One Voice

In November 2005, business leaders from across the city met to assess the state of Birmingham business and produce a view of what needed to happen in the city to make success happen. Those present agreed upon a plan of priorities for action, which were:

● To tackle the city’s built environment
● To create a strong international business educational offering for the city
● To make Birmingham the city where businesses and individuals get wealthier faster and more often
● To ensure that the business community within Birmingham speaks with one voice.

From this event the five business membership organisations in the city (Birmingham Chamber, Birmingham Forward, CBI, EEF and IoD) have identified a common ‘one voice’ agenda for Birmingham, at the heart of which is an overarching objective to maximise the competitiveness of Birmingham. The vision priorities for this One Voice Group are now included within the lobbying agenda:

1. A well-connected city
Birmingham must become a well-connected and accessible city.
2. A World-Class Built Environment
Birmingham must have a world-class skyline and aesthetic appeal and must demonstrate a good standard of housing stock throughout the city.
3. An International School
Currently, the most convenient international school for the families of international businesspeople working in Birmingham to use is located in Oxford. The city must have its own international education facility to make it an attractive residential location for overseas businesspeople and their families.
4. A Well Skilled Workforce
The city must increase in the number of individuals appropriately skilled to match the changing labour demand of the Birmingham economy and focus upon an improvement in vocational skills.
5. A World-Class Business Proposition
Birmingham must promote itself as a cosmopolitan city and maximize the potential of its proximity to London.

The One Voice group meets periodically to discuss the progress of the lobbying agenda. For more information, please contact Katie Teasdale on 0121 450 4504 or email k.teasdale@birminghamchamber.org.uk

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