Thriving through the chaos
Pingdemics, u-turns, inflation, supply chain disruption, rising COVID cases.
When you think about it, it really is incredible that our local businesses continue to survive and thrive in the way that they do.
According to our Quarterly Business Report, the largest regular local business sentiment survey of its kind, at the height of the pandemic Q2 2020, 71% of businesses reported a fall in domestic sales over the last quarter. 51% expected profitability to fall over the coming 12 months.
What a difference a year makes. At Q2 2021 52% had seen an increase in domestic sales over the previous quarter (only 17% a decrease) and 60% expect profitability to increase over the coming 12 months.
We are not out of the woods yet of course and there are some very real concerns impacting key sectors. City centre hospitality needs people back in their offices to restore the mid-week trade. But while we reside in the United Pingdom, confidence on being able to move forwards with formal hybrid or return to offices plans will remain impacted.
We have businesses still uncertain about their future lumbered with high levels of COVID debt. Or struggling to access the talent they need to restart and grow.
At the Chamber we are continuing to stand up for our members who are facing hardship through our campaigning and lobbying activity. Just last week, our head of policy Raj Kandola held a stakeholder roundtable for impacted Chamber members to share where they are and what they need to see with MPs and regional stakeholders. We will be launching a new lobbying document (at least our 12th since the pandemic began) next week.
But we are also taking time to celebrate. The sun is shining and after everything the business community has navigated over the last 17 months, it 's about time for some well deserved thankyous and recognition.
In the course of my duties I talk to many businesses every week and although some are still worried about their prospects there is also a great undercurrent of positivity and optimism.
All across Greater Birmingham businesses have stepped up in their local communities, for their staff, for their customers and for the people and places that mean so much to them. They have found innovative opportunities to grow, expand into new markets and set their future course amid the chaos.
And the Chamber will be celebrating that spirit of our businesses on Tuesday at our Annual Awards 2021 - coming to you digitally for the second time in its long history.
We had a record number entries this year and the quality was outstanding, showing that businesses have taken time and care to ensure that their workforces have been happy and safe in lockdown conditions.
The proceedings will be beamed from Chamber of Commerce House in Edgbaston - which has become a regular digital production studio over the past year and a half.
It will also mark a return to in person events with key patrons, committee members and partners taking part in viewing parties, helping us test a new approach to hybrid events. We will be getting back out supporting (and very much enjoying) our hospitality businesses with official viewing parties across city centre favourite Malmaison, the Cube, Park Regis and St George 's Park.
These events, while relatively modest in scale compared to our usual 1,400 person black tie extravaganza at the iconic ICC, will be a welcome opportunity to reconnect and celebrate together - in a COVID-secure environment.
Whether you are joining us for an event or tuning in at home in the living room, in the office with colleagues, on the bus, train or wherever you may be we are very much looking forward to welcoming you.
And of course, we look forward to raising a glass to the hope that maybe next year we will be able to get back to celebrating in more like the style to which we had become accustomed.
Henrietta Brealey is chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
This column first appeared in this week 's Birmingham Post