New president Paul Bassi set to shake up Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Oct 15 2009 by Anna Blackaby, Birmingham Post

“On the Continent, where Chamber membership is compulsory for businesses in several countries, there is a highly visible Chamber brand and it is that sort of standing that we must seek to replicate in the West Midlands.

“Additionally, I am very keen to expand the patronage scheme even though we already have the largest such programme in the country. Our feedback from patrons is that they get excellent value from us with direct contributions to their business objectives.

“The current economic climate may bring forward the opportunity of the merger of Chambers in the West Midlands. This may well be a sensible and prudent way of streamlining operations and Birmingham Chamber has a significant contribution to make to this.”

Mr Bassi, who is also High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands for 2009, has many business interests. His AIM-listed investment vehicle, Real Estate Investors, has a strong focus on Birmingham and recently completed the acquisition of a new retail parade of 11 units in the city centre for £2.2 million in cash.

There has been speculation that Mr Bassi will take the company private after he purchased extra shares, taking his personal interest to 24.48 per cent of the issued share capital.

Mr Bassi, who appears at No.33 in this year’s Birmingham Post Power 50, is also chairman of property agents and auctioneers Bond Wolfe and Bigwood Chartered Surveyors, the quoted firm where he is also its largest shareholder.

He co-founded Bond Wolfe in 1983 with his managing director Rory Daly. He is also a former regional chairman of Coutts Bank and is a director of Birmingham Hippodrome.

Mr Bassi is a former winner of the Asian Jewel Award Entrepreneur of the Year title and became the youngest winner, at 43, of the Lloyds TSB Lifetime Achievement Award for services to business and the community.