I have had a busy week involving small and medium sized enterprises (SME), so it is only fitting that form the basis of my column this week too. Yesterday I spoke at an excellent conference run by Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM). Driving SME Growth in Solihull: Finance, Support and Business Success brought together businesses from across our borough to gain insight from experts in banking, economics and investment. There were also valuable case studies from successful local SME – Controlsforce (who have been mentioned before in this column), Jumar, and Flags Software.
SME are the backbone of our economy. “A nation of shopkeepers” still rears its head from time to time, but what Margaret Thatcher said in full was “We used to be famous for two things—as a nation of shopkeepers and as the workshop of the world. One is trade, the other is industry. We must get back our reputation.”. I am pleased to say that this vision is alive and well in Solihull. Our SME community, along with their colleagues in big business bestride the spectrum of enterprise. We are shopkeepers, we are a regional, national, and global workshop, and our trade and industry continue to grow hand in hand.
As a council, we pride ourselves on being a friend to business. Our involvement in bodies like BGWM is just part of that. We also provide direct support through Solihull for Success. They help business with locations, getting started, growing and investing. We are one of the best places in the country to do business, connected nationally and internationally and with a wealth of excellent universities and training providers close by.
On the subject of national and international opportunities, I was pleased to hear that a number of Solihull students had gained work experience as part of a prestigious week of Esports events at bp pulse LIVE. 80 young people from Solihull College assisted in a variety of roles during the week, which culminates this weekend in the Rocket League Championship Series 2025 Major Birmingham. Thanks to everyone involved from our employment & skills team and all our partners who made this happen, what a fantastic opportunity it was and I am sure those involved will have benefitted enormously. You can read all about it here.
I will admit that the world of Esports was not one with which I was entirely familiar before Solihull started hosting these events last year, but I have certainly come to see the benefits involved. The digital skills entailed not just in playing the game but in the event and the wider esports world are transferable. It is not an impossible jump from Rocket League to Rocket Science in our modern, digital-focused world. It is just one of new ways at looking at life, work and leisure. Many connections in our lives, whether personally or professionally, are now made this way. We must take advantage of the opportunities it presents, whilst holding on to the best experiences that only in-person connections can offer.
On that subject, I took part in the latest Solihull Pensioners Convention this week, and the digital divide was on the agenda. We remain committed to ensuring that everyone can be kept informed by the Council, but pressures do mean we have to focus on the most efficient ways of reaching most people – in the modern world that means digital means. We also talked about housing development, bus franchising and many other topics. I really value these forums as an important way to hear residents’ questions and concerns directly and find it to be a very constructive environment. I understand some of those in attendance are regular readers of this column, so hello and thank you! I look forward to our next meeting.
Finally, I was pleased to read news of a new trial which saw thousands of men screened for prostate cancer, potentially saving hundreds of lives. I have battled this awful disease myself and I warmly welcome anything that can be done to combat it. I hope this trial, which took place in only a couple of counties, can be rolled out nationally in order to protect thousands more people.
Thanks for reading, I hope the sun stays out this weekend and you get a chance to enjoy it.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council.