On Friday 17th January, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley met with Samantha Frampton and Eileen Schofield from the Solihull Chamber of Commerce. Also at the meeting was Henrietta Brealey, the Chief Executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Solihull Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to connect, support, and grow local businesses, they provide support, resources, and networking opportunities to help companies thrive. A key local priority for Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP is backing our high streets and supporting growth initiatives in Solihull West & Shirley. Thriving businesses bring better life opportunities to the youth community.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP said
I am grateful for the team at Solihull Chamber of Commerce for meeting with me to discuss our economic snapshot and sharing their detailed report.
At a time when the Government’s Budget is set to place pressure on businesses through increases to National Insurance Contributions (NICs), lower levels of investment, and added bureaucracy through the Employment Rights Bill, it is critical that organisations such as the Solihull Chamber exist to help local companies navigate their path to success.
The discussion reconfirmed that Solihull benefits greatly from a highly skilled workforce thanks, in no small part, to our excellent schools and further education colleges. The proportion of residents qualified to Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) 4+ in Solihull is the highest across the West Midlands Combined Authority.
There is also much to look forward to in the constituency, which will further add to our growth and strong economic output. The redevelopment of Mell Square, as part of the Town Centre Master Plan delivered by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Cllr Ian Courts, will deliver exceptional opportunities for investors and tenants. The project is not only enhancing the retail and visitor experience but also delivering new homes, which in turn will boost footfall and drive economic activity.
We also discussed the economic importance of Blythe Valley Business Park, which offers homes to outstanding businesses such as Gymshark. It is critical that we support this site with reliable public transport, and I will be liaising with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to ensure that their bus reforms do not jeopardise access to Blythe Valley for commuters.
Towards the end of last year, I launched a small business survey to understand more about the priorities of small businesses in the constituency. If you are a small business owner, please complete my survey by visiting www.drneilshastri-hurst.co.uk/small-business-survey
