Solihull Economic Update highlights transport connectivity as vital for growth of local economy

Improved transport connectivity is vital to driving Solihull’s economy, delegates at the Solihull Chamber of Commerce’s annual business expo heard.

A panel of experts including senior figures from Birmingham Airport and HS2 took part in a Solihull Economic Update seminar as part of the expo at Cranmore Park Conference Centre.

Each year, the Solihull Economic Update provides delegates with information about the economic issues in Solihull and the opportunity to find out how economic trends can affect businesses, as well as allowing them to hear from high profile businesses and local political leaders.

Transport connectivity issues have been a focus for the Chamber in collaboration with Solihull Council and business leaders since September 2023, when an initial roundtable discussion found that Solihull’s issues with public transport connectivity are having a negative impact on local residents and businesses.

Hosted by Solihull Chamber president Emma-Louise Hewitt, this year’s Economic Update panel was made up of Cllr Karen Grinsell- leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham Airport, Antoinette Farrell-Jones, people director at Birmingham Airport, David Mitchelmore, senior project manager at HS2, Ian Taylor, managing director at the NEC Group, and Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood Solihull.

Recently elected Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council leader, Cllr Karen Grinsell, spoke about the borough being a key area for investment, skills and education - as well as noting areas that need improvement, such as the high demand for housing and improved transport connectivity.

The panel went on to discuss global and national connectivity, public transport, national tourism to the West Midlands.

Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham Airport, highlighted the successful year that the airport has had, stating: “The airport will see a record high this year, with profits estimated to be over a quarter of a billion pounds. This will go directly back into the Solihull economy.”

He also shared his support for the HS2 project, adding: “HS2 is going to be spectacular. We as a borough will have better access to London, which is very important for our group network development.”

David Mitchelmore, senior project manager at HS2, detailed the progress of the HS2 project, bringing specific focus on the current reset of its delivery.

David stated: “The HS2 project is due to inject £20bn into the economy in the next ten years, creating 31 thousand jobs, of which 18,000 of these jobs are apprenticeships.

“However, we know the delivery hasn’t matched, the schedule for construction has fallen out of sequence, but we are working to rectify this.”

Ian Taylor, managing director of the NEC Group, spoke about the importance of Birmingham as a key tourism destination, stating that around seven-million people visited the NEC’s venues in the last year.

He said 75 per cent of the UK population being within a three-hour travel distance of the NEC arena.

He also highlighted how Birmingham will be hosting the upcoming Invictus Games in 2027, on the back of the success of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Ian added how the Games will be an exciting opportunity for the West Midlands in terms of job creation, visitor numbers and local hospitality use.

Tony Elvin, general manager of Touchwood, rounded off the panel with a review of the hospitality sector, highlighting how visitor footfall numbers to Touchwood has dropped by 3.5 per cent since the previous year.

He stated how inflation is linked directly to these lower footfall numbers.

Attendees were also invited to take part in a Q+A session after the panel discussion.

Read the full Solihull Expo 2025 roundup HERE.