Still reasons to be cheerful despite a rocky year

and expected political and economic developments in the form of a snap general election, continued fallout from Brexit negotiations and the first interest rate rise in almost a decade.

Throughout it all, our firms continue to demonstrate a remarkable durability in light of ongoing uncertainty.

In the chamber’s last quarterly business report of 2017 to be published next week we expect to reveal that healthy levels of domestic and international output were upheld as we head into the new year.

It’s also pleasing to see concerns over accessing the right talent have lessened and there has been a slight upturn in the levels that firms were investing in training their staff.

This is coupled with strong projections around profitability and turnover as firms across Greater Birmingham continue to exhibit a spirit of optimism.

The report is out next Thursday and businesses will have an opportunity to discuss its finding at a breakfast event on January 16 (all details at www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com).

Locally, it was great to see the government recognise the work of the West Midlands mayor Andy Street in the second devolution deal.

The £250 million of funding allocated to enhancing the transport networks across the region is a testament to the work that the region’s institutions such as the wider West Midlands Combined Authority are carrying out, especially as no other area in England has been granted a second devolution deal of this kind.

Looking ahead to 2018, the chamber will continue to engage with the mayor’s office and other stakeholders to ensure the views of the local business community are

Our firms continue to demonstrate a remarkable durability in light of ongoing uncertainty

being effectively represented and fed into key regional policy programmes.

And included in this is the prospect of Birmingham being awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games. A decision is expected any day and a vote in our favour will be the icing on the cake for this festive season.

Irrespective of the outcome, the Chamber has launched Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, an initiative which has attracted many plaudits and is designed to help Greater Birmingham business seek new markets post-Brexit. Paul Faulkner is chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of

Commerce