global-trading ambitions, staying ahead of the ever-changing technology and cyber change curve, working toward, and achieving, net-zero.
The Chamber’s Business Manifesto outlines what the Chamber will deliver in 2023/24, focusing on 6 key areas:
- The Year Ahead in Business
- Business Costs
- Workforce Planning
- Global Markets
- Technology and Innovation
- Net Zero
The Chamber’s Business Manifesto can be downloaded at: www.hwchamber.co.uk/support/policy/ or you can request a physical copy from the Chamber by emailing: [email protected].
With the BCC in mind, it is their own annual Global Conference on the 17th May and a number of the Board and Patron members are attending: the theme for 2023 is Building British Business. The full day conference will be an opportunity for business leaders from across the UK, and the globe, to come together to discuss the opportunities for growth to help local communities thrive. Throughout the day, delegates will hear from key senior politicians and other notable public figures about their plans for growth. The conference will be centred around four key breakout sessions for thought-provoking discussion amongst peers across the Chamber Network. The four sessions are:
- Skills – seeking opportunities to increase access to skills and people;
- Green Innovation – promoting green innovation and decarbonisation;
- Growth – removing barriers to start and grow a business; and
- Trade – increasing the number of businesses trading internationally.
I look forward to reporting back about all of the above in my next business round-up.
More locally, it’s the judging of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards next week, where a team of Chamber employees and invited business leaders will be conducting telephone interviews with the finalists. It’s a full-on day but it’s such a pleasure to speak with so many of our local and aspirational members. The entries this year are of exceptional quality and it’s always a challenge to pick a winner from such deserving members.
Until next time, Mike