An all-female run funeral provider, a Brierley Hill-based design agency and one of the UK’s theatrical gems were amongst the latest cohort to be named as Bostin’ Black Country businesses.
Walsh Funerals & Memorials, Eighty3Design and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre headlined the dynamic dozen that also includes Black Country Women’s Aid, The Mount Hotel Golf and Country Club, Coinadrink and children’s play and creative space Pippatopia. Nearly 2800 people got involved in the first ever public vote demonstrating the passion for recognising the best companies, organisations and charities in the Black Country.
These votes were combined with feedback from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors to whittle eighteen fantastic nominations down to a final twelve. “We knew the Bostin’ campaign had captured the imagination, but I don’t think any of us thought we would receive such widespread public reaction,” commented Sarah Moorhouse, CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
“To receive nearly 2800 votes - in a campaign that ran for just two weeks - is brilliant and we loved seeing how the nominated firms got involved to spread the message and generate backing for their own businesses.” She continued: “Our dynamic dozen really shows the eclectic mix of talent we have in our fabulous region.
“We’ve got pioneering manufacturing firms producing components that help make the world go round, we’ve got digital specialists that are creating the professionals of the future and we’ve even got a risk transformation specialist. What was really telling is when we asked them all what made the Black Country Bostin’, they came back with ‘the people’.”
Bostin’ Black Country Business has been created with the promise of changing perceptions and increasing economic performance. It is unpicking the strengths of the region by championing its most innovative, resilient, creative and globally trading companies and, to date, has received widespread local, national and broadcast coverage.
The Chamber plans to add new companies over the next six months, ultimately building an alumni-style community of 50 members. The cohort currently stands at thirty businesses, with BlackRook Academy, Thomas Dudley MoRServ, Regent Engineering (Walsall) and Union Fasteners the other winners of the public vote.
Sarah went on to add: “Our Bostin’ businesses are really driving forward business growth, helping to tell the story of our region and taking our message out to a national and even global stage.” Lucy Rook, Managing Director of BlackRook Academy, concluded: “There’s a beautiful self-deprecating humour about people from the Black Country that’s part of our underlying charm. However, this sometimes means we don’t promote our achievements.
“We want to change that by shouting loudly about the Black Country’s innovative, hardworking and values-led businesses. Being able to tell those stories better - sharing what companies do, why they do it and the impact they have - helps build trust, supports recruitment and raises the profile of the area.”
You can visit the Bostin’ Hall of Fame at https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/bostin.
