The regional business community continues to thrive and contribute by creating wealth and employing thousands in the region, according to a leading businessman despite the gloom around political events in London.
Ninder Johal’s comments came as preparations are in place to celebrate the best in business and the community in a glitzy black tie dinner event due to take place on the 28th June at the Wolverhampton racecourse.
Mr Johal, past president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, current Board member of the Black Country LEP, West Midlands Growth Company and CEO of production company, Nachural, said:
‘This event will reflect on the positive news around the region, with Birmingham winning the Commonwealth Games, Coventry winning the City of Culture Bid and the Black Country confirming its position as one of the leading areas of inward investment and economic growth. This is in contrast to the outlook for global trade which has dampened because of the potential trade warfare between China and USA, with the EU also continuing to lag. In the UK the future is uncertain because as yet we do not understand the full implications of the ongoing Brexit negotiations and as to whether we are looking at an array of options which includes both a hard and soft Brexit.
The UK and the region continues to show strong export performance against a backdrop of falling unemployment and rising wages against an environment of steady inflation. The region and the country are entering an interesting and uncertain period.
The Black Country in particular is beginning to pick up and we are pleased that it is now regarded as the one of the five highest performing LEP areas in the country. With successful automotive and aerospace sectors experiencing continual growth and start ups continuing to accelerate, there is a definite lift in confidence in the region. However there is much to be done with regards to skills and infrastructure and we must continue to press our businesses to widen their scope to overseas markets.
The awards seek to celebrate and highlight the ever increasing importance of the business community and its great contribution to the local, regional and national economy. The profile of the awards is increasing year on year.
We feel it is important that the Black Country and the wider region continues to celebrate its achievements and in the current climate it is easy to forget the contributions of businesses in the area. From start ups to established employers in the area, the Black Country and the wider region has much to boast about. What has also been very interesting development in recent years, is the number of submissions from national players who are seeking to promote their business in the region.
Despite the fall in apprenticeships nationally, we have continued to promote an award category that recognises their importance. In order to cope with a changing global marketplace, we need an increasing emphasis on technical skills both on the supply and demand side. Therefore the Promoting Apprenticeships award recognises the importance of such a route to a fruitful career.’
The awards dinner is the ideal platform to show the region and the country the best that there is in the Black Country and increasingly the wider region.
We would encourage businesses to enter before the deadline of the 12th May 2019 and to use the opportunity of showcasing the great work they do in supporting the area. There is considerable publicity surrounding the awards dinner which will boast a leading business/entrepreneur speaker and is expected to attract the who’s who of the region. Award categories include Business Start up, Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the year, Community Excellence, Regeneration, International Trade/Enterprise, Business Woman of the year, Customer Service business of the year, Diversity and Inclusion, Business Person of the Year and an award for promoting apprenticeship.
Sponsors for the event include , Vision Print, Wolverhampton University, Cobra Beer, East End Foods, Pathway Group, FBC Manby Bowdler Solicitors, Falcon Insurance, Baldwins Accountants, Oxbridge Home Learning, Capital Care Group, Guest Motors, Rational FX, Hollywood Monster and Mercedes Benz.
The glitzy awards dinner is due to take place on the 28th June 2019 at the Wolverhampton Racecourse – for further information please contact : Nachural on 0121 526 3141 or ninder.johal@nachural.co.uk.
The nomination form can be downloaded from www.nachural.co.uk
