1. Chamberlink July Aug 1-30.qxp_Chamberlink 29/06/2021 11:52 Page 4
Opinion
CHAMBER LINK
The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Editor’s View By John Lamb
Cannock Chase
Chamber of Commerce
Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce
Greater Birmingham
Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce
The pride of Birmingham: GBCC chief executive Henrietta Brealey and Joel Blake, president of Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, catch up on progress at the Alexandra Stadium, centrepiece of the Commonwealth 2022 Games in Birmingham. See special reports on following pages. Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3237, 0797 1144064 j.lamb@birmingham-chamber.com Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144052 d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com Reporter Jessica Brookes 0750 8317356 j.brookes@birmingham-chamber.com Reporter Claudia Congrave 0775 7798567 c.congrave@birmingham-chamber.com You can now read the latest issue of CHAMBERLINK and view back issues online at: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com Published by
Kemps Publishing Ltd Unit 8, The Courtyard, 707 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 3DA 0121 765 4144 www.kempspublishing.co.uk Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth Advertising 0121 765 4144 jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk Printers Stephens & George Print Group PRIVACY NOTICE: Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber members and Kemps' customers; and • To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects. Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. If you wish to, you can visit www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard. CHAMBERLINK is produced on behalf of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chambers nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.
4 CHAMBERLINK July/August 2021
Excitement across city as countdown begins nly a year to go – and yet it seems like yesterday that we were announcing Birmingham was to stage the Commonwealth Games. There have been many ups and downs and disappointments imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic but chief executive Ian Reid and his Games team have stuck with it, aiming to ensure the event in July next year will be a global spectacular. We devote a large amount of space in this issue of Chamberlink to the Games and one of the outstanding features to emerge is what a warm welcome visitors to our city can expect. The Commonwealth has always prided itself on staging ‘the friendly Games’ and competitors, their families, supporters and friends can look forward to fulfilling that experience in Birmingham. You only have to listen to Elaine Limond, from University College Birmingham (see page 7). The university will be hosting Team Scotland and their deputy dean at the School of Sport and Food speaks of the pride for all that the university has achieved in attracting Team Scotland to their home in central Birmingham. And she wants the experience to be remembered as one of their proudest achievements, adding: “We have a lot of plans around logistics, staffing, and making a drive for volunteers from our student body. “Our preparations are in a whole host of areas. It’s definitely not limited to sport at all. There’s scope for hospitality, hair and make-up with the cultural events going on and opportunities for our business, media and marketing students around promoting the Games.” We reported when the Games were awarded to
O
Birmingham that they would mark a sea-change in the city’s history. And that golden opportunity to showcase ourselves to a global audience on behalf of the city and the region will not be lost. Sporting endeavours will be paramount but all of the city region – its hotels, restaurants, bars, its attractions and its businesses of all shapes and sizes - can play their part. And no doubt that will be reflected in the important opening and closing ceremonies. They are being masterminded by chief creative officer Martin Green and the skills he applies will set the tone and lasting impressions for the whole Games. Martin is the man who went to Buckingham Palace on a mission to persuade the Queen to ‘leap’ out of a helicopter on film for the 2012 London Olympics. He has now turned his attention to Birmingham (see the Griffin Report, pages 20 and 21). He will not, of course, reveal what he has got in mind for Birmingham but we can expect something spectacular after his experience of working with artistic director Danny Boyle, who directed ‘Trainspotting’, on the London Olympics opening ceremony. Numerous private and public bodies are playing their parts and credit goes to them all as we create a splendid new Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and a magnificent aquatic arena in Sandwell. With that sort of attitude applied to all visitors in July next year we can ensure that they will leave a city that has demonstrated its pride in hosting the Games and one that has shown true Brummie hospitality. • Chamberlink is taking a summer break and returns in September.
