Manufacturing, in particular the strength of UK car making, is a key driver for the country’s economy – Midlands businesses were told at an event held at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Mark Berrisford-Smith, head of economics, UK Commercial Banking at HSBC Bank, presented an overview of the UK and international economies at the event organised by accountants and business advisers Chantrey Vellacott.
Berrisford-Smith said the West Midlands, and the UK as a whole, is leading the way when it comes to world class car making, but Britain still needs to grapple with the long-standing challenge of expanding its overall exporting potential.
Paul Fenner, partner at Chantrey Vellacott’s Birmingham office on Calthorpe Road, said: “Mark Berrisford-Smith has a wealth of knowledge and always provides a fantastic overview of the economic picture and the outlook for the quarters and year ahead.
“The events we’ve held with Mark and HSBC are always extremely popular and we’re thankful to him for taking the time to share his insights with the Birmingham business community, as once again his thoughts were very well received.
“It was encouraging to hear that the UK is performing well on many fronts. There is, however, lots of room for improvement, particularly in regards to exporting, and as a firm we are committed to supporting businesses to reach their full potential and achieve growth both domestically and internationally.”