As 2022 draws to a close, we took some time to reflect on the year. It goes without saying – a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our work over the past year. As a not-for-profit organisation, we simply couldn’t operate without the support of our partners, who share our ambition to help shape a ‘better’ West Midlands for all of us to live, work, study, invest and play in.
Here are some of our highlights of what has been our first full year without ‘Covid-19’ looming large over our operations.
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In December 2021, we welcomed our guest speaker, Sarah Windrum (Chair, Coventry & Warwickshire LEP), alongside over 80 guests to our partnership event with Birmingham Enterprise Community to consider how 2022 could be the Year for Growth
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In February 2022, we submitted our first evidence to a Government inquiry – this time focussed on the significant issue of ‘Exempt Accommodation’
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In February 2022, we announced the creation of our Advisory Board, chaired by Sarah Perry (Client Services Director, Knights plc) to support the governance of our work
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In March 2022, we hosted a roundtable for 22 business leaders on the powers that the West Midlands Mayor needs to drive greater Trade and Investment into the region
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Towards the end of March 2022, Chris Smith (CNM Founder and MD) and Professor Majid AlSadi (CNM President) appeared on GB News, being interviewed by Liam Halligan for our first national media appearance
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In April 2022, we hosted a panel discussion on the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper and what it could mean for rebalancing the economy and the West Midlands
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In May 2022, we hosted our inaugural ‘Housing and Communities Annual Lecture, with Eddie Hughes MP (Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing) delivering a speech to our 60 delegates at the UK HQ of HSBC
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In July 2022, we hosted our Summer Reception in Coventry, with the BBC’s Phil Upton interviewing Professor Martin Reeves (CEO, Coventry City Council) on the future of cities
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In October 2022, we attended both Labour and Conservative Party conferences as delegates
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In the same month, We hosted Pat McFadden MP (Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and Paulette Hamilton MP as our guests at the West Midlands Labour Party Gala Dinner
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In October, we welcomed The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP as our guest speaker for our Reimagining the Region event during Conservative Party conference (sponsored by Kagool and Knights plc)
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In the same month, we hosted a roundtable for 20 leaders from across the region on the potential of the Midlands Rail Hub and its potential to drive regional growth
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In November, we co-hosted a webinar on ‘Shared Challenges facing UK cities’ with the Centre for London and CLES
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Throughout the year, we published 35 articles from thought leaders across the West Midlands on how we build a better region, including the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, senior members of the West Midlands Combined Authority and leaders of private, public and not for profit organisations – click here for a recap on the articles we shared in 2022 with our ever growing audience
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In December, we are hosting our first ever reception in Westminster, with 70 delegates from 50 different organisations, joining the Mayor of the West Midlands and regional MPs to reflect on 2022 and look to the opportunities ahead in 2023
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We have expanded our regional network to over 50 organisations, with Cadent Gas, Natwest and University College Birmingham all joining us over the past fortnight. Our ambition is to welcome 100 organisations by this time next year.