Chair's message
Adrian Shooter, Ove Arup Group and CBI West Midlands regional chair
The key role of the CBI is to influence the government through lobbying. This requires CBI West Midlands to have an in-depth understanding of issues facing our member companies in order to direct our policy making activities appropriately. CBI West Midlands also has an active programme of engagement with CBI members. We take the lead in providing a focus for members to network with their peers. This occurs either at best practice policy related events or at our more informal monthly Senior Executive Lunches. CBI members also have the opportunity to engage with other local and national business initiatives.
Regular and active interaction with the CBI headquarters in London ensures that the voice of business in the West Midlands is a significant contributor to the overall CBI policy making agenda. Our goal is improving and enhancing competitiveness of business in the region by ensuring that government does not get in the way of business and creates the right framework for private sector growth. This is doubly important given the demise of the RDAs and the emergence of several Local Enterprise Partnerships across the region. In an era of tough economic times and uncertainty in many global markets the West Midlands economy must become more competitive as a region, not just in the UK, but within Europe and globally. The CBI has a key role to play to achieve this vision.
