Record turnout for our Made in Sandwell event

Date added: 06 March 2009

Manufacturing is alive and well in Sandwell! On Thursday 5 March, finditinsandwell celebrated Sandwell’s lifeblood industry with a networking event that attracted more than 700 people. Thanks to this amazing turnout, a diverse range of exhibitors and the upbeat mood of the day, we’re hoping the biggest R-word in Sandwell isn’t ‘Recession’ at the moment, but ‘Regeneration’ …

These are tough trading times for almost everyone, but the future for business in Sandwell needn’t be bleak. Regeneration projects are still going ahead in the borough, creating business opportunities in all sectors. In short, there are £millions’ worth of contracts to be won.

That’s why finditinsandwell organised ‘Made in Sandwell’: to help local manufacturing firms seize the contracts created by Sandwell’s forthcoming regeneration products. During the half-day event at the Bethel Convention Centre in West Bromwich, more than 40 manufacturers exhibited their diverse range of products and components to all of the region’s major regeneration partners, including RegenCo, Tesco and Urban Living.

During the opening speeches, Sandwell MBC’s CEO Allison Fraser talked of Sandwell’s ability to “tough it out” during the economic downturn.

“We will work hard and we will come through this,” she said. “Whatever it takes, we will come through this. We [the Council] are working very hard to make sure all the regeneration projects go ahead in these hard economic times and we are absolutely committed to bringing people together. We can’t break procurement rules but we can help people [to win contracts] on their own merit.”

Allison initiated a round of applause for Steve Massey and the finditinsandwell team, and praised the Sandwell Procurement Pledge which was to be signed that afternoon. A collaboration between Sandwell MBC, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Business Link and Sandwell’s regeneration partners, the pledge asks buyers to source goods and services they need from closer to home.

The welcome speeches were punctuated by a short film celebrating Sandwell’s manufacturing history and looking forward to its bright future. Narrated by historian Carl Chinn, it featured heritage shots of the borough, artists’ impressions of our regenerated landscape, and interviews with prominent local businesspeople. In true finditinsandwell form, the film was made by a local company: Smethwick-based corporate communications firm Nachural.

During the event, local businesspeople were given a unique insight into Sandwell’s many exciting regeneration projects, including our new college, new schools, new RSA academy, a general hospital, 14 new health centres, a new waste processing plant, decent homes and new housing projects, a new crematorium and a new library. Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, delivered a talk on the forthcoming West Bromwich Tesco development (the largest superstore in Europe), which will include a new Police Headquarters and a new school development (Eaton Valley).

A series of professional-development seminars gave delegates tips on – among other things – winning more business overseas, supplying to major contractors and off-site manufacturing.

Meanwhile, students from the Q3 Academy in Great Barr and St Michael’s CE High School in Rowley Regis were assigned to mentors for the morning and began their Made in Sandwell schools challenge, devised by Rowley Regis marketing company Sammy Rose Management Services.

It was a truly ‘local’ celebration. The free lunch buffet came courtesy of a Sandwell catering company, Tipton-based Teni’s, and even the camcorders given out as prizes in the business-card prize draw had been supplied in response to a posting on finditinsandwell.

How did you find the event? We would be so grateful if you could spare five minutes to complete this short survey.

Here’s what people have said so far:

"Well done, Steve, to you and your team."
- Jay Patel, Wolverhampton City Council

"Just wanted to say an enormous THANK YOU for the whole day yesterday. The efforts from yourselves and your team are fantastic. The event on the day was extremely well run and organised and the client portfolio on the day was absolutely excellent. I had a fabulous time on the evening and was most honoured to have been included in your guest list. Keep up the great work and I look forward to the next finditinsandwell event."
- Jane Sweeney, Forkers Limited

"I find local events such as this extremely beneficial, because they are small enough to be intimate, yet cover a broad mix of businesses from the local area. The networking opportunities are immense, and as everyone is local, there appears to be more of a willingness to co-operate locally.

"Thank you and the finditinsandwell team for a most interesting and beneficial day, topped off with a truly exceptional evening at The Public."
- Ray Harriman, Ash & Lacy Building Systems Ltd

"A great chance to hook up with the old, existing and new business contacts. A pledge to keep business and growth within Sandwell will be one of our commitments to help us forge and retain a future."
- Darren Yates, Berck Ltd

"Eco2Solar have attended most of the finditinsandwell events and exhibited or presented at a few. The whole concept is innovative, the website is really helpful and the execution of the events is fantastic. Sandwell are leading the way in the UK and showing other local authorities and public bodies how to get out there and add value to their local business communities."
- Paul Hutchens, Eco2Solar

“I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed yesterday and thank you for inviting the Housing Partnerships Team to attend. We received some positive comments about our projects and also about the whole event itself.”
- Tony Bennett, Acting Principal Partnerships Officer for Sandwell MBC’s Partnerships & Housing Directorate

"On behalf of myself and all my colleagues who attended yesterday, I'd like to offer my thanks for inviting Mansell to take part in such a successful event.

"We're now collating all of the feedback and are sure that there will be a number of positive outcomes over the following days and weeks. It was good to see so many supply chain companies, consultants and potential clients all in one place and the impact was like having a month's worth of business development meetings all in one morning!" - Katie Dobson, Mansell Construction Services Ltd

[Photo of the event coming soon!]

Want another fantastic chance to showcase your business? Sign up for our huge Olympic event in Sandwell in May.