THE executive director of policy and external affairs, British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, met Black Country Chamber of Commerce Platinum Group members to discuss the economy nationally, especially post-Budget.

Members of the Platinum Group participating were Colin Leighfield, of B E Wedge Holdings Ltd, Stewart Towe, Hadley Industries plc, Kevin Rogers, Paycare, Martin Dudley, Thomas Dudley Ltd, Glenn Aston, Ultra Furniture Ltd, Stephanie Maher, National Express and Alastair Henman, Zaun Ltd.

The meeting was chaired by Ninder Johal president of Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

The group discussed issues such as the shortage of skills and how Home Office restrictions prevented companies from acquiring high-level technicians. Also discussed was how access to finance was still an issue for businesses and how poor transport infrastructure is eroding the UK’s competitive edge in manufacturing.

The discussion covered "black swans", such as developments in Russia and the potential impact on Europe if energy became a problem.

Members of the Platinum Group steered the discussion to local issues such as the lack of "oven ready" land, how more industrial land was being lost to residential use and how many industrial estates had diminished as house building encroached upon the business resulting in complaints about noise from residents.

Another topic covered was the changes in the funding of apprenticeships, with concerns that the Skills and Enterprise Minister seemed only to be talking to multinationals and the CBI. There was "a real risk" that any new funding system would prevent SMEs from running effective apprenticeship programmes.

The upheaval in qualifications was likely to make things worse for SMEs, many of whom do not understand the qualifications they are being presented with by job applicants. Many of the Platinum Group members were taking training into their own hands and turning their backs on providers and current provision.

It was acknowledged, however, that many local businesses were indifferent to the need to define their training needs and saw training as an unnecessary luxury. That meant providers were unsighted as to what employers really needed.

The discussion moved on to HS2 and Birmingham Airport. The Black Country remained unsure about the benefits of HS2 and pressed for clarity. At the same time members of the Platinum Group were "appalled" by the short shrift Birmingham Airport received by the Davies Commission and saw the report as a missed opportunity for local businesses.