The best in Midlands business takes a bow
THE past 12 months have again been a busy year for both Birmingham and the wider city region.
We’ve welcomed a new directly elected mayor – a first for the West Midlands – and waved goodbye to both the leader and chief executive of the city council.
HSBC is now just a few weeks away from moving thousands of staff into its new UK headquarters at the Arena Central development in Broad Street which will also be home to a new regional super hub for HM Revenue and Customs.
We are seeing real progress on the Paradise development in Chamberlain Square where the first building can be seen taking shape, ready for Big Four finance firm PwC to set up its new Midlands headquarters.
All of this development can mean only one thing – Birmingham is open for business and undeterred by any of the issues which seem to be thrown in its path by referendums here and political upheaval there.
The city’s credentials to host a major sporting event continue to be displayed for the rest of the country, and the world, to see as our leaders fight to bring the 2022 Commonwealth mingham.
Although it is still not a done deal, Birmingham stands as the only candidate in the running at present and what a boost it would be to the tourism economy to showcase all the city has to offer to a global audience.
You only have to look at the lasting effect holding the Games has had on both Manchester and Glasgow to know that we can make it work for all, both now and for the generations to come.
Just two weeks ago, Birmingham played host to the first marathon on its streets in almost 40 years, expertly blended alongside the Games to Bir- city’s long-running half marathon, and next year we will welcome the gymnastics World Cup event and athletics World Indoor Championship to the newly named Arena Birmingham.
All of this activity shows what Birmingham is capable of and the finalists and winners of our 2017 Birmingham Post Business Awards are at the vanguard of driving the city forward.
Everyone who attended our awards ceremony at the ICC should rightly be proud of their achievements and I hope they will continue to innovate, create jobs and place Birmingham at the forefront of global cities.