New vice-presidents appointed for Solihull Chamber of Commerce
The Solihull Chamber of Commerce has announced two new vice-presidents and four executive council members at their annual meeting.
The meeting took place at Hogarths Hotel and was an opportunity for members to reflect on the Chamber’s achievements and successes of the past year, including the Solihull Awards 2023 which saw a number of high-achieving Solihull businesses scoop awards in a range of categories.
The two new vice-presidents of the Solihull Chamber executive council are Dr Rebecca Gater, Principal and chief executive of Solihull College & University Centre, and Kevin Johns, director of Prime Accountants.
They will join current vice-president Emma-Louise Hewitt, salaried partner at Sydney Mitchell LLP.
The new executive council members are Erica Burke, Andy Cole, Louise Dunn and Tony Elvin.
The complete executive council is as follows:
- Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood Solihull
- Andy Cole, director for Property, Partnerships and Media at The NEC Group
- Erica Burke, director of HR Dept Solihull
- Louise Dunn, co-founder and company director of The Recruitment Duo
- Ian Rogers, founder of Solihull Summer Fest
- Amanda Holden, partner and head of Residential Conveyancing at The Wilkes Partnership
- Kim Hulse, director of K Hulse Consulting and co-founder of Visit Knowle
- Jas Rohel, CEO of Titan Partnership and CEO of the Education Awards
- Pauline Clarke, senior Business & Communities Fundraiser at St Basil’s Charity
- Steve Whitmarsh, managing director at runyourfleet
Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber, said in her speech to the attendees: “I would like to just take a brief moment to extend my sincere gratitude to the council members standing down today for all their time, effort and support over the last two years, thank you Stuart Watson and Vijay Jogia.
“And I would also like to offer my congratulations to our new council members and our co-opted members – I look forward to working with you all.
“Congratulations to you all.”
Eileen Schofield, president of the Solihull Chamber, said: “During the last year our events have regularly sold out, with our awards dinner reaching a record number of attendees and the Solihull Expo attended by just under 300 attendees.
“Solihull Chamber represents and engages with 17 sectors from hospitality to financial and insurance, manufacturing, professional services to education, encapsulating the life cycle of a business and our members.
“Solihull is voted as one of the best places to live in the UK, the transport infrastructure creates opportunities for swift connectivity both nationally and internationally, our education institutions are rated as some of the best in the country and our retail and night-time economy and cultural events are prestigious and sought after.
“This has definitely been a year of learning for me as president, it has been a privilege to take up the lead role for Solihull Chamber and represent our members at GBCC council meetings, roundtable discissions, particularly the transport roundtable hosted by Saqib Bhatti MP debating and determining a viable solution to the long standing issue of the lack of transport connectivity between the north and the south of Solihull Borough, to official engagements with the Lord Mayor and international dignitaries.
“During the course of the next 12 months I have committed to continue to connect and support the growth of our businesses in our membership and to ensure that Solihull Chamber is the go-to membership organisation in our region.”
Another achievement in the Solihull Chamber’s year has been the funds raised for chosen charity, Solihull Moors Foundation.
It was announced at the meeting that the Chamber will continue to support the charity for the year 2024-25.
Becci Fox, CEO of Solihull Moors Foundation, said: “Our year as Solihull Chamber of Commerce chosen charity for 2023-2024 has been a fantastic opportunity that has allowed us to work closely together to achieve so much.
“Our partnership with the Chamber has been more than raising awareness, together we have added true value to our community. As chosen charity we have been able to increase our support offer to children, young people and the families of Solihull.
“It has been an extraordinary year, and we are going into the next year feeling more confident, and full of excitement and vigour. We have plans to further our work with local businesses leading to greater opportunities for collaboration, in order to impact the Solihull community and beyond.”
