Business and civic leaders are to meet Birmingham's MPs for a pioneering summit in London to boost the city's lobbying in Whitehall.
The new campaign, dubbed Building a Better Birmingham, is designed to improve the way the city gets its message across to decision-makers.
Representatives from the CBI, Institute of Directors, Birmingham Forward and the Chamber of Commerce are to work with MPs and peers to present a united front.
The campaign, backed by The Birmingham Post, also involves city council officials and councillors from all parties.
The summit, on Tuesday, takes place in Birmingham's London "embassy", a prestigious office in London's Piccadilly, known as Birmingham W1. It follows concern that cities and regions in the north of England have been more effective in presenting their case for investment to the Government.
The event will focus on two specific issues - the need to find funding for the refurbishment of New Street Station, and proposals to shift thousands of civil servant jobs out of London and into regions such as the West Midlands.
This follows a review by Sir Michael Lyons, former Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, on behalf of the Treasury.
But the results so far have been disappointing, according to Derek Inman, chairman of Birmingham Forward, which represents the professional and financial services sector.
He said: " With the exception of the Gambling Commission, nobody is coming to Birmingham."
The commission will regulate gambling and employ about 100 at its Birmingham headquarters.
"So we are lobbying and saying let's have some of these civil servants. It will be good for our economy and good for the Treasury, but costs are lower here than in London. The overall aim is to build a cohesive group to lobby for Birmingham."
