Birmingham's ‘powerhouse of ideas’ can be critical in transforming lives and creating wealth, says new Chamber of Commerce president Tim Pile.
Mr Pile, executive chair of Midland marketing agency Cogent Elliott, today succeeded Steve Brittan as president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce with a pledge to promote the region as an “incubator of great ideas.”
The new president said: “Connectivity means many different things to me: internal and external connectivity across and for the region.
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“This means improving the digital connectivity and access of Greater Birmingham to the world because I believe that business is often at its best when it is trading and leveraging our historic ability to add real value. And by connectivity I also mean access to both financial and human capital.
“Birmingham is about things truly innovative and original – and knowing how to take them to market. For many years Birmingham took more patents to market than any city in the country.
“Maintaining Birmingham as a powerhouse of ideas is absolutely critical in transforming lives and creating wealth.
“This gives us the edge over other places and I absolutely believe that the power of ideas, coupled with the ability to deliver them, can change people’s lives.
“This is great for businesses, small or large, and during my year in office I aim to bring together those people who can deliver innovative ideas that can make a difference by taking them to market and celebrating them.”
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Mr Brittan said: “During my year I have met most senior government figures, including David Cameron and Vince Cable, plus the new governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.
“The only way to influence policy is by talking to these people first hand.
“And it may be a coincidence, but within a few weeks of talking to David Cameron he announced that by 2018 there would be 100,000 technical apprentices in this country.
“I like to think that what we had to say to him had some bearing on this decision. It is only organisations like the Chamber that have the influence to make a difference in the interests of all businesses.”