Migrant Leaders & Birmingham Green Councillors Roundtable

Who Benefits from Birmingham’s Economic Future?
A direct conversation between migrant community leaders and Birmingham decision-makers about economic justice, opportunity and who gets to shape our city’s future.
Birmingham is changing. Investment, regeneration, new jobs and economic development will shape the city over the coming years — but who will actually benefit?
Migrants make an enormous contribution to Birmingham’s economy and communities, yet many continue to face barriers to fair employment, career progression, recognition of qualifications and professional experience, entrepreneurship, leadership and access to decision-making. Many people arrive with professional expertise, businesses, ideas and leadership experience, but find that the opportunities available to them after migration do not reflect their skills or potential.
We want to bring those experiences directly to the people involved in shaping Birmingham’s future.
This special CEEus! Economic Justice roundtable will bring migrant community leaders together with Cllr Julien Pritchard, Cllr Jane Baston and Cllr Raheem Humphreys for an open and practical conversation about what needs to change — and importantly, what can actually be changed here in Birmingham.
The conversation will focus on three key areas:
WHO BENEFITS?
Are migrant communities benefiting from Birmingham’s investment, regeneration and economic growth?
WHO PROGRESSES?
What can be done locally to address barriers to fair work, recognition of skills and qualifications, career progression, entrepreneurship and leadership?
WHO DECIDES?
How can migrant community leaders gain greater access to the spaces where decisions about Birmingham’s economy, investment and resources are made? This is not a political presentation or traditional panel discussion. Migrant leaders will be at the centre of the conversation — sharing experiences, asking questions, challenging inequalities and discussing possible solutions directly with elected representatives. The discussion also builds on our More Than a Workforce campaign, which challenges the way migrants are too often viewed simply as a source of labour rather than as professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders and people with valuable skills, knowledge and aspirations.
Most importantly, we want this conversation to lead to action. Together, we will explore practical local opportunities, routes for greater migrant representation in decision-making and issues that can be taken forward beyond the meeting. This is at the heart of our CEEus! Network — bringing migrant communities together to strengthen leadership and collective voice, build direct connections with decision-makers and create real opportunities to influence the systems and decisions that affect our lives.
Be Part of the Conversation
This roundtable is open to migrant community leaders and emerging leaders from all migrant communities, including organisers, community representatives, volunteers, professionals, entrepreneurs and people involved in migrant-led or community organisations.Whether you have years of experience or are just beginning to develop your community leadership, we want different voices, experiences and perspectives in the room.
If you want to connect with other migrant leaders, take part in future opportunities and help us continue pushing for greater economic justice, join the CEEus! Network: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScV64Jw1VnilsMNO9v8ZizqaI1yVFqOBYIRjd8kGGhuvpqHFQ/viewform?usp=header
Migrant communities should not only contribute to Birmingham’s economy — we should have a voice in shaping it.