Prosper Spring

Ground-breaking
This is The Black Country
campaign draws to a close
Working in partnership with recruitment
experts Pertemps, national audit and tax
firm Crowe UK, tech experts EBC Group,
the University of Wolverhampton’s Business
School and Dudley-based legal firm Higgs
LLP, the Chamber’s 12-month campaign,
‘This Is The Black Country’ draws to a close
this Spring.
Reflecting on the campaign, Neil
Anderson, the Chamber’s Director of
External Affairs said: “Public affairs and
communications activities are at the heart
of our work. Campaigns such as this enable
us to focus on key topics, themes and raise
awareness of issues and challenges our
members are facing.
“Collaborating with amazing partners has
allowed us to add real depth to our
conversations with policymakers and shine
a spotlight on the unique issues which
impact growth and productivity.
“Importantly too, ‘This Is The Black
Country’ has been a vehicle which celebrates
the resilience, ingenuity and drive of many
working in businesses throughout the region.’
“This Is The Black Country centred on
three main areas: people, place and power.
All are key to the success of the region’s
economy in a post-Brexit and -pandemic
world and at a time of rising business costs.
“Kicking off the campaign was a ‘Skills
for the Region’ event followed by a
meeting with the Department for Levelling
Up, Housing and Communities.
“Our first event gave our business
partners an opportunity to offer their
perspectives on a topic which is front of
mind for many of our firm’s leaders. With a
record number of vacancies and skills gaps,
this will continue to be something on which
the Chamber focuses. Our sectors have
nuanced the need for a vibrant skills
pipeline, and we will be maintaining
pressure on decisionmakers to address this
will be a legacy of the campaign.
“Similarly, the Black Country is home to
the Levelling-Up ministry, and it was
important that policymakers new to the
region got to hear directly from businesses
on their doorstep and be introduced to
innovators doing trailblazing work.”
‘Communicating the challenge’ and
‘trusting your people’ emerged as guiding
principles as the campaign unfurled, and
three Black Country Thinktank sessions
provided an important forum for business
Neil Anderson
voices to shape and influence the debate
against a shifting political backdrop of
three prime ministers and government
administrations.
During the Autumn, the Second Black
Country Economic Business Conference
welcomed 100 delegates to hear from 25
speakers including West Midlands Mayor
Andy Street and Shadow Treasury Secretary
and regional MP, the Rt Hon Pat McFadden.
“This is the Black Country has been a
fantastic campaign,” added Neil, “It has
pushed boundaries, celebrated achievements
and provided both a platform for local firms
to learn from one another while also
promoting our modern Black Country to a
wider audience beyond our borders.
“On behalf of our members, we would
like to recognise everybody who has
contributed to the campaign and say a
special thank you to our business partners.”
32 PROSPER SPRING 2023