Bringing down the curtain on an eventful six years

At the end of this month I leave my position as the chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce after six eventful years in post, writes Paul Faulkner.

Before I embark on my next professional chapter as chief of staff for the Richardson family, seeking out investment opportunities in ambitious businesses across the West Midlands amongst other activities, I hope that readers will forgive me for a spot of self-indulgence and reflection on those past six years.

The spring of 2015 certainly feels like a lifetime ago. Led by Prime Minister David Cameron, the Conservative Party had defied predictions of another hung parliament and won a small outright majority in the General Election. With a five-year term guaranteed, whatever your political persuasions, it was felt that the second half of the decade should therefore be relatively calm politically. If only we knew�

Instead, the subsequent six years saw three different prime ministers, two general elections and a referendum that divided the country and, eventually, led to the UK leaving the EU. Closer to home we saw the region pull together under the banner of the West Midlands Combined Authority and the creation and election of our first regional mayor in 2017.

All of this took place in the shadow of multiple cranes in the skyline of Birmingham, as the city started to transform itself, shaking off the concrete-inspired drabness perfectly illustrated by the surely ironically-named 'Paradise ', and reinventing itself as a modern and inspiring destination, complete with leaping fountains, trams whizzing through the centre and enough substance to attract the HQ of HSBC and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Change wasn 't just in the air, it was omnipotent, and despite the challenges it always brings, the local business community, and the Chamber were thriving. Back in 2015, my over-riding goal for the Chamber was to ensure that the products and services we offered to businesses were relevant and fit for purpose for the changing times, and added great value back to all who engaged.

We embraced the digital world and found a clear, calm and confident voice for business in the region, engaging with all the various powers that be and translating their public sector speak back into everyday language that our members could comprehend.

And it worked, with membership growing over 30 per cent as we tapped into that sense of the region 's renaissance, including an explosion in the Chamber 's Future Faces offering for young professionals which ended up absorbing BPS and BYPY to stand as the pre-eminent network for those starting their careers in Europe 's youngest city.

Of course, the arrival of the Covid pandemic 12 months ago brought much of the momentum - and life in general - to a shuddering halt. There is no doubt that it has been a terrible year, with tragic losses and too many dreams put on hold.

Throughout it all the Chamber has drawn inspiration from the history of the organisation epitomised by the presidents ' board in Chamber House. Dating back to 1813, when Wellington was chasing Napoleon around the Iberian Peninsula, it provides a reminder that the country and our business community have endured dark days and significant challenges - including a pandemic - before, and have not only survived but ultimately prospered, with the Chamber continuously playing a crucial role in supporting businesses and the subsequent economic recovery and growth of the region. And so it will be again.

I am extremely proud of all that has been achieved during my custodianship of the Chamber, and the positive impact we have been able to have on the city and wider region. Of course, none of it would have been possible without the support and engagement of Chamber members and patrons, the various stakeholders we have interacted with, the board, presidents and certainly the wonderful Chamber team. I thank them all.

Predicting the future is a dangerous game to play, but one certainty is that while change and evolution will carry on, the Chamber will continue to adapt and flourish under leadership of the incoming CEO Henrietta Brealey. If your business isn 't already involved with the Chamber as a member then I 'd urge you to take a look, as I 'm sure that engagement will be one of the best investments that you 'll make.

Paul Faulkner is chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Column first appeared in the Birmingham Post this week