JLR award for being the region’s heart

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce president Steve Allen presented this year’s chamber president’s award to the company, which has its engine manufacturing centre at the i54, Wolverhampton.

Speaking at the online annual chamnber awards ceremony, he praised JLR’s leading role in the development of electric and autonomous vehicles but still showing huge compassion to find the time to develop personal protection equipment for frontline NHS staff at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

JLR produced 2,000 3D-printed protective visors a day using injection mould tooling supplied by WHS Plastics, of Sutton Coldfield.

The operation produced one polypropylene headband every 30 seconds.

Range Rover also deployed 360 vehicles to support front-line workers involved in emergency responses.

The first Range Rover to be produced under social distancing rules rolled off the production line at Solihull in May.

Mr Allen said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to present the president’s award to JLR. The company remains at the heart of the region’s supply chains supporting around 260,000 UK jobs through its service providers, supply chain, research and development partners and own employees.

“Innovation is at the heart of what they do as they continue to invest in their UK manufacturing operations, particularly in relation to the new all-electric Jaguar XJ at Castle Bromwich and the next generation Range Rover in Solihull.

“Even in these most difficult times they continue to play a leading role in the development of electric and autonomous vehicles crucial to the success of the automotive industry within our region.

“During the current pandemic JLR has risen to the challenge in producing 3D protective visors for frontline staff and deploying their global feet to support emergency responders.

“I am proud that this innovative company is based here in the Midlands and this award is a recognition of its continued development and contribution to the region’s economy.”

The award was accepted by manufacturing executive director Grant McPherson following the retirement of operations director Jamie Whitehead.

Mr Allen said GBCC will be “front and centre” in the helping business get back on its feet he said at the awards to which around 600 guests tuned in.

Mr Allen said that while Greater Birmingham had undoubtedly felt the impact of Covid-19, it has also demonstrated the ability to adapt.

“The chamber’s mantra during this period has been to ‘keep business moving’ and as we gradually emerge from lockdown the Chamber will be front and centre in supporting business as government schemes and interventions run their course and business fights to get back on its feet,” he said.

“But as much as we need to don our hard hats and knuckle down for what’s to come, let’s not forget the significant advantages that we have here in our city-region and our ability to adapt to changing times.

“In Birmingham the motto under our city’s crest is ‘Forward’ and our history shows that moving forward is what we do best.

“We still have the largest economy outside London, our six universities make us the largest centre of higher education in the country, we are the youngest and most diverse city in Europe, there are more start-ups here than anywhere else outside London and our investment in infrastructure is there to be seen as you walk around our city.

“The prospect of HS2 and the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 will provide a significant boost to the prospects of our recovery. It may not be ‘V’ shaped but it can and will come.”

The president’s sentiment was echoed by Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner, who said the region’s “spirt of enterprise, energy and togetherness” would not fall victim to the pandemic.

Mr Faulkner said: “Much has changed over the past four months, with too many people sadly losing their lives and everyone, collectively, going through an experience the likes of which nobody has had before.

“As we have seen with pretty much every business and organisation during this period, the Chamber has adapted and evolved in order to ensure that we can remain focused on our core mission of supporting and championing our members and the wider needs of business.

“And, in and amongst what has been a time like no other, all of us at the Chamber – and in particular our president Steve Allen – have remained determined not to let that spirit of enterprise, energy and togetherness that exists in our businesses community, and which the Chamber Awards have come to embody, fall victim to Covid-19.”

The awards evening also provided an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for Mr Allen’s chosen charity of the year, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s Woodland House Appeal, which is seeking to raise £3.5m towards a new purpose-built bereavement centre.

Electrical engineers to the power and generation industry who are renowned for their rapid global troubleshooting are the GBCC business of the year.

Tamworth-based Excitation Engineering Services received the award, sponsored by Oldbury-based Richardson

Excitation, whose headquarters are at the Amber Business Village, also won the international business category, sponsored by the Andalucia Tourism Board.

The company was created in 2011 to meet the demands of the power generation industry and has traded internationally from the start, fulfilling contracts in six continents.

Excellence in customer service went to Selfridges Birmingham, which since the landmark store opened in 2003, it has been committed to providing “superlative customer service”, which has been the ethos of the business since it was founded in 1909.

Excellence in responsible business was won by First Mile, the Oldbury-based recycling and waste management company which set out in 2004 to revolutionise its sector. Their zero-waste vision means that only items that can’t currently be salvaged go to waste, where they generate green energy instead of being landfilled.

Cannock-based charity for disabled children Newlife received excellence in retail. The charity launched 30 years ago as a small operation from an industrial unit in Cannock has directly improved the lives of more than 20,000 disabled and terminally ill children across the UK. It was launched by Mrs Sheila Brown, who has three sons, two of whom faced disability, and has dedicated her life to fighting for a better deal for disabled children.