Chamberlink March 22

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The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

CHAMBER March 2022

Free to Members £5.00 where sold

Top award for the ‘heart’ of Solihull Boss Tony leads Touchwood to Business of the Year title - see pages 5,6,7 Picture: : Marc Kirsten

• …president’s medal goes to ‘brilliant’ entrepreneur • …and infrastructure firm is crowned by SLTC • MasterChef kitchen sets up home in Digbeth

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PLUS: Special feature celebrating women in business

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Contents Chamberlink March 2022 Business News 4

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Editor’s View How people can boost the region’s prospects Business News Touchwood Solihull crowned business of the year

18 The Griffin Report Yetunde Dania, head of office at Trowers & Hamlins 22 Where do you fancy?

Hengata

62 Business Crime & Protection: Commissioner calls on businesses to employ ex-offenders 64 Four steps to protect your company’s data

Sector Focus 66 Business Travel: Improving rural mobility 68 Finance: Pandemic accelerates fraud risk

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70 Retail: A strong start to the new year 71 Technology: IT boosts employee engagement

Member Section 79 Member Profile Alex Bishop, Shoosmiths

72 Legal: Growth in finance sector 75 Property: Alarm raised over business rates

Chamber Patrons 38 Work starts on Parkview clinic

77 Manufacturing: Drive to go green must start at home

1813 Club and Premier Members

78 Sport: Discount offer at Masters

80 New Members Chamber welcomes new members 82 …any other business News from Chamber businesses

40 Region a ‘hotspot’ for deals

Chamber Group 42 International Trade: Get compliant with CE marks 45 ABCC: Historic award for children’s charity 46 Cannock Chase: Farewell to Chamber director 47 Burton & District: Manufacturer expands 48 Lichfield & Tamworth: Longstanding firm under new ownership 49 Sutton Coldfield: Call to support schools 50 Solihull: Hotel named as hospitality patron 52 Future Faces: Chamber launches podcast

Events 54 The latest comprehensive list of Chamber training courses and events

Features 57 Creative Industries: Why a brand identity is crucial 60 Key issues affecting the Midlands creative sector

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The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) is here to connect, support and grow local businesses. Accredited by the British Chambers, we have acted as the voice of local businesses since 1813.

CHAMBER LINK

The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Cannock Chase

Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3237, 0797 1144064 j.lamb@birmingham-chamber.com Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144052 d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com Assistant Editor Philip Parkin p.parkin@birmingham-chamber.com

Chamber of Commerce

Sutton Coldfield

Greater Birmingham

Chamber

Commonwealth

of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce

Greater Birmingham

Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce

Reporter Claudia Congrave 0775 7798567 c.congrave@birmingham-chamber.com Reporter Sophia Corness-Parr 0750 8317356 s.corness-parr@birmingham-chamber.com

You can now read the latest issue of CHAMBERLINK and view back issues online at: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com

March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 3

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Opinion

Editor’s View

By John Lamb

How people can boost the region’s prospects he next episode of the Chamber’s Growth Through People could not have been timed better with businesses in Greater Birmingham increasingly unable to access the skilled talent they need to thrive and grow.

Job vacancies are at record levels nationally and that is reflected in the West Midlands, where the employment rate rose by 0.8 per cent between October and December while unemployment increased by 0.1 per cent over the same period.

As the Chamber’s policy a projects manager Emily Stubbs points out on page 15, upskilling local talent and overcoming these ongoing recruitment difficulties are set to be key themes in the Growth Through People campaign, taking place throughout March.

At the same time, HS2 and BT are at the heart of the drive for employment in the region. BT are to recruit nearly 41 graduates and 28 apprentices in Birmingham for its September intake.

The announcement is part of the company’s plans to recruit more than 600 graduates and apprentices across the UK this year.

It will recruit talent in areas such as engineering, customer service, applied research and cyber-security to support the UK’s fast-growing digital sectors.

The new recruits will also support the company’s plans to build and extend its 5G network around the UK.

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FRONT COVER: Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood Solihull See page 5 Published by

Kemps Publishing Ltd Unit 8, The Courtyard, 707 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 3DA 0121 765 4144 www.kempspublishing.co.uk Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth Advertising 0121 765 4144 jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk Printers Stephens & George Print Group

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And, of course, some of those recruits will have the pleasure of working in BT’s state-of the-art offices at Three Snowhill. Many of BT’s new offices form part of their Better Workplace Programme - the largest improvement programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. These are outstanding work and training opportunities for people in the Birmingham area and BT’s commitment is matched by HS2, who have reached a landmark milestone by promoting over 2,000 job opportunities in the first year of its online jobs board.

The digital platform, which is hosted on the HS2 website hs2.org.uk/supply-chain-jobs, offers those looking for work or a change of career the opportunity to search the very latest vacancies with HS2’s construction partners and station contractors delivering the LondonBirmingham section of the railway.

The jobs board allows candidates to search for vacancies by region or by specialism, so they can quickly identify opportunities that match their criteria.

In total, 2004 vacancies were advertised in the 12 months since the site launched, with over 700 opportunities in the West Midlands.

What fantastic opportunities for young people to work for two iconic brands.

Apprenticeships and graduate roles are vitally important to our local economy and help to deliver the skilled individuals businesses need to thrive.

PRIVACY NOTICE: Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber members and Kemps' customers; and • To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects.

Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. If you wish to, you can visit www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard.

CHAMBERLINK is produced on behalf of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chambers nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.

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Business News

Business News Latest news from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Touchwood takes home Business of the Year award

By Sophia Corness-Parr etail and hospitality centre Touchwood Solihull has been crowned the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business of the Year.

Touchwood has not only excelled in delivering a high-quality, customer-focused shopping experience in the face of a pandemic but has proved to be at the heart of the Solihull community in providing ongoing support and essential services to their customers and tenants.

Tony Elvin is general manager at Touchwood and Solihull Chamber president.

The judges said that over the past two years, Touchwood set the benchmark for UK shopping centres to aspire towards through their outperforming sales and footfall.

In November, their sales came within 2.9 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, exemplifying their drive and resilience.

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Touchwood’s people-centred focus is evident in their approach to business.

Customer safety was upheld from the beginning of Covid, as well as communications with tenants and the varying restrictions enforced.

The centre’s accessibility is supported by the Solihull Shopmobility scheme they fund, their Quiet Hour with Autism West Midlands and Purple Tuesday, which supports disabled customers.

During the year’s most challenging periods, Touchwood lent its expertise to the wider retail and hospitality community and shared leasing opportunities with competitors.

It remained open for essential services during the country’s lockdowns and, during times of uncertainty, kept their tenants informed, up-todate and reassured.

One of Touchwood’s most recognised community initiatives is The Touchwood Enterprise scheme which gives local start-up

Part of the community: Tony Elvin

businesses the chance to have their first ‘high street’ presence. Since its inception, the scheme has hosted over 50 start-ups.

The shopping centre has a 92 per cent tenant occupancy, indicative of Touchwood’s relationship built with its retailers.

Katrina Cooke, chief commercial officer and chair of the awards judging panel, said: “A huge congratulations to Touchwood Solihull, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business of the Year.

“The standard of entries this year was very high, shown through the 92 businesses shortlisted.

“Thank you to all of the businesses who took the time to enter into the awards. The amazing work of our region is a testament to the businesses who comprise it.”

• Tony Elvin’s retail column is on page 70.

• See pages 6 and 7 for the winners of the categories and the President’s Award.

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Business News

A celebration of our award winners The judging panel of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards & Dinner was chaired by Katrina Cooke (pictured), chief commercial officer at GBCC. The panel consisted of: Colin Barker, senior trade commissioner, Canadian High Commission, Aftab Chughtai MBE, senior managing partner, Aftabs, Gurmit Kler, director of business engagement, University of Birmingham, Beverly Lindsay OBE, founder and general manager, Diamond Travel, Michal Nowinski, highways engineer, Arup, Eileen Schofield, founder and principal solicitor, Schofield & Associates, Ruth Todd CBE, chief commercial officer, HS2, Howard Trotter, business manager, Shelforce and Stuart Watson, managing director, Leap IT.

CATEGORY WINNERS: Excellence in Sustainability Sponsored by South and City College Birmingham Winner: Arup Arup is on track to achieve net zero emissions across its entire operations by 2030.

In April 2021, they were one of the first companies to sign up to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Net Zero Business pledge and next month their energy work will focus entirely on low-carbon solutions.

Arup have embedded sustainable decision making across the Midlands region through key leadership appointments such as sustainable delivery leader. To reduce the impact of their projects, they undertake whole lifecycle carbon assessments on all new building projects.

Arup was also the headline sponsor of GBCC’s Net Zero Business Series and work collaboratively in the West Midlands to share their sustainability learning. For example, at the West Midlands COP26 roadshow.

It worked with the Environment Agency on their Midlands flood risk management, finding solutions by focussing on natural flood management, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Excellence in Contribution to the Community Sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau Winner: Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre Throughout the pandemic, the hotel provided more than 2,000 rooms to NHS front line staff and adapted facilities to accommodate guests in a separate wing, ensuring privacy amidst challenging circumstances.

Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre offered discounted rooms to university staff at the forefront of Covid research and testing.

Accommodating university staff helped support the smooth running on the University’s testing sites. Proudly an independent business itself, the hotel supports local enterprises and businesses where possible, for example, sourcing all its meat and cheese from Warwick-based butcher.

The hotel supports a local charity every year.

The hotel has raised £2,000 for their 2021/22 charity LoveBrum, helping support ‘hidden gem’ projects in Birmingham.

Excellence in Sales & Marketing Sponsored by Novo Group Winner: Flexeserve During the pandemic, Flexeserve delivered marketing milestones such as its launch of Flexeserve Hub – a unit capable of hot-holding large quantities of packaged products.

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An entrepreneur who has built a £40m business after launching her career with two paper rounds is the recipient of this year’s President’s Award.

Wendy Merricks (pictured) was presented with the award by president Deb Leary in front of over 1,300 guests at the Chamber annual dinner and awards at the ICC. Wendy is chief executive of Jumar Solutions, which provides technology and people services for clients, who include the DWP, DVLA, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office.

Deb said: “Wendy sums up all that is brilliant about the entrepreneurial spirit of Greater Birmingham – their dogged determination, their boldness and bravery to step up, despite doubts and challenges and their passion to find solutions.

“She is a true Brummie who sums up the spirit of entrepreneurship, of seizing the day, seeing a challenge and stepping up to create a solution.”

Wendy incorporated Jumar in 1999 and within its first year it turned over £1.2million. In the same year Wendy became a mother twice over and in 2017 she separated the technology and recruitment aspects of the business, creating Jumar Recruitment and Jumar Technology.

Jumar currently has offshore operations in Vietnam and the Ukraine and a subsidiary in Australia with expansion plans for the Far East.

The hub was first launched through an engaging promo video then internationally at exhibitions in London, Germany and Italy.

Flexeserve’s strategy is central to the way in which its products are marketed. This is seen in its ‘true hot-holding’ concept – a solution comprising product, cook method, packaging, technology and in-store service as well as its customer support service Flexeserve Solution.

Flexeserve also designed and built The Hive – a new customer and partner collaboration and wellbeing area.

It introduced ‘Partner Spotlight’ – a weekly communications programme to celebrate the diversity, equality and inclusivity of its team..

Excellence in International Business Winner: Flexeserve Over the last 18 months, Flexeserve has undertaken research into specific US target sectors to establish market size, investigate transport and logistics options.

Pinpointing particular states as strategic locations through events including Chapter Chats from the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce, Flexeserve has a database of key customers within those sectors.

Its ‘Project Footprint’ provides an overview of the company’s suitability for a variety of stakeholders, summarsing the case for establishing operations in the U.S. and its fiveyear plan to grow its U.S. sales.

In May 2021, it conceptualised and broadcasted Flexebition – a livestreamed digital exhibition to showcase its products and services to customers and distributors globally. Flexeserve had four individual events timed for the US West and East coasts, Oceania and EMEA.

As a result, this increased web traffic from USbased dealers and engagement with international distributors when travel was scarse.

Excellence in Technology & Innovation Sponsored by Aston University Winner: G&P Group Holdings A cloud based, fully paperless quality management IT system, QTrak, allows G&P Group Holding’s manufacturing customers to ensure high standards are maintained – saving costs, reducing waste and minimising disruption.

QTrack identifies adverse quality trends in the supply chain, making sure issues are averted and its customers are protected from the costs of process disruption. During 2021, the company prevented more than 61 million defective components from entering the supply chain with QTrack.

The in-house system is being used by hundreds of quality inspectors throughout the UK and it is now being deployed at more manufacturing sites around the world, ensuring Birmingham-developed technology remains at the forefront of global manufacturing.

Excellence in Customer Service Sponsored by Pinsent Masons Winner: Indigo The Vittoria Street firm works with cultural organisations to increase engagement with audiences and visitors.

This could range from an audience development framework for the cultural programme of the Commonwealth Games, to providing ‘audience sentiment’ data to help the RSC, Birmingham Hippodrome, the CBSO and the Mac to put audiences at the centre of their Covid recovery plans.

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Business News Indigo supports the arts beyond the West Midlands, though. Founder Katy Raines has worked as an expert in Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Spain, as well as hundreds of organisations across the UK. Indigo is currently involved in helping three Cities of Culture or bids (Coventry, Bradford and Derby). During Covid, Indigo stepped in to help the cultural sector survive the closure of venues.

This was achieved by helping them stay connected to their audiences, and build up the latter’s confidence in returning to the venues when they reopened.

Indigo also helped the venues to lobby government for support during the shutdown.

Excellence in People Development Sponsored by GuruYou Winner: Jacobs The engineering design consultancy employs some 55,000 people globally, including 500 at its offices in Birmingham’s Colmore Square.

Locally, Jacobs’ clients include Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands, and Severn Trent.

Staff include engineers, programme managers, urban planners, architects, economists and other specialists who work to help tackle such challenges as the need for clean air and water.

Through the firm’s graduate, apprenticeship and work experience programmes, Jacobs has some 60 graduates and 15 apprentices/technicians in training in Birmingham currently.

During the pandemic, Jacobs implemented new ways of working, including giving employees the flexibility working completely at home or in partly home, partly office Among the firm’s employee development

initiatives is ACE, a network founded in 2019, who ‘Assist, Connect and Empower’ employees with disabilities and health challenges.

Excellence in Third Sector Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank Winner: Millennium Point Millennium Point is a charitable trust which profits from the business’ commercial activities are invested back into projects, events, and initiatives.

This money is earned in the first place by Millennium Point’s lettings and events business, which has also seen investment over the years to cement the venue’s reputation as a high-quality conference and events location.

Millennium Point’s vision is to use the assets from its commercial activities to help it become a leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education.

During the past seven years alone Millennium Point has ploughed more than £30m in support to STEM education, including £4.98m in the last financial year.

Millennium Point hit a landmark £30m in contribution to STEM education. This was achieved through projects, events, and initiatives as well as discounts to STEM tenants on rents.

Excellence in Manufacturing Sponsored by Schumacher Packaging Winner: RotaSpa The Sutton Coldfield -based firm has around 20 years’ experience of building hot tubs, which it supplies to residential buyers and holiday parks.

The firm has some 300 holiday parks on its books, and business is booming, with the

workforce having tripled.

The company spent millions of pounds on developing a new production facility, and is currently working on manufacturing more of its own components in-house.

It is also developing various eco-friendly products, including Plus evolving our solar powered spas and a system that can recycle the energy from hot water which is currently just drained away on holiday park changeover days.

Excellence in Hospitality & Retail Sponsored by runyourfleet Winner: Touchwood Touchwood Solihull has also been crowned overall business of the year. See page 5 for more.

Excellence in Responsible Business Sponsored by Lets Sanify Winner: Unity Trust Bank The bank was founded by the Trade Unions in 1984 with the aim of ‘creating a better society’, rather than maximising profits.

To that end, the bank only lends to businesses that share its values and make a contribution to the local community.

Those businesses have included thousands of SMEs, charities and other organisations, who have been given the means to develop and improve their facilities and services, with particular focus on healthcare, education, employment, financial inclusion, community and housing facilities and the environment.

Unity, based at Brindleyplace, says its vision is to become the bank of choice for all sociallyminded organisations in the UK.

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Business News

Working towards a world free of bias Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the world in a call for wider action in the fight towards gender inequality. To mark IWD this month, Chamberlink’s Claudia Congrave (pictured) examines the progress being made and, on the following pages, talks to three leading female business figures in Greater Birmingham about the issue. he theme of this year’s IWD campaign is #BreakTheBias and is encouraging people to imagine a world free of the bias, stereotypes and discrimination that holds society back from achieving a gender equal world.

Many people may question the need for dedicated days of awareness in a world where progress is seemingly constant. However, while it is certainly true that the equal rights and opportunity afforded to women and other marginalised groups has improved somewhat in the past 100 years, it is also true that equality cannot be achieved until we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.

The Pew Research Center reports that the gender pay gap has remained relatively constant over the past 15 years, seeing women earn 84 per cent of what men earn in similar roles. The Fawcett Society also found that less than a third of the UK’s top jobs are filled by women, with just eight per cent of FTSE 100 companies having a female CEO, none of whom are women of colour.

According to PWC’s ‘Women in Work 2021’ executive summary, the progress being made to overcome these inequalities and strive towards women’s economic empowerment has been severely impacted by Covid-19. Of the highest hit sectors, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that 510 million women (40 per cent of all women in work) were employed within these sectors compared to 37 per cent of men.

With the added impact of lockdowns on school closures, women during Covid continued to take on the lion’s share of childcare responsibilities, performing a “second shift” that equated to an extra 31.5 hours a week, almost

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equivalent to a second full-time job.

Due to these factors, it is predicted that if the OECD is to see complete recovery from the effects of the pandemic by 2030, progress towards gender equality needs to move at twice the speed of its historical rate.

Without this timely action, it is predicted that it could take at least 22 years for women’s participation rate in the labour force to catch up to men’s and 112 years to close the gender pay gap, during which time the UK economy is on track to lose £48 billion per annum and forgo the creation of an extra 840,000 jobs.

On the global score card, the UK places 12th on the OECD Index for female labour force participation but is overtaken by many countries for its share of women in full-time employment.

There are several regions within the UK who score higher than others for their efforts in this arena, including the East Midlands, which have shown a significant and relative improvement in their employment rates and annual economic growth in the past few years. However, according to PWC’s summary, the West Midlands is lagging behind with some of the highest unemployment rates for women compared to the UK average.

Nevertheless, work is being done behind the scenes. For example, Birmingham was the only British city selected this year to join the Carter Center’s global women’s campaign for the promotion of international gender equality.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have also launched their Race Equalities Taskforce, led by Trowers & Hamlins’ head of office Yetunde Dania, with the vision that ethnicity, race, and heritage should not be obstacles to people reaching their potential (see pages 18-19).

Among the GBCC’s own network there are a

#BreakTheBias

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number of inspirational women in business who are committed to using their influence in the fight for gender equality, including the Chamber’s own CEO and president, Henrietta Brealey and Deborah Leary, and patron SF Recruitment’s CEO, Saira Demmer.

Seeking perspectives on the biggest barriers to women’s’ success, we caught up with the trio about their own experiences of climbing the ladder and heard how #breakingthebias is, and will always be, much more than a women’s issue.

• Stripping down stereotypes – leading business figures talk to Claudia Congrave about their role now and in the future – pages 10 and 11.

• Supporting women – Chamberlink highlights some organisations offering a range of services, including employment coaching, victim support and reproductive and mental health education • The powerful story of Yetunde Dania born in London to Nigerian parents who rose to become a top lawyer in Birmingham. She is now charged with spearheading a regional drive for greater diversity. See The Griffin Report – pages 18 and 19.

IWD 2022 campaign theme: coming together to break the bias

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Business News

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Business News

Stripping down stereotypes and The West Midlands’ share of leading businesswomen, many of whom can be found within the ranks of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) and their esteemed business network, are stripping down stereotypes and paving the way to a fairer future. To mark International Women’s Day (8 March), Chamberlink reporter Claudia Congrave spoke with GBCC chief executive Henrietta Brealey; CEO of Forensic Pathways and Chamber president Deborah Leary; and CEO of SF Recruitment, Saira Demmer, about the responsibility of being a woman in business, as well as what they’re doing to support and inspire the next generation of female leaders.

What does being a woman in business mean to you?

Saira: One of the things I felt often in the early stages of my career was that work-related socialising was often done in places that weren’t typically of interest to women such as sports games or golf courses or places that actively excluded women such as private clubs.

I often felt I needed to endure things that bored me in order to be part of the conversation.

Thankfully this has changed over the years and the world of business is generally a more inclusive place than when I first started out.

Henrietta: For me it’s a mix of pride and a bit of a sense of responsibility. My granny is 100 years old. She was in the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce during World War II and in many ways a bit of a powerhouse. She’s also someone whose life was undeniably shaped by the much more limited opportunities available for, and expectations of, women during her youth. I have no doubt she would have taken a very different path if she was born today and had the opportunities I’ve had.

So, I am proud at how far we’ve come as a society and that this has allowed my path as a woman in business to be so much smoother than hers. I also have that sense of responsibility that now I’m here I need to make sure I keep smoothing that path for others too.

Deb: Honestly, I don’t think about it until someone mentions it. If anything, being a woman in the industry I am in is a benefit.

Starting and leading a forensic/intelligence company there aren’t many women in that position and so you stand out. It’s all about owning your space.

Saira: As a CEO I feel a responsibility to the next generation of employees, male or female, to set a good example for how success is achieved and measured.

We’ve worked hard at SF to create a highly meritocratic environment where everyone can achieve, develop and build a career, regardless of their gender, background or orientation and this means that talented people will always progress.

Having recently had my first child and trialled a flexible maternity leave model to balance my own commitments, I am very aware that there are different stages of employees’ careers when more support is needed to enable them to fulfil their potential and that I can use my personal experience to shine a light on these sometimes invisible struggles.

What biases and hurdles (if any) have you encountered throughout your career and how have you overcome these?

Henrietta: I have been very fortunate to have been well supported by my colleagues during my career. Even so, I was 25 when I was appointed director of policy at the Chamber and I started attending senior level stakeholder events and I probably looked about 15.

While I have no doubt it was entirely unconscious for others, for me I was highly conscious of needing to work twice as hard to be listened to or taken seriously – even on 10 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

What would you say is the biggest barrier to women in business today?

Henrietta Brealey, Chamber chief executive

occasions when I was probably one of the more informed in the room on the topic in question.

Doubly conscious that in many spaces, women of any age were in the minority.

Luckily, I’m very stubborn and had a boss who believed in and supported me (thanks Paul!) so I

‘I was highly conscious of needing to work twice as hard to be listened to or taken seriously’ pushed on anyway. But I do wonder how much raw talent and how many great ideas we lose as a society when we don’t have inclusion in mind.

Deb: There have been occasions in meetings where conversations have been directed to a male colleague. I use opportunities like that to re-educate. I don’t get angry or frustrated.

The worst incident was when I was challenged by a bank as to how an SME like mine could possibly develop the technologies we do – “you’ve never built technologies like this before”.

The tone of that conversation was incredibly patronising and without doubt would not have been said had it been a man sitting in front of them. My response was “darling, everything I’ve ever done in the past 20 years I’ve never done before – it’s called innovation”.

Henrietta: Childcare in the UK is very expensive compared to average incomes and society still expects and places (intentionally or not) pressure on women to be the primary caregiver for children – something I’ve seen have a detrimental impact on men as well as women.

There can also be assumptions and biases about what mums will and won’t want to do in the workplace in terms of taking on challenging projects and progression.

Lots of conversations about women in the workplace centre on “the leaky pipeline” and how women leave the workforce or stop progressing from c.late 20s-40s.

I wonder what could possibly be happening with large volumes of women around that age?

A good thing that has come from the postpandemic “battle for talent” is the number of organisations considering part-time or flexible working options that can work better for those with caring responsibilities of all kinds and give businesses access to some of the huge wealth of talent among those individuals of any gender.

Deb: The word “barrier”. We mustn’t use negative language against ourselves. Let’s use the word “challenges”. Unless we take up space, the space will be taken up by others. We have to be present. We have to step up and out and we have to call out and highlight where things need to change. We have to own the room and no one can do that for us, we have to do it. It is an education piece.

Saira: There are so many inspiring stories of women succeeding at the highest levels today and as a population we have broken through a great many glass ceilings.

The one lingering challenge which there is no easy answer for is how to navigate having children for those who choose to do so. It’s the one thing we can’t outsource, and it takes us away from work while we give ourselves to the new additions in our lives. It’s the number one

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Business News

shaping up for a fairer future Saira: I think the biggest difference we can make as leaders is to invest in closing the confidence gap between our male and female team members. It’s well documented that women are less likely to put themselves forward for a promotion or payrise and will underestimate their own abilities to protect from possible failure and that this contributes to fewer women being in senior roles. The more we can do to encourage and nurture women’s recognition of their successes and to challenge their conceptions of what they can achieve, the faster we will see this gap close.

How are you or your company/organisation working to #breakthebias?

Deb Leary, Chamber president

contributor to the gender pay gap – not because women are necessarily being paid less for the same jobs, but because fewer women make it to the same senior levels as their male counterparts after having children.

Balancing parenting is tough for both parents, but the emotional rollercoaster of childbearing is a challenge that is unique to women and takes time to work through. Time that our male counterparts, through no fault of their own, are spending developing their careers.

How do you think we can achieve gender equality in business on an every-day level, aside from increasing representation on boards and in leadership roles?

Henrietta: Understanding and addressing our biases - we all have them, myself included, and this applies to all areas of diversity – of thought, background and characteristics. We can all challenge ourselves and remember that just because someone reminds us of ourselves and we have a natural affinity with them, doesn’t mean they’re the best person for the job. Just because a job or, well, anything has been done or structured in a particular way in the past doesn’t mean it’s the best or only solution.

Applying this thought process to everything in the workplace can lead to a whole lot of positive little changes and big changes too.

Deb: This starts from school. This is not a woman’s issue. We have to educate our young people, instill confidence that achievement is on merit not on gender, that roles and competency is not governed by gender, race, or economic circumstances. Everyone has value.

As regards business, creating a culture of ownership, openness to ideas and constantly evaluate what the business looks like is essential.

Addressing how recruitment is undertaken within the organisation should also be looked at and how much flexibility can be introduced into the roles being offered. Historically, the difficulty has been that people have recruited in their own image and been largely rigid in the approach to what a working day looks like. As women business leaders, we must avoid that too.

Henrietta: We’ve been working on a few things here at the Chamber. One of the first things I did as CEO was create a RACE Equality Code Action plan with The Governance Forum to look at how we can continue to improve our approach to all areas of diversity and inclusion.

Over the past few months we’ve completed a manager development programme for all of our people managers with a focus on unconscious bias and inclusion, our colleagues have started a Diversity & Inclusion group, we’ve improved our governance and focus on D&I at board level and much more besides and much more to do yet.

We also work with our members on sharing best practice on this agenda through things like our ESG-focused The Good Business Forum and Growth Through People our flagship campaign on best practice in leadership and people management. I’m a big fan of trying to use my experience to support others on their journeys.

I’m a mentor through the University of Birmingham Alumni Leadership Mentoring Scheme and a trustee of their Guild of Students as well as supporting a few other projects linked to leadership and education.

Deb: As signatories to the United Nations Global Compact, we have always focused on ensuring whenever possible we have diversity within the team and equality of opportunity within that team.

Currently we have a 50/50 split. Whilst covid has brought more than enough challenges it has also brought with it great opportunity to reframe ways of working. Whether we like it or not many women have the majority role when it comes to childcare.

Having now moved to remote working permanently and a more flexible working time

30 per cent to 60 per cent and includes the CEO. With more female role models, we are seeing more women be inspired to push to the next level and crucially to believe they can do it.

What advice would you give to your younger self and to the future generation of female leaders about navigating and succeeding in the world of business?

Henrietta: Be heard. My wonderful first manager at the Chamber Katie Teasdale gave me some good advice many years ago when I was nervous about starting to attend external meetings – to paraphrase: “just try to say something.

Even if it’s only a small comment or agreeing with something someone else has said, push yourself to say something and your confidence will build from there”. It’s pretty good advice in any setting – sometimes it feels awkward and sometimes it doesn’t feel like others round the table necessarily want to hear you or expect you to say anything – but pushing through and being heard if often the first step to having your potential recognised. I’d also say – go for it!

Almost every job I’ve applied for I’ve told myself that I’m probably not ready yet and there will be someone out there who’s better than me – but I’ve got nothing to lose by trying so why not give it a punt. It turns out, I have been the best candidate on more than one occasion. It’s not your job to tell yourself that you’re not ready.

Deb: You have value. You have a voice. It is up to you to step into the limelight. You don’t need to know everything. No one knows everything.

Be authentic.

Saying what you want or need isn’t selfish, it isn’t rude. The important thing is to put it into context and ensure that you are inclusive, remember everyone has their challenges. Don’t win at the expense of others. Win with others.

Saira: My advice to younger generations would be to prepare to work hard if you want to succeed. It takes dedication, focus, commitment, and outstanding work ethic to reach the top of your game in any field and those who start out with the right expectations are the best placed to reach their goals.

‘You have value. You have a voice. It is up to you to step into the limelight’ approach certainly creates significant benefit.

There is no economic sense in having a talented potential workforce who can’t engage due to inflexibility.

Saira: At SF Recruitment we were proud to reach a zero percent gender pay gap last year, three years after reporting our first results. This has been driven by a significantly larger number of women in the senior team, which has gone from

Saira Demmer, CEO of SF Recruitment March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 11

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Business News

Work to support women in the region There are many organisations and charities across the West Midlands and the UK that are doing incredible work to support women in multiple aspects of their lives. These highlighted offer a range of services, including employment coaching, victim support and reproductive and mental health education.

Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid (BWSA)

Smartworks: dressing for success

Smartworks Launched in 2016, Smartworks Birmingham was established to help bridge the gap between unemployment and job success.

Women are referred by partners such as the DWP and then attend the centre once they have a confirmed job interview. The charity provides them with an interview outfit, styled for them and theirs to keep, followed by interview coaching. The charity have supported over 1,500 women and delivered over 1,900 appointments, of which 67 per cent have gone on to get the job.

Philippa Pickavance, chairwoman of Smart Works Birmingham Charity, said: “At Smart Works Birmingham Charity, our main aim of helping women in need back into employment by providing interview-appropriate clothing and interview coaching is very well aligned to the IWD Chamber aim, as women have been particularly hard hit economically by the effects of the pandemic.

“The West Midlands Combined Authority area has some of the highest numbers of the most deprived areas in England and recent stats showed us that over the past 12 months 51 per cent of our clients had been unemployed for over a year and 33 per cent for over three years, but 71 per cent of clients got the job within a month of seeing us.

“We are proud of this small but timely intervention, and we plan to double the women we help to 1,200 women per year within the next three years.”

For more information visit www.birmingham.smartworks.org.uk 12 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

For over 40 years Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid has provided frontline domestic violence and abuse support services to women and children in the Birmingham and Solihull area.

BWSA work to ensure that no woman or child should have to live in fear, providing a specialtrained team of female support workers to listen to, believe in and offer expert support to women and children affected by violence or abuse every day.

Anna Fawcett, income generation and corporate relationships manager, said: “For over 40 years, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid have run domestic abuse support services for women, by women, breaking the bias by advocating for women in spaces which often ignore or hold victims responsible for their experiences.

“Where we partner with organisations, we support a culture of change and offer training to help them to understand the gendered nature of domestic abuse. Until we start from a point of understanding that misogyny exists and affects women in all aspects of life, we cannot begin to tackle the larger issues of violence.”

For more information visit www.bswaid.org

Ovacome Ovacome is the national UK ovarian cancer charity focused on providing support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. This includes people who have either been diagnosed with the disease or think that

they might be at risk, as well as their friends and family and healthcare professionals.

Ovacome support around 18,000 people per year and provide a range of support services, including a telephone support line, an online forum and a support group programme. regional support and information events.

Victoria Clare, chief executive officer at Ovacome, said: “The work that Ovacome does is so important because it better prepares those affected by ovarian cancer to be able to selfadvocate. By giving people up to date information in a way that they can understand they are better able to make the treatment decisions that they need to. The majority of women are diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 disease, that’s why it is so important to make sure everyone knows the signs and symptoms – so they can get an earlier diagnosis. We are at the heart of a wonderfully, supportive community and proud to be so.”

For more information visit www.ovacome.org.uk/

Cysters Cysters is a grassroots charity founded by Future Faces Chamber of Commerce committee member Neelam Heera in 2015.

Cysters is dedicated to supporting individuals with reproductive and mental health issues and educating the public so that they can make informed choices around their treatment options and challenge the cultural misogyny behind reproductive health.

For more information visit www.cysters.org

Ovacome trustees: providing a supportive community

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Business News

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Business News

MasterChef kitchen to make creative Digbeth its home The BBC’s ‘MasterChef’ is relocating to Birmingham’s growing creative quarter in Digbeth.

The BBC and ‘MasterChef’ producer, Shine TV, (part of Banijay UK), have agreed a multi-series deal, in which the production will move out of London for the first time since 2001 and a commitment to ‘MasterChef’ titles on the BBC for six years.

Last year the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Create Central and the BBC formed a partnership agreement in which the BBC committed to building on the region’s TV production strength with more primetime brands joining ‘Great British Menu’ in the West Midlands.

Now, as part of the BBC’s Across the UK plans, all of MasterChef’s four series will be made at the new Digbeth Loc. Studios complex from 2024 - which includes: ‘BBC One’s MasterChef’, ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’, ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ and the recently announced ‘Young MasterChef’ for BBC Three, as well as any festive editions.

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: “We said we would create jobs and investment, bringing decision-making and productions to the West Midlands as part of our Across the UK plans. Moving one of

Champion: Dan Lee, ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’ Champion 2021, and Tim Davie, BBC director-general

our biggest programme brands shows we are making that a reality.

This is great news for Birmingham and the BBC.” The proposals set out in The BBC Across the UK plan give even more prominence to stories from communities across the region as part of the biggest creative and journalistic reshaping of the BBC in its history.

West Midlands Growth Company – the region’s investment promotion agency – played a pivotal role in positioning the

region as the new home for the ‘MasterChef’ series. Neil Rami, chief executive, said: “Creativity is the driving force of our region, with screen industries representing a longstanding and growing area of economic and cultural opportunity.

“The ‘MasterChef’ series coming to the region not only cements our position as a successful media backdrop, but also as an important culinary destination, with the recent the awarding of an 11th Michelin star restaurant in the West Midlands, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd.”

Governance expert joins RSM RSM UK has significantly strengthened its environmental social and governance (ESG) credentials with the key appointment of Dr Karl George, one of the UK’s leading corporate governance experts, and an internationally acclaimed thought leader.

RSM are a leading provider of audit, tax and consultancy services to middle market traders across the UK and globally who are also patrons of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

Previously the founder and managing director of The Governance Forum and creator of the Effective Board Member programmes, Karl works with senior executives in the private, public and voluntary sectors. He has over 25 years combined experience in accountancy, business and strategic development.

Karl, a board member of the GBCC, was awarded an MBE in 2004 for his services to the social and business communities and is an honorary doctor and visiting professor at Birmingham City University.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining RSM during what is an exciting period of growth and opportunity for the firm. RSM is a well-established brand, and it has a clear ambition to become the leading adviser to middle market businesses here in the UK, and globally, with sound corporate governance at its core.

“This is also a people business with a fantastic, collaborative culture. I look forward to applying my expertise to help develop the team and support its clients to help realise their goals.”

Major step: Mark Taylor (left) welcomes Karl George

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “We are delighted to see a Chamber patron and a board member joining forces.

“Karl is a leading figure in the world of governance and with ESG becoming a growing area of importance for businesses he will be a valuable asset at RSM.” Mark Taylor, regional managing partner at RSM, added: “Karl’s appointment marks a major step for us in realising our ambition to offer market-leading advice that is tailored to individual businesses and their objectives.”

Focus on talent and upskilling Upskilling local talent and overcoming ongoing recruitment difficulties are set to be key themes in the Chamber’s upcoming Growth Through People campaign, taking place throughout March.

Job vacancies nationally reached a record high between December and January – a clear sign that businesses are struggling to find the right talent according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In the West Midlands, the employment rate rose by 0.8 per cent between October and December, but unemployment increased by 0.1 per cent over the same period.

Emily Stubbs, policy and projects manager at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “Regional unemployment remains high, as residents remain unable to access opportunities in the region and businesses are unable to access the skilled talent they need in order to thrive and grow.

“This is an ongoing trend which is likely to be reflected in our latest Quarterly Business Report.

“These ongoing recruitment difficulties are set to be key themes in the Chamber’s upcoming Growth Through People campaign, taking place throughout March.

“Growth Through People will feature expert-led events, webinars and digital content with advice and insights on topical leadership and people management challenges including cultivating an employer brand and thinking outside of the box to unlock potential.

“I highly encourage readers interested in attracting new talent and getting the most out of their existing workforce to get involved in the campaign and register to attend our Growth Through People conference at the end of March.”

To find out more about the Chamber’s Growth Through People campaign events, webinars and conference through March go to: www.greaterbirmingham chambers.com

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Business News PICTURES: MIKE BAKER

AWARD WINNERS Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Large Business of the Year (Sponsored by Haines Watts)

Crown Highways Sutton Coldfield Chamber President’s Award (Sponsored by Burley Browne)

Dennis Kennedy Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber President’s Award (Sponsored by Lichfield District Council)

Fiona Rouse Victors: Large Business of the Year winners Crown Highways

Highway contractors are crowned at regional awards

By Claudia Congrave nfrastructure engineers Crown Highways won the top prize at this year’s Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Chambers of Commerce annual awards.

Crown Highways, the winners of the Large Business of the Year award, received the award alongside eight additional category winners in a grand ceremony at the Drayton Manor Hotel, supported by returning headline sponsors Amazon.

The event was hosted by radio presenter Donna Alos and attended by 220 delegates.

Judges were Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood Solihull and president of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Neelam Heera, founder of Cysters, Yung Lau, strategic consultant at Jacobs, Hannah Montgomery, managing director at Golddust Marketing and judge chair Lillian Elekan, head of membership at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

Crown Highways aim to be the number one highway contractor in the West Midlands, providing excellence in their delivery of works through a locally sourced, competent, and safe workforce.

The last year has seen huge success for the company’s strategic growth plan as they were named one of 50 contractors to win places

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16 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

Exceptional: Jessica Greaney, the Young Professional of the Year

on a £3.6bn National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework to carry out maintenance and renewals on England’s motorway and trunk road network.

Due to continued investment in their people the company have achieved an 80 per cent staff retention rate. They have also made commitments to support the future workforce in the uptake of apprentice programmes through ‘The 5% Club’, as well as establishing an in-house Training Academy.

Crown Highways have plans to expand on their Social Value Model through which they have already invested £50,000 in local social

value activity since August 2021.

Their social commitment also extends to ensuring sustainable delivery and resources across their projects where possible.

In addition to announcing the individual Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Tamworth and Cannock Small Business and President’s award winners, Jessica Greaney was named the winner of Young Professional of the Year for her exceptional contribution to the content strategy and success of marketing firm EDGE Creative.

Chris Brewerton, divisional head of the Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield & Tamworth Chambers of Commerce said: “The SLTC awards have been a wonderful showcase of all the positive and inspiring work businesses across our respective districts have done during the past 12 months.

“It’s always great to see everyone come together, particularly this year after the sacrifices we’ve all had to make due to the pandemic, and we are so proud to have such incredible business as part of our network.

“Congratulations to all of the winners and also to all of those businesses who applied or who were shortlisted.

“Thanks to our sponsors, event organisers and guests for making it a night to remember.”

Cannock Chase Chamber President’s Award (Sponsored by Inspired Energy)

Chris Wheeler Sutton Coldfield Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council)

Grant McKnight Lichfield Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Crown Highways)

The Listening Centre Tamworth Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Tamworth Borough Council)

PI-KEM Cannock Chase Small Business of the Year (In partnership with Stoke-onTrent & Staffordshire Growth Hub)

Empire Kitchens & Appliances Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Young Professional of the Year (Sponsored by South Staffordshire College)

Jessica Greaney, EDGE Creative

See pages 54 and 55 for a picture gallery from the awards night

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Business News

Airline ramps up Birmingham flights

By Dan Harrison With business travel back on the agenda following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, a long-established airline is increasing its flights to reconnect Birmingham with more destinations across the British Isles.

Loganair, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, will be operating three flights per day to Aberdeen this summer, as well as daily services to Inverness and the Isle of Man. The airline has also strengthened its codeshare partnership with British Airways which means customers can now book Loganair routes from Birmingham via ba.com.

The Aberdeen flights provide a particularly important link for those in the West Midlands who work offshore in the North Sea Energy Sector, as well as onward connectivity to Orkney and Shetland. Loganair was also the first UK airline to introduce a mandatory carbon offset charge under its ‘GreenSkies’ initiative as part of its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040.

The £1 carbon charge per flight fully offsets all carbon emissions via accredited Carbon Offset schemes that meet the highest international standards.

Colin Gracey, sales manager at Loganair, said: “We very much look forward to welcoming customers back on board whether they are travelling for work, study, to reconnect with friends and family or for that bit of muchneeded leisure time. We're also delighted to be able to increase our schedules in the weeks

Reconnecting: From left - Tom Screen (aviation director, Birmingham Airport), Angus Black (first office, Loganair), Jennifer Dickinson (cabin crew, Loganair), Jim Bourne (relationship manager, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce ) and Colin Gracey (sales manager, Loganair)

ahead, adding capacity to meet growing demand and facilitate economic recovery.”

As an introduction for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members, Loganair is offering 50 per cent more Clan Points for its Clan Loganair loyalty programme on their FlyFlex fares* To activate the bonus, Chamber members

should visit the Exclusive Member Offers web page to access the Clan Loganair promo code and then register for the scheme at loganair.co.uk/clan-loganair *Book by 31 March 2022, travel until 31 October 2022. Terms and Conditions apply

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Business News

The Griffin Report As part of our special features to mark International Women’s Day, Jon Griffin presents a powerful interview with lawyer Yetunde Dania, who, against the odds, was determined not to allow her skin colour to prevent her reaching the top of her profession in Birmingham.

etunde Dania tells it straight: “I do not walk in other people’s shoes. I walk in my own shoes.”

And what an extraordinary path those shoes have undertaken down through the decades. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Yetunde was raised by “amazing” foster parents in Great Yarmouth at a time of racial tensions and frequent violence.

“Growing up in that environment at the time Great Yarmouth was not known as the most diverse region of the country. Was it tough? Of course it was tough. I grew up at a time when the

Y

‘I changed my name to Tina… in the hope that Tina would get me through the door.’

National Front used to hold their rallies in Great Yarmouth. I am a black kid in a school which is 99.9 per cent white.

“My foster parents were amazing people – they instilled everything into me and that allowed me to understand the way of living in a world that wasn’t reflective of me.

The world was white. My view is I didn’t see colour as such, people were people.

“When I walked into a room it was very much I am here as an equal....it was only as I got older that I saw actually my colour could hold me back.”

But, remaining true to her foster parents’ inspirational outlook all those years ago, Yetunde has proved since those early years that she would not allow her skin colour to thwart her ambitions to get into law.

Today she is head of office at Birmingham lawyers Trowers and Hamlins, a senior figure in a 18 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

‘I can’t deny that I am a black woman in Birmingham where there are few visible women of colour – let’s be specific, black – in the legal profession.’ – Yetunde Dania

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Business News workplace of around 125 people.

Her path to the top may not have been straightforward – she worked as a 999 operator and a cleaner while paying off student loans – but her career success saw her recently appointed to chair the West Midlands Combined Authority’s new Race Equalities Taskforce, charged with spearheading a regional drive for change and greater diversity.

But Yetunde admits she would never have been offered the job to head the Taskforce if she had allowed her teachers to have killed her dreams back in her schooldays.

“The school computer told me I should be a prison warden. I thought I wanted to get into the law, but not as a prison warden.

Like many people coming from an under-represented background, tell me I can’t and I will.”

That determination would ultimately prove to be Yetunde’s salvation, despite a host of early rejections from law firms after she gained an LLB Honours Degree and a Master’s in Human Rights and Civil Liberties.

“I had been applying for training contracts, predominantly in Birmingham. I got rejections by compliments slips. The name kind of gave it away that you are black.

“I changed my name to Tina (her

middle name) in the hope that Tina would get me through the door. I hoped that if I could get myself in front of a panel that my personality would shine through.”

She finally landed a job in Birmingham as a paralegal with McGrath and Co and subsequently worked for a number of other law firms, specialising in the social

‘I had been applying for training contracts, predominantly in Birmingham. I got rejections by compliments slips.

The name kind of gave it away that you are black.’ housing sector and other housing legal issues, before joining Trowers and Hamlins in 2011, a move which would raise her profile on the Birmingham business circuit and lead to her latest role as chair of the Taskforce.

It is an appointment she is clearly relishing in an era of

increasing scrutiny of racial issues both in the workplace and across society as a whole.

“We need people to see people, to see the merit, the personality. I think if more people (judge by character) we would be a richer society and a more successful society.

“I can’t deny that I am a black woman in Birmingham where there are few visible women of colour – let’s be specific, black – in the legal profession.

“The vision of the Taskforce is that race, ethnicity and heritage should not be an obstacle to having a fair start and to have a flourishing life within the West Midlands and for people to be able to reach their full potential.”

Yetunde said many businesses were still not reflective of the region’s diverse communities. “You can go into most businesses and see at a very junior level people may be from diverse communities but then as you go through the ranks, they are not.”

Yetunde has been appointed for a three-year term to chair the Taskforce of around 30 volunteers and members from local authority partners. “It is an immense privilege. It is not about individual members. If you want to be a member of the Taskforce for your CV, you are not the right person.”

Meanwhile, Yetunde is also a passionate advocate of the aims of International Women’s Day. “The message at my firm is that gender is not a barrier to attainment. But in some areas there is a gender imbalance. It is a long process, it is about nurturing the talent, it is about creating opportunities, it is about not being afraid.

“I do not feel that I have been discriminated against because of my gender or my race. It probably has happened but I have just not seen it. I have just smashed through it, to be fair.”

But some areas of the law remain more problematical, she says. “I have tried to get into the judiciary – that’s a tough nut to crack. In Birmingham we have the largest county court in the country.

I have practised in it for close on 25 years and I am yet to come before a judge who looks like me, male or female.”

But the world is undeniably changing, as she relates: “I think the glass ceiling is being smashed. I was walking my dog and went home and said to my husband ‘oh my gosh I have just seen a black female bin person' – I have spoken to women working on the Metro system in teams of construction.

You can feel that there is change.”

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Business News

Sponsored by: The University of Birmingham

Detailed plan needed on Levelling Up delivery Get involved with the Forum for Global Challenges 3-5 May The world faces significant challenges – from living with the devastating impacts of climate change, to the effect of pandemics on jobs and livelihoods – making the need to find and create new solutions to these challenges an urgent priority.

The Forum for Global Challenges is a major, hybrid international conference from 35 May, taking place at the Birmingham ICC. It will bring together some of the most influential thinkers and doers, including business leaders, politicians, philanthropists, practitioners and thought leaders from academia and beyond to address global challenges across climate change and gender inequalities.

The Forum has been established by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with UNDP, UNESCO, the World Bank, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the CBI, UKRI and WMCA. Businesses can get involved and partner with the Forum, to support your agendas across CSR, public or youth engagement, horizon scan, form new partnerships or strengthen your brand awareness within the international community that will come to Birmingham.

Small business partnerships are available as well as an offering for larger businesses.

Topics cover sustainability and healthcare, the economy, the future of cities as well as education and addressing gender inequalities. The Forum also provides exciting youth engagement opportunities for business, such as mentoring sessions as part of the global hackathon in the run up to the Forum.

To find out more, please get in touch businessteam@contacts.bham.ac.uk

We hope to see you there in May! 20 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

The Government must set out a delivery plan that puts business at the heart of its Levelling Up agenda, business leaders said.

The long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper was released with a key focus on boosting pay and productivity, spreading opportunities and improving public services, restoring local pride, and empowering local leaders.

Key announcements for the West Midlands included £100m of new Government funding for local businesses and researchers, a King’s Cross-style regeneration project in Wolverhampton town centre, £1.8 billion of funding to transform brownfield sites in the North and Midland, and £196m of investment through Round One of the Levelling Up Fund for 11 projects in the region.

The strategy is underpinned by 12 ‘missions’ to be delivered by 2030.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “A lot of hopes have been pinned on publication of the Levelling Up White Paper – the future of devolution, regional development funding post-Brexit, strategy for driving growth across the UK, role of Local Enterprise Partnerships and much more besides.

“The White Paper illuminates a number of the challenges this country faces in reducing regional inequalities and raising productivity levels across the board. It sets out a vision and ambition for addressing this – including a welcome focus on R&D, transport and infrastructure and skills.

“We particularly welcome the recognition of the West Midlands Combined Authority area including backing for a West Midlands Smart City Region programme, funding for regeneration and commitment to greater devolved control of UK Shared Prosperity Funds.”

Detail needed: Henrietta Brealey

“Now we need to see the detail on how this will be delivered – how the existing funds will be allocated, what new funding (notable by its absence in the white paper) will be brought forward in order to rise the scale of the challenge.

“Critically, businesses must be at the heart of design and execution of these plans in order to make levelling up a reality.”

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has published a briefing paper to share more information about what is included in the White Paper and how local businesses stand to benefit.

For a full briefing on Levelling Up, go to the Chamber website: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com

Strictly star comes to Birmingham TV dancing sensation Johannes Radebe is bringing his first UK Tour, ‘Johannes Radebe: Freedom’, to The Alexandra Birmingham on 10 April.

Johannes Radebe: Freedom is a celebration of music and dance, from African fusion to fiery Latin, classic dance arrangements and huge party anthems, with a company of exciting dancers.

Johannes will take the audience on his personal journey, from growing up in South Africa, to travelling the world, winning titles and starring in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Born in the township Zamdela Sasolburg, South Africa, Johannes started dancing when he was seven.

Over the next 13 years, Johannes competed in local competitions, climbing up the Latin ranks with top honours, and eventually adding Ballroom and other dance styles,

Personal journey: Johannes Radebe

such as African Contemporary and Jazz.

He became a finalist at national dance competitions and received an invitation to compete

internationally in St Petersburg, Russia.

At the age of 21, Johannes left South Africa to work on the internationally renowned Italian cruise liner Costa.

Johannes toured the world in the international dance show Burn The Floor before being headhunted by Strictly Come Dancing.

He moved to the UK to dance on the flagship BBC show. In his second series, he was partnered with Catherine Tyldesley and danced the first same-sex routine with fellow Strictly star Graziano Di Prima.

In 2020, he danced with Caroline Quentin and reached week seven in a shorter BAFTA-nominated season. He will return to the ballroom for his fourth series in September.

The UK Tour of Johannes Radebe: Freedom is presented by ROYO.

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Business News

Search underway for Games announcers Birmingham 2022 is searching for the sport presenters of the future to be part of the biggest multisport event to be staged in the country since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The organisers of the Games are looking for around 20 talented local people to be In Venue Hosts and Announcers, roles that will involve them engaging with the thousands of spectators expected to fill each of the official competition venues this summer.

Applicants need to be professional, confident, and enthusiastic and they also need to meet the following criteria: • Aged 18 or over • Live, work or study in Birmingham and/or the West Midlands • Available for the full duration of the competition and rehearsal days (Birmingham 2022 will be held from 28 July until 8 August) • Committed to attending training workshops which will be held in late June and early July Martin Green, chief creative officer for Birmingham 2022, said: “This is another fantastic opportunity for new talent to get involved in the Games and for them to be part of a team playing a

Fantastic opportunity: Martin Green

crucial role in ensuring spectators have a memorable and enjoyable experience in our venues.

“We are looking for talented local people with an interest in presenting but who so far haven’t had the opportunity to shine, and we’d love to receive applications from people who can connect with an audience and whose passion and enthusiasm is infectious.

“The successful applicants will not only be provided with full training and support, but during the Games they will also have the chance to learn from a hugely experienced team, rubbing shoulders with presenting professionals who will be the perfect mentors.”

T: 0121 745 8444 E: sales@midland-fire.co.uk W: midland-fire.co.uk

• More sports news – page 78

Task Force to offer support to Tamworth Tamworth has been picked as one of 68 local authorities to receive a package of expert advice and support from the High Streets Task Force.

As a result, Tamworth will be able to put forward its high-street and town centre to receive help in addressing local challenges and developing strategies to make a positive change to the town.

Appointed in 2019 by the Government, the Task Force team will provide expert consultancy and training as they will be working directly with local government and facilitating engagement with communities and civic societies.

Tamworth is expected to begin to receive this support from this summer, and the High Streets Task Force experts will be visiting to consult and collaborate with, not only Tamworth Borough Council, but also local businesses and community groups, to unlock the town’s true potential.

Cllr Martin Summers, cabinet member for Voluntary Sector, Town Centre, Evening Economy & Community Safety, said: “We’re thrilled that Tamworth has been selected as one of the many towns to receive support from the High Streets Task Force. It’s a great time to get involved as there’s lots of things happening in the town, we’ve got loads of projects we’re working on to transform Tamworth, and we’re delighted to be receiving this extra support.”

Visit: transforming.tamworth.gov.uk

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Where do you fancy?

Hengata is from the Finnish language meaning “to hang out”. The owners have created a concept which recognises the importance of a shared experience, and an environment within which to feel energised, inspired and at ease. The building is Grade II Victorian Gothic dating from 1881.

Carefully curated playlists feature soul and jazz music. The owners are committed to providing training and educational opportunities particularly for the disadvantaged as well as distributing 120-plus hot meals per week to those less fortunate in surrounding area.

Breakfast, lunch or dinner…

Food and drink

Hengata

Beautifully balanced modern European food with an emphasis on seasonality and provenance.

Where possible produce is sourced locally, ranging from high welfare and organic meat and fish to expertly roasted coffee beans.

Alongside a traditional menu format, bar snacks and smaller plates for sharing are provided.

Address The School Yard, 106 High Street, Harborne B17 9NJ

T: 01217169647 E: info@hengata.com W: www.hengata.com Owners: Robert Smith, Shaken Meelu, Chris Griffin, Lee McArdle

Breakfast The extensive choice is seasonal and are subject to change. They include: • Honeyed figs: goats cheese, toasted almonds, toasted sourdough • Spiced sweet potato hash: house lime pickle, crispy roots, poached eggs, hot buttered sourdough • The big ‘V’: eggplant prepared with coriander, fennel and cumin, wilted spinach, roasted tomato, portobello , poached egg, warm English muffin • The millennial: avocado served with tomato and onion relish, poached eggs, house lime pickle, hot buttered sourdough • The big ‘G’: pancetta, Cumberland, portobello, roasted tomato, poached eggs, warm English muffin plus charcuterie and cheese.

Lunch Brunch as above.

Dinner There is an extensive selection of bar snacks and small plates.

Main Dishes • Rose veal, apple salsa, samphire, herby butter sauce, confit garlic • Pork shin tagliatelle, sheep’s cheese • Sea bream, potato rosti, fennel and sour beer sauce, roasted pumpkin seeds pollock, mussels, celeriac puree, lemon cream 22 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

Head chef: Dilanka Fernando Opening hours: Wed to Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-9pm

• Ginger chicken, burning barn sauce, sweet potato puree, wilted spinach • Venison, candied chestnuts, chestnut puree, charred leek and almonds, spiced lentils, miso, shallot, roasted cashews, vegan yoghurt • Leek and wild mushroom tart, celeriac puree, wild garlic.

Afters include: • Chocolate fondant, hazelnut brittle, milk ice cream • Orange polenta cake, honeycomb • Sticky date and toffee pudding, toffee sauce, milk ice cream • Poached pear, spiced rum infused pineapple, lime • Also available are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Wines

Business facilities

A short and concise wine list with a focus on bio-diverse and organic from smaller artisan producers in the £16-£32 range. There is also a range of craft and specialist beers and alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Small plate and brunch menus with quick service. The restaurant comprises two areas, one seating approximately 30 and the other 25.

The complete restaurant can also be hired.

Exclusive offer for Chamber members 10 per cent off the total bill, edeemable on line, by phone or walk-in.

Available to 31 May, 2022, for all bookings with the exception of 17:00 onwards Saturday evening.

The offer is restricted to a maximum of six diners per booking.

To redeem the offer quote Chamber membership number and company name.

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Business News

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Business News

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Business News Multifaith charter launched at Edgbaston

Lord Sugar backs BBC apprentice hub The BBC is opening more opportunities for people to get their dream job in the media through the launch of a new apprentice hub in Birmingham.

Two-hundred new apprentices started with the BBC earlier this month in a variety of production, journalism, technology and business support role where they will each receive training and on the job experience.

Expanding on these opportunities, the BBC is also launching an apprentice hub in Birmingham that will place apprentices with employers in the local creative sector.

The BBC will part fund the apprenticeships while partners Google will fund all training costs for apprentices placed in local organisations through the Apprentice Levy Transfer Donation scheme. It’s all part of the BBC’s effort to double its commitment to apprenticeships and have 1,000 apprentices by 2026. Lord Alan Sugar, the star of BBC One’s ‘The Apprentice’, is backing the BBC’s apprentice push.

He said: “These are great opportunities for people to get worldclass training and progress their careers. And the good news is you don’t have to face me in the boardroom but you do have to be ambitious and want a career in the creative industries.

“The BBC’s Apprentice Hub in Birmingham will develop the kind of skills that are much needed in the creative sector in the city and the wider region. I’d urge employers to get involved.”

The BBC’s Apprentice Hub in Birmingham will grow skills in the economy by placing up to 50 apprentices with local small and medium sized employers in the creative sector.

Opportunities: Lord Sugar

Birmingham to host first Esports Championships The inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships and Commonwealth Esports Forum will be staged in Birmingham this summer.

The Championships is the result of a partnership between the Global Esports Federation and the Commonwealth Games Federation, announced in May 2020.

The new competition in Birmingham will be supported by the British Esports Association, the notfor-profit national body established in 2016 to promote

‘There isn’t a better-suited location to host the Commonwealth Esports Championships’ esports in the UK, increase its level of awareness, improve standards and inspire future talent.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships will take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham from 6 to 7 August.

The Commonwealth Esports Forum – a global convention of thought leaders and idea creators – will be held at the same venue in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Esports Championships, on 5 August.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships will feature esports competitors from across the Commonwealth.

Renowned multi-genre global titles are in the final stages of confirmation. The event is set to feature demonstrations showcasing Active Esports and the powerful technologies that support the convergence of sport and esports.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships was sanctioned by the CGF Executive Board to be held at the same time as the 2022 Commonwealth Games while being independent of Birmingham 2022 and its sports programme.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships will have separate branding, medals, organisation, and governance, led by the GEF and its community of partners.

The event is supported by the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), which aims to maximise the economic legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as the regional economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, which drives long-term tourism, investment, and major events into the region.

Exploring esports is one of the recommendations outlined in the new Commonwealth Sport 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap.

Global Esports Federation president Chris Chan said: “The Commonwealth Esports Championships offers our community another exciting event in the global esports calendar. We look forward to welcoming the esports community to Birmingham in August.”

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Ian Ward, said: “As the country’s fastest-growing tech cluster, responsible for a quarter of British games products, Birmingham and the West Midlands is a thriving hub of creativity and development, reflecting one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse communities.

“Having developed iconic gaming titles such as Formula One, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Forza, there isn’t a better-suited location to host the Commonwealth Esports Championships, bringing together young competitors from across the world.”

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has become one of the first sporting organisations in the country to launch a Multifaith Charter, created in conjunction with representatives from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jain, Judaism and Sikhism in the West Midlands.

Unveiled as part of Warwickshire’s Edgbaston for Everyone initiative, the Multifaith Charter is a tangible commitment to making sure that the club understands the needs of different faiths and creates a safe, welcoming environment for players, staff and visitors, ensuring Edgbaston can be supportive in helping people practice their faith.

In addition to the formation of its own Multifaith Charter, Warwickshire will commit to Nujum Sport’s Muslim Athlete Charter. As part of this, the club met with representatives of its local Muslim community and, following feedback, chose to formulate a Multifaith Charter that is inclusive to all, but still commit to everything recognised within the programme designed

by Nujum Sport.

Ebadur Rahman, founder and CEO of Nujum Sports, said: “Having signed the pledge to the Muslim Athlete Charter alongside its Multifaith Charter, Warwickshire CCC is joining a positive movement of solidarity, equality, and recognition of the contribution Muslims make in their respective clubs and teams.”

To underpin the principles within the charter, the leadership team at Warwickshire CCC has begun a series of faith visits to key religious centres within the West Midlands to understand more about each religion and the day-to-day implications of people wanting to practice their faith at Edgbaston.

Stuart Cain, chief executive of Warwickshire CCC, said: “Making sure that Edgbaston is a safe, welcoming environment for all and that players from all walks of life have the same chances to succeed has been our goal for several years, but recent events show that we haven’t gone far enough, fast enough.

“This must change and the initiatives launched are the first small steps in a journey that will probably never end.”

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Business News Investing in apprentices An innovative scheme set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to fund apprenticeship training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has secured in excess of £32m, helping more than 2,280 people learn new skills.

Originally set up in March 2019, The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund allows some of the UK’s biggest businesses to cover 100 per cent of the training cost of apprentices for SMEs by donating their unspent levy to the WMCA rather than see it returned to government. To date, a total of £32.7m has now been pledged to the scheme with 725 SMEs benefiting from the fund.

The scheme has helped a total of over 2,280 people obtain an apprenticeship with those being supported coming from a variety of backgrounds including school leavers, graduates and those looking for a change of career.

Pertemps are just some of the of the businesses to pledge their unspent apprenticeship levy to the WMCA transfer fund.

Tracy Evans, Group HR and quality director at Pertemps, said: “Working with the WMCA has enabled us to utilise our apprenticeship levy funding to support local SME’s in bringing apprentices into their businesses.

“From social care to plumbers’ electricians to digital and manufacturing, working across all levels of apprenticeships even including West Midlands Police. We’ve invested £2m from our apprenticeship levy fund to support our local communities.

“The WMCA fits our longer strategic objectives of working with the communities in which we operate in and supporting young people who face difficulty in finding work is a key part of that. We strive to break down barriers hampering this group from finding employment and help them on their journey to finding rewarding employment.”

The apprenticeship levy is charged by HM Revenue and Customers and held centrally by government. Businesses across the country can apply for funding to pay up to 95 per cent of the costs of training their apprentices.

26 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

WMCA budget sets out plan for West Midlands’ recovery Funding for infrastructure, land regeneration and job training schemes to help drive the region’s post Covid-19 economic recovery and fight climate change has been set out in this year’s West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) budget.

A package of major transport projects to tackle air pollution and better connect people to jobs, education and training opportunities are included in a 2022/23 WMCA budget totalling £879.2m.

Money is also allocated to transform more derelict industrial sites for new homes and jobs, helping to relieve pressure on the green belt.

The Budget, approved by the WMCA board, includes an Adult Education Budget (AEB) of more than £140m

‘All the investments set out in this budget will help create and protect jobs’ to give people the skills they need to get back into work quickly and secure jobs in growing sectors such as construction, digital and the emerging green industries.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “At the heart of our budget is a focus on helping the West Midlands recover. The budget also supports the on-going expansion and decarbonisation of our public transport network with new Metro and rail lines, pollution free buses and more cycle routes, helping us realise our ambition to become a net zero region within the next 20 years. But with a growing population we also need more homes and commercial premises, which is why we have allocated nearly £90m for housing and land

projects including the regeneration of derelict brownfield sites, helping to save precious green belt fields from the bulldozer. All the investments set out in this budget will help create and protect jobs as we recover from the pandemic and support our ongoing fight against climate change.”

The approved capital budget includes £379m for the WMCA’s transport arm - Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - to deliver schemes that will improve connectivity, drive economic growth and cut carbon emissions by making it easier and more attractive for people to switch to public transport. This includes: • The on-going construction of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill and Birmingham Eastside Metro tram extensions • New railway services and stations on the Birmingham Camp Hill and Walsall to Wolverhampton lines • The construction of Sprint rapid bus routes along the A34 and A45 • A new bus and Metro interchange station in Dudley town centre • Coventry All Electric Bus City project • Transport enhancements for the Commonwealth Games • £11m investment in new cycle routes and projects In addition, the £143m Transport revenue budget will deliver £59m for concessionary travel for older people, the blind, disabled and children plus, £18.7m for Commonwealth Games delivery, £13.4m available for subsidised bus services and £6.7m for Accessible Transport.

Rattling wheels indicate problem Street wardens in Birmingham are getting on their bikes to help improve pavements along the city's new tram route up Broad Street.

The creative assistance was devised when it was realised that the new pavements sometimes created an identifiable rattle under bike wheels if they had not settled properly.

Managers from Westside Business Improvement District (BID) discussed this with tram extension workers on the ground who agreed that bike wheel rattles were often a dependable way of discovering substandard pavement areas.

Westside BID's street wardens are now busy finding, marking and reporting any such areas via Birmingham City Council which is then instructing Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) work teams to investigate and relay paving where needed.

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, who is also checking the pavements on his bike, said: “Feeling an identifiable rattle under bike wheels often indicates that a new surface hadn’t been laid

Rattle expert: Mike Olley

properly. I and street wardens regularly ride up and down Broad Street as part of our jobs, and whenever we find poor quality areas we report them to Metro workers – via the city council – and

they fix them if needed.

“It’s a low-tech solution but it works and is just one way the BID is helping tram extension workers to get the new route up and running as soon as possible.”

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Business News

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Business News Chamberlink takes a look at the progress being made on bringing HS2 into the heart of Birmingham

HS2 online jobs board reaches major milestone HS2’s online jobs board, which advertises all the latest vacancies from HS2’s Phase One construction partners, has reached a landmark milestone having promoted over 2,000 job opportunities in its first year.

The digital platform, which is hosted on the HS2 website, offers those looking for work or a change of career the opportunity to search the very latest vacancies with HS2’s construction partners and station contractors delivering the London – Birmingham section of the railway. The jobs board allows candidates to search for vacancies by region or by specialism, so they can quickly identify opportunities that match their criteria. In total, 2004 vacancies were advertised in the 12 months since the site launched, with over 700 opportunities in the West Midlands.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “As Europe’s largest infrastructure project, it’s our responsibility to ensure HS2 creates thousands of long-lasting jobs across the entire nation.

“Advertising 2000 jobs in just one year is a huge achievement and shows that we’re delivering on our promises of boosting the economy and levelling up the country.”

The jobs board launched alongside HS2’s brokerage partnership model, which brings together local authorities, enterprise partnerships, charities and employment support services along the 140-mile route of the first phase of the new zerocarbonrailway. HS2’s job brokerage partners support and refer local people, including those from disadvantaged and underrep resented groups, into jobs on HS2.

Rebecca Young, HS2’s Skills and employment strategy manage,r said: “The online jobs board, combined with support from our job brokerage partners, is playing a

‘HS2 has made fantastic progress with its online jobs board’ crucial role in ensuring we have the workforce in place we need to deliver HS2.

“With 20,000 jobs already supported and around 14,000 more roles expected, it will continue to play a vital role in the months and years ahead as we extend Britain’s new railway to the North.”

HS2 job brokerage model has the

Tunnel vision: Apprentices inspect the HS2 tunnel at Long Itchington in Warwickshire.

backing of the Department for Work and Pensions and a Memorandum of Understanding, which sets out the agreed roles and responsibilities of HS2 Ltd and its job brokerage par tners, is in place between the two organisations.

Tony Hyland, senior national account manager at the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We know that construction is one of the most important growth sectors within the UK and recognise the value of the range of jobs that HS2 offers. HS2 has made fantastic progress with its online jobs board, which is supporting DWP customers to access a broad range of jobs and opportunities.

We look forward to our continued work with HS2 and its job brokerage partners.”

HS2’s Skills, Employment and Education team is working with the supply chain to enhance the online jobs board so that tier two contractors can also upload their latest job vacancies.

There are currently over 250 live vacancies on the jobs board.

For support applying for jobs with HS2 and its construction partners, job seekers are encouraged to speak to their work coach at the Department for Work and Pensions or visiths2.org.uk/supply-chain-jobs for details of all the latest vacancies.

Designs released for village’s ‘green tunnel’ HS2 has revealed new designs for the green tunnel at Burton Green and Kenilworth Greenway in Warwickshire, with enhanced environmental features including extensive tree planting, new footpaths and better connections to local woods.

Since receiving community feedback, HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI has been working with the local authorities to develop the detailed design of the HS2 route through Burton Green.

The railway will travel through the area in a 400-metre green tunnel, providing an opportunity to create an extensive new landscape over and around the tunnel. New designs, now being shared with the local community, show how the roof of the tunnel will integrate seamlessly with the existing landscape.

In addition, a key feature for this area is the realignment of the Kenilworth Greenway, which provides a link from Burton Green to Kenilworth and Berkswell for walkers, cyclists and horseriders. Large-scale planting of native trees and shrubs will provide biodiverse habitats for 28 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

Undergound/overground: The HS2 tunnel plan at Burton Green in Warwickshire.

wildlife, shield the Greenway visibly from the new railway, and re-establish vegetated connections to woods.

To construct the green tunnel, a cutting is created along the line of the existing Kenilworth Greenway, with a tunnel ‘box’ including a roof constructed within it. The cutting is then back filled with soils as the basis for recreating the landscape

and ecological mitigation concealing the tunnel and establishing the landscape legacy for Burton Green. The portal building, which provides emergency access to the tunnel, will have a green roof to increase biodiversity and integrate it with the surrounding landscape and planting.

The railway extends north of the green tunnel in a retained cutting, which reduces the amount of land needed and allows existing vegetation to be protected, preserved and enhanced.

While the railway is being built, HS2 has created a temporary route for the Kenilworth Greenway that is safe for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

People can sign up for community engagement opportunities here: • Face-to-face event on 8 March: burton-greentunnel-design-event-1.eventbrite.co.uk • Face-to-face event on 10 March: burton-greentunnel-design-event-2.eventbrite.co.uk • Online webinar on 15 March: www.hs2.org.uk/events/burton-green-tunneldesign-webinar

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Business News

New Steinway for Symphony Hall A Steinway Model D concert grand piano for orchestras, concert pianists and performing artists to play has been unveiled at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

B:Music, the music charity responsible for Birmingham Symphony Hall and Town Hall, has acquired the grand piano “thanks to the vision of generous trusts and foundations”.

Birmingham-based musician and graduate of the University of Birmingham and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, David Austin Grey accompanied B:Music’s chief executive Nick Reed to London’s Steinway Hall to select the new instrument, which has been described as an artistic and musical treasure.

Steinway & Sons handcraft instruments, considered to be the finest pianos available in the world today, in factories in New York and Hamburg.

The new Model D concert grand piano, which is nine’ long, with a high gloss ebony finish and weighing 480kg, was acquired from the Steinway piano selection room in London. Located in Marylebone, it was opened in 1875 and became the first Steinway Hall in Europe.

Steinway gem: David Austin Grey

With the addition of this new instrument, B:Music now has five Steinway pianos across its two venues, Town Hall and Symphony Hall, allowing the charity to permanently locate a Model D concert grand piano in the new Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space. This new space in

the foyer area of Symphony Hall hosts many performances by ensembles, guest artists and community arts organisations.

Nick Reed said: “This purchase also comes as a result of the recent expansion of performance space at Symphony Hall and of B:Music’s

ambition to make the finest instruments available to all.

“By adding a new piano of the highest quality to our stock, we hope to both inspire musicians at the beginning of their careers and to satisfy those world-class performers who regularly visit our halls.”

Over the past few months, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands has been in the grips of a varied winter.

Often it has felt like a spring morning with record temperatures, whilst the following days and weeks have seen heavy frost, dipping temperatures and in many parts of the region, snow and ice.

courses safe and accessible, and a multitude of retail parks who have experienced really heavy visitor numbers despite the Covid pandemic.

We also can’t forget the hundreds of private property owners we’ve been called in to help too.

Despite the inconsistent weather, the team at gritting and snow clearance experts AA Salt, continued to work hard – with early morning and late evening shifts to keep customers operating.

“Overall, we are still at risk of some very cold weather hitting the West Midlands before Spring officially arrives, so my message to all businesses is to k eep a close eye on forecasts to keep both customers and employees safe. And if you need advice or expert support, then we are on hand to help.”

Ben Tanner, Sales and Operations Director at the Worcestershire-headquartered firm said: “I would definitely say that this year’s winter months have been difficult to describe when it comes to the weather we’ve seen.

“However, we have experienced periods of extremely cold and very icy conditions which also includes freezing rain. That has meant we’ve had to be at the top of our game to stay alert and our forecasting technology, which I talked about here in Chamberlink last year, has been vital.

Known for its green credentials, in February 2022 AA Salt became a fully carbon neutral company.

It already uses less-toxic white marine salt and are also monitoring the use of Hydrogen fuel cells vehicle technology. The company’s operational headquarters also benefits from solar panel technology and rainwater harvesting plant for vehicle washing.

“Using that technology, and our fleet of gritting and snow ploughing vehicles, we’ve got many examples from over the past few months where we’ve kept NHS surgery car parks open, the surrounding areas of sports stadiums and golf

With education in mind, the company has also partnered with schools through a tree-planting initiative as well as introducing a ‘code of conduct’ for its suppliers who must prove their own eco-credentials.

Readers can visit AA Salt’s website through: www.aasalt.co.uk or for a further discussion on winter planning, call Ben on: 07964 207461 March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 29

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Business News

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Business News

How shall we weather the inflation storm?

Cost of Bexit: Alex de Ruyter

‘Labour should call to rejoin EU’ The Labour Party should “end its ambiguity over Brexit” a leading political economist has said, following the Public Accounts Committee’s damning verdict on the Government’s handling of Brexit.

Professor Alex de Ruyter, director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University, has suggested the report findings should drive the Labour Party to stand up and call for the UK to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union.

Mr De Ruyter said: “For Labour to state ‘Make Brexit Work’ is disingenuous – you cannot “make” Brexit work and Labour know this.

“It has already cost the UK economy billions (£66bn estimated between 2016 and 2019) and continues to cost businesses and consumers every day, with every border check and every customs consignment that is filed.

“Little wonder the Government has delayed the introduction of import checks on inward goods from the EU. Should these be imposed on the 30 per cent of our food (50 per cent of fresh produce) that we import from the EU then consumers really will notice shortages on the supermarket shelves as produce is held up at Calais and Dover.

“Covid has given the UK Government ample political cover while demand and cross-border movements have been subdued but now that the pandemic is abating we can expect more people to travel and the flow of goods to increase, which will only add to further congestion at our ports and further hold-ups.”

Mr de Ruyter said Labour must present “real options for change”, with the Government pressing ahead with its stance on Brexit.

The Chancellor must use this month’s Spring Statement to help weather the cost of living storm after UK inflation hit a 30year high, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) said.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that UK inflation reached 5.5 per cent in January – the highest reading since March 1992.

The largest upward contributions to inflation were energy and transport costs.

The new statistics follow the announcement that wages are failing to keep up with inflation, as average basic pay rose by 3.7 per cent per year in the three months to December 2021.

Erin Henwood, policy advisor at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “With living standards falling at their fastest pace since 2014 and pay growth now dropping behind inflation, businesses and individuals alike

All eyes on the Chancellor: Erin Henwood

are facing a troubling cost-ofliving crisis.

“Rising prices of supplies, wages, energy bills, and taxes pose a major risk to England’s post-pandemic recovery as many businesses continue to battle a challenging economic environment.

“Despite the worst squeeze on disposable household incomes for

at least 30 years, the Government has so far been relatively quiet on how it plans to help the country weather this storm.

“Other than the recently announced loan for energy bills, there have been no announcements regarding possible plans to scrap the incoming National Insurance Levy or to extend the VAT reduction for hospitality businesses, and nothing to help businesses with spiralling overheads.

“Four members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted earlier this month for a higher increase in interest rates than 0.5 per cent, making it somewhat inevitable that a further hike is on the horizon.

“Any action on monetary policy must be followed by policy intervention, and thus all eyes will be on the Chancellor during his Spring Statement at the end of the month.”

Concerns remain over tax rises Concerns remain over proposed tax rises and rampant inflation caused by supply chain disruption, even though the UK economy rebounded in 2021 as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.5 per cent following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the growth was ahead of forecast and occurred despite a contraction in December due to Omicron restrictions.

The strong recovery came after a 9.4 per cent collapse in 2020 as the pandemic spread and lockdown rules were imposed.

The economy had been recovering strongly at the end of last year, but Omicron restrictions saw a 0.2 per cent contraction in December.

Services output was down 0.5 per cent in December 2021, while production rose 0.3 per cent and construction increased by 2.0 per cent.

Services and construction were both above precoronavirus levels, by 0.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively, while production remained 2.6 per cent below.

Output in consumer-facing services fell by 3.0 per cent in December, mainly driven by a 3.7 per cent fall in retail trade, while all other services rose by 0.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, total underlying goods imports grew £0.6bn (1.4 per cent) in December, due to a £0.6bn (2.5 per cent) rise in imports from non-EU countries.

Total underlying goods exports grew £1.1bn (3.9 per cent) driven by a £1.0 bn (7.4 per cent) increase in exports to EU countries.

Raj Kandola, head of policy at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The annual GDP results for last year paint a healthy picture overall as

the UK grew at it fastest rate since the second world war.

“Lifting national restrictions led to a notable uplift in economic output throughout last year, however, this needs to be put into context given the huge drop in activity we saw when the pandemic first emerged in 2020.

“It was also no surprise to see GDP falling in December as the spread of the Omicron variant hampered consumer confidence across the retail and hospitality sectors.

“Nevertheless, concerns remain on the horizon with proposed tax rises and rampant inflation caused by supply chain disruption, labour market shortages and soaring energy prices all likely to have a material impact on disposable incomes as we approach Easter.

“In light of this, we would urge the Government to act now and reduce the crippling cost pressures firms are currently facing.”

Concerns remain: Raj Kandola

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Business News Connected: NEC at the forefront of innovation

Firms look to 5G benefits UK enterprises are looking to 5G to help alleviate immediate business pressures brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and related global events, according to the third edition of the EY Reimagining industry futures study.

EY’s findings indicate a defensive approach toward 5G, with enterprises seeking to bolster business resilience, meet corporate priorities and respond to stakeholder demands.

Advanced 5G use cases featuring virtual or augmented reality are cited by just 22 per cent of UK respondents as a key application, compared to 49 per cent who favour process optimisation.

Eighty per cent of respondents say the impact of the global health crisis is driving their interest in 5G. Seventy-nine per cent say supply chain disruption has galvanised their 5G pursuit, while 68 per cent cite the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

However, 40 per cent are concerned that 5G and internet of things (IoT) vendors’ current use cases do not meet their business resilience and continuity needs, and 51 per cent do not think their sustainability goals are addressed by today’s use cases.

NEC first venue to adopt AI technology The NEC has announced the completion of a £7m technology infrastructure investment across the venue.

The Birmingham-based NEC is the first venue in the UK to adopt WaitTime, an artificial intelligence solution that provides real-time measurement of venue capacity and crowd density.

By developing this new relationship with WaitTime, the venue, which attracts 2.3 million visitors annually, has further enhanced its data capabilities.

Capacity counting is safe and sharper, compliant venue operations are maintained and the software provides robust crowd data and business intelligence information. With a majority of ‘Venue Protect’ Covid safety measures still in place, WaitTime's patented technology also alerts the NEC to capacity issues across the site. The data can then be used to trigger operational responses and inform the teams on realtime capacity levels.

Zachary Klima, CEO of WaitTime, said: “It's no surprise that as the UK's largest exhibition venue, the NEC, is on the forefront of innovation and adoption of technologies like WaitTime.

“Using artificial intelligence to manage crowds and capacity levels is going to help them increase operational efficiencies and, ultimately, create better

guest and vendor experiences - that's what WaitTime is all about.”

Another integral aspect of the investment is the venue’s Wi-Fi upgrade, utilising technology developed by the globally renowned, Cisco.

This Wi-Fi upgrade has installed 1800 state-of-theart Wi-Fi access points eliminating all black spots in all public spaces.

In addition to replacing the Wi-Fi, all wired, corporate and event networks have also been replaced giving greater capacity and bandwidth which supports organisers and exhibitors, increasing connectivity at events and broadening access to more digital content.

Ian Solomon, director of operations at Hyve Group, said: “During 2021’s Autumn Fair, it was clear from an organisers perspective that improvements were being made to the NEC’s Wi-Fi infrastructure. It gave us the confidence to direct visitors to download and use our show app using the venue’s free Wi-Fi. As a result, we generated a significant increase in visitor engagement.”

Ian Taylor, managing director for NEC Group Conventions and Exhibitions, said: “Our new Wi-Fi solution teamed with WaitTime’s crowd and business intelligence is revolutionary. The NEC Group is a dataled business and it is investments like this that help to keep us at the cutting edge of live event innovation.”

BT in search for young talent BT are to recruit nearly 41 graduates and 28 apprentices in Birmingham for its September 2022 intake.

The announcement is part of the company’s plans to recruit more than 600 graduates and apprentices across the UK this year.

BT will recruit talent in areas such as engineering, customer service, applied research and cyber-security to support the UK’s fast-growing digital sectors.

The new recruits will also support the company’s plans to build and extend its 5G network around the UK. The new roles are spread across a number of other locations including Belfast, Bristol, Dundee, Glasgow, Ipswich, London and Manchester.

Many of these state-of-the-art offices form part of BT’s Better Workplace Programme - the largest workplace improvement 32 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The programme, which will complete in 2024, has already opened future fit, high-tech workspaces in locations including Three Snowhill in Birmingham.

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “These are great work and training opportunities for people in the Birmingham area, and I welcome this commitment by BT. “Apprenticeships and graduate roles are vitally important to our local economy and help to deliver the skills individuals and businesses alike need to thrive.

“Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe and these opportunities further strengthen the city and region’s ability to retain, attract and develop talent – something that is more important than ever at this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Karamjit Kaur, a BT business graduate in cyber security at Three Snowhill, said: “I think that working at BT as a graduate has enabled me to develop and build new skills through practical work alongside the opportunity to gain qualifications “I have also had the opportunity to experience a few different roles as a graduate which has enabled me get a better picture of what kind of role I would like to do as a career.”

In 2020, BT was ranked fourth in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in the UK and recently launched its Manifesto for responsible, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

To build a bigger, more diverse talent pool, the company wants its workforce to have a 50 per cent gender split, with 25 per cent from an ethnic minority group, and 17 per cent with a disability by 2030.

BT’s Birmingham Home: Three Snowhill

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Business News

Botanical Gardens welcomes operations director Birmingham Botanical Gardens has appointed an operations director as it plans developments to conserve and preserve the heritage site for future generations.

Arts and events specialist Rebecca Steen arrives from Birmingham Town Hall Symphony Hall, where she was box office manager for seven years.

In the newly-created role, Rebecca will bring the operational departments together to help them achieve the strategic aims and objectives of the Grade II listed gardens in Edgbaston, which is an independent charity that relies solely on revenue from visitors, members and charitable donations.

Chief executive James Wheeler said: “The gardens first opened to the public in 1832 and since then it has been dedicated to conservation and preservation. Bec’s pivotal role will ensure we are working as strategically as possible and to help us realise our exciting plans for the future.”

Rebecca said: “I am excited at the vast opportunities there are here at

the Gardens and hope my skills will bring a new perspective to the Gardens, which is one of the country’s most important botanical gardens.

“It’s not just an inspiring and beautiful place to work; it is an important heritage site that is loved by its staff, volunteers, trustees and visitors and which deserves its place as a leading destination in the city.

“As someone with a passion for the customer experience, I’m looking forward to getting started and working with everyone to put Birmingham Botanical Gardens on the map.”

Her appointment was just weeks after the gardens welcomed eight new trustees, who will help to lead the organisation.

The gardens, which is home to four Victorian glasshouses, receives no regular public funding. Instead, it relies on the generosity of public donations, grants and income it can generate through conferences, weddings and other events.

Passion: Rebecca Steen

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Business News

Climate change talks needed

By Sophia Corness-Parr Collaboration across the regions is vital to achieve climate change, a former government minister told a conference in Birmingham.

At a Climate Change Committee (CCC) roundtable conference, business leaders and regional partners met to discuss net-zero strategy in the West Midlands.

The CCC’s visit to Birmingham marked the start of a new “national conversation” initiative they are embarking on to hear and reflect on the views from authorities, organisations and individuals involved in delivering Net Zero throughout the UK. The conference, hosted by Birmingham City Council, provided the platform for key partners to speak alongside the CCC in order to voice the climate opportunities and challenges of the region.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) facilitated round table discussions on the practical support Birmingham businesses need to decarbonise their operations and capture opportunities arising from a greener economy.

Presentations included Birmingham’s ‘route to zero’, delivered by Birmingham City Council, which discussed net zero initiatives on housing, transport and waste. Another, from West Midlands Combined Authority, spoke on delivering green skills and jobs.

It highlighted the need to support workers as 41 per cent of the West Midlands workforce are employed in high carbon-omitting industries.

A reoccurring theme at the conference was the need for collaboration

Feedback: Lord Deben (left) with the Chamber’s Will Hargreaves

across the region.

CCC chair and key speaker Lord Deben (John Gummer, former Conservative MP and Secretary of State for the Environment between 1993 and1997), said: “The climate crisis is a matter of urgency; we only have nine years to reach 68 per cent reduction of emissions.

“In the end, we’re not going to deliver this at the centre, we’re going to deliver this through local authorities, communities and businesses.”

Will Hargreaves, policy adviser on environmental sustainability at GBCC, put forward member-feedback on their sustainability efforts. Of the challenges faced by businesses in moving to net zero, he said: “The top three highest barriers were lack of time (35 per cent), lack of grant funding (25 per cent) and uncertainty surrounding options available to businesses (23 percent).

“Interestingly, we found that where businesses haven’t taken any environmental measures, knowledge, information and skills related barriers were higher.

“Whereas, businesses implementing measures for a longer period of time, barriers were financial, or cost related.”

Walking the way to better health More patients across the West Midlands could be given cycling and walking on prescription after a successful pilot showed improvements in participants’ physical and mental health.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been handed £98,000 by the Department for Transport to develop a plan to deliver a threeyear social prescribing pilot across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Social prescribing is designed to tackle health inequality by offering patients with certain health conditions living in disadvantaged communities free-to-access cycling and walking activities, such as walking groups, free bikes and cycle training. A successful initial pilot of the scheme was delivered in Birmingham and the Black Country throughout summer 2021 and saw 79 GPs help over 560 patients through targeted engagement and support designed to meet their individual needs.

The latest funding marks the next step to deliver exercise on prescription across the entire West Midlands.

The inspiration behind the West Midlands’ bid to take part in the government pilot is people like Art Gilchrist, 53, from Bordesley Green.

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Art was put in contact with local link worker Leila Yafai from The Active Wellbeing Society by his GP following an injury suffered before the pandemic.

As part of a West Midlands Active Travel Fund project, Art joined a local walking group to help him get active and meet others; his confidence, social skills and mental and physical health improved greatly so he decided to become a volunteer himself to support others.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “Last year I witnessed first-hand how this programme can benefit our communities and change lives, and I am keen we now look to roll it out across the region.”

Adam Tranter, West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said: “I’m pleased the region has this opportunity to show that the West Midlands can lead the way in innovative programmes to improve our mental and physical health.”

A guided walk in Bordesley Green last summer with Art Gilchrist, Andy Street and Leila Yafai

Rebrand leads growth efforts Full-service marketing agency Digital Glue has announced ambitious growth plans – with the aim to double its team by 2024.

And, as a key part of the company’s expansion strategy, it has launched a rebrand and new website. Digital Glue says the rebrand reflects its mission to raise the game for venture capital-invested companies and growth businesses in the Midlands.

Javan Bramhall, managing director of Digital Glue, said: “Digital Glue works with disruptive, progressive, and driven businesses to amplify their results and we wanted our brand to reflect that.

“Our rebrand and new positioning puts in solid foundations for the company to achieve our ambitious growth plans and support the growth of these businesses with marketing plans that accelerate them to the next level.

“Birmingham and the wider Midlands region has become a focus for investment and entrepreneurship and our growth plans reflect our commitment to that and the businesses we help.”

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Business News ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Recruiting healthcare professionals from overseas - introduction to the process of sponsorship Article by Danica Luces (pictured) s of August 2021, vacancies in the care sector have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic have made it extremely difficult for organisations to retain their nurses and care staff on a long-term basis. It caused a knock-on effect, reducing the number of available beds in NHS hospitals because of the increased number of hospital patients unable to be discharged to care homes due to the lack of care workers.

To relieve the shortage of nurses and care workers in the UK, health and care organisations have the option to apply for a Worker sponsor licence to fill their vacancies with overseas staff under the Health and Care Worker route. To be eligible to apply, the employer must be an approved and registered UK health and care sector organisation providing adult social care.

The salary requirement for sponsored nurses and care workers, with the minimum being the higher of £25,600 per year.

A

The application process The application process for a Worker sponsor licence does not allow room for error. The nonrefundable Home Office application fee is £536 for small organisations and £1,476 for mediumto- large businesses. A flawed or incomplete sponsor licence application may still be approved. Still, it could result in the licence with a B-rating instead of an A-rating, which prevents an organisation from applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship for overseas workers.

Eligibility To be eligible, as an employer, one cannot have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering, or had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review the company

Caring for a patient in the UK

An overseas professional in the UK

application form and supporting documents.

They may visit the business to ensure it is trustworthy and capable of carrying out its duties.

The Skilled Worker route includes the health and care visa, which applies to qualified doctors, nurses and allied professionals working in either health or social care.

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) cap has been suspended, which means there will be no limit to the number of eligible skilled workers wishing to come to the UK unless this is reinstated.

Fast tracking Applications are fast-tracked by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), and the aim is to process them within three weeks, providing biometric

information has been made available. The CoS may be granted within one working day. Once the CoS is awarded, it must be assigned to an individual within three months, or it will expire, and the process would need to be completed again.

As an employer, the organisation must assign a certificate of Sponsorship to each foreign worker its employs. It is an electronic record (SMS system) and not a physical document.

Each certificate has a number, which a recruit may use to apply for a visa. When a company assigns the certificate to a worker, they must apply for their visa within three months.

Necessary training All overseas healthcare workers must go through the necessary training. For example, nurses must successfully take exams in CBT, OSCE and OET within eight months after arrival. The requirement is in accordance with the NMC regulation, allowing them to obtain their PIN as registered nurses in the UK. Organisations such as QAQF specialise in such training and help organisations speed up the process to under three months.

Danica Luches is the Nova Horizon Group Ltd. compliance officer. During the last few years, Nova Horizon supported UK companies finding, moving, and deploying hundreds of professionals from Africa and Asia. It offers help in the Sponsorship license application, candidate selection, legal support and training for overseas recruits.

Consider recruiting from abroad?

Contact Danica Luches at info@novahorizongroup.com March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 35

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Chamberlink

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Chamberlink

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Chamber Patrons

Chamber Patrons Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters

Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 274 3266

Work starts on Parkview clinic

Cutting crime: Dr Mohammed Rahman

Academic tackles organised crime A criminologist from Birmingham City University has been appointed to an expert network aimed at cutting organised crime across the globe.

Dr Mohammed Rahman, senior lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University, has been named as a member of The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, which aims to help tackle groups and networks of criminal activity.

The initiative is an independent non-governmental organisation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, and brings together an array of experts from around the world to draw up plans, advice and ideas to help tackle illicit activity and crime.

Dr Rahman will use the position to advocate for global collaboration and share his expertise in the actions, motivations and tactics of organised criminal groups.

He said: “Nearly all of my academic work on serious and organised crime has been carried out at Birmingham City University.

“It's humbling to know that my work is now being recognised by peers, as well as the biggest international non-governmental organisation for curbing serious and organised crime.

“I am looking forward to working with other expert members as well as bringing some aspects of the Global Initiative to the University and its students.”

The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime was developed following a series of high-level, off the record discussions between mainly lawenforcement officials from both developed and developing countries. It was launched in 2013.

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Breaking ground: Sarah-Jane Marsh (left) and Zaynab Sohawon (right) are joined by staff to mark the beginning of the works

Patients and colleagues at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) came together to mark the start of work on a £4.6m expansion of the Parkview Mental Health Clinic.

Sarah-Jane Marsh, the trust’s chief executive, and BWC Expert by Experience, Zaynab Sohawon, jointly cut the sod, the ceremonial first piece of ground, in the space that will be soon become new wards for young patients from across the Midlands.

The works will renovate the Heathland (general adolescence) and Ashfield (acute adolescent) under18s units, allowing them to offer a better experience by removing dormitory-style bedrooms and providing every young person with a single en-suite room and brighter and more accessible lounge.

The project was set into motion after Zaynab, chairperson for Think4Brum, a participation group within the trust's mental health services, initially proposed the idea to Sarah-Jane following her experiences as an inpatient at Parkview.

She said: “I was in hospital for four years in

inpatient units and came to Parkview for my last inpatient stay.

“I started doing activism and volunteering work for Think4Brum, which is the youth mental health advisory group for Forward Thinking Birmingham. I spoke to Sarah-Jane Marsh and talked about how maybe Parkview wasn't fit for purpose.

“Often inpatients is quite a scary place,” she added. “It might be physically safe, but it might not be emotionally safe.”

Zaynab was delighted to later find out that the trust had secured a £4.6m investment from NHS England for the improvement works, which began in December 2021.

Sarah-Jane said: "Mental health services are one of the most important parts of the what the NHS does and one of our most important services at BWC. "Young people have been instrumental in this coming to life from the outset. They know better than we ever could about what's needed. It will be a unit for young people designed by young people."

Investment in new midwives A multi-million-pound investment in Birmingham Women’s Hospital has helped boost recruitment and improve care for women across the region.

The funding has allowed the hospital to recruit 17 new midwifery and three new consultant roles following an investment of more than £2m to support maternal services.

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, made £1.2m available with an additional £1.04m national funding following the Ockendon Review, which will lead to further recruitment in the new year.

Rachel Carter, director of Midwifery and deputy chief nurse, said: “The investment has allowed us to take on more midwives and consultants and invest in those already working in our teams, so that services can run more seamlessly and we can provide protected time for learning across our teams.

“Further increasing our staffing numbers over the next few months will be another step towards helping us to reduce the pressure on our colleagues, and make services more efficient. This will help us to offer a higher quality of care for women, babies and families across the communities we serve.”

One of those midwives is Autumn White, a new qualified midwife who joined the trust in October last year.

She said: “I’ve found it a really positive experience, I’ve learned so much about the more complex sides to midwifery – I’ve been really well supported by staff and you do see the busyness of maternity as a whole but you’re well supported as a new midwife.”

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Chamber Patrons

Dr Nik honoured by university award The chairman of Morningside Pharmaceuticals has won a top university accolade that celebrates the long-term achievements of outstanding alumni.

Dr Nik Kotecha, who also chair Randal Charitable Foundation, has won the Distinguished Alumni Award at Imperial College London’s Alumni Awards 2022.

The annual awards honour outstanding alumni who have demonstrated sustained excellence in their personal and professional achievements, are leaders in their field or have made a substantial impact on society.

Dr Kotecha founded Loughboroughbased Morningside, which manufactures and supplies generic and branded medicines to the UK and globally.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be honoured by the university in this way.

“As a child growing up in Leicester my family had very little, but I was fortunate to be given opportunities to gain a good education.

“After finishing my degree in Newcastle; Professor Steve Ley FRS at Imperial College took a chance in accepting me into his eminent group and this really was the opportunity I needed to forge a career.

“Over three decades later, it’s truly humbling to be recognised for my entrepreneurial journey, which was only made possible by the help and support I received to gain a good education along the way.”

Dr Kotecha studied a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Steve Ley at Imperial College, before moving to work at the University of Cambridge.

After leaving academia Dr Kotecha founded Morningside in 1991.

The business has exported to more than 120 countries since inception and has 240 generic and branded licensed medicines in the UK and EU. Alumni accolade: Dr Nik Kotecha

Tech expansion: Sarah with SF’s managing director Mike Lattimer

New hire as recruiter focuses on tech sector SF Recruitment has continued its business growth with the appointment of technology director Sarah Harvey.

Sarah, who is the owner and director of Artemis Resourcing, joins the recruitment firm to lead the specialist technology division.

She brings more than 20 years of technology recruitment experience and specialist industry knowledge to SF’s growing technology division.

With the West Midlands being named as the UK’s fastest growing technology sector, the SF Recruitment leadership team has announced its intention to make growth into the sector a priority.

According to the West Midlands Growth Company, tech growth in the Midlands region grew by an average of 7.6 per cent a year between 2014 and 2019 and is expected to generate at least £2.7bn and a further 55 per cent increase in roles in the local economy by 2025.

Sarah said: “I was looking for a business that reflected my own approach to work and really liked the entrepreneurial operating model at SF and the ethical approach the business takes in working with candidates and clients.

“Because of this, I felt it would be a great place to build a team and successful new business division.”

An expanded team will now cover roles across multiple areas including transformation and change, technology leadership, software development, infrastructure and support, cyber security, BI and data analytics.

CEO Saira Demmer said: “Sarah’s appointment is an important step for us as we build out our technology division.”

DocBike receives boost from Wesleyan Wesleyan has agreed a threeyear partnership with motorbike medical charity DocBike – and will donate £15,000.

The partnership was formed after the specialist financial services mutual were inspired by the charity’s life-saving work and wanted to provide financial support with a grant from its foundation.

The DocBike charity is run by volunteers, who engage with motorcyclists to help raise awareness of how they can upskill their ride and to keep other injured motorcyclists alive until the emergency services arrive, by attending a free BikerDown course.

In addition, the charity’s highly trained trauma doctors and paramedics patrol the UK’s roads, providing roadside critical care to fallen motorcyclists when they need help the most.

DocBike receives no direct funding from the government and relies on the generosity of the public for support.

The grant received from the Wesleyan Foundation will help to fund DocBike’s operational costs for the next three years, while

Life-saving work: Dr Ian Mew

enabling more of the charity’s income to be directed towards helping bikers and preventing motorcycle collisions.

Dr Ian Mew, co-founder and trustee of DocBike said: “As a very happy customer of Wesleyan for over 20 years, I’ve been delighted with their proactive stance in finding ways to help our charity. I’m absolutely bowled over by the support from their Foundation, which will make a huge difference to the DocBike charity.”

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1813 Club and Premier Members

1813 Club and Premier Members Greater Birmingham’s leading companies

Premier Membership Contact: Gary Birch T: 0845 6036650

Region a ‘hotspot’ for mid-market private deals Despite the chaos caused by the coronavirus crisis, a new survey by top business advisor KPMG has revealed that mid-market private equity investment in the Midlands continued to flourish last year.

The latest findings show that there was an upturn in both deal volume and value when compared to 2020, with the Midlands proving to be one of the UK hotspots.

The Midlands saw an increase of 54 per cent in deal volumes during 2021, with a total of 86 deals completed in the region, up from 56 during the previous year.

The Midlands overtook the North West to become the second largest region by deal value, at £5.3bn, up from £3.5bn in 2020.

London predictably accounted

Accountants aid acquisition Midlands accountant PKF has helped an Italian hydraulics component manufacturer to buy its UK-based sales and distribution arm, Commercial Vehicle Hydraulics Limited.

The latter, based in Alfreton, has been bought by OMFB Spa, a firm with global revenues of more than £75m and interests in Europe, Australia, China and India.

CVH managing director Carl Hinds said: “The acquisition by OMFB will allow CVH to increase its product and service offering in the UK for the benefit of its current and future customers.”

The deal was brokered in Italy by PKF Smith Cooper senior partner David Nelson, who led negotiations on behalf of the shareholders of CVH.

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for most deals, which were worth £21.9bn, up 45 per cent on 2020.

However, in terms of the proportion of deals completed by region, the Midlands reported the best result outside of London.

‘The durability of the Midlands dealmaking community stands the region in good stead’ The Midlands accounted for just over one in ten (10.7 per cent) of all deals taking place in the regions, an increase from 9.8 per cent in 2020.

The number of private equity exits completed in the Midlands also increased from 17 deals in

2020 to 25 deals in 2021, further surpassing 2019 levels of activity and ranking the region second only to London.

Khush Purewal, partner and head of deals for KPMG in the Midlands, said: “Mid-market private equity deal activity rebounded spectacularly in the Midlands during 2021, as confidence to complete transactions returned and pent-up demand was released.

“Not only did deal volumes in the region accelerate by 54 per cent last year when compared to 2020, a further uplift on the 23 per cent growth achieved in 2019, but the Midlands also demonstrated extraordinary growth in the value of deals, ranking second only to London and overtaking the North

Khush Purewal: Pockets of growth

West.

“The durability of the Midlands dealmaking community stands the region in good stead to build further on this momentum throughout 2022 and beyond.”

Will takes on new role at PwC Professional services firm PwC has appointed Will Stevns as its consulting leader in the Midlands.

He has taken over from Nick Atkin, who now heads the firm’s industrial manufacturing, automotive and services practice.

Mr Stevns brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having led on large scale transformation projects working with clients across the UK and globally, spanning a wide range of industries, and in particular in financial services.

His appointment coincides with the acquisition of Olivehorse, an expert in supply chain management, which bring a further 60 members of staff to One Chamberlain Square.

Demand for supply chain expertise has increased rapidly throughout the pandemic, and is expected to remain strong.

Matthew Hammond, PwC’s Midlands region leader, said: “Will’s appointment reflects our Midlands

commitment and sector focus on technology enabled transformation, particularly in financial services.

“The pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities

Where there’s a will: New PwC consulting leader Will Stevns

and we need leaders to negotiate the uncertain landscape and capitalise on new opportunities.

“Will’s experience of managing digital change, transformation and integration programmes will help grow our consulting business further.

“Demand for this expertise has increased rapidly during the pandemic and will continue to be a key area of need for our clients going forward.”

Will Stevns said: “I’m excited to be appointed to the role of consulting partner at PwC for the Midlands, and delighted that Olivehorse are joining the firm.

“By combining our capabilities, people, networks and credentials, we are reflecting, in very real terms, our ambition to invest and grow quickly in this market.

“The challenges facing the UK and global economies require innovative and technology enabled solutions, combined with deep industry insight.”

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1813 Club and Premier Members Linda Kitson’s ‘Red Alert from Argentinian LookOut at Goose Green’

Art from the Falklands frontline The National Memorial Arboretum is staging an exhibition featuring sketches from the Falklands War by Linda Kitson, at the time the first official female war artist.

Ms Kitson produced the drawings while serving alongside frontline troops engaged in freeing the South Atlantic islands from the invading Argintians.

She had set sail for the Falklands in May 1982 on board the Queen Elizabeth 2, on an 8,000 mile journey to the conflict zone.

Originally, she was meant to leave the ship at Ascension Island, but chose to carry on to the beleaguered islands.

Once there, she was able to produce around six drawings a day, adding up to hundreds by the end of her posting.

Her works used ink, pencil and conté crayon to capture scenes from the flight deck to the frontline, often sketched in harsh conditions and often under threat of danger.

She said: “I look back at these drawings from so long ago and can still feel the sub-zero temperatures.

“These drawings are exactly as they came from ‘the field’, which is a very different thing from a highly polished piece finalised in a studio.

Azets in search of apprentices A regional accountancy firm has set itself the ambitious target of taking on 1,000 apprentices during the year.

The firm is Azets, which has 14 offices in the Midlands, Shropshire, and Welsh Borders. The firm currently has 612 apprentices, but wants to take on another 350 before the end of the year.

The new student intake will be spread across Azets’ 85 UK offices, which the firm says is the largest UK network of local accounting and business advisory offices.

Paul Clifford, regional CEO at Azets, responsible for the firm’s central region, started his career as an apprentice at a small firm in the Midlands.

He said: “I left school at 18 not knowing what career path to take. I was fortunate to be given an apprenticeship which provided me with training, qualifications, and experience.

“Azets’ position in the accountancy market offers a unique insight to accountancy that no other firm can offer.

An apprenticeship at Azets could take talented young advisers into any industry.”

“Not only were my fingers frozen, but I only had anything from two to 20 minutes for each picture - we were continually on the move.”

“I am so pleased that 40 years after the Falklands conflict you are able to see my drawings once again.”

Chris Ansell, head of participation and learning at the Arboretum, said: “These incredible sketches provide a unique window into the experience of those who valiantly fought on the frontline and serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices they made. Linda’s drawings are an evocative example of visual remembrance and we are privileged to be able to share them with visitors.”

Once the British task force reached the Falklands, the conflict only last 74 days – but the fighting was intense, and resulted in more than 900 deaths.

On 14 June, the Arboretum will host a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War. Attended by thousands of invited veterans, civilians and bereaved families, the event will feature veteran testimonies from key moments in the conflict as well as the Act of Remembrance.

‘Falklands 40: Sketches from the Frontline’ by Linda Kitson is a free exhibition at the National Memorial Arboretum, open until 19 June 2022.

Cleaner options for heat sector In the third of a series of articles on sustainability by law firm Freeths - and what it means for Midlands corporates – clean energy projects lawyer and director Rhianna Wilsher (pictured) takes a look at what the heat sector has to do to move away from fossil fuels.

The UK has seen huge success in its transition away from using fossil fuels to generate electricity, but the heat sector has some ground to make up.

The vast majority homes and businesses have gas heating, which is a burden on the on the government’s attempts to achieve its 2050 carbon targets.

Sustainability ambitions and the recent gas price turbulence are pushing businesses towards alternative solutions. So, what are these?

There’s no one quick fix and the government has identified a number of low-carbon options, including: • Electrified sources, such as heat pumps, which draw heat from the air or ground and are already used on a commercial scale.

They are the favoured option for heat supplies to individual properties, although they operate at low temperatures and rely on a well-insulated and

energy-efficient building, so are not a solution for all properties • Heat networks with a centrallygenerated renewable source of heat which is piped around to multiple buildings connected to the system. These already make up two per cent of the UK’s heat supply, which government is looking to increase to 18 per cent by 2050 if it is going to meet its carbon reduction targets

The conflict between financing the decarbonisation of heat and reducing energy bills is stark, which the government is alive to, having recently delayed the £160-a-year green levy on gas bills until the energy price crisis comes to an end.

Keep an eye out for the government’s ‘Future Buildings Standard’ which, in the next few years, will regulate the carbon emissions of new commercial properties.

• Heat recovery, which harnesses heat as a by-product of industry or waste disposal, and distributes it locally via heat networks. Many cities have already made the most of such recovered heat from waste to energy facilities, but accessibility depends on proximity of the building to such facilities • Hydrogen, which could either be used to generate electricity for heating, or could be used as an alternative to methane in the gas grid. The concept is still in the development stage and it will take a number of years and a major upheaval of the gas main infrastructure before it is widely available.

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International Trade

International Trade

T: 0121 725 8994 E: ibh@birmingham-chamber.com

Get compliant with CE marks Exporters to Europe are being warned that they must remain fully compliant with the European Union’s well-known CE mark.

The CE mark is required for all new products which are subject to one or more of the European product safety directives, which covers many of the goods sold within the EU’s borders, ranging from fireworks to hot-water boilers.

For firms exporting such products, there is another post-Brexit issue to deal with, which is appointing an ‘authorised representative’, an individual or business that acts as a point of contact on behalf of a manufacturer.

As the UK is no longer part of Europe, the authorised representative (AR) cannot be based over here any more.

The transitional arrangement covering this subject ended last July, but some firms are running into trouble because it is now a

Chamber president at Women in Business talks Chamber president Deb Leary is joining a line up of top names, including a winning ‘Dragon’s Den’ entrepreneur, at a Birmingham conference celebrating women in business.

Chika Russel, founder and chief executive of Chika’s foods, won TV’s ‘Dragon’s Den' in 2015.

She will join Deb at the ‘Women in Business – Trading Across the Commonwealth’ conference, which aims to champion, celebrate, connect and empower women in the Commonwealth.

The Department of International Trade event takes place on 8 March at Austin Court.

Deb said: “I’m delighted to be a part of what promises to be an outstanding event focussed on highlighting the fantastic opportunities for businesswomen across the Commonwealth.

“Never has there been a better time for women business leaders to reach out into international markets.

“While challenges exist, these can be overcome through awareness and the right support. Break the challenges – take the opportunities.”

Female entrepreneurs and government officials will lead panel discussions covering the challenges and opportunities of international trade, providing tools and support to increase exports at the conference.

Other key speakers include Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, the first Asian woman to be appointed to a role at a Financial Times Stock Exchange listed business and Sally Gunnell, an Olympic athlete who won gold in 1992.

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requirement that all goods in the EU which need to carry a CE mark must also clearly state who the ‘authorised representative’ is on any external packaging. According to the Chamber, if this is not done, exporters risk their goods being delayed or returned to the original sender – or even destroyed.

‘I think it sends a loud and clear message that companies need to do this’ Andrew Hipgrave, specialist global logistics advisor at the Chamber, said: “The requirement from the EU also states that the authorised representative name and address should be on the external packaging, so it’s important that businesses are aware of this, as this too could add even more delays to EU bound goods.

“I think it sends a loud and clear message that companies need to do this, if they don’t their parcels would be deemed as not compliant and could be returned or destroyed.

“The AR will be responsible for holding and producing on request any technical information about goods being shipped, and if they choose a good company they will also notify the sellers of any changes in rules and regulations for their product. The issues could be compounded if a company has many SKUs , some have one product others have thousands.”

An SKU is stock keeping unit, a scannable bar code which identifies an individual product.

Not all products sold in the EU need the CE mark, but the list of those that do is extensive.

Also, the CE mark is being replaced in the UK by the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark, which could cause more confusion for businesses.

Trade expert joins the team New international trade advisor Timmy Lau has literally flown halfway round the world to join the Chamber.

Timmy, who speaks Chinese and Cantonese, as well as English, has arrived in Birmingham from Hong Kong, where he had held at number of roles in international trade, specialising in food and drink.

His most recent position in Hong Kong was a four-year spell working as business development manager at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).

Prior to that, he carried out a similar role for Scottish Development International (SDI), where he was assistant development executive for food and drink.

SDI is the trade and investment arm of the Scottish government, and Timmy spent almost three years promoting the country as an ideal location for foreign direct investment, and also developing Scotland’s food and drink export strategy in Hong Kong and Macao.

He also had a near seven-year spell working for the Department for International Trade in Hong Kong, helping to support and promote the UK's trade and investment interests in Hong Kong and Macao in a variety of different sectors.

He said: “It's my honour to be joining the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce as an international trade advisor.

“I believe I can utilise the knowledge and experience that I gained from my previous roles in Hong Kong and Asia, together with the services provided by the Chamber, to support our clients Asia trade expert: Timmy Lau to be successful with exporting.”

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International Trade Greater Birmingham

Commonwealth

Commonwealth Chamber Patrons

Chamber of Commerce

Greater Birmingham

Transatlantic Chamber Patrons

Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce

Contact: Mandy Haque T: 0121 725 8994

Health and safety for small firms One of the most important issues for businesses today is keeping up to date with regulations, particularly those which are mandatory, such as health and safety.

To help with this, the Chamber is running another of its health and safety for small businesses courses this month.

The course – on 15 March – is aimed at any business with 500 employees or less.

The Chamber has teamed up with health and safety experts European Health and Safety Consultants Ltd, who have been in business for 30 years and have delivered training courses all over Europe.

The latest course will cover a wide range of subjects, including health and safety, insurance, first aid, and control of hazardous substances.

These courses have been run on a regular basis, and recent attendees have provided some feedback on their experience.

Among them is Adaline Southall of Dudleybased Offspring International, an industrial equipment supplier.

Disquiet over Euro trade deal

Leah Quarmby: Keeping up to with health and safety is a ‘must’

She said: “I really enjoyed the course it was better for me with only a few people as it was easier to participate.”

Chamber international trade training manager Leah Quarmby said: “Adhering to health and safety legislation is a must for any business regardless of the industry.

“This course will provide you with enough information so you can be sure you are operating correctly, and if there are areas that need to be altered the course will give you guidance and advice on how to fix them.”

The cost for members is just £170 + VAT, nonmembers £220 + VAT. To book, contact training@birmingham-chamber.com

Brazilian honour for professor The Brazilian Government has honoured Professor Robin Mason, pro-vice-chancellor (International) at the University of Birmingham, with an award marking his outstanding contribution to championing academic cooperation between Brazil and the UK. Professor Mason received the Order of Rio Branco, Officer Class. The honour was instituted in 1963 and marks meritorious service and civic

Civic honour: Robin Mason

virtues. It was named after José Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior – the Baron of Rio Branco, who played a major role in consolidating Brazil’s borders.

Professor Mason said: “I am both honoured and humbled to receive the Order of Rio Branco, Officer Class - humbled because this award rests upon the tireless work and support of academic and professional colleagues at the University of Birmingham and beyond.

“Birmingham is a global university with a civic outlook. In recent years, Brazil has become one of the UK’s most important collaborators in education and research, and the university is committed to extending and deepening academic links between our two countries.”

Brazil is a strategic region of importance for the university, which – through its Birmingham Brazil Forum – has developed partnerships and relationships leading to collaborative research with leading Brazilian universities, institutions and private organisations.

Brazil’s ambassador to the UK, Fred Arruda, said: “Robin Mason has been a key figure in strengthening the co-operation in education and research between Brazil and the UK.”

New research from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that many businesses are unhappy with the UK’s trade deal with Europe.

The BCC’s research surveyed 1,154 businesses and only eight per cent of them thought that the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was ‘enabling their business to grow or increase sales’. A far larger number - 54 per cent - disagreed.

For UK exporters, the picture was even worse, with a mere 12 per cent saying that the TCA was helping them, with a massive 71 per cent disagreeing.

When asked to comment on the specific advantage (for those that agreed) or disadvantage (for those that disagreed) of the trade deal, 59 firms identified an advantage, while 320 cited a disadvantage.

The biggest complaints about the agreement was that it led to rising costs for companies and their clients and more red tape – and it had also put EU customers off from considering UK goods and services, due to the perceived costs and complexities.

This follows BCC research in October 2021, which found that 60 per cent of exporters were facing difficulties adapting to the changes from the TCA on goods trade, while 17 per cent found the changes easy.

Chamber policy advisor Erin Henwood said: “At a time when they have already been hampered by the pandemic, it is understandable that businesses lacking capacity and resources are feeling both overwhelmed and confused by new complex trading requirements.

“Adhering to new rules when trading with the European Union will likely mean increased costs and more time spent completing paperwork, with smaller businesses most likely to feel the impact of these changes.

“Though Brexit has dominated the political landscape for the past five and a half years, the results of the British Chambers of Commerce’s research – and indeed the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 2021 Q4 Quarterly Business Report (QBR) – highlight that more must be done by government to help support businesses across the country, particularly given the extent to which they are continuing to report Brexit-related concerns.”

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International Trade

Nasir builds on trade ties with Pakistan Birmingham Chamber vice-president Dr Nasir Awan is embarking on a mission to his home country of Pakistan to further build trade ties between the city and the UK. He is also hoping to raise awareness of an issue that could be potentially damaging to Pakistan’s trade prospects with western Europe.

Dr Awan, who was born in Peshawar and retains strong links with Pakistan, wants to use the trip to Rawalpindi to help the Asian country in its efforts to retain its place on a list of countries which receive favourable trade terms from the European Union.

Pakistan is one of the countries on an EU list known as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which removes or reduces import duties on products from certain low-income countries. The largest recipient of this assistance is Pakistan, but its place on the GSP+ list is dependent on it implementing some 27 EU conventions on issues such as the environment and human rights.

However, this agreement expires at the end of next year, and Pakistan will have to reapply to keep its place on the list – but, according to various sources, including south Asian media outlet ANI and Arab News, the country may struggle to meet the EU’s terms, mainly because of its human rights record, particularly in respect of women and minority groups.

University boosts its artistic ties Ties between British and Indian musicians have been boosted with a visit by four classical music superstars to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, organised by BCU India and West Midlands India Partnership.

Tabla supremo Zakir Hussain, acclaimed singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan, leading flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, and legendary keyboardist and producer Louiz Banks met staff, st udents, diplomats, MPs and business leaders including the Indian Consul General of India Dr Shashank Vikram and Preet Kaur Gill MP at the world-renowned centre of music, based at Birmingham City University.

Shyam Naban, director of the West Midlands India Partnership, part of the team who organised the visit, said: “We’re delighted to support the development of cultural and artistic links between the West Mi dlands region and India.

“We will continue to connect our board members with esteemed organisations in India as a part of our strategy to enhance relations as we celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and ‘India at 75’ this year.”

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The EU ambassador to Pakistan, Androulla Kaminara, said last autumn: “Pakistan has to redouble efforts to qualify for GSP+ after 2023.

“To make the case to be eligible under the new GSP+ system, Pakistan, like any other potential beneficiary countries will have to demonstrate tangible progress to convince EU parliamentarians and member state governments.”

Since being put on the GSP+ list in 2014, Pakistan has increased its exports to Europe by 60 per cent, and are now worth more than £6bn.

Dr Awan said that it was important that Pakistan retained its place on the list, as it would also help UK efforts to develop trade links with the country. Pakistan is on a separate GSP list that was introduced by the UK when it left the EU after Brexit, and this will not be affected by any EU decisions on its own list.

During Dr Awan’s visit, there will be renewed meetings with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, in a bid to further develop business links with Birmingham.

Dr Awan said: “After a two-year postponement, I’m looking forward to meeting with delegates from the Rawalpindi Chamber to further strengthen our ties and bilateral trade connection.”

Dr Awan will be accompanied to Rawalpindi by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Muhammad Afzal, where they will meet various

Meeting: Nasir Awan

delegates from Pakistan, including the country’s foreign minister and the minister of trade and investment.

Dr Awan’s links with Pakistan include his own company’s trading links with south Asia. Awan Marketing is one of the largest wholesalers in the UK and exports to Europe and Africa, as well as Asia. Suppliers from Pakistan and other Asian countries also sell their products into western Europe via Awan Marketing.

Dr Awan is also a supporter of the Skpal Koor school in Sawat, Northern Pakistan.

Year of the tiger: Mayor Street (left) with James Wong

Air links ‘back on the list’ The future of direct air links between Birmingham and China will soon be ‘back on the list’ after Covid-19, West Midlands elected mayor Andy Street has pledged.

The issue was raised when Mayor Street was launching the colourful Chinese New Year celebrations in Centenary Square on Westside.

He had been speaking about the importance of trading links between the West Midlands and China when he was asked if there was any news about air links between Birmingham and China.

Mayor Street replied: “I was out in Shanghai just before the pandemic pressing the case and it was looking promising. At the moment, of course, ‘no’ is the short answer, but as we recover it will be back on the list.”

The New Year celebrations were organised

by James Wong, chair of Birmingham’s Chinese

Festival Committee and managing director of the city’s famous Chung Ying Restaurant.

At the launch, Mayor Street said: “The Year of the Tiger signifies strength, fearlessness and bravery, and if you think of what we’ve been through in the last two years it couldn’t be more timely.”

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We were honoured to host the launch of these Chinese New Year celebrations and – as always – were keen to press Mayor Street on future plans for the city at the same time.

“It was pleasing to hear that he’s still going to be championing Birmingham’s trading and travel relationships with China as soon as a global recovery from Covid-19 makes that possible.”

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ABCC Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 6036650

Historic award goes to children’s charity Birmingham’s Acorns Children’s Hospice has made history as the first hospice in Britain to win an award from children’s charity UNICEF, for its work to protect children’s rights.

The UK silver award recognises the charity’s commitment to ensuring the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child is at the heart of its culture, planning, policies and practice.

Emma Aspinall, director of Care at Acorns, said: “Children and families have always been at the centre of everything we do at Acorns, so we are both thrilled and incredibly proud to become the first hospice in the UK to receive recognition from such an esteemed organisation at this level.

“It is our aim is for all Acorns care teams and care volunteers to understand the Convention for the Rights of the Child, and that Acorns services and responses to our young people is synonymous with these rights.”

The UN’s convention’s covers all aspects of a child’s life and sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere are entitled to.

Acorns began its partnership with UNICEF UK in 2019 and became the first non-school organisation to join its Rights Respecting Award programme, receiving the bronze accolade in 2020.

‘Children and families have always been at the centre of everything we do’ Work to secure silver was temporarily placed on hold during Covid-19. However, the silver award has now been won, and in its review, UNICEF assessors said how ‘there is clear communication and a shared vision for children’s rights to underpin everything Acorns does’.

Ms Aspinall added: “This report recognises the hard work and incredible efforts of everyone at Acorns.

“We are excited to continue our ‘Rights Respecting’ journey and already have a clear roadmap in place to help us to continue to build on our high-quality services and excellent practice and strive for Gold.”

Members invited to celebrate Sikh New Year The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is inviting members to join its Vaisakhi festivities.

Vaisakhi is the Sikh New Year Festival, celebrates spring, goodwill and new beginnings.

Attracting more 250 attendees from a wide range of businesses across the region, the ABCC event will be an opportunity to make new contacts and meet potential suppliers/customers, raise business profiles and share ideas and experiences.

Businesses are also invited to book an exhibition at the event which will automatically display their logo and a 100-word profile on the event’s delegate list, in addition to securing an exhibition stand for the evening.

For more information or to book, contact events@birmingham-chamber.com

Mayor runs for Cure Leukaemia West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and a team of 20 from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will be taking part in the Great Birmingham Run in May to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia.

The WMCA team will join more than 10,000 runners taking part in the Great Birmingham Run and Birmingham 10k.

Mr Street took part in the race in 2017, also to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia, and is hoping other West Midlands-based organisations will join in.

Mr Street will also be hoping his team can come out on top in the ‘Business Challenge’, which sees prizes awarded to the top three teams in each category (male, female and mixed team).

Cure Leukaemia supports research nurses within a network of 12 blood cancer centres across the

ABCC Patrons

Home run: Andy Street at the finish of the 2017 race

United Kingdom, which form the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP).

The TAP network, which is run and co-ordinated by its hub situated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, allows the rapid assessment of highly promising and pioneering new treatments for blood cancer through clinical trials. These clinical trials can only run and give patients potentially lifesaving options thanks to the funding from Cure Leukaemia.

Mr Street said: “I am really pleased to be supporting Cure Leukaemia at the upcoming Great Birmingham Run this summer. The pioneering work Cure Leukaemia does, led by Birmingham-based Professor Charlie Craddock, is not only benefiting patients across our great region but also right across the country.”

Premier+ Partners

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Cannock Chase Chase Chamber Patrons

Cannock Chase

Chamber of Commerce

App brings health boost to Cannock Cannock Chase Council in partnership with Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL) has been working closely with local partner organisations and community groups over the last 12 months to develop the Cannock Chase Can programme, which aims to help people live happier and healthier lives.

The app provides information about healthy eating, physical activity, healthier lifestyle choices as well as how to budget, sleep and manage emotional wellbeing. This is presented as a Wellness Wheel, which captures all the themes to help people live a happy and healthy life.

It hosts a variety of wellness challenges which can be undertaken as an individual, group or family. To celebrate your success, users, will be given trophies and instant rewards which have been provided by local businesses.

Officers from the Council and IHL will be touring the District throughout February to speak to people and find out more about individuals wellness worries. The team will be visiting supermarkets, town centres, community venues and schools.

Cannock councillor Valerie Jones said: “Cannock Chase Can will help you improve your health and wellbeing in a fun and friendly way.

“Download the app for free today by visiting Google Play or the App Store and searching for ‘Cannock Chase Can’. Be inspired by others, submit challenges and gain rewards and points for your progress whilst at the same time improving and safe guarding your health and well being.

Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650

Chris says goodbye to Chamber

By Claudia Congrave Long-serving director Chris Plant has bid a fond farewell to the Cannock Chase and Burton & District Chambers of Commerce.

After 10 years as divisional director, he is joining his third Chamber, this time as deputy chief executive of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.

Chris started his career as an apprentice marketing and events co-ordinator for Southern Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce in 2008, having also previously worked in business support at Lichfield District Council. After moving to Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) as marketing manager, Chris was approached for a senior role as divisional director for both the Cannock and Burton Chamber.

Moving on to pastures new, Chris will be joining the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce in March as deputy chief executive, a role that will reward and consolidate his history of being ‘Chamber through and through’.

Uptake in mental health course A mental health first aid course run by Midlands’ training group Performance Through People (PTP) has attracted hundreds of delegates, many whose workplaces have been impacted by Covid-19.

PTP, part of the BCTG group, has been running the course since last spring and had 230 people attending the programme between March and December 2021.

Gill Durkin (pictured), business executive at PTP and president of the Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, said the popularity of the course is continuing in 2022, with as many as 35 joining lessons in one week.

Mrs Durkin, who has attended the course herself, said: “There has been a huge uptake of the Mental Health First Aid course, which is delivered remotely on-line with tutor support 46 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

throughout the programme. The training aims to raise delegates’ awareness of mental well-being in general and how to support others who may be experiencing mental ill health.

“There has been a need for this training from people who have been home-working alone, or those suddenly coming back to work and having to face commuting, office hours and being with people in the office again. What we have found is that employers are a lot more sensitive to their staff’s mental health needs.”

Delegates who successfully complete the course get a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace, and a qualification in Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE).

Fond farewell: Chris Plant

In his parting words, Chris said: “I am so honoured to have led the Cannock Chase and Burton & District Chambers for the past 10 years and to have worked with such an incredible team who truly have the best interests of the region’s businesses at heart.I am and have always been Chamber through and through. The Chamber has invested in me, and I am privileged to have been offered a position as deputy chief executive at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

“I wish my successor the very best of luck and will rest assured that they will inherit a brilliant divisional council to assist them in supporting our fantastic member businesses.”

Gill Durkin, president of Cannock Chase Chamber, said: “It is with deep regret that we see Chris Plant leave the GBCC having been divisional director of Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce for many years. It has been a pleasure to be his president despite the challenges of the last two years and we will be sure to stay in touch to see what he achieves in his new role.”

College launches foundation degree South Staffordshire College is delivering a foundation degree in engineering at Cannock College, accredited by the University of Wolverhampton, which will give businesses the opportunity to upskill their workforce.

The foundation degree can be studied on a full-time basis from September 2022 or on a part time day release basis from now, and is aimed at equipping employees with the engineering skills that will add greater value to their company, whilst encouraging employee professional development.

Students will study in state-of-the-art facilities following a multi-million-pound investment using workplace-standard equipment.

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Burton & District Burton & District Chamber Patrons

Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650

Ginho Group take on challenge of Brexit A Burton-based automotive manufacturer says it is poised to expand its European presence after successfully negotiating a full year of Brexit.

Ginho Group said that leaving Europe was a challenge in itself, but the situation was additionally complicated by the impact of coronavirus.

Despite this, the firm said that 12 months on, it had emerged ‘stronger than ever’ and was now ready to expand its European operations.

Supply chain manager Joshua HancockBrown said that the firm had taken a ‘proactive approach’ to the UK’s departure from the EU. He said: “Thinking outside the box is something that is second nature to us here at Ginho Europe. And as we contemplated the best way of tackling the challenges posed by Brexit, we started with a very clear, simple focus: how do we make this as easy as possible for our customers? And moved forward from there.

“We quickly took the view that we needed to be able to get to a point where all customers needed to do was take delivery and pay the invoice, while at the same time, minimising any impact on lead times. This meant us dealing with all the paperwork and

Work to begin on junction improvements Tree clearance work is being carried out at a major East Staffordshire road junction ahead of an improvement scheme in the summer.

The work is taking place at the Branston Interchange on the A38 and the south side of Branston Road.

After the junction works have been completed, replacement tree planting will take place alongside the widened slip road and Branston Road. The scheme will support new development at the Branston Locks site.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said: “The five-week tree clearance work is needed ahead of the summer junction works. The junction works will improve traffic flow off the A38 and support planned new development at Branston Locks – supporting businesses, job creation and house building.”

taking responsibility for shipping.

“Meanwhile, we provided continuity and minimum disruption. With our customers operating highly efficient just-in-time manufacturing sites, a key priority was to ensure that we could continue to provide the same door-to-door shipping service.

‘Thinking outside the box is something that is second nature to us’ “To do this, we worked with our parent company and manufacturing colleagues to negotiate and bring forward production and shipping by a week for each customer to mitigate any supply issues.

“Planning in advance of the Brexit deadline allowed us to fully understand the changes we needed to implement as well as explore any opportunities as a team and ensure smooth transition for our customers.

“Having established a flexible, dynamic blueprint in readiness for Brexit, we can now see many positives around the UK being able to set its own trade policy and negotiate deals with other countries.

“We have ambitious plans to expand and we are now equipped to grow the business.”

Distant learner: Hope Welsh

Student pursues passion for nutrition Hope Welsh, a curriculum administrator at Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC), has recently completed the college’s new distance learning course, Level 2 Improving Personal Exercise, Nutrition and Health.

Hope’s passion for exercise and healthier eating started during the first pandemic lockdown and completing the course has sparked her interest in undertaking a personal trainer course in the future.

The online course was the perfect match for Hope as this meant that she could complete it in her free time whilst also working full time.

The course equips learners with a detailed understanding of the concepts of health and well-being, including basic anatomy and physiology. It explores the role of nutrition in exercise and how to measure personal fitness levels and create a personal program of exercise and nutrition.

Special guest visits YMCA Burton MP Kate Griffiths has visited the town’s YMCA to find out more abut the services it offers.

The MP visited the organisation’s furniture shop on Borough Road, which sells used furniture donated by the public to raise funds.

She also visited a YMCA-run young person’s housing building, where residents in the 18 to 30 age group can rebuild their lives with the help of

Fact finding mission: Burton MP Kate Griffiths with YMCA chief Paul Laffey

support workers, and eventually move on to independent living.

Ms Griffiths also visited Reconnect, Burton’s flagship site, which houses residents aged from 18 to 64. The site offers a foodbank, counselling, mediation, homelessness services and outreach projects. It also helps rough sleepers.

The MP said: “I am very grateful to YMCA Burton’s CEO, Paul Laffey, for recently giving me such a comprehensive tour. The work of our local YMCA supports some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

“The passion and dedication among the staff and volunteers to help those with complex needs get back on track came across consistently at all their sites. I have said many times that we have an incredible network of support organisations in Burton and the YMCA is very much a cornerstone of that network.”

Burton YMCA chief executive Paul Laffey said: “It was great to invite Kate Griffiths MP to visit the YMCA. She got to meet staff and volunteers and hear all about our services. It was good to talk to her about our 135th anniversary taking place this year.”

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Lichfield & Tamworth Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber Patrons Contact: Chris Brewerton T: 0845 6036650

Residents asked for views on Beacon Park Lichfield residents asked to give their view on potential new uses for the town’s Beacon Park, currently used for such pursuits as crazy golf, donkey rides and crown green bowling.

Sadly, these old-fashioned sounding pursuits only attract 8,000 users each year, which is just 20 per day, so Lichfield District Council wants to find out how to make the 70 acre park more attractive to people.

Local councillor Iain Eadie said: “Beacon Park is an amazing green space and a great resource to help keep our residents healthy and active. What is happening currently is that over a third the park is only being used by a handful of people. I want to hear from people about how we could use this space differently.

‘Beacon Park is an amazing green space and a great resource to help keep our residents healthy and active’ “We are asking people to complete a short survey to give us their views. Should we look at things like community gardens, orchards, re-wilding or things like tree top rope courses and zip lines?

“We really want to hear what you would like to do, so that people can use the whole of Beacon Park more. Meanwhile we will open these 20 acres back up to general park users in April, so that walkers, joggers, picnickers, outdoor recreation and play can safely use this space too.”

New ownership at historic adhesive firm A Tamworth-based industrial adhesive specialist is celebrating its 50th year in business – and at the same time has announced new ownership.

The firm is Apollo, the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of liquid adhesives, coatings and primers for the roofing, industrial and construction markets, to HB Fuller, a leading global adhesives provider.

Apollo is based on Amington industrial estate in Tamworth, and HB Fuller is headquartered in Minnesota, USA. The former’s outgoing owner, Jonathan Saunders, said: “Strategically, the new ownership opens many opportunities for Apollo employees and customers. The current management structure at Apollo will remain, as will the entire employee base, which was crucial in my decision to sell the business. HB Fuller’s core values are in synergy with those of Apollo. Our core values have always guided how Apollo conducts business and interacts with all stakeholders, so it was vital for me that this legacy continued.”

HB Fuller was founded in 1887 as a one-man wallpaper paste shop by Harvey Benjamin Fuller, but has since grown into a £2 bn turnover global business.

President and CEO Jim Owens said: “Apollo’s highly specified commercial roofing, construction and high-performance industrial adhesives will drive new growth opportunities in our construction and transportation adhesives businesses in the UK and across EIMEA (Europe, India, Middle East, Africa).

Grant helps printing business Tamworth printing and merchandise company Embello has increased its productivity this year, thanks to staff training that wouldn't have been available without the ‘Staffordshire Means Back to Business Scheme’ grant.

Even before Covid, national research showed that millions of workers will need to acquire new skills by 2030, with 87 per cent of business leaders saying they were already experiencing skills gaps.

To support of businesses looking to bridge this gap, the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub is offering a range of grants to cover up to £5,000 of the cost (per subject, per person).

More than 600 Staffordshire businesses have already benefited from the training grants, including Embello.

Using the grant and the training expertise of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub has allowed Embello to implement a strategy to 48 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

source and offer products that meet the needs of their customers and the planet. These ecofriendly changes will benefit the business, and the wider community, for years to come.

The company has also been able to better fulfill customer requirements and even move to a 24-hour turnaround thanks to the grant.

Embello director Kyle Raffo said: “Requesting a grant through the Skills Hub is a simple, straightforward application process in which support is provided throughout. Professional, high-quality training was gained as part of the Skills Hub funding. I recommend this service without question."

The grants are based on a first-come first served basis and are still available to businesses based in the district and boroughs of Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire.

Businesses elsewhere can get up to 49 per cent of their training costs covered.

“Our companies share cultures and growth strategies that are well aligned, and Apollo will integrate seamlessly into our construction and engineering adhesives business units.”

The sale to Fuller was put together by Birmingham-based Bracebridge Corporate Finance.

Bracebridge managing director Andy Moore (pictured) said: “We are delighted with the outcome for the shareholders of Apollo and to have found the right home for the business. We look forward to seeing Apollo go from strength-tostrength under HB Fuller Company’s ownership.”

Take advantage of apprentice grant Staffordshire County Council is encouraging businesses to take on an apprentice and receive £5,000 grant assistance.

The authority says that 72 per cent of employers have reported that they will be taking on more apprentices this year and 70 per cent say that apprentices will be critical to recovering from Covid-19.

The £5,000 grant from Staffordshire County Council and the county's district and borough councils is aimed at taking the pressure off the costs of recruiting and supporting an apprentice.

This grant is one of the first of its kind in the country, and is the result of Staffordshire County Council and its partners pooling resources to support business recovery and growth after the pandemic.

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Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield Chamber Patrons

Sutton Coldfield

Charity of the Year

Chamber of Commerce

A call for firms to support schools The executive committee of Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce is calling on businesses to support the efforts of schools across the town to educate their pupils in the world of work.

The group of business leaders is led by Phil Arkinstall, chief executive of video production firm Ark Media and president of the Sutton Chamber. Fellow committee members Kay Burton-Williams, director of Student Experience at BMET Sutton Coldfield College and PR consultant Gary Phelps also work closely with local schools.

Together, the trio are encouraging businesses from a range of sectors to contact their local educational establishments to offer support and time to advise the businesspeople of tomorrow.

Mr Arkinstall said: “I know how important it is for young people to learn and hear the

Contact: Chris Brewerton T: 0845 6036650

Supporting the next generation: Phil Arkinstall

experiences of the business community in order to give them the opportunity to make the right career choices. The Covid pandemic has brought a huge amount of uncertainty but schools throughout Sutton Coldfield are now able to open their doors to the business community and continue the positive work that has taken place in recent years with Enterprise Advisor’s, school governors and businesses.

“Historically there has been some fantastic engagement between schools and businesses and as a Chamber we very much call on both communities to ensure this makes a muchneeded return in 2022 and beyond.”

Email Chris Brewerton, on c.brewerton@birmingham-chamber.com for more information.

Nuclear waste storage investment A Sutton Coldfield business has invested in new transport and storage facilities after signing a deal with the British Government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to supply materials to encapsulate nuclear waste.

Power Minerals Ltd (PML), an independent supplier of power generation by-products, has signed the seven-year deal to supply fly ash, which will be used in the encapsulation of nuclear waste, which is then safely stored in containers. The contract will ensure supplies for NDA Licensed companies Magnox Ltd, Sellafield Ltd and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd.

Investment boost: The NDA contract has allowed Power Minerals to invest in new facilities

Magnox, which manages the contract, is responsible for the safe and secure clean-up of 12 nuclear sites and the operation of one hydroelectric plant in the UK. PML, which also has a team sited at Drax, the UK’s biggest power station, has invested in new storage facilities for the ash as part of the NDA project, as well as specialist tankers required for the job. The nature of the encapsulation process means the specific ash material supplied by PML must be stored safely in sterile bags to avoid contamination, while the delivery mechanism requires tankers to collect the bags’ contents via vacuum before transit, and then blow the ash directly into the silos based at the decommissioning sites, ready for use in encapsulation.

PML was co-founded by managing director Nigel Waldron in 2003 and now employs people across three sites, working to direct millions of tonnes of ash by-product from power stations in the UK and across Europe for use in manufacturing infrastructure projects that are reshaping the UK. PML sales and technical director Ivan Skidmore said: “We’re delighted to be entrusted with this important role, which has illustrated another versatile application for ash.”

Looking ahead: Cllr Simon Ward with Town Councillor and BID board member Cllr Keith Ward

BID focuses on town centre investment Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID begun its third term - with a focus on “investing in Sutton” and working to deliver the redevelopment masterplan alongside Birmingham City Council and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

Businesses across the town voted in favour of renewing their status as a Business Improvement District (BID).

Those with a rateable value of £7,500 or above will pay a levy based upon their rateable value, creating a collective fund of more than £1.3m to spend over the next five years.

This positive result followed several months of planning, in-depth interviews, surveys and a month-long ballot in which hundreds of firms were asked to vote on the proposals.

Angela Henderson, manager of the Gracechurch Shopping Centre and chair of the BID, said: “We will be working with SCTC BID to help to promote the Masterplan over the next few years.

“We are currently going through a period of change like many towns, but we still regard Sutton Coldfield as a strong diverse town with a strong business community and a loyal customer base.

“The BID will be the voice of business lobbying on topics which affect businesses.

“The overall aim will be to ensure that businesses are listened to and promoted alongside ensuring the town remains relevant and flexible in an ever-changing environment.

“We look forward to keeping businesses up to date on what is happening during each step of the Masterplan.”

Councillor Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and chairman of the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership, said: “The BID plays such an important role with both its practical support for businesses but also as an authoritative voice for business locally.

“The Town Council values its partnership with the BID not only on the Masterplan, but across so many other important projects.”

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Solihull All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community Contact: Samantha Frampton T: 0121 678 7488

Support an intern with their career ambitions Solihull College & University Centre is calling on businesses to partner with them and become an invaluable part of a learner’s journey.

For the last few years, the college has been running ‘Supported Internships’ in partnership with local businesses.

These programmes help young people with special educational needs and disabilities to find employment by equipping them with the skills they need as they gain real work experience.

‘It has been a difficult two years, but we are moving forwards once again’ Learners are aged between 16-24 and have an Education Health Care Plan, meaning they would like to contribute to the world of work but require some support on the way.

Each learner will have access to a job coach from the college who can deal with any concerns the employer or learner may have.

With Supported Internships, the college says that businesses display a commitment to their community by supporting young people. The posts are unpaid which allows employers to trial a young person on the job without incurring salary costs.

Lead co-ordinator, Sallie Partridge said: “It has been a difficult two years, but we are moving forwards once again with this project and employers are delighted with the work and progress of their current interns.”

High-end hotel named as new hospitality patron Hogarths Hotels and Restaurants, the high-end, independent hotel group, has joined Solihull Chambers of Commerce as their hospitality patron.

Hogarths Hotel is a privately owned, local hospitality venue specialising in weddings, events, conferences, accommodation, afternoon tea and restaurant dining. Being a pillar in the Solihull community for the past 18 years, Hogarths’ motto is to make guests smile through genuine hospitality.

After a difficult two years following the impact of Covid and devastating flash flood in June 2021, Hogarths are excited to announce their latest partnership with Solihull Chambers of Commerce as part of their strategic recovery for the hotel as they look to strengthen ties with the local business community.

Hogarths employs just over 100 team members from across the borough, bringing together their enthusiasm and positivity the team worked together to remain focused during the closures and rebuild the brand as quickly as possible.

From March, Hogarths will be operating in full capacity for the first time since March 2020, something the team are now ready to shout about. On the menu at Hogarths, the team are championing sustainable practices and local

Partnership helps job seekers Birmingham Business Park has forged a partnership with an organisation hoping to get former prisoners back into work.

The organisation is New Leaf Initiative CIC who, together with the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership (CRP), delivered a careers day at the business park.

The CRP was established to bring together the rail industry with local authorities, businesses, and communities to help maximise the economic, social, and environmental benefits of the rail network to residents, businesses, and visitors.

Its work includes breaking down barriers to rail travel, improving station environments, promoting rail travel.

In this instance, it supported West Midlandsbased New Leaf participants in a ‘careers experience day’ at the business park, to help the ex-cons explore careers in the railway industry.

50 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

New Leaf founder Marie-Claire O’Brien said: "Bringing our trainees to Birmingham Business Park to meet with a variety of different people and businesses such as Sulzer and Balfour Beatty Vinci has been invaluable.

“We are always grateful to businesses that open their doors to us, for taster days and as employers looking to diversify their work stream with young people who could probably be classed as furthest from the labour market when they start with us due to their pasts, learning difficulties and living environments. Due to our traineeship programme however, we see them become employable and highly motivated.”

Lori Henebury, marketing, community and business development manager for Birmingham Business Park, said: "It was a privilege to host a careers day for the New Leaf Initiative, a fantastic organisation on a mission to help people with convictions get into work.”

produce to bring exciting, fresh, and eco-friendly flavours to their menus.

Front of house, the team have been perfecting their service standards to ensure there is always a warm Hogarths welcome and that their 30acre site is the perfect back drop for any occasion.

Wayne Vickers, general manager of Hogarths Hotel, said: “Becoming the hospitality patron of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, in particular, is a crucial part of our relaunch plan to increase awareness of our reopening. Joining the top tier of the Chamber’s membership will mean we have access to some amazing new connections, audiences and fellow business leaders which will play a large part in a successful relaunch for the hotel.

“It was instantly evident on meeting Samantha Frampton that the Chambers would be able to do so much more than we realised to support us on this recovery journey.”

Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is a privilege to welcome Hogarths as Solihull Chamber’s hospitality patron and support them in their recovery postpandemic. I look forward to working with Hogarths to cement the valuable business connections that will get them back on track as a leading hospitality venue.”

Council supports firms hit hardest by Omicron Solihull Council’s has been given almost £350,000 of funding to help firms who have suffered lost of trade or turnover due to the Omicron variant.

Such losses could be due to staff absences and/or lower consumer demand. Applicants have had to explain the impact on their businss as part of their application, as well as confirm their annual business turnover and number of employees.

Chamber policy advisor Erin Henwood said: “Given the extent to which businesses across all sectors are reporting being impacted by the Omicron variant, we are pleased to see Solihull Council working quickly to release nearly £350,000 for local businesses suffering from lost trade.”

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Solihull Solihull Chamber Patrons

Wise reach milestone with 50th staff member

Angel takes to the stage A performing arts student from Solihull College is to to perform at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Angel Garvey-Hendrickson, 19, will be performing at the event as a member of a dance collective called Critical Mass. The collective is made up of up to 300 disabled and non-disabled young people, with the aim to set

Young, gifted and black: Angel Garvey-Hendrickson

a precedent on how major events can adopt inclusivity.

Angel will also be performing at the Birmingham 2022 Cultural Festival in March, the Birmingham International Dance Festival in June.

She said: “I joined Critical Mass as I saw it as an opportunity for me to be part of something big that would challenge me, build my selfconfidence, and allow me to develop my skills.

“I’m in my element when I’m on stage performing in front of lots of people and able to show my creativity.”

Angel credits her performing arts course at the college for pushing her out of her comfort zone and allowing her to experiment with different techniques.

She added: “It’s not easy being small and trying to get yourself heard, people tend to patronise me, and I have to push through that.

“Being a young black woman has meant I’ve had to work much harder and grasp onto every opportunity I can as there aren’t many opportunities out there for girls like me.”

A fast-growing technology firm from Solihull is celebrating after hiring its 50th member of staff following two years of growth.

Software provider Wise was founded in 2019 has offices in London and Solihull.

The firm’s latest hire takes its total headcount to 50, officially making it a medium-sized business.

Hannah Jarrad, people and culture manager at Wise, said: “We’re delighted to have hit this major business milestone and to have done it in such a short space of time is genuinely outstanding.

“As we’ve grown the team across all departments, we’ve worked hard to make sure that we retain our culture of compassion and inclusivity that is at the heart of all of our decisions.

“Like every other business, we’ve navigated the difficult circumstances of the last couple of years carefully and we’re delighted to have been able to obtain ‘Great Place to Work’ status along the way as evidence of our positive culture.”

The Great Place to Work Institute originated in the US and helps businesses value their employees.

Many parents will be familiar with providing financial assistance to their children and their spouses, whether it is to assist with the purchase of a home, to renovate an existing home, or to invest in a family business.

However, what is not always fully considered at the time of any monetary advancement is what implications there are should the recipient and their partners separate.

Often, gifts and loans made by family members are informal arrangements, which are agreed verbally rather than in writing.

When there is an application for a financial order made by a spouse in divorce proceedings, the Court draws a clear distinction between monies which were gifted by third parties during the marriage and monies which were loaned.

There is a ‘gift’ of money when parents (or other third party) have no expectation of either that money being repaid to them or having any interest in any property acquired with those monies. Although in some circumstances, the fact that a significant gift was made by one of the spouses’ parents can be seen as a significant ‘contribution’ by that spouse (which should therefore be taken into account in what financial order is made), in most cases the couples’ respective needs will override any contribution argument and the entirety of the

couples’ assets (including the gift) will be divided in accordance with those needs.

loan if the terms are vague, uncertain, or unlikely to be enforced.

However, if the monies are treated as a loan, the divorcing couple will be required to repay the monies in accordance with what was agreed with the family member before their remaining assets are divided by the Court.

The court considers on the balance of probabilities whether it was the intention of the parties that the monies be paid on the condition that it should be repaid.

Often, because there was no formal written agreement entered, a dispute arises between the divorcing couple and their family members as to whether the monies advanced should be treated as a loan or a gift.

In these circumstances the family members who advanced the monies may have to join or intervene in the family proceedings and give evidence.

In the first instance, payments made by a parent for the benefit of a child are presumed to be gifts. However, this presumption can be rebutted with clear evidence that the transfer had a different purpose or intention (such as a loan) at the time of the transaction and that there was a requirement for repayment.

The Court is less likely to consider a payment a

The court will consider various factors, including: • The existence of any written loan agreement • The terms of repayment • Whether any repayments have been made • Evidence of the discussions between the parties • Whether there was an expectation of repayment • Whether there was any security provided in respect of the loan.

Family members who have financially assisted couples (or plan to) should take advice from a family finance specialist to best to protect their interest and intentions in the event that the parties separate in the future.

Laura Williams, Associate Director, Family Law

For more information please contact Laura Williams:

T: 0345 2073728 E: lwilliams@thursfields.co.uk W: www.thursfields.co.uk

March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 51

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Future Faces Future Faces Chamber Patrons Contact: Anna Assinder T: 0845 6036650

Chamber launches podcast

New Members Andrew Rushfirth (Shakespeare Martineau LLP) Jennie Elizabeth Davis (Shakespeare

Martineau LLP) Ben Humphreys (Shakespeare Martineau LLP) Laura Taylor (Shakespeare Martineau) Tara Goodwin (Shakespeare Martineau) Caroline Bird (Shakespeare Martineau) TBC 3 (Shakespeare Martineau) Livia Nicolae (Synaptek) Charlie Fogarty (Midlands Air Ambulance

By Claudia Congrave The Future Faces Chamber of Commerce (FF) launched its new podcast as a platform to engage the region’s young professionals on topics that matter to them most.

According to a 2020 YPulse survey, 62 per cent of young consumers aged 13-39 are avid podcast listers, presenting the perfect opportunity for the Future Faces network to expand its offering to Europe’s youngest city and hub for future talent.

‘Future Faces: The Young Professionals Podcast’ will be a monthly feature to showcase the best of the region’s young talent, and will discuss a range of topics that are important to this generation of future leaders and provide members with the tools to advance their careers.

A new episode will be released on the third Wednesday of every month.

Jodie-Lee Perks, manager of Future Faces, said: “This is an exciting chapter for our division as we increase our reach to young professionals

Charity)

Future Faces: an exciting chapter of creative engagement

in Birmingham and beyond.

“This podcast has something for everyone in business and will keep companies' ears on the pulse of what affects young professionals today.

Claudia is a natural host and brings so much life to our guests’ stories.”

The first guest joining host and press and PR executive Claudia Congrave is Future Faces president Jaccy Datta.

You can listen and subscribe to Future Faces: The Young Professionals Podcast now on a variety of streaming platforms via www.anchor.fm/futurefacespodcast

Marketing help for start-ups Birmingham-based media and marketing agency Apex Pro Media (APM) is looking help new businesses this year.

Apex was founded two years ago when graduates Dan Edwards and Raj Khan. The agency is focused on building, managing and enhancing businesses.

Dan studied graphic design at the University of Wolverhampton and, finding a pent-up demand for an agency like APM, he took a year off and completed the latter half of his university course

Energisers: Dan Edwards and Raj Khan

52 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

while growing his business. He met Raj at an artist’s collective in 2019, with the latter having moved from Pakistan to study marketing and business development at the University College Birmingham.

Raj had a dynamic entrepreneurial aptitude of his own, which was reflected in how he worked to set up a thriving family-run private hospital and a one-of-a-kind artistic cafe back in Pakistan.

Both Dan and Raj had a forward-looking perspective and a strong creative appreciation, and that is what brought them together.

Around the same time that APM was conceived, the pandemic began to grip the world and made the digital space even more vital for business operations.

Dan said: “We’re continuing to expand our holistic approach for brand development and are keen to work with SMEs interested in taking their brand the next level.

“We want to become an extension of our clients’ businesses by energising it from the inside out. We tailor our packages to the vision and budget of our clients because we’re focused on retaining our clients. We’ll guide you through your brands journey and be the go-to place for impactful digital solutions. Our past successes are a testament to what we can do, and as we grow and achieve, we want you to come along with us.”

Matthew Shephard (Shakespeare Martineau) Gwenni Rees-Evans (Shakespeare Martineau) Santina Taylor (Shakespeare Martineau) Laura Babb (Babb Photo Ltd) Kevin Tse (Robson Lister) Mark Hipwell Kate Ross (Sport Birmingham) Kirsty-Marie Morris (Screed and Stone Ltd) Debbie Hastings (Deutsche Bank) Gishan Abeyratne (Think Legal Recruitment) Ashley Kerr (Mills and Reeve) Dalla Ghuman (Mills and Reeve) Madelaine Booth (Scrubbee) Faye Kent (Faye Kent Art) Demi Eley (Tower Leasing)

Upcoming Events Future Faces Social Networking (Tamworth) Date: 07/03/2022 Time: 17:30 – 19:30 Venue: Christopher’s British BistroRestaurant Cost: Members: £15 +VAT Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: £15 +VAT Future Faces: Mini Golf and Social Networking (Birmingham) Date: 24/03/2022 Time: 17:30 – 19:30 Venue: Mr Mulligan’s Cost: Members: £15 +VAT Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: £15 +VAT Future Faces: How to Navigate Tricky Conversations in the Workplace Date: 07/04/2022 Time: 17:30 - 19:30 Venue: TBC Cost: Members £15 + VAT Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: £15 + VAT

For more information and to book a place contact events@birmingham-chamber.com

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Future Faces

The Chamber’s ever growing network for young professionals and the leaders of tomorrow.

Cysters supports creatives Cysters, a grassroots charity dedicated to supporting individuals with reproductive and mental health issues, is calling on people to support its new magazine, which is aimed at spotlighting marginalised creatives.

Cysters has teamed up with Juice Droplet to create a bonus ‘Chronically Creative’ magazine as part of Juice Magazine’s ‘Issue Two: Mind and Body’, focusing on how creative spaces can be used as a tool to heal.

The magazine is an extension of the charity’s work in educating the public about reproductive health so that they can make informed choices around their treatment options and challenge the cultural misogyny behind reproductive health. The magazine investigates the impacts and associations of mental health, well-being, the body, racialised or gendered trauma, and the powerful potential of self-care and community healing for South Asian creatives.

It is made up of a series of artistic and written works, including drawings, paintings, illustrations, photography, poetry, editorial or opinion pieces, book or film reviews, and interviews, by South Asian creatives.

Neelam Heera, founder of Cysters, said: “From a young age, we are taught that creativity can only look and sound one way: Keats, Shakespeare, Dickens – and that it doesn’t look like us: intersectional, disabled, multifaceted.

By supporting us, and this project, we are all doing our part in turning that old story straight on its head – a thought that genuinely brings us at Cysters joy every day.”

Neelam Heera: Creativity is intersectional and multifaceted

Sabah re-elected, and Yung joins the team The Future Faces Chamber of Commerce has re-elected Sabah Hussain as vice president and has also welcomed committee member Yung Lau to the presidential team.

Sabah Hussain is a business architect and coach at Corella and has been a member of Future Faces for almost three years.

She is also a charity board trustee for Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid. Sabah also won the Future Face of Industry award in 2019 and received the ‘Outstanding Young Talent’ award at the Solihull Chamber Awards 2021.

This year, the Future Faces committee has also elected Yung Lau to the presidential team, acting as vice-president alongside Sabah, Kasim Choudhry and president Jaccy Datta.

Yung is a strategic consultant at Jacobs and has been a member of the committee for the last year. He was crowned the ‘Future Face of Industry’ and became ‘Future Faces Champion’ in 2021.

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Chamber Events

Live events are back in action Now that in-person events have returned, watch this space for a full 2022 programme of what the Chamber has to offer in the New Year

Events this month include additions from Grow Through People.

Find out more about the campaign: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/researchcampaigning/growth-through-people/ For further information about events and to book a place visit: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/networking-events

Growth Through People: Cultivating your Employer Brand Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

09/03/2022 08:30 – 10:00 Hyatt Regency GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

ABCC AGM Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

16/03/2022 11:00 – 11:45 Zoom ABCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Growth Through People: Engaging Flexible Working Teams

Growth Through People: Leading an Open Conversation about Identity in the Workplace

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

11/03/2022 10:00 – 11:00 Zoom GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

17/03/2022 10:00 – 11:00 Zoom GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Growth Through People: How to Navigate Conversations About Mental Health and Wellbeing Date: Time: Venue:

22/03/2022 17:00 – 18:30 South and City College Birmingham Division: GBCC Cost: Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Division: GBCC Cost: Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Social Networking Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

Networking Lunch Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

23/03/2022 12:00 – 14:00 TBC Birmingham Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

Growth Through People Conference 2022 Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

ABCC Member Social Solihull going for the win in 2022

Social Networking

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

14/03/2022 14:00 – 16:00 Crowne Plaza Solihull Members: £150 +VAT Future Faces Members: £150 +VAT Non-members: £150 +VAT

Growth Through People: Thinking Outside the Box to Unlock Potential Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

15/03/2022 13:30 – 15:00 TBC GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

17/03/2022 17:30 – 19:30 TBC Sutton Coldfield Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

Solihull AGM Date: Time: Venue:

18/03/2022 10:00 – 11:00 Solihull Moors Football Club Division: Solihull Cost: Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Speed Networking

Growth Through People: Managing Digital Resilience

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

16/03/2022 8:30 – 10:30 Burton On Trent Golf Club Burton & District Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

54 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

22/03/2022 10:00 – 11:00 Zoom GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

23/03/2022 17:30 – 19:00 Alam Restaurant ABCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

Breakfast with the U.S Embassy Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

23/03/2022 7:30 – 9:15 Birmingham Transatlantic Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

Speaker Breakfast Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

24/03/2022 7:30 – 9:30 Lichfield Garrick Theatre Lichfield & Tamworth Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

Making the Most of your Chamber Membership Date: Time: Venue:

28/03/2022 8:30 – 10:30 TBC

29/03/2022 17:30 – 19:30 TBC Cannock Chase Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

30/03/2022 09:00 – 14:00 Eastside Rooms GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: £15 +VAT

Start-Up Business Surgery – Sales and Networking Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

30/03/2022 10:00 – 12:00 STEAMhouse Incubator GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: £15 +VAT Non-members: £15 +VAT

Networking & Vaisakhi Celebration Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

0/03/2022 18:00 – 21:30 TBC ABCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: £30 +VAT Non-members: £30 +VAT

Spring Expo Date: Time: Venue: Division: Cost:

31/03/2022 10:00 – 15:00 Aston Villa Football Club GBCC Members: Free Future Faces Members: Free Non-members: Free

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Chamber Events

Picture gallery This month we highlight scenes from the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Chambers of Commerce annual awards staged at the Drayton Manor Hotel.

Pictures by: Mike Baker TOP: Winners all: Awards winners get in the party mood.

CENTRE: Chamber team: A rare moment of relaxation for the Chamber team at the awards.

BOTTOM: Sutton smiles: Sutton Chamber members enjoy the awards. Back row, from left - Anita Ellis (Lexicom), Kate Hollingsworth (Kate Hollingsworth Photography), Kate Curry (Curry Design Studio) and Laurie Kennedy (Sutton Coldfield Community Games). Front row: Chamber vice-president Clare Whalley (Meta4 Coaching) and Joanna Drinkwater from ( Grant McKnight)

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Creative Industries

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Creative Industries

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Why a

brand identity is crucial even for small businesses

By Mark Atkinson (pictured), creative director of Attack Creative here are many small-medium sized businesses that feel a brand identity isn’t necessary for them, something that’s only required for large companies and big brands with huge marketing budgets and national recognition. Sure, they will no doubt have a logo (and some assume that to be enough), but by opting not to embrace a brand identity they are missing out on the chance to communicate the personality and values of their business to the world in an engaging and memorable way.

A brand identity helps form the perception people have of a business, crucially influencing opinion of your promise, message, credibility, ethics and values. It’s the first impression you give to your audience and when executed well, makes you stand out from your competitors and

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will contribute hugely to the reason why people will choose you over others.

With all this in mind, it’s vital your brand identity is developed to be correctly aligned with your USPs and designed in a style and tone that helps you stand out from the crowd to get and retain people’s attention.

The benefits of a brand identity for every business: Help people recognise your business from competitors A business without a cohesive identity won’t stay in consumers minds for very long – however, embracing a distinct and March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 57

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Creative Industries

consistent visual style and tone of voice will register and become recognisable with consumers.

Builds customer confidence and credibility Any business with erratic, inconsistent marketing materials will have a hard time in gaining trust from consumers.

The way a business presents itself is a reflection of the way a business operates – inconsistent and conflicting design styles and messages will give the impression a haphazard and out of step business that lacks credibility.

Customer loyalty A well executed brand identity builds loyalty, conveys values and helps develop emotional connections to your brand. Creating an emotional bond with a business is only possible if your personality and values are defined and then communicated within the identity for consumers to relate to.

Save you money in the long-run Rather than flip-flopping between design styles, establishing an identity with clear guidelines and a design structure will mean creating marketing materials will become easier, swifter (and theoretically cheaper) and will also communicate in a more consistent and clear manner.

Branding motivates employees A business with great branding will help employees engage with the business and give them a sense of pride to work there. A better branded business will also help attract the correct kind of candidate to work for the business.

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For businesses to stand out, it’s even more important to have a memorable identity.

From the colour palette, image style, composition rules, typography choices and your tone of voice – a brand identity is essentially a design platform that will help to make your

business recognisable and memorable.

Brand identities for businesses should be treated as a necessity rather than a luxury, critical to communicating what your business is and does – when done correctly the brand can be your most valuable asset and the benefits can be measurable and immediate.

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Creative Industries

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Creative Industries

Key issues affecting the Midlands

creative sector in 2022

By Albert Wallace (pictured), creative director at the Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery

efore the Covid-19 pandemic, creative organisations involved in advertising, fashion, film and graphic design were thriving. It was even said that the creative sector in the midlands and in particular Birmingham, was arguably the most significant cultural sector outside of London that was highly transformative for our region’s economy in terms of income generation and job creation.

The pandemic drew attention on the important role the gig economy played in this area in so many ways, with performance, theatre, and visual arts being affected greatly. But creativity is not a panacea for economic diversification and now the many challenges the cultural and creative industries face is but a microcosm of these challenges we face post Covid-19.

The increasing impermanence of work are all features of the creative economy that need to be managed, especially if we are talking about sustainable futures for our youth and digital-creative workers.

It was said that the West Midlands was projected to be the region hardest hit in terms of job losses, with two in five creative jobs in the region projected to be lost, which according to newly commissioned research from Oxford Economics and the Creative industries Federation, we could see 51,000 jobs lost because of the effects of Covid-19.

With this kind of doom and gloom statistic, we would think that all was lost. However, as the sector looks to bounce back, we see an uptake in demand for the performance and theatre sector, entertainment, music, and visual arts. High tech has seen its biggest

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growth since the pandemic with new start-up companies taking first place in the region’s growth in the last two years and this is set to continue its upward trajectory due to how we now rely on technology to reach and connect with our customers and audiences.

At the same time, creativity and culture also have a significant non-monetary value to the region that contributes to inclusive social development, dialogue and understanding between our diverse audiences. It empowers people to take ownership of their own development and stimulates the innovation and creativity, which can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

It is now time to reimagine and re-engineer our creative sector, but we will need the help of our young diverse and innovative population to make this happen.

The creative economy and its industries are strategic sectors that if nurtured can boost the region competitiveness, productivity, sustainable employment, growth and development going forward.

With the Commonwealth Games just a few months away and the last of the remaining restrictions being lifted, life is fast roaring back to business as usual with an overwhelming demand for the full spectrum of the creative sector - which will demonstrate its importance yet again to the region’s economy and providing lots of opportunities for performers, digital artists, dancers and fine artists.

The region is set to recover and surpass its pre Covid levels, which demonstrate our resilience and determination to embrace the future with or without the presence of Covid-19.

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Business Crime & Protection

Second chance: Ex-offenders in work can put the past behind them and focus on the future

Commissioner calls on businesses to employ ex-offenders

By West Midlands Police he West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is calling on businesses in the region to employ more ex-offenders.

Simon Foster (pictured) believes one effective way to break the cycle of crime is for entrepreneurs and business leaders to recruit more former offenders as they leave prison.

People with a criminal record are known to struggle to get a job as many employers won’t take them on.

But Mr Foster, who has prioritised the prevention of crime and rehabilitation in his Police and Crime Plan, says he wants more organisations to see for themselves the value and positive impact exoffenders can have upon an organisation.

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He also believes we need to ensure as many people as possible are able to make a positive contribution to society, paying taxes and filling important job vacancies, where there are potential gaps in the market.

The PCC recently held a Business Crime Summit. One of the companies that attended was the Locksmiths, Timpson.

They employ more exoffenders in the UK than virtually any other firm, with around 12 per cent of its staff having a criminal record. Darren Durns, Timpson’s national recruitment ambassador,

said: “As a business Timpson believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

“That’s why we’ve given thousands of people the opportunity to put their past behind them and focus instead on what they can achieve in the future.

“Employment can help reduce reoffending, but it’s also good for business, as our staff are often more loyal and even more honest than those who join us from more usual recruitment streams.”

Timpson’s view is one the PCC hopes an increasing number of other firms in the West Midlands will

soon share. Mr Foster believes that people who have the opportunity for a second chance in life are often extremely valuable to an organisation.

He said: “If we are to break the cycle of crime, and ensure people have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society and start paying taxes, then we need to enable them to find a job and assist them to be net contributors to society.

“I want organisations in our region to appreciate that people with a criminal record can make great employees, enhance productivity and be a force for good.

Simon Foster has pledged to produce a charter which he hopes as

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Business Crime & Protection

many companies as possible will sign up to. The charter is a commitment which encourages employers to recruit more former offenders.

As well as making good business sense, employing former offenders also makes sense for society as a whole. A study by the Ministry of Justice in 2013 found that for prison sentences of less than a year the chance of someone reoffending was reduced by nearly 10 per cent if they found a job.

The Social Exclusion Unit, established to provide the UK government with advice and policy analysis to help it drive down social exclusion, went further in 2002. It found that reoffending rates dropped by as much as a half when offenders found work.

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Crime is an expensive problem for us all. In 2018 the government estimated that crime costs us, as individuals, a whopping £50bn and an extra £9bn for businesses.

That’s why, the PCC argues, if we want businesses to flourish then we need to prevent and tackle crime.

The PCC’s Charter is to be cowritten by businesses. That’s why the PCC wants to hear from you.

What would encourage you to sign up to the charter?

What would convince you to employ someone who has a criminal record?

The PCC asks that you take the first step to changing the status quo in our region, so people who have committed a crime in the past can start over.

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Business Crime & Protection

Four steps to protect your company’s data By detective Inspector Michelle Ohren, head of cyber and innovation at The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands

ith a 8.1 per cent increase in business growth in the West Midlands region over the last two years, opportunities for cybercriminals to attack have also increased.

The average cost of a cyberattack for micro and small businesses that lost data or assets after breaches was £8,170, this increased to £13,400 for medium to large businesses.

These figures are alarming and rightly so, business owners work extremely hard to run successful companies. The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands (WMCRC) works closely to support and guide businesses across the West Midlands region through the complicated and often treacherous waters of the world of cybercrime.

The WMCRC is a police-led, notfor-profit partnership between academia and business. We exist to help businesses in the region improve their cyber resilience with our FREE membership which, together with our monthly newsletter, provides easy-to-follow guidance, tools, and resources.

With these statistics in mind, when was the last time you checked how your business's data is being used?

Here are four steps you can take to strengthen the security of your business’s data:

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Step 1 Learn the addresses of your data Often, businesses store data on multiple media types including local storage, disk-based backup systems, cloud solutions, and more.

A simple place to start is to understand exactly what lives on each form of technology and in what format it requires its own type of protection.

Step 2 Implement a need-toknow policy To reduce the risk imposed by human error or curiosity, businesses should create policies that limit access to data, meaning only those that require access have access. As a business, you should consider means to track access log entries, so that unpermitted access will not go undetected.

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Business Crime & Protection Step 3 Toughen your network security Networks are normally protected by a firewall and antivirus software, but these will not be effective if they are not up-to-date and working within the latest software versions.

Malware is a cyber security threat that mutates daily and as a business, it’s key that your antivirus software is up to date in order to keep up with these mutations.

Bring your own devices has been a rising trend for businesses in recent years, however, the Covid-19 pandemic meant that this wasn’t a trend or choice for many businesses when they were forced to close their business premises. As a result, there were many businesses who had employees using their own devices to allow the business to continue trading.

As a result, it’s a philosophy that is here for the long run and your business's security policy and processes should include the use of personal devices for business purposes.

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delete old and obsolete data. Things to consider when doing this are: • Identify the data you must protect and identify how long this must be kept for.

• Ensure you are looking at offline and offsite tape back up’s when tidying out your businesses data.

• Ensure you have an incident response plan in the event a successful cyber-attack takes place.

• Consider non-digital data such as paper files and hardware files as these can hold out of date data.

• Securely dispose of hardware that could contain out of date data, this could be photocopiers, scanners, or even outdated voicemail systems.

Step 4 Don’t hang on to data baggage To proficiently manage data as a business, creating a data lifecycle management plan will help you

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Sector Focus

Business Travel

Sector Focus The latest news from the sectors that matter to business

Improving rural mobility On track: The soon to be laid track in Dudley

Track delivered for rail extension A long-awaited extension to the West Midlands’ Metro light rail in Dudley is a step closer after the delivery of the first pieces of track for the scheme.

Nearly 1,000 feet of rail arrived at the Castle Hill site in Dudley town centre, and is now being installed.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “The delivery of the first section of rail is a really exciting moment for the Black Country Metro extension and I am delighted that we will shortly see track installed along Castle Hill.

“This is such an eagerlyanticipated route, not least because it will better connect Dudley with more of Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and the east and west of Birmingham by tram.

“Not only that, but it will also provide a direct route for many across the Black Country to travel directly to the new Curzon Street station for HS2, providing links to the rest of the UK. “This Metro extension truly is a game-changer for Dudley and the Black Country, and we’re pressing on and making it happen.”

Preparatory work on the project got underway along Castle Hill in 2020 and since then the team at the Midland Metro Alliance (MMA), which is designing and delivering the route on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), has removed the road surface and carried out the upgrading and diverting of utilities in the area.

Tom Maplethorpe, project director at MMA, said: “The team have been hard at work undertaking a number of essential activities in preparation for the track to be installed, despite the ongoing challenges of the new wave of Covid-19 cases.

“Residents, visitors and businesses will soon start to see the area take shape in what will be a really exciting time for the project.”

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Transport body Midlands Connect has launched a ‘rural mobility competition’, inviting businesses to put forward ideas that could help solve the social, environmental and economic issues caused by poor transportation in rural areas.

A number of specialist private companies and consultancies have been asked to submit commercially-viable ‘mobility solutions’ that could be used in rural communities across the Midlands.

These could include ‘demandresponsive transport’, or schemes giving residents to access electric scooters, bicycle hire, buses and taxis via the click of a button.

Up to four of the best proposals will be awarded £10,000, allowing chosen firms to further develop their ideas alongside local authorities, academic institutions and thirdsector organisations.

Should a suitable idea come forward, one organisation will

then be selected as the winner and awarded up to £100,000 to fully develop its plans.

The winner will be announced this summer.

‘Rural communities contribute a huge amount to the Midlands economy’ Midlands Connect researches, develops and progresses transport projects which will provide the ‘biggest possible environmental, economic and social benefits’ for the Midlands.

Figures from the Department for Transport suggests that rural communities are roughly twice as far from essential amenities and services via walking and public transport that those living in urban areas.

Midlands Connect chief executive Maria Machancoses said: “This competition and the

solutions it creates have the potential to change people’s lives, whether it be supporting a graduate to access better employment opportunities, allowing a parent to earn a higher education qualification or an elderly member of the community needing to travel to a medical appointment.

“Rural communities contribute a huge amount to the Midlands economy, it’s really important that we address the unique challenges these areas have and give local people the tools they need to succeed.

“With radical changes in transport expected over the next decade, we must act now to harness the benefits of emerging new technologies.

“Owning a car should not be a prerequisite to a full and enjoyable life, this competition will look at how we can improve mobility in isolated areas, and if successful this model could be rolled out region wide.”

Move it: An artist’s impression of how the people mover will look

New designs for APM revealed New plans for an Automated People Mover (APM) linking HS2 Interchange Station with the NEC, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport, have been submitted to Solihull Council.

HS2 – the London to Birmingham high-speed railway – has been working with the Urban Growth Company (UGC) in Solihull over the design of the project.

The APM stop will be connected by a footbridge to Birmingham International Station. The system will carry 2,100 passengers per hour in each direction on a six-minute journey along its 1.4 mile route.

The vehicles will travel along a viaduct for the entire route, passing over major obstacles such as M42, Pendigo Lake at the NEC and the West Coast Main Line.

Niki French, HS2’s deputy project client for

Interchange Station said: “The APM will connect high speed rail passengers to the classic rail network, supporting the shift from car use to public, mass transit transport, which is so important in achieving the UK’s target of net zero carbon.

“We have been working in partnership with the UGC, Solihull Council and the HS2 independent design review panel to develop an alternative proposal for the HS2 APM stop that can integrate in an accessible and sustainable way with the aspirational plans for future redevelopment of the Birmingham International Rail Station and its surroundings.”

Interchange Station’s Arden Cross site will become a new mixed-use destination supporting 30,000 jobs, and will include 3,000 new homes and 750,000 sq ft of commercial space.

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Business Travel

Sector Focus

Have your say on transport system The public is being invited to have its say on a strategy mapping out how the region’s transport system could be decarbonised and improved during the next two decades.

The draft West Midlands Local Transport Plan (LTP) - called ‘Reimagining Transport in the West Midlands’ - shows how the region could meet the challenges of tackling climate change, reducing traffic congestion and improving access to transport while supporting the post-Covid 19 economic recovery.

The plan, drawn up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), focuses on increasing cycling and walking and reducing the daily commute.

The plan was developed following the publication of an

open ‘green paper’ discussion document on the future of transport last year, which drew some 700 responses from across the region.

‘We are at a pivotal moment in the history of transport in our region with an unprecedented £1.3bn of investment’ The plan is based on tackling five themes: the climate emergency, making streets safer, fairer access to transport, supporting the economy and encouraging more active travel.

It includes proposals to further the Metro tram network, open new railway stations and invest in cleaner zero-emission buses through programmes such as the Coventry All Electric Bus City scheme.

It also wants to force change by developing more bus priority lanes and safe cycle routes.

There will also be the use of technology such as autonomous vehicles, the growing 5G mobile phone network and bus on demand services, to further encourage a shift from private cars.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board last month agreed the draft LTP and residents and businesses can have their say as part of an eight-week public consultation.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “We are at a pivotal moment in the history of transport in our region, with an unprecedented £1.3bn of investment to be made over the next five years.

“From improved cycle routes to new train stations, this investment will enable us to continue to connect communities as part of our transport revolution, as well as cut carbon emissions as part of our #WM2041 plan.

“Our draft Local Transport Plan is the guiding hand behind this and future investment, which is why it is so important residents have their say and make sure their views are heard.”

Awards for Staying Cool at Rotunda Staying Cool in Birmingham has received recognition from two leading international travel organisations.

The firm – which operates a number of serviced apartments in the Rotunda building received the Good Hotel Awards’ prestigious ‘Blue Ribbon for Great Getaways’, and was the only Birmingham city centre accommodation provider to make the list. Founded in 2014, the Good Hotel Awards are given to establishments with high customer ratings for room quality, service and value.

Home repairs company Rightio has begun to roll out a fleet of electric vans for its engineers.

Among the first recipients is Midlands-based gas safety engineer Hamid Esmaili (pictured right).

Rightio network manager, Rob Pearson said: “This is an exciting time for our business. We feel that this is the first step to help reduce our carbon footprint.”

Staying Cool has also received a Gold Award for being in the top 10 per cent of luxury hotels in Europe, by US News & World Report’s travel team.

The US News & Report hospitality list studied more than 35,000 hotels to find the best in the USA, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, based on reputation among travel experts, guest reviews and hotel class ratings.

Gavin Burns, Staying Cool Group general manager, said: “It’s great to be recognised with these two leading awards.”

On the buses: Tax officials get a close-up of the hydrogen bus’ power plant

Inspection day for pioneering green bus The taxman took at trip on one of National Express’ 20 new hydrogen double-decker buses during a visit to Birmingham.

Following a round table on ‘Levelling Up in Greater Birmingham’, during which local businesses discussed the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda and the opportunities it would bring to the West Midlands, HM Treasury’s director of companies and economic security, Tim Jarvis, and his staff had a close look at the new vehicles.

The hydrogen buses, which can run for around 190 miles and be refuelled in under 10 minutes, will save 631kg of poisonous nitrogen oxide emissions per year and will prevent 1,560 tonnes of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.

The buses are among the first hydrogen powered buses in England outside of London.

Chris Gibbens, commercial director at National Express Coventry, said: “It was great to welcome officials from HM Treasury to Birmingham. We enjoyed taking them for a spin in one of the hydrogen buses to see some of the exciting things going on in our city.

"These state-of-the-art buses are a sign of our commitment to sustainability. National Express bought its last diesel bus in 2019, and our goal is that the whole fleet will be zero-emission by 2030.

“So we're working with Transport for West Midlands to get hundreds more electric and hydrogen buses on routes across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.”

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Sector Focus

Finance

Sponsored by: BOOST&Co

Pandemic accelerates fraud risk for businesses Principal Matt Vincent

2022: The year to turbo-charge business growth With the New Year now well underway, businesses across the Midlands have been sharing exciting, aspirational plans for 2022 with us at BOOST&Co. The renewed sense of optimism despite ongoing political, Brexit and Covid-19 uncertainty is hugely encouraging.

The past two years have been volatile for businesses for a range of reasons, but we are seeing genuine determination from management teams to make the next 12 months a period of significant growth and tangible progress.

Although we have seen and funded an array of deals during the past 18 months, our appetite to support fastgrowth, innovative SMEs hasn’t abated and there remains a plethora of capital in the market to support strong management teams in achieving their goals.

BOOST&Co views the Midlands as an engine of growth for the UK economy, so if you think that growth capital could be the key to unlocking your 2022 potential, then we would be delighted to speak with you.

BOOST&Co offers term loans ranging from £1m to £10m for businesses turning over £2m or more and operates across a wide range of sectors. It has funded more than £500m across more than 130 deals to date and provided close to £200m under the government’s CBILS initiative to support SMEs during Covid-19.

To discuss the options for your Midlands business, reach out to Matt Vincent on 07761 744 755 or matt@boostandco.com

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A third of Britain’s employees have been caught trying to fiddle their own employer, according to a shocking new survey.

Eight in ten mid-sized businesses in the Midlands experienced fraud in 2021, with more than a third (39 per cent) of companies reporting an increase on the previous year, according to a new survey by top accountant BDO. BDO’s Fraud Survey - which monitored fraud trends at 500 mid-sized UK firms throughout 2021 found that more than a third (37 per cent) of firms had suffered security breaches through cyberattacks over the last 12 months.

While nearly a third (32 per cent) of frauds were by outside criminals, an astonishing 29 per cent were committed against companies by their own employees, with more than quarter (26 per cent) involving collusion between internal and external individuals.

The ongoing impacts of the pandemic and associated lockdowns have exacerbated the risk of being targeted by fraudsters, with many citing the shift to remote working as a driving factor.

Despite the rising number of fraud cases being reported by mid-sized firms, only a third of the businesses surveyed have implemented fraud awareness training programmes for their employees

over the last year, and approximately a quarter (24 per cent) of Midlands businesses don’t have a fraud response plan in place.

Sat Plaha, partner and head of forensic services at BDO in the Midlands, said: “There’s no denying that fraud is big business and affects everyone, transcending sectors and regions, and ranging from the opportunistic to the highly organised. Despite costing the UK billions of pounds each year, it remains under reported, under investigated and under prioritised.

“There’s little doubt that the pandemic has accelerated trends being seen across the fraud sector, with the prominence of agile working adding a layer of complexity to the process of identifying and defending against cyber-attacks.

“As a result, this has magnified the risk for businesses. The changing tactics being adopted by fraudsters, and the growing propensity for them to target the digital space, have also outpaced the protections being implemented by many firms.

“As organisations re-evaluate their hybrid working models for the year ahead, they should pay particular attention to robust internal controls, including strengthening their fraud risk management programmes to lessen their exposure to economic crime.”

Masterclasses to help small firms Barclays has launched a package of support aimed at boosting small businesses, with the bank set to host 50 masterclasses a month this year, focusing on managing cash flow, business growth and support for wellbeing.

The classes are open to all small business owners, with national events focused on the hospitality and care home sectors.

The nationwide drive is in response to new research conducted by the bank, which has highlighted the impact of the Covid pandemic on small business owners. According to the research, during the last two years, 82 per cent of West Midlands small businesses that took on debt did so for the first time, the majority through government lending schemes.

Barclays made more than £13bn of funds available to small businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Barclays is teaming up with Nisha Katona, owner of Mowgli Street Food restaurants, to raise awareness of the new support package.

Ms Katona said: “The first thing to do if you’re worried about your finances is to go and get help. One of the things about this pandemic

is that it’s made many more people understand what it’s like to be in debt. Business owners are part of a great fraternity and there is no shame on calling upon support, whether that be from friends or family, or your bank.”

Hannah Bernard, head of business banking at Barclays, said: “Everyone at Barclays is incredibly passionate about supporting small businesses the length and breadth of the UK.

“Our number one priority is to help businesses to not just recover from the pandemic, but to make a solid growth plan for the future.

“There is no one size fits all solution to the challenge, but we hope the steps we’ve taken to provide hundreds of expert masterclasses will make a real difference. We’re here to help, and we want any business owner who might be worried about the future of their business to reach out to us.”

Here to help: Hannah Bernard (left) and Nisha Katona

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Finance

Region faces slow recovery The impact the Covid-19 pandemic has left on the region’s automotive and manufacturing sectors means the West Midlands is playing catch-up with the rest of the country, according to EY’s latest Regional Economic Forecast.

The pandemic has slowed economic growth in the region to a crawl, and although the region’s gross value added (GVA) is forecast to be 5.3 per cent larger in 2025 than it was in 2019, that’s well behind the UK national average of 8.3 per cent.

In fact, the report says that the West Midlands is likely to be the only one of the nine English regions which will have returned to pre-pandemic output levels by the end of this year.

Simon O’Neill, office managing partner at EY in the Midlands, said: “While the automotive sector helped the West Midlands power ahead in the years leading up to the pandemic, the impact of Covid19 on supply chains and demand means the regional economy has more ground to make up than elsewhere.

“With the data showing London recovering from the pandemic more quickly than much of the rest of the of the country, action is needed to ensure places like the West Midlands don’t get left behind.

“Greater flexibility on where people work, aided by the pandemic, could help things – as

Simon O'Neill: Local economy is in the slow land

will improvements to regional connectivity like the next phases of the Metro and the development of HS2.

“Focusing on what attracts people and businesses to a region, attracting the right mix of sectors and job opportunities, and tackling issues that affect quality of life will be key to taking advantage of this.

Events like the Commonwealth Games certainly fit the bill.

“As previous EY research has

shown, the UK’s Net Zero and levelling up ambitions go hand-inhand; the billions of pounds of investment required to reach Net Zero present a golden opportunity to transform not only the environmental sustainability of the UK economy, but its regional balance too.

“The manufacturing and utilities sectors, for example, are key to the Net Zero agenda – and they are vital to regional economies, including the West Midlands.”

“Post-pandemic, the growing importance of some sectors can also be seen in places like Lichfield, which is forecast to be England’s best performing town between 2022 and 2025.

“From 2023, the town will be home to a new global fulfilment centre for an online retailer and is expected to see its GVA grow 3.6 per cent per year.”

Between 2022 and 2025, GVA in Birmingham is expected to expand by 2.7 per cent per year, marginally below the regional and UK average (2.8 per cent). This is forecast to be led by activity in the professional, scientific and technical, and wholesale and retail trade sectors.

Employment in the city is expected to grow at an average rate of 1.1 per cent per year between 2022 and 2025, underpinned by gains in human and social work and administrative and support services sectors.

Browne Jacobson in top 10 M&A ranking Browne Jacobson’s corporate finance team has been named in the UK’s top 20 legal adviser rankings and as one of the top Midlands top 10 legal advisers for the Midlands region for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity deal volume in the latest Experian annual United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland M&A Review.

During the last 12 months, the firm’s 30-strong national corporate dealmakers have advised on more than 120 high profile flagship UK and international transactions that have a combined value in excess of £2bn.

Among these deals was advising the shareholders of games-based e-commerce platform Focus Multimedia Limited to US based Fandom Inc; advising Apiary Capital on its buyout of global

media adviser, Media Sense Communications; and advising BGF on its investment into UK Flooring Direct.

The company has also kicked off 2022 with a number of key deals, including advising on the buyout of Care Fertility from Silverfleet Capital.

The team also recently advised the shareholders of Medline Scientific on its sale to a global life science provider.

Richard Cox, partner and head of corporate finance at Browne Jacobson, said: “It was an incredibly busy and rewarding year for our practice, with the market remaining competitive, throughout 2021 and into 2022.

“We are delighted to have already supported some fantastic deals in 2022 and to have maintained our top 20 and top 10

Richard Cox: Deals pipeline is smoking hot

deal-making rankings in the latest Experian report.

“The ongoing deals pipeline remains very healthy, so we are expecting the next six months to keep us very busy.”

Browne Jacobson’s national corporate finance practice operates from four of the firm’s five office network including Birmingham, London, Manchester and Nottingham.

Sector Focus Accountants primed to expand Prime Accountants Group has bought out a longestablished firm of accountants based in south Birmingham.

The firm is Kings Nortonbased Stanley Yule, which works with mainly small to medium businesses. The firm has been in existence for almost 100 years, and will continue under its own name for now.

The company’s three directors, Ian Bidmead, Gulraj Mankoo and Birgitt Saunders, will continue working for Stanley Yule, with the former pair also joining the board of Prime.

Stanley Yule has joined forces with Prime to draw on its greater resources and further expand the service it offers to its clients.

Kevin Johns, managing director of Prime, which has offices in Solihulll, Birmingham and Coventry, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ian, Gulraj, Birgitt and the Stanley Yule team to Prime following a period of impressive growth.

“The business will continue operating under its own name as it becomes part of the Prime group and will have access to the extra resources we can offer. Both businesses are in an excellent position to capitalise on the growth achieved this year and continue to expand into 2022.”

Mr Bidmead, who bought Stanley Yule in 1991 and has overseen the sale to Prime, said: “Stanley Yule has always been a client-focused and service-led firm, offering bespoke service and advice.

“This has enabled us to grow substantially over the years, to the point where we have decided to partner with a larger firm in order to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for our services.

“The partnership with Prime will enable us to continue to develop the business and offer even more value and advice to our clients going forward.

“The decision to partner with Prime was based on shared values, client approach and its excellent reputation.

We are convinced that by pooling our knowledge, experience and resources we will ensure a continued outstanding service for our clients and we’re thoroughly looking forward to working with Kevin and his team.”

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Sector Focus

Retail

A strong start to the new year with another seven leases signed at various stages of Over the past two years, retail and hospitality have planning or fit out. As a result, Touchwood will have taken a real hammering. The pandemic has been a more businesses trading by Quarter Two in 2022 than catalyst for many businesses closures during this they had before the pandemic, with the centre at 95 time and forced even the most traditional shopper to per cent of trading occupancy and every other vacant do more of their shopping online. unit under offer.

However, after a strong, industry defying quarter four performance for Touchwood in 2021, there are no Demand for tenancy across the industry has been white flags being waved in Solihull. recovering but not quite to this extent, and where it is, The first three months of trading in 2021 were nonrents are understandably soft. The recovery in existent, we were in lockdown and the shops didn’t Touchwood is sustainable with good rents being paid open until 12 April with hospitality following five and a firm platform being built for future success. weeks behind. As the vaccination programme rolled Furthermore, the new tenant mix aligns perfectly out in earnest, so grew consumer confidence. with the centre’s strategy to evolve. Throwing away

By Tony Elvin Touchwood’s footfall grew from 48 per cent of pre the cookie cutter that gives you the same shops and president of Solihull Chamber and restaurants in every shopping centre creates a more pandemic levels in May to over 90 per cent in general manager of Touchwood December and at 144 per cent of 2020 levels, despite authentic and engaging experience with nine of these the rise of Omicron fears at this point. new businesses independently owned and operated.

Tenant sales grew too, from 75 per cent of 2019 It is clear, that high tenant occupancy and positive levels in May, where there were less visitors but a higher average spend centre footfall are having a complimentary effect on each other. to over 97 per cent of pre pandemic levels in November 2021. Omicron Prospective tenants want to be in busy destinations and highly occupied fears led this figure to contract in December back to 91 per cent but this destinations drive more footfall and therefore more sales.

Using Springboard* reporting data to gauge the average UK Shopping was still deemed an incredible result in the circumstances, especially Centre footfall performance, Touchwood has grown from a -six per cent when you consider the ‘stay at home’ message and the fact that deficit versus the UK average in June 2021 to a +14 per cent positive Touchwood had less businesses trading than two years prior. But how performance via the UK average in December 2021. Reassuringly, this many less stores were trading? Between March 2020 and May 2021 trend has continued across the first few weeks of 2022 as we welcome Touchwood had lost 13 stores and restaurants. Other centres have fared the next raft of new openings at Touchwood. worse, and we felt this was a manageable loss and a decent platform to At Touchwood, we feel excited and buoyant about our future. The rebuild upon. What nobody could have expected to see is that by the end of 2021 the shopping centre would have gained nine new occupiers, recovery has begun.

Retail Therapy

Local retailers drop unethical suppliers One in five (18 per cent) retailers in the West Midlands have cancelled contracts with suppliers over the last 12 months who don’t meet stringent ethical and sustainable standards, new research reveals.

The report by Barclays Corporate Banking – ‘Reshaping retail: how ethics and sustainability are changing retail’s ecosystem’ – shows the pandemic and an increasing focus on environment, sustainability and governance (ESG) are shifting business priorities.

In a study of more than 300 retail decision makers, 51 per cent in West Midlands say sustainability is more important now than it was two years ago and 49 per cent say the same about ethical standards.

Additionally, 91 per cent retailers in the West Midlands think that a long-term strategy to improve their ethical and sustainable credentials is more important than overcoming short-term supply chain disruption.

On average, retail businesses with more than 10 staff are investing £504,000 per year to improve their own footprints.

However, the imperative to be more sustainable and ethical is now being felt financially across the supply chain.

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Nationally, the average is six contracts cancelled per retailer, with an average value of £306,000 per contract.

Cumulatively, £7.1bn worth of contracts have been cancelled across the industry during the last 12 months.

The most common reasons for cancelling contracts with suppliers were: use of unsustainable materials (39 per cent), unfair working hours (37 per cent) and lack of membership to trade body that monitors ethical and sustainable standards (32 per cent).

The importance of monitoring standards throughout the supply chain is reflected in the £179m retailers invested last year in joining trade bodies that monitor supplier performance in ethics and sustainability.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of retailers signed up to new bodies last year, spending an average of £34,500 each in doing so.

Karen Johnson (pictured), head of retail and wholesale, Barclays Corporate Banking, said: “We are seeing a marked acceleration and shift among retailers in the West Midlands towards prioritising sustainable and ethical standards in every part of their business operations. It’s being driven by

increasing consumer demand and will rise even further as Gen Z enter the workplace and begin to earn their own money.”

Consumer demand for improved credentials is highlighted in Barclays’ research among 2,000 members of the public. While quality of product (71 per cent) and price (72 per cent) are shown to be the purchasing factors of most importance to consumers in the West Midlands, ethical and sustainable credentials (51 per cent and 51 per cent respectively) are not far behind.

Younger consumers are leading the demand. In fact, two thirds of 16-24-year-olds would stop shopping with their favourite retailer due to ethical concerns and 68 per cent of 25-34-yearolds would cut ties and shop elsewhere if their favourite retailer was found not to meet sustainability standards.

There is, however, an upside for retailers, in that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for these higher standards.

On average, West Midlands shoppers will pay 4.33 per cent more for an

ethically-sound product and 4.11 per cent more for sustainably-sourced goods. Consumers also feel there is room for further improvement, with 61 per cent wanting to see retailers make more ethical and sustainable upgrades in future.

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Technology

Sector Focus

IT boosts employee engagement Around half of UK employers are planning to invest in automation or IT are seeing significant investment by UK businesses in two types of over the next 12 months, in response to increasing staffing challenges, technology since the start of the pandemic, almost certainly in response to according to RSM UK. the challenges of remote working.

Staff are leaving in their droves because of what has been “First, we see them investing in automation solutions to enhance termed ‘the great resignation’, and there has also been a productivity and give staff time to focus on value-adding tasks like high level of absence nationally due to Covid. sales and customer service.

That’s according to the latest quarterly ‘The Real “Second, we see an even more marked investment in Economy’ report by RSM UK. technology to enhance employee engagement, such as The report - ‘The Real Economy’ - reveals more collaboration software to improve team communications, than a third of employers (38 per cent) say skills social media to attract and engage employees, and aspects of virtual reality (VR) to support team connectedness and shortages are a worry and investment in technology could help address the recruitment challenges that interactive training. almost two thirds (61 per cent) of employers say they “However, these investments in technology don’t deliver benefits alone. For example, the deployment of RPA (robotic are experiencing. process automation) technology needs to be accompanied by For those businesses investing in automation or IT, the main reason for doing so for over two thirds (67 significant investment in process standardisation and upskilling per cent) of businesses is to increase efficiency or staff to re-focus them on higher value work such as customer productivity of employees. service. Similarly, technology alone is not the answer to addressing falling levels of staff engagement during Coronavirus.

Around four in five businesses surveyed (83 per cent) While better collaboration software and VR can help, it only are investing in digital to improve employee really works if accompanied by a simultaneous focus engagement. on human connectedness – for example, Almost half (47 per cent) reported that they have recently invested in ensuring that line managers regularly improvements to the digital check on the well-being of their experience for staff to teams. enhance employee “Overall, these results show that engagement, while 36 per UK businesses are increasingly cent plan to do so within realising that investment in the next 12 months. technology is a key part of Mark Taylor, regional attracting and engaging staff in Mark Taylor: Great resignation and Covid managing partner, RSM what is a hugely competitive means firms are turning to innovation talent market.”

West Midlands, said: “We

Alexa available on Jaguar’s vehicles The online retailer’s ‘virtual assistant’ will be available on all new and existing Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles fitted with its advanced ‘Pivi Pro’ infotainment system.

Owners of compatible vehicles will be able to enjoy the benefits of intuitive voice-enabled experiences thanks to a software-over-the-air update. The seamless integration brings the familiar Alexa experience into the vehicle and provides natural voice interaction with Pivi Pro’s features including navigation, media playback, phone calls, and compatible smart devices.

The engineering teams from Jaguar Land Rover and Amazon worked in close partnership to create the system and say the Alexa voice experience aims to make it easy for customers to operate while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Requests such as ‘Alexa, navigate me to home’, ‘Alexa, play my chill-out playlist’ and ‘Alexa show me nearby coffee shops’ can all be done by voice, without touching Pivi Pro’s touchscreen. Alexa also enables customers to check the news, the weather and manage their schedule or shopping list, just by asking.

Alex Heslop, director of electrical and electronic engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The seamless integration of Amazon Alexa with our Pivi Pro infotainment system gives customers simple, intuitive voice control of regularly used features, making the driving experience even more enjoyable.

“The fact we can also offer this new feature to existing customers proves the value of our software-over-the-air-updates.”

Alexa was first revealed on the New Range Rover and will now be offered across the portfolio of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

More than 200,000 existing owners of models fitted with Pivi Pro will also be able to benefit from the new technology thanks to a software-over-the-air (SOTA) update.

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Sector Focus

Legal

Growth in finance sector as firm records £1bn in deals Daniel De Saulles: Microsoft’s ‘new commerce experience’ might prove unpleasant for some

Warning over tech giant’s price hike A Midlands law firm is warning businesses to be wary of an aggressive change of policy by US tech giant Microsoft where the licensing of software is concerned.

The American firm is bringing in huge price rises for commercial subscribers of popular software such as Office, to try and force them into opting for signing up for longer subscriptions.

These longer subscriptions – of three years – do not attract the massive price hike (20 per cent) that monthly subscribers face.

This policy – called ‘new commerce experience (NCE)’ by Microsoft, but less politely defined by others (for example, online tech news site ZDNet has labelled it ‘tightening the pricing and licensing screws’) – also has a potentially nasty hidden sting for some.

According to tech lawyer Daniel De Saulles of Harrison Clark Rickerbys, third party providers signing up for long term licence commitments might find themselves facing a hefty loss should any of their customers go bust or default during the period of the subscription.

Mr De Saulles said that the Microsoft system worked via a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier, basis the latter being cloud solution providers who buy the subscriptions from the former. The Tier 2 suppliers are the businesses who would be likely to commit to the longer licences, to avoid passing on the Microsoft price hike to their own customers, who might still have monthly deals.

Mr De Saulles said: “The problem arises if any of the Tier 2 providers’ customers become insolvent or default on the contract they have with the Tier 2 provider, because ultimately the providers will lose money as a result of purchasing the licences from Microsoft in full and in advance.

“These increases are likely to affect hundreds of providers across the UK and Europe - I would urge anyone in this situation to move quickly to get their contracts reviewed and amended.”

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Browne Jacobson’s national banking and finance team have announced a 25 per cent year on year growth in deal volumes for 2021, beating its predicted target of 20 per cent.

Over the last 12 months, the team which is made up of 14 specialist banking lawyers, advised on over 300 transactions across various sectors including healthcare, private equity, financial services and tech.

The deals have a combined value of £1 billion.

Some of the highlight deals include advising: • NatWest and HSBC on funding provided to Dovehaven Care Homes, a North West care home group; • Complete Detection Systems on its funding from Beechbrook Capital to support its acquisition of Genex Limited and its future buy and build strategy; • Lloyds Development Capital on senior debt facilities provided by Clydesdale Bank (trading as Virgin Money) in relation to the MBO of Kingswood Corporation; • NorthEdge on the buyout of ICP and negotiating debt facilities from Santander; • Santander Growth Capital team in the North West on facilities provided to Nemesis Now Limited.

Paul Ray, partner and head of the national banking and finance practice at Browne Jacobson, said: “Over the last 12 months, our team continued to demonstrate the strength in its deep-rooted sector knowledge and talent in anticipating what the UK banking and finance market may do next by advising on host of complex diverse deals and projects across various key sectors.

“Particularly, we saw a real spike in activity across the healthcare and private equity sectors which made up over 50 per cent of our entire team’s transactions.

“Although there are clear headwinds in terms of inflation, energy price increases, recruitment and supply chain challenges, there is an underlying feeling that there is a confidence in the UK business market.

The market remained strong throughout 2021 and is likely to remain in a very healthy state in 2022.

“This is being driven by strong levels of liquidity, particularly because of the wide range of debt providers operating in the market including banks, alternative debt providers and debt funds. It is a trend that isn’t showing any signs of slowing down in the immediate future.”

Browne Jacobson’s national banking and finance team operates from three of the firm’s five office network including Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham.

Appointments boost litigation team The Wilkes Partnership has taken on three newly qualified solicitors for its private client and property litigation teams.

Sophie Raybould and Joel Blake – who will join the private client team - and Ayesha Sirpal – who will join the property litigation team – completed their training contracts earlier this month at theBirmingham and Solihull-based law firm.

Wilkes partner Ann-Marie Aston, partner at Wilkes, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our new solicitors to Wilkes. Their hard work and ambition have certainly paid off and I am excited to see how they will continue their professional development with us.

“Recruiting quality trainee solicitors every year is a natural part of Wilkes’ commitment to bringing through new solicitors to the profession. We aim to help numerous aspiring trainee solicitors every year to become qualified, and we are absolutely thrilled we remain in the position to continue such support.

“The team and I would like to congratulate Sophie, Joel and Ayesha on successfully completing their training and wish them every success in the coming years.”

Newly qualified (from left): Sophie Raybould, Ann-Marie Aston, Ayesha Sirpal and Joel Blake

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Legal

Sector Focus

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Sector Focus

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Property

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Property

Sector Focus

Colliers raises alarm over business rates Business rates expert Colliers has accused the government of using sleight-of-hand to rule out hundreds of thousands of business rates appeals.

The government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) had claimed that new figures showed that it had resolved more rates appeals than ever before in the last quarter of 2021.

But Colliers said that his was only because the government had banned ‘material change of circumstances (MCC)’ appeals related to the Covid pandemic, of which it estimated there may be around 450,000.

‘This move was lambasted by the property industry at the time’ The rating appeals figures relate to the 2017 local rating list.

John Webber, head of business rates at Colliers said: “Looking at the latest stats, on the surface it appears that the VOA has had its most efficient and successful quarter ever in dealing with

John Webber: Government is brushing rates appeals under the carpet

businesses appealing against their business rates and by implication that the current system is working.”

He added that the reality was that this success was only achieved by the ban on the Covid related appeals last December.

He said that the government had decided to replace these appeals by a £1.5bn business rates relief fund, which would ‘get cash to affected businesses in the most proportionate and equitable way.’

This move was lambasted by the property industry at the time, said Mr Webber, as ‘unprecedented’ and a ‘ripping up’ of the ratings rule book.

He said: “Overnight nearly 450,000 businesses, who had paid their full rate bills during the pandemic, despite the disruption to their businesses, found the goalposts moved as they lost their right to appeal against their businesses rates bills.

“Many of these businesses are now still waiting for their share of the £1.5bn business rates relief fund, for which guidance for distribution has only just been announced.

“Not only does £1.5bn go nowhere near covering the amount of business rates rebates such businesses should have received, but its distribution is so unwieldly that it will take many months to reach the right pockets.”

“Meanwhile the VOA is able to announce squeaky clean results that give the appearance it is doing a great job and all in the garden is rosy.

“It’s a disgrace that such business distress has just been brushed under the carpet.”

Improvement for office market Birmingham’s office market showed a significant improvement last year, according to a new report by property firm Avison Young.

Avison’s latest ‘Big Nine’ office market update says city and out-oftown office transactions reached 925,000 sq ft in 2021, a massive increase on the previous year.

In the city centre, deals totalled 657,000 sq ft in 2021, up 26 per cent on 2020, while the out-of-town market recorded 52 per cent increase on 2020, with a take up of 268,000 sq ft.

Among the big lettings in 2021 were various among professional services firms, with the largest being at 103 Colmore Row, where lawyer Shoosmiths took 32,900 sq ft.

Other well-known firms such as Arup and Atkins also acquired new grade A space in the city centre in 2021.

Similarly, out-of-town deals and activity were dominated by professional and business services

in 2021, says Avison. Highlights include facilities management firm Mitie taking 32,848 sq ft at Trinity Park, while Citibase and Rivus Fleet signed up for 27,764 sq ft and 11,700 sq ft respectively at Birmingham Business Park.

Avison director George Jennings said: “There was a significant improvement in office activity in Birmingham city centre last year, with the market once again showing strong resilience and adaptability.

“What remains is the desire and need for quality office space, across the UK, and Birmingham is fortunate in the fact that it has an abundance of Grade A supply already in and coming to the market over the coming year, meaning we’re unlikely to see a drop in the momentum of the city and out-of-town markets in 2022.

“Looking ahead, there continues to be a real drive for quality. Yes, companies are taking less space, but we are seeing more and more

George Jennings: Office boom set to continue

businesses wanting the office culture back.

“By the end of 2022, it is looking like take-up will be back to the fiveyear average, as long as we continue to navigate our way through the pandemic as we have been doing.”

Promotion: Luke Webb

Promotion at Living Space Solihull-based Living Space Housing has promoted Luke Webb to senior planning manager.

He joined the affordable homes company in 2019 as a planning manager and has overseen planning matters for 10 Living Space developments.

The first homes are now being handed over at four of those schemes, and three others are in the planning system. The other three will see planning applications lodged in the coming months.

Living Space managing director Paul Breen said: “Planning is such a crucial part of the residential development process. With Living Space growing at such a rapid pace this year, we are very grateful to Luke for his thorough approach and sheer hard work in successfully navigating the planning system.

Prior to joining Living Space Housing and Hayfield, Luke Webb was the planning manager for David Wilson Homes’ Mercia Division. He started his career as a validation officer for Lambeth Council.

Living Space has a total of 674 residential plots under control, representing a combined value in excess of £113mn. The business is on track to deliver at least 20 developments over the next two years. *Another property firm, Birmingham-based Pennycuick Collins, has appointed Andreas Coombs as a graduate building surveyor.

He has 13 years of experience within the legal and property sector.

Pennycuick associate director David Baker said: “He will play a vital role in delivering building consultancy services on a number of interesting projects.”

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Sector Focus

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Manufacturing

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Manufacturing

Sector Focus

Drive to go green must start at home A leading Birmingham industrialist is urging politicians to back the region by ensuring that more locally made components go into the growing number of electric vehicles taking to the roads.

Grayson Thermal Systems’ Stuart Hateley believes that without this, the region is poised to miss a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to ensure that all tiers of the supply chain have the chance to benefit from the move to more sustainable vehicles. The managing director, who has been in charge at the Tyseley-based firm since 2009, wants local MPs and the West Midlands Combined Authority to come together with industry to find a way of ensuring more of the vehicles destinated for our roads feature locally made components.

He made the rallying call after his own firm sealed a major deal to supply up to 400 heating ventilation and air conditioning systems for electric buses being made for use in Dublin.

He said: “The West Midlands has had a great start to the year with a £2.5bn electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in Coventry receiving earlystage planning permission and, more recently, the £50m deal with National Express to deliver 130 electric buses by 2023.

“This is great news for the region in our bid to lead the electrification race, but what I’d like to know is if anything is being done to ensure there is local content in these projects or is most of

the money going outside the region or even the country?

“I’d love to see Andy Street and other local MPs really get behind this, maybe in the shape of a taskforce that also gets manufacturers and academia on board. Get this right and it potentially could create thousands of highskilled jobs locally, which will pour revenue back into the coffers of the Treasury.”

Birmingham-based Grayson Thermal Systems, which was founded in 1978 by current chairman Graham Hateley, has bounced back from the pandemic after securing more than £8m of orders from customers including ABB, Solaris, Skoda and Wrightbus.

Mr Hateley added: “If we are involved in these electrification projects from the outset then we can build technology and expertise that can not only be used to attract future investment in the UK, but could also be exported across the world.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure our zero-emission vehicle innovation is designed for manufacture at the right price point to be commercially viable. However, it wouldn’t hurt for our government and local authorities to explore ways where any public funding is spent with one eye on supporting the local supply chain.”

Support for research body Business, academic and political leaders in the West Midlands have teamed up in a bid to bring the Government's new Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to Birmingham.

ARIA was announced by the Government last year as an independent agency to fund highrisk, high-reward scientific research.

It will be led by prominent, world-leading scientists who will be given the freedom to identify and fund transformational science and technology at speed.

The new agency will help to cement the UK's position as a global scientific superpower, while shaping the country's efforts to build back better through innovation.

Now regional leaders, including West Midlands mayor Andy Street, and Dr Clive Hickman, chief executive of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, are calling for the agency to be headquartered in Birmingham.

The bid coalition has identified the famous Curzon Street Station

as an ideal location, and used the old building to launch its effort to bring the agency to Birmingham.

‘The West Midlands offers an ideal base for ARIA with our central UK location’ The bid was officially launched

by Mr Street, Dr Hickman, Professor Julian Beer, deputy vice-chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise at Birmingham City University (BCU) and Councillor Brigid Jones, deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council.

Mr Street said: “The West Midlands offers an ideal base for ARIA, with our central UK location, our world-leading knowledge, and our talent base of academics and industry expertise.

“With a fast-growing and diverse young community, our region has the next generation of innovators and inventors who can

help meet the Government's ambition to be a scientific superpower.

“In post-pandemic Britain, basing ARIA in the West Midlands will help deliver levelling up by creating high-quality jobs and new skills for residents as well as addressing the regional imbalance of public and private investment.”

Professor Julian Beer said: “As a home to 20 leading universities, the West Midlands is an ideal springboard for ARIA to access some of the brightest minds and innovators the UK has to offer, including Birmingham City University's new £70m STEAMhouse initiative offering access to like-minded collaborators from the business, academic, creative and digital communities.

“It's critical that the opportunity to choose a location like the West Midlands also enables ARIA the international platform and links it needs to succeed, which Birmingham offers.”

Stuart Hateley: Politicians must do more to back local firms in the race to ‘go green’

Manufacturer launches range A Duddeston-based manufacturer is set to unveil its latest brass cabinet hardware products at a key exhibition at the NEC. The firm is Armac Martin, who will be exhibiting at the KBB (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom) 2022 show this month.

The Dollman Street business – founded in 1929 - will debut its latest launch, a matt white lacquered finish, which adds to its range of products.

The firm will also exhibit some of its bestselling collections, from the traditional Cotswold range to the more contemporary Sparkbrook, which features an industrial based design.

Armac Martin’s stand will be its biggest ever, and has been designed by Birmingham based design studio, Faber.

Richard McGrail, commercial director at Armac Martin, said: “We are excited to be exhibiting at KBB again, a great opportunity to meet new and existing customers whilst showcasing our bestselling product collections. The show always leaves us feeling inspired and motivated for the future of the KBB industry.”

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Sector Focus

Sport

The Business of Sport The Hundred to make return The fixtures have been announced for the return of knockabout cricket tournament ‘The Hundred’.

Edgbaston-based Birmingham Phoenix’s first match will be on 10 August against Southern Brave, a repeat of last year’s men’s final.

The Hundred women’s competition will get underway the day after, following the conclusion of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Moeen Ali, Birmingham Phoenix men’s captain said: “The Hundred got off to an incredible start last year.

“It was really special to lead my home team and play in front of packed houses at Edgbaston.

“The way the fans got behind us was amazing to see and I hope the team can go one better this year and lift the trophy at Lord’s.”

Discount offer at Masters The Belfry will once again play host to one of the biggest events in the golf calendar – the Betfred British Masters.

And to mark the return of the competition to the four-time Ryder Cup venue, Chamber members are being offered a limited-time discount on hospitality packages.

The Betfred British Masters is a world-famous golf tournament attracting the best players from around the world. It has an illustrious winner’s list including Tony Jacklin, Sir Nick Faldo and the late, great Seve Ballesteros.

The Belfry, near Sutton Coldfield, is again preparing for four days of golf action, from 5 to 8 May, as Britain’s Richard Bland defends his title against a formidable field.

Former Masters champion Danny Willett will again host the tournament, having described the experience as “a proud moment”.

He added that the Belfry is “spectacular and a fantastic venue”.

This time around, the European Tour has launched Premium Experience packages, offering multiple options from client entertaining or simply attending with friends and families.

The prices start at £390 (inc VAT).

A limited time discount is available to all members of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for the Premium Experiences (subject to availability).

For more information contact Harry Chittenden at hchittenden@sales.europeantourgroup.com

Aston University partners with Games Aston University has been unveiled as an ‘Official University’ to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will take place at the end of July.

The University’s School of Optometry will be loaning ophthalmic equipment and providing eye care expertise to the games organisers.

This will be supported by a network of qualified optometrist volunteers for three polyclinics which will form the primary healthcare facilities for athletes and team officials requiring medical assessment and treatment throughout the games period.

Professor Leon Davies, professor of optometry and physiological optics at the university, said: “It is our aim to advance eye health in our region and society through innovative and clinically relevant education, research, and community engagement.

“In addition to providing ophthalmic equipment during the games, we have also brought together a cohort of volunteer optometrists, dispensing opticians and ophthalmologists from across the UK.” 78 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

Teaming up: Aston University vice-chancellor Saskia Loer Hansen (left) and business and management student Balraj Purewal

Dr Pam Venning, head of medical services at Birmingham 2022, said: “Birmingham 2022 wouldn’t be possible without teams of volunteers, and we are looking forward to working with the optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists assembled by the University to support the athletes

and officials attending the Games.”

The university will also be supporting Birmingham 2022 in its aim to be the first games to create a carbon neutral legacy by providing parking and hosting temporary electric vehicle charging facilities for its fleet, as well as other spaces on campus for its

organising team.

Director of legacy Nicola Turner and Jess Fidler, head of sustainability for Birmingham 2022 spoke to students in a special event in November setting out the work being done to create a legacy for the region, including the ambition to create a carbon neutral legacy.

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Member Profile

Member Section

Chamber Insight Focus on a member

Name: Alex Bishop Company: Shoosmiths Job Title: Partner and co-head of Birmingham office

What does your company do?

Shoosmiths is one of the largest law firms in Birmingham with 12 other offices around the UK and one in Brussels. We aim to make a real difference to our clients, people and communities.

How did it all start?

Shoosmiths has been around since 1845 but only arrived in Birmingham just under 20 years ago. I joined 16 years ago and the growth and success we have achieved in that time has been remarkable.

What’s your greatest achievement so far?

Making it into The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100’ in 2021 was very exciting. I was also tremendously humbled to be named ‘Inspiring Leader’ at the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards in 2019.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken – and did it work out?

I guess leaving a big global law firm and joining Shoosmiths when it was an embryonic relatively unknown firm here back in 2006 – safe to say I have never looked back.

What keeps you awake at night?

I sleep really well. There was the odd moment at the start of the pandemic when none of us knew how this might all play out but the whole firm pulled together and we emerged even stronger.

If you could turn the clock back, what would you do differently?

My mistakes and wrong turns have led me to where I am now, so am not sure I would change anything. Failures are where we learn most about ourselves.

What has surprised you most in your job?

The extraordinary career I have been able to have in Birmingham. Starting out, I wrongly assumed London had all the exciting cases — but I have had a richly interesting and international career.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Technical excellence is a given so nail that, then focus on building relationships as that is what will propel your career over others.

Which business do you most admire?

Right now, I am loving seeing the success of Gymshark. I love Ben Francis’ story and that he has stayed true to his roots.

What exciting projects is your business working on?

Shoosmiths’ connected services offers our clients non-legal products in one place. It helps inhouse lawyers, board members and heads of functions to thrive by working smarter, faster and better. Take a look by searching online for Shoosmiths Eight.

What made you join Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and how are you making use of your membership?

A real driver for us was the ability to raise our profile in the region as well as offering our rising stars a forum to network and develop through Future Faces, the young professionals network. We are currently encouraging our young talent to get involved.

Call: 03700 864 488

March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 79

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Member Section

New Members

New Members

Whatever your business size and requirements, the Chamber has a membership scale to suit your needs.

For more information visit: www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/membership

Your guide to new sign-ups Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust Child day-care activities Libby Kaluna 01564 825000 www.acorns.org.uk Solihull Chamber of Commerce

Alam Birmingham Ltd Other food services Chaudhary Arshad 01212422543 www.alam-restaurant.com Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Bandstand Merchandise Services Ltd Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods Laura Hartas 07899 901339 bandstandmerch.com Solihull Chamber of Commerce

BD Services Midlands Activities of call centres Quasim Rafiq 0121 798 0088 bdservice.co.uk Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Bishop Fleming Accounting and auditing activities Emily Rowe 01905 732 100 www.bishopfleming.co.uk Solihull Chamber of Commerce

Chetna Thanki Accountancy Service Accounting and auditing activities Manish Thanki 07936 048713 Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Discovery ADR Group Other activities of employment placement agencies Saejal Helate 0121 665 4075 discovery-adr.com Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Divine Matrimonials and Event Management Other service activities n.e.c.

Kashif Hanif 07811 332158 Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

ED Trading Ltd t/a Zauq Buffet Unlicenced restaurants and cafes Mohammed Serfrez 0121 327 2151 www.zauqbuffet.co.uk Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Epic Action Imagery Ltd Photographic activities not elsewhere classified Richard Burley 07796 447385 www.epicactionimagery.com Burton and District Chamber of Commerce 80 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

Fenix Business Solutions Retail sale of newspapers and stationery in specialised stores Nathan McCarthy 07828 494511 www.fenixbs.co.uk

Goddards Accountants Accounting and auditing activities Rana Salman Saleem 0208 9412187 www.cloudaccountingkingston.co.uk

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Front Row Racing Ltd Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles Robyn Cummins 01925 321880 www.frontrowracing.co.uk

Green Leaves Logistics Sea and coastal freight water transport Marvin Elson 01213610333 greenleaveslogistics.com

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

G Communications Ltd Other telecommunications activities Claire Greenwood 01675 597 410 www.gcomms.com

GuruYou Ltd Management consultancy activities other than financial management Rebecca Mander 0121 270 4300 www.guruyoucoach.com

Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

H20 Car Valeting in the UK and Valet Spa in the US. Specialised cleaning services Ian Bolderston 07415 979193 www.h20carvaleting.com Transatlantic Chamber

Jobs 22 Ltd Human resources provision and management of human resources functions Haroon Ghalib 0333 242 2222 jobs-22.co.uk Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce

Johnson and Connolly Photographic activities not elsewhere classified Annerley Johnson

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New Members

Member Section

As the voice of local business since 1813, we strive to help firms across the region

connect, support and grow.

07920144696 www.annerleyjohnsonphotography. co.uk Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce

JPIMedia Publishing Limited Publishing of consumer and business journals and periodicals Sarah Lovell 0330 403 0497 www.birminghamworld.uk Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

KateMedia UK Other information technology service activities Manuel Costin 07738 684 145 www.katemedia.eu

Netcom Training Ltd Other education n.e.c.

Lynne Whitehouse 0787 558 6114 www.netcomtraining.co.uk

T.O. Paragon Property LTD Business and domestic software development GAD ROMANO OSEI Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Serenity Specialist Care Residential nursing care facilities Sofia Younis 07973323342 www.serenity-homes.co.uk Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors Emma Harris 0800 763 1000 www.shma.co.uk

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Lichfield Cathedral School Pre-primary education Jo Brown 01543 306169 www.lichfieldcathedralschool.com

Shout Local Media Other publishing activities Carole Chambers 07854 087 117 www.thecannocklocal.co.uk

Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce

Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce

The Data Company Technologies Ltd Information technology consultancy activities Kali Bagary 01494 546089 thedatacompany.com Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

The Leadership Coaches Other education n.e.c.

Zoe Lewis 0800 345 7727 www.theleadershipcoaches.co.uk Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

TRP Solicitors Solicitors Sean Mcloughlin 0121 616 4700 www.trpsolicitors.co.uk Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Hospital activities Cathi Shovlin 0121 432 3232 www.uhb.nhs.uk Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce

Voilo Limited Other information technology service activities Ravi Ranjan 07393 188765 www.voilo.co.uk Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Workplace Group Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.

Clive Brooks www.workplacegroup.co.uk Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Your Children's Future Other education n.e.c.

Fred Hughes 07957 774702 www.yourchildrensfuture.co.uk Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

HancoxRead Recruitment are a multi-sector award winning independent recruitment consultancy set up in March 2019 and based in Harborne.

We work with Public Sector Departments, Care Homes, Engineering and Industrial businesses across the Midlands and the UK.

• We have access to over 25 million CV’s Nationwide with all skills covered from SIA Security to Care Workers (all levels) to industrial.

• We have access to all the premium job boards – all part of our service.

• We offer temporary, fixed term and permanent recruitment options.

• We pride ourselves on our processes and procedures to ensure all workers are fully registered, reference checked and using our advanced biometric ID checking technology.

• We guarantee no illegal workers in your business.

Call Guy Hancox today to discuss your recruitment issues/plans in the strictest of confidence on

07851 489 513 or email guy@hancoxread.co.uk

March 2022 CHAMBERLINK 81

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Member Section

Competition

...any other business A roundup of news from Chamber members

Battle the elements for charity Two Midland charities have embarked on possibly their craziest fundraising stunt yet – they are hoping to persuade people to walk over hot coals or broken glass for them.

The charities are Acorns Children’s Hospice and LoveBrum, who have teamed up to stage a ‘Fire and Ice Walk’ extravaganza to Birmingham this month. The event is on 11 March at Millennium Point.

Zoe Baggott, senior manager for area and event at Acorns, said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with LoveBrum to bring you the big Brummie bash you’ve all been waiting for. Acorns relies on money raised through events like this to fund our lifeline care and support for life limited and life threatened children. By joining #TeamFire or #TeamIce you’ll be helping us be there for every child and family that needs us.”

Once the Fire and Ice walks are complete, the evening will continue with celebrations, fun, food, and entertainment.

Rebecca Simkiss-Walker, chair of LoveBrum, said: “The last 18 months have been extremely difficult for so many, and the charitable sector has been deeply affected by the pandemic.

“Yet, during this time of struggle at LoveBrum we have heard so many inspirational stories of those who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic to do what they can to help others in need.

“The evening is set to be an amazing celebration of both our city and the power of collaboration, and a fun-filled experience for both spectators and participants alike – we can’t wait!”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children and support for their families from its three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community. LoveBrum is a registered charity that supports various projects across Birmingham that are often volunteer led and that deliver real change.

The charity aims to support more than 36 projects per year, and to reach out to all corners of the second city Registration for each of the Fire and Ice walks is £40, with a minimum sponsorship requirement of £150. Included in the price is the daring walk of your choice, an exclusive event t-shirt, a fundraising pack and wristband for entry into the event.

Don’t try this at home: Walking on (very) hot coals for charity

Thrill-seeker pops the question in shark tank There’s plenty of ways of proposing to someone – but sharing the moment with a shiver of sharks is pretty unusual.

But that’s what Jorden Guest decided to do while diving with the sharks at the Bear Grylls Adventure at the NEC. His now bride-to-be, Vicky, was watching from outside the Shark Dive tank, when Jorden managed to dodge the attention of the sharks and get down on one know, holding up a sign asking the all-important question.

Jorden said: “Vicky gifted me with a Shark Dive experience at The Bear Grylls Adventure for Christmas, and I instantly knew this would be the perfect opportunity to ask her to marry me.

“I’m a massive shark and diving fan, and thought it would be really cool to incorporate this into my proposal. The whole experience has 82 CHAMBERLINK March 2022

been equally exciting and nervewracking, but I’m glad the team at The Bear Grylls Adventure have been able to help me make this happen.”

It isn’t the first time that The Bear Grylls Adventure has found itself playing Cupid. The attraction hosted

its first wedding last year, when diving fans Lisa and Chris exchanged their vows underwater, with the habitat’s resident animals as the guests of honour.

Bear Grylls’ general manager Marc Bell said: “We pride ourselves on making magical memories for

The intrepid Jorden dices with death – but will he get the right answer? (And yes, he did – but he was lucky there were no Great White sharks in there)

our guests at The Bear Grylls Adventure, and it’s a great honour to have been a part of such a special moment for Jorden and Vicky.”

Home to almost 1,000 creatures, including Blacktip Reef sharks, Nurse sharks and Cownose Rays, the Shark Dive allows guests to explore first-hand the environment inhabited by these beautiful creatures.

The Shark Dive experience at The Bear Grylls Adventure is designed to educate, raise awareness and contribute to the urgent conservation of global shark populations, with a percentage of each Shark Dive experience sold at the attraction going towards the work done by The Shark Trust charity.

The attraction’s important partnership with the charity both educates guests and supports further conservation projects.

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