How Birmingham and the wider West Midlands can get ahead was debated by business leaders when the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) held a breakfast event in partnership with recruitment and people development agency Katie Bard.
Around 100 business professionals took part in the event, hosted by Deutsche Bank at its Brindleyplace offices, which provided a closer look at the results of the GBCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which is supported by Katie Bard.
The report found that 55 per cent of companies surveyed were attempting to recruit last quarter, although 74 per cent of firms reported they had experienced difficulties finding the right people. Exports were slightly better for manufacturers in the last three months with 37 per cent reporting an increase in sales, compared with 52 per cent 12 months ago, but order books were less full.
Analysis of the report, and the economic picture in the region against the performance of the UK, was provided by Jerry Blackett, CEO of the GBCC, John Mortimer, co-founder and CEO of the Angela Mortimer group, of which Katie Bard is a member firm, along with Professor David Bailey from Aston Business School and Paul Anderson, Head of Deutsche Bank in Birmingham.
The next QES event is to be held on Wednesday, April 15 at RBS’ offices on St Phillips Place, Birmingham.