Black Country Chamber

Description

​Our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) has been working within the Armed Forces Community since 2013 when they became the training partners to ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ Business start-up programme. BCCC later signed the AFC in 2015 and since then have strived to fulfil its AFC pledge and be a strong advocate of the AFC in the Black Country. BCCC achieved Silver ERS in 2018 and Gold in 2020.

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce team has over the years gained a wealth of experience in developing and encouraging engagement between military and business communities. We work closely with our local WMRFCA to provide our local businesses with support around the armed forces covenant.

Now with the support of FiMT we are able to develop a ‘blueprint’ approach as to how the Chamber of Commerce can effectively support the aims of the covenant, and we have directly seen the benefit it can have on the well-being of the whole Armed Forces Community, in particular to Veterans, Reservists and spouses of serving personnel. We aim to transfer this knowledge and understanding into a consistent package of support which can be rolled out on a national scale.

​About us

The Black Country is a sub-region of the West Midlands. Taking its name from the smoke and smog that bellowed from the manufacturing heartland below, the area is famous for its role as the economic driving force behind the UK’s industrial revolution. The area is home to twice the national average of Manufacturing and Engineering firms, who export their world-class products across the globe. From aerospace to automotive, the region is home to vital members of various integrated global supply chains.

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is the primary business representative organisation in the area, representing around 1,200 members and accounting for around 65,000 employees. From Manufacturing to Hospitality and Universities to Logistics businesses, the Chamber’s membership crosses all sectors.