Chamber patrons dinner celebrates success of award winners

Patrons of Solihull Chamber of Commerce and the winners of the Solihull Awards 2024 gathered at Hogarths Hotel to celebrate the success of the award winners and discuss the findings of a survey into public transport links in Solihull.

A report by the Business Commission West Midlands found that 70 per cent of firms felt it was important to improve public transport infrastructure, and the Solihull Economic Snapshot 2024 findings reported a need to level up within the Borough due to disproportionate inequality in the north.

The recent Quarterly Business Report put together by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce featured a survey with the aim to find out how residents of Solihull feel about the public transport links in the borough.

It was reported that 24 per cent of the total respondents to the QBR survey were Solihull-based. The questions aimed at the Solihull-based businesses were centred around public transport links in the borough, whether it impacted areas such as recruitment ability, and whether changes to the transport links would impact employers and employees choice of transport when commuting to work.

Twenty-eight per cent of respondents said that they felt the public transport links between north Solihull and the rest of the borough were inadequate.

Meanwhile, 44 per cent of respondents said public transport connectivity has an impact on recruitment, and 51 per cent of respondents said they would use public transport links more frequently if changes were made to the public transport system.

For the full Solihull Economic Snapshot report, visit HERE. For the full Business Commission West Midlands report, visit HERE.

Gemma Dilkes, policy and projects officer at the GBCC, said: “Solihull is a really vibrant community, it is really important that the transport links reflect this and encourage employment opportunities and social mobility throughout the borough.”

Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber, said: “The Solihull Patron's dinner is an opportunity for me to thank the patrons for their continued support whilst enjoying the surroundings and hospitality of fellow patron Hogarth's Hotel.

“The dinner also provided an opportunity to once again celebrate the success of the recent Solihull Awards 2024 winners! 

“It was great to also receive an overview of the recent QBR Solihull survey questions on local transport in the borough.”

Pictured (L-R): Eileen Schofield (president of Solihull Chamber), Samantha Frampton (head of Solihull Chamber) and Gemma Dilkes (policy and projects officer at the GBCC)