Chamber Podcast - podcast cover

Chamber Podcast

The official podcast of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, getting to the heart of key topics affecting West Midlands businesses.
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Episodes

62: Reach PLC boss Marc Reaves on Business Live launch

The managing director of Reach PLC - which publishes the Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Post - joins us to discuss the launch of Business Live, a new website providing business news from across the UK. Marc Reeves talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about the new website and the changing face of the media industry.

Jun 17, 201919 min

61: Tina Swani, Birmingham St Mary's Hospice

With Birmingham St Mary's Hospice marking 40 years of care this year, chief executive Tina Swani talks to Chamber CEO Paul Faulkner about the organisation's journey and how it is gearing up for the next four decades.

Jun 12, 201920 min

60: Mayor Andy Street on inclusive leadership

West Midlands mayor Andy Street talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about inclusive leadership and utilising the region's diversity as one of its greatest strengths.

Jun 06, 20196 min

59: Doing Business in Solihull: An Economic Snapshot

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce have published the Doing Business in Solihull: An Economic Snapshot, a publication which offers an introduction to the economy and business community within Solihull. In this episode, Lillian Elekan, head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Johns, director of Prime Accountants Group and Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council talks to Jessica Brookes about the report and Solihull's local economy.

May 20, 20199 min

58: Mayor Andy Street on industrial strategy

In part four of our exclusive interview with Andy Street, the West Midlands mayor talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about the local industrial strategy. He discusses how the region can create a globally competitive economy and offers his thoughts on devolution.

May 10, 20198 min

57: Mayor Andy Street on Commonwealth Games impact

West Midlands mayor Andy Street talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about the impact the 2022 Commonwealth Games will have on the region. They also discuss the business and trade opportunities that could arise as a result of the Games.

May 06, 20199 min

56: How healthy is Birmingham?

Birmingham City Council's new director of public health Dr Justin Varney joins us to discuss some of the health inequalities facing Birmingham - and how businesses can help make a difference.

May 02, 201915 min

55: Mayor Andy Street on transport investment

In part two of our big interview with Andy Street, the West Midlands mayor discusses all things transport. Mr Street talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about investment in the region's public transport, the introduction of a Clean Air Zone in Birmingham and HS2.

Apr 26, 20198 min

54: Mayor Andy Street on future of the high street

In part one of our big interview with Andy Street, the West Midlands mayor addresses the future of the high street. Mr Street talks to Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner about what can be done to give the retail sector a much-needed shot in the arm following its recent struggles.

Apr 24, 20197 min

53: Commonwealth Games - Learning lessons from Glasgow

We hear from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick about the impact of 2014 Commonwealth Games on Glasgow - and how Birmingham can capitalise on its host city status in 2022. Mr Patrick spoke to Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce's policy director Henrietta Brealey and chief executive Paul Faulkner about the business opportunities and the feel-good factor generated by the Games.

Apr 10, 201916 min

52: Warwickshire's greatest season

Sports broadcaster Pat Murphy and former cricketer Tim Munton join the Chamber's Dan Harrison to discuss a new book, 'The Greatest Season', which documents Warwickshire CCC's treble-winning exploits of 1994. Murphy is the book's author having covered the history-making season for BBC Radio 5 Live, while fast bowler Munton played a starring role in the Bears' success by taking 81 wickets.

Apr 05, 201930 min

51: Saira Demmer, SF Recruitment

Saira Demmer, the chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce's newest patron SF Recruitment, joins Dan Harrison for in-depth discussion. As well as talking about her own journey and SF Recruitment's rise to become an industry leader, she offers some thoughts on women in leadership and what makes a good recruiter.

Mar 31, 201917 min

50: Andy Bass - Multiplying value

Andy Bass of Bass Clusker Consulting and Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner discuss the launch of a new report - 'Multiplying Value: Improving the Productivity of Your People and Your Business Using What You've Already Got'. The report launches at an event on Tuesday 26 March, at Grosvenor St Pauls in Birmingham.

Mar 22, 201918 min

49: Mondelez UK boss on workplace resilience

Mondelez UK managing director Louise Stigant joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner and director of policy Henrietta Brealey to discuss the future of workplace resilience. Louise talks about some of the initiatives in place to promote staff wellbeing at the global confectionary, food and beverage company. This episode is part of the Chamber's 2019 Growth Through People productivity campaign.

Mar 21, 201916 min

48: Growth Through People 2019: Unlocking potential

Our latest Growth Through People 2019 podcast focuses on unlocking potential. Anne Clews of Curium Solutions and Tru Powell from Aston Performing Arts Academy join Dan Harrison from the Chamber to discuss ways in which businesses can unlock the potential of their talented employees.

Mar 18, 201912 min

47: Robert Elliot, Solihull Chamber president

The new president of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Robert Elliot, looks ahead to his term. Mr Elliot, who is the sales director at Hogarths Hotels, joins head of the Solihull Chamber Lillian Elekan to set out his aspirations and discuss Solihull's exciting developments.

Mar 14, 201913 min

46: Growth Through People 2019: Diversity and inclusion

Our latest Growth Through People 2019 podcast focuses on diversity and inclusion. Amey's head of diversity and inclusion Coral Taylor and Maximity managing director Tracy Pound join Dan Harrison from the Chamber to discuss how sectors and organisations can ensure they are truly diverse and inclusive.

Mar 07, 201920 min

45: Growth Through People 2019: Responsible leadership

The latest episode in our 2019 Growth Through People mini-series is a discussion on responsible leadership. Wesleyan's Roger Dix and University of Birmingham's Professor Kiran Trehan join Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs from the Chamber to discuss the impact of responsible and inclusive leadership, and how businesses can improve in these areas.

Feb 27, 201913 min

44: Growth Through People 2019: Leading through uncertainty

The first episode in our Growth Through People mini-series focuses on leading through uncertainty and the importance of self-awareness as a leader. Jude Jennison from Leaders By Nature - the author of a book titled 'Leading Through Uncertainty' - joins the Chamber's Dan Harrison and Emily Stubbs.

Feb 22, 201911 min

43: Independent living and finding employment for disabled people

Colonel Richard Maybery, chief executive of the West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadet Association, and Juggy Kudhail, director of operations at Specialist Vehicle Rental, join us to discuss independent living - and how Greater Birmingham businesses can help more disabled people find employment.

Feb 19, 201915 min

42: ART Business Loans on share issue initiative

Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner talks to ART Business Loans chief executive Steve Walker and director Professor Monder Ram about the company's work in lending to small businesses and social enterprises over the past two decades. They also discuss ART's new community share issue which will support the firm's work in the coming months.

Feb 08, 201916 min

41: BHSF on supporting home-based workers

A leading chartered occupational health physiotherapist from Chamber patron BHSF provides some top tips for employers on supporting the health and wellbeing of home workers. Stuart Nottingham talks about the responsibility of companies to their home-based employees and how home workers can ensure they are operating in a healthy way.

Jan 31, 20199 min

40: Brexit - What happens now?

As the clock ticks towards the March 29 deadline for Britain's departure from the EU, Professor Alex de Ruyter from Birmingham City University's Centre for Brexit Studies and the Chamber's policy director Henrietta Brealey provide expert opinion on the latest Brexit developments. It follows a Parliamentary vote on a series of amendments to Theresa May's withdrawal deal.

Jan 31, 201916 min

39: UK Central Hub - Solihull's HS2 ambition (part two)

In the second of a two-part mini series, Urban Growth Company interim managing director Philip Farrell, Birmingham Airport business development director Jo Lloyd and the NEC Group's operations director Will Heynes join the Solihull Chamber of Commerce's Lillian Elekan to discuss plans for the UK Central Hub in Solihull. The Hub is a 1,300 hectare area of land in Solihull, just off Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is home to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham I...

Dec 12, 201815 min

38: UK Central Hub - Solihull's HS2 ambition (part one)

In the first of a two-part mini series, Urban Growth Company interim managing director Philip Farrell, Birmingham Airport business development director Jo Lloyd and the NEC Group's operations director Will Heynes join the Solihull Chamber of Commerce's Lillian Elekan to discuss top-level plans for the UK Central Hub in Solihull. The Hub is a 1,300 hectare area of land in Solihull, just off Junction 6 of the M42 motorway. It is home to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Bir...

Dec 04, 201812 min

37: Commonwealth Games 2022 - Writing our own story

As plans for the 2022 Commonwealth Games take shape, chair of the organising committee John Crabtree joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner and president Saqib Bhatti to discuss how Birmingham can make sure the event is a success. They also talk about the opportunities available to businesses in the region.

Nov 26, 201813 min

36: Episode 36: In Conversation - Nawaz Ali, Western Union

International trade and the impact of foreign exchange volatility on businesses in the region come under the microscope in our latest Chamber Podcast. Nawaz Ali of Western Union Business Solutions joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner for the discussion.

Nov 15, 201811 min

35: Birmingham Economic Review 2018 - Inward investment

The final episode of our Birmingham Economic Review 2018 mini-series focuses on inward investment. Former Chamber president and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chair John Crabtree and University of Warwick's Professor Nigel Driffield join Emily Stubbs and Dan Harrison from the Chamber to discuss Birmingham's potential to attract inward investment.

Nov 04, 201811 min

34: Living Wage Week 2018: Responsible pay

Ahead of Living Wage Week, Lucy Bannister from the Living Wage Foundation and Laura McLellan from Squire Patton Boggs join the Chamber's Dan Harrison to discuss responsible pay and how businesses can avoid inadvertently paying below the minimum wage.

Nov 01, 201813 min
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