HS2 needs to stay on track

The Chamber has told Government it is taking a short-term attitude to the role of infrastructure in economic growth after it delayed constructionofsomeHS2sections.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said parts of the HS2 line between Birmingham, Crewe and Manchester will be “rephased” by two years.

While the Government repeated its commitment to the Eastern Leg, which connects Birmingham with the East Midlands, there has been no mention of when it will be put forward for parliamentary approval.

The Chamber’s director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “This Government is once again minimising the huge opportunities that HS2 brings to progressing many of our country’s overarching economic objectives, including levelling up and net zero, by providing the infrastructure that will spur clean growth and regeneration in UK regions.

“Investing in big infrastructure is a vital ingredient in any successful economy, as we have outlined in our Business Manifesto for Growth, yet as a country we continue to adopt a very short-term attitude by slowing down or scaling back this investment any time we need to make some cost savings.

“In the East Midlands, where we receive the lowest transport infrastructure spending per head at 64.7% of the UK average, we need to see a firm commitment to progressing the Eastern Leg through Parliament via a dedicated bill as soon as possible.”

Delegates will be able to build networks and gain business support advice at the event being staged by the Business Gateway Growth Hub at the Morningside Arena in Leicester on 18 April.

Its purpose is to signpost business owners to available support, while also providing practical tools and tips to help manage the cost-ofdoing-business crisis.

Glynis Wright MBE and Sonia Baigent, both members of the Leicester and Leicestershire

Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) board, will host the event, which covers subjects including:

•What small businesses need to know about saving on energy costs

•Effective recruitment, onboarding and engagement of employees

•Navigating debt and maintaining financial resilience

•Leadership in challenging times

•An anonymised Q&A session offering free practical advice.

Free refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided at the event, which runs from 8am to 3.30pm. To register, visit bit.ly/BGGHexpo

The joy of six for PA Forum event

The PA Forum Annual Learning and Development Conference is returning for its sixth year. Bringing together representatives working within executive and business support across the Midlands, the conference takes place at voco, in Solihull, on Thursday 15 May from 9am to 5pm.

The programme features inspirational, educational and motivational content for PAs, EAs, secretaries, administrative assistants, office managers and business support managers to take away ideas and tangible action points that could benefit their business.

Lucy Brazier, CEO of Marcham Publishing, which publishes Executive Support Magazine, will host the day.

Sessions include:

•“Harness the power of social media and LinkedIn” with Oli Hills, founder of Birmingham Updates and CEO of TikTok marketing agency

Nonsensical

•“Overcoming imposter phenomenon, self-doubt and self-awareness” with Rebecca Mander, founder of GuruYou

•“Digital wellbeing and the workplace of the future” with Alex La Via, founder of Live More Offline

•“Organisations don’t change, people do!” with Sid Madge, founder of Meee

•“Advocating for inclusion” with Simone White, executive assistant at BlackRock and chair of Global Administrative Initiative Network

•“The way of the productivity ninja” with Stephen Dargan, Think Productive

Early bird tickets are available for the full day from £80 per person. Contact daniel@paforum.co.uk