Prosper Autumn 2023 Yumpu_compressed

THE REGION’S LONGEST-RUNNING BUSINESS PUBLICATION 

BLACK COUNTRY 

PROSPER 

Brightest sparks 

How next-generation apprentices can transform your business

WELCOME 

The award winners’ issue 

2023 has been another whirlwind of a year, with uncertainty, drama and concerns... so it’s 

good that Black Country businesses had their Chamber of Commerce on hand to bring some 

much-needed reassurance and sound advice, says Sarah Thompson, Editor of Prosper 

Well, it has certainly been another very 

eventful and turbulent year. The months, 

as always, have flown by in a wave of 

uncertainty, rising costs and interest 

rates, along with war, peace, politics, and 

protests. 

But now, with Christmas 2023 just 

around the corner and as we hurtle 

towards the festive season, I want to first 

acknowledge and thank our Prosper 

readers, contributors, and advertisers for 

your continued support. 

Glancing over our shoulders to review 

the past 12 months, 2023 has been just 

as eventful as 2022; another year of 

political upheavals, military actions, 

natural disasters and human tragedies 

which have captured the headlines and 

grabbed our attention. 

Back in January Prince Harry published 

Spare, his tell-all memoir on his life with 

the Royal Family, while February saw 

Turkey and Syria struck by a catastrophic 

7.8 magnitude earthquake which killed 

almost 60,000 people. 

In June OceanGate’s Titan submersible 

imploded during an expedition to the 

wreck of the Titanic, and Donald Trump 

became the first former US President to 

have their mug shot taken by police. 

Heatwaves dominated the summer, as 

did the debate over what became the 

Collins Word of the Year: artificial 

intelligence. And if that wasn’t enough, 

we were bombarded with more images of 

conflict: first from Ukraine, and more 

lately in the Middle East. 

At home, businesses across the region 

continued to struggle with rising 

inflation, labour cost pressures and 

hiring issues. According to the British 

Chambers of Commerce Quarterly 

Economic Survey for Q3 released in 

October, labour costs are the biggest 

driver of price rises across most sectors, 

cited by 66% of all businesses 

questioned, while domestic sales, 

cashflow, turnover and profitability 

indicators are stable but remain at a low 

level. Business investment continues its 

long-term flatlining trend, with only 23% 

of businesses interviewed seeing an 

increase, as the percentage of firms 

worried about interest rates rises. 

Plenty to think about. In this last issue 

of Prosper Magazine for the year, we 

round up another remarkably busy year 

for the Black Country Chamber of 

Commerce, a year in which Chamber 

CEO Sarah Moorhouse marked her first 

year in post. In this issue we meet some 

of the new faces to the Chamber team 

and celebrate our 2023 business award 

winners, announced earlier this month at 

a glittering red carpet event. 

We also meet four of the region’s 

young apprentices as they take their first 

steps in their careers, talk to West 

Midlands journalist and BBC Midlands 

Today presenter James Bovill about his 

career to date, and learn how the Wolves 

Foundation is creating opportunities and 

changing lives for the people of 

Wolverhampton. 

There’s news from Mayor of the West 

Midlands, Andy Street, on how Black 

Country businesses are getting behind 

our region’s push to Net Zero, advice 

from Chamber IT provider Superfast IT 

on cyber security and we introduce the 

British Chamber’s new Business Council 

as it ushers in an exciting partnership 

era. 

There’s news, views, interviews, 

opinion and debate from across the 

region’s business leaders along with all 

the Chamber’s news, events, training 

courses and updates. 

So, for now, it just remains for me to 

wish you all a very happy festive few 

weeks as we hurtle headfirst towards 

December, and wish every one of you 

much health, happiness, and prosperity 

in 2024 and beyond… 

Enjoy…. 

Contact Sarah Thompson 

e: sarahthompson@ 

blackcountrychamber.co.uk 

@SarahT_BCCC 

linkedin.com/in/sarahthompson-83931813/ 

PROSPER AUTUMN 2023 03

CONTACTS 

Editor 

Sarah Thompson 

0330 024 0820 

07971 322693 

prosper@blackcountrychamber.co.uk 

BLACK COUNTRY 

PROSPER 

Membership 

Sian Roberts 

Sales and Marketing Director 

07714 740818 

sianroberts@ 


Publisher 

Chamber Media Services 

4 Hilton Road, Bramhall 

Stockport, Cheshire 

SK7 3AG 

34 

Focus on 

apprentices 

and the 

next gen 

workforce 

Advertising 

Colin Regan 

01942 537959 

colinregan001@yahoo.co.uk 

Production 

Rob Beswick 

0161 426 7957 

07964 375216 

rob@chambermediaservices.co.uk 

Cover Photography 

Meet four of the region’s brightest 

young business stars. See page 34 

Photographers: Jennifer Smith and 

Chandni Raithatha; with thanks to Dr 

Euripides Altintzoglou, FHEA, Course 

Leader (Photography), Senior Lecturer 

(Fine Art) University of Wolverhampton, 

Wolverhampton School of Art ; and Sam 

Wood. 

Black Country Prosper Magazine is the official magazine of the 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce. 

It provides news, views, interviews, opinion and debate along with 

information and insights. 

Prosper is the region’s longest running business publication . 

Produced on a quarterly basis, the magazine is supported by an array of the 

Black Country’s most influential business leaders and is read by business owners throughout 

the region and further afield. 

To find out more about advertising in Prosper, contact 

Colin Regan on 01942 537959. 

THE CHAMBER PATRON GROUP 

The work of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce is supported by these strategic 

business partners working together to make the region a better place for business. 

Although every effort is taken to ensure 

the accuracy of material contained within 

this magazine, neither the Black Country 

Chamber of Commerce nor Chamber 

Media Services can accept any 

responsibility for omissions or 

inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising 

content. 

The views expressed in this publication 

are not necessarily those of the Chamber. 

The carriage of adverts in this publication 

does not constitute an endorsement of 

the products or services advertised. 

All articles within this publication are 

copyright Black Country Chamber of 

Commerce. Consent from the Chamber 

and the publisher must be obtained 

before any articles are reproduced either 

in printed form or electronically. 

READ ONLINE 

We’re delighted that Prosper is back in a 

printed version, but you can still read it online. 

Go to https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/ 

news/prosper-magazine/ 

Follow the Chamber on 

Twitter: @BCCCmembers 

Instagram at 

@blackcountrychamber 

LinkedIn: 

Search blackcountrychamber 

Facebook: @BlackCountryChamber 

Search BlackCountryChamber 

40 

HS2: So after the 

northern leg was 

cancelled, what’s 

in it for me? 

O4 PROSPER AUTUMN 2023

Celebrating Unsung Heroes ... 

CONTACTS & CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Here is the 

news... 

confidence 

matters 

30 08 

38 

The Wolves Foundation 

Road to Net Zero 

Chamber 

platinum 

Group 

adds three 

new 

members 

14 

42 

Cybercrime 

is on the 

rise: how can 

you stop it 

hitting your 

business? 

50 

A family 

business: 

it’s the 

personal 

approach 

Chamber 

Director- 

General 

visits region 

... and WIL 

hosts event 

on mental 

health 

56 

INSIDE... 

Members’ News 

The Platinum Group, Patrons and 

the Start-Up Business Club 

In conversation with Martha Lane Fox as 

new Business Council is launched ... 

Spotlight features... on cyber crime, WFH 

and the dementia in the workplace 

Legal briefings 

Chamber Events 

Training & Professional Development 

Prosper People 

Business Voices & Advice 

PROSPER AUTUMN 2023 

O5

WELCOME 

Challenging times demand a positive mindset and a go-to attitude. It’s fortunate that the Black Country has 

those qualities in abundance, says Sarah Moorhouse, CEO of the Black Country Chamber 

We’ve got your back, 

always be assured of that 

Welcome to the last Prosper Magazine 

of 2023, another issue full of business 

insights, news, views, opinion, and 

debate. I’m also pleased it has an 

introduction to the talented and 

dedicated team I have here at the 

Chamber. 

Just over 12 months ago I took over the 

custodianship of this great organisation 

and fellowship of businesses. 

But times are tough for business, they 

have been for a while now. In recent 

memory, many of the events we have 

experienced usually occur infrequently, if 

not generationally. 

But we are in a period of great change 

as the region’s business community 

continues to navigate the aftermath of 

the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, the 

digital industrial revolution, and the 

transition to net zero, all against a 

backdrop of global economic uncertainty. 

Nationally and regionally, our public 

sector institutions and leaders are also 

evolving as an enhanced devolution deal 

is set to come into force this Autumn and 

local elections, a WMCA Mayoral Election 

and General Election are all expected in 

2024 ... and let’s not think about the 

recent multiple changes in Government! 

The old adage goes that business 

loves stability. Now, we could be forgiven 

for simply thinking that business 

deserves a break and as business 

leaders, we all could do with rest. 

But we cannot rest, and when 

moments of transition present us with 

the opportunity to reflect and review, we 

must respond. 

I took custodianship of the helm of an 

organisation with century-spanning 

heritage. But it is one which, since I’ve 

been involved, has rapidly modernised to 

present a dynamic, capable, and 

confident partner of choice. There is no 

doubt that we punch above our weight, 

and we are constantly in the orbit of 

much bigger chambers, with bigger 

teams and more resources. 

Yet I am a leader of a highly 

professional and knowledgeable team of 

individuals who through their creativity, 

adaptability, passion, and dedication 

have proven themselves to be capable of 

rising to the challenges put before them. 

The Chamber continues to work hard 

to shift perceptions about the type of 

organisation it used to be and 

demonstrate its potential as an advocate 

and champion of all the businesses, no 

matter their sector, their size, whether 

they’ve been trading for one year or 100. 

This Chamber is for everybody, it is 

forward-thinking, and it wants the best 

for its members. 

The future will continue to be 

challenging for business. We continue to 

operate in challenging times and many of 

us leading our organisations today have 

not done so in times of fluctuating 

inflation and rising interest rates before, 

let alone struggled to recruit and retain 

skilled talent during a period when the 

pandemic has shifted the expectations of 

those who work for us and our 

customers. 

But despite the challenges, there are 

exciting times on the horizon for the 

Chamber and for you, our members, who 

we never forget. 

I want you, our members, to be excited 

about your Chamber. 

We have your back and I hope you’ll 

have ours, too. I want us to be business 

partners and, moving forward, I see the 

Chamber’s role as inspiring our members 

to achieve success, supporting them 

along the way and encouraging them to 

be bold. 

For the Chamber, this is the moment 

for transformational change and I’m 

proud and honoured to be able to serve 

you. 


FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK 

Black Country businesses are driving force 

behind our region’s push to Net Zero 

Andy Street, 

Mayor, West Midlands 

As the defining issue of our time, we face 

tremendously tough decisions on how to 

tackle climate change. As the birthplace 

of the Industrial Revolution, we have 

worked hard to ensure the Black Country 

and the wider West Midlands is at the 

forefront of the green revolution. 

I want to use this column to explain 

why, despite those huge challenges, I 

believe it’s vital that we double-down on 

our climate change ambitions, so we can 

benefit from the jobs and investment 

that achieving them will bring. 

While the Government remains 

committed to achieving Net Zero in the 

UK by 2050, the Prime Minister’s recent 

shift on green issues illustrates the tough 

balancing act required to protect citizens 

from the financial impact of change. 

I understand his decision to ease 

targets on heating and insulation, as 

technology is arguably not moving fast 

enough to hit them. However, my job as 

Mayor of the West Midlands is to put the 

needs of our region first, and I disagreed 

with his decision to delay the ban on 

sales of new petrol and diesel cars until 

2035. 

The West Midlands is home to some of 

the UK’s biggest automotive 

manufacturers, including Jaguar Land 

Rover (JLR). We account for 30% of all 

automotive employment in Britain. 

My personal view is that, with 

automotive being such a critical industry 

for the future of our region, it was not the 

right call. 

However, regardless of the national 

decision-making, businesses here in the 

Black Country, and across our region, are 

leading the way in building the green 

economy, creating jobs and driving 

innovation. Much of the record inward 

investment our region has seen in recent 

years was concentrated in the clean 

manufacturing sectors. We are seeing 

real innovation. 

Take Wolverhampton’s Wintech, which 

is celebrating its 40th anniversary this 

year. This firm has ambitious goals to 

support the UK’s Net Zero targets, by 

raising awareness of how their innovative 

façade engineering creates energy 

efficient buildings. 

Andy Street 

visiting EDF’s 

battery energy 

storage project 

in Sandwell. 

Then there is EDF’s exciting battery 

energy storage project in Sandwell. 

Green energy sources will play a vital role 

in helping us to honour our #WM2041 

Net Zero commitment, and reliable 

battery storage – for when the wind isn’t 

blowing or the sun isn’t shining – is 

essential if we are to harness the full 

potential of renewable energy. 

This EDF Renewables project at 

Bustleholme will upgrade battery storage 

capability in our region and showcase the 

benefits to local people and businesses 

that a low carbon future can deliver. 

Capable of powering a small town, this 

facility has now gone live in the Black 

Country. 

Our region is also pushing ahead with 

building the infrastructure that is needed 

to enable motorists to switch to electric 

vehicles, with the UK’s largest public 

charging hub being launched on the 

National Exhibition Centre campus. 

Capable of charging 180 EVs 

simultaneously with 16 ultra-fast 300 

kilowatt DC chargers, of which two are 

designated accessible bays, the hub is 

the biggest private investment in electric 

charging in the UK. 

The commitments to net zero cross 

sectors. Over 100 businesses have now 

committed to taking steps to cut their 

emissions and help the West Midlands 

become net zero by 2041. 

Black Country-based manufacturer 

AVACE is among the latest cohort to sign 

the West Midlands Combined Authority’s 

(WMCA) Net Zero Business Pledge, 

joining some of the highest profile 

employers across the region. 

To lead change at this scale, we need 

businesses of all sizes – and from all 

sectors – to commit to new ways of 

working. All the indications are that 

businesses in the Black Country are 

buying into the benefits of joining the 

green revolution. 

08 PROSPER AUTUMN 2023

CHAMBER NEWS 

British Chambers’ Quarterly Economic Survey: 

Why we need YOU … 

The British Chambers of Commerce, 

together with the accredited Chamber 

Network, including the Black Country 

Chamber, runs Britain’s most influential 

private business survey – the Quarterly 

Economic Survey (QES). 

Each quarter more than 6,000 

businesses nationally are questioned on 

a range issues, including domestic sales 

and orders, export sales and orders, 

employment prospects, investment, 

recruitment difficulties, cashflow, 

confidence and price pressures. 

The QES anticipated the onset of both 

the 1990s and 2008 recessions before 

they began and continues to act as a 

reliable indicator of national and regional 

economic performance. 

It is closely watched by national 

policymakers, including the Treasury, the 

Bank of England and the Office of Budget 

Responsibility and is the first economic 

indicator of the quarter, published in 

advance of official figures and other 

private surveys, which consistently 

mirrors trends in official data. 

But did you know… 

• The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy 

Committee uses the QES as one of its 

benchmarks when setting interest rates. 

• HM Treasury and the independent 

Office for Budget Responsibility use the 

We need you to take 

part in our next 

Quarterly Economic 

Survey. Scan this QR 

code for more details 

QES to put together their forecasts for 

the UK’s economic performance. 

• The European Commission uses the 

QES to assess the health of the UK 

economy. 

The QES takes place four times a year, 

and is open to responses for three weeks 

each quarter. All types of business can 

respond – private, public, and third 

sector. Results overviews are published 

four-six weeks after the survey ends. 

Black Country Chamber Policy Officer, 

Gemma Edwards told Prosper, “At a local 

level, the QES is an important source for 

the Chamber to review performance, 

concerns, and views of our businesses. 

“We can use this data when meeting 

with local MPs and council leaders to 

develop economic strategies and policies 

to promote and enhance growth and 

enterprise. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR QES 

QUARTER 4 REPORT 

Thursday, 11th January, at the 

University of Wolverhampton 

Science Park, Marston Room, 

Technology Centre, Glaisher Drive, 

Wolverhampton WV10 9RU 

Time: 8.30am-10am 

Cost: Free to members 

Join us at our QES breakfast 

meeting, where we will reveal the 

results from our Q4 2023 Quarterly 

Economic Survey. You’ll be the first 

to hear how businesses in the Black 

Country are feeling as 2024 begins. 

We’ll also exclusively reveal Black 

Country data, alongside the national 

data, to give you the picture of the 

local and national economy to start 

your year off right. 

Further details, and to book, see 

www.blackcountrychamber 

ofcommerce.co.uk/events 

“But we can’t do this without Black 

Country businesses – so we strongly 

encourage all businesses, whether 

Chamber members or not, to complete 

the survey every quarter. It takes less 

than five minutes, and the information 

produced is invaluable.” 

Gemma Edwards 

Black Country Chamber’s own QES in 

early October showed firms are still 

struggling to recruit and are battling 

with rising labour costs which are 

rivalling the rise of utility prices. 

n Inflation and interest rates are 

amongst the highest concern for firms 

across all sectors, at 56% and 53% 

respectively. 

n Cashflow has increased for 29% of 

firms while 45% say it has remained 

constant; 26% report a decrease in 

cashflow. 

n 55% of Black Country businesses 

believe turnover will improve over the 

next 12 months, and 45% believe 

profitability will improve, too. 

n 26% of firms reported an increase 

in domestic sales, 44% reported no 

change and 26% reported a decrease. 

n 8% of firms reported an increase in 

overseas sales, 22% reported no 

change and 16% reported a decrease. 

n 71% of Black Country firms had 

looked to recruit over the past quarter. 

The same number experienced 

difficulties in doing so, compared with 

85% in Q2. 

Gemma Edwards said: “Although we 

continue to be concerned with the 

difficulties of recruiting suitable staff in 

the Black Country, and the ongoing 

impacts of high inflation and interest 

rates, it’s good to see some signs of 

positivity in business confidence of 

improving profitability and turnover, 

and that businesses expect that they 

will not need to raise prices in the next 

few months.” 


NEWS 

Apprentices boost In-Comm Training to record intake 

Interest in engineering apprentices is 

booming in the region after In-Comm 

Training announced a 35% increase in 

the number of starts this September. 

One of the UK’s leading training 

providers has recruited 199 individuals 

across its Aldridge and Telford technical 

academies, with learners starting careers 

in machining, robotics, welding, electrical, 

mechatronics and toolmaking. 

Companies, including Ansaldo Nuclear, 

Altrad Babcock, HS Marston Aerospace, 

Magna Cosma Castings, Makita, RBSL 

and Veolia, are taking the long-term 

approach to beating labour and skills 

shortage by opting to grow their own. 

In addition to the budding engineers of 

the future, In-Comm Training also 

successfully inducted 25 learners onto its 

Level 4 HNC programme, highlighting a 

strong move towards upskilling workers. 

Paul Hodgetts, Business Development 

Manager at In-Comm Training, told 

Prosper: “We have been able to fill nearly 

90 additional vacancies this year, which is 

great news for local employers and a 

massive indication that vocational 

learning is in the ascendancy. 

“There is a lot of opportunity for 

industry at the moment, but the ability to 

scale up is being held back by access to 

both the right people and the volume of 

individuals in the labour pool.” 

He added: “The results of our Training 

Barometer clearly showed that industry is 

waking up to the importance of 

developing their own staff and 

apprenticeships now being accepted as a 

credible career development choice.” 

“In-Comm has also had a big drive on 

equality and diversity, making sure 

industry is seen as a career for all. 30% of 

our new Telford cohort girls and nearly 

19% of our Aldridge learners coming from 

a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic 

background. The latter is an impressive 

stat when you consider the national 

average for engineering is just 7%.” 

The first cohort of learners have 

already started at both sites, with the 

second one set to begin shortly. 

Depending on their pathway, they will be 

either full-time at In-Comm or part time 

and spending the rest of the course at 

their employers, gaining experience and 

knowledge from work-based mentors. 

Jayne Guest, Recruitment Manager at 

In-Comm Training, concluded, “We will be 

continuing our recruitment of 

apprentices throughout the coming 

months for our early 2024 cohorts and 

then the big recruitment drive from 

Christmas kicks-off again - to fulfil our 

September and October 2024 starts.” 

Apprenticeship focus: see page 34 


NEWS 

Chambers to take lead in levelling up skills 

A major new plan to help the West 

Midlands and Warwickshire tackle labour 

and skills shortages has been approved 

by the Government – with more than £10 

million of funding available in the region 

to deliver its aims. 

The West Midlands and Warwickshire 

Local Skills Improvement Plan (WMW 

LSIP) has been produced by Coventry 

and Warwickshire Chamber, in 

collaboration with Greater Birmingham 

Chambers of Commerce and Black 

Country Chamber of Commerce. 

The plan, which sets out three key 

priorities, comes after six months of 

research and consultation with employers 

and skills and training organisations. 

It has identified shortfalls in provision 

and made recommendations on how they 

can be addressed. Secretary of State for 

Education, The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, 

has rubber-stamped the plan and £10.4 

million has been made available through 

a Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to 

enable FE providers to respond. 

A partnership of local providers, led by 

Solihull College, is now bidding for that 

funding to address the issues highlighted. 

The first priority is to target key sectors 

crucial to the growth of the region, 

including engineering & manufacturing, 

“The Chamber is 

helping to create a 

skills and training 

blueprint that meets 

the needs of 

businesses,” says 

CEO Sarah 

Moorhouse 

construction, ICT & digital and logistics 

and distribution, and to improve training 

and education provision. 

The second priority is the provision of 

excellent, flexible leadership and 

management training in both specific and 

general topics to facilitate business growth. 

Finally, the plan responds to employer 

requests for greater levels of essential 

skills with a new short course programme 

and mentoring and coaching projects. 

Sarah Moorhouse, Chief Executive of 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce, 

said: “Recruitment, retention, but more 

importantly skills, or sadly, the lack of 

them, remain our members’ number one 

priorities, so the opportunity to work 

collaboratively on this project, and place 

employers at the heart of the skills 

system, has allowed them to express 

their short and long-term skills needs. 

“By consulting with and articulating the 

skills needs of employers, the Chamber is 

helping to create a skills and training 

blueprint that meets the needs of 

businesses as well as the wider 

community, and LSIPs provides us with 

the opportunity to shape the future of the 

region’s skills and talent pipeline. 

“Alongside the specific skills required 

to build the new green economy, and 

ease the recruitment crisis in many 

sectors, businesses involved in the LSIPs 

overwhelmingly identified communication 

and soft skills as a key priority. Digital 

skills were also raised across the board, 

along with deficiencies in those which are 

specific to our region, in the fields of 

engineering and manufacturing.” 

“We look forward to working in 

partnership with our colleges, training 

providers, the combined authority, and 

other regional stakeholders to deliver real 

change as we move forward to phase two 

of the plans and the implementation.” 

Corin Crane of Coventry and 

Warwickshire Chamber said: “We are very 

pleased that the regional LSIP has been 

approved by Government and that we can 

now set to work in helping to tackle the 

skills shortage in the region.” 

Doocey’s delight 

over first female 

apprentices 

A construction firm has appointed 

its first ever female apprentices as 

the Doocey Group’s latest cohort 

of apprentices began training at 

Sandwell College. An open day at 

the firm sparked massive interest 

with local young people of both 

sexes popping along to see what 

opportunities lay in the 

construction industry. 

Nearly 120 hopefuls made it 

through to the Tipton group’s 

pre-apprenticeship scheme run 

through the summer, which 

included a three-week practical 

trial to rate their suitability. 

The final 12 chosen for the 

apprenticeship scheme included 

two females, for the first time. 

Long road behind Len – but 

plenty more miles to go 

National Express West Midlands’ is 

celebrating the remarkable 72-year 

career of Len Stanton, its longest-serving 

engineer. 

87-year-old Len from West Bromwich 

started as an apprentice aged just 15 with 

what was then the West Bromwich 

Corporation – and he’s been at the West 

Bromwich garage since 1951. 

From his days as a young apprentice, 

Len consistently demonstrated 

exceptional skill and mentorship, and his 

expertise and knowledge has earned the 

admiration and respect of his peers 

throughout the business. 

He plays a critical role in helping to 

maintain the bus fleet and ensure 

vehicles are ready for service to take 

thousands of customers to school, work 

and shopping every day. 

When asked what has changed over 

the years, Len told Prosper, “Things here 

have definitely changed. We used to start 

engines with a starting handle! But it’s 

like an old coat, you just fit it on. 

Whatever happened I just got my head 

down and did my job.” 



CHAMBER NEWS: PLATINUM GROUP 

Black Country Chamber is delighted to welcome three new companies to its Platinum 

Group: Lloyds Bank, law firm Freeths and Dudley Building Society. The trio will now be a 

key part of our exclusive platform for business leaders, who meet to tackle some of the 

challenges that impact businesses across the region and identify new opportunities 

Lloyds Bank links up with Platinum Group 

to help build on existing relationships 

The Black Country Chamber has 

welcomed Lloyds Bank to its Platinum 

Group. Lloyds Bank has served the 

people, businesses and communities of 

the region for over 250 years, and is one 

of the UK’s leading retail and commercial 

banks serving millions of customers. It 

still boasts over 1,000 branches across 

the country. 

Richard Jenkins, area director for 

Lloyds in the region, and a regional 

manufacturing and sustainability 

ambassador for the bank, said becoming 

a member of the Platinum Group “builds 

on our existing, strong relationship with 

the Chambers which we’ve had for many 

years, particularly across the Midlands, 

and we’re delighted to be joining the 

Black Country Platinum Group. 

“Most recently we’ve partnered with 

the British Chambers of Commerce to 

explore the challenges and opportunities 

for SMEs as they transition to net zero, 

which we know is critical to Black 

Country businesses and their wider 

supply chains. 

“This partnership will not only enable 

us to deepen our insights and strengthen 

our business relationships across the 

region, but also provide a forum for us to 

share our significant regional and sectoral 

expertise to support local SMEs”. 

Joining the likes of the Wolverhampton 

Grand Theatre, KMB Shipping and 

Juniper Training, Lloyds will be looked 

after by the Chamber’s head of premium 

memberships, Gail Arnold, who said, “I’m 

thrilled to welcome such a prestigious 

name to the Platinum Group. 

Richard Jenkins 

with the Chamber’s 

Sarah Moorhouse 

and Gail Arnold: 

“This partnership 

will enable us to 

deepen our 

insights and 

strengthen our 

business 

relationships 

across the Black 

Country...” 

“Joining our confidential peer-to-peer 

discussions, gaining perspectives from 

other sectors and businesses and helping 

to build long-lasting relationships, is what 

the Platinum Group is all about, and the 

contribution that Lloyds will make to the 

longstanding partnerships in the group 

will be invaluable, and help us to continue 

our on-going work with every member of 

the group.” 

Richard Jenkins and Net Zero - pg 28 

Members’ news 

JJX on the right road to net zero 

JJX Logistics has compiled its sustainability figures for the three 

months between July 2023 to September 2023 and seen improvements 

across the board on its 40-strong fleet. This success, headlined by a 

reduction of 51,912kg of CO 2 

emissions, comes off the back of a revised 

corporate sustainability pledge back in July. 

With a strong ethos on #DeliveringGreener at JJX, Managing Director 

John Donovan said he is “incredibly proud” with the latest report. 

A major factor in supporting a push to net zero is fleet management 

company Samsara’s state-of-the-art vehicle tracking software, says 

John. “Using a combination of their integrated API solutions, we receive 

unparalleled real-time data on vehicle efficiencies, idling, anticipation 

and fuel usage, granting full fleet visibility to our stakeholders.” 


CHAMBER NEWS: PLATINUM GROUP 

Strategic advisers look to unlock growth 

Leading UK law firm Freeths is the latest 

company to sign up to the Chamber 

Platinum Group. 

As a full-service firm, Freeths, which 

has 13 offices across the country, 

including Birmingham, Nottingham, 

Leicester, London and Manchester, sits 

in The Times Best Law Firms of 2024 and 

consistently ranks in the top tier of the 

Legal 500 and Chambers guides. 

Nicola Dolman, Freeths’ senior 

business development manager, said, 

“We upgraded our membership to 

Platinum status with the strategic aim of 

raising our profile, building relationships 

with local businesses, and helping them 

unlock new growth opportunities. 

“Many members have strong 

manufacturing backgrounds, which is an 

area we’re looking to grow, not least 

because it aligns to our existing 

automotive, food, drink, life sciences and 

waste sectors. 

“We are excited to work with the 

Chamber and have some interesting 

plans for the coming year, providing 

opportunities for its members to learn 

how we can help with strategic business 

advice.” 

Gail Arnold, head of premium 

membership at the Chamber said: “I’m 

delighted such a well-known and 

respected national law firm like Freeths 

has joined this expanding group. 

“It is an absolute pleasure for me to 

work with such fantastic businesses on 

this peer-to-peer networking group. 

“I see them work together in sharing 

best practice meetings, challenge each 

other in their advisory group meetings, 

which ultimately forges strong and 

trusted business relationships.” 

Nicola Dolman with the 

Chamber’s Gail Arnold 

Group will help us support region’s business 

The third business to join the Platinum 

Group is Dudley Building Society. 

Founded in 1858 and powering life for 

over 160 years, the Dudley Building 

Society, headquartered on the 

Waterfront in Merry Hill, offers a range of 

savings accounts, mortgages and 

financial services to help our members, it 

joins the Platinum Group after upgrading 

membership from Gold. 

The society’s chief executive James 

Paterson said, “Dudley Building Society 

has been a Chamber member for a 

number of years. Having set an ambitious 

new growth plan this year and recently 

passing the significant milestone of 

£600m of gross assets, the society 

decided to join the Platinum Group to 

build our network of businesses within 

the local community, and to play our part 

in supporting the communities in which 

we serve. 

“We are a business that’s heart is in the 

Black Country region, and we are 

determined to do what we can to help the 

region to prosper and to support people 

across the region to live better lives. 

“Dudley Building Society has already 

announced and is delivering on a number 

of significant initiatives to achieve this 

aim, including the expansion of its branch 

network to savers across the region, 

teamed up with a new digital platform 

delivered during the pandemic; 

introducing some of the best savings’ 

rates for businesses, charities and clubs 

in the UK and supporting local people to 

learn new skills and build financial 

confidence. 

“By joining the Platinum Group, we 

hope that we can expand our network of 

local businesses to understand what’s 

needed to support them and understand 

Pictured at the 

Chamber’s 

Business Awards is 

James Paterson, 

with Gail Arnold 

how we can work with businesses to 

support the Black Country community 

directly. 

“We also want to ensure that we’re 

offering the savings facilities that 

businesses need, ensuring businesses 

are aware of what it is that we offer. 

“We’re looking forward to working with 

more Chamber members moving forward 

and encourage you to reach out to us at 

Community@dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk 

to start a conversation.” 


CHAMBER PATRONS 

Major Black Country quartet renew 

Chamber patron deals 

Walsall-based, Starting Point 

Recruitment, the agency that ploughs 

100% of its profits to local charities and 

good causes, while helping people 

overcome obstacles to work, has 

renewed its patronage with the Black 

Country Chamber. 

They are joined by one of the UK’s 

leading independent training providers, 

In-Comm Training, Wolverhamptonbased 

not for profit health care cash plan 

provider Paycare, and the company 

responsible for operations at the newly 

opened Halls in Wolverhampton, global 

entertainment operator AEG Presents, 

who have all renewed their patronage 

with the region’s longest running 

business support organisation in recent 

weeks. 

The Chamber’s Patrons work as 

strategic partners alongside the region’s 

leading business support organisation 

and work hand-in-hand to support the 

Chamber’s work as they champion local 

businesses. 

Paul Hodgetts, sales manager for 

In-Comm Training said: “In-Comm 

Training has benefitted hugely from our 

excellent relationship with Black Country 

Chamber, so it made perfect sense to 

renew our patronage. 

“The organisation provides an excellent 

platform to support local businesses and 

to match companies who have shared 

goals, which in our case is supporting 

engineering firms and manufacturers to 

bridge their skills and labour shortages. 

“We also tap into the huge calendar of 

events the Chamber puts on, both for 

making new connections and sharing 

best practice with like-minded 

businesses. 

“Last, but certainly not least, is the 

fantastic advice we get from Gail Arnold 

and her team.” 

Anthony Burns, CEO of Paycare added: 

“We are delighted to continue our 

long-standing relationship with the 

Chamber. The organisation is an asset to 

the Black Country, providing valuable 

support to all businesses whether they’re 

start-ups or established companies like 

ourselves ensuring the prosperity of the 

region going forward and bringing 

together those businesses so they can 

build connections with each other too.” 


membership at the Chamber said: 

“Collectively, our Patrons are well-known 

organisations that hold years of 

experience supporting people and 

businesses across the region, and play a 

leading role in driving productivity and 

growth. 

“I am absolutely delighted that these 

high profile and very diverse businesses 

are continuing their patronage with us, 

and look forward to continuing our 

important work with every organisation.” 

Chamber welcomes 

global leader to 

its Patron Group 

The Black Country Chamber of 

Commerce welcomed their latest Patron 

Group member in recent weeks – global 

leader in worldwide access solutions, 

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions. 

A former Chamber Platinum Group 

member, ASSA ABLOY has now joined 

some of the region’s biggest names to 

become the Chamber’s latest Patron, a 

selective group of Black Country 

businesses who play a leading role with 

the Chamber to drive productivity and 

growth across the region. 

Willenhall-based ASSA ABLOY, the 

first manufacturing business to join as a 

Patron Group, have been redefining 

opening and access solutions for homes, 

businesses, and institutions for nearly 

200 years. 

ASSA ABLOY’S Chief Operating 

Officer, Jeanette McFarland said, “We 

have a long-standing relationship with the 

Black Country Chamber and see 

becoming a Patron as a great opportunity 

to enhance our profile locally. 

Black Country 

Chamber’s Sarah 

Moorhouse and 

Gail Arnold with 

Jeanette 

McFarland and 

other members of 

the ASSA ABLOY 

senior 

management 

“We have always valued the 

opportunities provided by the Chamber to 

network with like-minded organisations 

and the ability to influence policies.” 


membership at the Chamber said: “I am 

delighted to welcome ASSA ABLOY to the 

Patron Group. Our Patrons have always 

been a key element of our work in the 

region, and make a positive impact.” 


CHAMBER PATRONS/ NEWS 

Juniper upgrades 

member links to 

become patron 

University renews ‘pivotal’ 

relationship with Chamber 

The University of Wolverhampton, home 

to 28,000 students worldwide, has 

renewed its longstanding Patronage with 

the Black Country Chamber. 

Richard Nicklin, deputy director for 

business engagement at the University of 

Wolverhampton, told Prosper: “We’re 

proud to renew our patronage for the 

22nd year in a row. 

“The Chamber is pivotal to ensuring 

the voice and needs of Black Country 

businesses are heard and supported, and 

we look forward to working alongside the 

Chamber and its members as we 

continue to meet the challenges of an 

uncertain economic environment. 

“Engaging with business organisations 

of all sizes – to share 

knowledge, encourage 

innovation and support 

enterprise – is a vital part 

of the university’s 

commitment to the Black 

Country’s future. As a 

Patron we believe that 

collaboration is key to 

maximising 

opportunities, restoring 

faith in the region, and 

collectively ensuring that 

our local communities 

continue to thrive.” 

Gail Arnold, head of 

premium membership at 

the Chamber said: “I am delighted that 

the university, which I have worked so 

closely with over many years, is 

continuing its Patronage with us and I 

look forward to continuing our important 

work together.” 

The university’s role in the region was 

highlighted in September when it was 

ranked number 1 in the UK for teaching 

first generation students in the Daily Mail 

League Tables – those who are the first in 

their family to go to university. 

In recent years, a number of its 

photography and fine art students have 

worked closely with the Chamber to 

capture front cover images for Prosper. 

Graduating last month was Alina 

Ahmand, who is pictured left 

with the front cover she 

created of the Black Country 

Chamber’s Business-person 

of the Year 2022, Paul Hull, 

entrepreneur, and co-owner 

of KMB Shipping. Alina said, 

“To have the opportunity to 

take these images as part of 

my degree course and 

graduate with a magazine 

front cover already in my 

portfolio, has been amazing. 

“I am so grateful to the 

Chamber for championing 

my work and giving me the 

opportunity.” 

Platinum Group member Juniper 

Training has become the latest 

company to upgrade its 

membership and become a Patron 

of Black Country Chamber. 

The Wolverhampton-based firm 

offers training solutions and 

apprenticeships to individuals and 

businesses. It has been working 

within the Platinum Group for the 

last 12 months, having joined the 

Chamber back in 2018. 

Head of business development at 

Juniper, Samantha Broomhall said: 

“We’re absolutely delighted to 

become a Chamber Patron. Our 

membership has enabled us to 

network and build relationships with 

a variety of organisations, keep 

abreast of developments and 

provided opportunities to celebrate 

our successes. 

“Here at Juniper, we are 

passionate about supporting local 

people to access local opportunities 

with local employers, and we are 

proud of the impact this has in 

driving productivity and growth 

across the Black Country.” 

Gail Arnold at the Chamber said: 

“Our Patron Group is key to 

delivering our work here at the 

Chamber: they are our key strategic 

partners, with a sense of civic pride 

and a passion to make a positive 

impact across the Black Country 

economy. We are delighted to 

welcome Juniper from our Platinum 

Group to Patronage.” 

Lisa Jenkins, Gail Arnold & 

Samantha Broomhall 


NEWS 

New business group to use collaborative 

approach as it aims for regional growth 

Black Country business leaders are 

among those joining a powerful private 

sector body established to champion 

growth across the West Midlands. 

Business Commission West Midlands 

(BCWM) comprises leaders in enterprise, 

supported by expert advisors, who will 

examine the opportunities for regional 

business and identify the action needed 

to seize them. 

Led by Mark Taylor, Midlands 

managing partner at accountancy and 

business advisory firm RSM, its partners 

include University College Birmingham, 

Aston University, Douglas Wright T/A 

McDonalds and Birmingham City 

University. 

The Commission has been convened 

by Greater Birmingham, Black Country 

and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers 

of Commerce. 

Its key priorities will include identifying 

trends in business’ priorities and appetite 

for growth; outlining key areas of change 

required for growth; and looking at 

perceived strengths and weaknesses of 

the regional business environment. 

Its reports will be based on evidence 

gathering sessions and research with 

businesses and representative 

organisations across the region. Once it 

has identified areas for reform, it will then 

recommend policy changes. 

Sarah Moorhouse, CEO at the Black 

Country Chamber said: “As we head 

towards the end of yet another year of 

uncertainty and slow economic growth, 

we need to continue to work together to 

help us identify and unlock the barriers 

for business growth, while exploring the 

priorities and opportunities to enable this 

region to thrive. 

“By working collaboratively within the 

Business Commission West Midlands, it 

will allow us to identify the trends, outline 

the key areas and of course help us to 

highlight our strengths, as we come 

together as strategic economic partners 

to boost investment, sustain growth and 

identify new opportunities for our 

business communities.” 

Black Country Board member Vicki 

Wilkes, who will be a commissioner in the 

newly launched group, said: “I am joining 

the BCWM to represent SMEs, with 

whom it is traditionally harder to engage 

with. This region has a high number of 

amazing, but unknown, smaller 

Jeanette McFarland (far left) and Vicki 

Wilkes (left) will be members of the new 

Business Commission 

businesses, and if these can be 

understood, supported and helped to 

thrive, we can transform the regional 

economy.” 

Jeanette McFarland, chief operating 

officer UK & I for ASSA ABLOY Limited, a 

Patron of the Black Country Chamber, 

said: “Organic growth is vital to our 

long-term success, so I am excited to be 

invited to be a Commissioner for the 

Business Commission West Midlands. 

“The West Midlands is a great place to 

be based but it’s important that decision 

makers understand the challenges we 

face. BCWM provides a great opportunity 

to work with a talented and diverse group 

of individuals and advisors, for our voices 

to be heard and create a joined-up 

approach to accelerating growth in our 

region” 

Henrietta Brealey, commission 

convenor and CEO of the Greater 

Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, 

“The level and pace of change that the 

business community has seen in recent 

years has been extraordinary. In this 

context we need a fundamental reset of 

our understanding of what businesses 

need to fulfil their growth potential.” 

Chamber CEO named Vice Chair of regional business forum 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce 

CEO, Sarah Moorhouse has been 

appointed as Vice Chair of the West 

Midlands Business Insights Forum. 

The Forum, chaired by West 

Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, includes 

some of the most senior business 

leaders from across the West Midlands 

and provides a platform to explore 

topics of interest and concern to the 

business community in the region. 

“I was delighted to be asked to 

become this important business group’s 

vice chair,” says Sarah. “The Forum 

helps to drive and advise on 

interventions affecting business, giving 

us the opportunity to widen the 

discussions with government. It also 

enables us to work together to codesign 

the support mechanisms and 

ensure that a business voice is a key 

part of the West Midlands Combined 

Authority decision-making. 

“This cohesive approach will ensure 

our Black Country firms have a voice in 

the arena, which is vital for both our 

economy and future prosperity.” 

By utilising the combined expertise 

of business organisations, including the 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce, 

Make UK, FSB, universities and other 

representative organisations, the 

Forum will identify interventions on the 

major issues that the Government 

faces, and investigate, co-design and 

lobby on behalf of the West Midlands 

region. 

Sarah added: “Promoting the region 

and working together to ensure we have 

a collective message aimed at key 

decision-makers in Government cannot 

be underestimated, and I am relishing 

the opportunity to stand up for the 

region and the future of our business 

communities.” 


BLACK COUNTRY CHAMBER AWARDS 

Chamber awards celebrate 

region’s businesses’ talent, 

tenacity and transformation 

Chamber Business Awards, 

9th November 

The 22nd Black Country Chamber 

Business Awards had the spotlight 

shining brightly on the region’s 

businesses, and the people within them, 

as an audience of over 500 gathered at 

Wolverhampton Racecourse for the 

glittering annual celebration. 

Championing the talent, tenacity, and 

transformation which puts the Black 

Country on the map, the great and the 

good from businesses across the region 

hit the sell-out red carpet awards in their 

finery to hear the winners announced, 

and those specially commended by the 

judging panel across 13 categories. 

Against a stunning awards backdrop, 

and elegant, if not funky, table 

decorations specially designed and 

created for the occasion by team 

members and apprentices working in 

several Chamber member manufacturing 

businesses – Stainless Steel Services 

Ltd, Metsec, ASSA Abloy Opening 

Solutions, Birchills Sculptures and Zaun 

– the people playing their part in vital 

areas of the region’s economy were 

celebrated for their hard work, 

determination, innovation and for their 

kindness to others. 

With stunning handmade corporate 

biscuits handed to the winners alongside 

their coveted trophies, courtesy of a 

Start-Up Chamber member, Dear Emily 

Designs, the awards once again reflected 

some of the challenges businesses 

continue to face in the changing 

economic climate. 

A host of surprises lay in store for the 

assembled audience including a 

captivating performance from Britain’s 

Got Talent finalist, Tipton-based Amy Lou. 

Meanwhile the audience dug deep as a 

rousing competition of head and tails 

raised over £3,100 for the Chamber’s 

chosen charity of the year, Black Country 

Mental Health, in a bid to help those 

struggling with mental health issues 

across the region. 

Sarah Moorhouse, Chamber CEO said, 

“It was fantastic evening of celebration 

and gave us the opportunity to showcase 

and profile the innovative, successful, 

and high-performing businesses that are 

located right across the Black Country. 

“Our awards are always popular, but we 

received the highest number of 

applications in every category this year, 

beating previous years hands down, 

meaning the evening was a complete sell 

out and we had a long waiting list for 

tickets.” 

Continued on page 22 


AND THE WINNERS ARE……. 

BUSINESS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY 

– sponsored by Sandwell Council 

Winner: Wolves Foundation 

Highly Commended: Starting Point Recruitment & 

YMCA Black Country Group 

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by MET Recruitment 

Winner: Kellie Simcox, YMCA Black Country Group 

Highly Commended: 

Nathan Richards, Beacon Centre for the Blind 

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by University of Wolverhampton 

Winner: School of Coding 


ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland 

EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE 

– sponsored by Azets 

Winner: Lebronze Alloys UK Limited 

Highly Commended: Exol Lubricants 

EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING 

– sponsored by Thursfields 

Winner: A & M EDM 

EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 

– sponsored by Walsall Council 

Winner: VOiD Applications 

Highly Commended: West Midlands House Ltd 

EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & 

INNOVATION 

– sponsored by EBC Group 

Winner: Sandwell College 

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by Crowe UK LLP 

Winner: Burke Bros Moving Group 

Highly Commended: Coinadrink Limited 

MEDIUM OR LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by Metsec 

Winner: JJX Logistics 


The Mount Hotel Country 

Manor & Golf 

MOST PROMISING START-UP BUSINESS 

– sponsored by IOT Dudley 

Winner: Daniel-Scott Recruitment Ltd 

Highly Commended: MoRServ Ltd 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TO THE ARMED FORCES 

– sponsored by ASSA Abloy 

Winner: Lord Combustion Services Limited 


West Midlands Psychotherapy Services Ltd 

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by IGNITE 

Winner: Birchills Automotive Presswork Ltd 

(Oliver Wellings Designs) 


Penny Post Credit Union Ltd (PPCU) 

YOUNG EMPLOYEE/YOUNG APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 

– sponsored by Halesowen College 

Winner: Jaspreet Kaur, Penny Post Credit Union Ltd 

(PPCU) 

Highly Commended: Anna Moore, Weston Park 

WOLVES FOUNDATION 

Winner, Business Commitment 

to the Community 

KELLIE SIMCOX, 

YMCA BLACK COUNTRY 

GROUP 

Winner, Business 

Commitment 

to the Community 



A & M EDM 

Winner, Excellence in 

Manufacturing & Engineering 

BIRCHILLS AUTOMOTIVE PRESSWORKS 

Winner, Small Business 

of the Year 

Continued from page 20 

Sarah added: “The wide range of categories resonated with 

many and helped give recognition to a range of sectors and 

business approaches, which all contribute to driving forward 

growth and investment across the area, as well celebrate the 

region’s talent and tenacity. 

“There is always a fierce appetite for our awards celebration 

night, which is only possible because of the support of our 

members, our sponsors and our local businesses; I would like 

to thank everyone who was involved again this year for making 

it such a special night, and a great way for me personally to 

celebrate my first year at the Chamber as CEO.” 

Prosper Editor Sarah Thompson said: “From uber-smart 

start-ups to caring corporate giants, hi-tech manufacturing 

firms to suppliers of quality professional services, our award 

winners covered them all. 

“Thanks for all those who got involved: our sponsors, the 

Chamber team who worked so hard to put them on and our 

friends at Wolverhampton Racecourse who hosted us so well, 

and to our compere, Dicky Dodd, for keeping the evening 

moving along like clockwork.” 

SCHOOL OF CODING 

Winner, Employer 

of the Year 

More award winners: See pg 24 

DANIEL-SCOTT 

RECRUITMENT 

Winner, Most 

Promising Start- 

Up Business 

JJX LOGISTICS 

Winner, Medium or 

Large Business 

of the Year 



LORD COMBUSTION SERVICES LTD 

Winner, Outstanding Support 

to the Armed Forces 

“It was fantastic evening of celebration and 

gave us the opportunity to showcase and 

profile the innovative, successful, and 

high-performing businesses that are 

located right across the Black Country...” 

JASPREET KAUR 

Winner, Young Employee/ 

Apprentice of the Year 

LEBRONZE ALLOYS 


International Trade 

BURKE BROS 

Winner, Family Business 

of the Year 

SANDWELL COLLEGE 

Winner, Excellence in Science, 

Technology & Innovation 

VOiD APPLICATIONS 


Professional Services 


MET RECRUITMENT 

Award sponsor celebrates 15th birthday with new 

recruitment contracts and record revenues 

One of the Black Country’s fastest 

growing recruitment firms is celebrating 

its 15th birthday in style after seeing 

revenue pass the £8m mark. 

MET Recruitment, which supplies 

thousands of industrial workers and 

hundreds of permanent staff every year, 

has overcome the shackles of the 

pandemic and a rapidly diminishing 

candidate pool to win a string of new 

contracts. 

The company has continued to grow its 

portfolio of clients by focusing on its 

proven ‘partnership’ approach, where it 

commits to going beyond their 

recruitment needs and looks at delivering 

a long-term labour solution. 

It is a philosophy that founder Robin 

Tong put in place in 2008 when he 

decided to swap a safe career with a big 

high street recruitment business to set 

up his own company in a shared office 

next to Den’s Diner on the Pensnett 

Trading Estate. 

Fast forward 15 years and MET 

Recruitment is now one of the leading 

local names in the sector and boasts 

customers, including Dreams, Trebles, 

Winster and Isaac H Grainger’s, the latter 

a family-run Black Country business that 

was the firm’s first-ever client and still 

works with it today. 

“If you told me in 2008 that I would 

have to guide a business through an 

immediate global crash, Brexit and a 

worldwide pandemic, then I may have had 

second thoughts,” explained Robin. 

“Despite all of these challenges and a 

rapidly shrinking labour force, we have 

emerged stronger and in a fantastic 

position to claim our record year in 2023, 

with 70 industrial clients in place and 

commercial customers now hitting 35.” 

He continued: “We’ve had some major 

milestones along the way, including Nella 

Share (Commercial Director) and 

Matthew Hunter (Industrial Director) 

joining, bringing the old Merlin Wine Bar 

in Dudley back to life to house our HQ 

and the recent £300,000 investment in a 

second office on The Waterfront to look 

after our permanent staffing division.” 

Originally set up to supply staff to the 

mechanical and electrical trades, MET 

Recruitment has gone from three people 

in a small office to a 23-strong agency 

operating from two modern offices in the 

Black Country. 

Rob was determined to ensure that it 

was like no other recruitment business he 

had ever worked for, where they just 

simply reward top billers only. 

This sentiment was mirrored by Matt 

and Nella, who felt as passionately about 

creating an inclusive culture and this is 

why the business rewards all staff for their 

efforts, with team trips away and nights 

out for everyone, not just the sales team. 

This year saw the business extend its 

“If you told me in 2008 that I would have to guide a business 

through an immediate global crash, Brexit and a worldwide 

pandemic, then I may have had second thoughts ... but despite all 

of these challenges and a rapidly shrinking labour force, we have 

emerged stronger and in a fantastic position to claim our record 

year in 2023 ...” 

Robin Tong, founder, MET Recruitment 

“The whole team at MET 

Recruitment benefits when the 

business does well... we are 

passionate about adopting a 

truly inclusive culture...” 

offering even further with additional 

benefits including having your birthday 

off as an extra holiday day, the 

introduction of ‘MeTime’ which allows the 

whole team to take an extended lunch 

break every week, and paid volunteer 

leave for people to help a cause that is 

close to their hearts. 

Nella Share commented: “We 

appreciate how important our staff are 

and that nearly all businesses are only as 

good as their people. 

“That’s why we decided to sponsor the 

Black Country Chamber’s Employee of 

the Year Award, celebrating some of the 

amazing individual talent we have in this 

fantastic region of ours. 

“The finalists did not disappoint, 

making picking a winner a very tough and 

challenging decision.” 

For further information, please visit 

www.metrecruitment.com or follow 

@met_recruitment on twitter 


ADVERTORIAL: DANIEL-SCOTT RECRUITMENT, CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS WINNER 

BCC Start-up award tops 

off a winning year for 

Daniel-Scott Recruitment 

Winning the title of Most Promising 

Start-up Business at the Black Country 

Chamber Business Awards has topped 

off a year of success for Daniel-Scott 

Recruitment. 

The fast-growing Halesowen-based 

recruitment agency scooped the prize in 

recognition of its continuous expansion, 

commitment to customer needs and 

entrepreneurial vision. 

Daniel-Scott Recruitment director 

Lucy Cashmore said: “I was thrilled to 

see our business crowned most 

promising Start-up Business at the 

region’s biggest business awards. 

“I am very proud of how far the agency 

has come in the past three years and 

feel extremely grateful to work with 

such a hardworking and talented team, 

who always want to deliver the best for 

our clients and job candidates. 

“I would like to thank all my 

colleagues, partners and clients for 

supporting Daniel-Scott Recruitment on 

its journey so far.” 

An experienced recruitment specialist, 

Lucy founded Daniel-Scott Recruitment 

in 2020. The agency’s recruiters are 

specialists within the contact centre, 

sales, marketing, admin and 

engineering sectors, offering a bespoke, 

consultative approach with expert 

advice to present the best candidates to 

great employers. 

The business has steadily increased 

its sales over the past three years, 

taking on new clients and winning 

repeat business with existing ones. 

Building on relationships with major 

clients based in the Midlands, Lucy has 

been able to expand her agency 

nationally, recruiting for company sites 

in Blackburn, Speke in Liverpool, 

Northampton and Bristol. Daniel-Scott 

is now the preferred supplier for six 

national businesses and their 

permanent staff recruitment needs. 

To set itself up for further growth, the 

agency recently expanded into new 

office space and welcomed a new 

business development manager, Sarah 

Westbury, to work alongside branch 

manager Becky Kells and recruitment 

consultant Daniel Cashmore. 

Daniel-Scott Recruitment achieves 

impressive candidate placement 

retention rates of circa 85% and has 

been awarded five-star reviews by all 

clients and job candidates who have left 

feedback. 

Lucy said: “I think the key to our 

success has been the quality of the 

relationships we have established with 

businesses and job candidates, which 

has made it easier to place the right 

people in the right roles. 

“We pride ourselves on not just being 

a recruitment agency but an essential, 

business-integrated partner, working 

very closely with companies throughout 

each recruitment process. We provide 

bespoke services, with phased payment 

options available. 

“By treating candidates as individuals 

and really understanding their needs and 

abilities, we place them into roles within 

companies that are not just a fit for their 

experience and qualifications but also 

for their personal character and values. 

“We also offer extended support to 

clients and candidates following all job 

placements, which is key to achieving 

strong retention rates.” 

As well as being committed to clients 

and job candidates, Lucy is passionate 

about giving back to her local 

community. She has signed up to 

become a volunteer enterprise adviser 

with the Black Country Careers Hub to 

help transform careers education for 

young people. 

Having been partnered with 

Perryfields Academy, a secondary 

school in Oldbury, for the 2023-24 

academic year, Lucy will be a mentor to 

young people to improve their chances 

of gaining employment. She will be 

delivering workshops, assisting with 

mock interviews, providing insight into 

the workplace and offering advice on 

CVs, jobs, training and qualifications. 

Her role will also be to assist careers 

leaders and teachers with information 

about careers and offer support through 

her business network. 

Daniel-Scott Recruitment’s charity of 

the year is Acorns Children’s Hospice, 

and so far in 2023 the business has 

raised more than £600. Despite being 

small in size, the Daniel-Scott team also 

volunteered to support the Acorns 

Bubble Rush event in the summer, and 

at Easter collected more than 100 

Easter eggs to donate to the hospice. 

Daniel-Scott Recruitment builds 

strong partnerships with employers to 

find the right candidates to move their 

businesses forward while supporting 

candidates to forge a new career to suit 

their skills and experience. 

Welcoming new enquiries, Lucy said: 

“We want to see Chamber members 

thrive, so please get in touch to find out 

how we can meet your recruitment needs.” 

Whether you are recruiting for your 

business or looking for a new role, 

contact the team on: 

t: 0121 828 3848 

e: info@danielscottrecruitment.co.uk 

w: www.danielscottrecruitment.co.uk. 


BUSINESS VOICE: LLOYDS BANK AND NET ZERO 

Prosper asked Richard Jenkins, Area Director for the Black Country, 

Shropshire and North Wales at Lloyds Bank, about how the region’s 

businesses are transforming to take on the net zero challenge…. 

Lloyds funding helps give the 

green light to net zero ambitions 

The Black Country is home to some of 

the UK’s most innovative companies. 

With the UK’s net zero target 

approaching, many are viewing the need 

for business change with proactivity, 

seeing the challenge not as an obstacle 

but as a chance to transform their 

operations, increase efficiency, enter new 

markets and drive growth. 

We want to shine a light on some of our 

customers in the region who are doing 

just this, and how we have been by their 

side to support in their ambitions. 

Illuminating the future 

Over the past year, rising energy costs 

have presented a significant challenge to 

businesses – particularly those involved 

in sectors such as manufacturing and 

industrials. However, some resourceful 

firms have looked at ways to significantly 

change how they fulfil their business’ 

energy usage. 

Earlier this year, precision engineering 

firm Parker Precision invested £70,000 

in 162 solar panels. They supply around a 

third of the energy needed for its site in 

Bilston and have cut £4,000 from the 

monthly energy bills. Parker Precision is 

using the cost saving to invest back in its 

workforce, upskilling its staff and taking 

on new apprentices, which it hopes will 

help boost turnover by 20% this year. 

Likewise, we supported Wolverhampton 

-based fencing specialist, and fellow 

Chamber Platinum Group member, Zaun 

to revamp its approach to energy with a 

£200,000 loan to install 500 solar panels 

on one of its factories. The panels now 

supply the entire factory with energy, 

meaning the site is self-sustaining and 

saving the firm an average of £10,000 in 

energy costs each month. 

Both loans came through Lloyds 

Bank’s Clean Growth Financing Initiative, 

which provides customers with access to 

discounted lending for green purposes. 

Bespoke solutions 

And green financing hasn’t just 

supported Black Country businesses 

with new energy generation projects this 

“Zaun revamped its approach to 

energy with a £200,000 loan to install 

500 solar panels on one of its factories. 

year – it’s also been used in more 

wide-reaching sustainable 

transformation projects. 

Latham’s Steel Doors, one the UK’s 

largest manufacturers of steel security 

doors, based out of Oldbury, recently 

built a new sustainable warehousing 

facility to help decarbonise its 

operations. Supported by a £1m loan 

from Lloyds Bank, as well as being 

designed to save as much energy as 

possible, the building includes state of 

the art energy efficient air conditioning, 

LED lighting, electric car charge points 

and cycle storage. This has enabled the 

building to achieve an EPC A rating – the 

highest energy efficiency rating a 

property can receive. 

Meanwhile, Walsall automotive parts 

manufacturer, Birchills Automotive, has 

taken a creative approach to business 

change, adding another arm to its 

operations that helps reduce its waste 

materials. The business is repurposing 

unused metal from its manufacturing 

process which would have otherwise 

been thrown away, to create bespoke 

sculptures, planters and furniture. We 

have supported the firm with the financial 

tools they needed to sell the designs 

internationally, where they have 

commanded six-figure sums. The project 

hasn’t just helped Birchills Automotive to 

reduce its waste, but also utilised 

creative talent within the business to 

create a new revenue stream, helping the 

manufacturer to grow and develop. 

The creativity and innovation shown by 

Black Country firms to take on the 

net-zero challenge, to transform their 

businesses and deliver efficiency and 

growth demonstrates the tenacity and 

forward-looking approach of the region. 

We’re proud to be by the side of local 

businesses and support their journeys. 


LEGAL MATTERS: THURSFIELDS 

Navigating complex divorces: 

Thursfields offers advice on understanding the intricacies and challenges of 

financial arrangements and high-value assets 

Complex divorces are characterised by 

intricate financial arrangements, 

ownership structures, overseas 

jurisdictions, high-value assets, 

inheritance, pensions, and points of law. 

These separations typically involve 

challenging elements such as nondisclosure 

of assets and can be more 

difficult than typical cases. 

Property & assets – Dividing property 

and assets is often a difficult part of 

divorce. Residential properties can be a 

source of conflict, with both spouses 

feeling entitled to stay. 

Communication and compromise are 

necessary, and the court will prioritise the 

interests of any children or dependents 

involved. 

Family business – Deciding the future 

of a family business can be difficult and 

may require sensitive negotiations. 

Accurate valuation is essential, and 

issues such as dual operation, 

shareholders, and extended family 

involvement must be considered. The 

level of involvement of each spouse must 

be clarified, and courts may need to get 

involved if no agreement can be reached, 

even imposing a sale of the business if 

necessary. 

Hiding, or non-disclosure of assets 

– Full disclosure of assets is crucial in a 

divorce case, and failing to do so could 

result in penalties from the courts. If you 

suspect your partner is hiding assets, 

seek legal advice immediately and 

consider using forensic accountants to 

uncover any discrepancies. 

Transparency is key to minimising 

difficulties in divorce. 

“Transparency is key to 

minimising difficulties in 

divorce. .... communication and 

compromise are also necessary, 

and the court will prioritise the 

interests of any children or 

dependents involved...” 

High net worth – High net worth 

divorces involve more valuable assets 

and complicated financial arrangements, 

such as businesses and trusts, which 

may also have international implications. 

Pre & post-nuptial agreements – Pre 

and post-nuptial agreements are 

becoming more common in the UK, 

although they are not legally binding. A 

prenuptial agreement determines how 

assets will be divided in the event of 

separation before the marriage takes 

place, while a post-nuptial agreement is 

entered into after the marriage has 

begun. 

Both parties must enter into these 

agreements freely for them to be 

effective, and they offer protection for 

high-value assets. These agreements are 

now being referenced in court cases. 

International Dimensions – Divorces 

involving multiple nationalities, overseas 

business interests, and international 

assets can be complicated, especially 

when determining which country has 

legal jurisdiction. 

Legal advice should be sought early on 

“Pre and post-nuptial 

agreements are becoming 

more common in the UK, 

although they are not legally 

binding...” 

to establish the best jurisdiction. 

Child arrangements can also be 

challenging, particularly if one parent 

wants to move the children abroad. 

Offshore trusts, international businesses, 

and foreign tax structures can further 

complicate matters, with offshore 

jurisdiction making complete disclosure 

difficult. 

Thursfields is a full-service law firm with 

experience in difficult divorce cases, family 

law, commercial matters, wills and trusts, 

and other specialised fields. 

To find out more information visit 

www.thursfields.co.uk or call us on 

0345 207 3728 


SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: WOLVES FOUNDATION 

Foundation: 

is helping: 

Wolves to: 

be a winner: 

on and off: 

the pitch: 

For most football fans, victory on the 

pitch is all that matters from their club, 

but the team at the Wolves Foundation 

is looking for a little bit more than just 

three points at the weekend. 

The Foundation operates under a 

simple banner of Creating Opportunities, 

Changing Lives, for the people of 

Wolverhampton; its goal is to the support 

the people of the Black Country, 

whichever way it can. 

Kieron Ansell, the Foundation’s 

business development manager, explains 

more. “We serve the communities on 

which this club is built. Without the 

people of Wolverhampton, there is no 

Wolves FC. It’s our job to get out into the 

community and make the small 

interventions that can have a major 

impact on people’s lives.” 

At present the Foundation is delivering 

40+ live projects, based around three key 

themes: Health and wellbeing; Skills and 

education; and Inclusion and cohesion. 

Under these umbrella titles sit a host of 

activities, groups and projects, ranging 

from parent and baby groups at one end 

of the age spectrum to Molineux 

Memories, which offers help for those 

struggling with dementia, at the other. 

In between are employability 

programmes, food poverty provisions, 

cost-of-living support, a programme 

dedicated to ending bed poverty – where 

people may have a roof over the head but 

not a bed to sleep in – and a wide range 

of health-related projects. 

“Most of our projects involve putting in 

place a programme to help those 

struggling or in need of support,” says 

Kieron. “For instance, our Elders group is 

for people who may find themselves 

alone for the first time in many years and 

have few social outlets, or those whose 

mobility may not be what it was and are 

not able to get out as much as they used 

to. It’s an opportunity for them to meet 

people in a similar situation, have a hot 

drink and a game of bingo or crafts led by 

our incredible members of staff. 

“It’s a simple provision that makes a 

huge difference to people who have paid 

their dues and deserve this bit of care 

afforded to them. Members tell us how 

much they look forward to it; for some, its 

their only social interaction that week.” 

A lot of the Foundation’s work centres 

around young people. Says Kieron: “We 

operate in 34 schools across the Black 

Country every week, delivering PE, maths 

and English support and are developing 

plans for a STEM offering in the near 

future. Being in the Black Country, a 


“For most of the people in 

this group, Wolves is a 

huge part of their life. 

They see the club as a 

friend, so when they meet 

the foundation staff, the 

barriers are already 

coming down. The 

thinking goes, ‘if they 

work for Wolves, they’ve 

got to be okay’ 

Kieron Ansell 

region enriched by a history and present 

synonymous with manufacturing and 

engineering, we want to help our young 

people discover pathways that they may 

have previously felt not applicable to 

them.” 

Both first team players and associated 

staff are enthusiastic supporters of the 

Foundation’s work. “Max Kilman, the club 

captain, has come onboard as our latest 

ambassador. He’s a hugely positive 

figurehead who helps drive the 

Foundation’s ambitions forward, but all 

the lads are happy to get stuck in. Be that 

Matheus Cunha taking on the role as 

bingo caller at Molineux Memories, or 

Josa Sa’ reading the Very Hungry 

Caterpillar to toddlers or Dan Bentley 

paying a visit to Head for Health, our 

mental health wellbeing programme – the 

playing group are a tremendous support. 

“We’re fortunate that the support 

comes from the top: Both Head Coach 

Gary O’Neil and Chairman Jeff Shi were 

both attendees and award-givers at the 

foundations first-ever gala dinner, 

recently hosted at Molineux.” 

In total the Foundation welcomes over 

51,000 participants a year to at least one 

of its projects and amasses over 3/4 

million contact hours. 

One of Kieron’s personal favourite 

projects is a mental health support group 

called Walk and Talk. Participants meet 

for a stroll around West Park, in the 

shadow of the stadium, in the company of 

one of the Foundation’s facilitators – 

Steve. By getting the group out into the 

open air, strolling around the park, they 

begin to open up about their mental 

health in a way that they might not do in a 

sterile office with a clinician. “A lot of the 

participants are signposted to us from 

other services that may be at capacity, or 

they find their way to us because they 

trust the badge,” said Kieron. “I took part 

in a session recently and as I was walking, 

I had one man say to me, ‘I don’t know 

why I’m telling you this…’ and then 

off-loaded his current worries. The group 

was a way to break him out of his silence 

on what was worrying him, but it’s a 

mutual thing. My own barriers began to 

come down and similarly I found myself 

sharing – I began to see why this is such an 

important resource for our participants.” 

This outlet is needed now more than 

ever, says Kieron. “We know that mental 

health services are under considerable 

pressure right now. We also know that 

men are usually more reluctant to open 

up about their concerns. The data 

surrounding mental health in males of a 

certain age is alarming, often they feel 

they’ve nowhere to go when they become 

stressed, and have no-one to talk to. The 

Walk and Talk Group gives them a chance 

of opening up about their struggles – and 

it does the same for our female and 

mixed cohorts, too.” 

It may seem odd that people will open 

up to strangers in an informal setting in a 

way they wouldn’t to a clinician in a more 

official one, but Kieron says it’s the club 

badge that makes the difference. “For a 

lot of the people in this group, Wolves FC 

is a huge part of their life. They see the 

club as a friend, and for some a great love 

even, so when they meet Foundation 

staff, the barriers are already coming 

down. They trust us and are happy to talk 

to us and we never take that for granted 

- you could not meet more dedicated 

staff. At the end of a session, we’re used 

to people saying how much the 

Foundation team ‘helped them though 

their problems’.” 

It’s interventions like Molineux 

Memories, Healthy Goals, Walk and Talk 

and so many others that highlight how 

the foundation can transform lives. 

Funding comes from a variety of 

channels. “A large portion of our income 

comes via grants - local authorities, 

national funding groups and sporting 

bodies including the Premier League via 

the PLCF. Thankfully we have the 

dedication of Kelly Freeman who presides 

over this area of the business and 

ensures we are applying for the necessary 

and relevant grants on a day-to-day basis 

to enable us to continue to deliver our 

vital work.” 

He is full of praise for the Premier 

League’s own Charitable Fund, which 

supports community-based schemes run 

“I popped into one of our 

sessions at a school and José Sá 

was sat reading The Very 

Hungry Caterpillar to a group of 

young children, using the book 

to promote both a love of 

reading and healthy eating.” 

by many Premier League and Football 

League clubs up and down the country. 

“They are a major partner and enabler in 

the positive impact delivered by the 

Wolves Foundation.” 

However, Kieron’s plan is to broaden 

the way in which the Foundation funds its 

work. “The funding we get from grants will 

always be a huge part of our strategy, 

however, I want to develop a funding 

structure that allows us to pivot and be 

more reactive to the needs of the 

community as challenges arise, one that 

sits alongside and compliments all the 

incredible work enabled by our wonderful 

grant funders. The cost-of-living crisis is 

an example in which we want to be able to 

offer support swiftly and not be reliant on 

the results of an application process. If 

we are going to respond quickly, funds 

need to be in place to do so.” 

Molineux Memories is another example 

of wanting to be reactive to a current 

need. “We are so oversubscribed we’ve 

had to create a waiting list. We’d love to 

take on a new member of the team, add 

more sessions and see more people.” 



SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: WOLVES FOUNDATION 


“Participants gain the most benefit 

from the group by accessing it as soon as 

a need is identified. Grant applications 

take time, that’s just the nature of the 

process.” 

Hence the bold move for ‘unrestricted 

funding’ – giving the Foundation the 

chance to react more quickly to need. But 

it won’t be easy: “One of our biggest 

strengths – the breadth of the 

programmes we deliver and the huge 

number of sectors we cover – is ironically 

one of our weaknesses when it comes to 

fundraising. We operate across so many 

sectors that sometimes it can be difficult 

for potential donors to digest exactly 

what we do or understand how we are 

working to improve the community.” 

As part of its new drive the Foundation 

wants to grow its network within the 

business community and establish closer 

links with business supporters through 

events. “Businesses can get involved by 

attending or sponsoring our events, 

purchasing items via our online auctions, 

donating on a matchday or becoming 

Patrons of the Foundation – a super 

important initiative for us,” Kieron says. 

“We’ve recently hosted our first gala 

dinner, there’s a golf day in the pipeline 

and our annual sleep out was on 17th 

November. They are all events 

businesses get involved with.” 

He added: “We love the patron model. 

We have tried to build something with 

broad appeal, as it’s a great way for your 

business to be linked to a charitable 

concern that is at the heart of the 

community as well as aligning yourself 

with a major stakeholder within the city. 

“By supporting the Foundation you can 

also build your network among our fellow 

supporters. In a way we’ve taken that 

concept from the Chambers movement: 

people do business with those who share 

common interests and beliefs.” 

“We absolutely believe the Foundation 

can be your vehicle for the CSR strategy 

within your organisation. We are able to 

reach great volumes of people very 

quickly, we are at the heart of the 

community, and we are fortunate to be 

the official charity of Wolverhampton 

Wanderers FC – founder members of the 

Football League.” 

Kieron is clearly proud of the 

contribution the Wolves Foundation 

makes in the city. “I’ve been with the club 

10 years, and as a lad that grew up in the 

city, a fan attending games with my dad 

and brothers, I’m extremely grateful for 

the way the club looks to support the 

Matheus Cunha takes 

on a new role as a 

bingo caller at 

Molineux Memories 

communities it sits among via the 

Foundation. Thankfully, under the 

stewardship of Fosun, these days, when 

people mention ‘Wolverhampton’, the 

first thing most people think of is the 

Wanderers. The team is the heartbeat of 

the city, the single thing that brings us 

together on a match day – win, lose or 

draw. That the club, though the 

Foundation, is extending that influence 

beyond the pitch and deep into the 

community, to make a real difference to 

people’s lives, is something that I find 

genuinely inspiring.” 

He’s quick to acknowledge that while 

he is in the spotlight in this issue of 

Prosper, the great work of the 

Foundation, rather like a successful 

football team, is a real collective effort. 

“Everyone who works for the Foundation 

loves the work they do because they can 

see how people benefit from it. We’re 

lucky to have such an incredible team of 

dedicated people. Headed by Will Clowes, 

and supported by a talented 

management team in Tom Warren, Zulf 

Khan, Lara Pegg, Rachel Smith, John 

Warburton and Luke Shearing – who, in 

turn are supported by an equally 

dedicated and talented team of senior 

officers, full and part-time staff and an 

army of volunteers. 

“If Wolves is the heartbeat of the city, 

those guys are the heartbeat of the club’s 

Foundation.” 

20 

PROSPER AUTUMN 2023

SPOTLIGHT: APPRENTICESHIPS 

Apprenticeships are definitely back in vogue, with more and more businesses 

seeing the benefits of bringing in young starters and training them to fill key 

roles within their organisations. Prosper spoke to three Chamber members 

– ASSA ABLOY, Crowe and Thursfields Solicitors – to learn more about their 

own apprentice and young worker development programmes, as well as 

asking the Black Country Chamber itself its views, after taking on its first 

apprentice recently, Owenia Francis 

Rising stars: From left, 

Owenia Francis, Ross 

Fletcher, Walid Hakem 

and Luke Edgar Hill 

Why did you think it was important to go 

down the apprentice route? 

ASSA ABLOY: Our apprentices are the 

rising stars and leaders of the future and 

can make a real impact within our teams. 

Our Apprentice Programme provides the 

opportunity for an exciting lifelong career 

journey, where apprentices innovate, 

challenge fixed ideas and bring fresh 

perspectives into our business. 

Crowe: Investing and building new 

talent is essential. It is the perfect route 

for us to follow as it supports our next 

generation of employees in on-the-job 

training while being given the opportunity 

to gain their professional qualification. 

Thursfields: We have always embraced 

alternative pathways to progression, and 

the apprenticeship is just one of the 

several routes to qualification we 

recognise. We challenged ourselves some 

time ago to broaden our talent pool, 

recognising that talented professionals 

come from diverse backgrounds, so 

increasing access seemed like the logical 

and, indeed, right thing to do. 

Black Country Chamber (BCC): The 

Chamber is a huge supporter of 

apprenticeships and encouraging the 

workforce of the future. We know from 

many of our members the positive impact 

an apprentice can make, so when a job 

opportunity came available within the 

Chamber, we wanted to practise what we 

preached and offer it to an apprentice 

living within the Black Country. 

What benefits do you see from bringing 

in young people from outside and 

guiding their training? Was part of your 

decision to take on apprentices a 

dissatisfaction with the number/quality 

of potential candidates available to you 

when you were looking to take on 

additional staff? 

Crowe: We have a long history of taking 

on people at the beginning of their career 

and supporting them through professional 

training. We welcome trainees across our 

offices and see them as a huge part of 

our future talent pipeline. 

Thursfields: We have never struggled 

to attract talent into the firm, but we have 

We’re taking the 

apprenticeship 

route to the top 

struggled to find diverse talent which 

represents the clients we serve. By 

widening access into the profession via 

alternative routes such as 

apprenticeships, work experience and 

graduate programmes, etc, we seek to 

address this imbalance. The benefits are 

manifold, from diversifying our thought 

processes to attracting an increased 

number of candidates. 

Choosing to grow our number 

organically through guidance means that 

by the time those individuals qualify, they 

are well acquainted with our practices, 

systems, colleagues and even clients. 

BCC: We felt that an apprentice would 

bring a fresh perspective and innovative 

ideas as well as allow us to impart our 

knowledge and skills to help them 

progress in their career. 



We asked the four apprentices featured in this special report for their views on how their careers were 

progressing, and why they had taken the apprenticeship route to work... 

Why did you look for an apprenticeship 

rather than going to college/ 

university full time? 

Luke Edgar Hill (Operations 

engineering apprentice at ASSA 

ABLOY): I applied for an apprenticeship 

over university because it provided 

hands-on experience while providing 

me with an industry-recognised 

qualification. It’s specialised training for 

a particular skilled vocation, rather than 

a general education received from a 

university. The apprenticeship route 

gave me the balance between theory 

and practical tasks while in the 

workplace. 

Ross Fletcher (Associate, corporate 

audit, Crowe): During my sixth form I 

had completed regular work experience 

in accountancy and after I had decided 

that this was the profession I wanted to 

go into, I had no doubts that starting my 

professional career in a school leaver 

apprenticeship scheme and combining 

day-to-day work with studying towards 

the professional qualification was the 

best thing for me to do. 

Owenia Francis (BCC, from the BBC 

Apprentice Hub): I did go to university 

and graduated the summer before 

starting this current role. I think one of 

the misconceptions is that university 

and apprenticeships are almost two 

different languages that you have to 

choose between, but the truth is 

anyone can benefit from an 

apprenticeship. 

Walid Hakem (scholarship 

programme, Thursfields): 

Finding alternative means of getting to 

your goal is part of the process of any 

career, and so the scholarship 

programme at Thursfields, which I felt 

really played to my strengths, was the 

most logical and straightforward option 

for me. 

Do you consider the apprentices you 

have provide value for money? 

ASSA ABLOY: For us, onboarding early 

talent is not about value for money, it’s 

about the value apprentices bring, the 

impact they have on our processes, 

embracing new technology and their 

personal and professional progression 

within our business to senior roles. 

Crowe: Our apprentices are so much 

more than value for money. They bring 

fresh ideas and perspective, keeping us 

current, which helps the business to be 

always learning and evolving. We benefit 

from funding support with our 

apprentices’ training costs, but this is 

certainly not the leading advantage of 

being involved in this programme. 

Thursfields: Absolutely! After an initial 

period of becoming acquainted with the 

role, pace, etc, we have consistently seen 

a return on investment. 

BCC: Our apprentice works within the 

terms and conditions of all our 

employees. The skills Owenia will develop 

during the apprenticeship will not only be 

of benefit to her but also allow us as a 

business to harness this talent. She will 

also help us amplify the Chamber name 

and the services we offer to our members 

and the wider Black Country community. 

What measures do you take to ensure 

any apprentices taken on represent the 

diverse community you work in? 

ASSA ABLOY: As one of the largest 

employers in the Black Country we’re 

proud of the diversity within our teams – 

experience, knowledge and skills. With 

this in mind, we embed a culture of 

inclusion where all colleagues can thrive, 

where all individual contributions have an 

impact and where everyone feels seen, 

heard and valued for what they bring to 

our business. 

Crowe: We pride ourselves on making 

our application process accessible and 

fair – ensuring we assess a profile in full. 

Academic qualifications are just part of 

the criteria we look at to ensure we hire 

the right talent for our business. 

Our assessment centres are also 

constantly evolving. We strive to ensure 

that these are fair and uniform, giving 

students a full picture of what an 

apprenticeship with Crowe would look 

like and how their careers could progress. 

We also work with several external 

providers who promote careers with our 

business – ensuring we are well 

represented in the market. 

Thursfields: We tap into diverse 

“Finding alternative means of 

getting to your goal is part of the 

process ... the scholarship 

programme at Thursfields played 

to my strengths...” 

Walid Hakem (left) 

networks including those of our clients, 

universities, local initiatives and 

providers to ensure we attract talent from 

as wide a pool as possible. Being a 

multi-site firm helps us to partner with 

networks in the vicinity of our offices, 

which goes some way to ensuring we 

represent the diverse communities we 

work in. 

Do you think there is enough support 

from Government/local authority for 

businesses looking to take on 

apprentices? What support have you 

accessed? 

Thursfields: If there is enough support, 

which I have no reason to believe there 

isn’t, there is some work to do in making 

that support accessible and known to 

those that seek it, as it can be quite 

difficult to find what you are looking for. 

BCC: The West Midlands Combined 

Authority signposted us to its partner, the 

BBC Apprentice Hub, when we were 

looking to fill our new position. The 

opportunity at the Chamber was to 

employ a content creator and the Hub 

had apprentices available that would 

meet the needs of our business. 

The BBC Apprentice Hub is a great way 

for individuals to begin their career in the 

creative sector. 




Taking the apprenticeship route to the top 


Have you found it easy to marry your 

apprentice up with further/higher 

education, if that’s applicable? How do 

your links with FE/HE work? 

ASSA ABLOY: Once an apprentice 

programme has been completed, the 

learning doesn’t stop there, we 

consistently invest in further education 

opportunities aligned to our apprentice’s 

personal development plans and skills 

needed for their chosen specialism. 

We work with multiple further 

education providers within the Black 

Country to progress our apprentices’ 

career journeys and have received 

excellent support, with a high proportion 

achieving first class degrees. 

“Do I think more can be done at 

sixth form/ school to promote 

apprentices? Absolutely. I think 

encouraging young people to 

partake in learning outside the 

classroom through taster days, 

placements, internships, or 

traineeships will give them real 

insights into what an 

apprenticeship has to offer.” 

Owenia Francis 

What’s your post-apprenticeship 

strategy? 

ASSA ABLOY: It is based on career 

plans for key roles and the personal 

development of our apprentices, taking 

into account their aspirations and vision 

for where they want to go within our 

business. This is underpinned by learning 

and development and succession 

planning. 

Crowe: We have a long history of 

supporting our people through training 

programmes and welcomed the 

introduction of the higher level 

apprenticeship programmes in 2017. We 

have had a healthy intake of apprentices 

each year, many of whom stay on well 

past qualifying. 

Thursfields: We have yet to run a 

cohort of apprenticeships but we do host 

a widening participation programme 

aimed at providing work experience and 

paid work opportunities for law students 

from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic 

groups and students of any race from 

lower social economic backgrounds. 

Lawyers from those backgrounds remain 

under-represented in legal services and 

we wanted to address that. 

Are you looking at taking on more 

apprentices in the future? 

ASSA ABLOY: As we continue to grow 

our business and focus on our strategic 

plan, we will identify areas where 

apprenticeships complement and 

enhance our business needs. This year 

we have welcomed apprentices in 

operations, customer service, marketing, 

and commercial areas and look forward 

to welcoming many more into our teams 

in future years. 

Crowe: As we continue to grow, we 

continue to invest in our Early Careers 

recruitment, recognising the value it adds 

to our business but also how important it 

is in the development of the profession 

– setting up strong foundations to 

support our accountants of the future. 

Thursfields: Indeed, we are. 

BCC: Our experience to date has been 

extremely positive. It is firmly on our 

agenda to discuss opportunities that may 

arise within the Chamber, where taking 

on another apprentice will be of great 

benefit for all involved. 

The apprentice view... 

What benefits do you think you gain 

from your experience? 

Luke Edgar Hill: I’ve gained hands-on 

experience in the industry as well as 

targeted support from experienced 

colleagues. An apprenticeship is the 

start of my pathway to a career in 

engineering and has allowed me to 

develop more valuable skills in a 

workplace environment. I’ve also been 

exposed to many projects by shadowing 

fellow engineers. 

Ross Fletcher: I’ve learned key skills 

at an earlier age, such as leadership and 

organisation. You also meet lots of other 

people in the same situation that you 

can share the experience with. 

Owenia Francis: I’m gaining an 

invaluable understanding of how the 

business community operates and 

shares knowledge, and how this is made 

accessible to the public. As a content 

creator I am constantly developing new 

skills, from concept planning, digital 

marketing, to seeing how a platform 

such as Prosper is developed. 

Walid Hakem: Learning on the job 

comes with some auxiliary stresses and 

challenges, but managing stress and my 

time were skills I believe I have been 

able to strengthen. 



The apprentice 

view... 

Do you think more can be done at sixth 

form/ school to promote apprentices, 

rather than just the standard ‘apply to 

university/college’, and look for work 

afterwards? 

Luke Edgar Hill: There should be as 

much emphasis on apprenticeships at 

career evenings and conversations 

around the options you choose at each 

level of your educational ladder. If careers 

officers had a closer relationship with 

businesses, they could promote 

companies in their different disciplines to 

students as an alternative career. This 

could be done with companies doing 

small presentations to students at the 

appropriate times. 

Ross Fletcher: Yes, I believe that more 

can be done. More companies should go 

into schools and present the advantages 

of apprenticeships to students, and more 

students should be encouraged to attend 

apprenticeship fairs. Some students are 

simply unaware of the apprenticeship 

schemes available that would suit them 

better than going to university. 

Owenia Francis: Absolutely. I think 

encouraging young people to partake in 

Luke Edgar Hill: “I’ve gained hands-on 

experience in the industry as well as 

targeted support from experienced 

colleagues... an apprenticeship is the start 

of my pathway to a career in engineering...” 

learning outside the classroom through 

taster days, placements, internships, or 

traineeships will give them real insight 

into what an apprenticeship has to offer. 

Also, incorporating business into schools 

through enterprise events, workshops 

and careers fairs can help bridge that 

gap. 

Walid Hakem: Without a doubt. Most 

of the time, careers advisors and 

teachers promote apprenticeships as an 

afterthought or a ‘plan B’, but in the 

current atmosphere of diversification, 

finding different ways of “doing what’s 

best for me” can always be promoted. 

Do you think becoming an apprentice 

has helped your career? 

Luke Edgar Hill: An apprenticeship has 

given me a strong foundation in my 

career. I’ve learned on the job, putting 

into practice my training in a more impactfull 

way than just academic lessons. It’s 

also helped me build connections and 

I’ve had the chance to display some of my 

projects to executive team members. 

Ross Fletcher: It’s been a great start to 

my career; I feel that Crowe has given me 

the best possible foundation. 

Owenia Francis: I’ve been introduced 

to a wide business network through my 

work at the Chamber, including links to 

other regional chambers and the BBC 

Hub. Familiarity is a huge advantage 

when it comes to narrowing down a 

career path and the commitment to work 

and study is highly valued by employers. 

Walid Hakem: Taking the path I have 

has meant that it has been essential to 

my career progression as well as my 

personal development. It has been great 

Would you recommend other young 

people to think of an apprenticeship 

rather than going on to FE/HE? 

Luke Edgar Hill: The chance to gain 

“More companies should go into 

schools and present the advantages 

of apprenticeships to students... some 

students are simply unaware of the 

apprenticeships available that would 

suit them better than university...” 

Ross Fletcher 

hands-on experience in your chosen 

industry, and receive an industry 

recognised qualification, while earning, is 

a tremendous advantage. 

With HE/FE once you have finished 

your qualification you have to apply for a 

job, but you’ll be up against candidates 

with the same qualification but who have 

experience from their apprenticeship, 

and they will be more employable. 

Ross Fletcher: For those that want to 

work in finance, I would definitely 

recommend an apprenticeship as an 

alternative to going to university. 

The opportunity to complete the exams 

at an earlier age can speed up your 

development and growth. 

At a firm such as Crowe you are part of 

a large annual intake of other similar-aged 

people, not just in your local office but 

across the UK, and you can make 

friendships and really enjoy the journey 

together. 

Owenia Francis: If you have a strong 

passion for a subject, then university is a 

great option. That said, if you are 

interested in gaining work experience, 

qualifications and earning without 

prioritising one over the rest – an 

apprenticeship is the way to go. 


IN CONVERSATION WITH... JAMES BOVILL, BBC MIDLANDS TODAY 

Persevere, trust in your 

ability and don’t spend 

your life thinking ‘if only’ 

BBC Midlands Today senior 

journalist and reporter 

James Bovill talks to Prosper 

about setting career goals, how to 

ignore imposter syndrome and 

learning from life’s knock-backs 

Sometimes, though as a journalist you 

hate to admit it, only a good oldfashioned 

cliché nails the truth. 

Here’s one: ‘Nothing worth having ever 

comes easy.’ 

It’s a phrase that’s as hackneyed and 

over-used as they come, with its 

originator allegedly former US President 

Theodore Roosevelt. 

But while such clichés are always best 

avoided, on this occasion James Bovill 

may just give it a nod of approval. 

“I’ve got another one for you,” he 

suggested, in a reference to his own 

career path: “You don’t always get what you 

want, but it can be for the right reason!” 

In James’s case, the two phrases sum 

up his journey to a dream job on BBC 

Midlands Today, which has included a few 

knock-backs and disappointments along 

the way. With this issue of Prosper 

focused on apprentices and the next 

generation of our workforce, it seemed 

appropriate to ask for his views on 

planning a career, how to handle life’s 

hiccups and dealing with imposter 

syndrome – that feeling that despite your 

success, you don’t quite deserve it. 

James’s career has led him from 

university to PR, broadcast production 

and back to PR before a return to the 

BBC and the role that he had always 

hankered after. “As a child I used to 

dream of being on the TV and presenting 

the news. I just didn’t know how to go 

about getting into journalism, so PR 

seemed the easiest path into the media 

world.” 

But there was always an “itch to 

scratch about becoming a journalist, so 

despite being in a well-paid PR role, I took 

a gamble and left to study broadcast 

journalism for six months. It was a risk 

– and I’ve always thought of myself as risk 

averse, so it came as something of a 

shock to find myself doing it!” 

By working hard he made his way 

through a variety of roles, as a reporter 

and producer for radio at BBC WM and 5 

Live, and as a political reporter across TV, 

radio and online, but ultimately felt 

disillusioned with where his career was 

going. “It wasn’t what I wanted. I never felt 

I was getting everything I wanted out of 

the job, and went back to comms – with 

“The process of missing out was 

important; I learned from my 

mistakes, understood what I did 

wrong ... believing in yourself is 

incredibly important – get in that 

interview room and say to yourself, 

I’m the best person for the job” 

Midlands Connect and then the 

Commonwealth Games.” 

But he always knew the role he wanted 

was to be on TV, reporting on the West 

Midlands; “I’m no daredevil, but I looked 

at where I was at the time and thought 

‘I’m not stopping here.’ I wanted to prove 

myself in journalism, so took another risk 

and left PR again. It didn’t feel like 

journalism or bust... but I was determined 

to land my dream job – whatever shape it 

would take.” 

Four interviews for senior journalist 

roles with the BBC came and went with 

no success but lots of lessons were 

learned from the experience – proof, 

perhaps, that it is the knockbacks in life 

that make you stronger. 

“I began to question myself; was I good 

enough? It’s a situation everyone faces at 

some point, but I also knew that if I 

persevered, and put the work in, I’d get to 

where I needed to be. I just needed to 

believe in myself.” 

The fifth interview proved the charm. “I 

still felt insecure going in - I was told there 

was an extremely high level of interest in 

the role, and reminded that BBC TV 

reporter roles come up very rarely. 

“But the process of missing out 

previously was important; I learned from 

my mistakes, understood what had gone 

wrong and found out why the successful 

candidates had stood out. I spoke to the 

interview team beforehand and asked 

what they wanted – I was just told ‘give us 

something that amazes us, a story that 

we didn’t expect.’ 

“I applied myself, thought up a story 

that might get their attention and filmed 

it for them, on knife crime in the 

Midlands. They responded really 

positively, and it was that story that won 

me the role on BBC Midlands Today. 

“My advice to anyone: don’t be put off 

by failure; learn from your mistakes.” 

James still admits to suffering from 

‘imposter syndrome’ – that feeling that 

you’re going to get found out at some 

point. But looking back at former bosses 

he has had, he realised that the thing that 

connects them is “they were all very 

confident in their ability. They feel that 

they own the role they have. It’s 

important to have confidence in your own 

ability. You have to believe in yourself. Get 

in that interview room and say to yourself 

‘I’m the best person for this job.’ 

But even those at the top can suffer 

from imposter syndrome to some 

degree: “It feels like it is as prevalent the 

higher up you go - almost as if people 

think, ‘I’m bound to get found out here.’ 

For young people making their way in 

their career, it’s important that they can 


NEWS 

James in the studio: 

“If you love something, 

make a career out of it. If 

you can be an expert in 

something that you love 

doing anyway, you’ll never 

‘work’ a day in your life; it 

will all be fun that you’re 

being paid to do.” 

see someone like them in the role. “I 

think imposter syndrome kicks in 

strongest where people don’t see others 

like them in a role, whether it’s on TV, 

elsewhere in the media, in a factory or in 

the office. When people come from a 

minority – and here we can include 

women looking to get on in any maledominated 

environment – they can feel 

that a job isn’t for them. 

“But that’s wrong; every job is open to 

everyone who has the talent, the skill, the 

acumen and the drive.” 

His key advice to young people is to 

accept that things won’t always go your 

way but to keep on pushing. It also always 

helps if your career is doing something 

that you are passionate about. “If you 

love something, make a career out of it. If 

you can be an expert in something that 

you love doing anyway, you’ll never ‘work’ 

a day in your life; it will all be fun that 

you’re being paid to do.” 

Luck plays its part, too: “In many ways I 

was fortunate in that I found the people 

who believed in me. That’s important.” 

“There are many different pathways to 

get to where you want to be. The first job I 

applied for was in marketing at the 

University of Nottingham, where I’d just 

graduated with a history degree. I missed 

out on the job to someone with more 

experience. It upset me at the time but 

looking back, it feels like everything 

happens for a reason. You have to learn 

to roll with life; it’s a wave of emotions, 

but the negative feelings we all 

experience do come and go. Trust that.” 

Be prepared to be bold, too. “I said 

before, I always thought of myself as risk 

averse but looking back, I’ve made two 

big leaps that ultimately, paid off. 

“If you really want something, ask 

yourself, if you go for it and fail, what’s the 

worst that can happen?” 

“Trust in your own instincts and your 

ability. You will have moments of stress 

and anxiety, but it all works out in the 

long run.” 

As far as he’s concerned, James still 

says he’s “ambitious and eager to see 

where my career takes me, but at 

moment I love my role.” 

“I’ve grown in confidence. I feel 

comfortable in my role on BBC Midlands 

Today. I understand where I’m going with 

stories and can relate to the people I’m 

talking to. I know my job. I have a new 

confidence. 

“If there’s anything to be taken from my 

career it’s that you must never be afraid 

to go for something and fail; never live 

your life wishing, ‘if only I’d taken a 

chance and gone for it’.” 

“Failure will help you as much as 

success in the long run. It’s the knockbacks 

that helped me understand where I 

wanted to go and developed me most as 

a person. They boosted my resilience and 

helped build the person I am today.” 

Perhaps a classic case of ‘whatever 

doesn’t kill you...’ 


BUSINESS VOICE 

HS2: What’s in it for me? 

While it was hugely disappointing to 

learn of the cancellation of the 

northern leg of HS2, there are still 

significant benefits and funding 

promises to consider. Prosper takes 

a look at some of the benefits... 

The highlights: 

n £2.7 billion investment for the 

region’s transport infrastructure secured 

by Transport for West Midlands. 

n Immediate £100 million for existing 

metro extensions. 

n £1.75 billion allocated for 

development of the Midlands Rail Hub. 

n Additional funding secured, including 

£250 million for transport network 

stability, £700 million for various 

transport infrastructure improvements, 

and a share of £100 million for expanding 

contactless smart ticketing. 

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) 

has secured more than £2.7 billion 

investment for the region’s transport 

infrastructure. This funding, to be 

disbursed over the next decade, comes 

as a response to the cancellation of HS2 

Phase 2. TfWM, part of the West Midlands 

Combined Authority (WMCA), will receive 

an immediate £100 million for existing 

metro extensions, including completing 

the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro 

extension and advancing development 

work at Arden Cross, near the HS2 

Interchange Station. 

One of the most noteworthy projects is 

the Midlands Rail Hub, with £1.75 billion 

allocated for its development. This 

initiative aims to enhance capacity, 

introduce new services, and improve 

journey times on rail lines connecting 

Birmingham to key locations like Bristol, 

Cardiff, Leicester, and Nuneaton. This 

includes the construction of new links, 

the Bordesley Chords, which will open up 

more platforms at Moor Street Station 

and enable new stations on the Sutton 

Park line. 

The region has also secured additional 

funding, including £250 million for 

transport network stability, £700 million 

for various transport infrastructure 

improvements, and a share of £100 

million for expanding contactless smart 

ticketing. 

Furthermore, there is a commitment 

to nationwide schemes which will benefit 

the West Midlands. These include 

significant investments in roads and the 

extension of the £2 single bus fare cap. 

While there is disappointment on the 

cancellation of high-speed rail links to 

Manchester and the East Midlands 

Parkway, regional leaders are focused on 

alternative solutions. The Mayor, Andy 

Street, is working in close collaboration 

with the private sector and other UK 

regional leaders. 

Acknowledging the significance, he 

says, “This nearly £3billion investment 

commitment secured from Government 

will help to significantly transform and 

upgrade our region’s transport 

infrastructure in the months and years 

ahead. 

“We’ve not hidden our disappointment 

with regards to the HS2 announcement, 

but it’s good news that this funding will 

enable us to bring forward various 

projects - including metro extensions, 

walking, and cycling routes and, of 

course, the game-changing Midlands Rail 

Hub. We also remain committed to 

advancing alternative future high-speed 

rail proposals. 

“The West Midlands economy remains 

resilient and – aided by our region’s 

diverse business community – is in a 

strong position in terms of economic 

stability, skills provision, and job 

prospects for our residents. The WMCA 

will continue to engage with local 

businesses to ensure they are made 

aware of the opportunities available to 

them.” 

Investment in public transport and 

active travel networks is a central part of 

WMCA’s strategy to connect people to 

jobs and leisure opportunities and 

achieve a net-zero carbon region by 2041. 

Local leaders emphasise the 

importance of local businesses seizing 

the opportunities offered by the wider 

economic and social benefits. The region 

is on track to achieve significant job 

creation, new housing development, and 

improvements in public transport 

infrastructure. This growth allows 

regional companies to innovate, diversify, 

and become industry leaders. 

What’s more, the West Midlands is 

determined to continue pushing for HS2 

phases 2A and 2B, and to capitalise on 

the opportunities and benefits that 

remain available to the region, 

emphasising the wider growth 

opportunities and development in various 

sectors. 

Want to know more? 

If you would like to find out how your 

business can make the most of this 

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity contact 

Kirstie Blakeman, HS2 Delivery Manager 

at West Midlands Combined Authority 

(kirstie.blakeman@tfwm.org.uk) or visit 

https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/ 

hs2-what-s-in-it-for-me/. 


SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: CYBER ATTACKS 

Rise of cyber warfare: The 

growing threat of attacks – 

and the impact on business 

In our increasingly digital world, safeguarding your business 

against cyber threats is paramount. With cyber attacks on 

the rise, Prosper spoke to James Cash, Managing Director 

at Superfast IT, the Chamber’s new IT provider, for advice. 

The current risk of cyber-attacks in 

Western society is, arguably, as high as it 

has ever been. Following Russia’s attack 

on Ukraine in early 2022, the National 

Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) urged UK 

organisations to bolster their online 

defences. Similarly, the Cybersecurity 

and Infrastructure Security Agency 

(CISA) and FBI warned of heightened 

threats to US organisations. 

There is no doubt that during times of 

global change and unrest, cyber security 

becomes a battlefield of its own and both 

state and non-state actors have 

increasingly turned to cyber attacks as a 

way to gain an advantage in warfare. 

Furthermore, with enhanced 

technology and an increasing number of 

devices connected to the internet, the 

scope and complexity for cyber attacks 

has grown dramatically. 

Cyber warfare can take many forms, 

including hacking into enemy state 

computer systems, spreading malware, 

and launching denial-of-service attacks. 

Entire towns and cities could be cut off 

from information, services and 

infrastructure that has become essential 

to the way we live such as electricity, 

online banking systems and internet, if a 

cyber threat is able to infiltrate the right 

systems. 

According to the European Union 

Agency for Network and Information 

Security (ENISA), the threat to critical 

infrastructure from cyber warfare is 

significant and growing. Its report on the 

‘Threat Landscape for Foreign 

Information Manipulation Interference 

(FIMI)’ highlights that critical 

infrastructure, such as energy, transport, 

and healthcare, is particularly vulnerable 

to cyber-attacks in times of war or 

political tension. In addition, cyber attacks 

can also disrupt financial systems, 

causing immediate economic damage 

and impacting individuals. 

The report states that although 

citizens are not the primary target, they 

represented a secondary target in more 

than half of the events that were 

analysed. Cyber attacks are particularly 

useful in manipulating perceptions en 

masse through, at the lowest level, 

inconvenience, up to the highest level 

which could result in the loss of life. 

The frequency of attempted cyberattacks 

against Ukraine serves to 

highlight that cyber threats can have 

devastating effects and will play a crucial 

role in deciding the outcome of the war. 

Another challenge with cyber-attacks is 

the threat actor’s ability to remain 

anonymous, making it difficult to 

attribute the attack to a specific 

individual or group. 

The use of private companies and 

individuals as proxies in cyber-attacks 

only serve to further complicate matters 

and in the initial stages of an attack, it 

may be difficult to fully appreciate the 

extent of the risks posed and true 

motivations behind it. 

The risk to businesses as the use of 

cyber warfare increases 

War and military conflicts can create a 

business environment that is conducive 

to cyber-attacks, as adversaries may seek 

to target businesses or sectors that are 

seen as important to a country’s 

economy or infrastructure. They may also 


SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: CYBER ATTACKS 

Did you know.... 

n There are nearly 4,000 new 

cyber attacks per day 

n Every 14 seconds a business falls 

victim to ransomware 

n Circa 500,000 pieces of Malware 

detected every day 

n Human error accounts for 95% of 

all data breaches 

n 43% of cyber attacks target small 

business 

n 75% of cyber attacks start with an 

email 

n 32% of UK businesses reported 

suffering an attack or breach 

between 2022 and 2023. 

Food for thought! 

go for symbolic targets such as media 

outlets or high-profile brands associated 

with a nation state. Additionally, the use 

of cyber attacks in war can also create a 

general sense of chaos and uncertainty, 

which can be used to exploit 

vulnerabilities in businesses’ cyber 

defences. 

Cyber attacks on a company’s 

computer systems, networks and servers 

can cause delays and shutdowns, which 

can lead to a direct loss of productivity 

and revenue. However, they can also 

damage reputation, lead to regulatory 

action being taken (resulting in the 

possible imposition of fines) and result in 

loss of customers. The global cost of 

cybercrime was estimated at $8.4 trillion 

in 2022, and is set to surpass the $11 

trillion mark in 2023. By 2026, annual 

cybercrime costs worldwide could exceed 

$20 trillion, demonstrating the extent of 

the damage caused by such incidents. 

Another risk is the potential for a cyber 

attack to exfiltrate sensitive information, 

such as intellectual property, financial 

data, and personal data of employees and 

customers. This information can be used 

for economic espionage, corporate 

sabotage, or even used as leverage in 

negotiations. Additionally, cyber attackers 

can also use this stolen data to 

impersonate the company or its 

employees and launch further attacks. 

Data and information that is stored by 

businesses is at great risk, including for 

those businesses which are, or have 

previously been, engaged in business 

with Ukraine. 

At times of unrest, whether political 

unrest, or global health challenges such 

as Covid-19, businesses should ensure 

they are not only vigilant but prepared for 

cyber security risks. 

To mitigate these risks, businesses 

should take proactive steps to strengthen 

their cyber defences, including being 

self-critical of existing defences through 

routine auditing and third-party testing. 

Training employees on how to identify 

and respond to cyber threats is also 

important. 

Additionally, businesses should 

regularly conduct security assessments 

to identify vulnerabilities and implement 

mitigation strategies. 

The importance of cyber security for 

ALL businesses!! 

Here are some key tips to consider: 

Hackers don’t always target the 

business – they will often target the 

vulnerabilities of a website. If your 

website has vulnerabilities and they 

notice, you will be targeted. 

You don’t think you will be targeted 

– Hackers know you aren’t worrying 

about a cyber attack. Because of this they 

know it’s likely to be much easier to gain 

access to your data than a company 

actively investing in their cyber risk. 

Data grows quickly – You may only 

think that you are a small business, but 

your data might tell a different story. The 

data you collect snowballs, and it is really 

easy to lose track of it. Before you know it 

you have thousands of pieces of data and 

it will be at risk if your systems are 

compromised. 

You have big clients – You may not be 

a business with seven-figure revenue but 

one of your clients may be. If they gain 

access to your systems, they may then be 

able to find a back door into your biggest 

client’s systems. 

Protecting your devices and data is 

extremely important and if you don’t have 

a combination of the right cyber-security 

and cyber insurance in place, it could 

prove devastating for you, your clients 

and your business. 

Turn over for more information on why you 

need to step up your cyber security, from 

the EBC Group 


ADVERTORIAL: EBC GROUP 

EBC Group’s cyber security event focuses on 

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EBC Group 

Cyber Security Event 

Friday, 13th October 

On Friday, 13th October, EBC Group 

hosted a thought-provoking and 

informative cyber security event featuring 

a line-up of highly knowledgeable 

speakers from various industries. 

The event also had the privilege of 

hosting special guest speaker, Andy 

Gomarsall, a fomer England rugby 

international. 

Attendees gathered to delve into 

pressing topics concerning the world of 

cyber security, gaining insights that are 

critical to secure the defences of your 

business. 

There was emphasis on the paramount 

importance of maintaining secure 

networks, the necessity of implementing 

robust security measures, and an 

eye-opening statistic in which “there are 

soon to be 700 billion devices connected 

to the internet.” 

These revelations underlined the 

urgent need for heightened cyber 

security measures. 

The audience took a deep dive into the 

ever-evolving cyber threat landscape, 

gaining valuable insights into the current 

state of cyber threats and practical 

measures to reduce exposure and risk. 

Another particularly alarming statistic 

was that “Approximately 42% of ALL 

reported crime is cyber crime.” Given that 

cyber crimes are often heavily 

underreported, this fact proved to be 

even more concerning. The anonymity of 

cybercriminals, often operating through 

VPNs, poses a significant challenge for 

law enforcement. 

During the event, attendees were also 

informed on how businesses can protect 

themselves through the power of Cyber 

Essentials, and were offered insights into 

the process of penetration testing. The 

urgency of these measures was put into 

perspective when the audience were told 

that “60% of small businesses that suffer 

a cyber attack go out of business within 

six months.” 

Cyber threats are continually evolving, 

and it has become crucial for businesses 

to secure comprehensive insurance 

policies to mitigate financial risks in the 

event of a cyber-attack. 

One of the key questions addressed 

was “what Happens in the event of a 

Cyber Attack?”, attendees gained an 

understanding of how to respond 

effectively and minimise the damage 

caused, a vital component of any cyber 

security strategy. 

To bring the afternoon to a close, 

special guest speaker Andy Gomarsall 

Missed out but want to know more? 

This Cyber Security event offered a FREE cyber security risk assessment for 

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To do so please navigate to the following URL: www.ebcgroup.co.uk/cyber-event 

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For more information about the event or to enquire about future events and 

opportunities, contact EBC Group at hello@ebcgroup.co.uk or 0121 368 0154. 

Left, a police 

warning of the 

prevalence of 

cyber crime... and 

here’s another 

sobering stat: 

“60% of small 

businesses that 

suffer a cyberattack 

go out of 

business within 

six months.” 

gave a captivating presentation in which 

he showcased the importance of proper 

destruction of data, providing a unique 

perspective on the intersection of cyber 

security and sustainability. 

Andy told some captivating stories 

from his career as a professional rugby 

player, in particular focusing on his time 

during the 2003 World Cup in which 

England emerged the victors. 

EBC Group was thrilled to have hosted 

this insightful and dynamic cyber security 

event. Its success reaffirms the 

commitment to promoting awareness 

and an understanding of cyber security in 

a world that is becoming increasingly 

more digital each and every year. 

About EBC Group 

EBC Group is an award-winning 

managed IT service provider of IT & 

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BUSINESS VOICE: DEMENTIA IN THE WORKPLACE 

Dementia in the workplace: 

it’s an increasing concern 

The word dementia conjures up vivid 

images in the minds of many – likely to 

be of elderly people, perhaps those in 

care homes. Certainly not those who are 

still going out to work each day. 

And yet that’s an increasing likelihood, 

says Paycare CEO Anthony Burns, in a 

world where not only are diagnoses of 

dementia increasing, but the number of 

people working past retirement age is 

on the rise. 

It’s estimated 9% of over 65s currently 

have dementia, and more than 1 million 

will be living with the condition before 

the end of the decade. For workers over 

65, that figure is around 12%. That 

means in the Black Country, we have 

around 19,700 people with dementia, 

and around 26,000 older workers. 

Which brings us back to the likelihood 

that we’ll see more people who start 

experiencing the first symptoms of 

dementia – including Alzheimer’s, 

vascular and dementia with Lewy bodies 

(DLB) – before they retire. 

And that means it’s something that 

employers need to be aware of, because 

colleagues and team managers who 

work closely with the person on a 

day-to-day basis are so well placed to 

notice the first signs. And with a 

degenerative disease such as dementia, 

early diagnosis is extremely helpful. 

With slightly different symptoms for 

each of the types, it’s important to have 

a thorough overview of what the early 

symptoms of dementia may look like, 

depending whether the person has 

Alzheimer’s (thinking and reasoning 

problems, changes in mood, and 

changes to how they see and hear 

things), vascular (difficulties following a 

set of instructions, short periods of 

sudden confusion, problems making 

decisions) or DLB (thinking, movement 

and mood), for example. 

And it’s also important to be aware 

that dementia doesn’t only affect over 

65s (although the chance of being 

diagnosed doubles roughly every five 

years post that age); there’s also 

early-onset or young-onset, which could 

first present itself with symptoms such 

as struggling to judge distances, 

problems finding the right word or 

behaving in socially-inappropriate ways. 

For employers concerned about the 

holistic health of their team members, 

it’s clear why having an awareness of 

dementia is increasingly vital. But 

there’s also another reason why 

attention on the subject is crucial. Of 

those one million people expected to be 

living with dementia by 2030, most will 

have children, nieces and nephews, 

grandchildren, neighbours or friends 

who may take on a caring role for them 

and who are also likely to experience the 

“It’s estimated 9% of over 65s currently have 

dementia ... for workers over 65, that figure 

stands around 12%. That means in the Black 

Country, we have around 19,700 people with 

dementia and around 26,000 older workers...” 

emotional repercussions of watching a 

loved one experience a degenerative 

disease. 

That means a significant proportion of 

employees are likely to know someone 

who has dementia, and may need extra 

understanding (and flexible working 

solutions) while they navigate juggling 

their working life with the additional 

responsibilities they may be taking on. 

This could be involvement in day–to-day 

care as the person becomes unable to 

dress, feed or wash themselves, it could 

involve supporting with medical needs 

such as attending appointments, and it 

could also involve taking on the role of 

Lasting Power of Attorney to deal with 

decisions relating to health and/or 

finances once the person is deemed 

unable to do so themselves. 

Whatever ways that person’s life is 

affected by knowing someone with 

dementia, having an empathetic 

employer is going to make a huge 

difference: no one needs the stress of 

also being worried that their job may be 

at risk, or that they can’t disclose what’s 

going on because they’re expected to 

leave their personal life at the door. 

As well as cultivating a working culture 

that sees employees feel able to broach 

the subject and speak up if they need 

support – either because of concerns 

around their own health or because 

they’re caring for someone with 

dementia – there are also many 

practicalities which can be implemented 

to make life a little easier. Whether it’s 

support from a confidential telephone 

counselling line, the ability to work 

flexible hours or from different locations 

(where appropriate), or services which 

enable them to speedily access an 

effective range of healthcare – there are 

many ways having a robust Workplace 

Wellbeing strategy is going to make all 

the difference in their time of need. 

Sadly, dementia and the workplace 

are no longer two separate entities – and 

increasing numbers of people who have 

dementia or care for someone who does, 

while also working, means it needs to 

move higher up the agenda of employers 

who aren’t already dementia-savvy. 

Anthony Burns, CEO, Paycare 


LEGAL UPDATE 

Working policies: time to think again 

flexibly as men; clearly then, flexible 

working done well is an opportunity to 

grow and to develop talent pools and to 

increase accessibility in the workplace. 

“But if companies aren’t tracking the 

success or the impact of flexible/ hybrid 

working then they are operating in total 

limbo. This is an opportunity to develop a 

workplace of the future – which is being 

wasted according to this new data.” 

42% of managers don’t know 

their company’s flexible 

working policy. Do you? 

42% of HR managers are not tracking 

their flexible or hybrid working policies, 

according to new research. 

Now, before you gasp too much in 

shock, here’s a question: What’s your 

company’s flexible working policy? 

The research by campaign group 

Pregnant Then Screwed surveyed 260 

HR managers and found that 41.8% of HR 

managers do not monitor the impact of a 

flexible working/ hybrid policy at all. And 

just 40% of HR managers said that they 

have had training for supporting teams in 

a hybrid working world. 

The Flexible Working Bill received 

Royal Assent in June 2023. Its official 

description reads: ‘A Bill to make 

provision in relation to the right of 

employees and other workers to request 

variations to particular terms and 

conditions of employment, including 

working hours, times and locations.’ 

Joeli Brearley, CEO and founder of 

Pregnant Then Screwed said: “A lack of 

flexible working is bad for business and 

bad for inclusivity. 

“Time and time again, research has 

shown that flexible working has many 

benefits, but if employers don’t track it 

then they can’t make impactful and 

data-driven decisions about where and 

when their employees work, and they are 

more likely to revert to less impactful 

conventional ways of working. 

“We need to start taking flexible 

working seriously.’’ 

Alison Wilde, co-founder of people 

transformation consultancy Birdsoup 

added that there is a risk of losing staff if 

companies don’t begin to get with the 

flexible working and hybrid programme. 

“If companies don’t want to lose valued 

people, then they need to put in a well 

thought-out suite of interventions 

designed to retain and grow them,” she 

said. “Women are twice as likely to work 

Three simple steps to understanding 

your company’s policy are: 

Get yourself informed 

First things first: if you don’t know what 

your company’s stance on this is, and 

what policy is in place, it’s time to find out. 

Or be the person who begins to introduce 

it in your company. Research the bill, find 

out what your company already offers. 

This affects you, as well, after all, as you 

might want flexible or hybrid working. 

Define flexible vs hybrid 

These are two different things. Just like 

your company has ‘values’, define what 

‘flexible’ and ‘hybrid’ means for your 

company. This might involve a lot of 

research, and setting new values and 

standards to working practices. Flexible 

could just be the hours people work, 

while hybrid could be the place(s) they 

work. In theory, you could have someone 

working a flexible, hybrid working pattern. 

Be the one to drive the change 

No policy? Then it’s time to seriously 

think about what you offer and how that 

needs to change. 

It’s not enough to be in that 42%, and if 

you are, you’ll be driving change which 

will be career defining. 

Flexible working highlights 

• One study has found that a 

staggering 73% of executives surveyed 

admitted that their approach to 

implementing the return-to-office 

policy post Covid had been flawed. 

The impulse to revert to pre-pandemic 

norms may have overshadowed a more 

nuanced understanding of the evolving 

needs and preferences of their 

workforce. 

• Should workers be forced to go 

into the office? In a survey by 

Censuswide on behalf of flexible office 

experts Space32, just over half of Brits 

(53%) agreed employers have the right 

to ask their teams to return to the 

office five days a week. Only 11% of 

Brits said that they “disagreed” or 

“strongly disagreed” that employers 

had the right. 

• Brits aged 35-44 were the most 

likely to agree that employers could 

enforce full-time office work; 61% of 

this age group agreed that bosses 

were within their rights to impose this. 

• The survey found that working 

from home is the number one perk for 

office workers, with more than half of 

respondents (51%) saying they would 

sacrifice other benefits to keep it. 


CHAMBER NEWS 

New Business Council ushers 

in exciting partnership era 

Prosper spoke to Baroness Martha Lane Fox, President at the British 

Chambers of Commerce, about the newly launched Business Council and the 

Chamber’s work with politicians to ensure the voice of business is heard. 

The clock is ticking to a General Election, 

with the economy likely to be front and 

centre of the campaign to come. 

Now more than ever, it’s crucial that 

the voice of business is heard. 

The British Chambers of Commerce is 

working every day to make sure 

politicians understand what firms in the 

Black Country and across the UK need. 

Our unique Chamber network allows the 

BCC to advocate on behalf of the 

businesses of all shapes and sizes in all 

parts of the country. 

We now have an extra tool in our 

armoury – the Business Council. It held 

its inaugural meeting in September at 

the House of Lords. It brings together 

some of the most prominent British firms 

to work in partnership with politicians to 

drive the future of the economy. 

Aviva, Heathrow and Intuit are among 

the companies already signed up to this 

important new venture. These 

businesses want to be part of a 

framework that’s rooted in local 

communities, but with the ability to 

shape the national and international 

debate. We’re only at the start of the 

long-term Business Council project – 

we’re well on track to hit our target of 25 

firms by the end of the year. 

Meeting regularly, the Business 

Council is focusing on five key 

challenges. They are the issues we know 

all businesses, whether large or small, 

are facing right now. 

They are: 

n the digital revolution 

n people and work 

n green innovation 

n global Britain; and 

n local economy of the future. 

The council will make recommendations 

that feed directly into a policy document 

published early next year aimed at 

Baroness Martha Lane Fox 

influencing the party manifestos ahead 

of the election. 

After the UK has gone to the polls, 

whenever that might be, the council will 

work to help the next Government, from 

whichever party, to set a business-backed 

agenda from day one – and establish a 

long-term strategy for growth. We’ll 

making sure the voice of commerce is 

heard. 

There’s no time to waste. All the BCC’s 

data shows the economy is stuck in first 

gear with almost no growth. We’re 

predicting less than 1% of economic 

growth for each of the next three years. 

Faced with unprecedented headwinds of 

high inflation, rising interest rates, 

challenging trading conditions and a tight 

labour market, businesses are not 

“The economy is stuck in first gear with almost no 

growth... faced with unprecedented headwinds, 

businesses are not investing. They need clarity, 

certainty and confidence about the future...” 

investing. They need clarity, certainty and 

confidence about the future. The 

expertise and experience that our 

Business Council members bring to the 

table allows for a powerful debate about 

the problems. But it also helps identify 

the practical solutions. 

The Business Council is already having 

an impact – politicians are engaged. At 

the first meeting members were joined 

by the Levelling Up Secretary Michael 

Gove for the Government – and Labour’s 

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Two 

senior politicians getting round the table 

listening to the voice of business, thanks 

to the BCC. In recent weeks, smaller 

groups have started discussing the five 

challenges. 

In the Black Country 

So how will the Business Council help 

Chamber members in the Black Country? 

It strengthens the BCC’s voice and 

profile with national politicians at this 

crucial time for the economy. The big 

firms understand the power of the 

Chamber network – many of them have 

been local members for many years. 

A strong BCC means a strong 

Chamber network and businesses up 

and down the country. 

Alongside the Business Council work, 

we will also campaign hard for policy 

changes on a range of issues we know 

really matter to the tens of thousands of 

SMEs in our membership. Whether that’s 

calls for reform of the apprenticeship 

levy, improvements to the energy grid, 

strengthened UK-EU relations to help 

trade and investment, or major 


Michael Gove chaired the first meeting of the 

BCC Business Council at the House of Lords, 

which was also attended by Shadow Chancellor 

for Labour, Rachel Reeves (inset) 

improvements to the planning system, 

we’re focused on the crucial issues that 

matter to you. 

Everything we do as an organisation is 

about making the UK the best place to 

start and grow a business. The Business 

Council is all about partnership. We know 

that the economy thrives when business 

and politicians work together. 

For over 160 years, we’ve been serving 

British business – that’s all because of 

our local roots, national influence and 

global reach. Despite the ongoing 

economic challenges we’re all facing at 

the moment, I’m always heartened by the 

can-do entrepreneurial attitude of British 

business. 

As an organisation we’re committed to 

creating and sustaining local 

communities and economies. 

The Business Council is a major new 

initiative for the BCC. We’re determined it 

will help influence policymakers at the 

highest level. The benefits will be felt by 

businesses across the country in these 

challenging times. 

Thanks to the Chamber network, we 

are part of your community in the Black 

Country, and you are part of ours. 

Working in partnership, British 

businesses can continue to flourish. 

For more on the BCC’s new 

Business Council, see https:// 

www.britishchambers.org.uk/ 

partner-with-us/businesscouncil/ 

“Our five priority areas include green 

innovation... we will make recommendations 

that feed directly into a policy document 

published early next year aimed at 

influencing the party manifestos...” 


MEMBERS’ NEWS 

Family touch keeps the region’s 

businesses spick and span 

Ever wondered how the Wolverhampton 

Grand Theatre stays so tidy and clean – 

even during the busy panto season? 

Or how the Severn Valley Railway keeps 

its stations in tip-top condition? 

The thing that these and dozens of 

schools, doctors’ surgeries, factories and 

offices across the West Midlands have in 

common is that they work with Lawrence 

Cleaning Ltd. 

This year Lawrence Cleaning celebrates 

its 40th anniversary, and founder Winnie 

Lawrence said she couldn’t be prouder of 

the business that has been created. 

“It brings tears to my eyes when I see 

how hard my family have worked to make 

the business a success,” said Winnie, 85. 

“They haven’t sat back and let it drift 

along, they’ve continued with our core 

values of quality and integrity to make the 

business a resounding success. 

“One thing that has always set us apart 

is that we look after our staff and never 

ask our cleaners to do anything we 

wouldn’t do ourselves. It’s one of the 

reasons why we have cleaners that have 

stayed with us for decades, and tell us 

they love coming to work every day.” 

Winnie started the business in 1983 

after she took on a part-time job with a 

cleaning company in Wolverhampton, 

and found herself running it. 

“My children, Wendy and Paul, had 

started at school and I was looking for a 

part-time job to bring in some extra 

money,” said Winnie, who had grown up in 

Wolverhampton. “From the age of seven 

I’d gone out cleaning with my mum 

Elizabeth, and I just loved it – there’s 

nothing more satisfying than leaving 

somewhere sparkling clean and tidy. 

“I got a job as a cleaner and ended up 

becoming supervisor and manager. I was 

so hands-on that everyone thought I was 

the boss, so when the chance came to 

buy the business I snapped it up.” 

To begin with, Lawrence Cleaning 

operated out of the garage at Winnie and 

her husband Arthur’s house in 

Stourbridge, but it wasn’t long before the 

business began to grow and they moved 

to their own offices. 

Winnie’s son Paul took over as 

“Our professional 

approach with a 

personal touch 

sets us apart from 

our competitors...” 

managing director in 2001 and this year 

he handed over the reins to his son, Alex. 

Paul said, “From the beginning my 

mother instilled values of quality, 

reliability, and honesty into the business, 

knowing that these would be essential for 

establishing trust with clients. 

“We were able to expand the business 

and take on bigger contracts, while still 

maintaining the high standards that had 

been established. 

“One thing that sets Lawrence 

Cleaning apart from other businesses is 

our commitment to supporting local 

communities. 

“This extends to our staff recruitment 

policies, with all our cleaners being 

employed within close proximity to our 

clients’ premises. This not only benefits 

the communities we serve, but it also has 

a positive impact on the local economy as 

staff are likely to spend their salaries in 

the area.” 

As well as their commitment to social 

responsibility, the Lawrence family also 

puts great emphasis on upholding 

professional standards. This includes a 

rigorous training programme that all 

cleaners must go through before joining 

the team. 

They only use environmentally friendly 

cleaning products that are safe for the 

client’s premises. They also invest in the 

latest equipment to ensure that they are 

using the most efficient techniques. 

The company’s new managing director, 

Alex Lawrence, said they have become 

stronger thanks to their family-centered 

approach. “Our professional approach 

with a personal touch is what sets us 

apart from our competitors,” said Alex. 

“By being involved in all aspects of the 

business, from staff training to client 

meetings, we have created an 

environment where clients are treated 

like friends, and staff feel like they are a 

part of one big family. 

“My grandmother started a legacy that 

has been expanded and developed by my 

dad. To be taking over as managing 

director is very exciting and I will continue 

with the company’s core values, while 

building on the incredible success of the 

last four decades.” 



Tech intervention helps 

Thomas Dudley work smarter 

A well-established Dudley manufacturer 

with over 100 years of history has 

boosted its productivity after being 

helped by a major initiative to help SMEs 

in the Midlands to improve their digital skills. 

Chamber Platinum Group member 

Thomas Dudley Group has been trading 

for more than a century across several 

generations, supplying merchants and 

wholesalers not only in the UK, but as far 

away as Africa and the Caribbean. 

Under its umbrella are six companies 

working in different areas of 

manufacturing: TDF Foundry, McDonald 

Diecasting, Waterfit, Rugby Plastics, 

Thomas Dudley Works, and TYDE. But 

the business began to experience 

bottlenecks in its production facility that 

manufactures products for TYDE. 

Performance data from the plastic 

production machines could only be 

manually extracted and could not be 

collected in real time, meaning issues 

could be left undetected which could 

negatively affect the production line. 

Through the Black Country Growth 

Hub, Peter Devine, production unit 

director, and Martin Dudley, CEO of 

Thomas Dudley, heard about Made 

Smarter West Midlands which was 

introduced in 2021 to help manufacturing 

and engineering businesses access 

match-funded grant funding and digital 

experts to take the next step forward to 

drive growth. 

Peter contacted Made Smarter and 

was put in touch with Jit Gatcha, Made 

Smarter’s digital transformation 

specialist for the Black Country. 

Jit organised a meeting with Peter and 

Martin alongside Tomas Novais, senior 

research engineer at Made Smarter 

strategic partner, the Manufacturing 

Technology Centre (MTC). 

Made Smarter approved a £20,000 

grant to help purchase a manufacturing 

execution system (MES) to allow TYDE’s 

machines to collect performance data in 

real time, alerting workers to any issues 

instantly. 

Peter Devine said productivity has 

increased by around five to seven per 

cent as a result of the MES. 

He told Prosper, “We knew the issues 

we were facing, but we needed 

reassurance that we were making the 

right decision and the grant money that 

Made Smarter offered was very 

attractive. 

“If we could remove the bottleneck, it 

would allow us to be significantly more 

productive and reliably fulfil orders much 

faster for our customers. 

“The new system has meant we can 

spot issues with our machines as soon as 

they happen, which has made a huge 

difference to our productivity. 

“Receiving the grant from Made 

Smarter helped make the decision to 

purchase the software that much easier. 

“For a business like ours, that extra five 

to seven per cent increase in productivity 

will make such a difference in the long run. 

“Our staff have realised how much 

easier their jobs are as result. We are 



“We knew the issues we were 

facing... if we could remove the 

bottleneck, it would allow us to 

be significantly more 

productive... the new system has 

meant we can spot issues with 

our machines as soon as they 

happen, which has made a 

huge difference...” 

becoming more proactive rather than 

reactive. 

“We are also devoting more of our time 

to training our staff in digital technologies 

like MES systems so we can adapt in the 

future. 

“Made Smarter was fantastic to deal 

with throughout the process. They made 

everything simple and, if we had any 

queries, Jit was just a phone call away.” 

Coventry and Warwickshire Growth 

Hub has led the Made Smarter West 

Midlands scheme alongside fellow 

support organisations Business Growth 

West Midlands and Worcestershire, The 

Marches, and Stoke-on-Trent & 

Staffordshire Growth Hubs, on behalf of 

the West Midlands Combined Authority 

and the Department for Business and 

Trade. 

Jit Gatcha said installing smart 

software on TYDE’s manufacturing 

machines has made a major difference to 

its future growth plans. 

“Productivity is vital to businesses and 

our economy here in the West Midlands 

which is why Made Smarter’s help is 

boosting efficiency and taking companies 

to the next level,” he said. 

“It can be daunting and difficult to find 

the time to research the digital 

technology your business needs. 

“Our analysis showed an MES was 

indeed a viable solution for Thomas 

Dudley, and we took them through the 

grant application process step by step to 

help pay for it. 

“It now means Thomas Dudley can fulfil 

bigger orders for its customers after 

increasing its capacity and can cope with 

any future technological advances 

knowing they have the skills in place to 

use the new technology to its full 

potential.” 

Jit has urged SMEs in the Black Country 

and the wider Midlands interested in 

finding out more about Made Smarter 

West Midlands to express their interest at 

www.madesmarter.uk. 

BCIMO hosts first demonstration 

of exciting CVLR project 

The Black Country Innovative 

Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) 

hosted a successful demonstration of 

the pioneering Coventry Very Light Rail 

(CVLR) technology at its unique Rail 

Development and Test Site in Dudley. 

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West 

Midlands, was among interested 

observers, alongside MPs Penny 

Mordaunt and Nicola Richards and 

Cllrs Patrick Harley and Simon Phipps 

from Dudley Council. 

The CVLR project has achieved a major 

milestone as the vehicle is now able to 

be tested on its own track at the Very 

Light Rail National Innovation Centre 

(VLRNIC), a unique, world-class centre 

for rail innovation. 

The project has been developed by 

Coventry City Council, Transport for 

West Midlands (TfWM), WMG at the 

University of Warwick and BCIMO, who 

operate the VLRNIC. 

College facility taking shape 

The steel framework has begun to 

take shape on a new £8.1 million City 

of Wolverhampton College training 

facility. 

It is another major step forward in 

the development of the 

college’s Advanced Technology and 

Automotive Centre on its Wellington 

Road campus in Bilston, as part of 

the City Learning Quarter vision. 

Andy Street, 

MPs Penny 

Mordaunt 

and Nicola 

Richards 

and other 

guests at 

the CVLR 

demo 

Due to be completed in July 2024, 

it will secure hundreds of jobs and 

create learning opportunities for 

thousands of students specialising in 

engineering and automotive, 

including electric vehicles. 

It is phase one of the Council’s City 

Learning Quarter masterplan and will 

be funded by £7.7 million from the 

West Midlands Combined Authority 

(WMCA), with the remainder 

from the Black Country LEP. 

The centre will offer 

courses in fabrication, 

manufacturing, welding, 

CAD and robotics and will 

deliver a multi-skilled 

workforce addressing skills 

shortages in the city. 

Almost 5,500 learners 

and 954 apprenticeships 

are forecast over the first 10 

years of the centre. 


CHAMBER NEWS: MEET THE TEAM 

Meet the team: The people 

behind the Chamber 

Senior Management Team 


Chief Executive 

Officer 

Lorna Taylor 

Finance Director 

Siân Roberts 

Sales & Marketing 

Director 

Membership Team 

Alison Trinder 

Start-up Business 

Manager 

Business Relationship 

Managers 

Gemma Shakespeare 

Richard Hobbs and 

Steve Salt 

Commercial Team 

Gail Arnold 

Head of Premium 

Membership 

Laila Hudson 

IGNITE Hub Customer 

Service Advisor 

Siân Roberts, our Director of Sales 

& Marketing, joined the Chamber in 

June, tasked with building valued 

partnerships with members and the 

broader business community. 

Her other goals include maximising 

the value of Chamber membership, 

as well as increasing commercial 

activities. She is also determined to 

enhance the Chamber’s reputation, 

ensuring it continues to deliver 

outstanding customer advice and 

support to our members. 

External Affairs Team 

Lauren Shepherd 

Content Officer 

Daniel Parkes 

IGNITE Hub Customer 

Service Advisor 

Tracey Jovicich 

Membership 

Administrator 

Sarah Thompson 

Press/PR and 

PROSPER 

Magazine Editor 

Finance & Export 

Documentation Team 

Andrew Wells 

Assistant 

Accountant 

Malcolm Reid 

Export 

Documentation 

Assistant 

Mandy Perry 

Finance & Export 

Assistant 

Owenia Francis 

Apprentice content 

creator / digital 

illustrator 

Gemma Edwards 

Policy, Impact & 

Public Affairs Officer 


CHAMBER NEWS MEET THE TEAM 

Black Country Chamber is proud of the people who provide the great service to our members. 

Here we introduce you to some of our latest newcomers: Gemma Edwards, Steve Salt, 

Gemma Shakespeare, Richard Hobbs and our first apprentice, Owenia Francis 

Experienced policy analyst to lead Chamber’s response 

Experienced policy analyst Gemma 

Edwards, who previously worked for the 

New Zealand’s Ministry of Education, 

joined the Chamber in August to head up 

its policy and public affairs department. 

Gemma, who had been advising senior 

education ministers and leading stakeholders 

within the tertiary education 

sector since 2018, moved back to the UK 

to settle in Wolverhampton. 

An alumnus of University of Sheffield, 

where she read classical and historical 

archaeology, netball-loving Gemma 

brings a wealth of experience of policy 

reviews, briefings and analytical 

reporting, along with an insight into the 

workings of government. 

Gemma told Prosper, “My role is to 

showcase, celebrate and champion the 

Black Country business community. 

“I know that the region has so much to 

offer and being new to the Black 

Country, I’m looking forward to 

discovering more and meeting new 

businesses.” 

Sarah Moorhouse, Black Country 

Chamber CEO said, “Gemma brings a 

wealth of policy-driven experience with 

her, along with an abundance of energy. 

“This role is pivotal to the Chamber 

and our members and Gemma will be 

responsible for leading the Chamber’s 

research activities, member 

engagement on policy matters, 

communications on policy issues and 

the delivery of evidence-led campaigns. 

“As a lynchpin of the local economy, 

the Chambers’ work will further amplify 

the voice of members to showcase, 

celebrate and champion the Black 

Country business community. 

“My aim, alongside Gemma, is to build 

on this work and continue to be a 

powerful delivery vehicle for our 

members’ interests and needs. 

“Gemma is working with our 

membership, stakeholders and 

policymakers to deliver compelling 

activities which influence, inform and 

tackle the barriers limiting growth and 

productivity.” 

Trio of newcomers to boost member links 

Gemma Shakespeare has joined the 

Black Country Chamber as one of three 

new business relationship managers in 

the Membership Team. 

A former senior in-house recruiter at 

Wolverhampton Council and linguistics 

graduate from the University of 

Wolverhampton, Gemma said: “I am 

excited to meet Chamber members and 

forge strong and long working 

relationships with them, as well as get 

involved in future Chamber projects.” 

Also joining is Richard Hobbs, a 

former account manager with Made in 

The Midlands and business development 

co-ordinator at Wolverhampton College. 

Young Apprentice joins Chamber team 

Apprentice content creator and digital 

illustrator, Owenia Francis, has joined 

the external affairs team at the Black 

Country Chamber from the BBC’s 

Apprentice Hub in Birmingham, to take 

care of our digital content. 

Berkshire-born Owenia, a graduate of 

English Literature at the University of 

Birmingham and an avid instigator and 

supporter of social action campaigns, 

brings a wealth of multimedia 

experience to the team despite her 

relatively young age. She will work 

closely with content officer Lauren 

Richard, an avid Wolves fan and sports 

science graduate of Aberystwyth 

University, is producer of the awardwinning 

podcast, Wolves Fancast and 

also a STEM ambassador in his spare 

time. 

Richard said, “I’m really pleased to be 

part of the Chamber. It’s an exciting time 

with many initiatives and events line up 

to support employers in the region. With 

my background in supporting businesses 

in the region, being a member of the 

team feels like a natural fit.” 

Gemma and Richard join Steve Salt, 

who joined the Chamber in the summer. 

Steve, who spent time as a Covid 

Shephard, who will oversee Owenia’s 

learning. 

Owenia said: “I’m very happy to be 

joining the team at the Chamber. I’ve 

already had the opportunity to attend 

Chamber events and meet some of the 

amazing businesses across the region. 

Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse said, 

“We are huge supporters of 

apprenticeships and encouraging the 

workforce of the future. The BBC 

Apprentice Hub is a great way for 

individuals to begin their career in the 

creative sector, and we are delighted to 

administrator and induction manager 

working at the Perry Barr Residential 

Scheme project in Birmingham, said: 

“I’m enjoying working with my 

colleagues and helping businesses 

thrive, and I’m excited with the 

opportunity to support and ‘fly the flag’ 

for our region.” 

Chamber Sales and Marketing 

Director Sian Roberts said: “Our new 

relationship managers bring a wealth of 

experience gained through many years 

working across several business 

sectors, including membership 

organisations. They have all hit the 

ground running.” 

welcome our first-ever apprentice. 

“Owenia is already a valuable member 

of the team, and will help us further 

amplify the Chamber name and the 

services we offer to our members and 

the wider Black Country community.” 

The BBC Apprentice Hub is a Flexi-Job 

Apprenticeship Agency (FJAA) where the 

BBC acts as host employer, arranging 

placements for aspiring creatives with 

local businesses. It’s an exciting 

initiative that plugs a much-needed 

skills gap in the region’s creative, 

cultural, gaming and digital sectors. 


CHAMBER EVENTS 

Shevaun Haviland, Director-General of 

the British Chambers of Commerce hit 

the Black Country last month to meet 

business leaders at a lunch organised by 

the Chamber. 

Patrons and Platinum Group members 

gathered at the Mercure Hotel in West 

Bromwich to hear Shevaun, former head 

of business engagement in Downing 

Street and a previous head of the 

Inclusive Economy Partnership, discuss 

her own career, including previous 

consultancy roles in London and New 

York and a strategic planning role for the 

Walt Disney Company at Disneyland 

Paris, and give an insight into her work as 

head of the country’s longest established 

business support organisation. 

Her talk covered everything from the 

recent developments around HS2 to 

economic policy and the need for an 

industrial strategy, while taking the 

audience through the work of the 

collective Chamber network, along with 

an insight into her lobbying activities at 

the highest level of government and 

meetings with cabinet ministers. 

Skills, recruitment, productivity, energy 

prices, green innovation and international 

trade were, as ever the hot topics on the 

lips of leaders from across the region, all 

eager to hear Ms Haviland’s take on the 

current economic climate and the 

challenges facing business. 

Shevaun concluded that the Chamber 

network is under no illusion on how 

challenging times have been, and 

continue to be, for firms in every sector, 

but confirmed, as ever, the collective 

network of 53 Chambers will continue to 

Shevaun Haviland, 

(left of banner) with 

Chamber CEO 


and representatives 

of the Chamber’s 

Platinum members 

and Patrons 

Tough times but BCC has your back, says D-G 

lobby government, whatever colour it 

may be in the coming months, while 

continuing to champion and support 

businesses across the country. 

Black Country Chamber CEO Sarah 

Moorhouse, who welcomed Shevaun on 

stage, said: “We were delighted to 

welcome and host Shevaun. Meeting and 

engaging with over 60 of the region’s 

business leaders from key sectors, 

representing the breadth of our regional 

economy, was incredibly useful for both 

ourselves and her. 

“This meeting with our members gave 

Shevaun a real insight into this region’s 

diverse business sector while allowing 

many leaders to voice their concerns 

about some of the issues and challenges 

they continue to face in the current 

economic climate.” 

Chamber puts mental health in 

focus at Women in Leadership 

Black Country Chamber’s Women in 

Leadership group hosted another 

hugely successful event, this time in 

connection to World Mental Health 

Day. 

Held at the offices of Higgs LLP, 

the event, entitled, ‘Success 

Without Sacrifice - How to Progress 

in Your Career Without Sacrificing 

Your Wellbeing Along the Way’, was 

attended by over 50 professional 

women who heard all about the 

impact on women’s wellbeing while 

working in leadership positions. 

Raising funds for the Chamber’s 

chosen charity, Black Country 

Mental Health, Diane Asbury from 

Crowe UK was the luck recipient of a 

personalised Global Leadership 

Wellbeing Survey report and debrief 

coaching session from the day’s 

keynote speaker, Nicky Lowe. 

See pg 59 for details of our next 

Women in Leadership event, to be 

held on March 8 2024, to coincide 

with International Women’s Day. 


EVENTS 

Chamber AGM 

Black Country Chamber of 

Commerce AGM 

Date: December 1 

Venue: Marston Room, Technology 

Centre, University of 

Wolverhampton Science Park, 

Glaisher Drive WV10 9RU 

Cost: Free to members 

Notice is hereby given that the 

Annual General Meeting of Black 

Country Chamber of Commerce & 

Industry will be held at Marston 

Room, Technology Centre, University 

of Wolverhampton Science Park, 

Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, 

WV10 9RU at 12.30pm on Friday, 1st 

December 2023. 

The meeting will be held to hear the 

Chair’s review and the Chief 

Executive’s report and to transact 

the following business: 

1. To receive the report of the 

directors and the accounts for the 

year ended 31st March 2023. 

2. To re-appoint CKCA Limited as 

auditors from the conclusion of this 

meeting until the conclusion of the 

next general meeting, before which 

accounts are laid and to authorise 

the directors to fix the auditors’ 

remuneration. 

3. To elect two directors from the 

shortlisted candidates, being Paul 

Hull and Jatinder Sharma. 

4. To consider and if thought fit pass 

the following resolution as a special 

resolution: ‘That the draft articles of 

association produced to the 

meeting and for the purposes of 

identification initialled by the Chair 

be adopted as the articles of 

association of the Company in 

substitution for and to the exclusion 

of the Company’s existing articles of 

association.’ 

Networking will commence at 12pm 

until 12.30pm. Following the AGM a 

buffet lunch and drinks will be 

served until 3pm. 

Any questions please email 

lornataylor@ 


Bookings will close at 12.30pm on 

Wednesday, 29 November. 

Further details, and to book, see 

www.blackcountrychamber 

ofcommerce.co.uk/events 

Exclusive networking opportunities 

at the Black Country Business Club 

Exclusive closed networking club for 

businesses across the region 

The Black Country Business Club 

provides a platform where individuals 

can build business relationships and 

promote their products and services 

within a friendly and supportive 

environment. 

The event is live, face-to-face and 

meets every fortnight on a Thursday 

morning from 9.30am until 11.30am. 

Chamber members and non-members 

are welcome to come along and visit to 

see how everything works before 

committing to the Club. There is an 

additional annual cost to be part of the 

Business Club network. 

At each meeting, one delegate has the 

opportunity to co-host and use a 

10-minute slot to promote their business, 

while every other delegate gets the 

opportunity to provide a short 

60-second pitch, to share their latest 

news or highlight a key product/service. 

Rules of Engagement! 

Members of the club agree to the 

following principles: 

• Only two businesses per sector/ 

industry will be allowed to join 

• There will be a maximum of 50 

members 

• Membership is on a first-come, 

first-served basis with a final decision on 

a membership application made by the 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce 

• Each business is expected to deliver 

a minimum of one 10-minute 

‘presentation’ each year at their Club, 

and all businesses deliver a 60-second 

pitch at every meeting 

The Club will meet once a fortnight. 

Cost*. There is an additional cost for 

the club dependent upon which 

Chamber membership you hold. 

Only one representative from a 

business can attend each session. 

Across 25 meetings, a no show at 

three consecutive Clubs will mean that a 

member has forfeited their right to be 

part of the Club and will be barred from 

future Clubs with no refund given. 

Dates For Your Diary 2024 

Jan: 11th and 25th 

Feb: 8th and 22nd 

March: 7th and 21st 

April: 4th and 18th 

May: 2nd, 16th and 30th 

June: 13th and 27th 

July: 11th and 25th 

August: 8th and 22nd 

Sept: 5th and 19th 

Oct: 3rd, 17th and 31st 

Nov: 14th and 28th 

Dec: 12th 

For further information: 

Email membership@ 

blackcountrychamber.co.uk or 

contact Alison Trinder on 07980 

906921 for a free guest pass* 

to the next meeting, we would love 

to meet you. 

See you TWW – Third Week Wednesday 

Each third week Wednesday, Chamber members and non-members meet for their 

FREE monthly networking session.Meet at Walsall College in the Littleton 

Restaurant, Wisemore Campus, Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8ES 

From 9.45am through to 11.30am.There’s a short introduction from the college, 

followed by ‘Open Networking’ which kicks off at 9.45am. 

For more details on these networking events and how you can join in, email 

membership@blackcountrychamber.co.uk 


EVENTS 

Wolverhampton Wednesday 

Hosted by the City of Wolverhampton 

College and powered by the region’s 

longest running business support 

organisation, join us for a Wolverhampton 

Wednesday! 

It’s an open networking session 

enjoyed over a complimentary breakfast, 

courtesy of the college. 

Meetings take place on the last 

Wednesday of the month at the college’s 

Wellington Road Campus. 

Big Business @B63 Breakfast Event 

The Chamber’s monthly breakfast 

networking event takes place on the 

first Wednesday of the Month. 

Providing a fantastic opportunity to 

network with like-minded businesses 

each month, the Big Business @B63 

Black Country Chamber has joined forces 

with Sandwell Council and Sandwell 

College to host a FREE regular breakfast 

networking event. The ‘Get Connected in 

Sandwell’ initiative kicked off over 

breakfast earlier this year at Sandwell 

College in West Bromwich. 

The regular event provides business 

owners with a host of speakers talking 

through everything from how to connect 

as a business, save money and grow, 

through to improving the local business 

environment, advocacy, campaigning, 

community action and networking. 

Next Event: December 13 on CSR 

Corporate & Social Responsibility 

The presentation will cover the three 

Open to members and non-members, 

this breakfast event is FREE of charge for 

one person from each business. With 

numbers limited, it has already proved to 

be a very popular event, so book on well 

in advance to secure your place. 

Email membership@ 


for further details. 

‘breakfast event’ is hosted by 

Halesowen College, sponsored by The 

Halesowen Bid and powered by The 

Black Country Chamber of Commerce. 

It starts at 7.45am, running until 

9.15am. 

Calling all Sandwell businesses 

aspects which provide the basis for the 3 

Ps relating to CSR: People, Planet & 

Profit. 

• Environmentally Friendly – Eco 

Conscious 

• Promote equality, diversity and 

inclusivity in the workplace 

• Giving back to the community 

• Volunteering 

For more information contact 

Alison Trinder 07980 906921 or 

email alisontrinder@ 


SAVE THE DATE: 

WIL event 

Black Country Chamber’s 

Women in Leadership roup 

is holding its next event on 

March 8 2024, to mark International 

Women’s Day. 

Our guest speakers at what is 

always a superb event will be Amber 

Sandhu, a radio/TV presenter and 

sports reporter; and Jade Linton, 

director of HR at Thursfields 

Solicitors. 

About our speakers: 

Amber Sandhu, 

born and raised in 

Wolverhampton, 

presents a national 

show every Saturday 

afternoon on the BBC 

Asian Network and 

has presented across BBC Radio WM. 

She has reported and worked across 

BBC Cricket, 5 Live Sport and was the 

face of the Commonwealth Games 

across Midlands Today. Amber is one 

of the UK’s most exciting and 

charismatic presenters who has 

worked across events such as The 

Hundred, Women’s Ashes, FA Cup 

Games, 

Commonwealth 

Games and many 

more. 

Jade Linton is an 

industry-renowned 

and respected 

solicitor and people 

leader known for providing thoughtful, 

clear, solution focused and technically 

robust legal advice. 

She joined Thursfields Board in 

2020, where she is responsible for the 

strategic and operational guidance 

and direction of all people matters. 

She is passionate about inclusion and 

belonging, and is regularly invited to 

inspire others through training, 

feedback and coaching, aspiring 

lawyers and businesses on matters of 

diversity, equality and inclusion. 

Further event details coming 

soon… 

To find out more about the Black 

Country Women in Leadership 

visit www.blackcountrychamber. 

co.uk/campaigns 


EVENTS DIARY 

Training events 

EXPORT: LETTERS OF CREDIT 


Time: 09:00 - 13:00 

Location: Online 

Cost: Members £200 ex VAT 

Non Members: £250 ex VAT 

This Letters of Credit training 

course has been devised for 

companies/departments that are 

regularly receiving or handling 

Letters of Credit. It will help you to 

reduce risks, bank charges and 

improve efficiency of administrators. 

This course will cover: 

n Careful credit checking 

n The export quotation 

n A review of other payment 

methods 

n What is a Letter of Credit, Letter 

of Credit administration and 

Letter of Credit Procedure? 

n Letter of Credit types and levels 

of security 

Tips to ensure you get it right at 

all stages of the Letter of Credit 

CUSTOMS AUDITS & 

INSPECTIONS 

Date: February 1, 2024 

Time: 09:00 - 13:00 


Cost: Members £200 ex VAT 

Non Members £250 ex VAT 

Since leaving the EU more 

businesses are now responsible for 

declaring goods to customs for 

import and export. This has resulted 

in more businesses receiving a 

HMRC Customs Audit. This 

workshop helps businesses in 

understanding what they need to 

prepare for. 

n The purpose of the audit 

n The different types of audit that 

HMRC may undertake 

n What the auditors will be looking 

for regarding imports and exports 

n Practical and effective recordkeeping 

n Checking declarations for 

accuracy and validity 

Aimed at importers, exporters, 

finance, logistics, procurement, 

sales, supply chain managers/ 

directors and those with 

responsibility for auditing records. 

For more information, contact 

training@blackcountry 

chamber.co.uk 

‘Project Success: Managing 

Change Successfully – To 

Implement Renewables’ 

Black Country Manufacturing Community (BCMC) 

Sponsored by Crowe UK LLP 

Date: January 16, 2024 

Time: 8am-9.30am 

Venue: The Black Country Living 

Museum 

Tipton Road, Dudley 

West Midlands DY1 4SQ 

Cost Members: Free 

An exclusive event for 

manufacturing companies 

Manufacturing companies in the Black 

Country are invited to attend this Black 

Country Manufacturing Community 

(BCMC) meeting organised by Black 

Country Chamber, sponsored by Crowe 

UK LLP 

As a manufacturer based in the Black 

Country you will have the opportunity to 

collaborate with like-minded 

manufacturers and share information 

with other manufacturers 

Johnathan Dudley, the Managing 

Partner & Head of Manufacturing at 

Crowe (pictured above), will discuss how 

to manage change successfully and 

improve processes, in order to 

implement renewable energy into your 

business 

The meeting runs from 8.00am to 

9.30am. 

The meeting is open to manufacturing 

Events diary 

companies only. If you are a not a 

manufacturing business and book onto 

this event, your booking will be cancelled. 

Spaces are limited so an early booking 

is advisable. 

A breakfast sandwich and 

refreshments are included (please advise 

dietary/allergy requirements on booking 

using the special request area) 

Bookings for this event will close at 

2pm on Monday, 15th January 

Due to catering booking for this event 

is essential so please book your place on 

the Chamber website. 

For further information please 

email gailarnold@ 


November 22: Autumn Statement 

Join us and our panel of experts from Crowe UK LLP, to find out what the Autumn 

Statement will mean for you and your business. Put your questions to our panel 

of experts. FREE to attend for Chamber members only, with lunch supplied. 

January 

11: Quarterly Economic Survey Event (Quarter 4) 

Why not join us at our QES breakfast meeting as we reveal the results from our 

Q4 2023 Quarterly Economic Survey. Be the first to hear how businesses in the 

Black Country are feeling as 2024 begins. 

Venue: University of Wolverhampton Science Park, Marston Room, Technology 

Centre, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton WV10 9RU 

Time: 8.30am-10am. Cost: Free to members 


CHAMBER EVENTS: START-UP BUSINESS CLUB 

Chamber’s Start-Up Business Club 

goes from strength to strength 

Start-Up Business Club 

The Black Country Chamber’s Start Up 

Business Club is celebrating five years 

this year, having helped dozens of 

businesses to launch and grow, while 

working hand-in -hand with the club’s 

business partner, the Black Country and 

Marches Institute of Technology. 

The major education site in Dudley 

plays host to the business club’s regular 

meetings and the many experienced 

business professionals who are invited 

along to share their skills and expertise 

with new business owners. 

The Start-Up Business Club, led by 

Alison Trinder, provides much-needed 

help and support with all aspects of 

running a new business. 

The employer-led Institute of Technology 

has formed strong relationships with 

many organisations of all sizes, including 

the Chamber, and many businesses are 

now benefiting from the state-of-the-art 

facilities available in the multi-millionpound 

facility. 

From networking opportunities to 

one-to-one business advice, marketing 

support and savings on essential 

business tools, the Start-Up Business 

Club helps small businesses to the next 

level and offers a one-stop-shop for 

business advice, personal development 

training and marketing, all as part of a 

vibrant networking community. 

The club also delivers a number of 

events and masterclasses where 

entrepreneurs and new business owners 

can meet and network and hear from 

experienced businesspeople. In addition, 

it also provides two years’ worth of 

business support. 

The driving force behind the Start-Up 

Business Club is the Black Country 

Chamber’s highly experienced business 

relationship manager, Alison Trinder. 

Black Country & Marches 

Institute of 

TechnologyZoological 

DriveDudleyWest 

MidlandsDY1 4AL 

2024 Workshops Planned 

Jan: Access to Finance 

Feb: Intellectual Property 

March: Press & PR 

April: Public Speaking 

Alison has more than 30 years’ experience 

in establishing and maintaining strong 

business relationships. She said: “Small 

businesses are the beating heart of the 

UK economy, bringing in around half of 

the turnover in our country’s private 

sector We go all out to support them.” 

To find out more about our Start-Up 

Business Club, get in touch with 

Alison Trinder on 07980 906921 or 

email alisontrinder@ 

blackcountrychamber.co.uk, or see 

https://www.blackcountry 

chamber.co.uk/training-courses/ 

start-up/ 

START-UP BUSINESS CLUB EVENTS DIARY 

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 

Date: November 28 

Time: 10am-12 noon 

We’re delighted to have secured a double session 

with Peter the Speaker - a Dragons’ Den victor 

who’ll be exploring effective communication and 

teaching how to network anywhere and how to 

pitch to anyone. 

Session One: Value & Pitching 

Session Two: Influencers & Networking 

Free to Start-Up Business Club Members Only 

One free visitor pass available to Start-Up 

companies upon request. 

Please email: alisontrinder@ 


CHRISTMAS SOCIAL EVENT 


Time: 10am-12 noon 

Start-Up Member Rate: Free 

FREE to Start-Up Business Club members only 

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE 

Join us for our annual social mix and mingle, enjoy 

networking with the group and have a 

complimentary mince pie on us... 

Free to Start-Up Business Club Members Only; 

one free visitor pass available to Start-Up 

companies upon request. 

Please email: alisontrinder@ 


What members 

say about the 

Start-Up 

Business Club 

“Attendees benefit 

from listening to 

experts in their field 

... I thoroughly 

enjoyed all the 

workshops and found 

content informative 

... it gave me the 

opportunity to 

network and chat 

with other local 

business owners...” 


CHAMBER TRAINING COURSES / WORKSHOPS 

Training & developing your teams 

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that continuous 

learning and performance management are no longer just 

desirable qualities, but essential prerequisites for nurturing your 

team’s growth and success. 

Achieving success involves encouraging their career 

progression and development, yielding mutual benefits, and 

cultivating a thriving work environment. 

Jenny Stevens, a manager at Chamber Patron member, ASSA 

Abloy who completed the Chamber’s Management 

Development Programme couldn’t agree more. She told 

Prosper, “The MDP course was probably the best training and 

development course that I have completed in my career to date. 

“Each session had a distinct purpose to it, and I feel that I 

have been given an extensive toolkit to help me become a better 

manager. The activities completed each month were perfectly 

pitched and were engaging throughout.” 

International trade workshops 

Getting to grips with exporting 

Since the Brexit vote, the end of the 

transition period and now the 

introduction of the UK and EU Trade & 

Co-operation Agreement, there are now 

many more procedures, protocols and 

systems businesses need to be aware of. 

Black Country Chamber has been 

involved in the delivery of trade skills 

workshops for many years and has an 

established reputation for the quality and 

relevance of these workshops and their 

contribution to the up-skilling of British 

exporters. 

International trade workshops are 

delivered by our professionally registered 

trainers and held virtually. They can also 

be made more bespoke to your business 

and delivered in-house. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED 

Benefits: 

In-house delivery – Meaning less time 

away from the office 

Delivered by experts – Experienced 

trainers with extensive business insights 

Fresh and agile content – Focused on 

current challenges and tailor-made to 

your business 

Cost-effective – Training programmes 

are open to teams, groups or individuals 

GET IN TOUCH 

To ask any questions please contact our 

training team by email: 

training@blackcountrychamber.co.uk or 

call 0330 024 0820 

Export procedures and documentation 


Time: 09:30 - 13:00 


Cost: Members: £200 ex VAT 

Non Members: £250 ex VAT 

Have you experienced delays and 

incurred costs due to incorrect export 

documentation? Do you want to save 

time and reduce export risk…? 

Export documentation problems often 

lead to delays in getting goods to 

customers, increased costs and charges, 

not to mention a breakdown of goodwill 

between seller and buyer. 

On this course we will take you through 

a detailed look at export documents, with 

a practical approach to why and when 

documents are needed. Includes 

background, uses and key requirements 

for different countries. 

Participants will: 

• Understand how to produce the 

necessary documents for an international 

shipment 

• Prepare a price build up for an export 

quotation 

• Identify the appropriate documents 

from the 3 categories required to 

expedite the shipment 

• Describe any additional special 

requirements or documentation for 

particular markets/sectors 

• Gain an overview of Incoterms 2020 

• Identify modes of transport 

• Identify where to go for sources of 

international information 

What clients say about the 

Chamber’s training courses 

Hill and Smith – 

Bespoke Export Course 

“We contacted the Chamber to set up 

some export training. The process was 

incredibly easy as the Chamber 

organised the entire training from start 

to finish; they accommodated us on the 

dates requested and delivered a 

bespoke course to us virtually over the 

two days. 

“The course was structured in such a 

way that the fundamentals of export 

were covered first, it then later flowed 

into specific topics that were requested 

by different members of staff. 

“The course has helped our business 

substantially as we all feel so much more 

confident about how to export products, 

under different payment terms, correctly 

and without any discrepancies. 

“A great course delivered by fantastic 

and highly-experienced tutors.” 

H & R ChemPharm (UK) Ltd - 

Bespoke Import & Export Course 

“Myself and two other colleagues had a 

bespoke training course organised by 

the Black Country Chamber. This 

included various beneficial topics, 

export / import procedures, customs 

data, commodity codes, rules of origin, 

CDS and numerous others. 

“We also supplied David Hooper, our 

trainer, with some live issues that we 

had come across at H & R. 

“Thus was we were all able to interact 

and associate some live instances and 

were able to relate to live instances in 

the work place. 

“We would highly recommend this one 

very informative bespoke training 

course.” 


ADVERTORIAL: ART BUSINESS LOANS 

An alternative route to 

finding funding 

by Dr Steve Walker, 

Chief Executive, 

ART Business Loans 

After the avalanche of Governmentsupported 

funding to assist SMEs to 

survive, recover and, hopefully, prosper 

during Covid, it is not at all surprising that 

access to the right finance now re-emerges 

as an issue, with difficult economic 

conditions and increased interest rates. 

Some businesses prospered in Covid, and 

some small businesses even used the highly 

advantageous terms of the Bounce Back 

scheme as a means of retaining funds for the 

inevitable rainy day, or to build a war chest 

to take opportunities for growth. 

However, businesses that needed the 

funds to survive and have also used their 

reserves, both from the business and 

personally, are finding life searching for 

funds more difficult. Part of that difficulty 

stems from the fact that there is less funding 

around, and the banks are, as usual when 

the economy tightens, reducing their 

appetite for lending at low debt levels of 

below £250,000. 

Some of the main reasons why small and 

emerging businesses are unable to obtain 

support are: 

n They are at an early stage and have a 

limited trading account 

n The borrower has few assets to offer 

as security 

n Small loans are not profitable for major 

lenders 

n They are unable to meet lenders’ initial 

requirements for financial information. 

For businesses that used their reserves to 

come through Covid and the economic 

downturn, obtaining fresh funds is now far 

more complex, and slower. It’s no longer as 

simple as putting in a self-certification and 

seeing the funds in the bank account the 

next day. 

Those who borrowed simply to survive 

lockdown face a sterner challenge, as many 

lenders now demand forecasts rather than 

making decisions on past performance – 

future figures that many businesses struggle 

to produce. 

For a while it seemed like peer-to-peer 

lenders and alternative funders might offer a 

solution to those refused by the banks: 

however, most of these have raised the bar 

on the amounts they are prepared to lend, 

and escalated interest rates on smaller loans. 

Other facts are also now emerging as a 

difficulty in seeking appropriate access to 

finance. Businesses, according to recent 

surveys, look for a very speedy response in 

seeking funding support. This is usually 

found online but from my own practical 

experience, many businesses do not spend 

enough time looking at the terms of the 

loans that they are offered. Too many do not 

take any advice on the serviceability of the 

loans, which in many cases are offered over 

terms that are far too short, and in some 

cases, at eye-watering interest rates. 

Examples of Wonga loans are emerging in the 

business sector at 35 per cent > 45 per cent. 

So where does a small, ambitious 

business turn for funding? One answer has 

to be Community Development Funding 

Institutions (CDFIs). They are prepared to 

lend where other lenders say ‘No’. About 99 

per cent of businesses supported have been 

declined by another lender. They can say 

‘Yes!’ because they take a person-centred 

approach when supporting businesses. 

Find out more 

Details of CDFIs across the country, many operating 

in targeted geographic areas, can be found at 

www.findingfinance.org.uk 

AREAS 

WE COVER 

Cheshire | Shropshire | Herefordshire | Worcestershire 

Warwickshire | West Midlands | Staffordshire | Derbyshire 

Northamptonshire | Leicestershire | Oxfordshire | Gloucestershire 

n SUPPORTING BUSINESS SINCE 1997 

n BUSINESS LOANS FROM £10k - £150k 

n EXPERIENCED RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS 

n MEETING FUNDING NEEDS OF BUSINESS 

n FOR MOST BUSINESS PURPOSES AND ALL SECTORS 

n FOR JOBS, GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY 

www.artbusinessloans.co.uk • 0121 359 2444 


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING 

Unleash the potential 

of your managers 

Management development programmes 

with the Chamber 

Exploring new approaches, insights and taking part in an 

outstanding 

professional journey is in order for the Black Country to 

remain competitive and thrive, great business leaders and 

dynamic managers are needed more than ever. 

There are many who find themselves in management 

positions or elevated to roles who feel they have missed 

out on essential training which allows them to be effective 

and deliver success for themselves and their business. 

For the last six years the Black Country Chamber has 

worked with Lotus Flower Consultancy in order to help those 

individuals who want to challenge themselves to develop new 

insights, explore different approaches and share invaluable 

development experiences. 

Hundres of individuals have taken this learning back to their 

businesses to help navigate challenges, embrace the opportunities 

and help their teams and businesses grow. 

In recent months, these leaders and managers have stepped up to lead 

through the most turbulent of times, and whilst utilising the invaluable lessons 

learned, they have led from the front and will continue doing so during the uncertain 

months ahead. 

Designed to stretch and challenge participants, programmes are run with participants from different 

backgrounds, experiences and industries creating a diverse environment where individuals can test 

and apply learning and developing together. 

COURSE MODULES 

n What is a manager? Introduction to management 

and the manager’s role 

n Using your time effectively and efficiently 

n Communication and delivery of the right messages 

at the right times 

n Styles and dynamics which create a good team 

n Getting the most from meetings 

n Delivering a great presentation which gets the right results 

n Building commercial awareness and acumen 

n Preparation and successful management of change 

n Stakeholder and relationship mapping and management 

n How to run and deliver a project well 

n Clarify the purpose and principles or project 

management and review roles and responsibilities 

n Getting the best from your team and helping them to 

perform better 

n Coach and develop your teams and people 

n Consider development aims for the next six months 

which include reflection on this Programme’s learning outcomes 

For more details, please contact 

training@blackcountrychamber.co.uk 

or call 0330 024 0820 

COST: 

Take the full 12-month programme or pick 

and choose modules. 

Full 12-month programme: Chamber 

members – £1,595.00 + VAT 

Non-members – £1,995.00 + VAT 

Per module: Chamber members – £250 + VAT 

Non-members – £295 + VAT 

WORKSHOP DATES 2024 

(15 participants max.) 

18 March 18 April 

16 May 13 June 

11 July 22 August 

19 September 17 October 

14 November 12 December 

2025 

6 February 6 March 


NEW MEMBERS AND CHAMBER PEOPLE 

Chamber People 

Pertemps named one of 

the best places to work 

For the 17th consecutive year, 

Pertemps has continued to lead the 

way for the recruitment sector by 

being named in the Best Companies 

To Work for Top 100 list. 

The specialist recruiter is one of 

only three organisation who can boast 

such an enduring run in the rollcall of 

Britain’s best employers. 

At a ceremony in London, it was 

placed 38th on the large companies 

list following extensive polling with 

colleagues around leadership, 

workplace environment and support 

for employees. It was also confirmed 

that the West Midlands-based 

business has maintained its three-star, world-class rating for staff 

engagement. 

Pertemps Network Group CEO Steve West said: “I am immensely 

proud of this company, my colleagues and the work that we do. We 

invest in our people – always our biggest asset – and we have a strong 

moral compass and do all we can to exceed the expectations for our 

clients and candidates. This award is testimony to our approach.” 

London calling 

for Chamber CEO 

Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse 

and our head of premium 

membership, Gail Arnold, visited 

the House of Lords in October 

following an invite from the Rt 

Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, 

PC, Chancellor of the University 

of Wolverhampton, to an event held to celebrate the significant impact 

the university has had on the lives of hundreds of thousands of 

students and alumni. In the past two years, Wolverhampton has been 

ranked in the top 10 UK universities for nurturing social mobility, and 

this is borne out by our current student body where almost half are 

“mature” students, 55% are from global majority backgrounds, and two 

thirds are the first in their family to attend a university. 

n Platinum Group 

Member and Queen’s 

Award-winning freight 

forwarder KMB 

Shipping has just 

celebrated its 36th 

birthday – an incredible 

voyage from humble 

beginnings, filled with 

unforgettable 

moments as the team 

gathered to celebrate 

at their Dudley offices. 

Steve West 

Welcome to 

the Chamber 

The following business have joined Black Country 

Chamber in the past few months. Welcome to you all. 

Airguard Envirocare Ltd 

Airtime Solutions Ltd 

Azets UK 

Beechwood House Healthcare Ltd 

Birchills Automotive Presswork Ltd (Oliver Wellings Designs) 

Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation 

Black Lodge Potions Ltd 

Building Pathways CIC 

Darvick Ltd 

Dear Emily Designs 

Diversity Music Community 1st CIC 

Dudley Group NHS Charity 

Eighty3 Creative Limited 

Elite Dragon Martial Arts 

Enterprise MG Ltd T/A Auditel 

Glass Pen Studios 

Godiva Bearings (Southern) Ltd 

Goldilock Secure Ltd 

GTG Training Academy & Conference Centre (West Mids) 

HQA 

HR Dept - Birmingham Central & Wolverhampton 

Industrial Valves Limited 

JCML Collections Ltd 

Jireh Support Services 

KDR Resin Systems Limited 

Leap Business Solutions Limited 

Levant Perfumes 

Lloyds Banking Group 

MacLellan Rubber Ltd 

Marcegaglia UK Ltd 

Marshall Harmony Ltd 

Neal Energy Solutions Ltd 

Neil Malone 

Nelson Development 

Pinnacle Business Finance 

Plum Ideas Ltd 

Repository Wealth Ltd 

Resource Worldwide Ltd 

RJT Conveyors (International) Ltd 

Shades of Reality 

Simpila Mental Health 

Six Wands Aspects Limited 

Smart Culture Ltd 

Spotbuyer Ltd 

Tettenhall College 

Thandi’s Touch 

The Unda Dog 

TS Healthcare 

UKO Serviced Offices 

Walsh Funeral & Memorials Ltd 

Wealth-interventions Ltd 

Wolves Foundation 

YMCA Black Country Group 

Zanzo - Facilities Services 

ZinZino

Prosper Autumn 2023 Yumpu_compressed

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