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CHAMBER NEWS
New appointments to Chamber board at AGM
The new-look Black Country
Chamber of Commerce board
was appointed at our Annual
General Meeting as part of
the drive to re-energise and
refocus.
Paul Hull, Director and
co-owner of KMB Shipping
Group, based in Tipton, has
joined the board, while Jatinder
Sharma, Principal and Chief Executive of
Walsall College, has been reappointed.
Named the Black Country Chamber’s
Business Person of the Year at our 2022
awards, Paul Hull leads Queen’s Awardwinning
KMB Shipping Group, a freight
forwarding company that has provided
global import and export transportation
solutions for more than 35 years.
In a 27-year career with KMB Shipping,
Paul has progressed from apprentice to
managerial then director roles, before
becoming co-owner after leading a
management buyout in 2018.
A qualified accountant and highly
experienced leader, Jatinder Sharma has
held a number of senior positions in both
the private and public sectors and is a
passionate champion of the vital role that
skills and training play in the
development of the West Midlands
economy.
Jatinder was awarded a CBE in the
2023 New Year Honours for his services
to further education. With a workforce of
more than 1,000 staff, Walsall College is
Jatinder Sharma
currently engaging with over
800 employers in the design,
development and delivery of
apprenticeship provision to
1,300 learners.
Speaking after the AGM,
Chamber CEO Sarah
Moorhouse said: “I am delighted to
have board members with the calibre of
Paul and Jatinder as we shape an exciting
future.
“After my first year as CEO I was
pleased to report to the AGM on the
progress made by the Chamber to
promote and meet the needs of
businesses across the Black Country.”
The AGM received the report of the
directors and the accounts for the year
ended 31st March 2023.
The report summary statement looking
back on the previous year’s performance
said: “This Is The Black Country was our
2022/2023 campaign designed to
champion the region as a great place for
business.
“It concluded in March
2023 following 12 months of
activity and has become a
template for co-ordinated,
focused lobbying and
communications.”
Other milestones
featured in the statement
included exceeding budget
Paul Hull
Cadent’s hot on Platinum benefits
The Black Country Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Cadent, the UK’s
largest gas distribution network provider, to its Platinum Group.
Cadent supplies gas to 11 million UK homes and businesses across the UK
and manages the National Gas Emergency Service on behalf of the gas
industry.
Elliott Nelson, Network Director for Cadent in the West Midlands, said:
“Joining the Platinum Group will help us grow connections within the
region’s business community and to play our part in shaping the local
economy.
“We recognise the opportunities which being part of the Chamber will
bring and look forward to working with fellow members on areas of common
interest to make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
Black Country Chamber’s Gail Arnold said: “I’m delighted such a wellestablished
business as Cadent has joined this successful and expanding
group. It’s a pleasure to see fantastic businesses such as Cadent work with
other members, sharing best practice meetings and ultimately forging
strong and trusted business relationships.”
“during a year of many changes”,
maintaining membership retention level
at 90 per cent and holding a successful
2022 awards evening after years of Covid
restrictions.
In total, the Chamber logged 392,551
individual engagements with businesses.
“The Black Country is one of
the most remarkable places
on the planet, full of inspiring
people and breath-taking
businesses...”
The focus for the current year, the
summary said, includes re-energising the
Chamber’s value proposition,
reinvigorating the membership offer,
refocussing the commercial approach
and revitalising its marketing and
communications.
The annual report added: “The Black
Country is one of the most remarkable
places on the planet, full of inspiring
people and breath-taking
businesses. Thank you to our
members – we are simply
nothing without you.”
The AGM, attended by the
Chamber board and member
businesses, was held at the
Technology Centre at the
University of Wolverhampton
Science Park on December 1.
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