We can innovate our way out of this crisis – it’s in our DNA

IN these times of tremendous challenge and uncertainty, the business community is in great need of some success stories.

The phrase “unprecedented times” has become well worn in recent months to the point of cliché.

Yet statistical and anecdotal evidence tell us this is an accurate description – businesses have had to and are still facing a situation unlike any other on record.

Existing woes on the high street have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with big-name retailers like John Lewis, Boots and Marks & Spencer among those announcing huge job losses. The former also announced closure of its flagship store at Birmingham’s Grand Central in a major blow to the region.

Over the past week I’ve conducted two interviews with local television about the wider jobs picture.

Both news outlets illustrated the current predicament with the case of an engineering firm in Tyseley that received 15,000 applications for just 10 jobs on a new assembly line.

It is an unfortunate reflection of the impact Covid-19 has had on our local economy.

But, while there will no doubt be more bumps in the road over the coming months, it’s important not to lose sight of the resilience and ingenuity that exists across the West Midlands.

We have a history of innovation. It is embedded in our region’s DNA and that cannot be removed by crises such as a pandemic.

I firmly believe the West Midlands is home to some of the most forward-thinking companies, not just in the UK, but far beyond these shores.

That’s why it’s important to take a moment and champion some of these successes.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will be doing just that this evening in our annual awards ceremony which has been adapted into an online format to reflect present circumstances.

It will be somewhat different for the grand celebration we had envisaged with 1,400 guests at the ICC.

But the fantastic online programme the Chamber team have pulled together in a short space of time is a fitting example of the resilience and adaptability referred to above.

We too have evolved as an organisation in order to ensure we can stay focused on our core mission of supporting the wider needs of business.

The Chamber team – and in particular our president Steve Allen – have remained determined not to let the spirit of enterprise, energy and togetherness that exists in our business community, and which the

Chamber Awards have come to embody, fall victim to Covid-19.

It has been five months since we revealed the 82 businesses who have been shortlisted for our 12 awards and much has changed in that time. Too many people have lost their lives and everyone, collectively, has been through an experience the likes of which nobody has had before.

But the show, of course, has to go on. We must continue to celebrate success stories and recognise what’s great about our region.

And we must remind ourselves that not only will we come through this and bounce back, but our business community will do so better than ever.

Paul Faulkner, Chief Executive Greater Birmingham Chambers of

Commerce