Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: What Next? - appendices

Section 5: Appendices

Introduction:

This document is an appendix to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: What Next? Understanding The Legacy for Local Businesses a report by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It includes additional analysis and data alongside a summary of key Birmingham 2022 Games programmes, to support and provide additional context to the core report.

viii. Quantitative Data Analysis

B2022 Business Barometer - Introduction

The GBCC’s Quarterly Business Report is the largest and most comprehensive regular business sentiment survey in the city-region. We receive responses from between 200 and 400 local businesses each quarter and include additional topical questions on major events and opportunities, including the Games Business Barometer. A series of questions were included in the Q1 2020 Quarterly Business Report which tracked business sentiment towards the upcoming Games. Local firms were asked to assess the likely economic impact on the city region and their business in both the short and long term. In addition, businesses were also asked their views on areas of interest and participation around the Games. In order to conduct baseline analysis, the same set of questions were included in the Q1 2021 and Q2 2022 Quarterly Business Report which allowed to track sentiment on an annual basis and explore trends in the responses we received.

Following the culmination of the Games in July and August 2022, an additional set of questions were included in the Q3 2022 Quarterly Business Report and Q2 2023 Quarterly Business Report which gathered feedback from local businesses on the economic impact the Games had had to date, the likely long term impact B2022 is likely to have on their business and to ascertain which of the legacy elements of the Games were likely to be of most interest to the business community. An additional free text question was included in the Q2 2023 Quarterly Business Report which allowed us gather further qualitative data to compliment the statistical feedback we received from local firms. The full breakdown of each question is listed below.

Participants were asked the following question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have had, or will have, on the city region?

In total, over 91% of businesses across both sectors cited the Commonwealth Games as having a positive or strongly positive impact on the city region to date (from 0-3 years) when asked in Q1 2022, the year of the Games. This optimism mirrored that expressed in previous years, with 93% of firms in 2021 and 91% of firms in 2020 viewing the Games as having a positive impact on the city-region over this short-term period.

Figure 1: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have, on the City region over the short-term (QBR data from Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022)

Figure 2: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have, on the City region over the long-term (QBR data from Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022)

When looking at the long-term impact of hosting the Commonwealth Games there is a downward trajectory in the perception of its impact on the city-region over time, but significantly the sentiment is still fundamentally positive. Almost 70% of firms see a positive or strongly positive impact of the hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games on the city region beyond the next three years when asked in the year of the Games, 2022. Comparatively, 81% of firms in 2021 and 80% on firms in 2020 reported that the Commonwealth Games would have a positive impact on the city-region in the long term, compared to the 70% figure when asked in 2022.

From our most recent QBR data (Q2 QBR 2023) it is promising to see that despite the Games being held almost a year ago, and business having faced an unprecedently difficult 12 month period- enduring a cost of doing business crisis, driven by rising inflation, and turbulent energy costs- over 80% of firms deem that the hosting of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been positive or very positive in its impact on the city to date. This level of optimism has dropped from when firms were asked immediately after the Games where the figure was at 90%.

Figure 3: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has had on the city region to date? (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

Figure 4: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have, on the City region over the next 3 years (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

Again, this feeling of a meaningful long-term impact from the hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games can be seen in that 72% of businesses felt that the hosting of the Games will have a positive or very positive impact over the next 3 years when asked immediately after the Games in 2022. This number did drop down when asked in Q2 2023, but only to 66%.

The data shows us that since the Games, optimism about the impact of the Games on the region has begun to decline from the positive figures captured in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Over 40% of firms believe that the hosting of the Games will have a positive or very positive impact on the city-region beyond the proceeding 3-year period when asked in Q2 of 2023. This figure was marginally higher at 46% when firms where asked in Q3 of 2022, almost immediately after the Games.

Participants were asked the following question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have had, or will have, on your business?

Figure 5: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have, on the city beyond the next 3 years (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

Figure 6: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have had, or will have, on your business over the short-term? (QBR data from Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022)

In comparison to the previous questions, where assessing the impact of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the City region produced an overwhelmingly positive response, the response when exploring the impact on individual businesses was more muted. 41% of businesses across both sectors reported expectations that the Commonwealth Games would have a positive or strongly positive impact on their business to date in the short-term (0-3 years) when asked in 2022. Noticeably this positivity is heightened in 2022 compared with previous years; 35% of firms in 2021 and 38% of firms in 2020 reported thinking that the Commonwealth Games would have a positive impact on their business in the short term.

In comparison to figure 6, it is evident that the optimism around the impact of hosting the Commonwealth Games on local businesses is much more pronounced in the short term. Crucially the differential in optimism between the short term and the long term is not hugely different. When asked in 2022, 27% of firms thought there would be a positive or strongly positive impact of the hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games on their business beyond the proceeding three years. This figure remained at 27% in 2021, but was at its highest in 2020 at 32%.

Figure 7: Business responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have had, or will have, on your business over the long-term? (QBR data from Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022)

Figure 8: Business Responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has had, on your business to date? (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

The most recent QBR data from Q2 2023 demonstrates the most up to date business sentiment regarding the impact of hosting the Commonwealth Games on local businesses, in the context of the vastly different business landscape which we are operating in compared to last summer, and the ongoing cost of doing business crisis. Almost a third of firms reported that that the hosting of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been somewhat positive or very positive in its impact on their business to date. Noticeably, when asked in the aftermath of the Games, Q3 2022, 26% of firms believed that the Commonwealth Games had some form of positive impact on their business to date; this represents an increase of 6% compared to last summer.

A feeling of a meaningful long-term impact from the hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games can be seen with the fact that 20% of businesses felt that the hosting of the Games will have a positive or very positive impact on their business over the next 3 years when asked in Q3 2022 after the Games. When firms were asked the same question in Q2 2023, this figure was 21%.

Figure 9: Business Responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on your business over the next 3 years? (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

Figure 10: Business Responses to the question: Overall what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on your business beyond the next 3 years? (Data from Q3 QBR 2022 & Q2 QBR 2023)

Significantly 16% of firms believe that the hosting of the Games will have a positive or very positive impact on their business beyond the 3-year period when asked almost immediately after the Games, and this figure was exactly the same when asked in Q2 of 2023.

Participants were asked the following question: To what extent are the following of interest to your business?

When looking at Games-related queries from businesses in the build up to the Games it is notable to see that over 75% of businesses are interested in understanding expected disruptions to travel during the Games. This was by far the biggest factor of interest to businesses in the buildup, followed by over 61% of firms saying that they were interested in learning more about the community & art festivals surrounding the Games and 55% interested to learn more about how to use the Games to boost employee engagement.

Participants were asked the following question: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activities did your business engage with ahead of or during the Games?

BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: WHAT

Figure 11: To what extent are the following of interest to your business? (QBR data from Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022)

Figure 12: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activities did your business engage with ahead of or during the Games? (DATA FROM Q3 QBR 2022)

When asked immediately after the Games, the most popular B2022 Commonwealth Games activity that businesses engaged with ahead of the Games was attending a Chambers of Commerce event or webinar related to Birmingham 2022 (25% of respondents). 13% of firms surveyed in August 2022 where either a direct or indirect supplier to the Games.

The data shows that from the sample asked almost a year on from Games the most popular B2022 Commonwealth Games activity that businesses engaged with ahead of the Games was attending a Chambers of Commerce event or webinar related to Birmingham 2022 (21% of respondents). Only 9% of 2023 respondents were a supplier to the Games, in the form of either a direct contract or a subcontract through the supply chain, compared to the 13% identified when the same question was asked in the August of 2022 (as can be seen in figure 12).

Participants were asked the following question: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activity would your organisation be interested in participating in over the coming months and years?

Figure 13: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activities did your business engage with ahead of or during the Games? (DATA FROM Q2 QBR 2023)

Figure 14: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activity would your organisation be interested in participating in over the coming months and years (DATA FROM Q3 QBR 2022)

2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: WHAT

The B2022 legacy activities which organisations are most interested in participating in over the coming months and years are the social legacy for the Games (34% of respondents) such as supporting youth employment and development, diversity and inclusion, and attracting future major events to the cityregion (33% of respondents).

Immediately after the Games, the B2022 legacy activities which organisations are most interested in participating in over the coming months and years are the social legacy for the Games (44% of respondents) such as supporting youth employment and development, diversity and inclusion, and attracting future major events to the city-region (42% of respondents). This suggests that there is no change in the legacy activities that are most interesting to firms, and in fact the interest for these legacy activities increased from when asked immediately after the Games to when asked in Q2 of 2023.

Participants were asked the following question: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activity would your organisation be interested in participating in over the coming months and years?

This open-ended question was asked in Q2 of 2023, and received 48 responses, as presented below:

Having met many international business links, the city's image has greatly improved, and our international reputation is growing

One of Directors was due to attend a UK House event but contracted Covid and had to self-isolate. Good event

Great for the city

Did special offers and hosted small dinners for CMG staff

The staff enjoyed attending the games but we were not directly involved.

Better promotion to the business community as to how we could assist, even obtaining tickets for Client events and staff events. I only understood how to buy bulk tickets late on as I sat next to Ian Reid (Chief Exec.) at an event

BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: WHAT

Figure 15: Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy related activity would your organisation be interested in participating in over the coming months and years (DATA FROM Q2 QBR 2023)

Attended events as an individual not as my business owner

We were involved in supporting businesses for the Commonwealth games and overall, the event was greatly received and gave a short term economic boost to both us and the wider city.

Thought Birmingham looked great and in general the event was very positive for the City

It was fantastic to showcase the region, the buzz was terrific for people that live and work here.

Sponsored walks as a group.

Long term potential to be good for the region but we have not made the best of the benefits and opportunities and as a result the buzz died down too quickly

Good for companies directly involved, but for some businesses the games may have been a negative experience due to competition with those who have direct contracts with the games, thus skewing competition for sales and clients.

We should have capitalised more on the opportunity to sell equipment and promote the business through the games

I only joined the business in Oct 22 and prior to that, no one in the business would have looked at this

The games were a great success but didn't see anything about business engagement during the games

What UK Houses events took place?

We are recovering well after closing down during the pandemic.

We didn't have the capacity to get involved

I wish my business got involved a bit more

Good for the city in terms of regeneration of certain parts and facilities

Our company did not start trading until after the Games.

other than the council patting themselves on the back at every opportunity.. not a lot.

Overall positive

No activity since the Games was good

A fantastic event, a great flag wave for Birmingham ! N/A

The City of Birmingham, Greater Birmingham and the West Midlands benefited from Global exposure.

I created a print around the games

We did not get involved. I and my partner went to 2 sporting events and really enjoyed them. We were away on holiday for most of the games

Thought the Commonwealth Ganes was a positive experience for the region in general and Birmingham in particular.

Great to see our regional capital on the world map. Proud of the event

There has not been sufficient legacy impact from the Games on the region. Too much ££ wasted within the public sector rather than flowing through to support business and also grass roots sporting organisations

Really positive and a chance for us to highlight career pathway and our customers seeing what is involved.

I wanted to get involved and was told at the chambers event that I went to that I would be able to get involved in the local triathlon event but when I enquired, as I didn't have a shop front, I wasn't allowed to get involved.

None n/a

My Head of Technology said to say: “panem et circenses”

As above

None

We are in education so no involvement

Increased pride in the city which helps with recruitment. Investment in public realm infrastructure has also lifted image of the city

Very disappointed as smaller businesses not able to compete and complete complex tendering processes. Dominated by National Contractors. Our business has suffered for years with the impact of social behaviour, drug paraphernalia and fly tipping. We could not get the council to assist and clean the surrounding area. As soon as we host international guests the whole area is immaculate. As soon as the games finish, its back to normal. Local business doesn't matter. We have now moved our business away for Aston and moved to Solihull.

We supported Network Rail with vegetation management on the main lines into Birmingham for visitors to have an improved view on the city. No further impact for us during or after the games.

None since the Games

Great event and showcase giving a positive message of how Birmingham isnt what a lot of nonMidlanders think it is. AN opportunity for Birmingham to show off - something which does not come naturally to the region.

Data Tables:

What impact do you believe the Commonwealth Games will have/ is having on the city region in the short-term (0-3 years)?

What impact do you believe the Commonwealth Games will have/ is having on the city region in the longer term (3+ years)?

What impact do you believe the Commonwealth Games will have/ is having on your business in the short term (0-3 years)?

What impact do you believe the Commonwealth Games will have/ is having on your business in the longer term (3+ years)?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has had on the city region to date?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on the city region in the next 3 years?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on the city region beyond the next 3 years?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has had on your business to date?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on your business in the next 3 years?

Overall, what impact do you think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on your business beyond the next 3 years?

To what extent are the following of interest to your business?

To what extent are the following of interest to your business?

To what extent are the following of interest to your business?

Which Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games activity did your business engage with ahead of our during the Games?

Which B2022 related activity would your organisation be interested in participating in over the coming months and years?

ix. Qualitative feedback from the business community

Introduction

In order to inform the quantitative analysis that had been gathered from the B2022 Business

questions which were included in various editions of the GBCC Quarterly Business Report, a programme of qualitative engagement was undertaken with members of the business community. The participants that took place in these ‘depth’ interviews and roundtables worked for businesses that had either directly won contracts from the Organising Committee, had been an official sponsor or partner for the Games, been involved in supply chain activity related to the Games or finally, benefitted from additional footfall and spend in the region as a result of the events that took place last summer.

A virtual roundtable was held on the 7th June 2023 and participants included a number of businesses from the hospitality industry in the city, these included:

• Paul Bunce, Commercial Manager, Conference Aston

• Janey Bingham, Commercial Director, Holiday Inn

• Tracey Stephenson, Managing Director, Staying Cool

• Joanne Gray, General Manager, Staybridge

Furthermore, a series of one-to-one interviews took place between 18th June 2023 and Wednesday 5th July with the following participants:

• Suzie Branch-Haddow, Vice Principal of External Development, BMet College

• Abigaile Bromfield, Director, Arup

• Ed Grigg, General Manager, Incorporatewear

• Matthew Hammond, Senior Partner, PWC

• Ruth Griffin, Partner, Gowling

• Charles Brant, Relationship Development Manager, Gowling

• Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Affairs, University of Birmingham

• Helen Toft, Head of Marketing and Communications, University of Birmingham

• Daniel Nikolla, Marketing Manager, Hardy Signs

What follows below is a detailed summary of the conversations that took place with participants.

Suzie Branch-Haddow, Vice Principal of External Development, BMet College

“Every single one of the Games’ volunteers came through BMET’s Matthew Boulton College Campus for training, so essentially, we had both operations running simultaneously; one being the continuous running of our further education provision and the other being ready to welcome in volunteers for their training.

From our point of view, it was a great privilege as the Games weren’t happening to our staff, or to our students, but we were an active part of the Games. We viewed our involvement with the Games as very much a civic involvement.

When you ask how BMet as an organisation benefited from the Games, I can confidently say that the answer is a great deal of pride. It is important to understand the context, to fully appreciate why a restored sense of pride in the organisation has been so valuable. To be associated with the Games really added to this sense of restored pride. The biggest sense of pride was for the students. Four were baton bearers, they were on displayed billboards around the city. Perry, the mascot of the Games, came along to open days.

From a strategic point of view it’s great that we have maintained relationships with some of the other sponsors. The Games demonstrated how private, public and civic institutions can come together around a shared agenda.

As part of the legacy, we want to become part of the Youth Charter Community Campus- a model that provides social, culture and economic opportunities for young people across all 6 continents. The aim is to have a global network of campuses. We are also looking to build an inclusive campus at our Sutton Coldfield site for disability sports.

One aspect that I am keen to develop as a legacy strand is work experience for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. The legacy of the Games is that it allows us to focus the agenda of the discussion, examining how you build work experience programmes or entry level programmes for those with disabilities into such programmes.”

Abigaile Bromfield, Director, Arup

“Arup had a long history of planning for the Games, ever since the announcement was made in 2017 that the Commonwealth Games would be coming to Birmingham in 2022. Arup has a long track record in sports infrastructure and has helped venues around the world to deliver complex design and build programmes on time and on budget. It was therefore a great privilege to be tasked with the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium and the development of the Sandwell Aquatics Centre- the 2 flagships stadiums of the stadiums.

As an organisation we worked in collaboration with Birmingham City Council to develop a social action plan which detailed 12 social value commitments to be delivered as part of the Games, with our biggest deliverable was to supporting young people. Using an index identifying Birmingham’s most deprived wards, Arup selected 7 schools located within 7 of these wards and falling within a radius of the Alexander Stadium to successfully deliver 363 hours’ worth of school support. All deliverables involved Arup staff working on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and included outputs such as careers fairs, STEM talks, apprenticeship talks, curriculum-based project support, CV support sessions and interview support sessions to students ranging from year 7 to year 12. From a legacy perspective, Arup has maintained relationships with the schools worked with and continue to offer support.

We supported 330 schools through the Youth Engagement Fund and also acted as advisors on the Birmingham City Council community fund. What we noticed is that a lot of our work created a great level of civic pride, as our surveys showed an increase of up to 7% in civic pride.

I think when we talk about legacy there are 3 different component parts which I want us to focus on- the physical legacy, the community legacy and the organisational legacy. I know we have spoken in depth in terms of organisational legacy; we formed an award-winning public and private partnership which helps bring investment into the city.

For us, the Games was very empowering for the city and individuals. We know that major events are huge undertakings, but part of what you go through is to ensure the legacy is maximised, but that the time of the Games is also enjoyable for all. I think that the Games successfully told a narrative of a place, which was ever present throughout the 11-day event. With Arup’s move back into the city centre we felt like we were part of that narrative.”

Ed Grigg, General Manager, Incorporatewear

“We have only about 30 customers who we provide for, but all these companies are blue chip companies such as the likes of Virgin Atlantic, NatWest Bank and M&S to provide but a few examples. All of these companies use their uniform as a way of reinforcing their brand value through their staff. We were conscious that this is something that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee were keen to see replicated for their staff and volunteers, so we felt like we were well placed to deliver on their uniform request.

Interestingly our parent company were involved in supplying the uniform for the Gold Coast Games in 2018 so we were aware of the expectations when preparing our tender bid.

We entered the formal tender process with the OC and there were a number of reasons that I believe we were successful. These were the fact that our parent company had success in providing the uniform for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, we were local to Birmingham and were of a size and scale that we could successfully deliver the project.

Winning the Commonwealth Games contract was a real cause for celebration as most of our 85 members of staff are local, so it was a fantastic way for us all to feel included. The delivery of 14,000 plus kit might seem intimidating but what it showed is that we could deliver a major project on a massive scale, on time and in full. Bearing in mind that we were going through a global transport crisis, where freight movements were impacted by limited capacity, prices were going up and supply chains were decimated, this really showed a level of resilience in our supply chain to potential clients.

You can see the success we are now having on the back of the Games as we have just secured the contract of supplying the uniforms to Subway. The Games were crucial in providing confidence to potential clients that we are serious operators. Our profile has definitely increased of the back of last summer’s games.

As part of the tender process, we committed to social value and environmental pledges. For example, we had a relationship with the Heart of England Forest and we are going to extend this relationship beyond the limitation of the tender contract because it is a morally good thing to do. Furthermore, any fabric we had left over we made into sports bibs, then gave them to schools and sports clubs in the area.

You can’t have these sporting events going on forever and ever, but the boost in the grassroot sporting landscape has been evident. We showcased our standing on a national and international level.

I certainly think that the profile for Birmingham and the region has risen. Staff retention has been exceptional and with our coverage on Midlands Today our employees know that they work for a well

reputed company. A point to highlight is that our new owners have invested over £15 million in new systems and a new office refurbishment in Oldbury. The Commonwealth Games was the springboard and now the legacy is for us.”

Matthew Hammond, Senior Partner, PWC

“PwC were one of the first organisations to join the team delivering the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We were intensely involved from the start, supporting the Organising Committee who faced multiple challenges – organising the most inclusive Games in the shortest timeframe through a pandemic.

First and foremost we were the leading professional services provider to the Organising Committee, providing a wide range of technical advice, assurance services and specialist support to ensure the timely, safe and financially sound delivery of the Games.

It was a great privilege for our team to work on everything from defining and delivery of the net zero ambitions, cyber defence support, supply chain assurance, security and workforce support, through to accounting and tax matters. Perhaps most pleasing was to work with the entire Organising Committee on delivering the first in-person global multi-sport event in record time and under budget, leaving a very significant legacy surplus fund for the West Midlands to deploy

Our relationship with the Games became a deeper purpose-led ambition as we then agreed to become a key corporate partner (sponsor) to the Organising Committee. Our ambition as a corporate sponsor was to build inclusive growth opportunities working with Communities, our Clients and Our People.

Our community engagement involved a total of 6,500 hours of volunteering from over 560 colleagues working with charities and others to get the region ‘Games ready’. We took a digital skills development programme directly into schools providing free of charge access to technology hardware, cloud-based applications, and learning support to 516 young people. I was incredibly proud of the technology skills development programme with local schools We had a team that went to schools in underprivileged areas and taught them how to code, which, given the digital age that we all live in, is a crucial skill set to develop.

More than 60 PwC colleagues were recruited by the Games as Commonwealth Collective volunteers, Queen’s Baton Relay baton bearers and Games officials – supporting officials from visiting nations, officiating at sports ranging from badminton to gymnastics to cricket and working to interview and recruit the many thousands of volunteers.

We collaborated closely with leaders from across our clients some of whom were also sponsors to support their work, including the likes of University of Birmingham, Eon and Severn Trent. The collective focus on ESG, social mobility, inclusion and diversity and more were an example of purpose led collaboration. We delivered 20 significant client events to showcase the Games and Legacy in the lead up to the Games, and welcomed over 1,250 guests from international sports and business organisations during the 10 days of the Games to our Midlands head office at One Chamberlain Square.

We had a strong and clear desire to engage Our People around the UK, our volunteers and baton bearers were drawn from every part of our UK network of offices. We created a digitised ‘Move the Nation’ campaign from May to July of 2022 to encourage participants to complete 2,022 minutes of a wellbeing, sports, hobby or sustainability goal. A total of 131,870 minutes of activities were recorded and our team in Northern Ireland created its own Children’s mini Commonwealth Games.

For us, it was more than just another corporate partnership but something which we felt could create significant positive impact through the enjoyment of a broad range of people based activities. It was our interpretation post-pandemic of being a generous participant alongside the ‘friendly Games’.

Finally we take our role as a convenor of people, clients and communities seriously and volunteered helped Birmingham City Council and the Organising Committee reach other companies they weren’t able to engage with unilaterally.

The PwC Birmingham office was and is the ideally placed large scale facility to convene many guests, teams and problem solvers. Situated between Centenary Square which was home to the visitor attraction of the Games, the Bull now named ‘Ozzy’ and the BBC studios and Games megastore, and on the other side Victoria Square which was a centre piece for cultural activities. Our doors were open 7am-7pm throughout the Games with rolling hospitality provided. We felt like we were at the heart of the Games, and wanted our guests and colleagues to feel exactly the same. I think we achieved that –and Birmingham redefined its reputation globally to an audience of 1.5 billion viewers alongside the record numbers of spectators at the sporting events.

As an organisation we actively encouraged employees to volunteer for the Games and apply for Games time tickets. All of the corporate sponsor tickets that PwC received for the opening and closing ceremonies were given to the Welcome team, secretarial, catering and cleaning staff at PwC to recognise their hard work keeping us safe in our building during the pandemic.

The reputation, perception and brand of the city has changed hugely and positively on the international stage. We have recently seen reported record levels of Foreign Direct Investment in 2021/22 in the West Midlands, performing better than all other UK regions – in part the result of the collective work of the region to be a great place to invest, build business and capitalise on the scale of the young and diverse talent emerging from our schools, colleges and Universities. Even prior to the games with investments into the creative sectors around the city, Birmingham was experiencing an upturn in investment. Despite economic headwinds the attractiveness of the region across a broad spectrum of industries and sectors is a clear opportunity to deliver real levelling up and inclusive growth.

Many talked about a Golden Decade of Opportunity for Birmingham in the decade before the Games. We have two more seismic periods to make a difference, the next decade in which HS2 will commence service, and the decade beyond that to ensure that the UK economy feels the benefits of the largest infrastructure investment in high-speed rail for future generations.”

Ruth Griffin, Partner,

Gowling

Charles Brant, Relationship Development Manager, Gowling

“We always hoped that the positive impact on our people, our community and our clients via our involvement with the Games would be significant, but we didn’t necessarily anticipate the impact it would have on widening and strengthening our relationships within the wider Birmingham business community. This was not just another piece of legal work, it represented so much more. How seriously we took our involvement in the Games was shown by the fact that our UK CEO, David Fennell, was a key member of the bid team that ultimately were successful in being appointed as Official Legal Advisors for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and as a sponsor of the Games.

From our experience, the Games has certainly raised the profile of Birmingham on the International stage.

In terms of the economic legacy of the Games, we were proud to be sponsors of the Business and Tourism programme, and we have been delighted to hear that the pipeline of inward investments has doubled

The enhanced spirit of collaboration we saw around the games has been long lasting and there continue to be growth opportunities through private and public collaboration, for example in the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter between Aston University and Bruntwood. Another example is the development of regional economic clusters.

For us we continue to develop strong working relationships off the back of B2022 with other sponsors/ supporters of the Games, such as the University of Birmingham, PWC, Aston University, Bruntwood and Severn Trent.

We believe that the Commonwealth Games is only the start, there is a real serious intent from major stakeholders across the city not to let the foot of the gas and to make the most of the opportunities the Games presents to keep the city driving forward.

In terms of what happens now there needs to be a really strong continued focus from the local Council on engaging collaboratively with stakeholders to enable continued investment into the City and to facilitate the delivery of tangible social value.”

Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Affairs, University of Birmingham Helen Toft, Head of Marketing and Communications, University of Birmingham

“There were clearly defined pillars to our relationship with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Firstly, we hosted the squash and hockey competitions on our campus (six of the women’s hockey players who went on to win Gold were either students or alumni). Secondly, we hosted 3500 athletes in our halls of residence, supporting the sustainability agenda of the Games. Finally, we were an official partner of the Games and the International leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay

As a civic University embedded in the city and region and with an international focus, this partnership felt like a good fit. We are really pleased that we are seeing very clear benefits from the Games and its legacy.

The pride we all felt during the Games time was immense. Hosting the squash and hockey on campus created a real party atmosphere. During this time our cultural collections were open, strengthening our ties with local communities as well as those further afield; for instance, the Lapworth Museum had 3500 new visitors over the 11 days of the Games.

Our ability to engage with business was also significant. A highlight was hosting businesses at UK House, in our Exchange Building in Centenary Square, which welcomed over 1,000 businesses and investors. We also partnered with the Business and Tourism Programme (BTAP) for the region and delivered sessions throughout the week including on Education Day on the theme of science, business and policy for environmental action. Delegations from across Government and business came to Birmingham and were impressed with the city. It generated a national and international change in perception of the city, and highlighted how universities can work closely with business.

With the international leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay, we worked with global partners to raise awareness of the city and our University’s education and research offerings. For example, we had significant success with our Commonwealth scholarship programme, aligned to the Baton Relay and strengthening our diverse international student body. There was a 55 % increase in applications and a 29% increase in acceptances from eligible students from target Commonwealth countries.

International events around the Baton Relay also highlighted our research focused on global challenges. The baton itself collected data on the air quality across Commonwealth countries that will contribute to a cutting-edge research collaboration combining art, technology and science led by Professor Francis Pope.

Other examples of legacy from the Games are that we will be hosting the International Blind Sports Federation World Games this summer and working with stakeholders in the region to bring other major events to the West Midlands. Our collaboration with the region, such as with the other Games partners, has been strengthened. The Games allowed us to focus around a common cause and a hard deadline. Going beyond the Games we are collaborating in other areas of importance for the region, such as the skills gap and sustainability. I think these relationships changed fundamentally during the Games because we all had a common purpose. It has accelerated those relationships with partners by about five years!

Our advice for other higher education institutions thinking of getting involved with an event like the Games: be clear in what you want, what you can support, and build a strong relationship with the Organising Committee at multiple levels. In terms of partnership, we benefitted from an early and close relationship. For example, in the run up to the Games, the University could contribute and add context to many narratives that added regional interest. Finally, strength of leadership is key - as long as it was in our colleague’s overall work remit, we encouraged creative thinking and generating as much positive impact as possible, so that each area of the University could make the most of this once in a lifetime event.”

Daniel Nikolla, Marketing Manager, Hardy Signs

“We were a direct beneficiary of being involved in the supply chain. As a local firm we were involved in participating in the procurement process after submitting our bid. After being successful in our bid, we were responsible for supplying flags and banners to Sandwell Council and Birmingham City Council which were displayed around the city and region displaying graphics to do with the Games. To see our hoarding signage displayed around the Library of Birmingham was a moment of immense pride. I think the fact that we bought into the ethos of the Games was crucial as we could show in the procurement process that we have 200 solar panels applied to our roof since 2016, and that all our printers & ink are environmentally friendly

Our feature on BBC News about our involvement providing signage to the Games linked to us to other media contracts and really grew the presence of our business. We have definitely seen an increase in revenue and engagement since this media presence.

To put a tangible figure next to what we have seen- there was a £100 000 revenue from the CSM live procurement process. Whilst the last financial year for us showing growth of up to 23%, more than the previous high of 20% which we experienced.

What we noticed in the aftermath of the Games is that the reach has extended our as far as over here in Burton- we noticed more people visiting the arboretum and St George’s Park. In the case of last summer we even had a request on our website from some visitors asking for information on potential walking routes around the local area.

I think moving forward to maximise on the fantastic opportunity that we have, what we need to do as a region is communicate more.”

For a summary of the contributions made in the virtual roundtable, please see below:

Paul Bunce, Commercial Manager, Conference Aston

“Talking to booking customers and corporate clients there was a buzz around Birmingham which they couldn’t attribute to anything in particular, but they just said that there was an awareness and energy to the city. The city was so colourful and diverse in a way that was never seen before. We are predominantly a hospitality business that focuses on the conference season and the academic year due to our tie in with Aston University. However, as a result of the Games we have secured partnerships over a three-year period in tangible contacts.

The brand image portrayed during the Games was Birmingham, but how do you leverage the brand of Birmingham to combine it with other aspects of the West Midlands tourist preferences.

We have so many big wins now as a city to be able to ensure that we become an attractive proposition for tourists- the sustainable transport access to the city is a prime example of this big win. But there needs to be a real think about we strategise the brand of Birmingham within the context of UK tourism.”

Janey Bingham, Commercial Director, Holiday Inn

“Both hotels- the Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre and the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City Centre- were fully filled with longer term clients for the two to three week period around Games time.

Birmingham can’t compete with other places in the UK as a leisure destination. But the point is that we did last Summer! I realise that the Commonwealth Games was a unique, exceptional event to boost our tourism pull, but what is the strategy to build on this?”

Tracey Stephenson, Managing Director, Staying Cool

“As a business we had the best ever July and August period by 15%- it was amazing! The perception of the city has gone through the roof, compared to before where it seemed that a lot of people seemed to have a somewhat negative perception of the city, after last summer people were amazed by how incredible and vibrant the city was. The high energy approach struck so many people who said that they could feel things were happening.

To build on this energy, there needs to be a big push on the tourism planning around the city. For me there needs to be a big push on the cultural tourism of the city and creating hotspots of tourism around the wonderful areas of cultural that we really advocate to an international audience.”

Joanne Gray, General Manager, Staybridge

“The Games were electric, you could feel the vibrancy of the City almost bouncing of its walls.

Focusing on the forward look we do need to see collaboration with partners moving forward, particularly if we want to enhance the tourism appeal of Birmingham. It is fantastic to hear that we have a night time economy advisor, but what I feel would be particularly beneficial is people who act as just ambassadors to the City. They should have no political alignment or tie to an organisation.

It seems to me that there are funds set aside from other cities to attract major events, but this preplanning doesn’t seem to exist and you need to ask the question why. We have the potential to be the major events capital of the UK with our unique geography between all UK major cities.”

B2022 Review

This section offers an overview on the various activities and programmes associated with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in order to inform and contextualise the research we have presented in earlier sections.

Below we have included an overview of activity related to:

• The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce involvement in B022

• B2022: Be Bold, Be Birmingham

• B2022 The Business and Tourism Programme

• B2022 Business Legacy Strategy

• B2022: Festival 22

• B2022: Getting Games Ready

• B2022: Get Set for the Games

• B2022: UK House

• B2022: United by 22

• Pride House

B2022 Activity: The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) prioritised local business engagement and representation through the lead up to and during the B2022 Commonwealth Games, including consulting with Chambers of Commerce in past host-cities on lessons learned. In 2020 we launched Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business Legacy Manifesto: A Games Changer for Business? and proactively engaged with stakeholders on achieving the ambitions outlined. In 2022 alone, we delivered 11 events and webinars for over 500 delegates on topics ranging from local supply chain opportunities, to travel planning and staff engagement opportunities. We developed 5 formal Memorandums of Understanding with partners in Commonwealth nations on facilitating bi-lateral trade including a partnership with Gold Coast Trade & Investment. We also ensured that our team had the opportunity to feel part of the Games, holding internal ballots for tickets to attend Games sporting events. Today, the GBCC is also part of the Major Sporting Events Leadership Group convened by Birmingham City Council on attracting and maximising impact from future major sporting events.

Be Bold, Be Birmingham

As host city, Birmingham City Council created the £6 million Commonwealth Games Community Fund. The aim was to help local communities to be able to access, be connected to and be part of the Games. The fund was designed as the opportunity for the city’s people to be able to celebrate the Games their way and do things that they feel are important in each of the city’s 69 wards. The fund covers several areas including the £2m allocated to celebrating communities small grants fund, the £500 000 “bring the power” learning programme and the £1 million physical activity and wellbeing programme in Birmingham.

The Business & Tourism Programme

The programme’s role was to leverage the global profile generated by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to highlight the wealth of opportunities and experiences available in the region and the UK. An accredited Games programme, it has been developed by a partnership of regional, national and international organisations, all aiming to maximise the benefits that the Commonwealth Games will bring – and generate economic growth.

Focusing on tourism, trade and investment, the three-year programme looks to catalyse the West Midlands’ growth strategy, cementing the region, and wider UK, as a globally sought-after location to visit, invest and live in. The programme falls under the responsibility of the West Midlands Growth Company. The WMGC plays an important role in supporting with the delivery of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Local Industrial Strategy. Their primary purpose is to attract investment, jobs, visitors and business to the West Midlands region.

To understand the scale of impact the Business and Tourism Programme is aiming to have it is important to understand the funding provided to the programme; the UK government have invested £21.3 million into the programme and an additional £2.6 million worth came from the West Midlands Growth Company.

The programme will run late of 2023 and has been designed to secure more than £650 million of new overseas investment into the UK, and create £7 million of additional export deals until 2027. Contributing to over one million visits to the Games, BATP is also expected to attract thousands of additional visitors to the region and UK until 2027, generating millions in visitor spend.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Legacy Strategy

Focused around the “Games for Everyone” mantra, the legacy strategy for the Games was designed around 5 key tenants:

• Being a catalyst for change

• Bringing people together

• Helping the region to grow and succeed

• Improving health and wellbeing

• Putting us on the global stage

There were a number of legacy programmes which formed part of a broader strategy. This sets out a bold vision for how the event can transform the region and unite communities across the West Midlands, the country and the Commonwealth, with a message of hope and recovery following the pandemic. The strategy includes:

• State-of-the-art legacy facilities at the Alexander Stadium and Sandwell Aquatics Centre for community use after the Games

• 1,400 homes in the first phase of the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme, with hundreds more in future phases

• A procurement spend of around £350 million to benefit businesses across the UK

• 35,000 jobs and opportunities available, with the first Commonwealth Jobs and Skills Academy offering a blueprint for reaching disadvantaged groups

• 200,000 hours of volunteer training for 12,500+ people, with a framework for developing skills and employability that could be replicated by future Games

• “Commonwealth Active Communities”, a £4 million Sport England fund to harness the power of the Games to support inactive people to become more active

• A six-month, UK-wide Cultural Festival reaching 2.5 million people and prioritising underrepresented communities, offering and a blueprint to support the long-term growth of the arts and culture sector

• A £6 million Commonwealth Games Community Fund from Birmingham City Council to help communities build pride, respect and cohesion by celebrating the Games their way.

• An ambition to directly engage with one million children and young people through a learning programme, with classroom resources on the Games offered to children across the UK and the Commonwealth

• A £23.9 million programme to highlight the wealth of opportunities available in the West Midlands, as well as promoting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, around the world, enhancing the country’s profile as a destination for tourism, trade and investment and supporting post-pandemic recovery. The Queen’s Baton Relay will travel across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before arriving in England, with communities across the UK encouraged to take part.

• The first Commonwealth Games to incorporate, measure and evidence the social value impacts and benefits of hosting the Games, offering a model to future host cities.

Birmingham 2022 Festival was a £12 million six-month long celebration with the aim of animating the entire West Midlands with ambitious creative works. It is curated by the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee and funded by Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund plus Spirit of 2012, Birmingham City Council and a range of national trusts & foundations. Events and experiences range from mass participation performances to intriguing works delivered by the 108 community organisations that have received funding via the Creative City Grants programme.

An exemplar project from Festival 2022 was “Critical Mass”; Critical Mass was an inclusive dance project that engaged 242 young people (aged 16-30) in 600+ classes, rehearsals and performances over a 14-month period in the lead up to the Games, which aimed to redefine genuine inclusion in megaevents.

A defining feature of Festival 22 was the festival sites themselves, these included Victoria Square, Smithfield and the neighbourhood festival sites which appeared across the city. There were exactly 19 Festival and Neighbourhood Festival sites across the country – including 9 in Birmingham, 1 in Tamworth and 1 in Solihull and a Relaxed Festival Site located in Touchbase Pears in Selly Oak that will provide support to people with complex disabilities.

Getting Games Ready

Delivered by the West Midlands Growth Company, as part of the Business and Tourism Programme, the Getting Games Ready Programme offers free training for front-line tourism, transport and hospitality staff aimed at creating a world-class experience for Games time visitors. The online programme provides essential training on customer service, information on the region and key tourist attractions and the Commonwealth Games sporting and festival programme. It takes about 3 hours to complete, businesses that train more than 80% of their front-line staff using the programme will also be eligible to apply for the ‘Getting Games Ready’ Business Recognition which includes promotion of their business on the Visit Birmingham website.

A training programme with 7,000 free places was put on to prepare tourism businesses across the West Midlands to deliver an unrivalled visitor experience at every touch point during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The ‘Getting Games Ready’ programme helped participants to:

• highlight the very best of what the West Midlands destinations have to offer

• provide a warm, knowledgeable, and inclusive welcome

• share tips about Birmingham 2022 and the Birmingham 2022 Festival

• provide up-to-date, accurate and accessible information to visitors

• promote the West Midlands as a place to visit, stay and invest.

Get Set for the Games

Get Set for the Games was the overarching campaign from the B2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. There was an online hub which businesses were directed towards which contained all relevant information. The programme aimed at helping local businesses and residents understand:

1. Advertising and Trade Measures (what businesses can and can’t do in relation to Games related advertising, promotions or trading activity)

2. Travel Advice (including a heat map showing expected areas of increased traffic and volume of rail passengers during the Games, information on local road closures and tips for travelling during the Games)

3. Tender Opportunities (nb: the majority of Games Organising Committee contracts have now been issued)

4. Partnership opportunities (information on becoming an official Games partner)

UK House

The first event of its kind, UK House was designed to seek solutions across eight areas of strategic importance and showcase opportunities for sustainable growth, trade and investment.

Led by the UK’s Department for International Trade and in partnership with the region’s official economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, the event was a key part of the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP). It was held between 28th July- 8th August 2022, at the Exchange Building just outside of Centenary Square.

The programme also featured a two day focus on Food & Drink and local SMEs in the food & drink supply chain. This aspect was developed in partnership with Birmingham City Council in conjunction with the Birmingham Commonwealth Association, The Food Foundation, the Department for International Trade and the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA).

The UK House programme featured 8 days of events with more than 90 sessions, panels, clinics and workshops focussed on education, data-driven healthcare, sports economy, creative and digital technologies, food and drink, future mobility, tourism and legacy. The 5 key markets were India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Canada.

United by 22

In Spring 2020 the Games launched its community programme, United By Birmingham 2022. The programme looked to recognise and raise awareness of community projects that helped to achieve the Birmingham 2022 vision and mission.

• Bringing people together

• Improving health and wellbeing

• Helping the region grow and succeed

• Being a catalyst for change

• Putting us on the global stage

United by 2022 is now the name for the official legacy charity of the Games, launched immediately after the Games. Building on the impact of the Games, United by 2022 will confirm the continuation of five legacy programmes that have already proven their effectiveness in making a difference to local people and communities:

1. Volunteers Collective: Volunteers played an integral role in the success of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Volunteers Collective programme aims to harness the spirit of the Games volunteers and continue to provide opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful impact in their communities. This digital platform will match keen volunteers in the West Midlands to new and exciting opportunities.

2. Gen22: Gen22 recognizes the potential of young people to drive change and shape the future, and empowers young people aged 16-24. Through 30-hour assignments, mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement, this programme empowers the next generation to become catalysts for positive transformation in their communities and young leaders.

3. Bring the Power: Bring the Power focuses on empowering young people aged 5-25 through the sport, arts, and digital sectors. Focused on women and girls in sport, SEND opportunities, and youth voice, Bring the Power seeks to address the imbalance of female representation within the sports sector and to improve access to opportunities for young people with disabilities.

4. Critical Mass: Originally part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, Critical Mass is a high-profile dance and movement project that engages hundreds of participants aged 16-30 years old from the West Midlands who are representative of the diversity of the region. The programme brings together young people with disabilities, and without, to encourage them to move more and perform as a united dance group.

5. Social Value: The Games pledged to benefit local businesses and communities, and it generated £300 million in Social Value impact. UB22 aims to continue this legacy by facilitating organisations to embed Social Value, to measure their impact, to build capacity and skills in the region’s community organisations and to catalyse radical collaboration by bringing together community organisations and corporate partners.

Pride House

Pride House Birmingham 2022 aimed to create a safe space and welcoming, inclusive environment for LGBTIQ+ supporters, athletes, staff, volunteers and organisations at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It was delivered by Pride Sport, a UK based sports development and inclusion organisation. For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the Pride House was fully integrated with a presence in the Athletes Villages. It delivered a programme of events, entertainment, engagement and education before, during and after the Games, located at The Loft based in Birmingham’s Gay Village (Southside) 22nd July – 8th August.

For more information please contact:

Raj Kandola Director of External Affairs, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

r.kandola@birmingham-chamber.com

Endnotes

i International trade in UK nations, regions and cities: 2020, ONS, July 2022 - International trade in UK nations, regions and citiesOffice for National Statistics

ii Inrix 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard: London Tops List as Most Congested City, U.S. Cities Inch Closer, January 2023 - INRIX 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard: London Tops List as Most Congested City, U.S. Cities Inch Closer - INRIX

iii Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Our Legacy, Summer 2022 - Birmingham-2022_Our_Legacy.pdf (pulselive.com)

iv Interim Evaluation of The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Interim Evaluation Report, January 2023 - Evaluation of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – Interim Evaluation Report – January 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

v Business and Tourism Programme – West Midlands Growth Company, July 2022 - Business and Tourism Programme | WMGC (wmgrowth.com)

vi Department for Business & Trade (DBT): Inward Investment Results 2022-23 1 : Midlands Engine Briefing, June 20232022-23-DBT-FDI-Midlands.pdf (midlandsengine.org)

vii Midlands Engine International Trade Summary Insights, June 2023 - MIdlands-Engine-International-Trade-Summary-Insights.pdf (midlandsengine.org)

viii Interim Evaluation of The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Interim Evaluation Report, January 2023 - Evaluation of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – Interim Evaluation Report – January 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

ix West Midlands Combined Authority Trailblazer Deeper Devolution Deal, March 2023 - [Title] (publishing.service.gov.uk)

x HS2 What’s in it for me? West Midlands Combined Authority, March 2023 - HS2: Whats in it for me? (wmca.org.uk)

xi West Midlands Combined Authority Plan for Growth, December 2022 - Overview (wmca.org.uk)

xii West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan (Draft Priorities) – March 2023, west-midlands-and-warwickshire-local-skillsimprovement-plan-draft-priorities.pdf (cw-chamber.co.uk)

xiii West Midlands’ public transport hits record numbers throughout Commonwealth Games, August 2022 - West Midlands’ public transport hits record numbers throughout Commonwealth Games (wmca.org.uk)

GAMES:

About the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

The Chamber are here to unleash the potential of Greater Birmingham’s businesses. We give them the tools to build their profile and networks, access opportunities and learn from best practice locally, as well as trade internationally.

We are a not for profit business membership and support organisation that exists to Connect. Support. Grow. local businesses.

We’re in it for the long haul – we’ve been putting the us in business, since 1813. Today’s Chamber has over 2,500 members, ranging from young professionals and start-ups to multinational corporations.

The Chamber is an unwavering voice and champion of local businesses, working in partnership with stakeholders across the region to make Greater Birmingham the best possible place to work and do business.

Our Insight & Intelligence Services team deliver high quality research into local business community trends and views. In addition to independent research such as this publication, we undertake a small number of commercial projects with partners each year to help fund our work on behalf of the local business community. To find out more, contact us using the details below.

r.kandola@birmingham-chamber.com www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com