Pictured above: Ross Gurdin, Policy Advisor at Birmingham Chamber Group

Cancelled trains, airport shut-downs and road closures due to the freezing conditions are contributing to West Midlands businesses losing nearly £73 million a day, according to a survey by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG).   

Thirty-nine per cent of members are citing the bad weather as having a negative impact.

Ross Gurdin, policy advisor at BCCG, said: "The last spell of snow and ice in January this year cost 52.9 per cent of Chamber members as much as £10,000 each."  

The current survey shows business loses money when 63 per cent of staff are absent and 56 per cent are late. Half had to increase heating which has increased costs and 32 per cent have lost business through late deliveries.

Sixty-one per cent of businesses have said that technology is helping to alleviate some of the negative impact with the advantages of conference calling and being able to work from home.

Companies surveyed are calling on the government to keep transport moving as much as possible, to invest in British manufactured equipment which will help to clear snow and to invest in more stock piles of grit.  The survey also called for better, more resilient, public transport.

Ross Gurdin said: "It is estimated that the current bad weather could cost the West Midlands £72.7 million per day."