Chamber restructure means more benefits for members

Restructured team: Katrina Cooke (centre) with Lillian Elekan and Russ Ashman

By Jessica Brookes

A restructure of the Chamber’s commercial operations will mean more benefits for business members.

Lillian Elekan, formerly head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed as head of membership, Russell Ashman, formerly advertising and sponsorship manager, has been named head of new business and Anna Assinder has been appointed as head of marketing and events.

‘The new structure aims to provide more benefits to businesses following the pandemic’

They will report to Katrina Cooke, who was appointed as the Chamber’s chief commercial officer earlier this year.

Their appointments form part of a re-structure of the Chamber’s commercial operation in which a new team has been established incorporating the Chamber’s marketing and events, membership and new business operations. Katrina explained that the new structure aims to provide more benefits to businesses following the pandemic.

She said: “The purpose of the new structure is to ensure that our commercial operation is reflective of the full range of products and services we have to offer businesses, including membership.

“As the economy starts to re-open, we are taking the opportunity to review our membership packages and products to ensure that our benefits deliver on our promise to connect, support and grow businesses.”

Lillian said that there may be scope for more crossdivisional membership services, following the pandemic, due to demand from members.

She added: “The virtual world has also shown us how much members have enjoyed meeting other members from across the wider geographical Chamber group, so I also think we will continue to offer more crossdivisional opportunities as part of our services.”

Russell said that he is hoping to expand the Chamber’s preferred partnership scheme, whereby businesses provide preferential discounts and rates to Chamber members. He said: “We are looking to attract more Chamber preferred partners and our new commercial team set up is designed to ensure that we are continuing to attract and offer reach to potential partners and crucially that these partners are delivering value and benefits to our members.”

Online festival celebrates business

A virtual campaign is set to be a “fantastic celebration” of the resilience of business communities across Greater Birmingham.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has announced that it will be a hosting a five-week campaign celebrating the business communities that are a part of the group.

The Festival of Business campaign is being held in lieu of in–person exhibitions being unable to be hosted by the Chamber due to coronavirus restrictions.

As part of the festival, members of the Chambers will be encouraged to attend a number of webinars and virtual networking events being hosted as part of the campaign. All 10 divisions of the Chamber will be a part of the campaign, starting on 1 June.

Lillian Elekan, head of membership at the GBCC, said: “Our aim is for The Festival of Business to be a fantastic celebration of the resilience of the business communities in each of our Chamber’s regions. We will be shining a light on some amazing local businesses, and we’ll discuss what’s to come in each region.”

Project tackles race tensions

Lightpost Theatre Company, The Black Pounds Project and Titan Partnership, alongside Birmingham Repertory Theatre, have launched Lightbearers, which aims to remedy racial tensions in schools.

Lightbearers will provide a series of workshops to be developed by Black mentors, working alongside teachers in mainstream schools to create change. Experienced drama and workshop facilitators will use elements of performance to convey a message.

CJ Lloyd Webley, Lightpost Theatre’s lead artist and creator of Lightbearers said; “The Lightbearers initiative will allow us to remedy some of the racial tensions that exist within school environments between staff and students. The issues that the Black community face are very specific - this project allows us to raise awareness as we begin to tackle some sensitive issues.”

Lightpost Theatre Company comprises young black men between 18 and 26 from across Birmingham and the West Midlands. It seeks to challenge social stigmas and ideas associated with young black men, using theatre as a gateway to create new plays of social and historical importance.