Historic insight at IoD's Black Country event
[gallery] The region's industrial heritage was much on the minds of members at the recent Black Country Dinner, held at the home of the Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust.
The Portal Building provided a fascinating backdrop as many IoD members took up the offer of a pre-dinner boat trip into the Old Dudley Tunnel and the limestone caverns beneath the town.
Richard Jones, an active member of the trust since its foundation in the early 1960s, revealed the history of the tunnel, built by the Earl of Dudley in 1778l, and the dogged work of the Trust, that has seen the tunnel and its canal system now become a conservation area and a popular local attraction.
IoD Black Country branch chairman Ian Priest pointed out to a packed house of guest members at The Portal "the contribution of the sheer hard graft of Black Country men and women" who had built the tunnel.
"This area has changed almost beyond recognition," he said, "but it remains the manufacturing heart of the country."
Bringing things bang up to date, Dan Lewis, IoD senior advisor for infrastructure policy, spoke of the need to ensure that future big infrastructure projects - those carrying a price tag of $10 billion or more – brought the best value for money.
He highlighted the potential benefits of upgrading the UK's broadband network, replacing existing copper wire with to fibreoptic cabling to give the nation GigaBit connectivity. Spending £10bn would cover two thirds of the country, he said.
Institute of Directors' research had found 50% of members would consider more flexibile working with better broadband, allowing more people to work from home, said MrLewis.
Around 60% said it would make their businesses more competitive and 77% said it would increase productivity.
In the light of the Brexit Vote, Dan Lewis also raised the issue of tackling the 15,000 EU import tariffs that currently cost UK consumers £3 billion a year, ranging from 8.6% on coffee and 4.7% on tennis rackets to 16.9% on training shoes.
Guests were also entertained by a talk from South Staffordshire MP and Government Chief Whip Gavin Williamson, who ran a pottery business and a firm of architects before turning to politics.
