24 Stories of Success: Celebrating 2024

Despite championing mental health and wellbeing for over 50 years, the charity had done very little to support the business community and did not have a profile in Birmingham. With employee wellbeing increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of business success, I wanted to work with the Chamber to reach as many businesses as quickly and regularly as possible, to explain how understanding the wellbeing of your people can drive the wellbeing of your business.

A great believer in collaboration, I wanted to bring together a roundtable of business leaders from across the region to focus on enhancing workplace mental health, as we had identified that there was a real need for those who lead on mental health to share and learn from each other. Whilst my own network is strong, I asked the Chamber to help me get in front of businesses I did not have a connection with, which they successfully did. The roundtable was a great success with 12 businesses from an eclectic mix of sectors, representing a combined workforce of over 20,000 employees. As requested by those who attended, we have agreed to continue to meet quarterly and expand the group, which enhances our profile and allows us to explain how we can help businesses improve a culture of wellbeing and, consequently, their retention, recruitment and productivity.

By joining the Chamber, we have been able to promote the work of the Kaleidoscope Plus Group to our target audience across a wide geography. As well as helping with new introductions, they have made it easier for me to rekindle old relationships through their series of events, which we make a real effort to attend. Membership provides a level of credibility, helping spread the key message that the wellbeing of employees should be a key focus of any leadership team.

When we joined the Chamber we wanted to grow our brand in the region and position CAPE as a leading voice on how business performance can be improved by developing the confidence and impact of your people managers.

Through the Chamber we have had the opportunity to speak at, and run workshops at many different events, from talking about creating an environment for innovation at the Growth Through People Conference to a keynote session at a Solihull Chamber Professional Services roundtable on leadership challenges and solutions. We also have our free webinars and blogs on key management topics shared regularly in the Chamber news.

We have developed collaborative partnerships with other likeminded businesses. Joining forces on promotional webinars / events with more planned for 2025. This will include an event in Birmingham bringing together business leaders to focus on sharing leadership excellence best practice.

Whilst the Chamber has helped us to position and enhance our brand we have also started working with a number of member businesses. We have supported them in crafting people management strategies, and delivering coaching and development programmes that align with their business goals. We are delighted to see two of our fantastic clients (Prime Accountants Group & Birmingham Hospice) be shortlisted in the 2025 Chamber Awards for Inclusive People Development!

We have also had a number of individual members from the Chamber join our Developing brilliant people managers open programme delivered online with up to 14 people from other organisations - really strengthening not just their people management skills but their network nationally too!

As a new independent restaurant with a limited marketing budget, it was important to utilise the best networks possible to promote our brand. The Chambers have introduced us to other members not just in Birmingham but also the wider West Midlands region, inviting us to various events to meet and greet as well as catering at others! This has given us massive exposure to business owners and decision makers across the area who we may not have been able to easily reach otherwise. A number of these are now regular visitors to our restaurant, as well as becoming supporters through other means eg using our restaurant space for events and dinners.

As a 'one to watch' for 2024 we have been approached by a number of other businesses in the city to discuss potential collaborations - whether that's utilising our space for private hire, hiring us a caterers for private events or researching potential expansion plans with us. As owners, we have come from a corporate background and we are more than comfortable talking to CEOs, finance directors and investors - they all need pizza as well!

Since the Chambers helped promote the opening of our extension earlier this year, we have been inundated with requests for private hire and large groups! Being a member has helped us share our story to the right people at the right time.

Since its opening in 2018, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre has been proud to be a member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. As a newly established independent hotel at the time, we quickly identified the need to build brand awareness and a positive reputation within the local marketplace to support with interest and footfall to the hotel and conference centre. The Chamber relationship has been instrumental in supporting us throughout our journey by fostering valuable connections, promoting collaboration, and keeping us informed with the latest news, topics, and insights.

Our account manager, Jim Bourne, has introduced us to key Chamber members, helping us create new connections, including with West Midlands Trains, who supported the opening of the University train station earlier this year. Additionally, we have been proud to host breakfast meetings, festive lunches, and roundtable events, creating opportunities to welcome decision-makers, share best practices, and engage in discussions about challenges with the wider Chamber community.

The Chamber has supported the growth and development of Edgbaston Park Hotel by fostering collaboration and encouraging more visitors to the hotel.

This partnership has enabled us to consistently provide exceptional facilities for hosting Chamber events while also leveraging the member website to promote hotel offers, share updates, and publish press releases. With the Chamber’s support, our many achievements and accolades have been highlighted, such as earning a gold award with ECOsmart, receiving a Green Meetings Gold Award from Green Tourism, and launching our new Green Meetings Package. The hotel was also fortunate enough to be awarded ‘Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events’ at The Chamber of Commerce Awards in 2022, being recognised for the contribution we made to the community during the pandemic.

Our membership with the Chamber has provided us with opportunities to showcase our facilities to members and their networks. Raising awareness of Edgbaston and its prime location has been crucial for the hotel, as we offer unique facilities and packages just outside Birmingham city centre. Throughout our time with the Chamber, we have successfully hosted social events and meetings, allowing us to demonstrate the distinctive advantages of our venue while strengthening connections within the community of Birmingham.

Before attending Crowe's manufacturing networking event, businesses in the manufacturing sector faced several significant challenges. They were uncertain about how the latest Budget outcomes would impact their operations, making it difficult to plan strategically. Many were struggling to understand industry trends and benchmark their performance due to a lack of comprehensive data on growth and barriers within the sector.

Additionally, businesses were seeking effective strategies to overcome the numerous challenges posed by the current economic climate. They needed practical guidance on how to navigate these uncertainties and drive growth, but often lacked the necessary insights and tools to do so.

The manufacturing network group aimed to address these challenges by providing valuable information and actionable strategies, helping manufacturing professionals enhance their business planning and growth efforts.

The content presented at Crowe's manufacturing networking event, in collaboration with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, provided significant value to attendees. By analysing the latest Budget outcomes, participants gained insights into how these changes could affect their businesses, enabling them to make informed strategic decisions.

The findings from the latest Manufacturing Survey offered a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry, including growth trends and common barriers. This helped attendees benchmark their own experiences against broader industry data.

Additionally, the event outlined actionable strategies for overcoming challenges and thriving in a difficult economic climate. This guidance was crucial for those looking to navigate uncertainties and drive business growth.

Overall, the event equipped manufacturing professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their business planning and growth efforts, making it highly beneficial for those involved in the sector.

By bringing together local manufacturing businesses, the group creates a platform for open dialogue and knowledge sharing. Members can discuss their challenges and experiences, gaining insights into common issues faced by others in the industry. This collective understanding helps businesses realise they are not alone in their struggles and fosters a sense of community.

Through these interactions, members can share best practices and innovative solutions that have worked for them, providing practical advice and support. This collaborative approach enables businesses to learn from each other and implement strategies that have been successful in similar contexts.

We struggled to get our programmes, projects out to external businesses. This might be support to volunteer, offer jobs or donate to our Charity. The Chamber has offer us a platform to network, communicate and be part of their network in general.

One of our longest partnerships from the Chamber, has come in the form of Our Training Department (OTD). They have been such a massive partner and supporter of our young people and continue to be so. They have offered young people paid work experience, become mentors to our young people, delivered training to our apprentices, named our charity their charity of the year and continue to donate to our charity. This has most recently been the support of the redevelopment of our reception area at our Community Hub.

The membership has helped us form new connections and partnerships with organisations we may not have explored previously. Like OTD for example, I wouldn't have had the opportunity so early on to meet with their Directors face 2 face. Also, in recent months - the introductions from the Relationships Manager has helped highlight key organisations based on a key ask from us. That way we know we are both on the same page.

Before joining Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Carers Trust Solihull faced significant challenges in expanding our network, raising awareness about our mission, and accessing opportunities to enhance support for unpaid carers. These barriers hindered our ability to reach potential partners and secure essential resources.

Since joining, the Chamber’s support has been transformative. It has connected us with local businesses, raised our profile, and boosted our fundraising efforts. This has directly strengthened our mission to help unpaid carers lead fulfilling lives.

The Chamber has provided a vital platform to amplify our voice and forge impactful partnerships within our community, culminating in winning the Excellence in the Third Sector award and a nomination for the GBCC Award. For example, our Partnerships and Fundraising Manager met U B Healthcare directors at her very first chamber event. This connection led to a powerful collaboration, driving our 'Hidden Carers in the Workplace' campaign with their full support.

A standout success story is our partnership with U B Healthcare, NHS Funded Care Experts. At her first chamber event, our Partnerships and Fundraising Manager Pauline Manby met U B Healthcare directors, Uko Utomong and Harry Boulton sparking a relationship that has become an excellent example of collaboration. Our missions align perfectly, as U B Healthcare’s focus on wellbeing and community health resonates deeply with our goal of supporting unpaid carers. Through their financial support, professional expertise, and time, U B Healthcare has been instrumental in driving our 'Hidden Carers in the Workplace' campaign.

This initiative urges employers to identify and support employees with caring responsibilities by providing resources and encouraging greater awareness. Their commitment extends beyond funding, as they actively amplify our message through their social media channels, greatly enhancing our visibility. Their advocacy helps to raise awareness of the challenges unpaid carers face, encouraging others to engage with our cause. This partnership highlights the benefits of chamber membership and demonstrates how meaningful connections can significantly impact both organisations and the communities they serve. 

Becoming a member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has significantly benefited Carers Trust Solihull. It has strengthened our local business connections, providing valuable networking opportunities that have led to meaningful partnerships. The membership has increased our visibility within the community, enhancing our reputation and raising awareness of our work with unpaid carers. Through chamber events, we have accessed expert advice and resources. These measurable benefits have expanded our reach, enabling us to support more carers effectively across the region.

Additionally, the promotional opportunities offered by the Chamber have helped us reach new audiences, resulting in increased engagement with local businesses and individuals who share our commitment to carers' wellbeing. Winning the Excellence in the Third Sector Award and being nominated for the GBCC Award have further boosted our profile, elevating our organisation’s credibility and strengthening our position as a trusted partner within the community.

Membership has facilitated invaluable networking opportunities, enabling us to connect with a diverse range of businesses, organisations, and professionals. These connections have opened pathways for collaboration, helping us establish key partnerships that support the delivery of vital services for unpaid carers.

Through our membership, we have increased the visibility of our organisation, enhancing our brand profile within the Solihull and West Midlands area. This elevated profile has contributed to helping us reach a wider audience of carers in need of support. Additionally, our involvement in chamber events and initiatives has provided platforms to share our story, raise awareness of carers' needs, and advocate for improved support systems.

Furthermore, the membership has given us a voice in their audit of the economic and social development in the borough, ensuring the needs of charities and carers are represented in strategic conversations. It has also boosted business attendance at our Carers Week Walk, the Solihull Carers Awards 2024, and other key events, including Carers Rights Day, where we have seen increased attendance and sponsorship.

These tangible outcomes demonstrate how Chamber membership has not only benefitted Carers Trust Solihull but also enhanced our ability to make a positive impact within our community and support carers to live a fulfilled life.

As a relatively small charity, raising our profile and getting our message across to new audiences is always difficult. We try to contact organisations through their website information, but having that Chamber-led introduction is a much better way of making meaningful contact with them.

Through some of our monthly introductions, we have established new contacts with City-based businesses and have met with them. Discussions have enabled us to 'spread the word' about our work and the impact we have across the City when it comes to music and young people. Short-term, these discussions have led to support for our festive raffle, but longer-term they have opened the door for us to talk about opportunities to work together going forward and hopefully welcome them to some of our music events.

Membership introductions have helped us meet with businesses who we've wanted to connect with for some time, raising our charity profile with organisations that have an interest in supporting local charities. Fundraising is hard, so being able to have a direct link with someone, rather than trying the 'cold-contact' route helps us spread the word to people who are interested in listening to our story.

Through the support of GBCC, we’ve overcome significant challenges, grown our business, and contributed to the success of the West Midlands region. Their ongoing partnership continues to empower us to connect people with jobs they love, strengthening the local economy and ecosystem.

One of the most impactful outcomes of our membership has been the interlinks created with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). By engaging with the WMCA through GBCC. In 2020, during the challenging early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we collaborated with WMCA (via GBCC) on a significant project that had a transformative impact on our business. As a local business navigating unprecedented uncertainty, this initiative provided us with a platform to support other businesses and individuals facing employment challenges.

By leveraging our expertise and the Chamber's network, we not only sustained our operations but also reinforced our commitment to the community. This experience solidified our position as a trusted workforce partner on that project, ensuring businesses in the region continued to access the talent they needed to recover and grow. 

The partnerships cultivated through GBCC membership have contributed to a more interconnected and resilient West Midlands business community. The Chamber’s focus on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity mirrors our own values, making it a natural ally in our journey. As we grow, so does our capacity to create meaningful opportunities for businesses and candidates alike, strengthening the local ecosystem and reinforcing Birmingham’s reputation as a hub of business excellence.

In the six years since we joined, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has proven to be a cornerstone of our success at SF Recruitment. With its ongoing support, we remain committed to driving economic and employment growth across the West Midlands, ensuring that businesses and individuals alike thrive in this dynamic region.

To raise my profile locally and share my knowledge around Mental Health and Neurodiversity with Businesses to improve their productivity.

Networking with a large number of businesses, to raise my profile locally and share my knowledge around Mental Health and Neurodiversity with Businesses to improve their productivity.

Variety in network opportunities to suit diary and work commitments as well as being a really friendly and encouraging environment. There are lots of ways you can raise your profile with businesses that can positively impact your business growth.

Having the flexibility to engage in a way that suits your diary, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and raise your profile. The Chamber employees are always so helpful and friendly.

I have had a number of speaker opportunities from being a panel expert, delivering expo talks and being a podcast guest showcasing my expert knowledge. I have been a finalist in the Micro business of the year as well as gaining valuable introductions to other business owners, support and encouragement for networking opportunities and sponsorship as well as press release articles on line and in the Chamber magazine.

Brand awareness across Birmingham and Midlands based Industrial Manufacturing businesses. The networking event helped to raise our profile amongst some SMEs.

Arcadis hosted the first Manufacturing Midlands breakfast networking event at our flagship Birmingham office for a discussion on the key outcomes of the Budget and their impact on manufacturing businesses.

In association with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Crowe’s Head of Manufacturing, Johnathan Dudley, reviewed the past year and explored the opportunities and challenges for 2025, whilst also sharing insights from their latest manufacturing survey.

Discussion points:

• Key outcomes from the Budget and our latest manufacturing survey.
• Issues such as growth and barriers to growth, government support and funding.
• How manufacturing businesses can thrive in the current climate.

This event was of value to those in the manufacturing sector who had an interest in, or responsibility for, business growth and planning.

Membership has helped us to forge business connections and enhanced our brand locally.

Kington Grange is a 16th century manor house but with an under-utilised converted barn. We decided to put the barn to commercial use as a multifunctional venue. The aim being to use as an inspirational venue for Board meetings, training events, Client meetings and Team building.

At the start of our business journey (late 2022), we were new owners of the property, new to the area and new to hospitality.

Kington Grange was an unknown! Solihull Chamber team and my Relationship Manager, Jayne Hume, have been amazing in providing a genuine warm welcome, 1-2-1 introductions and access to a wide range of events to both put Kington grange on the map and connect with a range of like-minded businesses. 

The Chamber helped organise a series of open house events at Kington Grange for potential clients and business partners. As well as increasing the awareness of Kington Grange, the events lead to several follow-up conversations to explore synergies and increase our offering, particularly in catering and in sustainability.

Since we started the business 2 years ago we have achieved year on year growth in turnover. Chamber membership has helped us on this journey through:

• Increased knowledge of the regions’ venue / hospitality sector
• Introductions to high quality business partners, and
• Timely marketing advice

Great journey so far and looking forward to what 2025 brings!

As a small independent fashion designer, I have struggled to gain the exposure what my brand deserves. Joining future faces has enabled me to have my brand seen by thousands of people when being featured in the Chamber Link magazine in November.

Networking with like-minded people, has helped me to connect with people who can help and support my business in various ways. Anything you ever need in business, there is another entrepreneur within the Chamber's community who can offer you help, advice and support and even sometimes a solution.

I have grown my confidence and network tremendously. I was proudly selected as a finalist for the future face’s entrepreneur of the year, which exposed my business to a room of 100s of people. Also being invited to different events and awards evenings has helped me to connect with potential new clientele and collaborators.

Prior to joining the Chamber, we didn't have access to decision-makers but being a member of the Chamber gave us direct access to the decision-maker by putting us in the same room as great like-minded people.

We were opening up a new arm of the business - to bring wellbeing into the workplace. Through networking and being part of the 1813 Club's Private Dining meal, we had the opportunity to work with Unity Trust Bank and Touchwood shopping centre.

The membership has helped to forge business connections, help us grow into new market spaces and also built my own personal brand.

We joined the Chamber because we wanted to build our brand locally and connect with businesses and business leaders in the region.

The Chamber has supported us in many ways. We have collaborated on many events and campaigns, as well as being invited to contribute to articles and round table discussions. The chamber have facilitated introductions to other businesses, and they were especially helpful when we set up our businesses in North America. 

What’s it like partnering with Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce? Fabulous and here’s why; speaker opportunity on BBC West Midlands News talking about the US election, being part of the Chamber’s media campaign which ran for 6 weeks - we've been on Sky TV, billboards across Birmingham, and social media, plus I recently participated in a chamber panel discussion about the US election. I can't think how much that coverage is worth in marketing costs! 

We’ve worked very closely with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce since 2016 in a conscious effort to raise our profile across the Midlands.

Today, we are working with local businesses like Bentley, Birmingham Airport, Halfords plc, Headlam plc, JLR, National Express and Rolls Royce - all within a 50-mile radius of Birmingham.

The Chamber team and Curium have spent many hours building our relationship, which continues to flourish.

Before joining the Chamber we were struggling with getting to grips of the day to day running of a business, but following the completion of the Small Business Academy it paved the foundations for us to move to a period of growth.

Our membership has been invaluable in allowing us to make and enhance connections with businesses who would benefit from our services. Currently 40% of our current client base are Chamber members, which highlights the significance of our membership which allows us potential for growth. We have also benefitted from training and support offered by the Chamber, especially the Small Business Academy which has enhanced our roadmap to develop our business.

Our Chamber membership has been instrumental in opening opportunities to work with other Chamber members, and strengthening our position as a recruitment partner of choice. Its allowed us to enhance our brand, by sharing press releases and being sponsors of the GBCC Business Expo 2024.

We had lots of clients - but hardly any of them in Birmingham or the West Midlands! Our main motivation was wanting to find a way of meeting potential clients face to face as we've always found this to be the best way to explain what we do. However, we've also found the Chamber to be a valuable source of expertise and have enjoyed not only the networking but the knowledge-sharing benefits.

We've now worked with two local organisations which couldn't be more different- Unity Bank and Birmingham Dog's Home. For the former we've run several presentation skills courses and for the latter, media training - for which one director had to pass due to being allergic to dogs! We had great feedback for both and Unity Bank as returned for several more courses. We've also meet some great businesses along the way and were shortlisted for an award last year.

For us, making connections with people and getting a sense of the business community in Birmingham has been our main benefit. It's not necessary about immediate results but building connections that could result in business further down the line.

Before joining the Chamber of Commerce, one of our primary challenges was establishing stronger networks within our local business community. As a business deeply invested in supporting workplace wellbeing and delivering bespoke training solutions, we knew the importance of collaboration—but we lacked the platform to connect with like-minded businesses and decision-makers in the area.

One standout example is when we won the Small Business of the Year award in 2022. The award, sponsored by Crown Highways, not only celebrated our achievements but through this connection, became a valued customer, marking a direct and measurable impact on our business.

Membership has given us a platform to elevate our profile and increased opportunities to connect with local businesses to showcase our first-class approach to workplace wellbeing services. For example, through Chamber events and networking platforms, we’ve cultivated partnerships that have directly led to new contracts and collaborative projects, such as bespoke resilience training we delivered for Chase Terrace Academy Trust as well as a variety of CPD sessions for the Chamber staff themselves!

Another significant impact has been the enhanced visibility of our services. The Chamber's marketing support and events have amplified our reach, helping us attract organisations who resonate with our mission to provide a suite of local well-being services in the workplace.

Finally, membership has given us invaluable business insights, resources, and support. This guidance has helped us refine our strategies and strengthen our presence as leaders in Employee Assistance in the region.

Our main challenges are:

• to increase awareness of the Hub and our programme of performing arts and
• to increase our income so that we can continue to offer a diverse and inclusive programme of events as well as support our many community projects.

Our Chamber membership is helping us to overcome these challenges by helping us to raise brand awareness through networking events and press coverage in the Chamber Newsletter and Magazine.

We have hosted two Chamber Networking events so far, which has introduced us to new potential business sponsors, resulted in a corporate event booking and ticket sales for our performing arts programme.

We have received excellent coverage of our event programme in the Chamber Newsletter and Magazine which has led to additional ticket sales, as well as hosting and attending networking events which has definitely raised our profile and enhanced our brand locally.

We were new the country and our company was looking for networking and the Chamber introduced the networking events.

The membership has given a prestigious platform and confidence to meet and explore right people and network

Richard introduced our company to the University of Staffordshire Innovation Department. The University approved our project - a platform for skin diagnosis powered by AI. University collaborated with us by providing expert student to work with us on our project. His remuneration is paid by the University for 360 hours,

Before joining the Chamber of Commerce, we faced challenges in expanding our network and raising brand awareness, which hindered our growth. The Chamber’s support helped us overcome these obstacles by providing networking opportunities, client introductions, and promotional platforms that enhanced our visibility and reputation.

A combination of networking, market insights, and advocacy has not only strengthened our market presence but also fostered long-term relationships that continue to drive our business forward.

Membership within The Chamber has enabled us to forge invaluable business connections and has significantly enhanced our brand visibility within the local and wider market. Since joining, we’ve seen an increase in client inquiries originating from Chamber events and promotions. The benefits of our membership has strengthened our business foundation and driven tangible growth.

As a new business, we were eager to engage with local businesses, and the membership has enabled us to do this effectively. It has also been instrumental in helping us raise our profile within the community.

The membership has been invaluable in helping us develop our business and connect with other local businesses. A great example of this is the direct introductions facilitated by Jim, which led us to B13 AI. They have since joined our Advisory Board, a partnership that has been highly beneficial.

Membership has been instrumental in helping us forge valuable business connections and strengthen our brand presence locally. We’ve actively participated in most of the networking events, which has been a great opportunity for engagement and growth.