InSolihull Winter 2020 by Solihull BID

Winter

LIFE & STYLE FROM THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN ENGLAND

MAKE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS WREATH Livâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are on hand to guide you step by step to create your own wreath this season.

THE BIG COUNTDOWN

#S H O SO LI P H U LL

Advent calendars to wow you!

Welcome to our first printed edition of InSolihull since February this year, before our beautiful world was permanently damaged by COVID 19. 2020 has unfolded amidst jolts of panic and shock, outpourings of community compassion and a constant undercurrent of painful uncertainty. Now, more than ever, we are determined to collaborate and deliver Christmas in all its glory and work towards a brighter future ahead, and our wonderful businesses and workers are joining forces to make this happen. We hope that this issue will also reassure you of the efforts that are continuously being implemented to keep the town centre as safe as possible.

2-BED

Open Day Events

APARTMENTS AVAILABLE

PRICES START FROM

£385,000*

Eastcote Park - Luxury retirement village & care home Join us at one of our Open Day Events to find out more about Eastcote Park - luxury 2-bed retirement apartments with a range of high-class facilities alongside an exclusive care home. View the stunning show apartment and unrivalled on-site facilities including Club Lounge and Restaurant, Piano Bar, Library, Cinema, Fitness Studio and Hair & Beauty Salon. Take a tour of the exquisite Eastcote Park Care Home and learn more about the exemplary residential, dementia and respite care tailored to each residents’ individual needs.

Book your appointment now on 01564 758463 Open Day Events will run from 10am - 4pm on these dates

OPEN DAY EVENT ONE

Thurs 19th, Fri 20th & Sat 21st November

The ‘Christmas in the Square’ campaign focuses on two areas in particular, Mell Square and Theatre Square. Here you will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of outdoor dining with safe spaces and individual hubs to order table service from. Our new golden archway (Instagrammable!) Christmas tree is a centrepiece to the more traditional festoon lighting guests can enjoy. Santa’s grotto and postal train will soon be open for business in Touchwood where our younger visitors can get onto the ‘good’ list.

4-5

Our new openings and growth in independent businesses signals a new, brighter future for us all. I would like to wish all our readers, visitors, workers and business owners a very Merry Christmas and may 2021 be the start of all that is good.

OPEN DAY EVENT TWO

Thurs 26th, Fri 27th & Sat 28th November

24-25

4-5 LADIES FASHION Loungewear and family time 6 MEN’S FASHION Winter favourites 7 FOR THE LITTLE ONES Cutest outfits for seasonal fun 8-9 DESIRABLES The town’s best picks 10 - 11 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN What do you prefer for advent? 12 SPRUCE UP YOUR TREE Our favourite decorations 13 COMPETITION TIME Win a Christmas hamper worth £50! 14 ESG SECURITY Get to know more about David Hoey, Company Director INBUSINESS 15 KEEPING SOLIHULL SMILE Masks to make Solihull Smile 16 AVERTA Employment Law Firm in Solihull 17 CGI Sense of scale and pride at CGI 18 BUSINESS FOCUS Pearcelegal 19 HAYFIELD HOMES Raise over £10,000 for St Basil’s 20 EMERGE STRONGER Solihull’s advice hub 21 COMMUNITY SEATING HUB Grab a bite to eat and take a seat 22 - 23 INDEPENDENT FOCUS MINIMINI kids concept store supporting the environment 24 - 25 NEW OPENINGS Exciting new openings in Solihull 26 - 27 WREATH MAKING Liv’s step by step guide 28 CHRISTMAS IN SOLIHULL Enjoy Christmas in the Square 29 PROJECT SERVATOR Partnership working to keep you safe

Booking is essential. All tours will follow strict social distancing and adhere to latest Government guidelines.

Eastcote Park, Knowle Road, Eastcote, Solihull B92 0JJ

www.cinnamoncc.com/eastcote

* Other costs & charges apply, please talk to our advisers for further information.

Cardigan, £24, Dorothy Perkins

Coat, £72. Collar Jumper, £26. Trousers, £38. All Next

Polo Neck, £207. Skirt, £305. Both Katherine Draisey

Jumper, £65, River Island

Mask, £5, Accessorize

Jeans, £25.99, New Look

Bag, £19.99, Zara

Jumpsuit, £19.99, Zara

LOUNGE WEAR

Gloves, £22, Accessorize

As we know this year has bought out our love for lounge wear, and unfortunately this Christmas it doesn’t look like we will be able to ditch the comfort for our festive party wear. However there are some beautiful lounge wear options on the market, here are a few of our favourites.

Boots £95, Office

Boots, £242, Le Scarpe

FAMILY TIME This festive season will be filled with small gatherings in your ‘bubbles’, celebrations in your own homes, and long walks appreciating the beautiful countryside we have on offer. Solihull has everything to offer for comfort and style.

Bag, £22.99, Tophshop

Jacket, £350, GANT

Cardigan, £49.99, Zara

Top, £22. Shorts, £20. Both River Island

Dress, £46, Next

Joggers, £15, Marks and Spencer

Necklace, £9.99, H&M

Boots, £105, Rieker

Cardigan, £22.99, New Look

Slippers, £24.99, TK Maxx

Jumper, £29.50, Marks and Spencer

Jumper, £55. Skirt, £45. Both Monsoon

Jacket, £75, River Island

Marc Darcy Cap, £25, Santoro

Jumper, £23, JoJo Maman Bebe

Jacket, £210, FALL Menswear

Dress, £12.99, TK Maxx

Hat, £14. Jacket, £49. All JoJo Maman Bebe

Boots, £79, Office

Jacket, £22, Marks and Spencer Scarf, £15, Marks & Spencer

LITTLE ONES

MEN’S AW

Whether you are planning country walks, celebrating COVID style or staying home this season, Solihull has the perfect menswear offering.

T-Shirt, £18, MINIMINI

This season is all about magic, fun activites and making memories such as moments in front of the fire wrapped in PJs or outside exploring. Solihull is geared up for all activites so pick your favourite items and enjoy.

Hat, £19.99, TK Maxx

Jumper £34.99, Topshop

Joggers, £35, River Island

Babygrow, £42, River Island

Brace Pants, £68, MINIMINI

Barber Slippers, £59.95, John Lewis & Partners

Trousers, £8, Sainsburys

Socks, £2.99, New Look

Jumper, £35, MINIMINI

Shoes, £55.99, Zara

Jumper, £150, GANT

Jeans, £29.99, Zara

Jacket, £65, Burton

Top & Joggers Set, £12, Both Sainsburys

Hat, £9, Marks and Spencer

Pyjamas, £17.00, JoJo Maman Bebe @the_mantons

Dress £42.95, Joules

INSTYLE

BUYERS GUIDE

Desirables the

Christmas comes but once a year, so why not treat friends, loved ones or yourself to a very special gift this festive season.

PERFECT GIFT

Looking for that sparkle in their eye? Entirely covered with crystals, this 9mm teardrop pendant packs a powerful sparkle, strung from an 18” fine chain, and will be a very well recieved gift.

9ct Gold Crystal Teardrop Necklace, £59.99. F HINDS, Drury Lane, Solihull, B91 3BG. 0121 704 9758

KEEP CONNECTED

It has never been more important to keep in touch with loved ones and look out for each other. The new highly stylish Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone has been created to provide a great, large-screen mobile expereince and is perfect for those who cannot be in the presence of their loved ones, making hands free video chats easy. It also has a load of other great functions and offers a new and unique design.

MAKES ‘SCENTS’

A spectacular scenario. An unexpected masculine spirit. BLEU DE CHANEL embodies a tribute to masculine freedom. Composed by Jacques Polge, the Creator of CHANEL Fragrances, BLEU DE CHANEL reveals itself in three acts. Bleu De Chanel Parfum Spray 100ml, £105.50. THE FRAGRANCE SHOP, Mill Lane Arcade, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3GS. 0121 709 4389.

IRRESISTIBLE

Glam up any outfit with this luxurious classic dark red shade lipstick. Infused with a fruity combination of Pomegranate, Carrot and Pomelos oils and E vitamins, its castor oil moisturising rich texture will melt on your lips. It is also made with a vegetarian friendly formula & free from silicone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, £1399. JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3RA. 0121 704 1121.

MERMAID DREAMS

If you love pink gin and beautifully crafted bottles, look no further than Tastes of Britain for this Pink Mermaid Gin. Infused with the flavour and aromatics of island strawberries with a smooth yet complex taste, this award winning gin is sought after present, or treat to yourself. Isle of White Distillery Mermaid Pink Gin, £38. TASTES OF BRITAIN, Mill Lane, Solihull, B91 3AR. 0121 709 3101.

MATCHING...

Rea-y to Party Intense Fruity Lipstick, £18. L’OCCITANE, Poplar Arcade, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3JH. 0121 709 1225.

AND RELAX

After a long day, there is nothing better than being able to put your feet up and enjoy a barista-grade Hot Chocolate. Hotel Chocolat have hit the nail on the head with their hot chocolate machine, using real chocolate flake, it makes your drink in 2.5 minutes. It’s as simple as plugging in your Velvetiser, choosing your chocolate and milk - dairy or plant-based or even water if you prefer - and pressing the button. With 16 flavours of hot chocolate to choose from, you can’t really go wrong!

TREE-MENDOUS SNUGGLES

Jellycat Christmas Tree, (Medium £34), (Small, £19). WISHES AND KISSES, Mill Lane, Solihull, B91 3BA. 0121 705 7077.

Velvetiser, £99.95. HOTEL CHOCOLAT, Mill Lane Arcade, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3GS. 0121 704 9714.

TE CU

What could be more desirable than a georgously soft and squidgy festive friend? We found these gems in Wishes and Kisses and instantly got excited for Christmas - this year we are going to have a tree in every room!

STYLISH DRINKS

Now you have your gin, you obvisouly need somewhere to store it. Where better than on this gorgeous drinks trolley, the perfect accessory for your dining room when entertaining family. Bar drinks trolley, £200. NEXT, Crescent Arcade, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3GZ. 03330 055 359

AND RELAX!

PAMPER GOALS

The Lush Wow Christmas gift is an epic festive bonanza. Something for every part of you or gift to the person at the top of your nice list.. Wow gift set, £195. LUSH, High Street, Solihull, B91 3TA. 0121 713 2199

FIX UP LOOK SHARP

With 6 of Robert Welch’s fantastic Signature Knives, as well as an integrated sharpener for keeping them in top condition and a stylish block for storing them in, the Robert Welch Signature Knife Block and Sharpener is sure to look at home on your kitchen worktop. Robert Welch Signature Knife Block Sharpener and 6 Knives, £299.99 LAKELAND, Jubilee Walk, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3HT. 0121 711 2601.

ADVENTUROUS CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN 2020 STATIONERY ADVENT CALENDAR

CLASSIC ADVENT CALENDAR

The whimsical world of L’OCCITANE is brought to life with this delightful calendar designed by Edith Carron, a beloved and award-winning French illustrator. Time stops just for a moment, as childhood memories of excited anticipation come flooding back. But there’s an even better treat inside - your favourite products to indulge in a little “me time” including hand creams, shower gels and hair masks. (£53)

If organisation excites you and you are more drawn to pens and paper than chocolate, then this is the calendar for you. PAPERCHASE have put together every stationery lover’s dream, including pens, notepads, paperclips and everything you need to organise your life this Christmas. Why have sweets when you can have stationery treats? (£40)

BOOTS boast an impressive selection of advent calendars, with a range of beauty, Harry Potter, Yankee Candle and even sock calendars! Last year’s No7 calendar sold out in record time, and it’s back and better than ever! Packed with 25 seriously luxe beauty and skincare heroes, it’s No7’s most generous offering yet. Plus, look out for ten Golden Tickets (worth a massive £1000) hidden at random throughout the calendars (£45)

BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDAR

Over the last few years, we have seen an influx of gin and advent calendars on the market. Although TASTES OF BRITAIN offer a fantastic range of these, it was the rum advent calendar that caught our eye… The calendar features a different 30ml wax-sealed dram of rum behind each window, this includes dark rums, spiced rums, rhum Agricole and more, made by some of the world’s best producers. (£149.95)

JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS have a great range of advent calendars including beauty, gin, beer, pork scratchings, lego, brain teasers and much more. One that caught our eye in particular was this craft calendar, for the creative sewing enthusiasts in the world. (£34.99)

MOLTON BROWN LIMITED EDITION CALENDAR

Inspired by the roaring glamour of the twenties, this MOLTON BROWN calendar brings all the luxury of the Christmas season into your home. This striking new design is filled with intriguing new fragrances, bathing classics and much more. (£175)

Take a leaf out of our book and start your day right with this English Tea Shop advent calendar found in TASTES OF CHRISTMAS. If you love a brew in the morning, this advent calendar will suit you to a ‘tea’. (£10)

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

COUNT DOWN TO CHRISTMAS WITH THE MR MEN AND LITTLE MISS!

Enjoy a story with your favourite Mr Men and Little Miss this Christmas. This is just one of the great advent calendars available at WATERSTONES. Each day reveals a special storybook, the perfect gift for you to enjoy during the festive season and beyond. (19.99)

HEMLINE SEWING ACCESSORIES CRAFT ADVENT CALENDAR

For many, Christmas is a romantic time and a time spent with family. This year that is going to be even more heightened, with many restrictions in place and an uncertainty in the air. HOTEL CHOCOLAT have created the perfect calendar for two, including 2 identical truffles and an uplifting message to start each day as a team. Perfect for partners, best friends, housemates, parents, or just you… we won’t judge, double the chocolate is double the fun! (£26)

ENGLIGH TEA SHOP WELLNESS ADVENT

This desirable advent calendar from THE WHITE COMPANY will make your countdown to Christmas especially joyous. The 25 draws include treats like Gua Sha, mini sized body care, votives, skincare and more in a selection of their bestselling scents. (£160)

SMIGGLE are back with their best countdown to Christmas yet! It has 25 days of limited edition Smiggle stationery surprises. Plus there are 30 lucky tickets hidden inside, if you find one you could win a HUGE Smiggle shopping spree! (£28)

RUM ADVENT CALENDAR

ADVENT FOR TWO

NO7 BEAUTY CALENDAR

LEGO STAR WARS ADVENT CALENDAR

May the force be with you this Christmas Star Wars fans. ‘But believe you Shmi’ this is one of the best advent calendars to get creative with this season and it can be found at THE ENTERTAINER. (£25)

COFFEE LOVERS

Start your morning right, with a different capsule surprise each day in the busy December month. Perfect calendar for the coffee lovers, an invitation to a journey full of discoveries with this limited-edition NESPRESSO Calendar. (£32)

MAKE IT REAL TOGETHER ULTIMATE ADVENT CALENDAR

Celebrate the countdown to Christmas with THE BODY SHOP Make It Real Together Ultimate Advent Calendar. Pamper, uplift and rejuvenate in the run up to Christmas with a great surprise each day, even on Christmas day! (£130)

SPRUCE UP YOUR

CHRISTMAS

£9.99, Wishes & Kisses

COMPETITION TIME WIN A

Do you have a theme for your tree, or do you prefer the unique decorations? Solihull is ahead of the game this year with some beautiful, traditional decorations and some great unqine and quirky designs. We would love to see your tree, tag us in you pictures, @SolihullBID £4, Marks & Spencer

Exciting news alert! We have teamed up with Alex and Paul, the owners of Tastes of Britain and Tastes of Christmas on Mill Lane in Mell Square, to give you the chance to win a Christmas hamper worth £50!

£12, John Lewis & Partners £12, The White Company

£4, Next

£5, Sainsbury’s

£6, John Lewis & Partners

Tastes of Britain is a local, independent family-run business, and they’re on a mission to bring the best independent British producers to the town centre. Quality and variety are key, and they have tirelessly scoured the country to find the best products for you. It’s much more than just a shop – they would be delighted to welcome you and take your senses on a journey around the British Isles. They’re so confident in their products that they offer you the opportunity to try them before you buy… and yes, that includes the Gin! Working with producers throughout the British Isles, they have assembled a fantastic range of over 200 award-winning Craft Gins and Spirits (Rum, Vodka, Whisky, and more), showcasing the best British distilleries.

£3, Typo

Their gourmet delicatessen features traditional and artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and deli favourites from across the country, supported with a great range of accompaniments to deliver perfect taste combinations.

From £1, Flying Tiger

£5.99, Liv’s

£3, Dunelm

£7.99, Wishes & Kisses

Whether you’re looking to make that special occasion even more special, or just treating yourself, they’re confident they can help you find your new favourites from their fantastic range. They also offer a great range of complementary products and services including:

• • •

Free same day local delivery service (Solihull) Cheese wedding and celebration cakes. Cheese makes everything better! Luxury hampers featuring a range of outstanding British produce

CHRISTMAS

HAMPER

Following the success of Tastes of Britain, they have now launched Tastes of Christmas at 14 Mill Lane, bringing their favourite festive treats to Solihull! Christmas is celebrated around the world so they’ve gone a bit further afield this time, bringing in authentic quality produce including sweet treats, preserves, sauces, shortbreads and cakes from across the British Isles and beyond, and everything you need to get you into the Christmas spirit including: • • • • • • • •

Gin, Whisky, Tea and Chocolate advent calendars Tequila, Mezcal and Rum from Mexico Japanese Whisky and Sake Irish and American Whiskeys and Bourbons French Cognac, Brandy, Liqueurs and Champagnes Italian Prosecco, Vermouths, Aperitifs and Liqueurs Port, Sherry and Liqueurs from Portugal and Spain Gins from around the world

They also offer a range of outstanding cocktail making sets, cheese boards & accessories, and can make bespoke Christmas hampers to order. Whether you’re looking for a special gift or a treat for yourself, visit their stores and be inspired.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter this competition all you need to do is visit the Solihull BID website and fill out the competition form on the InSolihull page answering the following question correctly -

What is the one botanical that Gin MUST contain? Tastes of Britain, 5 Mill Lane, Solihull, B91 3AR | 0121 709 3101 www.tastesofbritain.com Competition rules: Compeition opens on 1st November 2020 and closes on the 20th December 2020. One person will win the Christmas Hamper. Only one entry will be counted per person. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash value. You must answer the questions correctly to win. The Competition entry form can be found at www.solihullbid. co.uk/insolihull. The winner will be contacted on 21st December 2020.

INFOCUS

My business life…

David Hoey David Hoey is the Directory of ESG Security Limited in Solihull. An industry-leading, family-owned security company, with a thirty-two-year track record.

Located in central Solihull town centre, on the Warwick Road, the company provides professional and bespoke security services to commercial and industrial properties, concierge and reception services, gatehouse and sports and entertainment venues throughout the UK including retail outlets, shopping centres and retail parks, and operates to the latest British Standards and industry codes of practice.

my customers that myself and my team can be proud of, a service that is head and shoulders above the rest. As it’s a family business I am privileged that I have my children involved and each one of them makes an enormous and positive contribution, which will allow me to pass the baton and keep ESG successful for another generation.” What does success mean to you?

ESG was founded in 1988 by former Royal Marine David Hoey, who left the Royal Marines after a successful career and specialising in Arctic warfare. David explains more about his business life… What does your day-to-day role involve? “I am still involved in all aspects of the business and enjoy the day to day challenges, my day generally starts at 08.00am with the first meeting between myself and the operations teams discussing the previous day’s operations, staffing issues and service delivery, then throughout the day I have meetings with business development regarding strategy, new wins and future opportunities, HR and recruitment meeting is conducted to discuss staffing requirements and finance/ accounts meeting to discuss any concerns or issues. We have new clients that visit the office to view our 24hr helpdesk/ control room, who I meet along with my team.” What drives you every day? “My drive and ambition has been with me since I was a child, especially in sport. If I was playing football, cricket, boxing or representing my school at crosscountry running, I always wanted to push myself and that has always been with me. In business I enjoy the challenge, my drive is providing a great service to all

“Success to me is driving home in the evening, after what may have been a challenging day and feeling proud of the ESG staff and the teamwork that’s gone into going that extra mile in making sure the customers had the best possible service, the client not knowing that behind the scenes we have been working extremely hard to deliver the service, and the service that the customer gets is unblemished.” What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your time in business?

NEWS & DEVELOPMENTS FROM ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LEADING COMMERCIAL REGIONS

KEEPING SOLIHULL SMILING Solihull town centre continues to smile thanks to new facemasks supplied by Solihull Business Improvement District. The BID has funded thousands of the reusable purple face coverings which include the message ‘Smile! You’re in Solihull’. The masks have been handed out to town centre businesses by the BID’s Business Hosts and Street Wardens who are in the town centre on a daily basis, supporting the BID’s business community. Staff in many of your favourite stores, hospitality businesses and professional services will be wearing the masks with some also offering one to customers who may have forgotten their own. Geoff O’Brien, Director of Solihull Radio, said: “This is another great example

The branded masks have been well received around the town centre with the intention of keeping Solihull smiling through what is a difficult time for us all. Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “Safety is at the heart

of everything that we do here at the BID. We wanted to add some Solihull uniqueness to our reusable masks, hence the smile logo.

“Winston Churchill is an inspiration as he led Britain to victory in the Second World War and I admire his famous quote ‘success consists of going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm’.” What would you tell your 18-year-old self? “Take every opportunity presented and experience life to its full!”

Staff at Jo & The Juice

“We have been overwhelmed by the response and have reordered a second batch to keep up with demand. Hopefully the town centre will soon be filled with our ‘smiling’ masks showing our collaborative approach to the safety of the town.”

of how the Solihull BID team support the community by passing on the ‘Solihull smile’.”

“Expect the unexpected, because each day is a challenge. In my days of serving in the Marines and especially during training we were always told ‘proper planning and practice prevents p…s poor performance’.” Who inspires me?

Staff at JoJo Maman Bebe

Business Host Rachael with staff at Superdry

Business Host Julie with staff at Solihull Radio

Daniel Matthews, of Next in Touchwood, added: “We’d like to thank Solihull

BID for providing us with the free face masks – it is greatly appreciated.” This is the latest initiative from Solihull BID designed to keep the town centre, its businesses, employees and shoppers safe and ensure it remains an attractive and welcoming place to visit. Business Host Rachael with staff at Next

AWARD WINNING EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM SETS UP SHOP IN SOLIHULL New to Solihull is Averta Employment Lawyers, a specialist employment law firm, now at The Courtyard on Warwick Road. Acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading employment law firms, Averta focuses on advising senior individuals and SMEs. The firm is one of The Times Law Top 200 Law Firms – included on the 2021, 2020 and 2019 listings. It has consistently gained very strong recommendations from respected legal research organisations, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. The firm was founded 15 years ago, as a boutique employment law practice by directors David Sykes and Alan Jones, formerly partners at a major international law firm DLA Piper, who saw an opportunity for a niche employment law firm in the Midlands. David and Alan saw first-hand at DLA Piper, that the quality of representation available to senior executives in the course of negotiating exit packages, settlement agreements or discrimination claims was balanced very much in favour of the company. Averta was created to help redress this balance and give senior executives the chance to play on a ‘level playing field’. Today, the firm focuses on two areas. Firstly, the employment law needs of

Laurence McDonald, CGI Group

L-R: Andrew Lester, David Sykes and Alan Jones

directors, managers, senior executives, and other professionals and secondly, Averta gives employment law advice to SMEs and strategic guidance to large companies. Increasingly, Averta has acted for individuals in group situations, advising them on their rights, usually in respect of settlement agreements for large-scale redundancy or restructuring exercises. Averta has handled up to 500 such exitarrangements at any one time and these multiple settlement agreements are being more widely used to help companies deal with the economic consequences of the pandemic. Recently there have been large scale presentations to groups of employees on Zoom. The firm acts both in the public and private sector, having handled senior members of local government, NHS and major companies. The firm also advises on post-termination restrictions and seeks practical solutions in what is a complex

and potentially expensive area of law. On several occasions, groups of employees have instructed Averta to advise them on their employment rights which lends itself to a collaborative approach with the company’s lawyers. Other example of cases involve claims by private equity executives, advising and representing individuals facing serious disciplinary investigations, advising on TUPE transfers, contractual and bonus claims. Having been obliged by HS2 construction to relocate from Meriden, Averta chose Solihull as its new base. Whilst Solihull is well placed for access by road, rail and air for clients that want to have ‘face to face’ meetings, in line with current practice most meetings are now held online so clients across the UK can easily access Averta’s expertise. In March 2015, Averta was awarded the Birmingham Law Society Law Firm of the Year, was shortlisted in 2017, and has again been shortlisted for the 2020 award. Alan Jones says: “These prestigious awards are testament to the reputation built up over the last 15 years, which adds to the credibility which Averta brings to a case when representing clients. The Times award in particularly gratifying, as it reflects our standing and our reputation within the legal community.” Both David Sykes and Alan Jones are recognised as leading individuals in Legal 500, an impartial and independent legal directory where findings are based on extensive research and, both sit on the Birmingham Law Society Employment Law Committee.

L-R: Andrew Spooner, David Sykes, Izzy Canning, Andrew Lester and Alan Jones

SENSE OF SCALE AND PRIDE AT GLOBAL GIANT CGI’S SOLIHULL OFFICE Over the past four decades, CGI has grown into one of the world’s largest providers of IT and business consulting services.

“At CGI, we have employees looking after our local customers and we see real benefit in this model.

planning, career and succession management, culture, learning and development, and leadership development.

Founded in 1976, CGI now has 77,500 consultants and other professionals across the globe with 5,500 of these in the UK.

“It’s great for our people who work locally and have an investment in the area. They can look at projects they’re involved in and get some personal value from this.”

CGI specialises in emerging technologies, helping clients take full advantage of innovations that help drive results for clients.

Yet despite this vast, world-wide operation, CGI takes seriously its commitment to the regional offices and the local business communities in which it operates; none more so than its Solihull office on Homer Road.

“We’ve been in this flagship office for just over 18 months and there’s a sense of pride in being among such a skilled workforce,” adds Laurence.

“I started in the days when PCs were coming into the marketplace and harddisk drives were the size of a desk!” jokes Laurence.

“In addition to our business commitments, we support the Mad Hatters Charity, food banks, we’re part of Solihull BID, we’re really active in the business and ‘giving’ community.

“We’ve seen so many innovations and this gives us chance to roadmap to an extent where future technological changes are going. People want more information – be that ecommerce, business or family – at their fingertips and they want it quickly. That thirst for information at a pace will only accelerate.”

CGI has 200 employees in Solihull town centre, delivering a whole range of digital capabilities including strategic IT and business consulting, systems integration and managed IT and business process services. Key to the success of the Solihull operation is Client Director Laurence McDonald, who takes pride in the company’s commitment to local business groups, charity and economic prosperity.

“We’re here to grow a business but the desire to get involved locally is fundamental to us.” CGI has been certified as a Top Employer UK for the seventh year in a row by the Top Employers Institute for its workforce

BUSINESS PROFILE:

PEARCELEGAL Based in the heart of Solihull, Pearcelegal Solicitors have been helping individuals, businesses and charities since 1981. Serving the local community for the past four decades since being set up by Managing Director, Graham Pearce, Pearcelegal continue to provide a vital service to Solihull and beyond. Whilst the Coronavirus pandemic has seemingly put the world on hold, the need for legal help and assistance is an ever present. Pearcelegal, based at The Square, facing St Alphege Church, ensured their services continued to run smoothly even during lockdown. The company’s office re-opened in late June with clear signage, hand sanitising stations and social distancing in place with people also able to access services via telephone and video call appointments. Whatever your legal concerns may be, Pearcelegal are able to help with their experienced team on hand to assist individuals and organisations. Seeking out legal advice can seem daunting but Pearcelegal offer a one hour free consultation for divorce and family issues so you’ll know where you stand. Nicholas Thomas, Director at Pearcelegal, said: “The current pandemic and lockdown has placed huge amounts of stress on relationships resulting in unfortunate breakups. “We help people to understand the processes and their rights in respect of children and assets so that they are fully aware before making those difficult life decisions.” Pearcelegal are also the people to turn to if you need help with wills, trusts and probate or require assistance with conveyancing, disputes, tax, employment or personal injury. The company offer services for businesses and charities too so regardless of your situation, be it personal or professional, the team can help. Pearcelegal would be delighted to discuss your legal matters and give you a no-obligation quote – call 0121 270 2700 or email: info@pearcelegal.co.uk Pearcelegal is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

HAYFIELD TEAM CYCLED 200 MILES IN A DAY TO RAISE OVER £10,000 FOR ST BASILS Three Hayfield employees and three consultants have cycled 200 miles in a day to raise well over £10,000 for West Midlands-based youth homelessness charity St Basils. The Ironbridge to Sandbanks challenge took place on Wednesday 19th August. The trio of riders from Hayfield – the UK’s Best Small Housebuilder – comprised Design Manager Steve Davies, Engineering Manager Oliver Pocock and Commercial Director Jon Jones. Makin g up the squad of six were their comrades Andy Allen, Reuben Bellamy and Roly Greaves. The fundraising target for the challenge was originally set at £5,000, but the funds raised from corporate and personal donations totalled £10,896.25, which will pay for over 1,000 overnight bed spaces. Since the Covid-19 lockdown commenced in March, the charity has been faced with additional costs in excess of £120,000, while major fundraisers such as the London Marathon and the Great Birmingham Run have been postponed or cancelled altogether.

the generosity of our family, friends and those we work with who dug deep and donated well over £10,000.” The squad of six elected to take on the challenge without a support vehicle, instead plotting cycling shops and cafes along the route to use as pit stops. Setting off at 4:30am, the riders were pedalling for over 14 hours through harsh wet weather conditions. A series of mechanical eventualities meant the challenge took over 20 hours to complete! Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Communications for St Basils said: “We are hugely grateful to Hayfield for supporting us in this way, especially the six riders who endured a punishing day in the saddle.

“With so few sporting fundraisers taking place this year, it has been an incredibly tough time for all charities. The work we do with young people across the West Midlands to enable them to find and keep a home, develop their skills, increase opportunities – and ultimately prevent youth homelessness – is essential. “We work with over 5,000 young people every single year and with some regular sources of funds totally drying up since lockdown commenced six months ago, we need to work harder than ever to be able to cover the costs of the vital support we provide night after night.” To place a donation, please visit: www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ Hayfield200forStBasils

Steve Davies, Design Manager for Hayfield said: “We had all signed up to cycling challenges for 2020 - such as the Birmingham Velo - which have all been cancelled. Although long distance training and group riding has been very restricted since March, since the lockdown eased, we were fully committed to this major challenge to help raise funds for Hayfield’s charity partner – St Basils. “While lockdown has been a testing time for us all, we are very grateful to have our jobs, our houses and a happy homelife. The young people that St Basils helps on a daily basis face complex challenges that have only been heightened due to the affect Coronavirus has had on the economy and how we go about our everyday lives. “None of us had ever tackled this sort of distance before, so it was a journey into the unknown! By pushing ourselves completely out of our comfort zone for what was a very long and testing day, we knew that we were doing it to honour

L-R: Barrie Hodge of St Basils with Oli Pocock, Jon Jones and Steve Davies of Hayfield

EMERGE STRONGER manager and as a jobseeker.

COMMUNITY SEATING HUB

FINDING YOUR NEXT JOB THROUGH LINKEDIN

A brand new Community Seating Hub – an attractive green seating area – has been introduced to Solihull town centre.

The go to hub for jobseekers and businesses for their future talented pool of staff. Please visit www.solihullbid.co.uk/emergestrongersolihull to access the online hub. With businesses locked down and a significant number of employees either working from home or on furlough, 2020 has seen people’s daily lives transformed. With some sectors still not able to open under Government restrictions and with more localised measures being put in place, millions of people across the country continue to be affected.

been so critical. Fiona Sanderson from Work Wellness Ltd is an experienced and proactive medical practitioner. She is an NMC Registered Nurse, has an Occupational Health Specialist Practitioner degree and qualifications in Communications and Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice.

But Solihull is fighting back and we are confident the local community will emerge stronger. To aid the region’s recovery, Solihull BID developed the ‘Emerge Stronger Solihull’ campaign to support those who have lost their jobs.

She will be delivering invaluable advice and guidance to those of you affected by job insecurity with millions of people impacted across the country. Fiona will also outline the importance of looking after your physical and mental health and share practical tips on how exactly you can do it.

This campaign includes vodcasts – video podcasts – on multiple areas such as retraining, wellbeing, getting a job through online portals including LinkedIn and how to deal with job interviews.

EMERGE STRONGER SOLIHULL – RECRUITMENT AND JOB FOCUS

Teaming up with experts in each field, the BID has recorded and will release each session on its social media platforms as well as on its Emerge Stronger Solihull website hub.This hub will also include job opportunities in the town centre alongside links to more training opportunities. Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “As the impact of COVID takes a firm hold of the country we are seeing job losses in unimagined numbers. Solihull’s work force are known for their wealth of skills, innovation and talent and we aim to use our experts here to guide those who may be facing unemployment. If we can all share vacancies, retraining opportunities and experiences of how to transfer lifelong skills to new roles then we will emerge stronger from the crisis. Our series of Vodcasts are the start of our Emerge Stronger Solihull campaign, please join us for advice and support.”

WELLBEING AND LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF Making sure you take care of your physical and mental health has never

Whether you are a current jobseeker, looking for an alternative line of work or perhaps searching for some fresh talent for your business, this session will be hugely beneficial. We have put together a panel of experts from the recruitment and professional world who will give you all the hints and tips needed for that next crucial online interview. Susie Ankrett is the co-founder and Director of Plum Personnel. The independent recruitment consultancy is based in the heart of Solihull town centre. Claire Jenkins has over 25 years’ experience of interviewing in the private, public and charity sectors. Claire works with clients all over the world and is a Senior Visiting Lecturer at both the University of Worcester and the University of Wolverhampton. Paul Wright is a finance leader with over 20 years’ post-qualification experience. His career history ranges from a lead finance role in a global Fortune 500 company in oil & gas to one of the largest private client law firms in The Midlands. Paul has extensive experience both as a hiring

Over 60% of job seekers get hired through a referral. If you already use LinkedIn and have built a vast contact list, this could help you find your next role. You can view and apply for jobs directly through LinkedIn, making your job search quick and easy. Making sure your profile is accurate, up-to-date and looks professional is key. In this session, Rich Brown will talk through the practical steps you can take to boost your chances of finding your dream job through LinkedIn.

The idea is the brainchild of Solihull Business Improvement District (BID) who have solely funded the project. The first Community Seating Hub has been placed in Mell Square and is designed to allow people to take a break in a calming atmosphere within the busy town centre. Following surveys which included businesses, employees, and visitors to the town centre, it was clear to the BID that

more green space and seating was in high demand. The intention is that the entire community will benefit from the project and that it will have a long-lasting positive effect for the town centre, enhancing the visitor experience for shoppers and employees. Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “Following research in attractive seating areas across the country we saw an opportunity to

bring some fresh new seating to the people of Solihull. The integrated planting scheme incorporates a sensory theme including scented shrubs such as lavender and rosemary. We hope to secure funding to bring in another 4 or 5 seating hubs to expand the softer, greener seating theme to the rest of the town centre.”

With over 10 years’ experience in the charity sector, including Cancer Research UK and Acorns Children’s Hospice, Rich has learnt to maximise the potential social media can provide. Now as Head of Digital Marketing for Quick By Design, Rich has received recognition directly from Facebook for the successful and innovative ways he using the platform, plus he is a Google accredited Digital Marketer.

RE-TRAIN AND RE-ENERGISE YOUR CAREER The COVID-19 pandemic has turned some sectors of business upside down. What was once a reliable and much-needed profession could now be out in the cold. Re-training later in life has never been easier. If you have lost your job and are stuck as to what your next move will be – why not look at reinventing yourself? Nadia Davies and Paul Bates from Solihull College & University Centre will go through your options if you’re looking to re-train or kickstart your career and showcase the courses on offer if you’re ready to take the next step.

SHOP INDEPENDENT SHOP SOLIHULL

MINIMINI

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. There has never been a more important time to shop local and support the businesses on your doorstep. With this in mind we spoke to Anna, the owner of MINIMINI, who have been a welcome addition to Mell Square since September 2019. MINIMINI is a kids concept store showcasting trend-led designer products. All of their products are from ethically and environmentally responsible brands. They stock a carefully curated selection of clothing, toys, books and lifestyle products sourced from all around the world. Can you tell us a bit about MINIMINI? MINIMINI is an independent concept store showcasing trend-led designer products for children. All our products are sourced from ethically and environmentally responsible brands from all around the world. We love beautiful design, exceptional quality and all of the good that sits behind the production process.

What was your inspiration behind starting the business? I founded MINIMINI with my husband Stephen in Summer 2017. 6 months pregnant with our son Maxwell and quite honestly shopping for baby things became the most boring experience possible! That summer, while travelling on our baby moon around Europe, we discovered some truly beautiful and inspiring children’s boutiques – we then had this crazy idea to bring it all to the UK. On the plane

back home, we put a business plan together and three weeks later we signed the lease for our first shop! What makes MINIMINI unique? Many of the brands we stock are truly unique and exclusive to MINIMINI - we literally had to fight to become their stockist. After 3 years of trading and negotiating we have a very impressive brand collection which we are immensely proud of!

You have a strong focus on sustainable and ethically sourced products – why is that so important to you?

feel privileged to be a part of this development and recently moved house to the area.

Like all businesses, we had no choice but to meet the challenges put in front of us and we feel it made us stronger!

Everyone wants to give their family the best. When looking into products for children and families, it is important to consider all the effects of the materials used to create them. For example, there are brands that use unsustainable materials or harsh or toxic chemicals to make their product in the cheapest way possible, consequently harming the planet and having insufficient regard for the safety and health of consumers. That’s why we promote sustainable and environmentally friendly products.

Have you had to adapt your business model due to COVID-19?

What advice would you give to somebody looking to start their own business?

What made you chose Solihull as a destination to open your store and what is the best thing about owning a business in the heart of Solihull? Solihull was somewhere we always came shopping. We felt at home here and that MINIMINI would be a good fit with the local community. With recent changes, it’s clear that Mell Square has a vision to create a vibrant destination and were keen to see independents flourish as well as giving people a reason to come to the Square other than just for shopping. We

For all of us, businesses and customers, these have been such challenging times and we have done our utmost to stay positive. Over the lockdown we put a lot of effort to enhance our online shop to the point where we can compete with other, often much larger retailers which resulted in a huge increase in online orders not just from the UK but from all around the world. Working from home with a toddler and another child on the way was quite a challenge.

There is never an ideal time to start your business, so you may as well do it now but only do it if you are totally committed to your idea!

Visit MINIMINI at 33 Mill Lane, Mell Square, Solihull, B91 3AT 0121 75 85 121 www.miniminikids.co.uk

So that we could safely process our client orders a large part of our house had to be turned into a stockroom which was really challenging for us both as a family and a business! Overall an interesting experience which will continue to be an asset to the business and our clients post Covid. We have also had to make our shop Covidsecure so that clients feel comfortable visiting us and browsing.

Toy, £19.95

Tent, £159.90

Image: Mell Square

CARLUCCIO’S

Carluccio’s has now reopened in Mell Square for both delivery and dine-in. In addition to all your Italian favourites, there’s something totally new – Carluccio’s Solihull is the first of the brand’s restaurants to offer a pizza bar where diners can discover artisan Neapolitan varieties, topped with the finest produce. Carluccio’s Solihull continues to serve all its classics from breakfast through to dinner, from antipasti to pasta, from salads to dishes. The set menu offers exceptional value at £12.95 and £14.95 for two and three courses with gluten-free and vegan menus available. For more information or to book a table, visit www.carluccios.com/restaurants/solihull/ or call 0121 704 5215. 159 High Street, Mell Square, Solihull, B91 3SR | www.carluccios.com/restaurants/solihull Facebook: /carluccios | Twitter: @carluccios | Instagram: @carluccios

Solihull NEW OPENINGS The past six months have been difficult for businesses up and down the country but Solihull continues to fight back. It’s testament to the resilience of our fantastic town centre that we have so many new openings to share with you in this issue.

MAGICAL STORY

Established over a decade ago and with a growing number of stores, Magical Story have arrived at Touchwood. Magical Story is a haven of fabulous home and giftware. Visit their new store and join them through a journey of style, sass and sentimental spangle. Their story starts with a love of unique trimmings and a passion for quirky trinkets. Magical Story believe that every special occasion deserves extraordinary decoration. Join the fun and let them help you to tell your own Magical Story… SU45 Jubilee Walk, Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3GJ | magicalstory.co.uk Facebook: /magicalstoryuk Twitter: @MagicalStoryUK Instagram: @magical_storyuk

British lifestyle brand, Crew Clothing has arrived in Mell Square. Over the last 25 years, Crew Clothing has grown beyond the back of a windsurfing shop, with stores now being found up and down the country. With coastal roots forming the backbone of the brand, Crew Clothing remains passionate about showcasing beautiful British design and craftsmanship in its casual clothing collection. The new store on Mill Lane is packed with quality wardrobe staples including classic coats, shirts, sweatshirts, loungewear and blazers to name but a few.

With Christmas just around the corner, here are the new names in the town centre well worth a visit this festive season!

SANTORO MILAN

FLYING TIGER

At Flying Tiger Copenhagen, they add extra to the ordinary. They always have things you need, things you dream of and things you didn’t know existed. A richer life doesn’t have to cost a fortune. They have moved from their old Touchwood store, just across the mall. Give their new store a visit and say hello! 18 Crescent Arcade, Solihull, B91 3GZ uk.flyingtiger.com Facebook: / FlyingTigerCopenhagenGB Instagram: @flyingtiger

To find out more about their store visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML6Mtw3AfM 100 High Street, Solihull, B91 3TA santoromilan.com Facebook: /santoromilann Instagram: @santoromilan

TRAILFINDERS

Experts in tailormaking itineraries worldwide, Trailfinders offers unbeatable value and exceptional service. Their travel centres are staffed by the most expert travel consultants in the industry. With a worldwide reputation, they have the widest range of flights, tours, hotels, cruises, car & motorhome hire across the globe. From budget to luxury their prices are amongst the lowest you will find anywhere. 83-85 High Street, Solihull, B91 3SW | www.trailfinders.com/travel-centre/sol Facebook: /TrailfindersLtd | Instagram: @trailfindersuk

Image: Mell Square

CREW CLOTHING

From small boutiques and big national brands, Solihull town centre remains an attractive place to do business.

At Santoro Milan, they specialise in off the peg suits, which can be brought as separate or a three piece. Whether it’s for a wedding or special occasion, they have got it covered. Whether you’re after a smart casual fit or a pair of smart brogues, they have it! Pop into their new store on the High Street to see their full range of clothing with popular brands such as Lambretta, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren and Marc Darcy all available and experts in menswear ready to advise you.

PLAY LANE

NICE STITCHES

Nice Stitches has been providing dry cleaning, expert clothing repairs and alterations to its customers all over the midlands for a number of years, and can now be found in Poplar Way, Mell Square. Passionate about the environment, Nice Stitches has invested in Electrolux Lagoon Advanced Care, an innovative eco dry cleaning solution which is amazingly effective for cleaning of all types of fabrics, textiles, leathers, suede, fur and more. For more information, visit www. nicestitches.co.uk – plus book a collection and receive 20% off your first dry cleaning order. 12 Poplar Road, Mell Square, Solihull B91 3BX | www.nicestitches.co.uk Facebook: /nicestitchessolihull

Play Lane is a brand-new children’s role play centre situated in Drury Arcade, Mell Square. Featuring eight role play areas including a police station, supermarket, vets, building site and even a boutique clothes store where children can enjoy playing dress up. The venue offers both ‘stay and play’ and ‘drop off to shop’ sessions, which are all supervised by a team of fully qualified childcare professionals, all of whom are DBS checked and first aid trained. There is also an on-site café which serves food and drink prepared by its in-house chef including sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes, alongside cakes and pastries. For more information, visit www.playlane.co.uk 37 Drury Lane, Mell Square, Solihull, B91 3BP | www.play-lane.co.uk Facebook: /Play-Lane-108031070790674 Instagram: @playlanesolihull

11 Mill Lane, Mell Square, Solihull, B91 3AR www.crewclothing.co.uk Facebook: /crewclothingco Twitter: @Crew_Clothing Instagram: @crewclothing

FALL MENSWEAR

One of the newest additions to Solihull High Street, FALL Menswear are your go to place for everything menswear. The independent shop brings you some of the finest brands such as R2, Tresanti, 7Square, Gabicci, A Fish Named Fred, Guide Clothing, Jiggler Lord Berlue and Elvine. FALL Menswear offer products such as jackets, trousers, ties, pocket squares, denim, footwear and scarves. 25 High Street, Solihull B91 3SJ Facebook: /ubermenswear Instagram: @fall_menswear

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HOW TO STYLE AN EVERLASTING CHRISTMAS WREATH

Each Christmas, Liv’s usually run a variety of creative workshops but as COVID has put a spanner in the works this year, we decided to speak to Liv’s and asked them to bring a wreath making workshop to your home. We hope you enjoy their step by step guide, put together by the lovely Kate. All items used to make the frosted wonderland berry wreath, can be found on the web shop at www.livs.co.uk or in their store. YOU WILL NEED •

A wreath base – I like to use faux fir for density because I just love a full bushy wreath, but wire or wicker will both work fine. In fact, wire left exposed can give quite a stylish Scandinavian aesthetic. Faux Foliage stems of your choice – as much as you like, and more the merrier. I like to use a contrasting shaped leaf to the fir for variation, in this case faux eucalyptus.

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For the wreath featured here, I used 3 x Eucalyptus Stem (used whole but you can snip off the individual stems to use separately). Fluff-up your wreath base so it’s looking its best, and then wire the foliage stems into the wreath, working your way around the wreath, with all the stems pointing in the same direction. Secure the stems in place by twisting a length of wire around the base of each stem, and securing to the base as you go. Pull branches of the base wreath through to give a little more depth. You should now have a wonderfully wild natural wreath.

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Decorative Stems – Snowberries, red berries, mistletoe, frosted blueberries… here is where you can start to really get creative with the colour scheme of your wreath. Decorative Adornments – Glitter leaf picks, Clip-on birds, Dried Fruit, Cones, Cinnamon sticks, feathers, dried leaves. Be it gorgeous glam or understated natural, it’s time to accentuate your Christmas vibe.

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Battery operated LED Fairy Lights – add a little bit of twinkle to your masterpiece.

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Tools – florists wire, wire snips, scissors, ribbon to hang (optional)

Get going with the decorative stems, weave the berries through the wreath, still working in the same direction, securing in the same way as you did with the eucalyptus. For this wreath I used 3 x Frosted Mistletoe spray. Now is a good time to add battery operated fairy lights if you would like to add a bit of festive twinkle to your wreath.

Once your wreath is twinkling, it’s time to start styling it with your decorative adornments. I decided to keep it simple and used 5 x White Berry Pick with Pine to complete the look. For a more natural wreath aesthetic, pheasant and guinea fowl feathers look understated and gorgeous. Wire these into place as you have done previously. Or you could go traditional and scented with fragrant dried fruit and cinnamon sticks. Time to fluff up all the layers of your wreath to add extra depth, and splay the edges of the foliage for extra wilderness vibes. Now you can add any finishing touches. I nestled a tiny glitter bird in the foliage to add a touch of life.

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You’re done! Hang your wreath proudly on your door (attaching gorgeous ribbon if you choose), pour yourself something sparkly and congratulate yourself on your excellent wreath making skills. Put your feet up and admire your handiwork! We hope your creative juices are now flowing and we would love to see your own creations, please tag us in your images on social media @SolihullBID @livs.co.uk.

Liv’s, Mill Lane, Solihull | www.livs.co.uk | 0121 709 4636

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Pick the wreath base of your choice, and foliage stems that will give you the look you want for your wreath.

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Christmas is within tinsel touching distance, and Solihull is open ready to serve you and assist in your every Christmas wish! This year we are facing a new style of Christmas that has been shaped by COVID safety. Many of us may not get to have the large family parties in venues, or be able to visit family and friends in different parts of the country but we will still be able to make our own haven of festivities within our homes, and place our presents under the tree to show our love for one another. Our retailers are ready to make your shopping preparations enjoyable and safe. They are on hand with expert advice to help you select the perfect gifts in a relaxed and safe environment. Why not enjoy a browse amongst the stunning decorations and stocking fillers then relax in one of our outdoor venues with a spiced latte or some festive fizz?

MELL SQUARE If you are looking for alfresco dining, mulled wine, the best street food or even the new hot chocolate orange, visit Mell Square. Take your seat at one of our benches, chalets or seating hub, enjoy the glow of our sparkling golden Christmas tree, use your phone to order from the menu using the QR code from Vita and Taste Collective and get them delivered straight to you! Our light show snowflakes will keep the kids amused too, whilst you enjoy maybe a cheeky pint and a burger or select from the delicious range of homemade cakes with a warming cuppa...

THEATRE SQUARE If mulled wine, scrummy sarnies, or nice hot soup is your kind of thing, grab yourself one of our eight outdoor covered chalets or outdoor benches in Theatre Square and order from Encore Cafe using their app. You can also treat yourself to tasty Japanese cuisine from Yakinori, all whilst writing your letters to Santa ready to post into Touchwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Santa Post Train in the middle of the Square. Our snowflake light show and festoon lights add a bit more sparkle to the experience!

WIN THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER! We are giving one lucky person the chance to win a whole host of prizes this Christmas. All you need to do is head down to Drury Arcade and take a look at our magical Christmas window. Then, guess the total value of everything inside the window and fill out your guess on our website. The person who guesses the closest amount wins everything! Prizes include gift vouchers, toys, jewellery, a VIP family pass for Solihull Summer Fest and much more. Laced with community spirit, kindness, and warmth, sprinkled with cinnamon, and topped with a bit of Solihull magic, make this the best Christmas yet! Get to Drury Arcade from 14th November and start guessing! For more information visit www.solihullbid.co.uk

PROJECT SERVATOR At Solihull BID we work closely with our partners including West Midlands Police to ensure everyone is kept safe and secure. You may see West Midlands Police carrying out an initiative known as Project Servator around Solihull Town Centre which aims to deter, detect and disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a reassuring presence for the public. Officers are experienced and specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning or preparing to commit an act of crime. We believe that ‘Together, we’ve got it covered’, so we work with the police and the public, to continue to protect Solihull and everyone who works or visits here and to make it a difficult place for criminals and terrorists to operate. What you can expect to see Project Servator’s patrols are highly visible and can happen at any time and in any location. If you see Project Servator officers

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in the Town Centre, there’s nothing to be concerned about. It’s normal police activity and isn’t linked to any specific intelligence about a threat to the area. You’ll see, as a minimum, uniform and plain clothes officers, but there might also be officers from other departments such as dogs or armed officers. Officers will talk to the public, retail and BID security staff to let them know what they’re doing and remind them to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report any suspicious or unusual behaviour. You may also see posters on display boards and officers handing out leaflets explaining more about Project Servator.

#ProjectServator, @SolihullPolice or @SolihullBID What we need you to do We all have an important role to play in helping to keep Solihull Town Centre safe by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right, for example, an unattended item or someone acting suspiciously.

Working with the community is a vital part of making Project Servator a success, so if you have any questions, please speak to an officer or a member of our staff.

If you see something suspicious, please tell a police officer, use the online form to tell police about possible terrorist activity or call the confidential anti -terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321, or if it’s an emergency, call 999.

Project Servator on social media You can find out more about Project Servator on social media by following

Find out more about Project Servator www.west-midlands.police.uk/campaigns/ project-servator

How does your risk of Type 2 diabetes measure up? Your age, family history, ethnicity and weight can all put you at risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Your local Healthier You service delivered for free (by WW) may be able to help you. Here you’ll get all the support you need to make positive lifestyle changes and lower your risk.

The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on business, both financially and from a ‘human’ perspective. Whilst some businesses have thrived, many have already fallen victim to the virus and have closed down. In order to survive, a huge number of companies have taken advantage of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme and placed employees on furlough for the past few months. However, with the closure of this scheme at the end of October, many businesses will have no option but to consider making redundancies. People are the heart and soul of a business, and losing key employees can have a detrimental and long-term impact. It is important, therefore, that employers considering making redundancies have explored all possible alternatives before losing valued members of staff and with them their valuable knowhow, expertise and understanding of the business. The new Job Support Scheme is one such alternative option. This is relevant to jobs which are viable in the mid to long term but where the business is experiencing a temporary down-turn in trade. Employees must work a minimum of a third of their normal hours and be paid in full for those hours by the employer. The cost of the hours not worked is then split three ways between the employer, the employee (in the sense that their wage is reduced) and the Government (with the Government’s contribution being capped at £697.92 per month). This means that an employee working a third of their normal hours would receive just over three quarters of their normal wage. This scheme is set to run for six months from 1 November 2020. However, as employers are essentially paying a premium for hours worked, it remains to be seen just how many jobs are saved by this scheme. The Job Support Scheme is not the only option available to employers looking to try to avoid or minimise redundancies. Employers could consider offering career breaks, sabbaticals or job shares, for example. Those businesses with the contractual right to do so, could re-consider ‘normal’ short-time working or lay-off. Employees may also be willing to voluntarily agree to reduced pay, possibly in return for some other incentive, such as more flexibility over their working patterns perhaps? Re-training and redeployment options should be explored and

Helena Morrissey Thursfields Solicitors 0121 624 4000

pay deferral arrangements could also be considered (although be mindful of national minimum wage issues). What is clear is that flexibility will be at the heart of any successful job-saving strategy, both on the part of the employer and the employee. Flexibility will also be key to ‘future-proofing’ businesses going forward in these uncertain times. Employers may wish to consider the terms of their contract to ensure that it contains as much flexibility as possible to enable them to vary things as and when needed. Employers should also review working arrangements and consider whether there are more ‘agile’ ways of working going forward. Annualised hour arrangements can offer more scope for ‘flexing’ the workforce to suit changing demand, for example. However, maintaining an open and honest dialogue with employees is also important as it helps generate goodwill and can foster a greater willingness on the part of the employees to be more flexible in the future. Thursfields Solicitors has recently launched a new “Flex-Ability” service for business to help companies identify ways in which they can make their business more flexible for the future. Employers complete a short on-line questionnaire and will then receive a FREE telephone consultation with one of our specialist employment lawyers who will suggest measures to help the company operate more flexibly going forward. If you run a business and would like to take advantage of “Flex-Ability”, simply email hmorrissey@thursfield.co.uk and we will send you a link to the on-line questionnaire. The Employment Team can also provide advice on all other employment law/HR issues.

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