As someone who grew up in the Midlands and now lives here, with Birmingham quite literally on my doorstep, I’ve always believed the city has an incredible story to tell.

That was one of the topics we explored at our recent Communicating Ambition in Uncertain Times: Shaping Birmingham’s Future event, which brought together communications, marketing and corporate affairs professionals from across the region.

The audience reflected the breadth of Birmingham’s economy, with representatives from charities, hospitality, travel, banking, manufacturing, professional services, infrastructure and culture all contributing to the discussion.

With the conversation led by Grayling’s very own Joey Jones, we were joined by a fantastic panel including Jeremy Dale, CEO of Birmingham City Football Club, Neil Rami, CEO of the West Midlands Growth Company, Shah Begum, Head of Outreach and Social Value at United by 2022, and Joanne Roney CBE, Managing Director of Birmingham City Council, to ask a simple question: how do cities build confidence, attract investment and communicate ambition when things feel so uncertain?

One thing that became clear quickly was that many people in the room agreed Birmingham has a brilliant story to tell. The challenge therefore isn’t finding the story – it’s making sure we’re telling it clearly, confidently and regularly enough.

Birmingham’s next chapter

That feels especially relevant right now. Birmingham is changing quickly, with major regeneration projects, infrastructure investment and developments like Birmingham City Football Club’s proposed Sports Quarter helping shape the city’s future.

Backed by our client, Knighthead Capital Management, the Sports Quarter is about more than physical regeneration. It has the potential to influence how people think and feel about Birmingham – both within the city and beyond it – and demonstrates the scale of ambition that exists here.

No organisation can do it alone

What I found particularly interesting was how often the conversation kept coming back to partnership. There was real agreement that no single organisation can tell Birmingham’s story alone. Whether it’s civic leadership, business, cultural institutions or community organisations, meaningful progress depends on people working together towards a shared vision and goal.

I was also struck by how quickly people from very different sectors found common ground. Whether they worked in banking, manufacturing, transport, hospitality or the charity sector, there was a shared belief that Birmingham has huge potential and an important role to play nationally.

Trust still matters

Closely linked to that was trust. Regardless of whether you’re communicating with investors, stakeholders or local communities, the fundamentals remain the same. People respond best to consistency, honesty and transparency.

The role of communications

Another point that stayed with me long after the event, was the increasingly important role communications teams have to play. In a world of misinformation, competing narratives and shrinking attention spans, it’s no longer enough to simply react to events as they happen. Instead, organisations need to be proactive in telling their stories, celebrating success and helping people understand where they’re heading.

There was also a real energy in the room. Some of the most interesting conversations happened after the panel finished, when attendees from completely different sectors found themselves discussing many of the same challenges. For me, that showed just how relevant these issues are for communications professionals today.

Looking ahead

Ultimately, it was clear from our event that Birmingham already has strong foundations in place. It has ambitious businesses, world-class institutions, major investment and people who genuinely care about its future.

As both a communications professional and someone who calls the Midlands home, I left the event feeling proud and optimistic. Not because the city has all the answers, but because there are so many talented people across Birmingham working hard to shape its future – and willing to work together to make a real difference.

This article was written by Katie Pretty, Director in Grayling Birmingham.