Pictured clockwise from top left: Paul Hull (KMB Shipping Group), Gareth Jones (In-Comm Training), Paul Crofts (Dudley Canal & Caverns), Sarah Moorhouse (Black Country Chamber of Commerce), Jane Sommerville (Bowers & Jones), Anthony Burns (Paycare), Carolyn Smith (TPSquared), and Lisa Cowley (Beacon Centre for the Blind)Bilston-based metal-forming specialist
Bowers & Jones has joined the Bostin’ Black Country Business campaign, designed to boost the economic fortunes of the region. The company, which received the King’s Award for International Trade earlier this year, and celebrated its 70th anniversary just last week, is one of the ‘magnificent seven’ selected by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce to showcase the strengths of the area by championing innovation, resilience, creativity and exporting potential.
Bowers & Jones will tell its unique story alongside KMB Shipping Group, apprentice-training specialist In-Comm Training and health cashplan provider Paycare. There are also places for creative agency TPSquared, Beacon Centre for the Blind and Dudley Canal & Caverns, which hosted the launch event and photoshoot.
The world leader in the design, manufacture, and refurbishment of rolling mill components, Bowers & Jones has agreed to display the Bostin’ Black Country Business badge and has committed to support Chamber events and take part in media opportunities.
Jane Sommerville, Bowers & Jones’ managing director (pictured left), said: “The Black Country is such a special place to do business - there aren’t many regions who share our appetite for hard work, our resilience and, importantly, our passion for UK manufacturing. It is a fantastic honour to be chosen as one of the first Bostin’ businesses and we will do everything we can to celebrate the strengths of our area on both the domestic and international stage.”
Bostin’ Black Country Business aims to add new companies every quarter, with the view to growing an alumni-type of community. This will include all the winners of the Black Country Chamber Business Awards in November, nominations from the Chamber board and possibly even a public vote.
Sarah Moorhouse, CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are always looking at new ways of promoting the strengths of our area and celebrating the brilliant companies and entrepreneurs that are based here. Bostin’ is a word unique to the Black Country and sums up something that is brilliant – whether that is innovation, modern day manufacturing success, life science firms going global or any of the wide array of tourist attractions we have across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.”
‘Magnificent Seven’She continued: “This got us thinking - let us approach some of our very best businesses and see if we can get them on board for an official campaign that can showcase what makes the Black Country so special. The ‘Magnificent Seven’ are our first bostin’ inductees and are an eclectic mix of brilliant business minds, pioneering charity leaders and, in Bowers & Jones, international experts.”
Data from the Economic Intelligence Unit reveals that the Black Country has a total GVA of £25.4 billion and a £20,565 GVA per head of population. In total, nearly 450,000 people are employed across 42,395 enterprises, with strong concentrations of manufacturers, transport and logistics specialists, construction firms and retailers and wholesalers. There is also a vibrant scientific and technical sector, where bridging the digital skills gap and supporting green job transitions are highlighted as key long-term priorities.
Sarah Moorhouse concluded: “Manchester has the bee, Birmingham has the bull and now we want the Bostin’ badge to become the Black Country icon. There is so much potential in our region, and we want to do everything we can to kickstart economic growth by leveraging our traditional strengths while also embracing new, emerging sectors.”