Birmingham  Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) today paid tribute to David Grove as one of the region's "industrial heroes".

Mr Grove, 63, who was president of the Chamber in 2003, died suddenly at his Warwickshire home on Saturday night. 

He was regarded as one of the UK's most successful businessmen and entrepreneurs and current BCCG president Michael Ward said: "We have lost one of our great industrial heroes. He famously led Hill and Smith to great success both in the UK and globally and his passing is a great loss to UK business. 

"He has similarly led all the individual manufacturing businesses that operate under the banner of Grove Industries to leadership in their sectors.

"David's passing leaves a massive gap. His passion for manufacturing and his conviction about the rising potential of Midlands manufacturers was infectious. He leaves a legacy of achievement that Midlands manufacturers will benefit from for decades".

Jerry Blackett, Chief Executive of the Birmingham Chamber Group said: "David's passion was his belief in the potential for local manufacturing businesses to never stop improving their productivity while at the same time improving quality. 

"His watchword was innovation and he was inspirational to Midlands manufacturers. David also believed he should  put back as much as possible  to the Midlands community. 

"I remember him telling me a year or so ago that he was a lucky man. His businesses were successful and he felt it only right he should use some of his money to help the region. David had a great affection for the work of Birmingham Chamber and had invested in being a Patron of the Chamber for many years. He wanted nothing in return. 

"The last time I saw David was at a 'Help for Heroes' fundraising dinner last week-end. Typically, David had sponsored the drinks reception."

As President of Birmingham Chamber in 2003, Mr Grove came to national prominence. He spoke up tirelessly for manufacturing at a time when it was not fashionable to do so. 

He had the vision to realise that the UK would again appreciate  the importance of making things and he made sure that governments understood this.

In his year as Chamber President, Mr Grove oversaw a number of significant achievements including promoting unity among Birmingham's business community and leading on issues like transport. 

Mr Grove ran Hill & Smith for more than 10 years from the late 1990s during which time the company saw its share price rise from about 40p to 356p. His reputation for turning around businesses with his associates attracted Lord Digby Jones to the company two years ago. Mr Grove  was made an OBE for services to business in 2009  and was the current High Sheriff of the West Midlands.

When he took office at the Chamber, Mr Gove returned to his passion for manufacturing. He said: "You wouldn't expect me not to have a word to say about manufacturing, as this year I am celebrating 30 years of working in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing has many difficulties, but despite some reports it is still alive and innovating.  

"Manufacturing contributes £150 billion to the UK's GDP and accounts for 60 per cent of all exports from the UK. Manufacturing is striving to improve its products, processes and service to its customers, but many government decisions are adding to the cost base with more regulations and hidden taxation.

"We must continue to lobby hard alongside other business organisations against all legislation which makes UK industry less competitive and hands the benefit to our overseas competitors." 

He was also dedicated to the well-being of Birmingham and in his speech to the Chamber banquet in front of the then Leader of the Opposition, Michael Howard, in 2004 suggest the challenge for the business sector, the public sector and indeed, the citizens of Birmingham is to secure Birmingham's place as one of the top business destinations in Europe."

A former winner of the Birmingham Post's Dealmaker of the Year award, Mr Grove was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School and Nottingham University, where he obtained a 2nd Class Honours degree in Economics. In 1973 he qualified as a chartered accountant following three years articles with Ernst & Young in Birmingham and launched his career in manufacturing by joining Johnson & Firth Brown PLC (now named Firth Rixson PLC), which was a steel-related engineering conglomerate.

Mr Grove leaves his wife Jane and two sons.