The newly-created Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) now represents over 6,000 businesses and their 200,000-plus employees.

Speaking at last night's Chamber dinner and annual awards at the International Convention Centre, chief executive Jerry Blackett said the group comprised eight membership organisations, including five Chambers of Commerce.

New branding picks up the design adopted by the British Chambers of Commerce and the change of name reflects the expanding activities of Birmingham Chamber, founded 197 years ago.

Mr Blackett added: "We are delighted to now be home to Chambers in Birmingham, Burton and District, Chase; Lichfield and Tamworth and Solihull.

"We are also home to the Institute of Asian Businesses, the Chamber Executive Club and the British American Business Council. Truly, a remarkable portfolio of strong member-led organisations that represent the most economically-vibrant parts of the whole Midlands.

"We are supported by 27 senior patrons - more than any of the other 53 Chamber Patron programmes in the country. In addition, the IAB enjoys the support of five patrons and Solihull Chamber is supported by a further six.

"We serve around 1,500 businesses with our translations business, which turns over £500,000 p.a. Clients include AT&T (including their HQ in Atlanta), Wragge's; Severn Trent Water and Hill and Smith Holdings Ltd. as well as many smaller companies.

"In the last 12 months, we advised over 2,100 individuals regarding their dreams to start a business, with over 900 eventually starting up.

"We also helped over 1,000 individuals from the most disadvantaged areas of Birmingham explore their potential for becoming involved in some sort of entrepreneurial activity.

"We helped 40 businesses significantly reduce their carbon emissions and we trained 88 Job Centre-Plus advisors on what employers need from the Job Centre-Plus recruitment process.

"We have been the key relationship point for the largest 200 businesses in the Birmingham Chamber Group area. We were delighted to win a contract from AWM to do this and to use the opportunity to ensure government gets feedback straight from the horse's mouth as to what our biggest businesses are thinking about the economy etc.

"We are the largest business representative body for Asian businesses via the IAB and the UK's single-largest organiser of overseas trade fairs and exhibitions, with more than 30 in the past 12 months. This saw us take businesses to 15 countries, including China, India, Russia and the USA, taking in major cities such as New York, Washington, Tunis, Manilla, New Delhi, Nairobi, Copenhagen and Geneva.

"Last year we processed over 20,000 export documentations providing an essential service to the region's exporters.

"A key part of what we do is connecting members to opportunities. Last year we ran over 200 member events across the group, connecting over 5,000 businesses."

Mr Blackett spoke of the leadership role the Birmingham Chamber Group plays across Birmingham and the region.

He said: "We are the first choice for government and local politicians when they want to know what business is thinking and what we need to be working on together.

"Whether it is infrastructure like our motorways, High Speed Rail 2, the extension of Birmingham International Airport and New Street Station or what we need to do to improve the skills base in the region, it is the Birmingham Chamber Group to whom decision-makers turn first.

"We are in touch with what our members think and from the Prime Minister downwards, nothing happens that will affect business without our input."