Millions of young people across the country are set to benefit from a significant £2.5 billion boost so they can learn in high quality buildings and facilities... v
Community Liaison Officer and UK Youth and Community Goodwill Ambassador Zaf has been heavily involved in getting communities together...
Parents, over-50s, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will have opportunities arising from changes announced in the Budget...
Leaders from across the sport industry came together on Saturday 25 March to deliver Loughborough University’s student-led initiative the Black in Sport Summit...
Tauseef
Charlie
Syed
Grace
Bea
Mohammed
Khalid
Fateha
Muhammad
People who work within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone are being encouraged to take advantage of the city’s pioneering Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Credit Scheme.
Introduced to help commuters affected by the introduction of an £8 daily fee to enter the Clean Air Zone, the scrappage scheme aims to take older and more polluting cars off the streets by offering drivers a £2,000 grant towards the cost of a new, more environmentally friendly model from Motorpoint’s stores in Birmingham and Oldbury.
The scrappage scheme is operated as a partnership between Motorpoint – the UK’s largest independent retailer of nearly new cars and vans – and Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The £10m scrappage scheme aims to support people working in the Clean Air Zone providing an option of scrapping a vehicle that would otherwise be subject to the daily fee.
In return for scrapping a vehicle, successful applicants to the scheme can receive a £2,000 grant which can be used on a ‘travel credit’ that can be used on the city’s public transport network or to purchase a vehicle that meets the emission standards of the Clean Air Zone.
Councillor Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport at Birmingham City Council said: “Since the launch of the Clean Air Zone, the percentage of the most polluting vehicles entering Birmingham city centre has more than halved, which is helping to reduce the levels of air pollution in our city.
“Through our partnership with Motorpoint, we’re encouraging people who work in the Clean Air Zone to scrap a non-compliant vehicle in exchange for
a £2,000 credit that can be redeemed against public transport or a replacement, compliant vehicle. This scheme underlines our commitment to supporting the transformation of Birmingham to a clean air city.”
Mark Jones, General Sales Manager, Motorpoint Oldbury said: “We’ve had a lot of interest in the scrappage scheme with successful applicants receiving their £2000 grant either to replace their existing vehicle or using it for ‘public travel
credit’ purposes. The scrappage scheme provides those commuters who work within the Clean Air Zone boundary an opportunity to change their older noncompliant car to a nearly new car that meets the Clean Air Standards and so avoid the daily £8 charge.
“All of our cars are 100% CAZ compliant. Our staff are very knowledgeable about the scheme, and we have over 30 makes and models to suit people’s budgets and driving needs. We know nearly
new cars are far more efficient cars to run and are all at unbeatable prices.”
One driver who has already taken advantage of the scrappage scheme at Motorpoint’s Oldbury is Anthony Brown of Selly Oak.
Anthony, who works for a bank in Birmingham city centre, scrapped a 60-plate Vauxhall Insignia worth around £1,500 and put his £2,000 credit towards a 69-plate Kia Sportage with much lower emissions.
He felt compelled to apply for the grant when he realised driving into the city in his old diesel car was going to cost him £8-per-day, before he factored in the cost of fuel and parking.
He recommends that commuters facing similar fees for driving older cars into the CAZ should look into the scheme.
“This is a very good scheme,” Anthony said, “and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is eligible. £2,000 is an offer you just can’t ignore.”
He added: “Motorpoint Oldbury also has a great variety of cars to choose from that meet the criteria of the Clean Air Zone. They were brilliant from start to finish and were able to answer all my questions about the scheme and to help me find a CAZ-compliant car that was right for me.”
Delivering on the Prime Minister’s pledge earlier this year to clamp down on these crimes, the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, will make sure that this issue is treated with the urgency it deserves, establish a zero tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour, and give the police and local authorities the tools they need to tackle the problem.
Under the plan, 16 areas in England and Wales will be funded to support either new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, or trial a new ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme to deliver swift and visible punishments. A select few areas will trial both interventions, and following these initial trailblazers, both schemes will be rolled out across England and Wales from 2024.
Hotspot trailblazer areas will see an increase in police presence alongside other uniformed authority figures, such as wardens, in problem areas for anti-social behaviour, including public transport and high streets or parks. The increased presence will help deter anti-social behaviour, step up enforcement action against offenders, make sure crimes are punished more quickly and drive deterrence efforts, helping to stop anti-social behaviour spiralling into more serious criminality.
Under the new Immediate Justice scheme, those found committing antisocial behaviour will be made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence so victims know antisocial behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.
Offenders, who will be made to wear high-vis vests or jumpsuits and work under supervision, could be made to pick up litter, remove graffiti and wash police cars as punishment for their actions, and victims of antisocial behaviour from the local community will be given a say in offenders’ punishments to ensure justice is visible and fits the crime. The trailblazers will be launched as soon as possible and follow research that shows that anti-social behaviour is the main reason people do not feel safe in their local area. Under the zero-tolerance approach, Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” will also be banned to send a clear message to intimidating gangs, that hang around high streets and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, that they will not get away with this behaviour. The drug is now the third most used among 16 to 24-year-olds in England and both the police and public have repeatedly reported links between use of the drug and nuisance or anti-social behaviour.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:
“The British public are fed up with crime and nuisance behaviour in their neighbourhoods inflicting misery on people.
“There is no such thing as petty crime –not only does antisocial behaviour leave people feeling unsafe, it can also be a gateway into serious criminality.
“It has always been my priority to give police the powers they need to deliver a common-sense approach to cutting crime, which puts the law-abiding majority first, and that’s what this action plan delivers.”
Minister Rishi Sunak said:
nities, and that is why the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan is critical.
“So we will intervene directly to prevent high street dereliction. We will deliver tougher, quicker and more visible justice to prevent thuggish behaviour in town centres and we will ensure young people have the opportunities and activities available to them to succeed – all backed by new investment.
“This is about acting on the people’s priorities, delivering safer streets so we can level up across the country.”
Police will also be given new powers to crackdown on illegal drug use, often a catalyst for other crimes, including expanding powers for drug testing on arrest so more suspected criminals can be tested, and more drugs tested for, including ecstasy and methamphetamine.
Currently, only suspected criminals who have committed certain offences can be tested in police detention without additional requirements, but we will expand the range of trigger offences to include crimes linked to violence against women and girls, serious violence and anti-social behaviour.
The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.
This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:
“Anti-social behaviour erodes local pride, blights our high streets and parks and is a stain on too many communities across the country.
“We know that it is more likely to flourish in areas that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
“This government was elected on a mandate to deliver change for those commu-
A new reporting tool will also be developed over the next twelve months to act as a digital one-stop shop where people can quickly and easily report incidents of anti-social behaviour when these occur. The tool will help address problems people have faced when trying to report these sorts of crimes because of a lack of clarity around how to raise an issue or who to speak to, or a lack of confidence that these crimes will be dealt with seriously.
As well as being able to report any type of anti-social behaviour, people will have access through the tool to advice and guidance on what to do next in their cases and receive updates on what action is being taken by local police and councils following a report being logged. As well as giving the public confidence that action is being taken, the tool will help support local agencies to share information on perpetrators within their local area more effectively, so that they can more quickly identify repeat offenders and take the necessary action to prevent future crimes from happening in the first place Other measures announced today include:
• Increasing the punishment for those who graffiti, litter or fly tip with fines of up to £500 and £1,000– council league tables will be published for fly tipping, and we will work with the Office for Local Government to increase transparency and improve accountability on antisocial behaviour outcomes.
• Giving landlords and housing associa-
tions more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly
• Reopening empty shops by giving councils new powers to quickly take control and sell off empty buildings
• An anti-social behaviour Taskforce jointly led by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up will bring together national and local partners, with a sole focus of addressing anti-social behaviour and restoring pride in place in communities. This will bring together Police and Crime Commissioners, police and local partners and agencies
• An extra one million hours of youth services in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour to put people on the right track and prevent them from offending in the first place
• Tackling the awful practice of ‘cuckooing’ or home invasion by engaging with stakeholders on the scope of a potential new criminal offence
• Parks and green spaces will also be restored with up to £5 million to make them safer with new CCTV and repairing equipment and playgrounds, and to plant more trees and flowers
Nobody should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live which is why government committed to repealing the antiquated Vagrancy Act, passed in 1824. This comes alongside last year’s unprecedented £2 billion commitment over three years to accelerate efforts to end rough sleeping for good. It will be made an offence for criminal gangs to organise begging networks for extra cash, which is often used to facilitate illegal activities. To ensure police and local councils can address activity which is intimidating or causes the public distress, they will have the tools to direct people causing nuisance on the street, including obstructing shop doorways and begging by cash points, towards the support they need, such as accommodation, mental health or sub-
stance misuse services. The debris and paraphernalia which causes blight will then be cleared.
The Government has also today announced that an additional 43 youth centres are to benefit from the next £90 million investment from the Youth Investment Fund, distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
As a result, 45,000 more young people a year will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and regular, out-of-school activities, as part of an overall £300 million to be distributed through 2025. From Lincolnshire to Liverpool, Peterborough to Portsmouth, the Government’s National Youth Guarantee will support the wellbeing of young people in some of the country’s most underserved areas, giving them opportunities to develop vital skills for life, and empowering them to be active members of their community.
The new cross-government action plan builds on the Government’s focus to deliver common sense policing, backed by an unprecedented recruitment drive of 20,000 additional officers by the end of March, which we are on track to achieve.
It works in tandem with our priorities to drive down murder rates, tackle serious violence – including against women and girls – and solve and prevent more burglaries.
Neighbourhood crimes like burglary, robbery and theft have dropped by 24% since December 2019 but government wants this driven down further and to see more burglaries solved, which is why the Home Secretary called for police forces in England and Wales to send an officer to attend every domestic burglary.
The Government has also funded 216 projects via rounds one and two of the Levelling Up Fund, totally £3.8 billion, which is driving the regeneration of town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport and investing cultural and heritage assets.
Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.
Millions of young people across the country are set to benefit from a significant £2.5 billion boost so they can learn in high quality buildings and facilities that are fit for the future.
Schools and colleges will receive investment to upgrade classrooms and refurbish buildings that will provide high quality learning environments – benefitting communities for years to come.
Since 2010, one million school places have been created, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations. Thanks to this new tranche of funding, thousands of additional primary and secondary school places will be created in good or outstanding schools for September 2026.
This comes on top of the School Rebuilding Programme which will transform buildings at 500 schools across the country over the next decade – prioritising those in poor condition. The government has already invested over £13 billion in school capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings since 2015. The funding announced today includes:
• A £1.8 billion investment for the 202324 financial year to improve the con-
dition of the school estate across England. This builds on over £13 billion to upgrade school buildings since 2015.
• A further £487 million will be invested to support councils to provide additional school places needed for September 2026.
• Alongside this, 146 colleges will benefit from the final phase of the £1.5 bil-
lion Further Education Capital Transformation Programme, to upgrade buildings and transform campuses.
The FE Capital Transformation Programme is just one part of a wider programme of government investment to transform post-16 education and training, ensuring that every student can gain the skills they need to progress and secure a
good job. This includes massive investment to support the roll out of new T Levels, boost capacity so there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old and a £300 million investment to establish a network of Institutes of Technology.
The city council today unveiled plans for Birmingham Festival 23 to mark the one year anniversary of the Commonwealth Games.
The festival will celebrate the city’s creativity, as a sign of its ongoing commitment to funding culture.
Commissioned and supported by Birmingham City Council, the Festival will take place in Centenary Square with a 10 day programme of free events that showcase the City’s rich cultural offer, which will be announced in June. Birmingham Festival 23 will be delivered by the team behind the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Festival, including Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) and JA Productions, led by Creative Director Raidene Carter and Executive Director Will Mauchline, and with programme partners including SAMPAD, Fabric, ACE Dance & Music, and United By 2022 Legacy Charity.
Cllr Jayne Francis, cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism, said: “The Festival is going to be wonderful – 10 days of brilliant, free entertainment celebrating all that is great about the city and region, showcasing the creativity across our communities. The Commonwealth Games showed Birmingham – the city and people – at its absolute best and we want to see a lasting legacy for all our residents, businesses and visitors. We’re going to show everyone, once again, how brilliant Brum is!”
Birmingham City Council leader Cllr
Ian Ward said: “In addition to 11 days of world class sport, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games were a huge
celebration of our city’s fantastic culture and creativity and we promised 2022 would be just the start. The Festival will once again shine a spotlight on the youth and diversity that make Birmingham such an amazing city.”
Proudly outdoors and free to access, the Festival will echo the city-centre experience of the Games, taking over Centenary Square with live music and performance, creative and participatory activities, and big-screen content to conjure the shared experiences, magic and memories of the summer of ‘22.
The Festival also serves to celebrate the city’s rich cultural offer through
programming committed to diversity, inclusion and homegrown talent.
Commonwealth Games Federation, President, Dame Louise Martin, said: “The people of Birmingham truly embraced the 2022 Commonwealth Games, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. Staging this Festival to celebrate and recapture the joy of the Games is a fitting tribute to everyone’s achievements. ‘It is just one part of the lasting legacy of the Games, which accelerated regeneration and investment, and we are delighted to be an official partner. We can’t wait to see what this fantastic city has to offer its residents,
businesses and visitors in the longer term.”
Across 10 days and 9 evenings from Friday 28 July – Sunday 6 August, Birmingham Festival 23 will welcome audiences, artists, local communities and volunteers, reflecting the diversity of the city, to come together to watch, listen, relax, dance and play. It will be a joyous, fun and heartfelt homage to our big summer of sport and culture, and another bold showcase of Birmingham’s talent, character and reputation as a world-class destination for major events. Birmingham Festival 23 Patron Steven Knight CBE said: “I’m
proud to be a Patron for Birmingham Festival 23 and proud that Birmingham City Council truly values culture. The Games are still very fresh in people’s minds, it was such a joyful period in the city’s history. And now, with a great team pulling out all the stops to make this year’s events a celebration of the anniversary, people will again have something to look forward to that everyone can enjoy, and it’s all FREE. I can’t wait to see what the programme has in store.”
Today Birmingham Festival 23 also launches ‘Made in Brum’, an open call to creative community groups and artists in the city to feature in the Festival programme.
Raidene Carter, who was Executive Producer for Birmingham 2022 Festival, said “Last year we really showcased Birmingham’s creativity and it ran through everything from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies watched by millions, the Medal Design process with local students, to the more discrete handcrafted gifts and experiences created for athletes – we no longer have to prove to the world that this place is full of talent. So, this year is about really celebrating how creative this city is, and the thousands of people who took part. That’s why we’re encouraging more artists, collectives and creatives to get involved. Birmingham Festival 23 is just the start of what we imagine to be a longer term cultural legacy of the city.”
In addition to Steven Knight CBE, former gold-medal winning Team England Netball Captain, Ama Agbeze will also be a Patron of the festival, signifying the city’s cultural and sporting ambitions.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:
This significant investment will transform school and college buildings across the country so that they are fit for the future and can provide the best education for students, no matter where they live.
We want every young person to have access to high-quality facilities and learning environments, to gain the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity into further study and work, whilst supporting efforts to grow the economy.
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The SHE Awards was launched in 2018 by Sharifa Begum and husband Imdad Basit from Chadwell Heath to celebrate the centenary of women’s right to vote in the UK.
The SHE Awards recognises and celebrates the achievements of women from all walks of life.
The 6th annual SHE awards was hosted on 8th March celebrating International Women’s day at the Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell.
Over 300 people from all over the UK attended to support their family and friends and the evening saw 50 people from all over the UK receive an award.
This year it was hosted by BBC radio presenter Noreen Khan who said “She loved the vibe and the fact we were celebrating real women and not celebrities makes it special”
2019 Apprentice winner Carina Lepore delivered a talk on her journey and win on the Apprentice.
Humanitarian and motivational speaker Tulsi Vagjiani delivered a talk on this year’s international women’s day theme gender equity.
The categories included Business, community, arts, health, role model, young Champion, culinary, Nutrition, volunteers, sustainable small business and warrior.
This morning’s resident doctor Dr Nighat Arif was awarded an honorary award for her outstanding contribution to Women’s health.
Saira runs accredited bridal school Million Dollar Look London where she supports students from across the UK to start their own careers as artists. She also runs Elite Health Nutrition centre which was founded in 2014 with the following mission: “The majority of people in this day and age overeat and are undernourished; we teach our clients how to over nourish themselves without the need
The award was so special to Saira as her late mother who lost her life to head and neck cancer always inspired her to chase after her dreams
despite the adversities . After Saira’s office burnt down in 2019 due to a fire resulting in a complete loss of business, she rebuilt herself and her brand through hard work and a support system. She
Ramadan is a time of huge generosity among British Muslims, and the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, as well as the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, make it especially important that their charitable contributions support good causes through registered charities. Regulators are therefore issuing advice to remind Brit-
ish Muslims to make checks, ensuring their donations reach registered charities. Most fundraising is genuine, however fraudsters and criminals sometimes take advantage of public generosity at times of increased giving, using methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine chari-
The British Muslim community are incredibly generous. This generosity enables charities both at home and abroad to undertake crucial work impacting those that need it most. By carrying out a few simple checks you can make sure that you are giving to a genuine cause and that your generously donated money reaches its intended destination.
British Muslims are immensely generous in their support for good causes, especially during Ramadan. It’s vital that generosity reaches those in desperate need – whether here at home, in Turkey and Syria, or around the world. By following a few simple checks, donors can continue giving to registered charities with confidence.
ties, or appeals from fake charities. There have been several reports of fake appeals on social media to help those affected by the disaster in Turkey and Syria. We recommend these simple steps donors can take to make sure their donations reach their intended cause:
• Check the charity’s name and registration number on the Charity Register at www.gov.uk/ checkcharity – most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.
• Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
• Be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.
• Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they are spending their funds
• Look out for the Fundraising Badge – the logo that says ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’ – and check the Fundraising Regulator’s Directory of organisations which have committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
• A face-to-face collector should have a licence from the relevant Local Authority Licensing team or the Metropolitan Police (in Greater London).
If after making these checks you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud over the phone at 0300 123 2040 or online.
Fadi Itani, CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum said:
Giving to others holds spiritual significance in Islamic teachings, however this good-will can sometimes be taken advantage of. It’s vitally important for donors to give smart and give safe in order to have the most benefit to those in need. Donors must check carefully and give to only registered charities that specialise in the cause, are present in afflicted areas, and who offer regulated and secure donation methods. This will ensure that funds can have the most impact in changing and saving the lives of others.
UK Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie, said:
It was a huge pleasure to visit both Malaysia and Vietnam this week, hearing their strategic objectives and challenges, and discussing ways we can continue our long-standing defence cooperation. The Indo-Pacific region is critical to our economy and security, and our commitment to upholding an open
The UK celebrated historic defence relationships in the IndoPacific as Defence Minister Baroness Goldie visited Malaysia and Vietnam this week.
Reinforcing the UK’s commitment to the region, Baroness Goldie discussed the UK’s recent Integrated Review Refresh and how the AUKUS agreement will support regional stability.
First visiting Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the Minister met with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan on Tuesday, discussing the deepening of bilateral cooperation and Defence ties through Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, Baroness Goldie met with Vice Minister Chien of the Ministry of National Defence and attended the UK and Vietnam’s Fourth Defence Policy Dialogue – an annual bilateral meeting between the two nations, agreeing the future framework for joint defence cooperation.
Reinforcing the UK’s commitment to the region, Baroness Goldie undertook several engagements during her visit, including:
• Meeting UK personnel at the FPDA’s military headquarters at RMAF Butterworth in Penang.
• Visiting Sapura Group, in support of their UK partner TriCIS to discuss cyber communications and security.
• Visiting the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations to discuss further UK support.
• Meeting representatives from Five Eyes partners to discuss the alliance and further opportunities for cooperation.
• Meeting with Vietnamese government delegates to discuss the UK’s recently launched Women Peace and Security Strategy and how the UK and Vietnam can work together to protect women in conflict and promote peace.t
In both countries, Baroness Goldie also paid her respects to those who have given their lives in conflicts, laying a wreath at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) Cemetery in Taiping and another at the Bac Son Martyr Memorial Monument in Hanoi.
The Minister’s visit reconfirms the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, a region critical to the UK’s economy, security, and our commitment to an open and stable international order.
South and City College Birmingham, Community Liaison Officer and UK Youth and Community Goodwill Ambassador Zaf has been heavily involved in getting communities together to help out Turkey. Zaf, who is an Ambassador for UCF, charity founded by Feraz Younus who were the first to go out in Turkey to help out during the earthquake. More than 44,000 people lost their lives and thousands have lost their homes and Zaf has been at the forefront in supporting this noble cause. Zaf with the support of South and City College Birmingham staff and students, West Midlands Police and the Crimestoppers have sent over:
• 300 duvets
• 480 pillows
• 220 Commonwealth T shirts
• 500 jumpers
• 200 back packs
• 325 re-usable drink cups
• 200 Commonwealth fleece jackets
• 500 baby clothes
• 100 scarfs
• 245 gloves
• Over 200 dry food items
All these items were donated by people with good intentions who support humanity. Few months ago, Zaf was supporting projects with the West Midlands Police in helping young Ukranians in Bordesley Green to get involved
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) will showcase at this weekend’s F1 race in Saudi Arabia the first-ever Mono R to be tailored, created and delivered direct to a customer in the country. By being part of the highly prestigious motorsport event in Jeddah, which is expected to be viewed by millions of people around the world, BAC is further demonstrating the global growth and potential of its brand.
in after school activities after the heartbreak they suffered in their respected Country. These opportunities to engage in charity work have supported in the personal devleopment and life-long learning for our students.
The Liverpool, UK, based company has embarked on an ambitious expansion strategy that includes a rapid scale-up in key markets, including the Middle East. A partnership with a leading luxury automotive dealership group in Saudi Arabia is imminent. This partnership will be followed by similar announcements in other key international markets in Asia and North America and within the next quarter. At present, BAC currently operates in 46 territories.
Demand for the Mono R, a lightweight and dynamically performance-defining machine created to be the standard bearer for pure driving enjoyment and pleasure, continues to soar thanks to its unique design, engineering and technology attributes. This includes several world-firsts, such as the pioneering addition of graphene in its bodywork.
An exemplary example of what true bespoke personalisation means in the automotive space, Saudi Arabia’s first Mono R has been tailored to exacting customer details, featuring a dramatic smoked carbon fibre bodywork that was
painstakingly crafted by BAC’s meticulous design and engineering teams. Part of BAC’s ethos is to have an uncompromising approach to fulfilling customer wishes and realizing the perfect vehicle finish without impacting the car’s core performance-defining principles. In addition to the smoked carbon fibre body, the Mono R at the F1 race in Saudi Arabia also incorporates subtle metallic gold highlights, a beautifully delicate design element that extends to its carbon hybrid wheels, which remain the lightest 17-inch wheels in the world. Speaking at the event in Jeddah, BAC co-founder and director of product development, Neill Briggs, said: “We’re
thrilled to be part of the Formula 1 scene. The ‘sport of driving’ is one of the core guiding principles that helped us establish BAC in 2009. Much like the F1 cars at this very race, the Mono R is a piece of precision engineering focused on forging a three-way connection between driver, machine and the road – or in F1’s case, track – ahead. Truly fulfilling driving pleasure and enjoyment is what the Mono R has been created to do and we are delighted to deliver one such example to a customer in the Middle East.”
Captagon is a highly addictive amphetamine which is used throughout the Middle East, with 80% of the world’s supply produced in Syria.
The Syrian regime is closely involved in the trade –multi-billion dollar shipments leave regime strongholds such as the Port of Latakia, and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother Maher al-Assad commands the unit of the Syrian Army facilitating the distribution and production of the drug.
Trade in the drug is a financial lifeline for the Assad regime – it is worth approximately 3 times the combined trade of the Mexican cartels. The production and trafficking of captagon enriches Assad’s inner circle, militias and warlords, at the expense of the Syrian people who continue to face crippling poverty and repression at the hands of the regime.
The UK and US have today imposed coordinated sanctions on individuals involved in the trade, with the UK list including senior regime officials facilitating the trade to the manufacturers of the drug and key Hizbollah associates responsible for trafficking it across the Middle East. This includes prominent businessmen, militia leaders, and relatives of Bashar al-Assad. These sanctions constitute an asset freeze and UK travel ban on the individuals concerned.
The Assad regime, Hizballah, and other Iranianbacked militia all facilitate the captagon industry, and in doing so fuel regional instability and creating a growing addiction crisis across the region.
The UK remains committed to supporting the Syrian people both in their quest for accountability and in providing humanitarian assistance. The UK has provided over £3.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region since the conflict began, our largest ever response to a single crisis.
The full list of those sanctioned is:
• Abdellatif Hamid: a prominent businessperson who utilises his factories to package captagon pills and has been linked to the 2020 captagon seizure in Salerno, Italy
• Imad Abu Zureiq: a militia leader in Southern Syria. His militia is associated with drugs smuggling as well as assassinations and kidnappings of political opponents
• Mustafa Al Masalmeh: a militia leader in Southern Syria. His militia is involved in drugs production and he has been involved in assassinating opponents of the Syrian regime
• Taher Al Kayali: a business magnate with links to the captagon industry. He has been tied to multiple captagon seizures, including in Europe
• Amer Khiti: a Syrian politician and operates and controls multiple businesses in Syria which facilitate the production and smuggling of drugs, including captagon
• Hassan Muhammad Daqqou: known as the ‘king’ or ‘emperor’ of captagon and is associated with Hizbollah. He has been linked to captagon seizures in the Middle East, Europe and South East Asia
• Mohammed Shalish: involved in the shipping sector in regime strongholds and has been tied to captagon shipments which have left the port of Latakia
• Raji Falhout: a militia leader in Sweida and uses his militia headquarters to facilitate captagon production
• Samer Kamal Al Asad: related to the Syrian President, and is a prominent actor in the production of captagon
• Waseem Badia Al Asad: related to the Syrian President and is a ‘strongman’ for the Syrian regime. He facilitates the manufacturing and smuggling of captagon
• Noah Zaiter: a prominent person involved in smuggling captagon and narcotics. He is associated with the Syrian regime and Hizbollah.
East, said:
The Assad regime is using the profits from the captagon trade to continue their campaign of terror on the Syrian people.
The UK and US will continue to hold the regime to account for brutally repressing the Syrian people and fuelling instability across the Middle East.
UN Women estimate that globally we will not reach gender equality in the highest positions of power for another 130 years. Across the world, the UK government is working with other nations and civil society organisations to hold Ambassador for a Day competitions.
In Ghana, the British High Commission in partnership CAMFED, Plan International Ghana, and the United Nations Population Fund launched their own Ambassador for a Day competition in February.
The Ambassador for a Day competition provides each winner with an opportunity to spend a day with a fulltime Ambassador, to learn from them and their government. Each winner will also receive long-term mentoring and care from the Mission they work with.
Together British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson, Norwegian Ambassador, Ingrid Mollestad, French Ambassador Jules Armand Aniambossou and Swiss Ambassador Simone Giger have spent the last month reviewing the applications before deciding on four winners.
Congratulating the winners, British High Commissioner Harriet Thompson said:
Our competition isn’t only about our amazing winners, it’s also about every
single women who applied, it’s about our incredible partners: CAMFED, Plan International Ghana and UNFPA, and it’s about creating space for equality to make sure that the we see men and women stand shoulder-to-shoulder around the world. This year we celebrate Ambassador
for a Day as the UK launches a new International Women and Girls Strategy, as we embrace equity around the world.
The competition, which is now in its second year, forms part of the British High Commission’s ‘Africa Gender and Equalities Month’. Throughout
March the Mission is marking and celebrating gender and equality by holding roundtables and seminars, sharing the work of partners and holding discussions to interrogate, learn from and understand more about gender and equality in today’s Ghana. Speaking ahead of the event Norwe-
gian Ambassador, Ingrid Mollestad said:
Together, we believe the programme will help to bridge the gender inequality gap, and support the empowerment of women in Ghana. I am excited about spending the day with one of the inspiring winners, congratulations to them all.
In mid March, the four winners: Wilhelmina Larweh, Yahaya Tipagya , Umar Wasila and Martha Allotey, will join the four Ambassadors and representatives from CAMFED, Plan International and UNFPA at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Accra to formally announce the winners and celebrate their success.
Ahead of the award, winner of the competition Yahaya Tipagya said:
As an Ambassador for a Day, I have a strong desire to learn from experienced diplomats, thrive in a fast-paced and challenging environment, and develop skills that will contribute to my education and career.
Another winner Umar Wasila also said:
During my shadowing experience, I am hopeful to learn about the Ambassador’s role, understand what an Ambassador does and the day to day functions at the High Commission.
The initiative comes as the third annual UK Foreign Direct Investment in California report, published by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the British Consulate General in Los Angeles, confirms that more than 2,300 UK enterprises have set up in California, sustaining nearly 100,000 jobs. More than half of these jobs (approximately 52,500) are locat-
ed in the five-county greater Los Angeles area.
The mission of the new UK Investor Network Southern California (UK IN SoCal) is to help UK companies navigate their business growth in greater Los Angeles, as well as unlock new business opportunities for member companies by:
Enabling introductions, networking, referrals and partnerships
Providing soft landing and mentorship for new-to-market companies
Facilitating knowledge transfer on doing business in the US Building British business profile in greater Los Angeles UK IN SoCal and its sponsors will host and organise events throughout the year to encourage networking; provide insights on specific issues and relevant
The Chief Executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF), Tim Reid, met with the Albanian Prime Minster, Edi Rama and Finance Minister, Delina Ibrahimaj, to cement their £4 billion ambition for a closer UK-Albania export relationship. This £4 billion marks a doubling of the previously published market risk appetite for UKEF support for Albania and signals the huge opportunity available for UK exporters.
Total UK exports to Albania reached £144 million in the 12 months to September 2022, an increase of £97 million in current prices on the previous year. The visit will build on this growing trade relationship and result in an agreement to work more closely.
Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance will say:
There is significant opportunity here for UK businesses. The volume of trade with Albania is increasing dramatically, showing the huge appetite for British exports. With UKEF support more companies can reap the rewards of exporting.
We also welcome the recent launch of the British Chamber of Commerce in Albania. This new organisation will help connect British and Albanian businesses.
Our closer relationship with Albania will unlock a new phase of collaboration in sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, and transport. Last year we celebrated our 100th year of trade relations, I’m looking forward to continuing our work with Albania and strengthening our great exporting relationship.
Deals made between the two countries would help grow the UK economy, support job creation and help deliver the government’s wider levelling up agenda. A £4 billion ambition would mean a minimum £800 million value to British businesses. This is because Albanian buyers would be required to source from the UK supply chain under the conditions of UKEF’s finance.
Delina Ibrahimaj, the Albanian Finance Minister, will say: Albania has a pipeline of key
infrastructure projects that need overseas investment. This agreement to work more closely with the UK should send a signal to British business that Albania has markets ready for your products and UKEF can support you in your export ambitions.
UKEF has an International Export Finance Executive based in the Western Balkans who works alongside other government teams in these countries as well as covering Central and Eastern Europe.
The IEFE’s work closely with the overseas buyers to showcase the UK supply chain. They are on hand all over the world to discuss financing options available from UKEF to support the exports of UK goods and/or services.
An example of UKEF support in the Eastern European region includes a £360 million guaranteed loan for the construction of a 5Gready motorway in Serbia. The UKEF support for this motorway project, announced in October 2021, is creating value worth approximately £125 million to the UK economy.
topics; and nurture business opportunities for its members. UK IN SoCal also offers a network of mentors and advisors across a range of industries to counsel UK companies new to investing in the greater Los Angeles region. The network includes respected industry leaders like Pearson CEO Andy Bird, as well as services firms that specialise in international expansions, like Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, HSBC and RSM. UK IN SoCal will provide access to special offers and introductions to service partners and local entities, such as governments and Chambers of Commerce, who are eager to work with UK companies to create more jobs and support further investment in the greater Los Angeles region. UK IN SoCal is partnering with global flexible workspace provider WeWork for a special offer to members.
“The US is the UK’s top destination in the world for outward investment, creating a positive impact for both countries” ac-
cording to Emma Wade-Smith, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America. “It’s great to see the importance of this investment flow – including in sustaining thousands of jobs in Southern California – corroborated in the latest report. Existing British investors in Southern California have a wealth of experience navigating the differences in business environments, between the UK and California.
The creation of the UK IN SoCal network taps into this as an important way to help newcomers succeed in the greater Los Angeles region and will be a valuable addition to the wider support that the UK Government offers to our companies.”
Emily Cloke, HM Consul General, Los Angeles: “By creating UK IN SoCal, we want to build on the UK’s position as the 2nd largest foreign direct investor in California and help bring more UK companies to this wonderful region. UK IN SoCal will enable companies to share expertise and learn from each other, helping
those new to California succeed and strengthening the ties that bind our people together”.
Andy Bird, CEO, Pearson (business mentor): “Southern California is an amazing and dynamic region to live, work and invest. SoCal’s diversity and scale is a real benefit, but it can be hard to “navigate”, both personally and professionally, when you first arrive. I’m delighted to have been asked to act as a mentor for UK IN SoCal to help others follow the same journey I started two decades ago.”
WeWork: “WeWork is thrilled to partner with the British Consulate to support the business growth of UK companies in Southern California,” said Elton Kwok, Territory Vice President at WeWork. “Our fully furnished, move-in ready workspaces provide turnkey solutions for companies entering the US market, and we’re excited to help UK IN SoCal members come together to do their best work.”
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has knocked down barriers to markets worth more than £2.2 billion to UK businesses in her first 200 days in the job – equivalent to over £11 million every day.
British exporters regularly encounter obstacles of all kinds – including bureaucracy, red tape, and bans – which stop them from selling abroad. The Department for Business and Trade has a global network of specialists working to get rid of them by engaging governments around the world to find and resolve the issues.
Earlier this year, Badenoch made the removal of these trade barriers one of her top five priorities, committing to lifting 100 of the most significant hurdles.
Those successfully targeted in the last 200 days include:
• Removing a ban on importing luxury products including toys, diamonds and colour TVs to Nepal.
• Reducing registration requirements for pharmaceutical products to Vietnam.
• Relaxing the foreign ownership cap on renewable energy projects in the Philippines, allowing UK companies to invest in the development of solar, hydro, tidal and wind energy.
• Ensuring the recognition of British education qualifications for UK teachers to teach in Thailand.
• Lifting the ban on certain pork
products to South Korea, including bacon, ham and pork sausages.
• Allowing the export of pet food to Chile.
• Allowing teachers from West Java, Indonesia to complete maritime training programmes in the UK, after acceptance of UK maritime qualification standards benefitting the City of Glasgow College.
• Supporting companies to access financial products in Mauritius and supporting further development of the local financial market.
• Review of regulations such as the price threshold for the sale of refurbished mobile phones to Turkey.
• Allowing certification companies to access the Brazilian market and speeding up approval processes in the automotive sector.
Alongside new trade deals, the UK is taking a targeted approach to getting rid of trade barriers that are most detrimental to British exports and investment. Removing these barriers can help to increase trade, inject billions into the UK economy, and build closer trading relationships with the largest and fastest growing economies in the world.
British businesses have welcomed the removal of barriers to trading overseas. The Renewables Consulting Group, a specialised expert services firm focused solely on the global renewable energy industry, and Environmental Resources Management (ERM) welcomed the lifting of the ban on foreign investment in renewable energy in the Philippines, saying it had already generated interest from potential investors which could boost
the country’s transition to clean energy sources like wind and solar.
Raimond Dasalla, Associate and Philippines Co-Lead added: “The is great news for the Philippines. Lifting the restrictions will enable knowledge transfer on emerging renewable energy technologies, help create jobs and ultimately unlock the country’s sustainable economic development.”
Vegeco Ltd, a specialist vegan company supplying quality ethical, ecofriendly and vegan products, with a specialism in pet food and goods, welcomed the new opportunity to export pet food to Chile.
Darrell de Vries, Director of Vegeco Ltd said: “As the pet food market becomes more and more saturated in the UK, Vegeco is continually looking for new ground. Often it’s not an easy path if no one has walked it before, so knowing that barriers to access the Chilean market are being removed, is half the battle won. Vegeco is excited about the potential of the market for our product range.”
The Department for Business and Trade has also led the way in lifting the ban on British beef and lamb in Japan, securing approval for UK pork exports to Taiwan, ensuring the export of pet supplements to India, and agreeing a new certification system with China to allow the export of cruelty-free cosmetics for the first time.
Parents, over-50s, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will have opportunities arising from changes announced in the Budget set to be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
We know many people want to work but there are very real barriers we need to break down to help them into employment. This package of support helps people at any age and career stage to get into work, progress into better-paid jobs – growing the economy and filling the labour amarket with skilled employees. These interventions are only the start of a long-term journey to drive down economic inactivity and mobilise more people into seeking employment, which I will continue to lead across Government.
Overall, DWP measures at Budget represent an investment of £3.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation and grow the economy. That includes:
• £2 billion investment in support for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.
• £900 million investment in support for parents on Universal Credit.
• £70 million investment in support for over-50s.
• £485 million investment in support for unemployed people and people who are on Universal Credit and working fewer than full time hours. Taken together, these measures tackle the challenges in the labour market, which are holding back the UK’s economic prospects, helping millions of people with specific support to look for work and progress into betterpaid jobs.
Parents on Universal Credit looking to move into full-time
work will no longer be prevented from doing so because of high childcare costs.
The Universal Credit childcare cost cap will rise in the summer meaning the Government will pay more of parents’ childcare costs. For those with one child it rises from £646.35 to £951 and for two children the cap is up from £1,108.04 to £1,630, then in creasing in line with CPI each year until 2027/28.
Parents will also be further supported with upfront childcare costs. This removes any gap in funds which would currently be claimed in arrears and eases parents into the childcare costs payment cycle.
The Health and Disability White Paper, included as part of the Budget, sets out plans to rewire the benefits system for disabled people, shifting the dial onto what people can achieve and removing barriers to work.
A major element of this will be
through the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, giving people the confidence to move into work while reducing the burden of unnecessary assessments.
A new Universal Support programme will support disabled people and people with health conditions into sustained work, with those eligible able to opt in to receive up to 12 months of provision, with the government spending up to £4,000 per person and funding 50,000 places every year.
This will help them to move quickly into suitable work and, with wraparound support, help them sustain that employment for the longer-term.
Pioneer areas are already mobilising services to provide greater support, and then the programme will ramp up over time, expanding to support thousands more people.
Older workers
A new digital Mid-life MOT check will be introduced to help older workers understand what their employment choices
now mean for the longer-term –reaching 40,000 people a year. They will also benefit from a boost to skills and better access to training through the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), Train and Progress and the new ‘Returnerships’ programme.
Jobcentre support
We are increasing jobcentre support for people on Universal Credit who could work more, helping them progress towards more paid work.
This includes around 80,000 more people, whose partners claim Universal Credit, being given access to full jobcentre support for the first time. They will be assigned their own work coach who will provide tailored support to help them find work quicker.
All those working less than half of a full-time week will also get full jobcentre support to look for more work as the Administrative Earnings Threshold increases to the equivalent of around 18 hours from 15.
And more young people aged 1624 on Universal Credit will be able see a work coach in a Youth Hub or benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches.
I have made it a priority to knock down the barriers holding back British businesses and that prevent them from selling more of their goods and services around the world, creating new jobs, and paying higher wages.
As an independent trading nation Britain can now get to grips with these blockages. So I’m very proud that since becoming Trade Secretary we’ve been able to unlock billions for the UK economy, and I look forward to smashing even more barriers to ensure our businesses thrive.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride MP said:
A musician-promoter who has presented shows for thousands of music fans in Birmingham over the last six years has cautioned that live music in the city will continue to decline without more support from the public.
Now preparing for a rare headline show of his own – at Birmingham’s Hare & Hounds on Wednesday 12 April – Neighbourhd founder Michael Bird is concerned that without the right infrastructure or backing of music fans, the next generation of promoters and musicians could choose to relocate to other UK locations which enjoy a more vibrant live music landscape – especially following COVID, cost of living and energy crises. Bird has drawn together a band featuring some of the best musicians from across the city for a one-off concert at the Kings Heath venue, including Kioko lead guitarist Jonathan Browne, Charlotte Church keys player Robbie Moore, Gorillabot drummer Jack Walker and session bassist Jamahl Augustine, has run his own events at Digbeth venue The Night Owl
since 2016.
The vocalist, guitarist and keys player said: “For years, I and other creatives have invested a lot into Birmingham’s grassroots music community. Founding
Neighbourhd as a place that grows larger with the generosity of its individual has felt like planting a fruit tree that everyone waters and everyone picks from.
“Despite Covid and the cost-of-living cri-
sis, it’s a space where we’ll always aim to grow with our skills and build as a family.
“Birmingham has a knack for producing stars and incredibly innovative artists, despite a significant lack of industry infrastructure. After all this is the city that has given us Back Sabbath, Joan Armatrading, Laura Mvula, Jorja Smith, Lady Leshurr and Soweto Kinch after all. But those of us working in live music have seen venues and gig-goers drop in number over the past few years.
“But I’ve also come to accept that without sustainable career opportunities, musicians, promoters and other industry professionals will move on in search of better cohesion and opportunity be it in London, Manchester, Brighton, Leeds or Bristol. Many of my friends have and I don’t blame them. They need to do what is best for their career.”
Neighbourhd founder Bird, who moved from life on a sheep farm in rural Kent to eventually playing a role on the front line of live music in busy Birmingham, has built up a family of creatives around
the monthly jam night – relying on his own initiative and the generosity of everyone involved. The event and community grew for four years solely on donations, is now supported by the Night Owl and the next step for the team is to secure funding to help develop this growing scene further.
The Leeds Conservatoire-educated guitarist, pianist, and vocalist – who released his own EP ‘Bloom’ in Summer 2022 – will host his 50th Neighbourhd show in Digbeth in April 2023.
With a house band of creative music professionals playing and recording across Birmingham’s jazz, hip hop, soul, electronic, classical and funk genres, Neighbourhd has opened its doors and offered a platform to hundreds of instrumentalists and vocalists of many different ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
“There’s a history and ongoing movement of Birmingham artists choosing to go DIY and produce their own events,” Bird goes on to say, “From Soweto Kinch (Flyover) and Juice Aleem (Afroflux), to Madi Saskia (Lean Up) and Faye Smith (Shanty Town).”
“There are award-winning artists like BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Xhosa Cole running their own nights, and musicians made of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduates programming and presenting their own nights eg Jazz at The Spotted Dog or Jazz at The Ruin, as well as producers such as Tom Hayes running nights like Ghost Snares and Listening Sessions.
“We’ve had touring bands from overseas stumble into our jam nights after their shows and their experience of the city far exceeds their expectations,” Bird said.
“We had an upcoming band called ‘Ruby Sky’ drive all the way from Denmark, lugging all their amps and a whole Hammond organ to play at Neighbourhd and Sofar Birmingham over two nights. They said it’s the best live experience they’ve ever had, proving that Brummie crowds have it in them to collectively create some truly magical moments.”
“That said, this audience is small and lacks buying power so that local artists can actually move on to the next level in their careers. My hope is that more people join the family of creatives and music lovers that want to innovate and share beautiful experiences together in the city.”
Bird has been building a team over the years at Neighbourhd and he will be formally announcing his departure from leading the event at the upcoming show. He plans to step down when Neighbourhd celebrates its 7th birthday in November.
Hotly-tipped Black Country singersongwriter talent Eddy Luna will join Michael Bird’s Hare & Hounds show for a stripped-back set, matching raw, introspective lyrics with neo-soul and jazzheavy production.
Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has captured the fancy of one and all and is the newest landmark in Mumbai.
The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai is the newest landmark in the city. Its opening on March 31 took the internet by storm as on-site photos from it started doing the rounds. The inauguration of NMACC saw celebrities from across the world, including the likes of Gigi Hadid, Tom Holland, Priyanka Chopra, Sachin Tendulkar, Abhinav Bandra and, of course, some of the biggest names of the Indian film industry. The Centre aims to promote Indian arts and culture, and aims to be the big stage for the same. It is a dedicated multi-disciplinary art and culture space and also aims at identifying and promoting new talent. A number of online and offline events will also be conducted here. Visitors can book NMACC tickets online and soak in the grandeur of varying forms of different arts here. The space boasts of world-class infrastructure and is spread over 0.45 million sq ft, complete with exhibition spaces and three theatres. It even comes with an orchestra pit that can accommodate 80 musicians at a time, a four-storey art house (16,000 sq ft), and the grand theatre that has a whopping capacity of 2,000! Look closely and you will find that its roof is lit by 8,400 Swarovski crystals. The space is built keeping needs of specially-abled people in mind and eases access of art for everyone.
• Peaky Blinders creator and renowned industry figurehead Steven Knight establishes Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, UK
• Studios to put Birmingham and the West Midlands on the map as a flagship location for premier TV and film production
• Studios open now for bookings from July 2023
• Studios to catalyse transformational regeneration of Birmingham’s Digbeth area, creating 760 new jobs
The new, high-profile studios are the brainchild of acclaimed British screenwriter, director and producer, Steven Knight. His vision, alongside business partner, TIME+SPACE CEO
Piers Read, is to create a long-term cultural legacy for his home city by welcoming major blue-chip brands to the multimedia headquarters.
Construction on the site starts today, with works expected to complete by 15th July, ready for occupation. The first filming onsite will take place in October, as Digbeth Loc. Studios officially becomes open for business from next week.
The £1.3m investment by Birmingham City Council, together with landowner Homes England and with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), aims to mobilise the region’s £4bn Creative Economy, offering a flagship focal point to draw and inspire both local and international screen-industries talent. It is anticipated the studios will contribute more than £30m to the local economy, creating 760 local jobs. Digbeth Loc. Studios represents the first major television and film production facilities of this scale to ever be developed in Birmingham, reigniting the city’s illustrious heritage as a UK base for programme-making and broadcasting.
A range of exciting, internationally lauded productions are already committed to partnering with Digbeth Loc. Studios. These include the BBC drama This Town (made by Kudos, a Banijay UK company) – telling the story of the West Midlands’ groundbreaking ska and two-tone heritage – and the world’s most successful food format, MasterChef, produced by Shine TV, also part of Banijay UK. An area of the new studios is also expected to be occupied by legendary Birmingham reggae band UB40, making it a wide-ranging, multimedia West Midlands home for upcoming and existing creative and cultural talent.
Knight’s project follows the huge international success of Peaky Blinders, which has put Birmingham and the wider West Midlands on the global cultural map. Since first hitting TV screens in 2013, the smash hit drama has been credited with a 26% increase in domestic visitors to Birmingham and a 19% rise in international tour-
ists. It has also spawned a two-day festival, a nationwide dance theatre tour, an immersive show, escape rooms, a VR game ‘Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom’ and an official IPA.
Steven Knight CBE, said:
“It’s so exciting that this day has come and after a lot of hard work by lots of people at Homes England, Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
“Our plans are ambitious and we will be making TV and movies on an international scale.
“We are planting an industry in the fertile soil of Birmingham and we need local people to make it happen.
We have structures in place to begin the business of training local people in the skills needed and we want people to know that this is a viable industry that is here to stay.
“We’re setting up in the heart of, what was once, Peaky Blinders country and it’s very fitting that we are bringing it all back home.”
The landmark development will see disused, old Victorian era buildings converted into a modern, state-of-theart studio complex, comprising three film studios, production offices and construction workshops; spanning 80,000 sq.ft of regenerated space in Birmingham’s Creative Quarter, Digbeth. Located within seven-minutes walking distance of Birmingham’s train stations – including the planned HS2 terminal – the site sits within the Warwick Bar Conservation Area and will conserve the unique characteristics and heritage of Birmingham’s canalside buildings.
The site will be managed by Digbeth Loc. Studios Ltd, a partnership between Steven Knight and Piers Read, CEO of TIME+SPACE, and has been enabled by £1.3m of City Deal funding for capital works; a bespoke deal between Birmingham City Council and Homes England to optimise the
supply of commercially developable land. The initial funding will unlock further investment and the wider development plans required to bring the full studio complex forward.
Digbeth Loc. Studios is envisioned to play a catalytic role in the wider, regeneration-led reimagining of Digbeth. A range of public and private partners – including Stanhope PLC and Brydell Partners – will spend the next 12 months exploring how the area’s disused brownfield land could be transformed into a major economic and cultural centre.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:
“We are making this investment into Digbeth Loc. Studios because the creative industries are fundamental to Birmingham’s golden decade of opportunity, following the extraordinary triumph of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
“The Games shone a positive light on the city’s youth, energy and creativity and this exciting new multimedia destination in Digbeth will build on that success. Birmingham’s cultural star continues to rise, and we are proud to support Steven Knight as he leads the way in bringing world-class television and film production to the city.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“The unveiling of Digbeth Loc is a truly landmark moment. Steven Knight – Peaky Blinders creator and proud Brummie – has already done so much to put our region on the map and now these Studios will help to usher in a golden era for our burgeoning creative sector. We want broadcasters and content creators worldwide to know that the West Midlands is very much open for business.”
Peter Denton, Chief Executive Officer of Homes England, said: “Birmingham City Council and the
West Midlands Combined Authority have a clear ambition to catalyse Digbeth. As the Government’s Housing and Regeneration Agency, it is our role to work with local leadership in the West Midlands to control appropriate land, to masterplan, to invest in infrastructure, and to convene incredible public private partnerships. In short, to make regeneration happen. We look forward to facilitating similar placemaking elsewhere in Digbeth, and across the country, with partners collectively delivering to the local communities we serve.”
Piers Read, CEO and Founder of TIME+SPACE, said:
“As the former MD of the Custard Factory in Digbeth, ever since I left, I always wanted to be back, and this announcement today sees that dream become a reality. This is just the beginning. For us, it is all about making a place that provides the experience to producers providing the key amenities and creature comforts the modern-day production deserves. This is something TIME + SPACE has a proven track record of delivering.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, said:
“Given the BBC’s commitment to grow production capability in Birmingham – it’s great to see the plans for Digbeth as the city’s Creative Quarter come to fruition. With the BBC HQ moving to the Tea Factory, MasterChef moving into the old Banana Warehouse, and now the Bond and Digbeth Loc. Studios opening –it’s a very exciting time for film and programme makers in the region.”
Neil Rami, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, said:
“Having worked closely with Steven Knight and the Digbeth Loc. team for some time, it’s hugely exciting to see work now underway on the studio de-
velopment. This is an important vote of confidence in the nascent strengths of our creative community, our vision to create an environment that nurtures talent and will, no doubt, attract further inward investment into this sector right across the region.”
Sir Lenny Henry CBE, award winning actor and entertainer, said:
“I’m so chuffed that Steven is all the way behind Digbeth Loc. Studios. The idea of a world beating studio based in Birmingham with the strong intent to create Brum based stories, mythologies and narratives is very close to my heart. Go Steve Go! Turn over and ….ACTION!”
Meera Syal CBE FRSL, BAFTA award winning actress and writer, said:
“This is thrilling, game changing news and huge congratulations to the creative powerhouse, Steven Knight and his team, for the launch of Digbeth Loc. Studios. I am proud to be a supporter and hopefully a future contributor to DLS and look forward to celebrating the creative and cultural talent bursting out of our beloved Brum.”
Robin Campbell, UB40 founder member, said:
“Digbeth Loc. is the most exciting development to happen in Birmingham for decades. It will invite talent, business and projects from around the world to the beating heart of the city, to work with Birmingham’s best. We can’t wait to get back to Digbeth, which was UB40’s home for 30 years and a huge part of our story. Our new offices and studio will continue that story alongside Steven Knight’s vision for the city, which we wholeheartedly support. The cultural capital of Birmingham will continue to flourish at Digbeth Loc.”
Birmingham will become a significant centre for premier television and film production following a landmark investment to establish ‘Digbeth Loc. Studios’.
From 1 April 2023, women prescribed HRT – the main treatment for menopause symptoms – will have access to a new scheme enabling access to a year’s worth of menopause prescription items for the cost of 2 single prescription charges (currently £18.70).
As part of commitments to reduce the cost of HRT for menopausal women, the PPC will be valid for 12 months. It can be used against a list of HRT prescription items, and a patient can use this against an unlimited number of HRT items, such as patches, tablets and topical preparations. There will be no limit to how many times the certificate can be used while it is valid.
Reducing the cost of HRT is just one of the steps being taken by the government to improve access to HRT, alongside continuing work with suppliers to encourage and support them to boost supply to meet growing demand.
The introduction of the certificate delivers one of our year 1 priorities for the Women’s Health Strategy for England. Published last summer, the strategy sets out an ambitious new agenda for improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls and to improve how the health and care system listens to women. Menopause was announced as a priority area within the strategy.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
This new certificate will make HRT more accessible than ever before – helping around 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds a year.
This is another step in our drive to improve support for millions of women experiencing the menopause, delivering on our Women’s Health Strategy.
Minister for Women, Maria Caufield, said:
Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with a quarter experiencing severe symptoms – which can seriously impact their quality of life. Reducing the cost of HRT is
a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country, and I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward. In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority. By making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women.
Women’s Health Ambassador, Dame Lesley Regan, said: The menopause is an inevitable stage in a woman’s life course. As a gynaecologist, I’ve witnessed first-hand the symptoms that women experience, which can have debilitating impacts on their daily lives.
Making HRT more affordable will have a hugely beneficial impact on the lives of so many women. This prepayment certificate is a major step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of women.
Around 15% of women aged 45 to 64 in England are currently prescribed HRT, which has increased rapidly in the last 2 years from around 11% and continues to increase.
The government has accepted the recommendations of the HRT Taskforce, including encouraging and supporting manufacturers to boost supply to meet growing demand and continuing to issue serious shortage protocols (SSPs) when needed to even out distribution. This involved allowing alternative products to be dispensed when necessary, and reducing the need for the patient to return to their GP.
The department engages with suppliers on a weekly basis, closely monitors the supply of HRT, and regularly meets with individual suppliers, including hosting quarterly roundtables with industry to ensure a continuous supply of HRT.
Women will need to apply for the PPC through the NHS Business Services Authority or in person at a pharmacy registered to sell PPCs. Once it has been granted, it will be available for use immediately on or after 1 April 2023.
When collecting HRT products, patients will be able to simply show the digital or paper copy HRT PPC to the pharmacist and complete the exemption declaration on the NHS prescription form.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: We know that cost can be one of the barriers that women face in accessing treatment to manage their symptoms during menopause, and the introduction of HRT PPCs is a positive step to improve access to HRT. This announcement is an important first step, and we hope that more will be done to address the challenges and inequalities faced in accessing menopause care and treatment.
Dr Janet Barter, President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said:
We welcome the introduction of HRT PPCs by the Department of Health and Social Care. This is a big step towards improving women’s access to menopause treatment in England and reducing inequalities in access to this essential healthcare. Improved access to HRT will improve the lives of millions of women, allowing them to easily take control of their own menopause.
Janet Lindsay, CEO of Wellbeing of Women, said: HRT is a first line treatment for women who may need help with managing menopause symptoms which can be debilitating. Improving access to HRT, by reducing the prescription costs, is absolutely the right thing to do and will help to empower women during this life stage.
The HRT PPC is in addition to the existing help with prescription charges, including the 3 and 12 month PPCs.
For people who need multiple medicines, the existing PPCs may remain a more cost effective method of paying for prescriptions.
• 400 g Kunafa
• 250 g ghee
• For the Syrup
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoon glucose liquid
• For the cream
• 3 cups heavy cream or milk
• 6 tablespoon cornflour
• 4 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon pistachio, finely minced
Making the syrup:
• In a small saucepan, add sugar and water over high heat and bring to a boil (don’t stir it, that will cause crystals to form in the syrup). Once it is boiling, turn the heat down, add the glucose liquid and let it simmer for 5-6 minutes.
• Next, add vanilla extract and lemon juice, stir, then turn off the heat. Put the syrup in a cool place and let it cool down completely.
Preparing the cream (Ashta):
• In a small saucepan, add sugar, cornflour and milk, stir well to combine (use a whisk). Keep mixing until there are no lumps at all. Put the saucepan over medium heat and constantly stir for 2-3 minutes until it comes to a boil. Keep whisking until the mixture thickens. Once it has reached the consistency of the cream , add vanilla extract, stir and turn off the heat.
Pour the cream into a bowl, then cover the top with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming, leave it to cool down completely.
Preparing the Kunafa:
• Preheat the oven to 200C.
• Put the Kunafa in a large bowl, then use your hands to tear it or use kitchen scissors to cut it into 2-3 cm strips. Try to separate the individual strands from each other. When you have a pile of fine strips of Kunafa, pour the melted ghee into the Kunafa and mix it thoroughly (rub the Kunafa with ghee using your hands).
• Grease a 10-inch baking pan with butter. Spread the butter well in the bottom and the sides of the pan.
• Grap a handful of Kunafa and add it to the pan, fluff it up while adding it, so you don’t get any clumps in the Kunafa. Keep adding it until you cover the pan bottom with Kunafa. After that, use any heavy object such as a measuring cup to press on the Kunafa until you get a flat layer of Kunafa.
• Now add more Kunafa around the edges of the tray and press on them as well.
• Pour the cream filling in the centre of the pan and spread it out over the first Kunafa layer. Once the cream is spread, fold in any excess Kunaff walls down over the layer
• Start gently covering the cream layer with the rest of Kunafa. Once you have created a thin layer of the Kunafa on the top, press it down gently using both your hands (don’t press on it so hard that the cream comes out of the Kunafa).
• Put the pan in the middle of the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top becomes golden brown. Take it out of the oven.
• As soon as you remove the Kunafa from the oven, pour the syrup evenly over the top. You will hear a sizzle as you pour the syrup into the Kunafa. Let it sit for 10 minutes so all the syrup is absorbed.
• Place a serving plate over the baking pan, and flip the Kunafa onto the plate. Decorate it with the chopped pistachio, then cut it and serve.
1. Increases Taqwa
Taqwa is an Islamic phrase that refers to being aware of Allah and the truth and “piety and dread of God”. The term frequently appears in the holy book of the Quran. It bears the deep sense of being cautious over one’s own life and actions, as the angels are constantly on the watch. Additionally, fasting enhances the ability to be mindful of Allah and avoid unintentional offenses against the ways shown by Him. As a result, people lead on the path away from sins and wrong deeds.
2. Fetches greater rewards
All able Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan. It is said that Allah repays the fasting Muslims with great rewards and blessings. Each hour of fasting brings people closer to meeting Allah in the next life. But one should not fast for the gifts; instead, one should focus on its significance and value.
3. Leads to paradise and prevents Hellfire
Only those who fast during Ramadan will be allowed to enter paradise through the Ar-Rayyan gate on the Day of Resurrection. The virtue motivates people to increase their voluntary fasts while preparing for Ramadan. According to Muslim scholars, even a single day of fasting takes an individual away from Hellfire towards Jannah.
1. Protection from obesity and chronic diseases
Fasting throughout Ramadan may assist in preventing obesity and other chronic diseases such as diabetes. Ramadan fasting requires abstaining from the consumption of food and water between sunrise and sunset. Hence, it enhances the levels of proteins providing insulin resistance. It also offers protection against the hazards of a fat and sugar-rich diet.
2. Lowering cholesterol & improving blood sugar level
As Ramadan Fasting stimulates the lipid profile, it lowers blood cholesterol. Consequently, it prevents heart attacks, strokes, and other disorders. Also, if one maintains a healthy diet after Ramadan, individuals will retain the newly reduced cholesterol level.
3. Improved digestive system
Observing Ramadan and fasting positively impacts one lifestyle and digestive system. A human body naturally detoxifies after a month of flushing out of the toxins in the body. Further, it balances the heat generation and acidity levels in the human stomach.
1. Reduces stress
Fasting throughout the holy month of Ramadan is one of Islam’s most essential commandments. Muslims fast for 12-14 hours each day during Ramadan. They get up early for prayers, eat before sunrise, sleep later, and eat substantial meals after dusk to replenish their energy and fluid stores. Due to this, eating habits, sleep length and sleep pattern change in a constructive way. Fasting throughout the holy month of Ramadan improves mental health by lowering depression, anxiety, and stress levels.
2. Prevents cancer
Many research has been released in the last few years suggesting that Ramadan Fasting can lower health risk factors. It can also reverse the symptoms of severe health illnesses such as cancer. According to the research, this could be attributed to reduced glucose synthesis in the blood, balanced nutritional intake, and increased generation of tumor-killing cells.
3. Assists in Alzheimer
There are few therapeutic choices for those who develop Alzheimer’s, which causes everworsening cognitive and behavioral issues. Fasting is a therapy option that is rapidly gaining traction outside of the domain of pharmaceuticals and treatments. Ramadan Fasting, commonly promoted as a weight-loss approach, has been demonstrated in research to significantly relieve Alzheimer’s symptoms and decline in slow cognitive development in rats.
UKAEA CEO Ian Chapman with teams from KFE and UKAEA’s Culham Campus.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner in research and development for remote handling and the maintenance of future powerplants.
The agreement supports an alliance between the UK and South Korean government-funded organisations, with UKAEA and KFE specialising in the quest to make fusion energy part of the world’s future energy supply.
The knowledge sharing commenced last week with a team of five KFE researchers visiting UKAEA’s Culham Campus near Oxford. This involved a tour of the record-breaking Joint European Torus (JET) facility and UKAEA’s world-class robotics centre, RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments).
Research from both organisations is integral to the success of ITER – the larger international fusion programme being built in the south of France – in addition to future fusion powerplants.
UKAEA’s JET has been config-
ured to replicate the anticipated ITER set-up and is maintained using robotics and remote handling. KFE operates KSTAR (Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research), the only tokamak machine using superconducting technology like ITER. Both organisations require knowledge of remote maintenance.
The MOU focuses on cooperating on various research and development areas for fusion remote maintenance to exchange ideas,
information, skills and techniques.
UKAEA’s CEO, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, commented: “Fusion could be transformative for energy security and is important in the global fight against climate change. The ground-breaking research and innovation being done in the UK, and with our partners across the globe, aims to make fusion energy a reality. We welcome KFE to UKAEA’s Culham Campus and look forward to an evolving partnership driven by a
KFE’s President, Dr. Suk Jae Yoo, remarked, “We are thrilled to be teaming up with UKAEA, who are at the forefront of the challenge to demonstrate fusion energy on earth. While UKAEA researchers have vast knowledge in developing robot arms for fusion maintenance, KFE researchers bring extensive expertise gained from constructing and operating the KSTAR. The collaboration between the two institutions will create a synergy in developing remote control systems for fusion demonstration machines. I hope this partnership leads to further collaborations in key research areas, advancing the development of fusion energy.”
As part of the agreement between UKAEA and KFE, the MOU will see risk driven research and development prioritisation, knowledge sharing involving welding,
large scale tendon driven arm operations, the development of robust electronic components, and skills transfer.
The technical and knowledge exchange will happen via lectures, seminars and workshops in both countries. This will also include training placements for KFE.
Since opening at Culham in 2016, UKAEA’s fusion robotics centre, RACE, has conducted research and development into the use of robotics in extreme industrial environments where it is difficult to send people to work. It also supports companies developing their own autonomous systems. This supports the UK Government’s Robotics & Autonomous Systems strategy, which aims to equip the UK to compete in this emerging global industry.
Over £1.6 billion of new investment will be directed into vital infrastructure to improve the water quality of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters and secure future water supplies, the government and Ofwat announced.
It follows a request from Defra to English water companies to accelerate investments between now and 2025 to tackle storm overflow discharges, reduce nutrient pollution from treatment works and address water resilience challenges. This announcement comes ahead of the government’s Integrated Plan for Water, which will be published tomorrow, and will set out how we can achieve cleaner and more plentiful water for future generations. The investment announced today will ensure improvements are made more quickly to address the unacceptable levels of pollution in waterways and deliver for customers.
As part of the new package of investment, announced in draft form by Ofwat, companies will commit £1.1 billion to help eliminate harm caused by storm overflows. A further £400 million will be spent on water resilience schemes and £160m to help reduce nutrient pollution. It includes major new projects such as: United Utilities reducing around 8,400 spills per year, including reducing discharges
into Lake Windermere (£800 million)
Yorkshire Water improving wastewater treatment infrastructure in Ilkley to improve the bathing water quality of the River Wharfe (£67 million)
South West Water upgrading assets and storage to reduce discharges in Falmouth and Sidmouth (£70 million)
Anglian Water accelerating its regional storm overflow reduction plan in the east of England (£27 million)
Essex and Suffolk Water increasing water resilience in their area to better meet the needs of local customers including businesses (£18 million)
Severn Trent rolling out smart meters and modifying its Draycote Water reservoir in Warwickshire to increase water capacity (£70 million)
Schemes will also focus on new infrastructure to reduce nutrient pollution. Improvements at 14 wastewater treatment works, with an investment of £160 million, will significantly reduce phosphorus pollution in protected site catchments. This includes proposals from Anglian Water to both reduce pollution and support sustainable housing development.
All work will start in the next two years, from 2023 to 2025.
Water Minister Rebecca Pow said:
These new schemes will help
accelerate the delivery of the urgent improvements we need to protect our environment. It includes £1.1 billion of new investment to stop sewage discharges at sites across the country and will deliver a reduction of 10,000 discharges per year in places like Lake Windermere, the River Wharfe, Falmouth and Sidmouth.
The investment set out here will also provide an important boost for regional jobs, businesses and local communities.
It builds on the key commitments in our five year strategy – our Environmental Improvement Plan – as well as our upcoming Plan for Water to tackle pollution, reduce water consumption and protect our waters.
Ofwat Chief Executive David Black said:
Substantial investment is needed to address the challenges to our water system of storm overflows, river and bathing water quality and drought resilience.
We are pleased that we’ve been able to work with companies and identify significant investments which companies can start well before the next price control period. This will bring substantial benefits for customers and the environment and bring them faster. We want to see companies making more rapid progress in delivering improvements, and will hold them to account if they fall short.
and youngest Saudi Arabian pilot to fly an A380, this flight made Pilot Wesam famous throughout the entire world. Additionally, this title elevated him to the status of an example in the aviation sector. He will always be grateful to his family, Etihad Airways, the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for giving him this chance. Flown to more than 100 cities around the world Pilot Wesam has 6000 flying hours from East to West, North to South, across numerous routes, and with various operations including the North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Europe, China, Africa, and Middle East. He loves his job a lot and he said: “I will always be proud to carry the name of my country and raise the flag of my nation.”
By: Rida Khan (Aviation Author)Pilot Wesam Al Najjar who is renowned for being “The First & Youngest Saudi Pilot to Fly an A380,” was born and raised in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia. He was raised in a setting that fostered knowledge acquisition and was strongly urged to continue learning and to help others. After completing his studies at the private school, he relocated to the UK in London to sharpen his English language skills. One of the most well-known economists and a co-founder of significant investment firms in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Dr. Mukhtar Ballol was his uncle who died in the year 2021. He is the author of several books on economics. He supported and encouraged him as
he decided to pursue a career as a pilot. He was also inspired by his brother Captain Wadi Al Najjar of the A320 since they started their careers together. Pilot Wesam decided to move to the UAE to begin his piloting career. He started getting training on small aircraft at Horizon International Flight Academy, in Al Ain UAE. He earned his highest-level aircraft pilot certificate and airline transport pilot license with an oxford aviation programs in the year 2012. He began working for one of the largest and most rapidly expanding airlines in aviation history, Etihad Airways, in Abu Dhabi. In 2013, he began his journey with Airbus aircraft fleets while working for Etihad Airways as a
second officer. He has piloted an A318, A319, A320, A330, A330 Cargo, and an A380. He had a wonderful opportunity to fly jet aircraft toward regional destinations when he joined the A320 family. Flying an A330 cargo was a little different from flying a passenger plane, but he enjoyed moving the large amount of cargo around the globe and had the chance to gain more knowledge of cargo operations. When he was given the chance to participate in the Saudi National Day in September 2018, a new chapter in his life began. He was chosen to co-pilot Etihad Airways’ largest passenger aircraft, the A380, on a special flight from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah. Because he was the first
Q.) You were selected and awarded the title “First and youngest Saudi Arabian pilot to fly A380.” What difference has this title made to your life and career?
Pilot Wesam: I never thought I’d be given the honor of being the “First and Youngest Saudi Arabian Pilot to Fly A380.” My life has always been centered around doing my duty with complete professionalism and responsibility. My life and career were significantly changed by this title because it gave me international recognition.
Q.) What were the challenges you faced while becoming a pilot?
Pilot Wesam: In the beginning, I encountered challenges as I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot, but I was confident that there would always be a way around them, so I applied positive thinking and perseverance to achieve my objectives. Concentration, effort, and diligence are crucial. Beginnings are challenging, but endings are simple.
Q.) Let us know about your first solo flight.
Pilot Wesam: My first solo flight took place on a day when I spent an hour flying a Cessna 172 around the airport in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It was a wonderful experience brimming with vitality and zeal.
Q.) What would you say about your life as a pilot?
Pilot Wesam: My life as a pilot is exciting and adventurous. Every day is different for me because I get to fly the airplane and experience various types of weather while working with various
teams on various routes and runways. Even though I have a busy schedule during some seasons, I occasionally have free time to relax at home. In my role as a pilot, I learn something new about aviation, new contemporary technologies used in the industry, about the cultures of various nations.
Q.) What you do to stay active and relaxed before flying the plane?
Pilot Wesam: At home, I take a lot of time to relax, get plenty of sleep, go for a walk, and eat light but healthy meals because a pilot should always go active and in a good mood. The aviation regulations give us the limits to be in a window of resting time, how to make it flexible enough i.e., managing sleeping time and preparation time is in our hands.
Q.) What makes a good pilot?
Pilot Wesam: I’ll say “Preparation” in a single word. In aviation, we have to be ahead of the fast-moving planes. The secret to being a good pilot is to always “Be Prepared.” Good preparation yields good results. “Preparation before Execution.”
Q.) What is the greatest change in aviation that you find throughout your pilot career?
Pilot Wesam: Transformation in Operations and the aviation HR sector is moving toward efficiency and digitalization to make things run more smoothly for upcoming opportunities to help airline companies to achieve their objectives. Technology has undergone a massive change; in Saudi Arabia, the most recent technological programs are being used to pursue the 2030 vision in the growth of the aviation industry.
Q.) What are the different types of passengers?
Pilot Wesam: Depending on regions and cultures, there are various kinds of passengers. Airline companies maximize their concept of services by observing the passengers to achieve a mixed culture operation, make their journey easy and accessible at any time, and provide them with priceless memories before, during, and after the flight. People’s behavior varies depending on the services they receive during the flight. As a result, all arrangements are made in accordance with the needs of the passengers, making it simple to accommodate passengers onboard. Airline companies care about the needs and requirements of passengers both at the Airport and Onboard in order to keep this industry motivated and active.
Q.) Is the airline industry evolving in Saudi Arabia? And if so, how?
Pilot Wesam: Especially since
the Covid-19 pandemic and the fastest pace of technological advancement, aviation worldwide is going through a period of rapid development and transformation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making a lot of effort and progress with all of its available energy. With the ongoing assistance of our supreme leader, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and His Excellency the Minister of Transportation, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, are working hard to achieve the goals in terms of air travel, which include improving logistics, providing passengers with an unforgettable experience, opening doors for international travel, etc. Recently, Riyadhair, a new company in Riyadh, was announced. As members of the aviation industry’s, we as a young generation, have admiration and hope for the future. We are a part of this entity’s growth and development as we forge ahead into the future of air travel.
Q.) What stage are airlines currently in?
Pilot Wesam: The airlines will have many great opportunities to enter the market with the force of quality, price, environment, and high employment to achieve their objectives during the following ten years. Many global airlines have already met their strategic objectives and took advantage of the opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. Large corporations have the resources and qualified personnel to identify, develop, and take advantage of present opportunities. When I think of innovation in this industry, I visualize harmony and cooperation between the commercial departments of some businesses, which sometimes travel independently from one another in order to find the best slot of mechanism for a given combination of quality, timing, and cost. Next to the planes and the training, the aircrafts are now divided according to time, price, and services. Small planes fly off-peak times, big planes fly on-peak times, lowcost planes fly in cities with little traffic, high-cost planes fly in cities with lots of traffic. The fact that the world is circular and has distinct time zones benefits the airline industry.
Q.) Any advice for aspiring pilots?
Pilot Wesam: Always pursue your dream and strive. If you want to become a pilot, just go for it and do your best. Nothing is impossible in life. Put in the effort necessary to achieve your goals because anything that is driven by force produces a reaction. In life, always be optimistic.
Dan has provided three quick tips which motorists can do to check their tyres are in a safe condition:
• “When looking at your tyres, there is first of all the 20p trick: if you pop a 20p coin into your tyres’ tread and cannot see the outer band of the coin then your tyre depth is road worthy.
• “Check for cuts, bulges and tears because if they’re over 25 millimetres long or cover 10% of the tyre’s section width, then they’re also deemed to be unsafe.
• “Ensure that the PSI of your tyres are at the correct levels, most cars have this information on the inside of the driver’s door. The PSI can be checked at an air pressure machine which is available at most petrol stations.”
The data could mean that nearly 9.8 million motorists are potentially at risk of severe financial penalties if they do not keep a regular eye on the condition of their tyres.
Dan commented: “Drivers shouldn’t take for granted that as we start to
move into spring, we should take our eyes off the state of our tyres. “In the same report published by the DfT, 22% of collisions were on wet or damp roads, and we all know that April showers can come when least expected.”
As TrackDays.co.uk helps oversee a host of driving experiences across the country, including driving supercars at top speeds around tracks, tyre conditions are constantly monitored to ensure everyone on their tracks are safe.
Drivers have been warned that even though the days are now getting brighter with the arrival of Springtime, it does not mean that the roads are any safer, with April traditionally bringing in more unsettled and unpredictable weather patterns. With the quick changing weather, comes a further need for motorists to be aware of their tyres’ conditions and Dan Jones, Operations Manager at TrackDays.co.uk, warned
that motorists could face hefty fines, reaching £10,000, as well as potentially losing their licence, if their tyres are found to be in a dangerous and illegal state. The driving experience expert also highlighted that in the latest Department for Transport (DfT) road casualty report, nearly 25% of collisions where a vehicle defect was reported involved tyres which were either illegal, defective or underinflated.`
Birmingham City Council has been working with Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) to install its first rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points.
Selly Oak station will be the first of a number of Park & Ride stations in Birmingham to have rapid charge points rolled out to support commuters, taxis and local residents to transition to EVs. Rapid chargers (up to 100kws) are able to fully charge electric vehicles within just 30 mins, or ‘top up’ within 5-10 minutes.
Cllr Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport at Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a great step forward in
our bid to reach zero emissions in Birmingham. Not only will it help people change over to electric vehicles, the location means they can then get straight onto the rail network.
“Being able to charge your car in such a short space of time will make journeys in electric cars so much easier. This is great work from all involved.”
TfWM is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “As we seek to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, we need the right infrastructure in place. That’s why I’m pleased to see Transport for West Mid-
lands working with Birmingham City Council to help establish a rapid charging facility at the Selly Oak Park & Ride site.
“We have plans to vastly improve the availability of chargers right across our region and are actively identifying locations for 10 electric vehicle ‘filling stations’ that will provide ultra-rapid charging for cars and larger vehicles –all part of our green transport revolution.”
The Fast & Rapid EV Charge programme is part-funded through OZEV (formerly OLEV), the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and delivered by ESB.
Leaders from across the sport industry came together on Saturday 25 March to deliver Loughborough University’s student-led initiative the Black in Sport Summit (BISS). The sold-out event – backed by Europe’s leading media and entertainment company, Sky – was hosted at the iconic London Stadium in Stratford and brought together some of the most successful black individuals
in sport to inspire and influence delegates.
Co-hosted by Sky Sports News presenter and Loughborough University Board Member Mike Wedderburn, the action-packed agenda included panel discussions and exclusive interviews that tackled discrimination and underrepresentation of black people in sport.
Former Premier League footballer Anton Ferdinand began proceedings, delivering a hard-hitting talk that highlighted the issues of racism in football. Anton also discussed his own personal experience of being racially abused while playing professionally.
Seven-time Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton appeared via a prerecorded exclusive interview, outlining how he has pledged to create opportunities through non-profit charitable organisation Mission 44 – an organisation that helps young people receive a better education.
In the next session, undefeated profes-
sional boxer Richard Riakporhe joined Bobby Kasanga, CEO of Hackney Wick FC, to explain how to turn adversity into opportunity with both guests drawing upon personal challenges from earlier life.
The following panel discussion explored how to ‘advance equity in sports governance’ alongside Leon Mann (interviewer, filmmaker, and founder of the Football Black List and the Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS)), Tony Burnett (CEO of Kick It Out), Lloyd Grose (member of British Cycling’s External Advisory Board), Darren Lewis (Assistant Editor at Daily Mirror), and Ama Agbeze MBE (England netball international).
Throughout the day, delegates had the opportunity to network with established sport professionals. This included the ‘Employer Challenge’ segment where individuals could speak directly with business professionals in the industry.
Broadcaster Carina White led a discussion on the importance of allies and advocacy in the sports business, while the final panel discussion of the day, with elite-level athletes Lutalo Muhammad, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Christian Scotland-Williamson, and Alice Dearing, highlighted the impact of representation on black athletes and social justice activism in sports.
After the event BISS co-founder Ladi Ogunmekan said: “BISS 2023 was nothing short of amazing. Thank you to the incredible hosts, speakers, and delegates for contributing to what was an engaging and insightful day.
“From heartfelt stories to invaluable gems and passionate calls to action, our audience at the London Stadium received the full package. In 2022, BIS set out to celebrate black achievement in sport and inspire the next generation of sport industry leaders. Our 2023 Summit shows how far we’ve come
and we’re not stopping here – keep building up the community.”
Jo Simpson, Commercial and Facilities Director for Loughborough Sport, said: “The Black in Sport Summit was a monumental day for all involved.
“The committee behind BISS demonstrated the power of the student voice to bring together established sport leaders to tackle the very real issue of discrimination against black people in the sector.
“London Stadium provided the perfect venue for galvanising a movement that has tangible benefits. The hosts, speakers, panel members, and delegates were all incredibly engaging as we collectively look to act and make a change.
“Everyone should be incredibly proud of the day, but we also understand this is just the start of something far bigger.”
Birmingham independent bar and live music venue Nortons Digbeth has pledged more support for women’s rugby in the city and extended its sponsorship of the Moseley Women’s Rugby team by another 12 months.
In addition to helping to fund backline coaching for the all-women team based at the historic South Birmingham rugby club, the Digbeth venue continues to screen each of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations tournament games – hot on the heels of the Ireland Mens’ historic Six Nation win.
Ian Ward, board member of Moseley Rugby club and leader of Labourrun Birmingham city council, joined members of the Women’s first team for an official kit exchange at Norton’s, swapping a full signed kit in
exchange for Norton’s rugby shirt signed by staff members.
Ian Ward said: “We’re thrilled that Norton’s has chosen to support Birmingham Moseley Women’s Rugby for another year, and their commitment to helping to develop community and grassroots sports in Birmingham is a testament to their passion for the city. Their support has also helped the Club establish a girls’ team at age 12 that will develop the talent of the future.
“Women’s rugby, alongside many other sports, is rapidly growing in numbers and support so we extend our thanks to Peter Connolly at the Digbeth bar and venue for leading by example, in helping us to deliver backline coaching and raising the profile of women’s rugby more generally through Six Nations screen-
ings.”
The Meriden Street bar and music venue Nortons is a proud supporter of independent Birmingham Irish businesses and cultural organisations, home to events and meetings for organisations including The Birmingham TradFest, Comhaltas Ceólteórí Éireann and the West Midlands Irish Business Group and works in partnership with independent distiller Spirit of Birmingham amongst other city SMEs.
Nortons has recently hosted Rail, Maritime and Transport Leader’s Union leader Mick Lynch for a meeting of 300 Midlands rail workers, West Midlands Metropolitan Mayor Andy Street speaking to SME business owners, as well as performances by Sharon Shannon, All Folk’d Up and One For
The Road. The 500-capacity music venue presents acclaimed Irish band Kila on Friday 7 April 2023.
Peter Connolly, owner of Nortons Digbeth, said: “This is the third year we’ve supported Moseley Rugby – part of our commitment to supporting grassroots sport in the city, including women’s and men’s teams across Irish and English sports.
“We view women’s sport equally as important as the men’s, which is also why we’re screening the Women’s Six Nations games throughout the venue with commentary.
“The bar was absolutely packed out for all the men’s Six Nations games this year, and it’s great to have another month of rugby to look forward to.
“It’s important to us to get behind local causes and organisations so
Norton’s staff were delighted to meet with the team and swap shirts, joined by Ian Ward who we know is a great fan of Rugby and a proud supporter of Moseley Rugby. “We wish the whole team at Moseley Women’s Rugby the very best for the year ahead and look forward to cheering them on every game.” Nortons Digbeth also sponsors a number of other grassroots sports teams across the city including University of Birmingham GAA, Warwickshire Ladies GAA, AFC Solihull football and UCB Rugby. Birmingham Moseley Women’s Rugby, part of the Billesley Common club, train twice weekly and play league games on Sundays. The team cater for all abilities and welcomes applications from new players.
