Bowers & Jones, which received the King’s Award for International Trade earlier this year, 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.
The Bilston-based business will tell its story alongside KMB Shipping Group, apprentice training specialist In-Comm Training and health cash plan 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 has agreed to display the Bostin’ Black Country Business badge and has committed to support Chamber events and media opportunities.
Jane Sommerville, Managing Director, commented: “The Black Country is such a special place to do business – there aren’t many regions [that] 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.
“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,” added Sarah Moorhouse, CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
“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.”
She continued: “This got us thinking: let’s 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 £25.4bn 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.
Moorhouse concluded: “Manchester has the bee, Birmingham the bull, and now we want the Bostin’ badge to become our 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 whilst embracing new, emerging sectors.”