Black Country Chamber Champions Inclusion this International Women's Day

11 Mar 2024

Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News

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The Chamber celebrates International Women's Day with special guest speaker, Amber Sandhu.

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On March 8th, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce hosted an International Women's Day lunch, bringing together influential women across a wide range of industries in our region and inviting discussion on this year’s theme #InspireInclusion.

Held at the Mount Country Manor Hotel, the event gave female leaders the opportunity to share best practice in areas such as recruitment, supporting female talent of all ages, identifying the barriers and advocating change in the workplace and beyond.

Our guest speaker of the day Amber Sandhu, BBC News Reporter and all-round ambassador for the Midlands, gave an incredible presentation on her career and the many women who inspired her along the way. Starting her journey with her local Wolves Community Radio, Amber has since progressed to working freelance across the BBC, covering Premier League Football for Sky Sports News, becoming the lead reporter for Midlands today and covering the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as well as reporting on tournaments such as The Hundred and the Women’s Ashes.

Amber, who also hosts her Saturday show on the BBC Asian Network, said: “I started as an intern; I was young and got to meet great people, learn from some of the best and interview people I had grown up watching. I’m now in the place I wanted to be, and I’ve never looked back.”

“There are so many women that I look up to, Satnam Rana, Seema Jaswal, Anita Rani, the Lionesses, Isa Guha, the India cricket team, […] all these women have had different challenges and excelled in their respective industries.

“There are wonderful ladies in my life who let me believe I could do anything and really inspired me. My nan came over from India during partition, my mum grew up in Birmingham and my sisters all inspire me in different ways.”

During the afternoon a raffle took place resulting in three lucky winners: Emma Johnson – Forresters, Claire Lawton – Acorn Support Ltd, and Lucy Rook – BlackRook Media/BlackRook Academy, who each took home a bottle of sparkling wine. In total, the event raised over £120 for Chamber charity of the year, Black Country Mental Health whose vital work aims to improve, promote, and enhance quality of life for people affected by poor mental health across the Black Country.

Black Country Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse said: "Women continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. By championing inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation.

“As always education and awareness play vital roles in fostering inclusion and empowering women. Through initiatives such as mentorship programs, educational workshops, and advocacy campaigns, individuals and organisations can create opportunities for women to thrive.

“By providing support and resources, women can be empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.”

To find out more about the Black Country Women in Leadership network click here or email website@blackcountry chamber.co.uk