Business Commission West Midlands
The Business Commission West Midlands provides a roadmap for unlocking business growth across the region.
Policy, Research & Advocacy
The leading voice of the Greater Birmingham business community, since 1813.
The Chamber Policy team exists to research business views, keep local firms informed of key policy and legislative changes which might impact them, and champion the voice of local businesses, engaging stakeholders on behalf of our members.
Our independent research helps inform investment decisions and decision-making by policy makers at local, regional and national levels.
Advocacy
As the leading voice of local businesses, the Chamber policy team regularly engage local, regional and national political stakeholders on behalf of our members, championing the interests of the Greater Birmingham business community in the decisions that matter to them.
We also produce regular responses to the latest policy and legislative developments in the Chamber’s daily e-newsletter. You can subscribe here.
Staffordshire Gateway Growth Panel
The Staffordshire Gateway Growth Panel is a research exercise led by business, for business, working to develop a roadmap for unleashing the potential of Staffordshire Gateway businesses.
Latest Policy, Research & Advocacy News
Briefings
As part of our role informing businesses of key policy decisions, legislative changes and opportunities which may impact them, the policy team produce regular briefings, translating what the latest policy developments mean for local firms.
Spring Statement blog
What does the 2025 Spring Statement mean for Greater Birmingham businesses?
West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report June 2024
The LSIP aims to facilitate a post-16 technical education and training system that puts businesses at the start of the planning process and gives them the people and skills they need to innovate, grow and thrive.
US Tariff Briefing
President Donald Trump has made a series of announcements making significant changes to US Tariffs.
The Policy & Strategic Relationships Team
The Chamber policy & strategic relationships team can be contacted about their work, sponsoring reports, commissioning research and participation in GBCC campaigns via the details below:
Raj Kandola
Raj Kandola is the Director of External Affairs at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce tasked with covering the organisation’s research, campaigning, stakeholder engagement and media & communications activity. Specific policy areas of focus include transport & infrastructure, international trade, education and environmental policy. In addition, he is responsible for managing the organisation’s Patronage scheme and the GBCC’s media and news content operations, including external media engagement and production of the organisation’s print and online news material
Prior to joining the Chamber in 2016, Raj worked in Communications for a former Shadow Minister and spent eight years in London recruiting staff across the financial services industry.
EMILY STUBBS
Emily Stubbs is Senior Policy and Projects Manager at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, tasked with managing the delivery of bespoke research and business engagement projects. Emily’s specific areas of focus include education, employment & skills and business productivity.
Emily has recently co-authored the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), funded by the Department for Education and produced by Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Greater Birmingham and Black Country Chambers. Through collaboration with regional stakeholders, businesses and further education providers, the WMW LSIP aims to support delivery of skills provision to meet employer demand and facilitate regional growth. Emily led the research and analysis underpinning stage 1 of the LSIP, which features insights from over 1,000 engagements with local employers.
Emily also works with colleagues across the Chamber on delivery of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual Growth Through People campaign, and the annual Birmingham Economic Review, produced by the Chambers in partnership with the University of Birmingham’s City-Region Economic and Development Institute (City-REDI).
Prior to joining the Chamber in 2017 as a Policy and Patron Adviser, Emily graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Law. Emily is also an alumna of the Uprising Leadership Programme.
JASON SIMPSON
Jason joined the Chamber as Patron Manager in June 2021 from Hampton Manor, home of Solihull’s first Michelin starred restaurant.
After achieving a degree in Hospitality Management at the University of Wolverhampton, Jason held a number of sales, marketing and management positions in the leisure, hospitality and Education sectors.
Jason has worked for TGI Friday’s, Esporta Health Clubs and more recently was introduced to Birmingham as sales manager at Hotel du Vin.
His roles at Hotel du Vin and Hampton Manor allowed Jason to build many strong relationships and connections to Birmingham businesses and was the perfect grounding for his role supporting the top tier of membership at the Greater Birmingham Chamber.
RUTH FLEET
Ruth Fleet joined the GBCC as Senior Policy Advisor in April 2025 to lead the policy and public affairs activity on the local and national economy, devolution, and innovation, including Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation. Ruth will be delivering research activities across these areas, with an initial focus on devolution in Staffordshire and the West Midlands Combined Authority, and international trade in the West Midlands.
Before joining the Chamber, Ruth worked across various roles in academic publishing, covering editorial, commissioning, and policy and external affairs. In her policy role, she supported a FTSE 100 business on issues such as AI and copyright, accessibility, and the Invest 2035 Industrial Strategy. She helped to raise the profile of the European Commission’s publishing platform, working closely with organisations like European Co-operation for Science and Technology, and was an advocate for open research practices.
Ruth holds a PhD in Hispanic Studies from the University of Sheffield, publishing her monograph on life writing by women political prisoners after the Spanish Civil War in 2021.
PAIGE BOWYER
Paige Bowyer joined the GBCC as a Policy and Research Analyst in September 2025. In this role, she conducts economic research and analysis to support the Chamber’s policy work and strengthen the voice of local businesses. Paige leads on the production of the Quarterly Business Report, sponsored by Birmingham City University, and the Quarterly Economic Snapshot, providing data-driven insights into business conditions and economic trends across the region. She also contributes to major research projects, including the Birmingham Economic Review, alongside wider research activity at the Chamber.
Paige holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Warwick, where she developed strong analytical and critical thinking skills that underpin her approach to economic research and policy analysis.
FRAN THOMAS
Fran is Policy Projects Coordinator at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), supporting the delivery of high-profile campaigns and initiatives designed to champion diverse business communities and drive growth across the region. This includes coordinating the Women Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition, which provides a platform for female founders to showcase their ideas to potential investors and collaborators, and managing the GBCC Black Business Collective, which fosters networking, visibility, and opportunities for Black-owned businesses. Fran project manages the Chambers’ Business Growth Studio campaign, supporting SMEs to scale and innovate, through the delivery of practical events and engaging accessible resources. She also contributes to the delivery of policy workload and wider GBCC campaigns, as well as working alongside Jason to support the GBCC Patronage programme.
Currently in the final year of a Project Management apprenticeship at Aston University, Fran brings together academic insight and hands-on experience to ensure the smooth and successful delivery of complex projects. Before joining GBCC, Fran gained extensive experience in administrative roles across both corporate and non-corporate settings, and spent over 10 years coaching competitive and recreational gymnastics, a role that honed her leadership, planning and organisational skills.
Fran’s mix of project management expertise, stakeholder engagement, and commitment to empowering others enables her to deliver initiatives that make a tangible difference to the region’s business landscape. Fran is passionate about continuous professional development and is committed to contributing to initiatives that drive inclusive economic growth.