Our mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 continues with a discussion on the business environment. Former Birmingham Chamber president Steve Brittan of BSA Technologies joins Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs to discuss the region's rich manufacturing history - and what the future holds for this vitally important sector.
Oct 27, 2018•12 min
Part two of a mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is a discussion on people. University of Birmingham's Professor Anne Green and Asian Business Chamber of Commerce vice president Haseena Lockhart join Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs from the Chamber to discuss how the region can unlock the full potential of its people and ensure its diversity is reflected in senior leadership.
Oct 19, 2018•12 min
Part one of a mini-series covering themes arising from the Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is a discussion on ideas. University of Birmingham's Professor Simon Collinson and Curium's Andy Dawson join Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs from the Chamber to talk about innovation, R&D, artificial intelligence and the role of universities.
Oct 14, 2018•14 min
To mark World Mental Health Day, Lisa Ingram from Amey and Colin Corrodus from Deutsche Bank join the Chamber's Dan Harrison to discuss work that is being done to address mental health issues in the workplace and the challenges that lie ahead.
Oct 09, 2018•13 min
Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner is joined by HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston and LMJV project director Richard Kirkham to discuss the HS2 skills strategy and its impact on the region.
Oct 04, 2018•18 min
Saqib Bhatti, the new president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, joins chief executive Paul Faulkner and press and PR director John Lamb to discuss his two-year term in the hotseat.
Sep 29, 2018•15 min
Innovation Birmingham Campus CEO David Hardman, Jim Allen of energy equipment suppliers SIGinside and the Chamber’s director of policy Henrietta Brealey discuss investment in technology and machinery in Greater Birmingham as part of the Invest to Grow campaign.
Sep 09, 2018•22 min
Professor Simon Collinson from the University of Birmingham, Nic Young from the NEC Group and the Chamber's director of policy Henrietta Brealey discuss innovation, research and development in Greater Birmingham as part of the Invest to Grow campaign.
Sep 08, 2018•19 min
Dan Harrison is joined by Wesleyan's Jessica Wilkes-Reading to discuss 'Curse of the Nomed' - a new children's book produced by Wesleyan in conjunction with the charity Partnership for Children. The novel addresses the subject of youth mental health and was written to help children who are about to start secondary school.
Aug 29, 2018•9 min
Hilary Witts from Colliers International and the Chamber's Raj Kandola discuss controversial changes to the business rates system and what they mean for local firms.
Aug 20, 2018•14 min
How can Birmingham become more efficient, sustainable and create a better quality of life through data and new technologies? Arup's Rick Robinson and Aston University's Sarah Hainsworth join Chamber press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss.
Jul 24, 2018•14 min
Trump's tariffs, Brexit uncertainty and a deterioration in relations between the US and China have made for a volatile global landscape. But what effect are these factors having on investment decisions? Wesleyan's investments managing director Robert Vaudry joins Chamber CEO Paul Faulkner to discuss the impact on Greater Birmingham.
Jul 16, 2018•16 min
Rob Pollard, founder and CEO of Lightbox, joins us to discuss the success of his fast-growing digital firm and the future of Birmingham's thriving tech and digital scene.
Jul 11, 2018•12 min
As the 70th anniversary of the NHS is celebrated nationally, our special guests give us an insight into healthcare in the West Midlands and what the future holds for the health service. Dr Fiona Reynolds, chief medical officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Richard Samuda, chairman of Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust join us.
Jul 04, 2018•18 min
Dan Harrison presents a special transatlantic trade episode from the British American Business Council (BABC) conference in Birmingham. We hear from West Midlands mayor Andy Street, Midlands Engine chair Sir John Peace, executive director of BritishAmerican Business Emanuel Adam and the Department for International Trade's capability director Oliver Griffiths.
Jun 08, 2018•14 min
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist from RSM in the United States, joins Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to provide a transatlantic perspective on Brexit - and discuss what a future UK-USA trade deal might look like. Joe was speaking ahead of his appearance at the British American Business Council conference in Birmingham.
Jun 06, 2018•12 min
South & City College principal Mike Hopkins joins the Chamber's director of policy and strategic relationships Henrietta Brealey and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the findings from our 2018 Growth Through People Campaign. The month-long campaign produced some interesting statistics around the impact of investment in leadership and management skills on productivity.
Jun 05, 2018•14 min
Keith Stokes-Smith, president of the Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, talks to Dan Harrison about the region's relationship with the Commonwealth. Keith also discusses representing Birmingham at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London and being part of the second city's delegation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.
May 15, 2018•12 min
Veteran sports broadcaster Pat Murphy joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the fortunes of the region's teams and to share some anecdotes from his long career as a football and cricket correspondent with BBC Sport.
Apr 24, 2018•29 min
The man known as 'Mr McDonald's', Doug Wright, talks to Dan Harrison about his remarkable journey from McDonald's employee to award-winning franchisee. Doug discusses climbing the ladder within the McDonald's empire, his work with the Ronald McDonald House charity, his company's commitment to equality and diversity and the £11m refurbishment programme across his 17 restaurants.
Apr 06, 2018•24 min
Dan Harrison catches up with Loki Wine founder Phil Innes. Phil talks about the rise in popularity of Loki's flagship city centre venue, the opening of the second site in Edgbaston and tasting success at the 2017 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce awards.
Mar 27, 2018•17 min
Anita Bhalla, chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Leadership Commission, and Andrew Marcinko, PHD candidate at Aston Business School, provide a fascinating insight into unlocking potential in business, as well as offering thoughts on diversity, inclusion and tackling unconscious bias. They join Dan Harrison and Henrietta Brealey for the discussion, which forms part of the Chamber’s Growth Through People Campaign.
Mar 22, 2018•15 min
Aston University's Mark Smith, Jane Jarvis from the NEC Group and Patrick Woodman of the Chartered Management Institute join us to discuss attracting and retaining talent, as part of the Greater Birmingham Chamber's of Commerce's Growth Through People campaign.
Mar 09, 2018•16 min
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, Mark Smith from Aston University and Chamber patron & policy advisor Emily Stubbs discuss ongoing apprenticeship reforms, the Apprenticeship Levy and the importance of collaboration between business and education.
Mar 07, 2018•10 min
To coincide with the launch of the Chamber's Growth Through People campaign, Professor Ian Thomson from the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business and Deutsche Bank's Paul Anderson join Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to discuss responsible leadership in business. Responsible Leadership is the theme of the first week of Growth Through People 2018.
Mar 01, 2018•13 min
Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber president James Blackman and Burton & District Chamber president Simon Chapman join us to discuss the impact late payment has on small and medium-sized businesses. James tells us about a pledge launched by the Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce that encourages businesses to pay their suppliers in 30 days.
Feb 22, 2018•13 min
Tim Pile, the new chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), joins us to discuss driving economic growth and tackling some of the challenges facing the region.
Feb 15, 2018•9 min
RSM tax partner Nick Blundell and Iron Oxide Design's Andy Smythe join Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to discuss innovation in Greater Birmingham - and why businesses are missing out on a range of incentives and tax credits.
Feb 09, 2018•12 min
Why should diversity matter to business? Asian Business Chamber of Commerce director Anjum Khan, GBCC's director of policy Henrietta Brealey and chief financial officer Helen Bates join us to discuss the topic. We also examine what the Chambers are doing to move the diversity agenda forward.
Feb 01, 2018•13 min
In this episode, we state the case to bring Channel 4 to the West Midlands. Mayor Andy Street’s campaign to relocate the broadcaster to the region has been gathering momentum over the past few weeks. Chamber president Paul Kehoe and chief executive Paul Faulkner say the West Midlands would be the perfect home for Channel 4. They are joined by press & PR director John Lamb and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the implications of a potential move.
Jan 23, 2018•10 min