Chamber Podcast

Rob Pollard, founder and CEO of Lightbox, joins us to discuss the success of his fast-growing digital firm and the future of Birmingham's thriving tech and digital scene.

As the 70th anniversary of the NHS is celebrated nationally, our special guests give us an insight into healthcare in the West Midlands and what the future holds for the health service. Dr Fiona Reynolds, chief medical officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Richard Samuda, chairman of Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust join us.

Dan Harrison presents a special transatlantic trade episode from the British American Business Council (BABC) conference in Birmingham. We hear from West Midlands mayor Andy Street, Midlands Engine chair Sir John Peace, executive director of BritishAmerican Business Emanuel Adam and the Department for International Trade's capability director Oliver Griffiths.

Joe Brusuelas, chief economist from RSM in the United States, joins Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to provide a transatlantic perspective on Brexit - and discuss what a future UK-USA trade deal might look like. Joe was speaking ahead of his appearance at the British American Business Council conference in Birmingham.

South & City College principal Mike Hopkins joins the Chamber's director of policy and strategic relationships Henrietta Brealey and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the findings from our 2018 Growth Through People Campaign. The month-long campaign produced some interesting statistics around the impact of investment in leadership and management skills on productivity.

Keith Stokes-Smith, president of the Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, talks to Dan Harrison about the region's relationship with the Commonwealth. Keith also discusses representing Birmingham at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London and being part of the second city's delegation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

Veteran sports broadcaster Pat Murphy joins Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the fortunes of the region's teams and to share some anecdotes from his long career as a football and cricket correspondent with BBC Sport.

The man known as 'Mr McDonald's', Doug Wright, talks to Dan Harrison about his remarkable journey from McDonald's employee to award-winning franchisee. Doug discusses climbing the ladder within the McDonald's empire, his work with the Ronald McDonald House charity, his company's commitment to equality and diversity and the £11m refurbishment programme across his 17 restaurants.

Dan Harrison catches up with Loki Wine founder Phil Innes. Phil talks about the rise in popularity of Loki's flagship city centre venue, the opening of the second site in Edgbaston and tasting success at the 2017 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce awards.

Anita Bhalla, chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Leadership Commission, and Andrew Marcinko, PHD candidate at Aston Business School, provide a fascinating insight into unlocking potential in business, as well as offering thoughts on diversity, inclusion and tackling unconscious bias. They join Dan Harrison and Henrietta Brealey for the discussion, which forms part of the Chamber’s Growth Through People Campaign.

Aston University's Mark Smith, Jane Jarvis from the NEC Group and Patrick Woodman of the Chartered Management Institute join us to discuss attracting and retaining talent, as part of the Greater Birmingham Chamber's of Commerce's Growth Through People campaign.

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, Mark Smith from Aston University and Chamber patron & policy advisor Emily Stubbs discuss ongoing apprenticeship reforms, the Apprenticeship Levy and the importance of collaboration between business and education.

To coincide with the launch of the Chamber's Growth Through People campaign, Professor Ian Thomson from the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business and Deutsche Bank's Paul Anderson join Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to discuss responsible leadership in business. Responsible Leadership is the theme of the first week of Growth Through People 2018.

Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber president James Blackman and Burton & District Chamber president Simon Chapman join us to discuss the impact late payment has on small and medium-sized businesses. James tells us about a pledge launched by the Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce that encourages businesses to pay their suppliers in 30 days.  

Tim Pile, the new chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), joins us to discuss driving economic growth and tackling some of the challenges facing the region.

RSM tax partner Nick Blundell and Iron Oxide Design's Andy Smythe join Henrietta Brealey and Dan Harrison to discuss innovation in Greater Birmingham - and why businesses are missing out on a range of incentives and tax credits.

Why should diversity matter to business? Asian Business Chamber of Commerce director Anjum Khan, GBCC's director of policy Henrietta Brealey and chief financial officer Helen Bates join us to discuss the topic. We also examine what the Chambers are doing to move the diversity agenda forward.

In this episode, we state the case to bring Channel 4 to the West Midlands.  Mayor Andy Street’s campaign to relocate the broadcaster to the region has been gathering momentum over the past few weeks. Chamber president Paul Kehoe and chief executive Paul Faulkner say the West Midlands would be the perfect home for Channel 4. They are joined by press & PR director John Lamb and press & PR executive Dan Harrison to discuss the implications of a potential move.

Birmingham City University's head of skills Matthew Till joins Raj Kandola and Dan Harrison from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to discuss the Birmingham economy and take a look at what can be done to address issues surrounding productivity and skills.

In episode two, we're discussing all things Brexit. With negotiations between the UK Government and the European Union continuing to dominate the political landscape, director of policy Henrietta Brealey, senior policy advisor Raj Kandola and press & PR executive Dan Harrison assess what happens next and the potential impact on business.