A MALVERN man has been elected executive chairman of the first West Midlands Business Council.

Bob Michaelson will be chairing what is being hailed as the "voice" of business for the region.

It is the first Regional Business Council in the country, and its members will be elected to the Government's proposed West Midlands Regional Assembly in due course.

Mr Michaelson is also chairman of the Conservative Business Forum and the West Midlands Institute of Directors, and plans to continue chairing all three organisations.

The Business Council will represent all sectors of commerce and industry, as well as professional bodies and trade organisations in the region.

"The time has come for business to have a single, effective lobbying organisation in the region and this is what the Business Council will be," said Mr Michaelson.

"We will be able to speak with one voice on the issues that most dramatically affect the ability of businesses in the region to thrive and prosper.

"The establishment of the council shows that the business sector recognises the need to speak with a single, strong voice on important, regional policy issues."

Council members include representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Directors, the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) and the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce.

The organisation will be based at the offices of the West Midlands Engineering Employers Federation, in Edgbaston, Birmingham.