2020 was a modern year like no other. The Covid-19 pandemic will continue for some time yet, but recovery must start now. We are learning to live with this virus. Jobs and livelihoods depend on getting our economy back up and running in full.

In the last 12 months our response to the pandemic has been both global and local. A worldwide event has involved individuals and businesses focussing on issues closer to home. It is natural in the face of a new threat to look inwards and to protect what you have.

As the country begins to emerge from the worst of the pandemic, now is the time to lift our gaze and scan the horizon. To spot new opportunities. To consider new innovations. A lot of what we do next as a country will be driven at a local level and within individual businesses, but more so than ever, we need to come together.

The British Chambers of Commerce are a network of 53 accredited Chambers who span the entirety of the UK. We represent tens of thousands of businesses of all shapes and sizes, which employ almost six million people. Sheffield Chamber have joined up with Devon and Plymouth Chamber to explore how businesses, wherever they are based, can help shape the national recovery effort.

There is a risk that levelling up becomes levelling down. That the North Vs the South becomes the dominant theme of the next few years. Businesses have an opportunity to lead the way. They have an opportunity to say that, wherever we are based, our recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic will stem from our ability to work together.

To focus the discussion, we will explore four key themes:

• Environment: Businesses role in net zero
• Transport: Regional and global connectivity supporting economic growth
• Skills: Shaping the workforce of the future
• Technology: Embracing new and emerging technologies

You are invited and you can engage. The event will assume a ‘Question Time’ style format providing you the opportunity to submit a question in advance for our expert panel to consider.

Focusing on the environment, transport, skills, and technology where do you see the opportunities for business? Equally, what support is required from Government to act as a stimulus for growth and what are the challenges?

Submit your questions to: [email protected]

The debate will be shaped and hosted by The British Chambers of Commerce Co-Executive Director, Hannah Essex.
Further details on our panellists are included below. Do not miss your opportunity to join fellow business leaders from across the country for an interactive and informative session.

Host and Panellists

Host: Hannah Essex
Hannah Essex is Co-Executive Director at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) a role she shares with Claire Walker. BCC sits at the heart of a business network that spans the length and breadth of the UK, with links to markets across the world.
Claire and Hannah lead the British Chambers campaigns, communications, public affairs, policy and senior representative work on behalf of the Chamber Network.

Panellist: Martin McKervey 
Martin is a Director of AESSEAL plc- a global manufacturing company with a net zero carbon footprint in it’s UK operations.
Martin is Chair of the Sheffield Property Association, Vice Chair of the Sheffield Culture Collective and a Non Executive Director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
He has a broad portfolio of work as a trustee in a number of charitable and voluntary organisations.
Martin is the High Sheriff of the County of South Yorkshire nominate for 2021/22.

Panellist: Luke Pollard MP
As Shadow Secretary for the Environment Luke has been at the centre of Westminster politics during the coronavirus pandemic, whilst also representing the business and public communities of his constituency in Plymouth. Born and bred in Plymouth, Luke Pollard was elected as the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in June 2017, and re-elected in 2019.

Panellist: Alison Edgar MBE
Alison Edgar MBE also known as ‘The Entrepreneur’s Godmother’ to a plethora of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, brings a matchless amalgamation of outside of the box thinking, insight, and knowledge to the world of professional development and leadership.

Panellist: Tim Elgar
Tim is part of the dynamic leadership team at Twinkl, an organisation that helps those who teach by creating high quality resources and tools ranging from schemes of work and assessments to augmented reality games and much more. Twinkl is proud to support educators of all kinds across the world and now has over 9.9 million sign-ups to its website. Tim leads on organisational culture, leadership and regional engagement for Twinkl.