Bostin Fittle, Hard Hats and a Warm Black Country Welcome to Chamber Patrons

23 Mar 2023

Published in: Patron

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Chamber Patrons Hit The Black Country

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Bostin Fittle, Hard Hats and A Warm Black Country Welcome to Chamber Patrons

The sun shone this week, (22nd March) as Chamber Patron members from across the West Midlands joined hosts, Black Country Chamber of Commerce, for a tour around two of the region’s major attractions.

Hi viz jackets and hard hats donned, twenty-five of the region’s most influential businesses joined Gail Arnold, head of premium membership at the Black Country Chamber, for a tour of Dudley’s Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC), and to hear from Nick Mallinson, the Director of Business & Innovation at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), on how the centre aims to help to shape and accelerate future industries, such as the emerging Very Light Rail (VLR) industry.

The tour of this £32m multi-purpose centre, which offers a host of unique facilities including a Rail Development and Test Site, Engineering Laboratories, Serviced Offices and an Events Suite, was the first stop of the day followed by a visit to the famous Black Country Living Museum and the chance to ride on a much older mode of transport.

Patron members from Chambers in Shropshire, Coventry & Warwickshire, Hereford & Worcestershire, Staffordshire and the Black Country, welcomed by costumed tour guides and escorted on a vintage Midland Red double decker bus, spent the afternoon experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of 300 years of Black Country history whilst exploring the shops, houses and industrial workshops which form the backdrop for the famous Peaky Blinders tv series which was filmed at the venue.

A break for traditional Black Country fish and chips at the Elephant & Castle Pub, visitors were given an insight into the recent building and restoration work carried out at the site with a presentation from Paul Crofts the Chief Operating Officer at Black Country Living Museum and Jim Holland a Director from Holland Contracting & Conservation.

Michael Hiscock from Warwickshire based law firm, Wright Hassall LLP said how much he’d enjoyed that day, stating it was “informative and positive.”

Gail Arnold, who looks after Patron members for the Black Country Chamber said, “It’s good to get all our Patrons together from across the West Midlands region and show off the investment the Black Country is benefiting from, as well as our world class visitor attractions and innovation centres.

“Chamber Patrons are our key strategic partners and are advocates for the work of Chambers right across the country. With a sense of civic pride and passion they make a positive impact across the economy in our regions.”

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