Insight and Intelligence services

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Policy Team led the research and analysis underpinning stage 1 of the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which features insights from over 1,000 engagements with local employers.

The West Midlands and Warwickshire LSIP, funded by the Department for Education, has been produced by Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Greater Birmingham and Black Country Chambers. Through collaboration with regional stakeholders, businesses and further education providers, the West Midlands and Warwickshire LSIP aims to support delivery of skills provision to meet employer demand and facilitate regional growth.

Following the UK’s official exit from the EU on 31st January 2020 and the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020, the six Chambers of Commerce across the West Midlands partnered with the Department for Business and Trade to gauge local business’ recent experiences of trading with EU Member State counterparts. The research was led by the Policy and Strategic Relations team at The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) and supported by the Chambers of Coventry & Warwickshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and the Black Country.

Hilary Witts, Head of Operations (Ratings), Colliers: “We have been working with the Chamber for the past 5 years, providing advice on all business rates matters across the  different sectors, sharing our views on current legislation and developments in the system and giving suggestions about how the business rates regime can be improved for rate payers, both in Birmingham and nationally.  

“We regularly contribute blogs to the Chamber’s website, sometimes make joint statements with the Chamber’s policy team and also write for the Birmingham Economic Review. Our head of department also attends round tables and policy discussing events.  

“We have a very good working relationship, with a two-way flow of information and thoughts. We find the team at GBCC personable and helpful with their fingers on the pulse in relation to ongoing issues that ratepayers are experiencing.  

“The Birmingham market is very important to us and we have found that the relationship has put us in touch with many local companies, as well as taking the messages that we are trying to deliver wider afield, such as to the British Chamber. This helps with our lobbying for change for ratepayers. Overall we really appreciate the support GBCC provides for us.”

In 2021, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce conducted a bespoke research project with the Birmingham City Council Leader's Office. Through focus groups and surveying, the Chamber sought to gather business views on the impact of Covid-19 on young people (aged 16-24) and what needed to be done to prevent a ‘crisis cohort’ with diminished employment prospects and earning potential. This research contributed to Breaking down barriers: working towards Birmingham’s future supporting younger people into employment.

Mary Crofton, Cabinet Support Officer, Birmingham City Council "This was a high profile piece of research carried out at the height of the Covid pandemic, feeding into ‘Breaking Down Barriers’, the Birmingham City Council report into youth unemployment in the wake of Covid. We were very impressed by the work carried out by the Chambers, who carried out high quality research despite Covid-19 restrictions, provided valuable support and insight into the design of the project, and enabled us to massively increase our reach into the local business community. The quality, insight and presentation of the final report were all excellent. At all times we found them to be a responsive and highly professional research partner, providing regular updates and in-time feedback on the progress of the project."