Who is your Sector Ambassador?
The Chamber's 48-strong elected council has been refreshed and organised into a sector-led policy-making and lobbying body, with representation from every type of business.
Sector ambassadors have been appointed to fly the flag for their specialisms and to ensure policy makers understand what is needed to help our businesses flourish.
Each of the sector ambassadors is listed here with their operational e-mail addresses, and they are looking forward to you contacting them with the issues that affect you in your sector of business.
Construction
Keith Seago, chartered civil engineer
Keith became a consultant to Arup in 2005 after he stepped down as director based in the Solihull campus at Blythe Valley Park. He has worked on projects in the Midlands and overseas and is passionate to support Midlands business, particularly in construction and the development of the region’s physical infrastructure. Keith is also a Chamber representative on the West Midlands Business Transport Group.
Contact Keith at kseago.bci@googlemail.com.
Tim Capper, director, Interserve Project Services
Tim has been with Interserve Project Services for five years out of a career spanning 25 years working for medium/major contracting companies in the fields of civil and process engineering design and construction. He has broad experience of creating and maintaining strong, professional customer relationships.
Contact Tim at tcapper.bci@googlemail.com.
Creative
David Clarke, managing director/strategic director, Clarke Associates
David has 25 years experience in the development and implementation of communications and public relations programmes and founded the business in 1986. He is a former director of Marketing Birmingham and serves on the board of the Prince’s Trust in Birmingham and Solihull.
Contact David at dclarke.bci@googlemail.com.
Fay Goodman, managing director of Goodmedia Ltd
Author, journalist and businesswoman, Fay specialises in small business issues covering all areas including the creative industry. Her company makes TV documentaries, film and music production.
Contact Fay at fgoodman.bci@googlemail.com.
Abid Iqbal, SAY Arts (South Asian Youth Arts)
Abid Iqbal has worked for Birmingham City Council since graduating in 2001 in Business IT, and now works part time to work on his own project SAY Arts. He is vice-chair of the city council's Children, Young People and Families, Black Workers Group. He is passionate about promoting Qawwali Music.
Contact Abid at aiqbal.bci@googlemail.com.
Peter Tomlinson, director of communications, marketing and fund-raising, Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Peter has been part of the media and communications scene in the West Midlands for over 30 years. He chairs the Advantage Creative Fund which invests in creative industries in the West Midlands and has taken up the post of High Sheriff of the County of West Midlands.
Contact Peter at ptomlinson.bci@googlemail.com.
Hospitality and Leisure
Clive Stone, managing director of Redcliffe Catering
Clive is the founder and majority shareholder of Redcliffe Catering which has three separate divisions that handle the management of the banqueting facilities at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and The Centennial Centre. It also operates 38 contract catering units and organises conferences and seminars.
Contact Clive at cstone.bci@googlemail.com.
Manufacturing
Parveen Mehta, operations director Minor Weir & Willis Ltd
Parveen is responsible for 300 staff, three depots, production warehousing, logistics and distribution, HR and health and safety. He also looks after the property portfolio and pension trust. Parveen is also director of mwwfresh and his areas of interest include employment law and manufacturing.
Contact Parveen at pmehta.bci@googlemail.com.
Professional and financial services
Kate Canty, Canty & Co
Kate runs her own law practice in Birmingham employs 20 people. Kate is past president of Birmingham Junior Chamber of Commerce and was a very active member in Birmingham for 14 years, taking on various business and community projects which have given her experience outside the world of law.
Contact Kate at kcanty.bci@googlemail.com.
Karl George, managing director of KgISS
Karl George is a high profile, multi-award winning businessman, a visiting professor, accomplished professional speaker and author specialising in leadership principles. KgISS is a multi-disciplined business consultancy helping individuals and organisations in delivering leadership principles.
Contact Karl at kgeorge.bci@googlemail.com.
Retail
Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota, partner Nanak Electricals and Sahota Properties
Sarindar joined Nanak Electricals in Birmingham in 1989 and was elected to lead the regional business community as the vice-chair of the West Midlands Regional Assembly. He is the past chair of the Asian Business Forum and Institute of Asian Businesses.
Contact Sarinder at ssohota.bci@googlemail.com.
Tourism
Ann Leung, director of United Travel Ltd
Hong Kong born Ann Leung established United Travel in 1985. The business specialises in Far Eastern travel and has contracts with major carriers flying to the Orient.
Contact Ann at aleung.bci@googlemail.com.
Simone Schehtman, Teamworks Karting Ltd:
Simone established Teamworks Karting in 2000 in London and opened in Birmingham in 2004 and is planning further venues across the UK with a view to an AIM flotation.
Contact Simone at sschehtman.bci@googlemail.com.
If you would like more information on the Sector Ambassador initiative, please contact BCI policy adviser, Kiran Virk at k.virk@birminghamchamber.org.uk .