Birmingham's support organisations should merge into Team Birmingham to eliminate mixed messages and confusion, a large gathering of business people in the city was told last night (Thursday, September 16).

President Paul Bassi was speaking to nearly 750 guests at the annual dinner and awards of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) at the International Convention Centre.

He said: "We need to get much better at coming together as Team Birmingham. 

"Frankly, we have too many individual organisations seeking to speak for a particular part of our city. The Birmingham Chamber Group, Marketing Birmingham, Birmingham Forward and Birmingham City Council are just a few of the local bodies I could mention. 

"Add to this the regional business bodies like the CBI, EEF, FSB and the IoD and you get a recipe for mixed messages and, potentially, confusion in what we are saying as a city." 

Mr Bassi, the chairman of property group Bond Wolfe and chief executive of Real Estate Investors plc, said a good example was the work underway to design a number of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to replace the work of AWM. 

He added: "The multiple number of bodies interested in how LEPs develop and the tension between what should happen at a regional level versus what should be delivered locally has seen us deliver mixed messages to government at a time when we should be demonstrating our ability to work together.

"If Birmingham was one business, we would not allow multiple marketing departments to compete with each other, using a variety of different logos and brands. 

"It really is time to put all these organisations under one roof for the sake of the greater good. I don't want to be the Second City of the UK; I don't want to lose space to Manchester or Liverpool; I don't want to lose the next City of Culture bid or the next National Stadium! 

"I believe Birmingham can be one of the world's great cities. We would get there quicker if we could have a single strong cohesive message under one custodian but with an army of leaders, supporters and ambassadors.

"I'd like to see all the organisations take an ambitious approach to this. The development of the Birmingham Chamber Group has shown what can be achieved under one umbrella. 

"The Chamber Group now houses Chambers in Birmingham, Solihull, Burton and District, Cannock Chase and Lichfield and Tamworth. We are also home to the Institute of Asian Businesses and the British American Business Council. 

"Individual members of all these organisations are now seeing the benefits of what can be achieved when being part of a strong organisation but within which it is possible to enjoy a distinct identity and freedom of action.

"We must strengthen our leadership. As good as they are, Mike Whitby, as the Leader of Birmingham City Council, and Jerry Blackett, CEO of the Chamber, can't do this job on their own.

"Not even with the help of Mick Laverty, AWM's CEO who has been a big supporter of the city. I know these men well and they are caring, passionate and committed individuals who are doing their very best."   

Mr Bassi presented a challenge to his audience when he said: "Too many of us are all too ready to criticise those making decisions but are quite simply not prepared to roll-up our sleeves and make a contribution. 

"We enjoy in our region some of the most talented professionals and entrepreneurs to be found anywhere in the UK but with some honourable exceptions, we are not seeing enough of these individuals going the extra mile to make a contribution."

On the economic front, Mr Bassi said: "The recession, while undoubtedly challenging, has not turned out to be an economic Armageddon.

"The banks have survived and if the UK banking stress-system tests are to be believed, our banks are relatively stable. Growth in the economy has returned, albeit weakly, with retail sales, housing values and exports delivering positive results. 

"Remarkably, the UK political system coped with an electorate unconvinced by any single party and we are now seeing a coalition government tackle the economy with some determination and speed."

Mr Bassi concluded by saying that the new Local Enterprise Partnerships provided an excellent opportunity to deal with the challenges he had outlined. 

He said that one of the largest LEPs in the country will be the one that includes Birmingham, Solihull and Southern Staffordshire and he added: 

"Never was there a better time for us to complete the work on our identity so that we have a clear and compelling message and to see us organise ourselves in the such a way that Team Birmingham is seen to deliver this message in a strong and united way.

"I am very optimistic about the future of Birmingham and the region. Birmingham Chamber stands ready to play its part in delivery of this future and is in good shape to do so."