Making a positive difference in troubled times
IT’S hard to know how to feel. On the one hand, there’s a whole lot of good stuff bubbling away in Greater Birmingham.
On the other, we’re in the midst of a pandemic and war in Europe, something that has utterly shattered my – and many others – beliefs about what we would see in our lifetimes.
As far as the good stuff goes, there has been quite a lot of it lately.
Covid-19 restrictions are on their way out. Whether you’re on the same page with the pace of relaxing restrictions or more uncertain, it is clear that hospitalisations and case rates are continuing to fall rapidly.
The incredible vaccination programme has worked wonders. Good news at last after two extraordinary years.
The BBC have announced further investment in Birmingham, with MasterChef on its way to Digbeth and a new apprentice hub for the creative sector launched.
Global phenomenon Peaky Blinders held its latest season premier right here in Brum.
A Michelin Star awarded to Upstairs in Lichfield, further boosting the region’s glowing foodie credentials.
The Commonwealth Games
Cultural Festival has officially launched. Using the tagline “Let’s Go Out” (more than fitting after the last two years), the festival will see a glorious celebration of creativity take place across the region until September.
I had the pleasure of getting a “sneak peak” of what’s in store from Martin Green CBE, chief creative officer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, at a Chamber Patrons meet up.
Let’s just say it’s going to be a bit wonderful – from a Time Travel Tram (a concept that’s really speaking to me at this current moment!) to the arial acrobatics of Wonderous Stories and much more besides.
Tomorrow, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will be celebrating our first fully in-person annual dinner since 2019.
Over 1,200 guests across 130 tables will be in attendance and almost 200 applications were submitted for the awards. It is going to be so good to celebrate our business community together in style.
On the flipside the world is a pretty messed up place right now.
At home the business community is managing through all sorts of unusual circumstances from the battle for talent to the rising cost of doing business.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is just extraordinary in all the worst ways.
The Chamber will be working to connect our members to the latest intelligence on emerging situation and support them in unpicking the implications for local businesses. We are currently publishing a series of bite-sized videos with guest experts on everything from sanctions to cyber security. But while we will continue to fulfil our role in supporting businesses, it’s the human aspect that is front of mind for so many of us.
I know we are united in our thoughts being with the people of Ukraine and their loved ones the world over whose lives have been utterly devastated in ways they thought unimaginable.
As I stood in the crowd at the vigil for Ukraine on Sunday I was overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, support and dismay on show from people of all the many nations participating. I was also overwhelmed with the sadness that such an outpouring was needed at all.
There are ways we as individuals can all help a little whether it be supporting community efforts to bring essential to Ukrainian refugees (why yes, the brilliant Bearded Bros are back) or donating to humanitarian charities on the ground or more.
Although there is no escaping the sense of powerlessness many of us feel in the face of these utterly atrocious acts. It’s been a lot for many people to cope with these last few years, lurching from crisis to crisis.
Even acts happening geographically far away can have a toll on our family, friends and colleagues’ mental health right here.
Throughout the pandemic we’ve held a number of sessions with and for the business community on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and will be holding another on March 24 as part of our Growth Through People campaign.
In times like this it can be tempting to want to shut the world out but what I am proud to see is so many people in so many ways leaning in and looking at how, however big or small, they can make a positive difference.
So in summary I still have no idea how to feel at the moment.
What I do know is I’m going to be following the advice of the Birmingham 2022 Festival: “Let’s go out”.