Business in Solihull will continue to thrive if we work together - president

After the unprecedented events of 2020, 2021 has felt like a year of rebuilding and recovery by comparison, writes Tony Elvin.

We 've enjoyed several months of relative normality and have been looking forward to Christmas with our families once again.

The hospitality, retail and travel sectors were beginning to recover and if Touchwood is any barometer our Solihull retail, hospitality and travel businesses were enjoying success, optimistic and excited for the future.

We all drew confidence from the success of the vaccination programme, and it felt like we were at the next phase of this pandemic, learning to live with it and moving forwards.

In many ways, it feels like Omicron has pulled the rug from underneath us once again though.

We are left with feelings of uncertainty again, something that is never good for business or indeed the stock market.

We 've had decisions to make over home and office working again, decisions about Christmas parties, we 've seen restaurants lose bookings and retail footfall slow down, we 're calling into question our plans for Christmas Day and waiting for the latest Government announcement.

From my perspective, Omicron is a setback, and whilst the timing couldn 't be worse, it should not dampen our hopes.

By all accounts, whilst more transmissible, the early research suggests that Omicron is weaker and, fingers crossed, this could just be the next step towards putting the pandemic behind us.

So, once again, we roll up our sleeves, we work together and make sure that as a business community we look out for each other and get through this, having faith that we won 't always have to deal with this challenge.

The booster jab is proving to be the most important weapon in this fight so let 's encourage those around us to get the jab, helping to keep our community safe and our businesses moving.

So far, Solihull has been a beacon of business resilience and it will be once again. And because of that resilience, no matter what happens in the coming weeks, we will bounce back and have a successful 2022.

Head of Chamber, Samantha Frampton and I will be there to support you in any way we can, the wider Chamber will be lobbying for appropriate support and championing the Solihull and Greater Birmingham business community.

Let 's hope we get that deserved Christmas we have planned with family and loved ones this year to help fortify us for the battle ahead.

Together we 're stronger and we are grateful to you for your support over the past 12 months and beyond. Here 's to continuing that collaboration forward into an important year for Solihull and Birmingham where we get the chance to showcase what we have to offer on the global stage.

Merry Christmas to you all, wishing you a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.

Tony Elvin is president of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce and general manager of Touchwood shopping centre