Sixty-eight per cent of businesses in the West Midlands have suffered disruption to their working day through power cuts in the last two years, a survey by Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) reveals.

Forty-one per cent of West Midlands businesses stated that over the past two years, power cuts have occurred up to five times which has caused serious disruption in production and training, a loss of productivity from the workforce and subsequent equipment problems.

Seventy-four per cent said they had received no explanation about the cause of the cuts.

Will Rogers, policy advisor at BCI, said: “With 85 per cent of businesses having no back up power generation, it is imperative that energy suppliers, public bodies and local councils do more to support the business community.”

The survey comes as Birmingham City Council is publishing its declaration on climate change which will underline the city’s ambition to be at the forefront of the effort to tackle issues around sustainability, both nationally and internationally.

Birmingham City Council’s declaration will be promoted to delegates from around the world at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen this month.