Member Article

Brexit minister: keep expanding your horizons

Firms in the Midlands have been urged to keep expanding their international horizons after Brexit – by one of the leading figures involved in the UK’s exit from the EU.

Minister for Exiting the European Union, Lord Bridges, was the guest speaker at a Midlands Chamber of Commerce discussion at the Midlands Engine Trade Summit at the Vox Conference Centre at Resorts World, Birmingham.

Around 100 strategic, patron and corporate partners from the nine Chambers of Commerce across the region attended the event and also heard from Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce.

The discussion was based around the priorities for businesses across the Midlands ahead of the EU negotiations.

Lord Bridges said: “The Midlands is leading the way on global trade, with exports from here growing more than any other UK region over the last three years. More than half of these exports are already going to countries outside the EU.

“I had a very productive meeting with Midlands business leaders to discuss the future opportunities that will be created by our EU departure. We also looked at how the government can further support industries in the region, as we become a truly global trading nation.”

Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the BCC, said: “This is an important time for UK exporters, and improving our export performance will be key to driving wider economic growth in the years to come.

“The Chambers of Commerce in the Midlands provide businesses with practical, on-the-ground support to help them take the ambitious step of getting their goods and services out to the world.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was great to bring all of the Midlands Chambers together for this event and to hear from Dr Adam Marshall and Lord Bridges.

“In our patch in Coventry and Warwickshire, we have launched a Brexit Club which is designed to detach businesses from the noise surrounding our EU departure, to be ready for Brexit and to help them take advantage of opportunities that will arise.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .