Chamberlink March 24

Triple triumph for language experts

• EXCLUSIVE: Meet the new boss at the NEC

• Celebrating International Women’s Day

• Firm who replaced stolen FA Cup

Word360 are the big winners at awards - See page 5

4

5

14

22

44

1813

46

Chamber Group

48 International Trade: Global innovation hub launched

50 ABCC: New committee welcomed

52 Cannock Chase: Wellness rewards on offer

53 Burton & District: Apprentices in restaurant takeover

54 Lichfield & Tamworth: Literature Festival returns

55 Royal Sutton Coldfield: New plans for shopping centre

56 Solihull: Bridge demolished to make way for HS2

58 Future Faces: Probing the gaps in mental health training

60 The latest list of Chamber events

64 Creative Industries: Thinking creatively is a team effort

68 Business Crime & Protection: Top tips to help protect your premises

Sector Focus

70 Business Travel: easyJet partnership takes off

73 Finance: Haircare firm secures bank’s help

74 Legal: Freeths leads the way in insolvency claims

77 Manufacturing: Employment programme launched

78 Property: Strong results for office market

80 Skills: Diet course to educate on food inequality

82 Technology: Cyber security firm complete startup scheme

85 The Arts: Black Sabbath ballet set for international tour

86 Sport: The Hundred to return to Birmingham

Member Section

87 Chamber Insight

Sokhal, Cheeky Maharaja

88

90

News from Chamber businesses

Now service must have more than just a smile

Thankfully, the Basil Fawlty principles of customer service are largely behind us in the UK. While there are still exceptions, most public-facing business have sharpened up their acts.

They appreciate that they can no longer get away with sloppy service and go the extra mile in striving to ensure customers are treated with respect and dealt with promptly and efficiently.

Investing in excellent service does not come cheap and firms who are not prepared to stump up to ensure they have the best, properly trained staff are likely to come unstuck.

‘The hotel I stayed in seemed to be run for the benefit of its staff, not the visitor’

Sometimes you can get hit with overly fawning attitudes, like some greetings that are imposed on staff who are charged with answering telephones. I remember a newspaper I worked for trying to introduce such principles. The script went something like:

“Good afternoon. Welcome to the Lower Slocombe on the Puddle Gazette, circulating in in the County of Anywhere. This is the editorial department and we are delighted to engage with one of our many readers. John Lamb speaking. How may I help you today? If not, can direct you to a colleague who will be delighted to help with your inquiry.”

By which time, my contact would have probably hung up. I might be exaggerating but I’m sure you get the picture.

Anyway, a firm that seems to have got it just right is Word360, an Edgbaston-based business which provides translation and interpretation services in 350 languages.

They not only took home the Excellence in Contribution to the Community and Excellence in Customer Service categories at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) awards this year, they were also awarded the title of the overall Greater Birmingham Business of the Year (see page 5).

Their team has focused on health and social care and have supported local communities and people from disadvantaged and hard-to-reach backgrounds.

The judges said Word360 demonstrate a “high level of flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs, use their data and understanding of communities to target provision and find out about emerging needs”.

Meanwhile... one of my worst experiences as a customer occurred recently when I was abroad. The hotel I stayed in seemed to be run for the benefit of its staff, not the visitor.

The bar and restaurant opened when staff could be bothered; you felt you wanted to take a scrubbing brush to much of the eating area; internal telephones didn’t work; Wi-Fi was hit and miss; there was always a long queue at reception if you wanted to complain; and only the foolhardy swam in the pool, which had a toxic glow and I only saw it cleaned twice in 10 days.

If you’re heading to Barbados, get in touch (see page 3) and I’ll point you in another direction.

Business News

Latest news from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Triple Chamber award win for translation firm

By Dan Harrison

ABirmingham-based firm which provides translation and interpretation services in 350 languages and dialects claimed a hat-trick of honours at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s (GBCC) annual dinner and awards.

Word360, headquartered in Edgbaston, took home the overall Greater Birmingham Business of the Year crown, having also won the Excellence in Contribution to the Community and Excellence in Customer Service categories.

The award winners were announced in front of more than 1,000 people at the ICC in Birmingham city centre. The event was hosted by broadcaster and comedienne Noreen Khan and supported by headline sponsors Birmingham City University and Elonex.

Co-founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Tiku Chauhan and Kavita Parmar, Word360 is a language technology company which works with public, private and not-for-profit organisations to help them deliver access to services through its own tech platform “Wordskii”.

Word360's network of self-employed interpreters can help clients with translation services at anytime and anywhere, either inperson or via video or telephone.

The service is used by multiple sectors but the team has focused on health and social care and

especially supporting local communities and people from disadvantaged and hard-to-reach backgrounds.

Judges described Word360 as “an excellent company that exemplifies Birmingham - combining tech, innovation and entrepreneurialism with diversity and wellbeing for communities. Word360 demonstrate a high level of flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs, use their data and understanding of communities to target provision and find out about emerging needs.

“Their innovative technology solutions change the experience of both patients and healthcare providers.

Kavita and Tiku’s business journey began over 30 years ago in Handsworth, when Tiku Chauhan’s uncle RK Chauhan founded Express Interpreting, the forerunner to Word360.

Kavita recalled: “I had worked in the health sector as an optician for 11 years.

“I was a locum working all over the country for the likes of Dollond and Aitchison, Specsavers, Optical Express – I specialised in domiciliary care, going out to patients in their own homes and into hospitals.”

Her entrepreneurial skills came to the fore in the eventual takeover and transformation of Express Interpreting into Word360.

The 2024 GBCC awards were also supported by table décor sponsor mfg Solicitors and drinks reception sponsor ITS Group.

Triple winner: Kavita Parmar (centre) with host Noreen Khan and Johnathan Dudley, partner and head of manufacturing at Crowe UK LLP, the leading audit, tax, advisory and risk firm who sponsored the Business of the Year award

Global food manufacturer joins as patron

The company behind globallyrecognised food products such as Heinz, HP Sauce and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce has become a patron of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

The Kraft Heinz Company is home to a host of world-renowned brands including Heinz, whose products can be found in nine out of 10 homes across the UK

‘Telford is an extremely important site for the Kraft Heinz network, and a large employer for the area’

Founded more than 150 years ago, Heinz remains one of the UK’s most loved and trusted brands, with a classic range of soups, sauces, beans and pasta enjoyed by millions of consumers around the world.

Staying true to its company purpose ‘Let’s Make Life Delicious’, the company has expanded its range to meet changing consumer

tastes and needs – including healthier alternatives and plantbased versions of family favourites.

While Kraft Heinz is a multinational firm co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh in the United States, it has three UK production plants including one in Telford, Shropshire.

Anton Hickey, site manager at the Telford plant, said: “I am so pleased to be joining the Chamber, taking the first step into building strong relationships within the Greater Birmingham area.

“Telford is an extremely important site for the Kraft Heinz network, and a large employer for the area, so opening up opportunities like this is really important to help us grow as a business.

“I am relatively new to this area but have been overwhelmed by the collaboration and ambition from our neighbouring businesses. I really look forward to benefitting from this exciting membership.”

Patronage is the GBCC 's top tier of membership and offers a limited

Building strong relationships: Anton Hickey

number of companies the opportunity to connect with some of the region’s most influential figures.

The Kraft Heinz Company joins the likes of HS2, National Express, Birmingham Airport, HSBC, the NEC Group, Malmaison/Hotel du Vin and Birmingham’s four major universities in the GBCC’s patronage group.

Henrietta Brealey, CEO of the GBCC, said: “We’re delighted to welcome a brand as globally-

recognised as The Heinz Kraft Company to our patronage group.

“At the Chamber, we love local and go global. The Kraft Heinz Company embodies this mantra – a major employer in the West Midlands with a vast global footprint and a product range that is enjoyed by millions around the world.

“We look forward to working with them to expand their connections and identify new opportunities within Greater Birmingham.”

Acorns secures growth for training fund

Acorns Children’s Hospice has announced a £145,000 boost towards employee training, thanks to a leading global glass manufacturer.

Nippon Sheet Glass Ltd (NSG) has pledged the amount to support Acorns in upskilling its workforce over the coming year by giving the charity’s employees access to specialist on-thejob training.

Representatives from Redditch-based Pilkington Automotive, part of the NSG family, visited Acorns to announce the funding, which has been made available through the UK’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme.

Stephanie Newell, from the talent acquisition and development team at Acorns, said: “We are incredibly grateful to NSG and Pilkington Automotive for pledging such a wonderful amount. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to enhance the training offer for our incredible teams and the vital care and support they provide to hundreds of local families.

“Levy gifting allows us to invest in our people and ‘grow-our-own’ talent through a wide range of qualifications, from specialist pediatric palliative care nurses, to accredited coaches that support teams to deliver organisational goals.”

The Apprenticeship Levy scheme aims to create sustainable funding for qualifications and apprenticeships across the UK and allows levypaying employers to transfer up to 25 per cent

of their funds to other employers, helping smaller organisations like Acorns invest more in training opportunities.

Emma Neal, HR director UK and Global Functions at NSG, said: “At NSG, we understand

how valuable the Apprenticeship Levy is to develop and upskill workforces to be ready for the future, and are delighted to pledge £145,000 to support Acorns to deliver its 24/25 development targets.”

Upskilling workforce (left to right): Matt Bryant, OE Automotive, Steve Hudson, AGR UKW, Louise Skidmore, Acorns Partnership fundraising manager, Stephanie Newell, Acorns learning development officer, Trevor Johnson, Acorns CEO, Emma Neal, NSG HR director UK, Kerrie Sprason, Acorns head of talent acquisition and development

Learning as a leader - what my experience has taught me

Silvie Adams is one of Birmingham’s most experienced healthcare leaders. Combining 15 years of managing hospitals with a passion for people, culture and clinical excellence, she discusses the pivotal relationship between learning and leadership.

Learning as a tool

In February we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, which focuses on the power and opportunities that learning creates in our working lives. It got me thinking about my own journey and its influence. I’m lucky that Circle Health Group offer learning and development programmes across the board. From nursing to management, Microsoft packages to MBAs –whatever development you need to either progress or do your job better, it’s available through Circle’s Learning and Development approach.

To me leadership is inherently linked to learning. I completed a Masters in HR management 25 years ago and I'm now completing an MBA. I believe learning shouldn’t stop. If in doubt about what to do next, try personal development or training as it will always be useful at some point.

Many years ago I started my career in warehouse management. Wanting more from the role, I asked whether I could go in a new direction. The training I undertook allowed me to take on projects outside of my day-to-day role. Without that opportunity, I can say with assurance that I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Upskilling and talent

Previously I shared my approach to culture – it’s about people, opportunities and spotting talent. Talent isn’t just about who is right for the job today. For me it’s about giving star performers learning opportunities and providing skills for the future.

My approach is to first identify the right qualities. Historically, I think there’s been focus on finding the perfect person who fits the blueprint, but to me it’s more about looking internally as well. Who is asking the right questions and shows ability when collaborating with others? If the culture focuses on development, then transitions from one role to another role are seamless. This is important in healthcare especially.

To me it’s the leader’s role to facilitate as much of this as possible and we do this as much as we can at The Priory.

Applying what you’ve learnt

Formal and informal learning go hand in hand. I think you get the most out of your people when you give them the opportunity to fuse the two. Learning and applying skills directly without pressure is the best way to learn.

I’ve often noticed that confidence increases if you then introduce the formal learning on top. It gives people a chance to understand the bigger picture while applying it. In business, it’s useful to understand your role from both an academic and day-to-day perspective. This is why my MBA has been so valuable. It has helped me be more aware of current thinking, which I can apply and share with the hospital team.

At The Priory Hospital, we have colleagues in radiology, marketing, theatres and operations, all either formally or informally upskilling and learning skills that ultimately benefit our patients.

Conclusion

Learning and leadership are about empowerment. Investing in learning and taking on responsibility can provide amazing results. Who knows – that course or conversation could lead to a world of opportunity.

To find out more about the range of opportunities available at Circle Health Group, visit: careers.circlehealthgroup.co.uk

Silvie Adams

Chamber names head of services

A senior leader with experience across a variety of industries and disciplines has been appointed to a new role overseeing some of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s (GBCC) key services.

Phaedra Johnstone has taken up the position of head of services at the GBCC, assuming overall responsibility for the organisation’s documentation, translations and training departments.

She joins from the Vegan Society, a registered educational charity that provides information and guidance on various aspects of veganism.

‘I cannot wait to explore what additional support we can provide for this truly amazing and diverse area’

In her role at the Vegan Society, Phaedra managed the commercial services of the charity’s trading subsidiary, leading wide-ranging teams including operations, sales and marketing, client relations, international development and partnerships.

She has worked with global clients including Lidl GmbH, Aldi,

Mondelez, Lush, Alpro and Superdry.

Phaedra is also a qualified lettings agent, having managed the residential lettings division for a network of estate agents across the Birmingham area, and previously co-ran her own business delivering weighing solutions and service packages.

She has more than a decade’s experience in marketing, creative services and print management, scoping and delivering new services through partnerships and innovation.

Phaedra said: “I am so excited to be taking on this role at the Chambers. I will be bringing together my experience of multiple industries and disciplines, and my love of relationship building, to ensure that we meet the needs of the local business community, via the services we offer.

“I cannot wait to explore what additional support we can provide for this truly amazing and diverse area.

“The Chambers have a great team and is perfectly positioned to strengthen the growth of the area.

“This is very close to my heart. I have lived here all my life and I cannot wait to contribute to its success.”

Founding

The Professional Clothing Industry Association (PCIAW) has announced that Ed Grigg, managing director of Incorporatewear, is to become its new chair, replacing John Miln, who is scheduled to retire in April.

Having been on the PCIAW board since the association was founded in 2018, Ed has an unrivalled understanding of the association and its goals to support members and grow the network.

Possessing a clear vision for PCIAW’s future based on generating value for members and creating education and collaborative opportunities for the industry, the new chairman will leverage his 30 years of experience in textiles and professional clothing to ensure the organisation remains relevant to industry needs.

Ed has been on the PICAW board since the association was founded in 2018 and has worked for numerous key players in the industry, such as Allen & Douglas, Alexandra, and Dimensions, before moving on to Incorporatewear, part of Uniform Workwear Group, where he has been managing director since 2016.

One of Ed’s first duties as chairman will be recruiting new non-executive board directors, as the association is actively looking for members in the footwear industry, professional clothing brands, and international suppliers to join the PCIAW board.

John said: “It has been a great privilege to work with the PCIAW for the past six years. It is now time to pass the mantle and for Ed to take the association to the

next level and continue to build its reach and influence around the world. Ed has been a fantastic member of the Board and I believe the association is in safe hands under his leadership.”

Ed said: “Having been one of the founding nonexecutive directors of the association, I have seen the progression and year-on-year improvements in the events and in the membership value over recent years.

“I would like to sincerely thank the outgoing chair John for his leadership and guidance. I aim to continue to support the team led by Yvette Ashby and Declan Osborn as we continue on our journey of providing the best possible value for the members and to continue to strive for a louder voice for our amazing industry.”

Historic manufacturer celebrates past as it looks to the future

By Jon Griffin

They’re one of Birmingham’s bestkept secrets - despite a remarkable 200-year-old history featuring a stolen FA Cup, the Titanic, an Aston Villa recordholder, the Olympic Games and so much more.

With more than two centuries of goldsmithing, silversmithing, engraving and enamelling under their belts, Vaughtons has established a worldwide reputation for quality - with customers ranging from the Royals to the Premier League and from Aston Martin to Bentley.

From humble beginnings back in 1819, the Jewellery Quarter company has grown to become the largest medallist and regalia company in the UK - but that's barely scratching the surface of a niche Brummie operation which has

ploughed its own distinctive furrow for more than two centuries. Managing director Nick Hobbis said: “It was founded in 1819 by

History-maker: Howard Vaughton, former Aston Villa and England footballer who ran the silversmithing firm in 1895 when it replaced the original FA Cup which had been stolen in Birmingham

Philip Vaughton but it didn't really get wellknown until his grandson Howard Vaughton took over.

“Howard was a professional footballer who played for Aston Villa and England.”

After retiring Howard ran the family silversmithing firm and in 1895 Vaughtons were commissioned to make a new FA Cup after the original trophy - won by Villa following a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albionwas stolen from a shop window in Aston and never recovered despite a £10 reward.

The specialist firm - which became a Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce 1813 member last year - later supplied medals for the 1908 Olympic Games in London and the firstclass door plaques for the Titanic among other prestigious orders.

Nick said: “We have made the Football League medals for 130 years now, we were the original badge suppliers to Rolls-Royce when they were first founded in 1906 and we make Mayoral chains of office. We also supply the Royal Family indirectly with a number of products; we supply a lot of the Crown jewellers who have Royal Warrants - they come to us to produce.”

The firm was owned by the Vaughton family until 1997, when it was bought by fellow trophy manufacturer WH Darby and subsequently sold on in 2005 to now retired industrialist Steve

Hobbis, father of Nick, whose family C&E Plating company had supplied Vaughtons’ gold and silver electro-plating requirements for many years.

The automotive sector accounts for around half of the firm’s £3m turnover, with badges supplied to the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, McLaren and Lotus.

Nick added: “We are high-end, low volume. Everything we do is handmade, it is glass enamel so it should effectively last forever.

“We are a cradle to grave manufacturer. We have got everything here from design through to metal finishing, and everything in between. In a way, we are totally self-sufficient.”

Millennium Point unveils new events space

Millennium Point has officially opened the doors to Station - the latest addition to their award-winning venue.

In addition to 16 popular event spaces, including the Auditorium, Connect and Express, Station brings a new opportunity to the mix for businesses, charities and beyond.

With multiple rooms, including a main room that is perfect for engaging with audiences and multiple boardrooms that can be used as offices, speaker green rooms or quiet spaces, Station offers flexibility and can be tailored to individual needs with a choice of seven possible layouts.

Whether opting for the room to be laid out in

theatre style for a big presentation or classroom style for teaching and learning, Station can be adapted quickly and easily to suit diverse and wideranging needs. Alternatively, the space can enjoy a standing layout, boardroom set up, an exhibition stands format, a banquet style or cabaret.

With a maximum capacity of up to 150 delegates, the space is ideal for team activities, workshops, or networking, alongside further presentation opportunities, and catering.

The space also has high-speed Wi-Fi and access to an on-site AV technician as standard, ensuring that every event runs smoothly and without hassle.

Station can be quickly adapted to meet a range of needs

Family effort: MD Nick Hobbis with his children Lexi and Alfie, who designed the NHS thankyou badge the firm produced in the wake of the Covid crisis

Stolen in Birmingham in 1813: The FA Cup and a poster seeking its return

President’s Focus

The human tragedy being played out in the Middle East cannot be underestimated. But the conflict is also having an impact in many other ways, not least the effect on trade. NASIR AWAN, president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce who also runs a wholesale business, examines the knock-on effect of soaring costs and a shortage of goods in the shops.

The conflict in the Middle East is devastating on so many levels. From a human perspective, many lives have been lost, while millions of others across the region are suffering unfathomable terror, violence and trauma.

We can only hope and pray that a resolution is found and there will be a return to some semblance of normality.

The knock-on effect for businesses, of course, pales into significance compared to the experiences of those in the crossfire of the conflict.

Yet, geopolitical tensions across the globe over the past couple of years have certainly opened our eyes as business people to how reliant we are on international supply chains.

For example, it wasn’t until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February, 2022, that we really took stock of how much grain was produced and exported by that region. From a broader perspective, the significant impact of the Middle East conflict on shipping is a reminder that we’re perhaps not as self-sufficient as we’d like to be.

‘Reports suggest many container ships are unlikely to resume transits via the Suez Canal for at least the first six months of 2024’

The delays caused by shipping containers being diverted away from the Suez Canal is causing pileups – the knock-on effects being a shortage of goods in the shops and then increased prices when they do finally arrive.

If you take my wholesale business, Awan Marketing International, as an example, we import a lot of low value, highvolume products such as hardware, kitchen items and car products.

Current delays are adding around 20 per cent on to the costs of bringing those goods in, which significantly eats into profit margins.

The lead-up times to Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day - all important trading period for UK retailers – have also been eroded.

Importers like ourselves would traditionally have Valentine’s cards, gifts and products ready for display and distribution at the beginning of January. However, shipping delays meant they they’ve not reached us until the end of the month. By the time these goods are distributed to retailers, they are left with as little as one to two weeks to sell them.

To counteract this, we’re facing the possibility of storing some of these products for a whole year.

Reports suggest many container ships are unlikely to resume transits via the Suez Canal for at least the first six months of 2024, as major carriers will only return to the key trade waterway when the risk of attacks on commercial vessels has subsided.

Instead, freight companies will continue to reroute away from the Red Sea, taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. This adds approximately 4,000 nautical miles, equivalent to 7,300 km, or 10 to 14 days of travel

to the journey which results in surcharges being applied to logistics costs.

The price of shipping containers had recently come down to around $1,200 (£950) per container – having ballooned to as high as $18,000 (£14,500) during the pandemic due to a shortage when PPE was being transported around the world.

Now, we’re seeing prices shoot back up to around $6,500 (£5,200) per container. With delays of three to four weeks on top (taking return journeys into account) this is placing a strain on importers. In many cases, the price of the containers and costs of shipping are outstripping the value of the goods.

And let’s not forget that our region is a manufacturing heartland, with many automotive companies reliant on components and products that are imported from the Far East. The automotive sector is already playing catch-up from a parts shortage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Across Europe, companies like Tesla, Volvo, and Michelin recently announced temporary stoppages in some of their production plants due to the late arrival of the materials they need. This will translate into thousands fewer cars being manufactured in 2024.

So, what can we do as business owners to counteract or indeed, be better prepared, for the knock-on effect of volatility in the international arena?

There are many factors that remain beyond our control. But I would encourage all businesses –from large manufacturers to small retailers - to think about their products, processes and procedures and the potential risks attached. This includes reviewing order times, better planning inventories, and establishing new alliances and supply sources. It’s better that we take the initiative so we’re prepared in the event of such crises, rather than reacting after the event.

Dr Nasir Awan MBE DL is president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and CEO of Awan Marketing International. This column first appeared in the Birmingham Post

Firms must take the initiative: Nasir Awan

The Griffin Report

Straight-talking Maori Melanie Smith has taken on one of the most important jobs in the UK as chief executive of Birmingham’s NEC Group. In an exclusive Chamberlink interview, JON GRIFFIN talks to the daughter of a welder and post office worker about her ambitions for the NEC Group and why she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.

She’s in charge of the UK’s leading live events business attracting seven million visitors a year to the likes of Crufts, rock concerts and the Tory Party Conference – including world-class facilities crucial to the West Midlands and national economy.

But new NEC Group boss Melanie Smith CBE is not the sort to stand on ceremony. “I come from New Zealand and I’m Māori –we really don’t do hierarchy. When I go home to New Zealand I have to peel the potatoes. When I am in my parents’ pub I have to clean up glasses.”

It’s a telling insight into the workplace philosophy of a woman who has taken on one of the biggest jobs in West Midlands –

‘I do bar shifts, I steward in the Arenas. How are you supposed to learn a job if you don’t do the job’

and UK - business circles as the new CEO of the NEC Group, her latest role on a 25-year stellar CV encompassing executive positions with the likes of Ocado, Marks and Spencer, BUPA, McKinsey and others.

That philosophy extends to getting to grips with all aspects of the business, and even rolling up her sleeves to do stints behind the Arena bars as well as helping cook lunch for her colleagues.

“I do bar shifts, I steward in the Arenas. How are you supposed to learn a job if you don’t do the job? I work with the security crews –Maggie, who runs our cleaning crew, has told me that I need to do a shift on cleaning.

“Maggie is an extraordinary woman with tons of energy. She always has a smile on her face. If you want to know the hardest job in the organisation I think it is hers. I have been up on a cherry-picker with the rigging teams. I say to all the colleagues, ‘do you want me to

Taking on a “wonderful” British institution: Melanie Smith

come and learn your bit of the business. Just invite me and I will come, and I do’.”

Melanie’s appointment last September to replace her long-

serving predecessor Paul Thandi CBE DL was announced as the NEC Group continued its fightback from the dark days of the Pandemic which had led to wide-scale

redundancies as the UK’s hospitality, entertainment and leisure sectors faced their biggest crisis in decades. But with audience levels now back up to pre-

pandemic numbers, the NEC Group - under the private equity ownership of Blackstone since 2018 - is back on course in its stated ambition to become the number one leisure and entertainment complex in Europe.

“The NEC Group is in the heartland of the UK, incredibly accessible and already host to so many amazing events that bring people joy and excitement - from farm shows with tractors to dirt bikes, quilts, Shania Twain, Depeche Mode, Birmingham University graduations etc,” she said.

“We host two-thirds of the UK’s leading exhibitions, more Arena shows than any venue outside London and are home to some of the most iconic UK events including Crufts and the Conservative Party Conference. We are the UK’s leading destination for putting on exhibitions, there is nowhere else in the UK where you can host some of these big exhibitions.

“We are also blessed with extraordinary colleagues who can

tackle any challenge, including hosting the Commonwealth Games and building hospitals.”

But this straight-talking daughter of a welder and post office worker – who as CEO of Ocado worked for an entire year without a day off to help steer the online retailer during lockdown – admits that there is much to do in the year ahead, including increasing the “outdoors at the NEC” offering, increasing the focus on the conventions business and “transformative” plans for the NEC Campus.

“We have a lot more we could do with our amazing location including building our own capability to organise exhibitions to fill the gaps our customers don’t need, and significantly increasing the consumer ‘long-stay’ content in our venues to ensure we have visitors coming all year long.

“We also want to work with the city to promote our world-class conventions sites, particularly the ICC, continue to improve the experience at our Arenas and invest

in our communities and colleagues around our venues.

“Over time, we also have to develop a broader plan to ensure the campus is a world-class destination for UK and foreign visitors.”

Just a few months into her tenure at the NEC, Melanie, who had never visited Birmingham city centre until she took on the job, is convinced the Midlands capital is a

‘Birmingham is incomparable to London. It’s a lot friendlier, I feel like I am in a different country’

world-class destination in its own right.

“I had been to the NEC before but I think Birmingham is supercool.

community has been very welcoming as well.”

The NEC Group boss – whose various high-powered jobs have on occasions taken her around the world – says she already feels a strong affinity to Birmingham and the West Midlands. “I think we do a very good job of uniting around things when we need to do things, which you don’t find elsewhere.

“Birmingham is incomparable to London. It’s a lot friendlier, I feel like I am in a different country. To be honest, I feel like I have gone back to New Zealand in many ways. I think this city has a huge amount to be proud of but I don’t always feel the pride. We have so much going for ourselves as a city but there is something in the Brummie nature which is self-deprecating.

“We are our own worst enemy because we are not braggy – and we should be because we have so much to be proud of.”

“Post-pandemic most consumers would rather have experiences than buy things - so if we have a good concert on, we will sell 15,000 tickets to Noel Gallagher or Depeche Mode or whatever it might be.”

Melanie is also keen to explore –along with her London-based husband when her schedule allows - Birmingham’s theatreland and arts scene. “One of my observations about this city is that there is a lot going on.

“The people are fantastic, the welcome I have got from my colleagues up here has really knocked me over. They are very straightforward, very friendly, very welcoming, they tell me exactly where I stand. The business

But Melanie has few qualms at shouting from the rooftops about her own pride in the facilities at the NEC Campus which is her new executive base. “We have everything at the NEC Campus, we have a shark tank, we have climbing walls, we have a casino, we have a movie theatre, a bowling alley, an escape room – you name it, we have it.”

With those sort of assets on the doorstep – along with 894 permanent colleagues, over 1,000 casual and zero hours workers and more than 750 annual events across the group venues – the NEC’s new Māori boss is clearly relishing her first executive role in the West Midlands.

“It is really an interesting challenge as a foreigner to take over a wonderful British institution.”

Pulling a pint: Melanie at work in an Arena bar

Melanie gets a selfie with her bar colleagues

£27m secured for bootcamps

At least 6,000 more people are to get the chance to learn the skills they need to land a quality job following the announcement of around £27m for the region’s innovative bootcamp training programme.

The government funding will be used by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to run more of the bootcamps which specialise in upskilling people for work in fast growing industries like advanced manufacturing, digital, green technology and the creative sector.

The announcement was made by West Midlands mayor Andy Street on a visit to see theatre technician bootcampers in action at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre.

The funding is the largest of its kind in the UK and is almost double the £15.5m the WMCA received for bootcamps last year, which helped 4,600 unemployed adults and others looking to upskill.

‘With better qualifications comes higherquality jobs and ultimately a better quality of life’

Andy Street said: “With better qualifications comes higher-quality jobs and ultimately a better quality of life, which is why - using our devolved pot of adult education cash - we’ve used all the tools at our disposal to make incredible strides in helping citizens across the West Midlands get better qualified.

“We successfully delivered on our 100,000 jobs plan, and we’ve seen the number of people qualified to level 3 or higher increase by more than 10 per cent in just three years.

“A key part of our success has been these bootcamps, with more than 4,600 adults trained in the last year alone through this method. In fact, we have been so successful in getting people trained through bootcamps that the Government has now awarded us a further £27m to roll out more courses – the highest allocation of any UK region.”

Strategy expert to speak at Growth Through People

David Morris, regional market lead (RML) for PWC Midlands, will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Growth Through People Conference, organised by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

David is responsible for overseeing the strategy and growth of the Birmingham, East Midlands and Milton Keynes practices, and is also a Mental Health Advocate. Before this, David held the role of UK Health Services sector team leader, providing support to NHS and private sector health clients.

As RML for the Midlands, David is committed to fostering the next generation of talent, encouraging skills development and growing productivity across the region.

‘David’s exceptional experience, his work at PWC and his commitment in encouraging skills development will help delegates to identify key skills for the future of their own businesses’

Through PwC Midlands' partnerships with organisations such as University of Birmingham and TechSheCan, as well as PwC's internal development programmes and culture, David has ambitions to drive skills in the region, particularly in sectors such as tech and environmental, social and governance (ESG), to deliver sustained outcomes for the organisations’ people, clients and communities.

Growth Through People is a flagship Chamber campaign, which looks to support organisations across the region increase their productivity by employing the latest techniques to getting the most out of employees.

The Growth Through People campaign includes a series of standalone events, digital content and research spanning from March 2024 to February 2025, the first time the campaign has operated across the entire year.

This is the fifth annual Growth Through People Conference and will feature a range of high-profile speakers, from organisationms including headline sponsors Aston University and Lumien, as well as conference sponsors South and City College Birmingham.

Emily Stubbs, senior policy and projects manager, said: “We’re delighted that David will be joining us to give a keynote address at the Growth Through People Conference.

“David’s exceptional experience, his work at PWC and his commitment in encouraging skills development will help delegates to identify key skills for the future of their own businesses, consider talent pipelines and ensure they are equipped to overcome challenges and make the most of future opportunities.”

Go to www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com to register for the Growth Through People Conference, which takes place at The Studio in Birmingham on Thursday, 21 March.

...as headline sponsor is set to illuminate the need for culture

Lumien have been announced as headline sponsors of the 2024/25 Growth Through People campaign.

Lumien operates to address industry demand for leaders to better understand their employees’ needs and utilise key quantitative and qualitative data points to activate culture, performance and development. Lumien reveals insights that establish purpose, drive competitive advantage and accelerate scale.

Christopher Golby, director and co-founder at Lumien, said: “We really are at a time where working

Culture critical: Christopher Golby

on your culture is more critical than ever to the success of an organisation, and is far more complex than it has been.

“Creating a human-centric organisation really can make all the difference to company success, and the Birmingham Chamber’s Growth Through People programme will help support the region with the tools needed for this.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the programme and we hope we can help businesses across the region in activating their amazing workplaces.”

People guidance: Emily Stubbs

Speakers announced for IWD event

By Feron Jayawardene

Speakers and sponsors have been announced for the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration organised by the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.

The event takes place at University College Birmingham on Thursday, 7 March, from 6pm to 9.30pm.

The headline sponsor is Tommy’s, a pregnancy charity working to make the UK the safest place in the world to give birth.

Tommy’s business development manager Yvonne Ebdon said:

“Tommy’s is the UK’s leading pregnancy research charity working to save babies’ lives.

“We’ve chosen to sponsor this event as we hope to create awareness around the challenges that are so often faced yet remain overlooked or unspoken –especially in the workplace.

“International women’s day is about Inspiring inclusion and we want to make sure everyone feels seen, and their experiences recognised.

“In 2021 we launched our awardwinning pregnancy and parenting at work programme, for employees

to feel supported in their workplace, no matter what their pregnancy journey.

“Join us to understand what your business can do to transform support for you and yours employees and learn about the tools and resources available to you to manage people through pregnancy, loss, and fertility treatment.”

The event will also feature a wide array of speakers including;

• Kali Davidson from University College Birmingham

• Samina Amin from the BBC

• Wendy Stanton from Clancy Consulting

Kali has been employed at UCB for over 20 years and she is passionate about growing and nurturing an inclusive and equitable working environment which allows learners to achieve their goals.

Samina Amin is a passionate Brummie and a strong advocate for vulnerable and authentic leadership. She is also a human resources professional at the BBC and leads the CIPD Birmingham Branch Committee.

Wendy Stanton joined Clancy Consulting, a specialist engineering consultancy as divisional director at their Birmingham office to lead the civil and structural team. She will

£9m scheme buy-in secured for Chamber pension fund

Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy, has brokered a £9m full scheme buy-in with Just Group for the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Pension Fund.

The transaction provides improved benefit security to around 100 pensioners and 40 deferred members and opens a new chapter for the sponsoring employer, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry, who can now concentrate their resource on commercial activities for the benefit of businesses in the surrounding area.

After much work and due diligence, Trustee Corporation Limited (acting as Sole Trustee) signed terms with Just Group towards the end of last year, a significant step towards full scheme buy-out where all members’ benefits will be secured with, and paid by, Just Group for the lifetime of the Fund.

The lead transaction adviser, investment adviser and Scheme Actuary are Quantum Advisory and the Trustee legal adviser for the buy-out project is Gateley. The longstanding Trustee of the Fund is Trustee Corporation Limited, represented by Vivien Cockerill.

Adam Cottrell, lead transaction advisor at Quantum Advisory, said: “To complete a £9m transaction so seamlessly at an extremely busy time for the market was very satisfying. Knowing how this enhanced level of pension security will benefit members over the long term, at a time when everyone’s finances are so stretched, also makes this a particularly rewarding end to a successful project.”

Joanne Eynon, partner and scheme actuary at Quantum Advisory, said: “We have worked diligently with the trustee and Chamber since 2010 and so it was very fulfilling for us to see them achieve their long-term strategic objective as planned, providing additional security for Fund members and a new chapter for the Chamber.

“We are very proud to have helped them reach this key milestone on their journey to buy-out.”

‘We can now focus on our mission to connect, support and grow businesses in Greater Birmingham’

Helen Bates, chief financial officer at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said: “Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry is pleased to secure its members’ benefits following the sale of its premises in 2020 and significant investment in the fund.

“The Chamber has worked closely with the trustee of the scheme Trustee Corporation Limited and scheme actuary Quantum Advisory to secure the future of the fund, and we can now focus on our mission to connect, support and grow businesses in Greater Birmingham.”

share her story of how she studied maths, physics and chemistry for her A-Levels to be an engineer, but was told girls didn’t do civil engineering, despite it always coming up as a suitable option. The aim of the IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion campaign is to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women. The event, open to all genders, features a three course dinner and networking opportunities.

• Turn to page 36 for the start of a three-page feature by Feron Jayawardene on inspiring women

Kali Davidson

Samina Amin

Wendy Stanton

Milestone met with renewable investment

The Schumacher Packaging Group, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of customised packaging made of corrugated and solid board (www.schumacher-packaging.com), successfully continued its dynamic growth course in 2022.

This year, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary and is investing more in sustainability: the focus is on expanding renewable energies and reducing plastics in packaging by using natural raw materials.

By 2025, Schumacher Packaging plans to invest around €700m in the expansion of existing plants and the construction of new ones.

For 2023, however, the focus is on sustainability. This is because the packaging specialist is pursuing the ambitious goal of climate-neutral production by 2035 and is therefore relying on the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. Around €45m is being invested in the construction of solar power plants, and €10-20m is earmarked for the expansion of wind energy. Currently, a solar park is under construction at the German site in Forchheim, and two more parks are being built in Poland.

The construction of five more solar power plants in Germany and Poland is planned for 2023 and 2024. The total output of all photovoltaic plants will be around 12 GW/h.

Replacing plastics sensibly

With its innovative solutions made of corrugated and solid board, Schumacher Packaging has grown continuously over the past 75 years and

has become one of the largest family-run packaging companies in Europe.

At the start of the anniversary year, company boss Björn Schumacher, who runs the company in the third generation with his brother Hendrik, explained: “Along our anniversary motto ‘Unboxing the Future of Packaging’, we are pursuing clear goals for the future. We see considerable potential to make packaging even more climate-friendly across the entire value chain. That’s why we want to further reduce the proportion of plastics in packaging across all sectors and replace it sensibly with the natural raw material paper.”

To achieve this, the family-owned company is leading the way in the industry: it provides information, works on innovations and seeks dialogue with stakeholders. The management assumes that more than one fifth of the plastic packaging currently used can be replaced by paper-based solutions. By using plastic-free, biobased barrier coatings, packaging with protective functions can be produced that can be fully recycled. Plastics can thus be completely replaced - with the greatest potential in the food industry.

Corrugated and solid board as the basis for a sustainable circular economy

Sustainability is of great importance to Schumacher Packaging’s business. “The biggest advantage of paper-based packaging is that it is

completely natural. They are not waste, can be returned to the material cycle 100 per cent or decompose in nature within a short time without leaving any residues. Currently, more than 85 per cent of corrugated and solid board packaging is recycled – this means that it is reprocessed into packaging after use. Unlike plastic-based reusable systems, no CO2 is emitted during return transport and cleaning,” said Björn Schumacher. “We exploit this potential by leading the way and constantly developing new industryspecific and sustainable products. In this way, we can offer long-term security of supply and be a reliable partner - now and in the future.”

Raw material supply and security of supply still important

Despite the difficult economic situation due to the Ukraine war and the sharp rise in energy prices, Schumacher Packaging 2022 managed to grow.

The packaging manufacturer reacted flexibly and quickly in the crisis year and was thus able to guarantee supplies to its customers. Strategic decisions contributed to this, such as the acquisition of the Kaierde cartonboard mill, the majority stake in the Italian corrugated base paper manufacturer Cartiere Modesto Cardella SpA and the acquisition of the Leipzig Land GmbH cartonboard mill.

“The consistent expansion of our production and processing capacities represents an important contribution to securing the market's supply situation in the future and is part of our strategy for the future,” said managing director Hendrik Schumacher.

For more details contact Naomi Harvey at Schumacher Packaging sales_bir@schumacher-packaging.com

Where do you fancy? Breakfast, lunch or dinner…

Food and drink

As part of Gaucho’s roadmap to becoming net zero, the beef offering in the venue is 100 per cent carbon offset. While they work to reduce their carbon footprint at the source, Gaucho have partnered with the Not For Sale charity to support carbon offsetting and reforestation projects in the Amazon, while simultaneously taking local people out of the risk of modern-day slavery.

Lunch

Set menu: Two courses £25/three courses £28. Gaucho caters for a midweek express or a long leisurely lunch with the set menu offering a range of lighter dishes perfect for quick dining. Available Monday to Friday, from 12pm until 3pm.

Dinner

Arguably the best quality steak in the world, Gaucho’s Argentinian beef comes from premium Black-Angus cattle bred at carefully selected farms, reared by partners who they have worked with for many years. Grazing on 17 different types of grass from the Pampas provinces – with everything they eat being 100 per cent natural – the cattle enjoy a lush, free-range lifestyle in an area famed for its fertile soil.

Gaucho say they create experiences “beyond dining, with a unique and educated style. The affordable side of luxury.”

Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Gaucho Birmingham, an award-winning Argentinian restaurant, is just a stone’s throw from Cathedral Square in the buzz of Birmingham city centre. It is an ideal dining destination for impeccable Argentinian steaks, fine wines and signature cocktails. As diners enter they are welcomed by sophisticated interiors, with textures and tones inspired by modern Argentina.

Wines

Ever evolving, Gaucho’s wines are authentic and diverse, representing a large selection of Argentinian wines as well as the recent addition of some of the finest wines the world has to offer.

Business facilities

Gaucho promise a 45-minute lunch guarantee from their set menu and there are three bespoke menus available in their elegant private dining room, which can accommodate up to 16 guests.

Gaucho

Address:

55 Colmore Row, B3 2AA

Contact: Rosa.Pericu@Gauchorestauants.com or 01214399236

W: Gauchorestaurants.com

Owner: LTD

Head chef: Luckas

Opening hours: 11.30 - 23.00

Viral ballet student is the star of the show in Disney documentary

A new documentary film charts the journey of an Elmhurst Ballet School student’s journey from humble beginnings in Nigeria to becoming a viral sensation.

Following a successful world premiere, opening the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Disney Original Documentary film MADU will be released on Disney+ on 29 March.

From Academy Awardnominated filmmaker Matt Ogens (Audible) and award-winning filmmaker Kachi Benson (Daughters of Chibok), the film spotlights 14year-old Nigerian ballet dancer Anthony Madu.

The documentary is the story of Anthony’s journey as he leaves his community on the outskirts of Lagos to pursue a ballet career, training at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham.

MADU captures Anthony’s story after being discovered through a viral 44-second video that was posted online in 2020 and garnered over 16 million views.

Having grown up in an isolated community outside Lagos and with almost no formal training, viewers will get a close look at Anthony’s journey after being awarded a scholarship to Elmhurst Ballet School, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the UK.

Anthony comes from a community with limited opportunities, making this a chance of a lifetime to pursue his dream.

Anthony first attended Elmhurst Ballet School in May 2021 after the school reached out to him

following the viral 44-second video of him dancing barefoot in the rain outside his Lagos home.

In May 2021, Anthony visited and lived at Elmhurst for three days to experience life as a full-time boarding student at the school.

He experienced dance and academic classes and was observed in ballet classes by the artistic team.

At the end of his three-day stay, Anthony was offered a full-time

place at the school. He joined the school on a full bursary scholarship in September 2021 and boards fulltime.

Filming of MADU at Elmhurst Ballet School began in September 2021 as Anthony settled into boarding, dance training, and academic classes. Over the course of the year, filming covered all aspects of Anthony’s life at Elmhurst, from artistic to academic classes, from boarding to the

health and wellbeing offers.

MADU is brought to Disney+ by Academy award®-nominated director Matt Ogens and awardwinning filmmaker Kachi Benson. Matt is known for capturing authentic human stories through an evocative visual and narrative aesthetic.

Kachi is an award-winning filmmaker whose work primarily focuses on social impact storytelling.

Sir Lenny steps down from Chancellor role

Sir Lenny Henry will step down from his role as Chancellor of Birmingham City University (BCU) at the end of 2024, eight years after becoming the institution’s figurehead.

The actor, comedian, television presenter and writer became Chancellor in 2016 with the initial intention of fulfilling a five-year term but found his time at the university so rewarding that he extended his tenure.

Sir Lenny said: “I’ve watched this university change the landscape of this city and the lives of thousands of talented young people.

“It’s been a privilege representing an institution that’s given hope and opportunity to many who have had to overcome financial and social hardship - and I know there are transformative times ahead for a place that has become very special to me.”

Sir Lenny proved to be a perfect fit for BCU,

as together they celebrated and campaigned for issues close to their hearts.

This included their support for the city of Birmingham, a belief in the importance of creative arts, and the need to provide transformational opportunities for young

people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Among Sir Lenny’s most notable achievements at BCU was the co-founding of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) in 2020. One of the largest producers of creative professionals outside the South-East of England, the research centre has become increasingly influential within the media industry.

Sir Lenny will continue to support the ongoing development of the LHC, which he created with BCU’s Professor of Broadcast Journalism Diane Kemp, Marcus Ryder and former Director of Undergraduate Studies Marverine Duffy, all leading figures in the effort to increase diversity and inclusion in the UK media industry.

A new Chancellor is expected to be in place by the end of 2024.

Royal greeting: Queen Camilla meets Anthony Madu during a visit to Elmhurst Ballet School

Perfect fit for BCU: Sir Lenny Henry

New lease of life for old devices

Lichfield-based First Class Technologies is to continue for a third year to help The Community Foundation for Staffordshire with the Donate IT Digital scheme.

Last month the number of devices repurposed by First Class for the Staffordshire County Council-run scheme reached the 300 milestone.

First Class assists the Foundation by examining the donated PCs, laptops and tablets to establish whether they can be successfully factory reset, reformatted and repurposed to extend their life.

The company has invested more than 243 man-hours to review and repurpose over 300 redundant computers, laptops and tablets, giving them a new lease of life in the process.

Richard Hinton, managing director of First Class Technologies, said: “For most of us, being online is an everyday part of life. However, there are a significant number of people who don’t have access to modern technology.

“For those who are able to live their lives using the internet, the ever-changing improvement in the technological capabilities of such equipment provides a temptation to keep upgrading to the latest and greatest device, leaving a plethora of unloved electronic units that could end up in landfill if they can’t be rehomed.

It’s for this reason that a number of recycling centres have been set up around Staffordshire by the County Council for people to donate pre-loved equipment so it can be refurbished and offered to someone in need.”

Major operator at Lichfield cinema named

Everyman has been announced as the operator of Lichfield’s new cinema after agreeing a long-term lease on the former Debenhams building.

The site will be repurposed to become a multi-screen facility with associated food and drink outlets as part of a partnership between Lichfield District Council and Evolve Estates, owner of the Three Spires shopping centre.

Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of the council, said: “Today, we celebrate a major breakthrough for our beloved city After 12 months of dedicated effort and negotiation, Evolve, as our commercial partner, has secured a partnership with Everyman that will bring a state-ofthe-art cinema to Lichfield.

“This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, as we look forward to announcing additional food and beverage brands that will further enhance our city centre.

“The Birmingham Road site is poised to become a vibrant hub of

‘The Birmingham Road site is poised to become a vibrant hub of cultural and leisure activities’

cultural and leisure activities, giving the residents of Lichfield District a destination for socialising and entertainment.”

Everyman operates more than 40 cinemas across the UK –including one in The Mailbox in Birmingham - with the company describing itself as operating at the “premium end” of the industry.

An Everyman spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be coming to Lichfield within the Three Spires, opening as the only cinema within the city centre.

“We are confident that Everyman’s innovative lifestyle approach will be an asset to the city centre, enhancing the leisure offering.

“We look forward to bringing the Everyman experience to Lichfield.”

The deal was signed off after councillors agreed a buyout deal for the former Debenhams building in Lichfield city centre.

Under the agreement, the council will pay between £3.5m and £3.9m to buy out the 50 per cent holding in the partnership from Evolve Estates, which owns the Three Spires shopping centre.

Phil Murphy, of Evolve Estates, said: “Since we acquired Three Spires, we have been determined to improve visitors’ overall experience and deliver the city’s first dedicated cinema in decades.

“We’re over the moon to get this deal over the line and we look forward to continuing working with the local authority and with Everyman.

“We are confident this will be a catalyst for this historic city and will help to attract more leisure brands to the centre and beyond.”

Financial expert joins Sport 4 Life’s board

An executive leader and qualified accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in Finance and SMEs has joined Sport 4 Life UK’s board of trustees.

Julie Bailey is the founder of accounting firm Cygnus Consultancy Ltd, where she personally supports founders, boards and teams in Finance, HR, IT and Operations as a fractional CFO.

In addition, Julie has co-founded organisations Turnkey Venture Partners Ltd, whose mission is to support startups of today in becoming market leaders of tomorrow. Julie won Business Woman of the Year at the Birmingham Signature Awards as well as being shortlisted in 2023 for the CFO of the Year at the Women in Finance UK Awards.

She said: “Embracing the role of trustee at Sport 4 Life UK is a profound choice rooted in my desire to contribute to an organisation dedicated to fostering

positive change for young individuals.

“The ethos of Sport 4 Life resonates profoundly with my personal values. It addresses a void I keenly felt during my own upbringing in an economicallydeprived environment, where access to opportunities was regrettably lacking.”

Sport 4 Life UK CEO Tom Clarke-Forrest said: “Julie comes with a huge passion for the region and young people, but also with an impressive track record and financial and commercial acumen.”

Based at Digbeth’s Custard Factory, Sport 4 Life UK uses sport as a vehicle to achieve sustained education, training and employment outcomes for young people.

Since its inception in 2006, it has grown into the leading sport-for-employability charity across the West Midlands, meaningfully supporting over 2,000 young people towards better futures each year.

Vision: How the Everyman is expected to look at the Three Spires shopping centre

Profound choice: Julie Bailey

Young photographer snaps winning shot

You’re never too young to take pictures, and so it has proved for talented snapper Ameet Gupta (pictured).

At the age of just nine, Ameet has provided a

canalside photo for the month of February in the 2024 calendar for Westside Business Improvement District (BID) in Birmingham. It clearly runs in the family for the primary

school pupil after his mother, Meetu Varshney, appeared in last year’s publication for August.

Ameet, who wins £100 of Westside vouchers for his winning photo, captured the photo of the Grade ll-listed French restaurant Bistrot Pierre in Gas Street while on a family visit to the city centre.

The young photographer, who took his winning picture using a smart phone, said: “The harmony between the Bistro Pierre’s surrounding and the reflective beauty of the water fascinated me. The dance of lights from The Canal House added an extra layer to the composition.

“Little did I anticipate that this impromptu shot would be featured in the Westside calendar for February 2024, showing how creativity can make ordinary moments special. I felt very proud and happy when I found out it was going in the calendar.”

Ameet, from Northampton, who also enjoys sport, especially cricket and football, said he started taking photos almost a year ago.

“My mum had a photo in the calendar in August last year, and also has another one in this year, so that is how I knew about the competition.”

Mike Olley, general manager for Westside BID, said: “What a great little picture from Ameet... we could be looking at the new David Bailey here!

“But seriously, while we’ve had some wonderful entries published on this year's calendar, none have brought us so much joy as this one from a skilled young photographer.”

Canalside reflections: Ameet’s photograph taken on a smart phone

Creating a positive impact is a goal of Del Bosque Group

Aproud of our work in the community. We take our corporate social responsibility very seriously and we feel privileged to have been able to support some amazing local teams and charities.

Lads Need Dads

Multi-award-winning Lads Need Dads CIC, founded in 2015, is a leading organisation that provides long term and early intervention mentoring programmes for boys and young men aged 10-18 with absent fathers and/or lacking a positive male role model. Its critical work includes: self-development group-work programmes, outdoor activities, practical life skill workshops, community volunteering, peer mentoring and ambassadors opportunities and a reading mentor programme, together with a support service for mums and carers.

Westerham Panthers Under 10’s

We are pleased to be sponsoring Westerham Under 10’s panthers and with our sponsorship they were able to purchase new away kits and jackets (main picture)

The Panthers are a new team that are getting better and growing with confidence each week. They made it

and won their last game 4-0.

We are looking forward to the rest of the season and to celebrating their achievements.

Silhill Saints Under 14’s Birmingham FA is the non-for-profit governing body for football in Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire. No matter who you are or how you identify, the Birmingham FA is there to provide support and guidance every step of the way on a football journey. Silhill Saints is a Birmingham FA-affiliated grassroots football club that offers many opportunities for junior grassroots football in the West Midlands, and Del Bosque is incredibly proud to sponsor the under 14’s.

Cyrille Regis

The trust was created to honour Cyrille’s legacy and continues to work on the projects close to his heart.

The charity strives to develop and support football-based projects at the heart of communities and to break down barriers by creating and supporting mentoring initiatives to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds improve their social and economic circumstances.

Himley Under 5’s Day

Last summer, Del Bosque had the pleasure of sponsoring the Himley Hall Under 5’s Day in association with Dudley Council. The event, which was jam packed with fun activities, is a family favourite that has been running for 25 years. In addition, Little Hands Nursery raised funds from the tickets that Del Bosque donated to them and brought food and toiletries for the local food bank. This was a great learning experience for the children and a fantastic way to give back to the community.

Santa’s Black Country Toy Appeal

This is an annual event that sees the charity ask for donations of new toys, toiletries, gift sets, clothing, and chocolate, so that every child gets a gift from Santa. With the help of these donations, the charity brings joy and hope to some of the 104,265 children living in poverty across the Black Country.

The future

We hope that we can encourage companies to fulfil their corporate responsibilities, as this is crucial for the wellbeing of society and the planet. Remember, our actions today shape the world we leave behind for generations to come.

Contact us today to learn more about what we do and how we can help you manage your projects:

Email: db@delbosque.co.uk

Website: www.delbosque.co.uk

Please follow our LinkedIn page to keep up with our journey: www.linkedin.com/company/delbosque-ltd

Silhill Saints Under 14’s

Stadium up for green Ashes award

Edgbaston has been shortlisted for two sports industry awards in recognition of two innovative initiatives promoting sustainability and inclusivity.

The stadium’s Go Green Game IT20 against New Zealand – cricket’s first sustainable major match day –has been shortlisted for the Environmental Sustainability Award after a report found it cut match day carbon emissions by a third.

‘We’ve made a commitment to strive to be the most sustainable cricket venue in the UK’

And the all-women grounds staff Edgbaston assembled for last summer’s England v Australia Women’s Ashes – the first time an all-women team has prepared a pitch for an international – is in contention for Event of the Year.

The FEVO Sport Industry Awards – at Evolution London, Battersea on 25 April – is considered the blueribbon event in the sports industry calendar.

Edgbaston operations director Claire Daniel said the nominations acknowledged the stadium’s position as one of the country’s most responsible, inclusive venues.

She said: “To make the shortlists is a hugely proud moment for everyone at Edgbaston. We’re passionate about using cricket for good, to drive social change, and

Award contenders: An all-female ground staff handled the Women’s Ashes match

we’ve made a commitment to strive to be the most sustainable cricket venue in the UK.

“The shortlists feature some of the biggest names, clubs and professional bodies in the sports industry. It’s great that Edgbaston is rubbing shoulders with those organisations and shows what progress we’ve made.”

Green projects run by Liverpool FC, Ascot Racecourse and the IOC

have been shortlisted for the Sustainability Award, while the Ryder Cup, Women’s FA Cup Final, the Cycling World Championships and England Women’s Rugby are also shortlisted for Event of the Year.

Dylan Pugh, managing director of Sports Industry Group, added: “The FEVO Sport Industry Awards celebrate the immense work done around the sector, whether it’s

Marketing firm welcomes director and plans expansion

WAA Chosen, one of the Midlands’ largest independent marketing agencies, plans to expand its operations further during the next 24 months, with a sales and acquisitions strategy driving its business growth ambitions.

With a well-defined strategic plan in place for the next two years, WAA Chosen is seeking to push ahead on delivering business growth targets of 98 per cent and sales targets of £15m.

The Sutton Coldfield-based marketing business has specialist hubs in food and drink, automotive and building and constructionworking with the likes of Britvic, VW Group and Jewson.

In addition to growing these divisions with organic new business wins in the next year, the company is also seeking to acquire marketing and communications agencies operating in the same specialist sectors.

Alongside pursuing a proactive acquisitions

strategy, WAA Chosen is also keen to partner with marketing businesses that may be looking to be affiliated with a larger organisation.

Dan Clifford, WAA Chosen managing director, said: “We have built our model around in-depth knowledge of the sectors in which we operate, employing true experts that can add value to our clients from the very first conversation and apply the knowledge they have from the wider hub client base.

‘If we can help any of the talented businesses in our sector survive, we will be delighted’

“As well as acquisitions, we would also like to talk to any agencies that may be considering other solutions. There is a lot of agency talent in these sectors with fantastic work being produced.

delivering world-leading events of all formats and scale, to campaigns that have an ingenious creative spark which reverberates throughout the industry and beyond.

“After a record year for entries, I’m delighted to see a shortlist that represents the incredibly high standard of work in our industry.”

• For more sports news turn to page 86

“It would be a great shame if the result of current challenging market conditions was that some of this heritage and knowledge was lost because agencies haven’t got the infrastructure to ride out the storm.

“WAA Chosen was founded and is still owned by an entrepreneur who knows how difficult it is to survive in challenging economic times. If we can help any of the talented businesses in our sector survive, we will be delighted.”

Lydia Tideswell has joined WAA Chosen as a director, heading up the agency’s leisure and lifestyle client services division and leading a team of 12 across clients such as Diageo, Britvic, Marston’s, Accolade Wines, Tate & Lyle and Nivea.

Lydia Tideswell Dan Clifford

Chamber award celebrates successes of the community

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) chief executive Henrietta Brealey praised the regional business community’s “collective knowledge, expertise and networks” and ability to “tackle almost any problem and grasp almost any opportunity”.

Speaking at the GBCC’s annual dinner and awards at the ICC, Henrietta said the Chamber remained focused on “going for

‘There is enough collective knowledge, expertise and networks in this room to tackle almost any problem and grasp almost any opportunity’

growth, supporting our communities and lifting each other up”.

She said: “This is a powerful room. And, as every superhero nerd will know, with great power comes

Opportunities:

Henrietta Brealey at the dinner and awards

Honour for Islamic Relief founder

The founder of an organisation dedicated to saving and transforming the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people was honoured by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce president Nasir Awan at the annual dinner and awards.

Dr Hany El-Banna founded Islamic Relief, the faith-inspired humanitarian and development agency, in Birmingham in 1984.

Today, Islamic Relief works in 45 countries assisting individuals, families and communities through emergency response and vital development projects.

The organisation helps around 10 million people each year.

Mr Awan is chair of Islamic Relief Pakistan and witnessed some of the agency’s emergency response work first-hand in the aftermath of the floods in 2022.

The GBCC president hailed Dr El-Banna for creating “global impact over the past 40 years”.

He said: “I have first-hand experience of their (Islamic Relief’s) work on several occasions where I’ve being involved with funding projects and also in the emergency responses such as the aftermath of the floods in Pakistan in 2022.

“People lost everything to the unforgiving waters. Their lives were literally turned upside down.

“Last year I visited some of the affected areas which was very humbling and distressing. It will take a considerable time to rebuild the area but only through Islamic Relief will this happen.

“May I ask you all to be upstanding to recognise and give a true Birmingham cheer to a wonderful human being who truly has created global impact over the last 40 years and is the recipient of my President’s medal for 2024.”

Global impact: Nasir Awan (left) presents Dr Hany El-Banna with his President’s Award

great responsibility and there’s a whole lot of good that needs doing in the world right now.

“On going for growth, I am delighted that there are many organisations in the room tonight that have contributed to our Business Commission West Midlands, including a number of commissioners, advisors and our chair Mark Taylor.

“The Commission is delivering a roadmap for business growth just in time for a fairly pivotal 12 months on regional and national elections. Plus of course, we continue our work to help local businesses build their profile and networks, including finding lots of opportunities to do business, through our core programme of membership activity.

“On supporting our communities, at the Chamber we do what we do because we care about the places and people we represent and believe that thriving businesses are the heart of a vibrant community.

“And on lifting each other up, there is enough collective knowledge, expertise and networks in this room to tackle almost any problem and grasp almost any opportunity.

“Across our network we are proud to work with many business leaders who openly share their expertise and learnings.

“We’re here because every business hits a point in their journey where there’s things that they want to achieve that they can’t alone - or are just a whole lot better together.”

Prime Minister praises region’s ability to ‘adapt and innovate’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the West Midlands as “a powerhouse of industry and innovation” in a special message to nominees and guests at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s awards dinner.

In a video message played to more than 1,000 attendees at the ICC in Birmingham, Mr Sunak praised the region’s businesses for their “ability to adapt and innovate”.

He said: “I'm delighted to congratulate all tonight’s nominees for the tremendous contribution you make across the West Midlands.

“The West Midlands has long been a powerhouse of industry and innovation. Your ability to adapt and innovate speaks not only to the resilience of the local economy, but to that of its people.

“I want to thank Andy Street for his unrelenting championing of the region. Andy’s continuous

campaigning for the West Midlands is nothing short of inspirational.

“I'm pleased the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is represented well by one of your former presidents, Saqib Bhatti, the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy and MP for Meriden.

“I wish you all well and thank you for everything that you do.”

ALL THE WINNERS

Greater Birmingham Business of the Year - sponsored by Crowe UK LLP Word360

Excellence in Contribution to the Community – sponsored by runyourfleet Word360

Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by Birmingham Airport Word360

Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events – sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau Millennium Point

Excellence in Inclusive People Development - sponsored by South & City College Birmingham Birmingham Hippodrome

Excellence in International Business - sponsored by Gowling WLG Ginho

Excellence in Manufacturing – sponsored by Thursfields

Evac+Chair International

Excellence in Sales & Marketing – sponsored by Schumacher Packaging Story

Excellence in Sustainability – sponsored by Aston University National Memorial Arboretum

Excellence in Technology & Innovation – sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Management Forensic Pathways Ltd

Excellence in Third Sector – sponsored by Unity Trust Bank Birmingham Hospice

Excellence in Training & Education – sponsored by AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group GuruYou

President’s Award

Dr Hany El-Banna, founder of Islamic Relief

Judging the 2024 awards were Zoe Bennett BEM, founder of Training Personified; Andreas Antona, chef-owner at Simpsons restaurant; Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living For The Weekend; Karl George, partner at RSM UK and GBCC board member; Gurmit Kler, trustee of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust; Raidene Carter, creative director, Birmingham Festival; Omar Rashid, president of Asian Business Chamber of Commerce and managing director/owner of The HR Dept Bham Central & Wolves; Suzie BranchHaddow, vice principal - external development, Birmingham Metropolitan College; Steve Allen, GBCC past president; Rob Valentine, regional director – Birmingham at Bruntwood; Nicola Beckford, BBC Midlands Today presenter and journalist; Heike Schuster-James, head of partnership development at Birmingham City University.

Chair of the judges was the GBCC’s head of membership Lillian Elekan.

Guest speaker: Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, addresses the audience at the GBCC’s annual dinner and awards at the ICC

The Prime Minister on screen at the GBCC dinner and awards

FOR PICTURES OF ALL THE CATEGORY WINNERS – SEE PAGES 60 AND 61

All the 2024 award winners

Past GBCC presidents Steve Allen, Mike Ward and Steve Brittan

West Midlands mayor Andy Street, Birmingham law society president Alice Kinder, mayor of Sutton Coldfield Cllr Tony Briggs and Saqib Bhatti MP

A silent auction to raise money for chosen charity Cure Leukaemia included some much sought-after items

The women leading us into the future

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is marking International Women’s Day by celebrating women’s achievements, hosting events, and adding toolkits and resources that businesses can use to explore this year’s theme of #InspireInclusion. FERON JAYWARDENE talks to seven trailblazing women in the region who have pioneered inclusivity in their careers.

Eman-Al-Hillawi

Eman-Al-Hillawi, the CEO of Entec Si and our trailblazing woman of entrepreneurism, boasts an exceptionally diverse resume. She possesses a unique blend of knowledge and experience with a PhD in Biochemistry, a certified pilot licence, and an impressive 26-year journey within the entrepreneurial landscape.

She starts her interview by talking about her upbringing.

“I was born into a progressive family and we relocated to the UK from Iraq when I was 13. My family was all about education, education, and education. My father encouraged me to complete my PhD and instilled the power of knowledge in me from a very young age.

“While I enjoyed science, I also found it quite slow moving and later realised that this is not the career for me. I started looking at a career change in the 90s just when the digital revolution was starting.

“A relative of mine was working for a big IT company at the time and mentioned the need for a business analyst considering my analytical background through my PhD. I took the job and leaped to the new career and the rest is history. It wasn't what I set out to do from my teenage years, but when you see an opportunity and a gap in the market, you home in on that and then you start to grow the business around that.”

Eman also has firsthand experience witnessing the changing landscape for women in IT over time.

Open QR code right to read complete interviews, blogs and resources.

Caroline Miller

From box office assistant to CEO of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Caroline Miller is our trailblazing woman of culture. She shares her journey of pursuing her passions and making a successful career from humble beginnings.

“I was a very shy girl while I was growing up in Southeast London and somebody told my mum to send me to dancing classes.

“My mum, who knew nothing about dancing, sent me to a local dance school. I immediately loved it and dance started to dominate my childhood.

“I thought my passion of dance came to an end after university and I wanted to pursue law. But then I saw an opening for a box office assistant and took the job”

From being a box office assistant, Caroline worked in marketing with industry giants including Nick Park, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracy Emin, Nick Cave, John Peel, Laurie Anderson and Scott Walker.

She later made her to way to be head of publicity at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London and later she headed Dance UK for 10 years.

During this time, Caroline was able to set up the first all party women's dance group and lobby for more money for youth dance. She also set up The National Institute of Dance, Medicine and Science, which was a free and affordable healthcare service for dancers at the point of need. The merger of Dance UK with other organisations in 2015 formed OneDanceUK, now funded by the Arts Council as a sector support organisation.

Transitioning back to the cultural sector in Birmingham, I ask Caroline about women representation in arts.

“Birmingham has some amazing female leaders from Rachel Thomas, who runs The Rep to Emma Stenning, who’s just joined as the new director of CBSO. We’re well represented within the arts.”

As the Birmingham Royal Ballet embarks on a new ballet project inspired by 'Women Who Dare to Dream,' Caroline highlights the open career path in the arts. Her message to aspiring artists and ballerinas is clear: “Embrace the journey, learn on the job, and trust that the skills you bring are enough to propel you to the next level.”

“When I started in IT in the late 1990s, only nine per cent of the industry was made up of women. In 2019, it went up to 19 per cent. Fast forward to today, that's now 26 per cent. I can visibly see the difference in the number of organisations that not only employ female workers, but also female leadership.So, it's improving seemingly a little bit exponentially, but nowhere near where it should be in my opinion.

“Our generation is a generation that needs to work continuously to make that change. It’s all in our hands.”

Eman’s message to Inspire Inclusion is to call out bad behaviours and preconceptions.

“We need to discuss the burning issues openly in a way that's nonconfrontational.

“It’s a continual drip feed process; more like turning a tanker. It takes time but when it does, the ramifications will be huge.”

Kavita Mehey

In the realm of business, terms like ‘hardworking’ and ‘extraordinary’ are frequently employed, sometimes losing their lustre. However, if one seeks a living embodiment of these attributes, the spotlight naturally falls on Kavita Mehey, a trainee solicitor at Lawrence Kurt Solicitors and our epitome of trailblazing excellence in the legal sector.

Kavita first came to our attention through the Future Faces Chamber of Commerce where a member made us aware that she recently helped secure a win for her client, a Gurdwara, on a civil litigation case which centred around the inappropriate misuse of Sikh donations (£7,050), false presentation of documents and a violation of trust that demanded swift and resolute action.

Later as I delved into the interview, her character unfolded as an inspirational blend of hard work and determination reaching the level of extraordinary.

“I lost my grandmother to Covid-19 and my mother to stage 4 bowel cancer within the span of six weeks in the same year. This shook me to the core, leaving me heartbroken and devastated.

“This loss became a catalyst for a renewed sense of purpose. Despite the profound impact on my confidence, I faced a crucial choice –succumb to potential depression or channel my grief into a determination to create meaning in my life.

“I acknowledged my challenges transparently, explaining to potential employees that I was caring for my mother and, consequently, experiencing delays in my career progression. This vulnerability led to an unexpected opportunity given by Azam Shafa at Lawrence Kurt Solicitors.

“Fuelled by a newfound drive, I seized the chance and committed myself wholeheartedly to my legal career. My leadership style emerged from this journey of personal growth”.

Abbie Vlahakis

During her brief tenure, Kavita has made significant strides, with one notable instance being her assistance to an individual facing the risk of losing their home due to a substantial claim of £236,375.00.

Through strategic legal efforts, she managed to significantly reduce the claim to a mere £7,006. Additionally, she successfully advocated for the removal of registered restrictions and charges placed on the client’s property, saving their home.

Shedding light on the legal industry now, Kavita mentioned: “During the period when I shadowed my father, a barrister, I observed a notable absence of women in the legal sector. The industry was predominantly male dominated, with my father's colleagues reflecting this trend. However, it is truly remarkable to witness a positive shift over time, with a noticeable increase in the presence of women in law firms. Moreover, there has been a significant rise in the representation of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including black, Asian, minority ethnic, and disabled lawyers. This evolution is amazing.”

Bringing this inspiring interview to a close, I ask what she would say to a budding girl who is just about to join law school.

“Maintain a relentless pursuit of your dreams, demonstrating resilience and hard work. Your dedication will not only propel your own success but also serve as an inspiration to those around you. Challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone to discover new strengths and capabilities. Be your own competition.”

“We need more trailblazing women in STEM,” says Abbie Vlahakis, our trailblazing woman of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

I caught up with Abbie at Millennium Point, where she is the CEO, for an informative discussion about women in STEM.

Her insights into the role of women in STEM are inspired, echoing the need for more trailblazing women in this dynamic field.

Hailing from a mining village in Wales, Abbie has an interesting story.

Abbie grew up during the era of mining closures in Wales, therefore with limited local opportunities, her aspiration to attend university was the driving force to succeeding at school.

“I was naturally more prone to maths than the arts, so I was drawn to business and later went onto become a tax advisor for two of the world’s largest financial services providers. I’ve learned a lot of things along the way.”

One key milestone, as she tells me, is meeting with a mentor that encouraged her. “I had an absolutely fantastic mentor who really believed in me, encouraged and gave me the confidence to start believing that I was good at what I was doing.”

We move onto talking about STEM and the work Millennium Point does as a charity across the city and region to inspire young people and in particular young women to consider careers in STEM.

“One of the things that we do here at Millennium Point is to make young women, as well as their teachers and parents, aware of STEM careers. Only 28 per cent of the workforce is female in STEM. That’s definitely an improvement, but still not where it should be and there’s a long way to go.”

For the past 10 years, Millennium Point has been running a scholarship programme to fund young individuals pursuing STEM related degrees.Several young women have excelled with firstclass degrees through the scholarship programme with one notable recipient, currently completing her degree while working and aiming to become a town planner.

“The only way forward is to break down barriers,” Abbie remarks.

“Businesses need to look at their own processes, policies and analyse the barriers that are stopping young women from entering STEM industries. A lot of young women are put off at the thought of taking up careers which have traditionally been associated with men and this is something that we have encountered when speaking with young women in schools and colleges across the West Midlands. We work with a lot of organisations that go into schools and colleges to address this gender stereotype so that a whole pool of talent is available for future careers.”

Drawing the interview to a close, I ask Abbie about what advice she would give to the next generation of STEM leaders?

“They have chosen the absolute right career. Having STEM skills doesn't mean that you stay within one industry. You can move around using these skills and work in whatever sector you want.”

“Equip yourself with proper skills, aim for fantastic careers, and be trailblazers for the next generation of women.”

Dr Sarb Clare MBE

‘Lift as you climb’. That has been the motto of Dr Sarb Clare MBE, a mother, wife and the deputy medical director and acute medical consultant at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

But the list doesn’t stop there.

She is also a flamenco dancer, a marathon runner, the first female president of the West Midlands Physicians Association after 74 years and our trailblazing woman of health.

Sarb holds one of the most important jobs at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and is leading the clinical team into the new Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital.

“Being an acute medical consultant, I look after the sickest patients in the hospital and that is in itself a very humbling career.”

During the Covid-19 crisis Sarb treated hundreds of coronavirus patients at the West Midlands NHS Trust and she was later awarded an MBE for her dedication to the profession. She was also a stern critic about women not having proper PPE during the crisis and the absence of women in places of power to change the narrative.

“Diversity is good for business,” remarks Vivean Pomell, our trailblazing woman of education.

As an ex-Ofsted inspector and the founder of Learn with Lolonyo and Brynels Millinery, she stands as a testament to a successful career that defies all odds.

“I grew up in a Christian home environment and as you can imagine, my parents were very inspiring for me and there was nothing they felt that I couldn't achieve if I put my head to it. They came to England from Jamaica so we could have a better life.

“It wasn't plain sailing. I think the Windrush celebration brings out some of the issues and the real challenges that were faced. These experiences instilled confidence in me to tell the future generations to never give up.

“I always had an interest in children.

“When I was growing up, I volunteered at our local Sunday school, never realising that those experiences and skills would help me later on when I did my nursery nurse training and my social work diploma. I was part of a TUPE transfer from the Local Authority to Ofsted, continuing in the Registration and Inspection Unit.”

Dr Shani Dhanda

Dr. Shani Dhanda, our trailblazing woman of activism and UK's most influential disabled person, was explaining how her disability prevented her from enjoying a normal life that we all enjoy - and sometimes take for granted.

“I applied for over a hundred part time jobs when I was 16, but I was rejected,” says Dr. Shani Dhanda.

Shani, our trailblazing woman of activism and UK's most influential disabled person, was explaining how her disability prevented her from enjoying a normal life that we all enjoy - and sometimes take for granted.

Shani continued: “I didn’t think that people would be not getting back to me because I used to write that ‘I’m disabled’ on my covering letter. So, I did an experiment and

Giving a TEDx Talk in 2020, she said: “The reality is the face masks that should protect us from the Covid virus have been made for men. Women have been going on for years that PPE doesn't fit us because the women are not at the top to be able to influence, have a voice and challenge the narrative. We are invisible.”

Fast forward four years, Sarb mentions these changes are still not happening in the wider context.

“I think there’s a lot of talk about gender balance. But in reality, it's still not happening. The sad truth is that there still is no gender balance within circles of power, despite the evidence being very clear that you need that diversity, especially in healthcare, to be able to provide a very high quality and safe service.”

I ask Sarb what can be done to inspire the next generation of women coming into the health sector.

“Have courage and never give up. Be determined. Surround yourself with positive energy which is absolutely key. Surrounding yourself with the right people and you will fly.

Believe in yourself that you can achieve anything you want in the life.”

Later, despite obtaining both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, she faced obstacles in ascending the career ladder.

“I had enough qualifications that could have brought me to the management level. But every time I applied; I was not successful.”

Undeterred, Vivean now addresses this issue through Learn with Lolonyo, offering online curriculum-based teaching resources with positive representation.

Reflecting on changes in educational representation, Vivean acknowledges progress but stresses the need for a deeper commitment to diversity, moving beyond mere policy compliance.

“It wouldn't be fair to say there haven't been any changes, but I believe there's still room for much more change. Institutions must see the value of diversity and the contributions of our rich diverse community that can improve the standard and quality of the service the recipients receive.” I ask about Vivean's advice for young girls aspiring to embark on a career in education.

“There is a blessing in helping people and supporting others. Acknowledge our diverse history and respect the positive contributions that we make using our collective history to build that platform of success.”

took that one sentence off, and I got off interviews straight away.

“So, for me, I had to learn a really harsh life lesson at 16 about trying to find a job and how much stigma there is when you're a disabled person.”

Shani explains that this was the wakeup call for a career that has now been skyrocketed into the limelight to promote awareness about inclusion and disability.

"It left me feeling deeply concerned about my futurewondering how I would sustain myself without job opportunities. The fear of not being able to pursue my aspirations, financially and otherwise, drove me to take control of my own destiny.

“I decided to go to university and studied a degree in event management which led me to work

in events for 10 years. I later set up my own consultancy in inclusion and accessibility and I also started doing some side quests on the way.”

These side quests as I later understood was founding both the Asian Woman Festival and the Asian Disability Network.

Shani is now defining a new era of actively breaking barriers. Her expertise in disability inclusion has had a profound global impact, collectively reaching over 1.5 million employees worldwide.

Beyond her TV presence, eight executive and five ambassadorial roles, Shani’s impact extends to over 250 conferences worldwide, sharing stages with luminaries such as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Her work as a changemaker has earned her over 25 honours and awards.

I ask about a single piece of advice she would give to the younger generation of trailblazing women. I want the next generation of women to embrace unapologetic authenticity. Believe in yourself — this will lead to remarkable achievements.

Vivean Pomell

Baby loss support centre opens

Bereaved families gathered at Birmingham Women’s Hospital to open a new, dedicated pregnancy and baby loss centre.

Woodland House – the first of its kind in a UK hospital setting – is a safe haven for families experiencing the heartbreak of loss, allowing them to grieve in private, away from the busy main hospital. It is somewhere where heartbreaking conversations can take place, in an appropriate setting that recognises and honours a family’s loss.

Work on the centre – which is completely charitably funded –started 18 months ago after Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity reached the £3m

fundraising target in its Woodland House Appeal.

Daljit Athwal, chief nursing and midwifery officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a momentous day for our hospital and our families. We’re committed to do better for our patients and we listened to them when they told us their heartbreaking experience of loss at our hospital was compounded by the busy clinical environment, where it can be noisy and lack space for sensitive discussions.

“The opening of Woodland House will change this. It sets a new standard of bereavement

aftercare for our families experiencing pregnancy and baby loss – one we hope will be replicated at hospitals up and down the country.”

Returning to see Woodland House open its doors was Leon James and Lynette Parkes, two parents who initially shared their heartbreaking experiences of baby loss at the hospital five years ago, when the Woodland House Appeal first launched.

Leon’s son, Ezra, was born prematurely at 23 weeks, and died in his parents' arms at just three hours old. Leon reflects on Woodland House becoming a reality.

Leon said: “Ezra was born, lived and died in the same room. I remember wanting to escape but having nowhere to go. To see Woodland House open is amazing. I think about the families it will help. It fills me with so much pride knowing that mine and other bereaved families played a part in making this change. I am thankful for all the parents involved in this project.”

Mark Brider, chief executive officer of Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity, said: “This is a proud day for our hospital and we are eternally grateful to everyone who has donated and allowed us to make our vision for Woodland House a reality.”

Engineering students explore HS2 site

Civil engineering students from Birmingham City University (BCU) have been given first-hand experience of a HS2 construction site, metres away from their usual classroom.

HS2’s flagship Curzon Street Station is currently under construction between BCU’s city campus and Moor Street Station.

In 2021, HS2 contractor Mace Dragados was appointed to build Birmingham’s state-of-the-art Curzon Street Station. The company hopes the visit will inspire graduates to explore careers on the HS2 project.

In January, HS2 announced the start of construction of the station. Major earthworks are now preparing the site for piling works in the spring, with construction of the main station building due to start this summer.

Gerard Smith, who leads Mace Dragados’s skills and employment programme, said: “Mace Dragados

On

is keen to recruit from our local area and the visit from BCU is part of our strategy to create a pathway for students onto the HS2 Curzon Street project.

“We are actively seeking a civil engineering graduate this year as well as a number of placements and we are hopeful that seeing the site in more detail will encourage applications from the students.”

Dr Andy Lim, senior lecturer in

civil engineering at BCU, said the visit provided a “unique opportunity to explore the overall learning and techniques in a realistic and practical setting”, adding that the HS2 project often features as part of the BCU curriculum.

“Our Civil Engineering students had the opportunity to see HS2’s Curzon Street Station site through the eyes of an onsite engineer, looking at how engineers and

contractors from Mace Dragados are tackling the complex structural design of the station’s foundation in an urban environment.

“Mace Dragados are employing a range of engineering techniques on site as they build the station over the next few years, which my students will come across frequently and this will be a great job opportunity for them.”

Najai Byfield, a third year civil engineering student at BCU, said: “Visiting the HS2 Curzon Street Station as a student and it being my first time on site was an incredible opportunity to witness first-hand the scale and innovation behind such a monumental project.

“It ignited my passion for civil engineering and left me inspired and excited to pursue my career in the industry.”

BCU’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE) is located at the university’s city centre campus.

Woodland House: (from left) Mark Brider, Matt Boazman (Trust CEO), Leon, Lynette and Daljit Athwal

Calls for Cycle To Work Scheme to be reviewed

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has called for a review on the Cycle to Work Scheme after traders called for a better share of the profits.

Bira, who work with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, merged with the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) in June 2023. They said more needs to be done to protect the sellers and asked for a comprehensive review of the current profit-sharing structure within the Cycle to Work scheme.

Originally established to promote cycling as a sustainable means of commuting, the scheme has evolved over the years, but concerns have been raised about the equitable distribution of profits among stakeholders.

The Cycle to Work scheme, which has been in existence for many years, incentivises individuals to cycle to work by providing discounts on bicycles and tax incentives through salary sacrifice schemes. While various schemes now exist, the market is predominantly dominated by a few key players.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "Independent cycle retailers, who play a pivotal role in fulfilling orders and supporting the scheme's objectives, are experiencing a disproportionate share of the financial burden.

“The current profit margins for retailers on bikes sold through the scheme are less than three per cent, while the scheme operators, as per figures obtained by Bira,

enjoy an impressive 45 per cent profit margin.

“The cycle to work scheme is still the right idea to improve people’s health and reduce carbon emissions. However, it is now clear that the schemes supporting cycle to work need reviewing so that the risks and profits are shared more equally.

‘The cycle to work scheme is still the right idea to improve people’s health’

“Orders are fulfilled by retailers, many of them independent, but the way the scheme works means that they earn very little from the sale of the bike. The bulk of any profit appears to remain with the owners of the various schemes.”

Andrew said the unfair distribution of profits was exacerbated by the fact that retailers bear the brunt of the risk involved in the process. Retailers must order the bikes, set them up, and are left with unwanted stock if consumers change their minds.

Over 400 ACT members have voiced their concerns by signing a petition for change, prompting a joint initiative by Bira and ACT to call for a thorough review of the Cycle to Work schemes.

Andrew added: “Together with the ACT, we are calling for a review of Cycle to Work schemes, including an audit of usage. We want the Cycle to Work scheme to be retained, but it must be fairer for everyone involved.”

Review needed:

Andrew Goodacre

Slow start in hiring activity

Permanent staff appointments have fallen markedly at the start of 2024 in a generally weak picture for recruitment activity in the Midlands, a new report reveals.

The key findings of a KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs survey compiled by S&P Global showed a steep reduction in permanent placements and temp billings while permanent salary inflation eased to a sevenmonth low.

Firms signalled a marked reduction in permanent placements that was little changed from that seen in December, while temporary billings fell at the fastest pace since June 2020. Survey respondents highlighted that recruitment freezes and cautiousness among clients weighed on permanent hiring, while other firms mentioned muted demand for temporary staff. Recruitment firms reported sustained improvements in candidate supply for both permanent and temporary roles during September. However a lack of suitably skilled staff and increased competition contributed to sharp rises in starting salaries. Pay growth was at the softest since last June while wage growth for temporary staff also eased.

The report is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands.

Kate Holt, people consulting partner for KPMG in the Midlands, said: "The Midlands job market had a muted start to the new year with a decline in both permanent and temporary staff hiring. Pockets of redundancies and hiring pauses across several industries in the region resulted in increased job seeker numbers. These factors partnered with economic headwinds also resulted in downward pressure on wages because employers have a wider pool of candidates to choose from.

“All eyes will be on the upcoming Spring Budget as businesses and job seekers alike await regulatory change that will stimulate economic growth and allow the region’s job market to improve.”

Interim report identifies levers for regional growth

A powerful group representing West Midlands private sector businesses has identified five “levers for growth” in the region.

Business Commission West Midlands (BCWM) has published an interim report to provide the region’s business community and key stakeholders with an update on its progress.

BCWM – convened last year by the Greater Birmingham, Coventry & Warwickshire and Black Country Chambers of Commercecomprises leaders in enterprise, supported by expert advisors, who are examining the opportunities for regional business growth and identify the action needed to seize them. The interim report has been produced following an engagement and research programme in which 132 businesses contributed evidence to the commission, alongside eight public sector and 10 membership organisations or cluster groups.

In the 65-page report, commissioners and advisory panel members identified international trade, net zero, innovation, foreign direct and inward investment and artificial intelligence and digital transformation as prime levers for growth across the region.

The report summarises the challenges that businesses identified as holding back business growth as well as what they perceive as the strengths of the region as a place to do business.

It explores issues ranging from access to finance and public transport provision to the

‘The level and pace of change that the business community has experienced in recent years has been extraordinary’

complexity of the regional business support ecosystem and a shortage of suitable premises and sites for the manufacturing sector.

It also highlights how businesses perceive the region’s competitive advantages in terms of location, education eco-system, connected networks and the role of the West Midlands Mayor in attracting funding and investment.

Mark Taylor, chair of the BCWM, said: “The purpose of the Business Commission is clear – to translate the voice of business into a clear and compelling summary of the proactive steps that are required to support future growth and prosperity in the West Midlands.

“This region is a fantastic place to do business and it is essential that we build upon our rich heritage to ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly changing world.

“While it is clear that many companies continue to operate in challenging circumstances right now, the resilience they display is a testament to the strength of the local business community.

“The feedback we’ve gathered

from a rich cross-section of the business community will now play an important role in shaping our asks from regional and national stakeholders.”

Using the themes identified in the interim report, BCWM will develop a set of recommendations for local, regional and national stakeholders, creating a roadmap for business growth which will be set out in the final report.

The final report will be launched in mid-March as part of the BCWM’s West Midlands Mayoral Election engagement activity.

Henrietta Brealey, CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The level and pace of change that the business community has experienced in recent years has been extraordinary.

“At the same time, sluggish economic growth presents a critical challenge to our society, including the funding of key public services. In this context we need a fundamental reset of our understanding of what businesses need to fulfil their growth potential

“The purpose of the interim report is simple: it reflects what the region’s business community told us during our call for evidence.

“We will use this Interim Report of the Business Commission West Midlands to engage businesses, stakeholders and partners from across all sectors and seek their insights on the emerging themes as we work with our Commissioners and Advisory Panel to develop the final report and recommendations.”

Business engagement: Henrietta Brealey and Mark Taylor

Chamber Patrons

Greater Birmingham Chambers’ leading supporters

Contact: Raj Kandola

T: 07815 952462

ICC commits to healthy offering

ICC Birmingham has been awarded the RaisingNutrition accreditation, becoming the first UK venue to achieve the status.

The accreditation recognises businesses that have made a commitment to raising nutritional standards in their food offering, by embedding nutrition into practices to enable healthier food choices for visitors.

RaisingNutrition will form a crucial part of the ICC’s food ethos, ensuring the venue’s catering supports delegate health, wellbeing and productivity. This includes providing nutritional training for key colleagues within the business, as well as redesigning the purchasing and menu development process with nutrition at the forefront.

‘We have been inspired by the RaisingNutrition team’ Craig Hancox, general manager for food and beverage at the ICC, said: “We pride ourselves on the firstclass catering offering we provide at the ICC and remain committed to the quality of our service delivery, food and beverage and sustainability credentials.

“Gaining this accreditation is the next step on our journey, understanding both the positive influence we can have on our delegates’ wellbeing and the importance of nutrition.

“It will touch every part of our catering offer and is a huge step

for us, from serving 130,000 delegates per year, to redeveloping our staff dining facility at the venue, no stone has been left unturned. We want to use it as an opportunity to educate customers on the value of nutrition, as well as informing the choices our clients make.

“We have been inspired by the RaisingNutrition team who are able to offer us the support, knowledge and insight to take this step.”

As part of the accreditation, the ICC has reviewed how food and beverage choices are displayed, developing food markers that denote nutritional dishes so visitors can easily understand their nutritional impact. As well as this, all set menu proposals have been optimised to promote fruit and vegetable intake and the reduction of salt and sugar volumes.

This is designed to work in tandem with the venue’s existing developments in menu creation, including the recent accreditation by the Vegetarian Society on more than 100 vegan dishes.

Jenna Mosimann, CEO of RaisingNutrition, said: “The team at the ICC has shown a real commitment to integrating nutrition further into their food offering and wider sustainability agenda.

“They understand that nutritious food, and making healthier food choices appealing, can really support their delegates and colleagues in working and feeling well. Ultimately, we want to help create great tasting food that is good for health and wellbeing that benefits everyone.”

A new Londis convenience store has also opened at the ICC.

Karl Clark, owner/founder of Taylex Group and its subdivision, Taylex Retail, became the

independent owner of the shop and oversaw the fit-out of the Londis Store, investing £250,000 into transforming 1,500sq ft of prime retail space at the ICC.

More charities aided by winter foundation

For the second year in a row, Wesleyan Foundation is giving £100,000 to hardworking charities as part of its Winter of Giving fund.

The fund is being shared among 50 charities and community groups, each receiving £2,000 to help with their essential work in communities across the UK.

The charities and community groups receiving funds were nominated by Wesleyan members and colleagues.

One organisation that will get a boost from the Winter of Giving fund is KidsAid, a charity that provides long-term therapeutic support

for children and young people who have experienced trauma.

The charity will use the funding to provide children with access-free therapy to help them process bereavement and family loss.

Steph Curry, corporate partnerships and marketing manager from KidsAid, said: “We’re grateful to Wesleyan for their donation. As an unfunded service, we could not continue to provide support to our beneficiaries without contributions such as these.”

Jacob Ayre, community and citizenship officer at Wesleyan, said: “We had a huge number of nominations from our members and

colleagues to help provide support for charities. As a mutual we can put our money where it’ll make the most difference to our members and society, and that’s what we wanted to do with this fund.

“Winter can be an incredibly difficult time for many, and we know this year is harder than most. We hope this funding goes some way to help the groups that play a vital role with families and communities across the country.”

Launched in 2017, the foundation has since donated £4.3m and has supported more than 100,000 people via 500 different charities, community groups and social enterprises.

Committed to raising nutritional standards: David Titman, director at RaisingNutrition, Jenna Mosimann, CEO at RaisingNutrition, Simon Hellier, executive chef at ICC Birmingham and Craig Hancox, general manager for catering

‘Playground entrepreneur’ boosts career with MBA

A graduate of Aston University’s Executive MBA has explained how the programme helped his journey from selling Pokémon cards at primary school to a rising career with a luxury car-maker.

Jack Miller, a manager at Warwickshire-based Aston Martin, who also combined an apprenticeship degree as part of his MBA, has already enjoyed one promotion while still on the programme, with another rise up the corporate ladder in the pipeline.

He was talking about his experiences in the first episode of the latest ‘Aston means business' podcast series, presented by journalist Steve Dyson.

The new series – the seventh since 2019 – focuses on how the university helps to prepare executives and businesses for Industry 4.0 with Aston University’s 2030 strategy front of mind.

Jack said: “I’ve always been very entrepreneurial, starting from the primary school playground where I was selling everything from Pokémon cards to Belgian waffles and Oreos. Cars is passion number two, something I was obsessed with. Car was my second word, after burger, so it was either Burger King or go into the car industry.”

Jack, who already had a bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship, said it had been his “dream” to do an MBA, specifically one that incorporated an apprenticeship element to make it more practical. He said the Executive MBA at Aston University had resulted in a “rounded knowledge improvement professionally” as well as benefits to his personal competence.

“Personally, it’s amazing, and professionally, you get an incredible qualification out of this. And, frankly, career development. That was one of the big reasons why I did this. Already, during the programme, I managed to get a promotion and I think the next one is hopefully in the offing.”

Jack also explained how Aston Martin benefitted during the MBA programme, through him designing a process to solve a particular business problem and then applying it to the workplace “that exact day”.

Catch up on all episodes of Aston means business at aston.ac.uk

CHAMBER PATRONS

Antiques fair to make return

Spurred by the success of its inaugural three-day Antiques and Fine Arts Fair at the NEC Birmingham last year, the organisers have announced dates for 2024 as well as an additional venue.

Ceramics collector John Andrews (pictured), who is the driving force behind Classic Antique Fairs, said: “We were so buoyed by the response from dealers and visitors to our first event that we have decided to hold several more.”

John added that he would be working again with InLoco Events on the arrangements.

As well as a fair at the NEC in time for Christmas, running from Friday 29 November, to Sunday 1 December, John has also secured dates in July from 12 to 14.

The additional event will be at Farnborough International Airport’s Exhibition & Conference Centre from Friday 20 September, to Sunday 22 September.

Patron unveils disability performance hub

Businessman and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce patron Doug Wright officially unveiled a performance space for people who are deafblind and have complex disabilities.

National disability charity Sense, whose community hub Sense Touchbase Pears is located in Selly Oak, Birmingham, has named one of its spaces The Douglas Wright MBE Performance Hub following a significant donation from the McDonald’s franchisee.

The performance hub is used for activities such as dance, music and yoga.

Doug’s hospitality company, Wright Restaurants (T/A McDonald’s), is a major employer in the West Midlands, with just under 3,000 staff across 26 sites.

Sense TouchBase Pears aims to create an accessible environment where everyone can feel connected, included and part of the community.

The Bristol Road-based hub combines health and social care services with arts, sports and wellbeing activities.

It also supports disabled people to access employment, education, volunteering and training opportunities and offers free play sessions for children under eight with complex disabilities, and their families.

Doug, who is also a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands and chair of the Kids’ Village charity, was joined by members of the Sense team for the official opening of the performance hub.

He said: “It was very inspiring to visit the hub so generously named after me and see firsthand the wonderful work that Sense do. I was

able to witness the difference the volunteers make to those attending. I look forward to my next visit and am proud that I have been able to help fund their work in my own small way.”

Eimear Daly, head of philanthropy and special events at Sense, said: “We were thrilled to have

“Having

Doug visit us to officially unveil the plaque for The Douglas Wright MBE Performance Hub at Sense TouchBase Pears, Birmingham.

this space means everyone has the opportunity to take part in life, no matter what their disability.”

Support for the disabled (left to right): Matt Lock, associate director of philanthropy and partnerships, Eimear Daly, head of philanthropy and special events, Doug Wright and Sunney Sharma, arts and wellbeing development manager (national).

Entrepreneurial: Jack Miller

1813 Club and Premier Members

Greater Birmingham’s leading companies

Sustainability efforts rewarded

The National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, has been awarded a Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark in recognition of the visitor destination’s continued commitment to making sustainable choices for the benefit of the planet, people, and the local economy.

This nationally-recognised accolade was presented to the Arboretum team The Big Tourism Conference, organised by Enjoy Staffordshire.

‘The National Memorial Arboretum team is continually seeking ways to ensure that we are improving the sustainability of our operations’

Mark Ellis, Arboretum lead, said: “From serving seasonal dishes cooked using locally sourced produce and homegrown herbs to creating new wildlife habitats across our 150-acre site, the National Memorial Arboretum team is continually seeking ways to ensure that we are improving the sustainability of our operations and reducing our impact on the environment.

“In the last 12 months we have delivered our first-ever sustainability-led school holiday experiences, installed 250 solar panels on the roof of the Remembrance Centre, and achieved our third consecutive Green Flag award. This award of a Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark recognises how we put sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

“By advocating for ethical practices and providing learning opportunities focused on sustainable living, we can inspire visitors to care for our world.”

Mid-market private equity investment activity in the Midlands declined in 2023, as challenging macroeconomic conditions presented few glimmers of hope for recovery, according to KPMG UK’s latest Midmarket Private Equity report.

It tracks deal flow and market sentiment and revealed that 64 deals worth £5.1bn were completed in the Midlands in 2023, representing a 20 per cent drop in volume, and a slight drop in total value by 4.5 per cent,compared to 2022.

The Midlands attracted over nine per cent of all investment in 2023, making it the third most popular region for mid-market deals after London and the North East.

Nationally, the report revealed that 675 deals worth £47.9bn were completed during the year, representing a 10 per cent drop when compared to the 735 transactions completed in 2022.

Khush Purewal, head of deals at KPMG UK in the Midlands, said: “As we entered 2023, there were high hopes of a return to stability. However, it soon became clear that 2023 was going to be a challenging year for dealmaking. Persistent macroeconomic instability meant that deal momentum in the Midlands was subdued, but we saw an uptick of 18 per cent in the total value of investment when compared to pre-covid figures – hinting at a stabilising market.

“M&A markets do not need ultra-low interest rates and a bull market to flourish, but they do need economic and political stability, and over the last 12 months, both have been in short supply. While political uncertainty may well feature in 2024, we are optimistic

Private equity activity falls in West Midlands Law firm welcomes tax expert

National law firm Freeths has strengthened its tax offering with the appointment of partner Stephen Jones in Birmingham. He joins from DLA Piper.

Having almost 30 years’ experience, Stephen advises on all tax aspects of property and corporate acquisitions and disposals, including development, investment, joint ventures, corporate mergers, demergers, group reorganisations and reconstructions, private equity transactions and international deals, both in the UK and internationally.

Stephen acts for high-profile

year: Khush Purewal

that the Midlands will continue to be a haven for midmarket private equity investments in the UK. The fundamentals that underpin the private equity market are still very much in place. Capital is available, and the debt markets are still supportive - albeit with greater scrutiny and higher costs. This, together with the stability that bolsters the confidence of boards, investment committees and credit committees, should pave the way for a more positive dealmaking environment in 2024.”

High-profile clients: Stephen Jones

clients including public sector bodies, educational institutions, charities, developers and property investors as well as listed and private companies and owner-

managed businesses.

At Freeths, Stephen will support the national corporate and real estate teams and continue to grow the practice across the West Midlands.

Richard Beverley, managing partner of Freeths Birmingham, said: “Having been in the city for over 10 years, we continue to look for and attract the best regional talent at Freeths Birmingham.

“Stephen’s appointment is consistent with our approach to all our specialist areas enabling us to offer high quality advice at a sensible price. We look forward to welcoming him to the team.”

Challenging

NSPCC urges region’s SMEs to help put an end to child abuse

The NSPCC is calling on small and mediumsized businesses across the West Midlands to sign up to its new initiative and help children and young people throughout the region and the rest of the UK.

Partners In Business is seeking SMEs, entrepreneurs and microbusinesses who want to support the charity’s vital work through donations, one-off events or a year of fundraising.

Many organisations have already signed up to the Partners In Business initiative, which offers support, guidance and inspiration for up to 12 months, while sharing information about new and existing NSPCC campaigns and services in the region.

‘Partnerships with businesses of all sizes are so important to ensuring we can continue to be there for children’

Nathan Shrubb is NSPCC Partners In Business manager and he urged small to medium sized businesses across the West Midlands to find out more about the new scheme.

He said: “The NSPCC’s work with children and

families across the UK is vital, and we rely on donations and fundraising for the majority of our funding. That’s why partnerships with businesses of all sizes are so important to ensuring we can continue to be there for children and fight to end abuse and neglect.

“Becoming a Partner In Business means even the smallest businesses – from gardeners and florists to a ‘man with a van’ or a dog walker –can help us make a difference. By signing up to

raise vital funding for us, either with a one-off event or a full 12 months of challenges and fundraisers, you'll be helping us bring a local focus to our national campaigns and ensuring we can do all we can to support children and young people.”

Every £50 raised could support parents and families for two hours, £500 could fund a helpline practitioner to give 22 hours of support to adults concerned about a child’s wellbeing, while £4,800 could recruit, train and support three new Childline volunteers to speak directly to young people in their darkest hours.

Businesses which sign up to the new initiative will receive fundraising advice and support from experts within the NSPCC, who will make sure fundraising activities are fun, inclusive and successful.

They will also receive regular updates on the impact of the charity’s work in the region, showing evidence of the impact of their efforts, and access to an online hub where they can download fundraising resources and assets to show their support as an NSPCC Partner In Business.

To find out more about Partners In Business and how to support the NSPCC, go to: www.nspcc.org.uk

Small businesses can make a difference: Nathan Shrubb

International Trade

Birmingham has become the latest city to join a global network of design and digital consultancies set up address real world challenges through effective problem-solving.

Design Factory Birmingham will be based at Aston University, one of just two hubs in the UK outside of London. The city officially joined the Design Factory Global Network recently and as a result Aston University will open the doors to its state-of-the-art facilities to other organisations.

Shared understanding and common ways of working enable Design Factories in the network to collaborate efficiently across cultures, time zones and organisational boundaries fostering radical innovations.

Businesses, industry partners, entrepreneurs, staff and students will be able to collaborate on projects that will involve technologies such as 3D printers and design software.

The university will be sharing its expertise in artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, data science and web, app and graphic design to boost the local economy.

Currently there are 39 innovation hubs in 25 countries across five continents based in universities and research organisations.

The Design Factory will include a space named after the late Dame Margaret Weston, former director of the Science Museum. Dame Margaret had studied electrical engineering at one of Aston University’s predecessor institutions and went on to be the first woman appointed to lead a national museum. She left a generous gift to Aston University in her will, which will be

commemorated in the Birmingham Design Factory in honour of her engineering background.

The vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University, Professor Aleks Subic, said: “The Design Factory Birmingham is another key milestone in our ambition to be a leader in science, technology, and innovation, driving socioeconomic transformation in our city and region. It is important to the Midlands because it will make a direct contribution to innovation-led growth in partnership with industry and businesses

“This is also a global launch as Design Factory Birmingham is a global innovation hub, and an integral part of the Design Factory Global

Global innovation hub launched Service and dinner to mark Commonwealth Day

A service at St Philips Cathedral and a dinner in the evening at the Council House will be staged in Birmingham to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 11 March.

The events are being organised by Birmingham Commonwealth Association (BCA) and the service will also recognise the 10th anniversary of its establishment in the city in November 2013.

Keith Stokes-Smith (pictured), the BCA’s chairman, said: “The service, which starts at 10am, is an enjoyable event and one that the Birmingham Commonwealth Association are honoured to organise. The Commonwealth is without doubt a great network, having the power to achieve good in the world.”

The dinner will be held in the Banqueting Suite at The Council House in Victoria Square, commencing at 5.45 pm, sitting down to dine at 6.15 p.m.

Tickets are now available at £68 (BCA members £60) to include a glass of Champagne on arrival, a three-course Commonwealththemed dinner, and a glass or two of wine on the table.

Says Keith: “It will be a splendid occasion with an opportunity to network and celebrate the Commonwealth - 56 independent and equal countries - working across a range of important issues such as the environment and climate change, human rights, young people, trade and investment.”

Network involving 39 innovation hubs around the world.”

The head of the Design Factory Global Network Felipe Gárate from Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, attended the launch in Birmingham. He said: “I am delighted to welcome Aston University as our latest member.

“We are on a mission to create change in the world of learning and research through passionbased culture and effective problem-solving. Shared understanding and common ways of working enable Design Factories in the network to collaborate efficiently across cultures, time zones and organisational boundaries.”

Grand designs: Felipe Gárate, Professor Aleks Subic and Professor Stephen Garrett

Exclusive event to boost trade with U.S.

A high-profile representative from the U.S Embassy in London will join Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce (GBTCC) for an exclusive event designed to boost trade between the West Midlands and the United States.

Laurie Farris, minister counselor for commercial service at the U.S Embassy, will speak to members at the event, taking place at the Birmingham office of HSBC on 11 March.

The members-only event is designed to further trade between the West Midlands and the United States and share details of the upcoming SelectUSA summit.

Mrs Farris will outline more about the SelectUSA programme and how the United States commercial service can help your business. She took up her post in London in August 2023.

Her previous assignment was as the minister counselor for commercial affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing from August 2021 to May 2023.

Before her assignment to China, she was the acting deputy assistant secretary of commerce for Asia, where she led the U.S. commerical service in 14 countries across Asia, and a team of trade experts in headquarters.

She is a 27-year veteran of the U.S Foreign Service. From 2016 to 2019, Mrs. Farris was the director of the office of digital initiatives of global markets, international trade administration. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the executive director for Asia.

Mrs. Farris has also served at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Amman, Jordan, Toulouse France and Paris France, as well as U.S. assignments in Chicago and Washington DC.

For more information, contact Sian Timmins, head of international divisions on s.timmins@birmingham-chamber.com

Logistics firm adds to management team

Third-party logistics (3PL)

provider Kammac – a patron of the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce - has announced appointments to its senior management team.

They follow Kammac’s acquisition by the Elanders group in November and form part of the firm’s plan to build its presence in ecommerce fulfilment services and developing new sectors.

Having worked at Kammac for the past five years as commercial director and chief operating officer (COO), Ged Carabini has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO).

Ged has a wealth of experience from his three-decade-long career in the logistics sector, during which he has held positions in various logistics organisations, such as Beva Leach Logistics and The Green Group.

In his new position as CEO of Kammac, Ged will also join the Elanders’ Group Management team. He will assume responsibility in leading Kammac's growth

initiatives within the portfolio of the Elanders’ Group.

Meanwhile, Gavin Varey has been appointed as Kammac’s new director of procurement and facilities management, following 20-plus years’ experience in strategic sourcing and supply chain optimisation. He previously held the position of procurement manager.

In addition to driving the Kammac business forward, the

team will work with members of Elanders worldwide to provide access to additional services for its customers, as well as sharing insight across the group on how Kammac has achieved growth in the UK.

Ged said: “I am delighted to move into the role of CEO and welcome Gavin to our senior management team. As part of the Elanders group we have even greater opportunity to grow,

building on our track record as a leading logistics specialist. The collective expertise of our team is second to none, and we will continue to prioritise delivering the flexible and reliable services our clients know us for.”

Tailored services: Gavin Varey

Gavin added: “These are exciting times for Kammac, and I am looking forward to playing my part in building our business as part of the Elanders group. By diversifying our portfolio, we are confident in our ability to provide tailored services to meet the ever-evolving requirements of our customers, both in the UK and overseas.”

With over 500 employees operating across 15 sites in the UK, Kammac is a leading logistics specialist for prominent brands, manufacturers, and retailers across various sectors, including beverage, FMCG, ecommerce, pharmaceutical, and healthcare. The business provides comprehensive services such as onsite logistics, transport solutions, storage, e-fulfilment, and contract packing.

Global Chamber Patrons

TRANSATLANTIC CHAMBER PATRONS

Opportunity

Ged Carabini

BCRS pledges support to female entrepreneurs

Black Country business loan provider BCRS Business Loans has reinforced its commitment to supporting the advancement of female entrepreneurship by making a pledge to the Investing in Women Code.

The Investing in Women Code is a commitment backed by the UK Government to support the advancement of women entrepreneurs in the UK by improving their access to the tools, resources and finance they need to achieve their goals.

The Code was established after the Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship identified a lack of funding as one of the most significant factors holding back women from scaling their businesses.

In 2022-23, 16 per cent of BCRS’s total lending was disbursed to female-led businesses. In 2022, 15 per cent of SME employers were female led.

The organisation’s commitment to gender diversity also extends to its leadership and lending teams, with 50 per cent of its executive directors and 57 per cent of its lending team being women. Overall, 61 per cent of the wider team at BCRS are women.

BCRS chief executive Stephen Deakin commented: “Funding should be equally accessible to all business professionals regardless of their demographic.

“Together with other signatory firms, we are committed to working to make the UK a great place to start and grow a business by advancing female entrepreneurship.”

The Rose Review 2023 found that a record high of more than 150,000 all-female founded companies were created in 2022. However, underfunding is preventing many women-led businesses from reaching their full potential.

According to the review, £250bn could be added to the UK economy if women in the UK matched men in starting and scaling businesses.

For more details go to: www.bcrs.org.uk

Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK

Contact: Anjum Khan

T: 0121 274 3255

Chamber welcomes committee members

The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) executive committee welcomed two new members at the annual meeting.

Sana Saddique, solicitor and director at Collective Law Solicitors, and Trina Tiernan, work-related and employability manager at Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, were newly appointed to the executive committee at the meeting, which took place at Chamber HQ.

Omar Rashid will continue as president along with vice-presidents Neelam Afzal, partner and employment law solicitor of Wildings Solicitors and Sapreena Kumari.

Other committee members include;

• Aftab Chughtai: partner at Aftabs

• Ahmer Nawaz: head of business development at Fraser Russell Limited

• Aulfat Bi: head of capital allowance at Innovate 4 Business

• Gurdas Singh: marketing professional at WANAMA Limited

• Monica Ghai: associate at Shakespeare Martineau

• Sartaj Gill: director, head of Tax Investigation at Housman Consulting Ltd

President Omar Rashid said: “The past 12 months has been challenging as well as truly enjoyable. As a board, we have had fun and worked hard in laying the groundwork for initiatives to be launched in the next 12 months.

“We have also seen Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce move into modern new offices, launch a brand-new website and continue to run numerous successful events within the region.

“The ABCC ran highly successful festivals and member social events while onboarding three new patrons: Forward Carers, Gloss and Kids’ Village. Our annual dinner and awards in November highlighted the best within the Asian Business Community

“We also collaborated at the Asian Lifestyle Show and with the West Midlands Tax Group.

“Moving forward to the next 12 months, I welcome Trina Tiernan and Sana Saddique as our two new executive board members.

“Businesses continue to face the challenges of cost of living, business and energy rates, investment opportunities and recruitment to ensure they are in a position to continue to grow.

“My board will be exploring and strengthening new and existing partnerships and collaboration opportunities to provide the necessary support Asian businesses require.

“We look forward to our three festival events, six member-only socials and our annual dinner and awards over the next 12 months.

“I encourage all members to actively participate and engage with us. We want to be part of your journey. We want you to maximise your membership and its benefits.

ABCC director Anjum Khan said: “The ABCC stands as a dynamic force within the Greater Birmingham business landscape, serving as a prominent network for the region's Asian business community.

"The addition of new committee members brings a diverse set of skills, industry experience, and perspectives to the helm of this influential Chamber, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.”

ABCC committee members: Standing (left to right): Ahmer Nawaz, Gurdas Singh, Omar Rashid, Trina Tiernan, Anjum Khan, Aulfat Bi, Sartaj Gill, and Monica Ghai. Seated (left to right): Sana Saddique, Sapreena Kumari and Neelam Afzal

Reinforcing commitments: BCRS finance director Caroline Dunn and head of business development Andrew Hustwit

Patrons learn the importance of an education

ByFeronJayawardene

The educational background and the role played by a collection of schools were key points of discussion at the Asian Business Chambers of Commerce patrons’ dinner at Malmaison.

ABCC president Omar Rashid welcomed the guests while the keynote address was given by Jodh Dhesi, CEO of The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham.

Jodh is accountable for the education of around 13,000 students in 14 schools and the leadership of the Foundation Charity and Multi-Academy Trust.

He also has been involved in secondary education for his whole career, starting as a teacher in a grammar school and then spending 15 years in leadership roles in comprehensive schools, culminating in becoming a national leader of education, and executive board member of a multiacademy trust.

Speaking at the event Jodh spoke about how his family instilled a habit of learning and reading books.

He said: “My father was born in Africa and moved to the UK at the age of 16. He joined the British Army and was one of only two non-white soldiers in his entire regiment in the 1950s.

“In his retirement, he started to write books. Our house was always full of

New

partnership

books, and in the end, he wrote his own about two or three winners of the Victoria Cross.

“No matter what your background is, no matter what your rejections are, no matter what your education is, if you are surrounded by books and learning, you can become educated and you can really make an impact.”

Of The Schools of King Edward VI, Jodh said: “Our organisation serves incredibly diverse parts of Birmingham, but what we're absolutely committed to is social mobility.”

Among other speakers was Emma Morgan, general manager of Malmaison, who sponsored the event.

is a step forward for social enterprise

Forward Carers, a renowned Asian Business Chamber of Commerce patron dedicated to supporting unpaid carers, has forged a new partnership with Wildings Solicitors.

This brings over 30 years of legal expertise to the carer community in Birmingham and Walsall Chantell Marler, head of service for Forward Carers, said: “We are thrilled to introduce Wildings Solicitors to our network. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to enhance the lives of unpaid Carers.

“With Wildings’ legal expertise, particularly in wills and probate, we can offer our carers and their families the peace of mind that comes with having affairs in order, at clear and manageable costs.”

Neelam Afzal and Noor Khan, partners at Wildings, said: “We’re excited to provide specialised legal services to the carers. It's a privilege to support those who dedicate themselves to caring for others, and we're committed to delivering the highest standard of service to those who need it most.”

For additional details about the partnership or to learn more about the services available, contact Neelam Afzal or Noor Khan.

Forward Carers is an innovative social enterprise that delivers essential support to unpaid carers.

Campaign tackles food insecurity

Brum Bites Back is a new campaign from the Food Justice Network (FJN) to battle food insecurity.

Food injustice in Birmingham is among the most acute in the UK with 19,000 people going to a city foodbank while more than 70,000 children in Birmingham do not have enough to eat.

All of the money raised from Brum Bites Back will directly fund bulk purchases which can then be shared. The charity also has a dedicated webpage and collection site, with information including how to get involved, recipe ideas, hosting guides and social assets.

Firms are encouraged to host a meal for colleagues and contribute to Brum Bites Back. FJN are also on the lookout for businesses to be Brum Bites Back partners.

Hospitality businesses are encouraged to host a Brum Bites Back evening with a set menu and a donation included.

Donations can by made of the Just Giving site www.justgiving.com and for more information and volunteering go to www.theaws.co.uk

Forging new bonds (left to right): Forward Carers head of services Chantell Marler and CEO Simon Fenton, partners at Wildings Solicitors Neelam Afzal and Noor Khan with ABCC director Anjum Khan

Dinner guests (left to right): CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Henrietta Brealey; CEO of The Schools of King Edward VI Jodh Dhesi; general manager of Malmaison Emma Morgan; ABCC president Omar Rashid and director of ABCC Anjum Khan

Contact: Richard Brooks

T: 07796 242029

Wellness rewards on offer at designer outlet

Visitors to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock can now take part in a new wellness challenge that will give users access to unique offers via the district’s Cannock Chase Can app.

Cannock Chase Can has partnered with the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet to support the health and wellbeing of their customers, starting with a new wellness reward challenge.

Customers are challenged to find six QR codes which are hidden across the centre to unlock a series of exclusive offers.

The offers will include an extra 20 per cent off at The North Face retail outlet and an extra 20 per cent off at Smoothies Plus. Not only that, some lucky customers will also receive an additional free prize at the end of the challenge for completing it.

The app enables residents to sign up and create personal goals and individual wellness journeys to help them live happier and healthy lives. This new challenge can be found under the Move Well and Budget Well sections. Customers will not only receive discounts but will also boost their steps in the process.

GeoGrow launches biodiversity eBook

GeoGrow, a specialist in geotechnicalengineered solutions and erosion control, has launched its Biodiversity and Urban Greening Factor eBook.

This practical guide is designed to assist industry professionals, including land managers and developers, in navigating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), a new regulatory framework.

GeoGrow’s Biodiversity and Urban Greening Factor eBook serves as a resourceful guide, offering insights into the new biodiversity net gain regulations and their anticipated impact on future developments.

This guide not only outlines the regulatory landscape but also explores the significance of biodiversity net gain (BNG) in construction practices and its impact on social value.

Steph Wilkinson, commercial director at GeoGrow, said: “We are pleased to introduce the Biodiversity and Urban Greening Factor eBook.

“This guide is designed to help professionals navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, offering an insight into the new regulations and practical strategies for enhancing biodiversity in construction and landscaping projects.”

Councillor Jo Elson, leader for community wellbeing at Cannock Chase Council, said: “We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents through the Cannock Chase Can programme.

“Local businesses have a role to play in improving our local population’s health, so it is great to see this partnership evolving. We hope this will encourage other local businesses to get on board and support our wider health and wellbeing offer.”

David Jackson, centre manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to continue our ongoing partnership with Cannock Chase Council, specifically around wellbeing and health.

“We see this as an ongoing opportunity for both parties to work together with the goal of improving our customers and employees connectivity to wellbeing, with the support of many of our brands. We look forward to developing this further in months to come and continuing to develop opportunities for similar projects in our centre.”

CHASE CHAMBER PATRONS

A total of 13 courts across Cannock Park, Hednesford Park, Ravenhill Park and Heath Hayes Park have undergone various improvements to ensure tennis courts are of a high quality for local players.

The renovation work has been managed by the LTA with funding from the Government, LTA Tennis Foundation and Cannock Chase Council. Over 1,500 courts have been completed so far.

To encourage residents of all ages to take up and enjoy tennis, Cheslyn Hay and Cannock Chase Community Tennis Club will continue to provide free use of the courts and tennis equipment at Cannock and Hednesford parks during the sessions they run, funded by Tennis for Free.

Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts across Cannock Chase district officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.”

Cannock Chase Council has announced the reopening of its tennis courts following refurbishment.

Opportunity: David Jackson

spaces manager, Councillor John Preece, parks, culture, and heritage portfolio leader, Anna Hart, LTA parks investment delivery partner, and Paul Lord and Chris Perrin from Cheslyn Hay and Cannock Chase Community Tennis Club

Tennis courts reopen for play

In charge for the day: Apprentices at Mulberry Restaurant

Contact:

Richard Brooks

T: 07796 242029

Apprentices cook up a storm in takeover

Catering apprentices joined forces during National Apprenticeship Week to run a special evening service at Burton and South Derbyshire College’s (BSDC) Mulberry restaurant.

The Mulberry Restaurant is a popular, contemporary fine-dining restaurant, usually staffed by staff and students on catering courses at the college.

However, for one night, the reins were handed over to the college’s apprentice chefs to design the menu and serve up a delicious three-course meal to a fully-booked restaurant.

Thomas Bowles, commis chef apprentice for Whittington Golf Club, led the main section during the event having discovered his interest for working in kitchens at the age of 14.

Despite being an academic student and initially pursuing a business and finance degree, he soon realised that his heart belonged in the kitchen, preferring the active pace of a restaurant environment over deskbound work.

He said: “The apprenticeship route was right for me – it gets you the job experience and you can still earn money. I think you learn more in the workplace on the job than in a classroom environment.

“I want to stay as a chef once I’ve qualified and then I would eventually like to get into teaching in the long-term. I enjoy everything about working in a kitchen - the atmosphere and rising to the pressure. Once you get a good team around you, you’ll enjoy it.”

Daniel Arthy, catering and hospitality trainer at BSDC, said: “The Mulberry take-over event was a great opportunity for apprentices to work together to share their skills in a new environment.

“The students did a fantastic job and it’s testament to the invaluable hands-on experience they gain through apprenticeships. Events like these not only showcase the apprentices’ culinary skills but also highlight the importance of practical learning in shaping successful careers in the industry.”

Call to share WWII history

As part of a commemorative programme to mark the 80th anniversary of many landmark moments during the Second World War, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is encouraging organisations, both large and small, to dive into their archives and share stories of how 1944 helped shape the future of their business.

Stories, photos, and artefacts unearthed by local businesses will help the nation’s year-round place to remember to develop an interactive programme exploring life in 1944, including a commemorative exhibition that will debut later this year at the Arboretum.

Rachel Smith, head of learning and participation at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: “From food marketing posters to design sketches of new products, delivery vehicles and uniforms, to new technologies or newspaper headlines, we’d love businesses to dig into their archives to discover their own connections to 1944.

“Many organisations have a long and proud history, and we would love to talk to them about relevant stories and artefacts in their archives and discuss ways in which they could contribute to this interactive programme for visitors during this hugely significant anniversary year.”

Willshee’s launches brokering service

Willshee’s Waste and Recycling has launched a national brokering service as the company looks to expand its growing business across the UK.

The new division is a natural progression for the waste and recycling specialist as more and more existing and potential customers have a scope of work that covers a wider geographic footprint.

Operating across the UK & Northern Ireland, the new service includes identifying suitable providers for all waste and recycling solutions and ensuring that these organisations can deliver to Willshee’s high standards of customer care, reporting and monitoring.

Willshee’s has appointed Stacey Nixon (pictured) as supply chain manager to head up this new division. Stacey has spent eight years in the waste industry, with a number of these years as supply chain manager.

Willshee’s managing director Dean Willshee said: “Extending the scope of the Willshee’s offer with our new brokering service is a natural evolution for us. We are proud to be one of the Midlands’ leading waste and recycling businesses and this new service will enable us to grow further and extend our services nationwide.”

Working to make good thing happen

Make It Happen Solutions (MIH) has started the year by sealing a host of new business supporting organisations with projects in the Midlands and London

The firm has formed an agreement to work alongside a humanitarian medical aid charity. MIH will provide media communications services to support their healthcare work overseas in countries facing crisis.

MIH has also been given the green light to continue work with Synnovis for a fourth year.

Synnovis are a major partnership between SYNLAB, King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, performing more than 32 million tests a year within southeast London and further afield.

MIH is also set to collaborate with South Derbyshire District Council as part of an agreement to help boost trade.

Managing director Jo Yeaman said: “The MIH team is excited about all the projects that lie ahead in the first part of 2024.”

Empowering:

Paul Barnes

Cloud expert partners with local charity

Cloud Accounting Support Services (CASS) has joined forces with YMCA Worcestershire to help streamline and modernise the charitable organisation’s accounting processes.

The Lichfield-based firm helping to migrate all four of YMCA Worcestershire’s organisations onto Xero accounting software at a heavily discounted fee, with comprehensive training included.

This transition to a digital platform not only simplifies accounting procedures but also sets the stage for improved financial management and reporting for the charity.

This means the charity can make a bigger impact supporting young people and their families.

Paul Barnes, founder of CASS, said: “At CASS, we believe in the power of community and sustainable growth.

“By supporting YMCA Worcestershire in their cloud accounting transformation journey, we aim to empower them with the tools they need to focus on their mission of community development. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“We’re also hoping to replicate this with several other of the region’s YMCAs.”

Contact:

Chris Brewerton

T: 07753 453624

Literature Festival returns to Lichfield

Lichfield’s four-day Literature Festival returns to the city this month to mark the start of spring with a full long weekend celebrating the written word.

There are best-selling authors from the worlds of history, politics, economics, the natural world and current affairs, plus new fiction, memoir and biography for Lichfield audiences to enjoy.

Programmed for the festival by Melonie Atraghji, Julian Bell and Emma Reed, guest authors at this year’s literature festival include the former BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones, whose memoir Ruskin Park is a heartfelt account of a family mystery with a shoe box of letters as clues.

Former BBC Radio 4 Today editor, Sarah Sands, also returns to Lichfield with her natural world and memoir cross-over The Hedgehog Diaries.

In a joint event with the Lichfield Garrick Theatre to close the Festival, Nick Wallis, one of the journalists at the forefront of the Horizon investigation, takes the stage to discuss the jaw-dropping miscarriage of justice that is The Post Office Scandal – The Inside Story.

The festival is supported by McArthurGlen West Midlands designer outlet. The series of events will all be held in the centre of Lichfield, at The George Hotel, The Hub at St Mary’s and the Garrick Theatre.

Lichfield Festival has also announced its newest patron, the author, Tudor historian,

broadcaster and joint chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, Tracy Borman.

Damian Thantrey, Lichfield Festival director, said: “Tracy has been a regular and muchloved visitor to both our Literature and Summer Festivals in recent seasons, and we were very proud to have her as our Festival Writer/Historian in Residence in 2023.”

Tracy said: “This honour means a great deal to me, given how close the festival - and the city - are to my heart.”

The festival runs from 21-24 March 2024.

Tickets and details are available at lichfieldfestival.org or call 01543 306271.

Buyer is sought for development site

One of the most exciting residential development sites to be released in Staffordshire in recent years is being brought to market, commercial property consultancy Burley Browne announced.

Burley Browne has been instructed by Lichfield District Council to find a buyer for the 1.51-acre site in the heart of the city centre.

The site - earmarked for residential development in the council’s masterplan - occupies a highly prominent corner location at the junction of Birmingham Road and Upper St John Street/St John Street, immediately opposite Lichfield City railway station.

The local authority is inviting offers from residential developers with a reputation for delivering high quality homes and schemes that are sympathetic to the local culture and heritage.

Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for leisure, parks and major projects, Councillor Andy Smith, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to acquire a gateway residential development location in the heart of Lichfield city centre. It sits between Lichfield City train station and the centre of the city, with its bustling streets, markets and world-renowned attractions including Lichfield Cathedral.

“Lichfield is on the cusp of significant growth and we strive to break away from conventional models of local council collaboration.”

David Hemming, joint managing director of Burley Browne, said: “We are excited to be working alongside Lichfield District Council to find a residential developer with the credibility, capability and capacity to deliver a class-leading, high-quality development of new homes.”

Newest patron: Tracy Borman

High expectations: The city centre site

Contact: Chris Brewerton

T: 07753 453624

New lease of life at Gracechurch

Plans to transform a key shopping centre in Royal Sutton Coldfield with new homes, leisure, retail, commercial and other uses are being backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Gracechurch Shopping Centre is set to get a multi-million-pound investment to help remodel the 250,000 square ft site and breathe new life into the centre, which was originally built in 1974.

The WMCA has agreed, in principle, to make the investment to help re-energise the town centre in line with the vision set out in the Royal Town Council's masterplan.

It will be the latest in a series of WMCA investments focused on breathing new life into the region’s town and city centres.

The decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers, Birmingham Property Group and the London-based SAV Group, to finalise a deal.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “It’s wonderful to have good news to share about the well-known Gracechurch Shopping Centre site in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

“I’m so pleased to see that the new owners have exciting plans to breathe new life into the town centre.”

Emilios Tsavellas, development director at SAV Group, added: “The Gracechurch Centre holds enormous potential, and Andy Street has been

integral in facilitating conversations within the WMCA and with other key stakeholders.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the WMCA to ensure that our proposals are delivered and integrated with other plans in Royal Sutton Coldfield and the wider region.”

Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: “It is great to see such a significant vote of confidence in the regeneration

Menopause clinic expands

In a progressive step towards enhancing support for menopausal women in the West Midlands, leading healthcare clinic Health in Menopause is opening its second site in Sutton Coldfield.

The Health in Menopause team will introduce both in-person and video consultations tailored to the experiences of every woman in and around the West Midlands area.

Dr Alice Duffy, BMS menopause specialist, established the original Health in Menopause clinic in Nottingham in 2020, responding to the growing needs of women to access the support and treatment required to resolve menopause symptoms and to gain the knowledge and information to allow women to thrive in midlife and beyond. The clinic was soon full and a need to expand to include the West Midlands became apparent. In 2023, a second location was found.

Housed within the historic Moat House, a Grade II listed building on Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, the second Health in Menopause site is situated in the scenic Anchorage Road conservation area.

Dr Alice Duffy, founder of Health in Menopause and a doctor with over 30 years of experience in women’s health, said: “Menopause is a transformative phase in a woman’s life, full of complexities and challenges but it can be a

positive time if women are provided with the correct information.

“At Health in Menopause we provide holistic care, looking at the individual needs of the woman in the context of her personal medical history, her family history, her lifestyle and her culture.”

of Royal Sutton Coldfield town centre.

“Andy Street has been a strong supporter of our plans since we began this journey six years ago.

“We look forward to working with BPG/SAV to deliver their ambitious and exciting plans, which will boost retail, bring in new and exciting leisure and food offers, and mean The Royal Town becomes a real destination for visitors.”

Summer scheme for law students

A scheme offering up to six aspiring solicitors a summer placement with a Sutton Coldfield firm has launched.

George Green LLP has announced its Summer Vacation Scheme is open for applications.

Each year, George Green offers up to six places on its week-long vacation placement scheme (VPS). The VPS is an opportunity for aspiring solicitors - who are either undergraduates or graduates - to experience what it is like to work inside a law firm.

Laura Crackle, a Birmingham University law graduate and participator in the VPS, completed her training contract with George Green before qualifying in the firm's commercial property department.

She said: “I had a great week’s experience spending time in various departments. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The vacation scheme certainly does what it says on the tin and I would thoroughly recommend it.”

Closing date for applications is 31 March 2024. Go to www.georgegreen.co.uk

Dedicated (left to right): Sarah Kent, Dr Alison Macbeth, Dr Alice Duffy and Dr Sarah Ball

Vision: Concept art of what the redeveloped Gracechurch Shopping Centre may look like

All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community

Contact: Samantha Frampton

T: 0121 678 7488

Accountant marks retirement after 50 years in service

A vastly experienced accountant who has served the Solihull business community for nearly 50 years is calling time on his career.

John Osborne, who works for Prime Accountants Group, started out in the industry in 1977, aged 19, after being educated at Great Yarmouth Grammar School.

After joining Raftery & Co in 1981, the Norfolk native became a partne r in 1993 and remained with the business when it became Prime Accountants Group in 2007 after merging with Pilley and Florsham.

John says he has witnessed huge changes in the professional landscape in the 46 years since he started work. Talking about the route into his career, John said: “There’s always the fallacy that accountancy and maths go hand in hand, but for me it just seemed like the natural thing to do.

“Basic maths was more important then, as there were no computers. I'd been in the profession for maybe three years when I first saw a computer come into the workplace – in those days, it was in a room of its own which you booked to use.”

In recent years, John has overseen the VAO department, Prime’s bookkeeping and management accounts service, where he has advised a broad range of principally owner-managed businesses.

To mark his retirement, the Prime team took him and his two sons to his beloved Norwich City FC for a day’s hospitality for their game against West Bromwich Albion.

Speaking about his colleagues, John said: “It is a genuinely nice team of people who really have the interest of the staff at heart. The trip to Norwich was a wonderful day out and I was very grateful for the thought.”

Kevin Johns, managing director of Prime Accountants, said: “John has been a wonderful servant to our business and a hugely valued colleague and friend.

“We will all miss him and we were delighted to be able to give him a great send-off.”

Bridge demolished to make way for HS2

Solihull contractors working for HS2 have removed a 4,000-tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the construction of the new highspeed line across the motorway near the Interchange Station construction site in Solihull.

A team of 20 demolition experts from Armac, working on behalf of HS2’s main works contractor in the Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), carried out the demolition in a 52-hour operation.

It was coordinated in conjunction with National Highways, who were able to open the motorway section between Junctions 6 and 7 three and a half hours earlier

than planned, reducing disruption to road users.

The M42 was closed in both directions late in the evening and the Armac team worked throughout the night to prepare the area for the demolition activities.

The demolition team used a 100-tonne excavator and a further seven 50-tonne demolition excavators to complete the operation, supplemented by numerous breaker and cruncher attachments.

It is the second of two 4,000-tonne bridges in close proximity over the M42 which were demolished by Armac so HS2 can build a new twin box structure, which will carry the

high-speed line over the motorway in the future.

The original plan was to demolish the second bridge next year. However, due to two drivers on the motorway below recently striking the bridge, National Highways asked HS2 to demolish the bridge sooner because it had become unsafe.

Alan Payne, senior project manager at HS2 Ltd said: “This operation, delivered by local specialist firm Armac, is another step forward in the construction of HS2 in the Midlands.

I’d like to thank the whole team for delivering the bridge demolition ahead of schedule, reducing disruption to road users.”

New police chief for Solihull

West Midlands Police has announced that there is a new police chief for Solihull, as Chief Superintendent Rich Harris takes over as the borough commander. He is responsible for all aspects of policing in the area.

Chief Supt Harris (pictured) recently led Operation Advance in Solihull in which officers worked more closely with communities and tackling the issues that matter most to local people.

He has three priorities: effectively responding to calls for service; putting victims first and improving investigation outcomes; and reducing crime across the borough through locally based officers.

such as anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, robbery, burglary and crimes that might not be visible to the public every day.

“We now have more dedicated police resources in Solihull and are working closely with our partners to deal with the things that matter most to you.”

Chief Superintendent Harris said: “I am committed to tackling the issues that affect the local communities and people most in Solihull

Chief Supt Harris has been part of Solihull Police for three years, serving as Superintendent and has played a key role in tackling issues raised by communities across the borough.

Before working in Solihull, he worked across other areas of the force including Birmingham, Sandwell, the force’s Intelligence Unit and Counter Terrorism Unit.

To find the details of neighbourhood policing go to: www.west-midlands.police.uk/yourlocal-police/solihull-lpa

John Osborne with sons in dressing room with NCFC host Darren Huckerby

Bridge busters: The Armac team at the height of the demolition

Chamber head joins academy

Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to the local governing body (LGB) of the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull.

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers Multi Academy Trust was formed in March 2015. Following the successful opening of the Coventry Academy in September 2014, the WMG Academy Trust opened its second Academy in September 2016 in North Solihull.

Samantha attended her first meeting as part of the LGB at WMG Academy and said: “It is such an honour to have been asked to join the local governing body of the WMG Engineering Academy for young engineers, Solihull. My son was a student here and so I have experienced firsthand the great work that the Academy do.

“It is my intention as a governor to help to build on and shine a spotlight on the great work that the academy are doing as well as ensuring that my objectives to help improve the relationship and engagement between education and business as head of Solihull Chamber are met.”

Dr Andrew Mottershead, chair of the LGB, said: “Samantha will I’m sure contribute to the well-being of WMG and in particular I am hopeful she will help enhance our ability to offer worthwhile work experience, especially as ‘T’ levels come on board.”

The trust formed between a partnership of the University of Warwick and with the support of national, regional and local businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover, National Grid and Rolls-Royce, the Trust is committed to providing a better way of learning for the engineers of the future.

Students at WMG Academy are offered a career-led education involving work placements, interactive industry activities and visits to businesses. Through the academy’s “business-like, business-led" ethos, students understand how their learning relates to the real world and leave prepared for their future careers.

For more information on the academy, visit the website at www.solihull.wmgacademy.org.uk or contact Samantha Frampton at s.frampton@solihull-chamber.com

Teaming up: Samantha Frampton (second right) with (left to right): Claire Morris, associate principal, Dr Andrew Mottershead and Stewart Tait, CEO.

Contact:

Sophie

Poduval-Morrell

T: 07540 751590

Probing the gaps in mental

Mindfulness and Resilience is the Future Faces theme for March and will include a deep dive into the conversations surrounding mental health in the workplace and at home, as well as the final part of the Future Faces Bounce Forward mini-series.

Alongside these conversations, Future Faces: The Young Professionals Podcast will be discussing how young professionals can practice mindfulness and resilience in their work and home lives.

Amanda Jackson, director and mental health trainer at Beacon Learning and Performance Limited, spoke to Future Faces manager Sophie Poduval-Morrell about how important mindfulness and resilience is for everyone, whether they are a working professional or not.

With over 15 years of experience in training, coaching and business management, Amanda says there is a huge need for mental health training to show a return on investment in the workplace.

Amanda specialises in mental health first aid, sales force effectiveness, in-call quality, sales management, management and leadership development, performance coaching, team effectiveness and Insights discovery.

The podcast episode is available to listen to from Tuesday, 12 March.

Scan the QR code to access all previous episodes.

To get in touch with Amanda and the team at Beacon Learning and Performance Ltd, visit their website at www.beaconmentalhealth.co.uk

Small steps that can boost your resilience: how to be more mindful

Huge

Forget grit and willpower... maybe the key to resilience lies in developing a stronger awareness and understanding of your body, writes Will Crawford, founder of quietnote and Future Faces committee member.

For me, mindfulness has always been about growing a better understanding of our mind and body. The simple act of sitting quietly, focusing on the breath, can prove to be a powerful way to help you understand the way your mind works and why your body feels the way it does.

It helps you balance your mood and bring more active control to your thoughts. After a small amount of dedicated mindfulness practice, we can start to see longterm, life-changing results in our health and mindset.

It’s through these small changes that we start to exercise and grow a resilient mindset. Resilience is not a natural born talent; it’s a skill like any other. This means that we can develop it, even master it. Mindfulness allows you to better recognise negative thought patterns, such as self-doubt and limiting

beliefs. Over time, these repetitive thought patterns lower your resilience as we start to believe they are, in fact, our reality.

However, once we can recognise these thoughts as simply our thoughts and not our reality, we can notice that we are much more capable and stronger than our mind might have us believe. We can build up resilience against selfdoubt or anything that seeks to hold us back from our full potential.

Within Future Faces, our wellbeing team has moved our focus away from our original

wellbeing café, and we are now set on helping our members be more resilient in their overall wellbeing. We focus on the bigger wellbeing picture and not just one specific area. This year, we are running events around financial wellbeing, personal safety, nutrition, mental health, and more.

Find out more at www.quietnote.com. If you want to learn more about mindfulness and how it can help you build a more resilient mindset, you can contact Will at will@quiet-note.com

If you are interested in learning more about our wellbeing initiatives or Future Faces, please reach out to Future Faces manager Sophie via email. s.poduval-morrell@birmingham-chamber.com

The Chamber’s ever growing network for young professionals and the leaders of tomorrow.

health training

Get moving and get behind Birmingham Mind

Birmingham Mind, Future Faces’ charity of the year, is aiming to raise awareness for mental health and vital funds for the charity through their Move More For March challenge.

The challenge involves completing 30 minutes of activity for 31 days in March. The activity can be anything – participants can walk, run, cycle, dance, swim, skip, stretch, cook, clean, decorate, get off the bus a stop earlier, take the stairs instead of the lift or even potter in the garden– so long as they are moving and having fun.

Birmingham Mind will send a free activity tracker when on a fundraising page and those taking part will also receive a free t-shirt when they have raised £20. The money will go towards funds for Birmingham Mind, who are one of the largest independent providers of mental health services in the city and have been delivering support for over 60 years.

Kerrie Henry-Edge, fundraising officer at Birmingham Mind, said: “Physical activity has so many positive benefits for our overall wellbeing, which is why we have created the Move More for March challenge. It’s a challenge that everyone of all ages and abilities can get involved with and each person can choose how they do it - whether it be as an individual, with work colleagues, friends, family, or a mixture of all. Not only will you feel good by taking part in this challenge, you are also helping to raise awareness for mental health and vital funds for Birmingham Mind.”

For more information and to sign up for free, scan the QR code below. To enquire about support email fundraising@birminghammind.org.

All fundraising and donations that Birmingham Mind receives stays in Birmingham to help support the services they offer to the people who need support.

To find out more about what Birmingham Mind do, visit their website at www.birminghammind.org

Birmingham Mind will also be holding a networking and clay making event on Thursday, 21 March, from 5pm to 7:30pm at The Distillery on Sheepcote Street.

The event offers an opportunity to practice mindfulness by switching off for a few hours and trying something different.

Tickets cost £32.50 (plus booking fee), which includes, a welcome drink, plenty of time to network, a slice of pizza*, a two-hour claymaking session with Rachel Akers from Akers of Art and a clay masterpiece to take home. £10 from every ticket will be donated to Birmingham Mind.

Scan the QR code to book tickets. *For dietary requirements email fundraising@birminghammind.org

Honour: Graham receives his award at the SLTC Awards 2024

Young Professional of the Year named

A media and video production expert received the Young Professional of the Year award at the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Tamworth and Cannock Chambers of Commerce awards 2024.

Graham Allsopp, deputy CEO of Ark Media Group, bagged the accolade, adding to the success of Ark Media Group also taking home the Small Business of the Year award for Sutton Coldfield.

Having studied media at school, Graham went on to pursue a career in TV and video production at Southampton Solent University, actively taking on work experience in the media sector while studying.

He then went on to set up a freelance video production company, which is where he met his current work colleague Phil Arkinstall. Graham joined Ark Media Group in 2015 and has helped the video production company go from strength to strength in the media sector.

Graham is also an active and longstanding member of Future Faces, having joined in 2019 when Future Faces was still in its early stages. He joined the committee shortly afterwards, providing it with a fresh perspective and helping it to grow and expand into the media sector.

Graham said: “I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the Young Professional of the Year for Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Tamworth, and Cannock.

“Future Faces has also enabled me to establish a robust and dependable local network, which has been instrumental in my professional journey.”

New Members

Abbie Veasey WSP Ltd

Alex Stenson Harrison Clark Rickerbys LLP

Alicia Hulland Seated Furniture Ltd

Bronia Hennessy Leopard Co.

Dan Young Wigley Building & Development

Limited

Eleanor Field-Carter Method in Motion

Emma Rhodes Harrison Clark Rickerbys LLP

Ileana Lupsa techUK

Jack Kearns Method in Motion

Kelly-Anne Mahey Kids Village

Kerrie Henry-Edge Birmingham Mind

Kirstie Warren Unique Venues Birmingham Ltd

Matt Balcers Oxiworks

Max Bambury Wigley Building & Development

Limited

Rebecca Elston Seated Furniture Ltd

Samantha Fletcher-Goodwin Kids Village

Sohail Iqbal MFG Solicitors

Will Phillips William Phillips

Canine company: Kerrie Henry-Edge has support for her activities

All done up for a glittering night out on the town…

The highlight of the Greater Birmingham business year once again attracted about 1200 people to the ICC. The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) dinner was packed with entertainment and a menu of Asian cuisine wrapped in glittering award ceremonies. As this page and others prove, many people are still very ready to put on their glad rags for a thoroughly good night out on the town.

1. Excellence in Sales & Marketing winner, Story

2. Excellence in Sustainability winner, National Memorial Arboretum

3. Excellence in Technology & Innovation winner, Forensic Pathways

4. Excellence in Training & Education winner, GuruYou

5. Excellence in Manufacturing winner, Evac+Chair International

6. Excellence in International Business winner, Ginho

7. Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events winner, Millennium Point

8. Excellence in Inclusive People Development winner, Birmingham Hippodrome

9. Excellence in Third Sector winner, Birmingham Hospice

CHAMBER EVENTS

Expo and fair give summer appeal

Two major business events have been launched by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for the summer months

The annual Solihull Expo will take place on Thursday 16 May at Best Western Plus Manor Hotel, Meriden.

The expo will be a chance to bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners from various industries to foster connections, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The exhibition serves as a premier platform for individuals and organisations to showcase their products, services, and expertise while networking with like-minded peers.

Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said: “I’m delighted to announce that the Solihull Expo, the biggest networking event of the year for Solihull Chamber is back!

“With over 50 businesses exhibiting and all under one roof there is no better way to make connections, seek new opportunities and gain valuable insight into ‘Doing Business in Solihull’. I look forward to welcoming everyone on the day.”

Delegate tickets for the expo are free. To book an exhibition space, visit www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com. Early Bird member prices start from £310+vat, and Early Bird non-member prices start from £410+VAT. Also visit the website to book onto the Speed Networking session.

Connecting with cakes: The Meta4 stand at last year’s Sutton Coldfield Expo

Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce will be holding their annual Royal Business Fair on Thursday, 13 June, at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.

The fair will run from 8:30am to 3pm and will be a chance to bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners from Royal Sutton Coldfield and across Greater Birmingham to connect, support and grow.

Chris Brewerton, head of Royal Sutton, Lichfield and Tamworth Chambers, said: “The Royal Business Fair is the biggest networking event of the year across Sutton Coldfield and the Chamber are delighted to help bring the business community together every year in June. Since

2017 we have welcomed hundreds of people every year to the event as companies based in Sutton and also the wider Greater Birmingham area have shared expertise, advice and contacts through exhibiting, attending breakout sessions and discussing important local policy issues.”

To book your exhibition stand, visit www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com. Early Bird member prices start from £260+vat, and Early Bird non-member prices start from £285+VAT. Before the Royal Business Fair opens, there will be a speed networking session for up to 40 delegates. Both delegates and exhibitors are invited to attend. The website can be used to register.

New Chamber events this month

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s events programme is one of the largest in the British Chambers of Commerce’s network.

One of the major events on the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce March calendar is breakfast with the US Embassy. It’s a member only event and they are advised to book early.

Super Tuesday Networking

Date: 5/3/2024

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Venue: Browne Jacobson, 103

Colmore row

Division: Greater Birmingham

Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce

Members: Free

Future Faces members: £15

Non-members: £50

Solihull Networking Lunch

Date: 06/03/2024

Time: 12pm – 2pm

Venue: MAN Commercial Protection

Division: Solihull

Members: Free

Future Faces members: £15

Non-members: £50

Royal Sutton Coldfield Networking

Lunch and Speed Networking

Date: 07/03/2024

Time: 12pm-2pm

Venue: Royal Sutton Coldfield Town

Hall

Division: Royal Sutton Coldfield

Members: Free

Future Faces members: £15

Non-Members: £50

Breakfast with the U.S Embassy

Date: 11/03/2024

Time: 9am – 11am

Venue: HSBC UK, Centenary Square

Division: Greater Birmingham

Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce

Cost: Members only

Future Faces Professional Development

- Resilience and Mindfulness

Date: 12/03/2024

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Venue: Mills & Reeve

Division: Future Faces

Cost: Future Faces members Only

Future Faces Social Networking

Date: 20/03/2024

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Venue: The rectory

Division: Future Faces

Cost: Future Faces members Only

Growth Through People Conference

2024 Date: 21/03/2024

Time: 9am – 2pm

Venue: The Studio

Division: GBCC

Cost: Free

Solihull Annual General Meting

Date: 22/03/2024

Time: 10am – 12pm

Venue: Hogarths

Division: Solihull

Members: Free

Future Faces members: Free

Non-members: Free

Social Networking with Future Faces

Date: 27/03/2024

Time: 12pm- 2pm

Venue: TBC

Division: Burton & District and Future

Faces

Members: Free

Future Faces members: Free

Non-Members: £50+VAT

Training courses

The Chamber is again organising a comprehensive programme of training courses for businesses of any size who are in or looking to enter INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Those planned for April, May and June are listed below.

ALL CHAMBER MEMBERS CAN ENJOY REDUCED COSTS.

For more details contact Leah Quarmby, international trade training manager, on 07860258387

Import Procedures including Inward Processing and Outward Processing (BCC accredited)

Date: 16 April 2024

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £300 + VAT

Non-members: £370 + VAT

The attendee will gain a full understanding of all the applicable areas of the import process. The day will explore supplier, country, payment risk, duty payments, regulations and more.

This course will provide a deeper knowledge for anyone who has previously attended our ‘Importing for Beginner’s’ course.

Trading with Ireland and Northern Ireland

Date: 16 April 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: DKR Trade Training

Members: £140 + VAT

Non-members: £210 + VAT

Focussed training for businesses currently trading or looking to trade with Ireland.

Outlining specific procedures, documentation requirements, the Northern Ireland protocol (and how this effects the delivery of goods), details of the Windsor Framework, TSS and other topics.

Introduction to Authorised Economic Operator

Date: 23 April 2024

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: DKR Trade Training

Members: £250 + VAT

Non-members: £320 + VAT

The requirements and benefits to your business of being AEO registered.

Attendees will learn what to consider before obtaining AEO status, what happens once approval is granted and strong guidance on the application process.

Incoterms 2020 (BCC accredited)

Date: 25 April 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £200 + VAT

Non-members: £270 + VAT

Looking at each of the 11 Incoterms in detail, explaining what each term ‘does’ and ‘doesn’t do’.

The half-day session will explore the correct terms for your shipments, what to consider when choosing your Incoterm and what could occur if incorrect terms are used.

Introduction to UK Export Controls & Licences

Date: 29 April 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £180 + VAT

Non-members: £250 + VAT

In depth guidance and knowledge for handling products that are of dual use or need a licence.

Covering types of licence, when to use them, what goods certain licences apply to and help with gaining government approval.

Exporting for Beginner’s; Practical and Precise

Date: 9 May 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £180 + VAT

Non-members: £250 + VAT

An ideal beginner course for anyone with little or no experience of exporting.

In this practical session, attendees will learn how to correctly create a commercial invoice with easy-tofollow guidance on how to do this from a pre-defined set of documents.

Importing Made Easy - A Guide for

Beginners

Date: 9 May 2024

Time: 1:30pm – 4:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £180 + VAT

Non-members: £250 + VAT

In this beginner’s guide attendees will gain an understanding of the terminology used in an import role, as well as why import procedures must be adhered to correctly. This course also explains the consequences for business if they are not compliant. Procedures will be explained in a very accessible manner, suiting those with little to no experience in importing.

Understanding Export and Export Documentation (BCC Accredited)

Date: 23 May 2024

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £300 + VAT

Non-members: £370 + VAT

In this exceptionally popular course attendees will be provided with an overview of the end-to-end export process and gain an in depth understanding of the requirements of export documentation, including knowledge on shipping, the correct way to use a freight forwarder and couriers.

This detailed course is a must for anyone handling exports for their business, no matter what level of experience.

A perfect next step for anyone who has completed our ‘Beginner’s Guide to Export, those looking for a refresher on rules and regulations, and those looking to update their existing knowledge and skills.

ATA Carnet Step-by-Step Workshop

Date: 23 May 2024

Time: 10am – 12pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: TBC

Members: £110 + vat

Non-members: £180 + VAT

If you complete Carnets for your company and need to understand the process, requirements and regulations surrounding them, this is the session for you.

Learn how the Carnet acts as a ‘passport’ for your goods travelling overseas, understand when to use, how to complete the form, and much more in this informative workshop.

Preference, Rules of Origin (BCC accredited)

Date: 6 June 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £200 + VAT

Non-members: £270 + VAT Focussed training to establish improved knowledge on origin calculations.

Detailed information will be provided on how origin affects the purchase and sale of products, as well as documentation requirements. Attendees will learn how to determine the origin of their goods, look at

trade agreements, the importance of knowing origin rules surrounding exporting & importing items from other countries, and what other considerations are notable.

Agents and Distributors (BCC accredited)

Date: 25June 2024

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: DKR Trade training

Members: £200 + VAT

Non-Members: £270 + VAT

Suitable for anyone in an international trade environment, who is currently leasing with different agents & distributors, or looking for opportunities to lease . You will learn the difference between the two, what to consider when appointing either, and advantages and disadvantages to consider of both.

Customs Procedures and International Documentation (BCC accredited)

Date: 27 June 2024

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Venue: Online remote training

Trainer: Exporter Services

Members: £300 + VAT

Non-members: £370 + VAT

Benefitting anyone working in an international trade role. Designed to develop understanding of the procedures of customs compliance, the day will take an in depth look at customs procedures, along with the import and export processes surrounding documentation, audits, and compliance to satisfy HMRC.

ISO9001 Quality Management

Training

Date: 27 June 2024

Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm

Venue: Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Trainer: TBC

Members: £230 + VAT

Non-members: £300 + VAT

Our ISO 9001 classroom training will give you the skills needed to implement and run a successful Quality Management System. Learn about the elements of ISO 9001 and how to apply them to your business. A full day’s schedule of learning, group discussions and guidance.

Thinking creatively is a team effort

Creative thinking is vital to any business. A genius idea for a new product or service can not only increase revenue and reputation but also boost employee motivation. But how can employers get the whole team on board and promote creativity? Chamberlink shares its top tips.

Hire a diverse team in order to get diverse ideas

Just because something works the same way it always has, doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. To improve, you need creative thinking – and diversity here is the key.

People from the same background are more likely to think and work the same, which can result in stale ideas, repetitive suggestions and out-dated methods of problem solving that can’t keep up with the modern world.

However, a talent pool drawn from a diverse background can offer fresh ideas and new ways of approaching certain tasks and problems, as well as introducing different learning and management styles.

Foster open-mindedness

An open-minded employer is more likely to be approached with new ideas. Alternately, an employer who isn’t open to experimentation is likely to be left behind – and lose their brightest thinkers to employers who want to hear what they have to say.

So it’s important to create an environment that welcomes experimentation and innovation. Invite your staff to share their ideas – for example, you could hold a weekly suggestion meeting –and give team leaders the flexibility to implement new ways of working and monitor their progress.

‘People from the same background are more likely to think and work the same, which can result in stale ideas’

Even if not every idea goes as planned, the trial-anderror method could still provide valuable insight and offer solutions for future problems.

FEATURE: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

FEATURE: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Offer constructive criticism

Constructive criticism is a very important part of the creative process, because ultimately it will allow your staff to reflect on their ideas and improve them. If something isn’t working, don’t shut down the idea with a firm ‘no’, because this may deter them from ever suggesting something new again. Instead, give your staff the opportunity to reflect and improve. This in turn can also hone their critical thinking skills, making them better employees in the long run.

Energise the workplace

Creativity can’t flourish in stressful conditions. Stress and burnout are becoming increasingly common in the workplace, which, as well as impacting performance, can have a serious affect on an employee’s mental and physical health. Make sure that staff are taking regular breaks and create a breakout space in the workplace where staff can relax away from their workspaces. Plants, artwork and water features can all contribute to a more soothing work environment. A relaxing break can boost creativity and give staff the energy needed to resume working on an important project.

Bring people together

Bringing different teams together can have a positive impact on creativity, because different teams have different strengths and different ways of solving problems. Sometimes, it’s impossible to see the woods for the trees – maybe your product testing team can’t overcome a hurdle, for example, and a collaborative session with outsiders might be just the thing they need to get the creative juices flowing again. Maybe your staff from finance can offer an analytical solution, or maybe your marketing team can lend their communication skills to the problem. Opportunities to trade personal insight and ideas are also great ways to get your staff bonding, creating a happier workforce.

Plants and artwork can help to encourge a creative workspace

FEATURE: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Top tips to help protect your premises

It is impossible to underestimate the personal, emotional or financial implications of a robbery, break-in or theft. So it’s no surprise that security is one of the main concerns of any business owner or manager. If you haven’t taken the right steps to keep intruders out, your business premises – and your staff – could be vulnerable. So, what can you do to improve the security of your premises? Here are some of tips from the experts.

Risk Assessment

This is the first step. Take a critical look, identify any weak areas and consult with staff to see what they think could be improved upon.

Protect yourself, staff and customers

Ensure that only nominated members of staff hold keys to your workplace and check regularly that no keys are missing. If any are, immediately change your locks. Staff should know how to lock up the premises and who to call if there are any security issues, such as the alarm not setting. Train your staff to recognise suspicious behaviour and to challenge any stranger that enters the premises. Provide security training and make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a serious threat.

Strengthen entry points

There are likely to be a number of entrances to your premises – and other ways of getting into your property. Consider all possible avenues that intruders might use to enter your premises and introduce measures to minimise vulnerability.

Installing solid doors and windows and fitting them with secure, anti-snap locks is one option and ensure they are locked when the building is empty. External shutters are another possibility, particularly on any windows or doors that are especially vulnerable. CCTV is an excellent way to monitor access points, while a good alarm system is a must – you may find your insurance premiums reduce, too.

Security lighting

75 per cent of burglaries occur in the evening, so security lighting is an effective means of deterring criminals. When positioned strategically, it can cover a wide area.

Secure the perimeter

Effective fencing, strong security gates, security lighting and a secure car park can help to prevent intrusions and provide a visual deterrent. However, it’s a fine balance between securing your premises and making it look like a prison. Don’t put off customers and potential employees by making your premises look like a fortress

Install CCTV and alarms

CCTV and alarm systems are must haves for any business serious about protecting its people and property. Get expert advice so that you install the best type for your needs. Change the alarm codes regularly, too.

Real time notification

Investing in remote monitoring means you know what’s happening to your business even when

‘CCTV and alarm systems are must haves for any business serious about protecting its people and property. Get expert advice so that you install the best type for your needs’

you’re not there. Once an intruder is detected, the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) will contact and notify your nominated key holder or the appropriate emergency service.

Know your staff and visitors

Background checks before you employ someone can help to prevent employee theft, while a signing in and out system or visitor pass system helps you to keep track of everyone who enters and leaves your premises.

Safeguard important equipment

Carry out regular property and equipment audits. Secure laptops, tablets and devices in a secure, out-of-sight location. If money is left on site, it should be secured in a safe. If necessary, fit your computers with alarms that detect tampering and record all the serial numbers. You could also secure expensive equipment to floors or walls.

Protect your stock

Being organised will help you to identify any discrepancies in your stock count. Keep on top of paperwork and question excessive voids, credits or damage claims. Install CCTV in areas where stock is stored as a deterrent to would-be opportunist thieves.

Advertise your security

Make it obvious that your building is well secured, as it could deter potential intruders.

Conduct regular checks

Repair any breakages to doors, windows, or the roof as soon as possible and encourage staff to report potential threats/vulnerabilities. Keep in contact with other local businesses to find out if they have had any break-ins or security breaches.

What happens if you are burgled?

Act quickly and reconsider your security. Do not do the same thing as before because the thieves know your systems and the equipment you will be replacing. Undertake a security audit at least once a year and always remain open to suggestions from your staff about how you can better protect your business.

Sector Focus

The latest news from the sectors that matter to business

New easyJet partnership takes off

easyJet – a new 1813 Club member of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce - has taken to the skies as the first airline partner of the ground-breaking Iris programme.

Iris is an initiative led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and global communications company Viasat, which is using the latest generation of satellite technology to help modernise air traffic management (ATM).

The EASA-certified Iris service provider ESSP has involved 15 leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in support of the first commercial flights across Europe this year –with up to 11 easyJet Airbus A320neo aircraft taking part.

Through the use of Iris, easyJet will be able to operate its aircraft as efficiently as possible to achieve further fuel burn improvements and

More Birmingham connections: Ryanair

Ryanair adds to European routes

Flights from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Tirana, Paris and Derry can now be booked with Ryanair.

From 31 March, the Irish low-cost carrier will serve Paris Beauvais Airport seven times a week and the Albanian capital twice a week.

It will begin twice-weekly flights to Derry, in Northern Ireland, from 3 April.

Tom Screen, aviation director for BHX, said: “Ryanair is further expanding its customer offering with three more fabulous destinations, and I have no doubt they will prove very popular.

“In 2023, Ryanair based a sixth aircraft at BHX. This summer, we look forward to the arrival of its seventh as its long-term commitment to BHX and the wider Midlands region continues.”

emissions reductions. More broadly, the programme will be a key component in helping deliver airspace modernisation across the industry.

Airspace modernisation and subsequent gains in efficiencies is one crucial element in the airline industry’s path to net zero. In 2022, easyJet announced its interim science-based carbon reduction target – 35 per cent carbon emissions intensity improvement by FY2035, on a FY2019 baseline. This came as part of the airline’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

easyjet say more efficient use of airspace is crucial for aviation to reduce emissions, as it is the most achievable source of carbon reductions right now. This is because more direct flight paths lead to shorter flying times, and thus use less fuel burn and generate fewer emissions.

Hugh McConnellogue, director of operations and navigation at easyJet, said: “More efficient use of airspace is a critical way we can tackle the industry’s emissions right now.

“Adopting Iris technology on these aircraft will enable easyJet to fly more directly and efficiently, thereby reducing carbon emissions as well as enhancing our on-time performance – which in turn improves our customers’ experiences.

“We’re thrilled to be paving the way in this area while working towards our goal to achieve our net-zero ambitions by 2050, as outlined in our roadmap.”

Get on board with electric trains

A new era is set to begin for rail passengers in the region after West Midlands Railway unveiled its new fleet of electric trains.

The Class 730 fleet will carry passengers between Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Walsall. In the spring, the fleet will also enter service on the busy Cross City Line, connecting Lichfield, Birmingham, Redditch and Bromsgrove.

An event to showcase the fleet, which is made up of 48 three-carriage trains – a total of 144 new carriages - was held at Wolverhampton Station.

The Class 730s, built in the Midlands by Alstom, are part of a £700m investment in new fleets and infrastructure by West Midlands Railway and bring a significant capacity increase on the trains they replace.

The trains also feature accessible toilets, digital information screens, air conditioning, underfloor heating and power points at every seat.

Ian McConnell, managing director of West Midlands Railway, said: “These modern electric trains represent a huge upgrade to the experience of travelling by train in the West Midlands.

“Not only are the Class 730s physically longer than the trains they replace, meaning they can carry more people, the carriage interiors have been designed in a spacious, metro-style to maximise space. I am certain they will prove popular and our teams are looking forward to welcoming customers on board.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It’s good news that we’re seeing this £700m investment

In addition to the three-carriage Class 730s, a further 36 five-carriage versions of the fleet are currently going through testing with West Midlands Railway’s sister company London Northwestern Railway. These trains will come into service next winter on longer-distance routes, connecting the West Midlands with Liverpool and London.

by West Midlands Trains continuing as we work together to make our rail network fit for the future. “These new trains will make a real difference to passengers right across our region - boosting capacity on some of our busiest routes.”

Huge upgrade: Andy Street (left) with Ian McConnell

Ground-breaking: easyjet

Haircare firm is growing greener with bank’s help

A Birmingham-based haircare company has transformed into an international sustainable brand designed to help people embrace their natural curls, with support from Lloyds Bank.

The now CEO and founder of Flora & Curl, Rose Ovensehi, decided to stop chemically treating her textured hair in 2011 after her scalp was damaged from years of processing and straightening her hair.

Looking for a more natural product and struggling to find many on the market, she then began creating her own DIY haircare recipes, documenting the journey on her own blog. After asking her followers “what is your biggest hair problem”, more than 300 responses cited dry hair and breakage.

This was a turning point for Rose. Realising there was a more widespread need for natural products for textured hair, Rose decided to explore how she could

Gap

‘Our recent rebrand is testament to the power of listening to feedback’

turn creating recipes at her mum’s kitchen table into a business. She transitioned from working in transport planning into running the business full time with the launch of three products.

While order numbers continued to grow – 100 per cent year-onyear – Rose approached Lloyds Bank, securing an invoice finance facility. Today, the collection has expanded and includes mists, detangling lotions, shampoos, and conditioners and are available in more than 500 Boots stores across the UK. The business also sells via its website to customers in more than 80 countries, with a 16-strong team now behind the brand.

Despite the initial success of the business, Rose continues to listen to customer feedback and a full

rebrand has been in the works for the past two years, addressing the increased demand for sustainable products.

Rose said: “Our recent rebrand is testament to the power of listening to feedback. Because of this, we’ve been able to offer our customers what they want and create a progressive sustainable plan that makes a difference, a real win-win.

“When orders started to increase, I knew I needed financial support to take Flora & Curl to the next level. The support from Lloyds Bank has allowed me to take on much larger orders and build the brand on an international level.”

Noshad Khowaja, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Rose and the team at Flora & Curl are incredibly inspirational, especially for other women in manufacturing.

“Women account for just over a quarter (26 per cent) of all workers in the manufacturing sector so it’s essential that we’re supporting these businesses.”

in succession planning revealed

New research by UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm Azets has revealed that fewer than one in 10 UK businesses have succession planning fully integrated into their strategy, despite 30 per cent of companies demonstrating a widespread recognition of its importance.

The Azets Barometer January 2024 survey shows that more than half (58 per cent) of businesses have considered succession in their strategic planning, with almost a third (30 per cent) scoring eight or above out of 10 when asked how much thought their organisation giving to succession planning.

While this outperforms the overall survey average (5.1 out of 10), it indicates a strategic gap that could impact shareholder value.

However, just nine per cent of businesses have succession plans fully integrated, while six per cent have given it no thought at all.

Overall, UK businesses score 6.0 out of 10 for succession planning.

Gary Hyem (pictured), corporate finance partner at Azets, said: “It is encouraging to see a significant number of UK companies that are considering succession planning in their strategic planning.

“However, the Azets Barometer highlights the gap in the long-term direction of too many businesses.

“Succession should be high on the agenda of every business owner, particularly in the current economic climate.

“Meticulous planning that is fully embedded into your business strategy ensures future-proofing and strategic continuity. It’s imperative that business owners think about their options and take control of their exit route before it becomes forced.”

Fraud on the rise in the Midlands

Fraud cases of over £100,000 in the Midlands were second only to London, according to figures published in KPMG UK’s barometer.

It shows the number of reported fraud cases outside of the London region rose to 183 cases in 2023, up from 172 in 2022. Within this, the Midlands had 37 cases reaching Crown Courts last year while London had 43.

In terms of reported fraud values of £100,000 and above, outside of the London region, this decreased by 47 per cent to £291.5m in 2023, down from almost £552m in 2022.

Yorkshire and the Midlands, in particular, saw the biggest drop in reported fraud values in 2023, dropping by 88 per cent and 62 per cent respectively, due to the absence of super cases.

However, fraud values in the London region rose to £701.4m across 43 cases in 2023, up significantly from £577.5m across 49 cases in 2022. This was largely driven by one super case with a value of approximately £416m involving tax fraud.

Annette Barker, UK Head of Forensic, KPMG UK, said: “Given that London is a major financial hub, it is understandable why the capital is the UK’s fraud hotspot. However, the high levels of fraud in the North West and the Midlands, which both have less financial activity than London, show that nowhere is safe from fraudsters.”

Although the London region continued to have the highest volume and value of fraud cases, fewer professional criminals were brought to court for alleged fraud offences in 2023 compared to the previous year. In 2023, 18 cases totalling £123.7m were heard in the capital, compared to 24 cases worth £265.7m in 2022.

Annette added: “As fraud has grown in sophistication and complexity, it has, therefore, become harder to prosecute professional criminals for their acts.”

Nationally, the total volume of fraud cases heard in UK Crown Courts was 226 cases in 2023, up from 221 cases in 2022.

Fraud watch: Annette Barker

Longstanding relationships:

Declan Cushley

Browne Jacobson

IP lawyers praised

Intellectual property (IP) lawyers at Browne Jacobson have again been included in the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 –an independent global ranking of the best trademark experts.

The UK and Ireland firm’s IP practice maintained its silver ranking in the enforcement and litigation category of the 2024 listing, a definitive resource for those seeking stellar trademark expertise and partners worldwide.

It also received a bronze award for prosecution and strategy, and was recommended for its transactional work, after the team was praised for its “ability to deliver advice in a way that is non-technical and shows a clear understanding of wider commercial goals”.

Alongside the firm’s accolade, six of Browne Jacobson’s specialist IP lawyers and litigators were named as recommended individual practitioners.

They included Declan Cushley, partner and head of the firm’s commercial and IP practice, who was recognised for “a sharp strategic mind who thinks long term”. Clients said he “dispenses spot-on advice to the likes of Iconic London on its growing trademark portfolio and commercialisation opportunities”.

IP partner Giles Parsons and trademark litigator Bonita Trimmer received recognition for their work in acting for the Match group in a high-profile trademark infringement against Muzmatch Limited at the IPEC and Court of Appeal.

Mark Daniels “brings expert knowledge” to the high-tech patent litigation practice he heads up as partner, the report stated, while comments stated that IP partner Nick Smee’s “technical knowledge helps him to guide clientele through tricky situations”.

Senior associate IP lawyer Faye McConnell also received high praise for her “ability to translate technical legal information into relevant business information”.

Freeths leads the way in insolvency claims

The insolvency and restructuring team at national law firm Freeths, which has offices in Birmingham, has been named as the most active in the High Court Review 2023.

Compiled by litigation data and analytics platform Solomonic, the annual review of commercial litigation has revealed Freeths topped the insolvency list with 358 claims, followed by Pannone Corporate with 260 and Coltman Warner Cranston at 224.

The claims which were part of the calculation include Insolvency act claims for office holders, administration appointments, cva filings, and winding up petitions.

Joey Bryne, national head of insolvency and restructuring at Freeths, said: “These findings are testament to the dedication and commitment the team has portrayed this year. With a spike in insolvencies in 2023 over various sectors has meant we’ve had to pull together for our clients during such uncertain economic challenges.

‘Testament to

the dedication and commitment the team has portrayed’

“Appearing way ahead of our competitors, I’m proud of the collaboration the team has displayed in achieving the best results for both new and existing clients.”

Freeths, a top 50 commercial law firm, has also announced that as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and its wider ESG strategy it is now a certified B Corporation (“B Corp”)

B Corp certification is awarded to businesses that demonstrate they meet B Corp’s high standards of environmental and social impact and good governance.

Wilkes plays leading role in Stalis sale

Wilkes played a pivotal role in the successful rollover of shares as part of the acquisition of Stalis Limited by Egress Limited and FPE Capital.

The deal involved the purchase of shares from the management team of and the subsequent equity rollover of management teams shares into the Egress group.

Stalis is a key player in providing data migration and archiving

services to the NHS. This transaction therefore represents a strategic move in aligning with Egress, which operates in the data migration and integration domain and is backed by FPE.

Wilkes, a leading law firm based in the Midlands, known for its transactional expertise, advised the management team of Stalis on their equity rollover into the Egress

group for reinvestment into the business. Rick Smyth and Christie Nelson in Wilkes’ corporate team guided the management team on various aspects of the rollover.

Rick Smyth, Corporate Partner at Wilkes said: “This transaction showcases the depth of Wilkes’ capabilities in handling intricate agreements and navigating complex negotiations seamlessly.”

E.ON appoints new UK legal panel

E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy providers, has appointed a new UK legal panel of three firms following a competitive tender process. Pinsent Masons – which has been E.ON’s principal UK legal advisor since 2013 – will continue to work with E.ON alongside newcomers DLA Piper and Shakespeare Martineau.

From January 2024, the three firms are collaborating under a comprehensive five-year agreement, offering the full range of specialist legal services required by E.ON as it continues to drive forward its UK business.

E.ON UK’s general counsel Kirin Kalsi said: “We have ambitious growth plans in line with our purpose of supporting the energy transition and having three strong firms supporting us in doing so will ensure we are able to deliver solutions in our customers’ best interests.

“The excellent collaboration during the implementation phase has already resulted in a common online portal for all instructions with the ease of tracking spend, feedback and trends, and we are looking forward to the ease and certainty our continued innovative fixed pricing arrangements will bring; all in all, for the benefit of the teams involved, our business objectives and our customers.”

Proud of collaboration: Joey Bryne

Ambitious growth plans: Kirin Kalsi

Fast-track employment programme is taking off

In-Comm Training has joined forces with one of Wolverhampton’s largest employers, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority, (WMCA) to help unemployed people into advanced manufacturing jobs.

The independent training provider, which operates two stateof-the-art technical academies in Aldridge and Telford, has created a fast-track course that will aim to create up to 65 new CNC machinists and electro-mechanical fitters for RTX’s Collins Aerospace factory in Wolverhampton.

Backed by over £200,000 of higher level skills funding by the WMCA, the ground-breaking course will take six months to complete.

At the end of it, each learner will receive a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering and Technologies, additional on-the-job competences,

‘Programmes that deliver future workers, vital competences and skilled engineers’

and an interview/opportunity to gain full-time employment at Collins Aerospace’s Wolverhampton facility.

DWP, who play a key role in the initial recruitment phase, has also agreed to continue to pay each individual’s benefits for the duration of the course.

Gareth Jones, managing director of In-Comm Training, said: “We are continually working with employers to overcome barriers to sustainability and growth through the right talent attraction and development, taking that valuable insight and creating training programmes that deliver future workers, vital competences and skilled engineers.

“The aerospace industry has seen first-hand the impact of the current skills shortage, a skills shortage that has been exacerbated by Covid-19.”

Collins Aerospace has used InComm Training for its apprenticeship scheme since 2018, with the latest training being delivered predominantly at the provider’s Technical Academy in Telford. The pilot course is part of a £429,000 “Higher Level Skills” funding package In-Comm Training secured from the WMCA to help the region bridge the skills gap facing manufacturing.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “We’ve identified advanced manufacturing and engineering as one of our priority sectors in our region’s Plan for Growth.

“This partnership shows how WMCA skills funding can align with a high-growth sector, enabling local people to upskill in this field.”

Flexible packaging firm up for sale

One of the UK’s leading flexible packaging manufacturers Surepak Limited is seeking a buyer after filing for administration.

Dean Nelson and Nick Lee, business recovery and restructuring partners at PKF Smith Cooper, were appointed.

Sole director Stuart Yorston made the decision to file for administration to protect the company’s business, assets, goodwill and employees from a winding-up petition served by a creditor.

Surepak Limited will continue to trade in the short term while in administration, as an accelerated merger and acquisition process begins with the aim of finding a purchaser in whole or part for the company.

Nottinghamshire-based Surepak Limited manufactures flexible packaging for businesses across a wide range of sectors in the UK.

Dean Nelson, head of business recovery and restructuring at PKF Smith Cooper, said: “Our aim is to preserve the business and protect employees’ jobs, in addition to maximising returns for creditors.”

Anyone interested in purchasing the company’s business and assets should contact dean.nelson@pkfsmithcooper.com

Manufacturer eyes growth with expansion

An innovative foam and rubber manufacturer in the West Midlands has seized the opportunity to explore new markets around the world and double its headcount after snapping up another manufacturer in the region.

Walsall-based Alanto has welcomed the UK’s market leading polyethylene distributor and fabricator Ramfoam into its fold, in a move that takes the firm’s annual turnover from £10m to £20m and more than doubles the size of its UK workforce.

The deal brings three additional local manufacturing facilities to the business. It also gives Alanto a footprint in the Middle East, which will serve as a key market for future growth.

The expansion was supported by a £3.8m loan from Lloyds Bank.

Manufacturing a diverse range of foam and rubber products for use across almost every market sector from marine and construction, to automotive and electrical industries, Alanto makes body armour and riot gear for the police force, as well as scraper blades and window seals for cars.

Alanto has been part of Canadian-headquartered, leading global foam supplier, Jacobs & Thompson Inc since 2021. The transaction with Ramform will enhance the group’s UK presence, helping to facilitate its ongoing expansion in Europe and achieve successive annual turnover growth of 10 per cent.

Rob Taylor, relationship manager for Lloyds Bank, said: “Building on its heritage as the UK’s manufacturing heartland, the West Midlands is continuing to attract investment from major global players like Jacobs & Thompson, with ambitions to expand their existing footprint in the region – a major boost for the local community.

“This acquisition also ensures the enlarged Alanto business can effectively capitalise on rising demand for its products both here in the UK and in the Middle East, while delivering significant value through operational and transport efficiencies. We’ll continue to be by the side of the business as it embarks on the next stage of its growth journey.”

Appointed: Dean Nelson

Fisher German in deal with Dignity

A leading property consultancy has won a major contract worth around £600,000 over three years to provide comprehensive property services to a leading end-of-life business.

Dignity, which is based in Sutton Coldfield and employs more than 3,500 people, has appointed Fisher German to advise across a range of property services, including commercial and residential property management, lease advisory, valuations, data management, planning, and more.

Fisher German was awarded the contract by Dignity after a competitive tender process across a two-month period.

Fisher German will manage Dignity’s extensive property portfolio across the UK, including around 725 funeral homes, 45 crematoria, 28 cemeteries, 160 residential properties and 30 commercial properties.

Da n Ballard, partner at Fisher German, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this contract and to work across Dignity’s entire portfolio.

“Our expertise across all areas of the business will be used to help Dignity make the most informed decisions about its property, and to identify useful opportunities for savings and growth.

“We will be creating a dedicated team to handle this contract based out of our new Birmingham city centre office.”

Mark Williams, property and logistics director at Dignity, said: “As with our other suppliers, we are looking forward to a long-standing partnership with Fisher German.

“Their expertise across a wide range of services will be of great benefit as we seek to grow our business.”

A great end to the year for city’s office market

Birmingham office market’s Q4 2023 was the best of the year, with take up totalling 240,274 sq ft in 37 deals, according to research by property agents KWB.

Law firm Mills & Reeve topped the bumper quarter by taking 32,088 sq ft at One Centenary Way in Paradise Birmingham.

The second and third largest transactions, Global Banking School (GBS) took 29,383 sq ft at Norfolk House and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) took 27,589 sq ft at 9 Colmore Row.

In its Birmingham 2023 Q4 and annual report, KWB says total take up in 2023 was 702,993 sq ft across 109 deals.

‘There are a number of new buildings and developments on the horizon across the city’

It beat the five-year annual average of 670,677 sq ft and it’s the first time Birmingham has passed the 700,000 sq ft mark since 2019, when take up reached 780,095 sq ft. Average take up for the last ten years was 749,111sq ft.

Deals in the 20,000-50,000 sq ft bracket accounted for almost 40 per cent of total 2023 take-up and transactions in education and government sectors accounted for over 50 per cent.

The largest deal of 2023 was Lloyds Bank taking 59,896 sq ft of

managed office space at 6 Brindleyplace. The transaction meant the bank relocated 2,260 staff to enable the refurbishment of its headquarters at 125 Colmore Row. In the second largest deal, QA Higher Education took 45,180 sq ft at Louisa Ryland House on Newhall Street.

Malcolm Jones, director at KWB, said: “Birmingham’s office market demonstrated continued resilience in 2023, with annual take-up climbing 10,293 sq ft from 2022.

“Q4’s largest transaction at Mills & Reeve’s largest transaction at One Centenary Way highlights the ‘flight to quality’ trend as organisations look to enhance their presence in thriving city-centre locations.

“There are a number of new buildings and developments on the horizon across the city that will answer growing demand from occupiers for this high quality, flexible space.

“Three Chamberlain Square will add a further 189,000 sq ft to the Paradise estate. Plans have been submitted to Birmingham City Council for the partial demolition, refurbishment and extension of prominent office block Co lmore Gate. Construction is also underway on the 30-storey Beorma Tower, providing new-build office space, available from 7,000-153,000 sq ft, across 12 floors.

“The in-demand Birmingham city centre office market also presents the ideal opportunity for landlords to refurbish existing properties.”

Siddall Jones has expanded and fully refurbished its Jewellery Quarter offices in the wake of its new acquisition.

The leading Birmingham property agency announced its purchase of Bromsgrove-based 4D Property Management, a move which will increase the staff numbers as well as allowing the company to recruit additional staff. As a result, Siddall Jones has now doubled its office space at The Mint at 95 Icknield St, from 1,100 sq ft 2,200 sq ft and has commissioned SH Projects to carry out a new interior fit-out.

Ed Siddall-Jones, managing director of Siddall Jones, said: “These are exciting times for us as we are busy accommodating our new staff coming over from the purchase of 4D Property Management.

“We’re thrilled with the new fit-out delivered by SH Projects which includes a new kitchen area, a comfortable break-out space, new bathroom and shower facilities, plus the removal of gas supplies to make the offices more environmentally friendly.

“Now Siddall Jones is ready to deliver an even fuller service offering to our existing and new clients in what we are expecting to be a very busy 2024.”

Dedicated team: Dan Ballard

Fresh starts for the unemployed

The Serco Restart Scheme has helped three long-term unemployed individuals into jobs in partnership with West Midlands Cycle Hire.

Recognising the potential opportunities for jobs on other contracts, Serco’s employer engagement team approached Logan Gray, contract manager for West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme (WMCH), who hired the pre-screened job candidates from the restart scheme

The scheme is part of the government’s wider “Plan for Jobs” programmes to help people develop their skills so they can find long-term meaningful employment.

Serco delivers the Restart Scheme in West Central England on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Serco also operates the West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme (WMCH) on behalf of Transport for West Midlands. The scheme’s bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters are available across the West Midlands in each of the seven cities and towns, and they are a quick and easy way to travel around the region.

The Serco Restart Scheme has also worked with a number of employers including the NHS, One Beyond and Starling Bank to fill vacancies.

Diet course to educate on food inequality

A new programme dedicated to educating the dieticians of tomorrow that could reduce deprivation and food inequality in Birmingham has been unveiled by University College Birmingham (UCB).

This solidified the college’s commitment to a careersfocused education and the course is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council and approved MSc Public Health programme.

The MSc Dietetics programme has already begun with its first students while MSc Public Health is now taking applications for students to commence in September 2024.

‘We are responding to the needs of the sector and the needs of our region’

The new courses will add to a strong offering of undergraduate and postgraduate health courses as the university continues to diversify their offer for health disciplines. By building the programmes for these skills, the academic team at UCB acknowledge the need not just for nursing courses, but for allied and public health provision.

The courses will look to support the NHS’s workforce ecosystem, with close attention to the NHS Long Term Workforce plan (LTWP) announced in July 2023.

In particular, the LWTP aims to increase training places for Allied Health Professionals by 17,000 places by 2028/29.

The university is addressing the skills gap for these health professions and creating pathways that meet the needs of the students who embark on those programmes of study, while supporting the needs of the healthcare workforce, including the NHS, independent and private sectors, both for the skills and public health agenda.

With higher-than-average rates of deprivation and food inequality in the city, Birmingham faces a huge challenge right on its doorstep. With many of the university's graduates staying in Birmingham, these health graduates will feed into the local workforce, ready to work alongside partners with whom they have fostered relationships within their studies.

The UCB is part of the Birmingham Food System Strategy and students will be able to see how theory is put into practice as part of a city-wide movement to ensure citizens are able to access nutritious food, and other food and health inequalities addressed.

Kathleen Hennessey-Priest, senior lecturer and programme leader for the MSc Dietetics (preregistration) said: “Our very first cohort of MSc Dietetics students have started their exciting journey to becoming a dietitian with us and we are proud that many of the students are our own graduates, demonstrating UCB’s commitment to clear progression pathways from undergraduate to postgraduate study.”

Dr Anne Coufopoulos, executive dean of the school of health, sport and food said: “We are responding to the needs of the sector and the needs of our region with programmes of study which give students a quality qualification, strong career prospects and a thorough grounding in the complexities of working in Birmingham.”

New STEAM hub funded at Dudley College

Millennium Point is funding a new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) hub that will enhance education and accessibility.

The Dudley College of Technology hub has transformed an existing space which the college had outgrown.

Nestled beneath Dudley Castle, the renovation of the current design and technology room, formerly an elephant house, is a result of collaboration between dedicated staff and students, and the financial aid provided by Millennium Point Charitable Trust.

About £17,500 of the total grant has funded the purchase of a wide

array of cutting-edge equipment, including a 3D scanner compatible with 3D printers, height-adjustable workbenches, a laser cutter, and an F24 Greenpower kit-car.

Adrian Eynon, product design lecturer at Dudley College of Technology, said: “Product Design is very much a traditional craftbased subject, but we’re wanting to modernise and move into a technological future with laser cutters and 3D printing, which will prepare students for the world they’ll experience in the industry.

“The investment will massively increase the quality and standard of the students' work, and that quality will translate to their confidence.”

Clear progression: Kathleen Hennessey-Priest

Support: Adrian Enyon with students

Expansion plan for TechWM

TechWM, the West Midlands economic development agency and tech advocacy group, has kickstarted its plans for 2024.

After a strong year in 2023marked by partnerships, new appointments and the biggest Birmingham Tech Week yetthe non-profit organisation has announced updated plans for direction, action and the next level of cross-network collaboration.

As part of its ambitious plans, TechWM has opened the call for people to register interest in joining one of three new working groups focused on investment, skills and support.

Each group is chaired by a leading figure from across industry - Paul Faulkner (chair of the investment working group), former CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce; Lord Kulveer Ranger (chair of the skills working group) board member of techUK; and Janet Coyle (chair of the support working group), who leads business growth activity for London & Partners.

Yiannis Maos, CEO of TechWM, said: “At TechWM, our goals are driven by the mission to ensure that the region’s tech ecosystem is encouraged and empowered to flourish and grow.

“We firmly believe that this goal cannot be achieved unless we work together, and that’s exactly what we hope our 2024 plans will encourage people to do.

“The expansion of our offerings will hopefully encourage tech and digital businesses and leaders to find the support they are looking for. Additional support from new members of our core working groups will further bolster this empowerment and support; helping the region as a whole reach the common goal of becoming a global tech superpower.”

Cyber security experts complete startup scheme

Cyber Tzarhas successfully completed and graduated from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCsc) startups programme.

The initiative is led by the NCSC in partnership with Plexal, Deloitte, CyNam, and Hub8, and is renowned for its rigorous selection process and the high standards it sets for participants.

It’s a comprehensive, threemonth engagement where startups receive invaluable insights, mentorship, and support from NCSC experts and industry leaders.

‘The consortium team is wonderful. They provide you a huge amount of support’

The focus is on developing and adapting technology to meet some of the UK's most pressing national security challenges in cybersecurity.

The programme has supported over 60 companies, which have collectively raised £512m funding and have been instrumental in creating over 1,600 new jobs, signifying the program's impact and success in the tech startup ecosystem.

Cyber Tzar now joins an elite group of alumni, including two other West Midlands-based

companies, Lexverify and Goldilock, who have previously benefited from the programme.

Wayne Horkan, head of technology and engineering at Cyber Tzar, said: “We’ve seen it transform other people and we wanted some of the magic for us.

“The consortium team is wonderful. They provide a huge amount of support.”

Cyber Tzar is an innovative startup in the cyber risk management arena, dedicated to enhancing cyber resilience.

Their approach combines firstparty risk assessments and third-

party risk management, providing a comprehensive strategy for addressing cyber threats.

By offering dynamic and datadriven insights, Cyber Tzar empowers businesses to effectively navigate and mitigate the complexities of cyber risks, ensuring a more secure digital environment.

Their services are designed to strengthen overall cyber defence mechanisms for their clients and the supply chains of their clients. For more details, visit www.cyberzar.com

College boosts technical skills

Foundation engineering degree students at BMet College are experiencing first-hand advanced technology at the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT).

BMet students can access the GBSIoT as the college is part of a consortium of colleges that make up a regional Institute of Technology.

They are collaborations between further education (FE) providers, universities and employers. They specialise in delivering higher technical education (at Levels 4 and 5) with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.

They aim to:

- enhance regional industry sectors by fostering synergy among educational institutions.

- meet the specific needs of employers.

- provide students with an up-to-date curriculum that mirrors current industry demands.

- promote career development among young people in Birmingham, supporting one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities.

As a result of this partnership, BMet students gain practical experience at the GBSIoT Hub’s state-of-theart Cyber Physical Manufacturing Rig - the largest of its kind in Europe.

This exposure gives students practical skills in cutting-edge factory equipment and sensor technology, preparing them for the demands of modern industry.

Practical experience: Students at the Rig

Described as a “scaled-down version of future factories,” the GBSIoT Hub effectively brings the industry into the classroom, enhancing both their engineering knowledge and practical technical skills.

Micky Burke, operations director at the GBSIoT, said: “The whole purpose of the Cyber Hub Rig is to provide an engaging and informative learning space that is relevant for school’s and college’s technical development needs.”

Experts in support: Sarah Carr (PLEXAL Innovation associate), Rosie Clutson (PLEXAL Innovation lead), Wayne Horkan (Cyber Tzar head of tech and engineering), Andrew Horkan (Cyber Tzar Cyber security engineer) and Charles Andrews (Cyber Tzar chair)

Working together: Yiannis Maos

Black Sabbath ballet set to take world by storm

Black Sabbath – The Ballet performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has attracted widespread international interest.

Fresh from the sell-out success in Birmingham, Plymouth and London, its European premiere will be at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, presented by Holland Dance Festival (13 - 15 June) and BRB are already in advanced talks about touring Black Sabbath - The Ballet to the USA in summer 2025.

Meanwhile, Birmingham Royal Ballet has announced dates and performances for the 2024-25 season.

The company’s director Carlos Acosta said: “I am so happy to be able to share our plans for the future with everyone. Still riding high from the successes of the autumn/winter 2023 season, we have a lot to celebrate, but we also keep moving forward, keep challenging ourselves and keep aiming high in terms of our goals and ambitions.”

The autumn season begins at Birmingham Hippodrome (25-28 September) where BRB presents Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, its founder choreographer's most popular ballet.

Gift of Musical appeal exceeds funding target

B:Music, the charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall in Birmingham, has raised £20,800 as part of its festive fundraising campaign, the Gift of Music appeal. The campaign ran for six weeks, from 25 November to 6 January.

An initial target of £15,000 was set to enable the charity to inspire a love of live performance by removing barriers to participation and opening up a world of music to the region’s diverse communities. The funds raised will enable B:Music to provide opportunities and experiences for free to those who would otherwise be unable to take part. This includes providing bursaries for young people to access free music tuition at B:Music’s B:and Together fortnightly ensembles or annual summer school, in turn helping local young musicians to develop and realise their potential.

small part in helping B:Music sustain their programme of free performances which are a fantastic introduction to a variety of genres and a vital platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent.

Rachel Cranny (pictured), head of development and Impact for B:Music, said, “A huge thank you to everyone who generously donated towards our fundraising campaign –we would not have been able to reach our ambitious target without you.

“Your money will make an enormous difference and offer potentially life-changing experiences to local young people and communities. The benefits of experiencing and making music are widely accepted, but sadly now more than ever, many people are unable to access opportunities.

The money raised will also allow B:Music to offer free and subsidised tickets to local families and groups who would otherwise be unable to visit Town Hall and Symphony Hall. The income will additionally play a

“We were blown away by the response of our audiences and supporters who, despite the current financial pressures, generously donated. The amount of money raised exceeded our expectations and we’re delighted with the outcome.”

Drawing inspiration from the book Once Upon a Time in Birmingham: Women Who Dare to Dream by Louise Palfreyman, it features an allfemale, international creative team, including choreographers Iratxe Ansa (Spain); Wubkje Kuindersma (Netherlands); Seeta Patel (UK); Arielle Smith (UK); Thais Suárez (Cuba); with music composed by Kate Whitley (UK).

The Nutcracker’s Birmingham run begins on 22 November playing through to 14 December. The Royal Albert Hall spectacular presentation of The Nutcracker returns this year (29 - 31 December).

World-wide interest: Javier Rojas and Yaoqian Shang in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Black Sabbath - The Ballet

Photo: Johan Persson

The Business of Sport

College supports women’s game

Halesowen College, in collaboration with Halesowen Town FC, has launched a new Women’s Football Academy, starting in September.

The initiative aims to provide aspiring female footballers with a comprehensive sports education while nurturing their passion for the game.

Former England international and Wolverhampton University lecturer Kerys Harrop will be an ambassador for the programme and will further support the players in their development on and off the pitch.

Craig Nicholls, head coach of the academy, said: “Our goal is to empower young women and provide them with the necessary skills and guidance to succeed in the world of football and help students reach their maximum potential both on and off the pitch.”

Attracting new fans: Moeen Ali and Ben Duckett.

City is bowled over to host The Hundred again

Birmingham will host its first game in The Hundred on Saturday, 3 August, with both the Phoenix men’s and women’s teams kicking off their competition against Southern Brave.

The Phoenix will then be back at home for the first of three more double-headers on Tuesday 6 August, taking on Northern Superchargers, before their final two matchdays, on Monday, 12 August, against Trent Rockets and Thursday, 15 August, versus Manchester Originals.

The competition starts on Tuesday, 23 July, with Phoenix heading to South London to play Oval Invincibles in the first of 34 matchdays across 26 days.

Fans can get access to all games at Edgbaston with Blast & Hundred

Enjoy an evening with former Baggies star

Media and Communications at Aston Villa and Everton.

Styled as “An Evening With…..”, the event, on Monday, 11 March, is being organised by Digbeth Dining Club in association with Birmingham Press Club. It will take place at Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton Street, B19 3LU, commencing at 8pm.

The interview will be conducted by author and award-winning journalist Brian Doogan, a Birmingham Press Club member who wrote Joe Calzaghe’s Sunday

Membership. Membership gives entry to all The Hundred and Vitality Blast home games in 2024, plus a host of exclusive benefits.

A record 580,000 fans were in venues across The Hundred in 2023, including over 300,000 in the women’s competition. The Hundred’s blend of high-quality sport and entertainment saw 41 per cent of all tickets sold to families, 23 per cent to juniors and 30 per cent to women.

Alongside world-class cricket, thanks to The Hundred’s ongoing partnership with BBC Music Introducing, fans were treated to memorable music performances from a diverse line-up of artists and DJs including headliners Rudimental, the Lottery Winners, DYLAN and Prima Queen.

The Hundred Eliminator where second - and third - placed teams compete for a place in The Hundred Final, is confirmed for Saturday 17 August at The Kia Oval. The Hundred final will take place on Sunday, 18 August at Lord’s.

Birmingham Phoenix and England Men’s batter Moeen Ali said: “It’s always an amazing experience to play cricket in front of our fans at home in Birmingham, especially captaining the side in The Hundred. I am really looking forward to this year’s tournament.

“I think the competition had a really strong year last year and it’s so clear on matchdays that The Hundred is attracting new fans. Hopefully we can push forward on the pitch this summer.”

Great Birmingham Run to make return

The AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run 2024 – which includes a Business Challenge – takes place on Sunday, 5 May, and is an event for everyone, of all ages and abilities.

A whole host of Midlands companies will be signing up for the Great Birmingham Run 10K and half marathon Business Challenge.

The Business Challenge invites the corporate world to compete for bragging rights and a fastest-time trophy at the 10K and half marathon, with the finishing times of the fastest four members of a team used to calculate the overall team time.

This year, the power of running will be the focus of the Great Run series campaign, promoting positive change achieved through running.

The run will also celebrate local people, groups and communities coming together to be part of something bigger than themselves. Every person who crosses the finish line is an expression of positivity, local pride, and personal achievement.

Former Baggies favourite John Giles (pictured), who played for West Bromwich Albion and twice managed the club, is the latest guest speaker in a series of events featuring “Brum’s Finest.”

Times bestselling autobiography and spent 10 years as Head of

Chamber Insight

Focus on a member

Name: Avesh Sokhal

Company: Cheeky Maharaja

Job Title: Owner

What does your company do?

An Indian chippy on wheels serving fresh family-recipe gourmet masala fish and triplecooked chips. We also serve authentic Indian curries accompanied by triple-cooked chips from Kashmiri chicken and curry-loaded chips to paneerloaded chips (Indian cheesy chips). We also make homemade Indian street food snacks like lamb and vegetable samosas.

How did it all start?

I was an investment banker for 13 years but I grew frustrated with banking. My grandfather had started a restaurant in Kashmir, India, around1965 and I decided to use family homemade recipes to start my business with a British twist - hence the name Cheeky Maharaja.

What’s your greatest achievement so far?

Starting my business and keeping it running as we faced challenging times like Covid-19. Successfully been involved in corporate events with the likes of Gymshark and Aston Villa. We also traded at our first big festival last year where the acts included UB40.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken – and did it work out?

Starting my business...time will tel.l

What keeps you awake at night? Nothing. I sleep well.

If you could turn the clock back, what would you do differently? Nothing - life and fate have bought me to this point.

What has surprised you most in your job?

Anything can happen at any point. I had to learn to think on the spot.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Think of the concept, do extensive research, go for it and never let people deter you away from your dreams.

Which business do you most admire?

Amazon and Gordan Ramsey businesses.

What exciting projects is your business working on?

Big things in the pipeline. Keep an eye on our social media (Instagram, facebook and linkedin).

What made you join Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and how are you making use of your membership?

We want to explore more corporate events and we see the Chambers as an ideal avenue to explore this. We attend regular networking events and as a result have been chosen by Aston University among others to do certain corporate events. We are early into our membership so lots more to come.

Contact: cheeky.maharaja@gmail.com

New Members

Your guide to new sign-ups

2LOGIC Ltd

Gary Norwood 01902 213990

www.2logic.co.uk

Information technology consultancy activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

A Space Station Ltd

Elena Koroleva 0121 204 6595

space-station.co.uk

Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Bee Eco Ltd

Ajinder Bains 0121 392 7118

Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Birmingham Mind

Danny Booth 0121 608 8001

birminghammind.org

Residential care activities for learning difficulties, mental health and substance abuse

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Birmingham Newman University

Kate Dobson 0121 476 1181

birminghamnewman

Post-graduate level higher education Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Burton Kia

Hilary Cuttell 01283 545353

www.burtonkia.co.uk

Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles

Burton and District Chamber of Commerce

Caterly Limited

Calum Macdonald 0300 373 2409

www.caterly.uk

Event catering activities

Burton and District Chamber of Commerce

Citizens Community Services (Birmingham) Ltd

Philip Hoppner 0121 622 4570

www.ermason.org.uk

Other education n.e.c.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Dhruva Star

Vinay Parmar 07976 758535

dhruvastar.co.uk

Management consultancy activities other than financial management

Solihull Chamber of Commerce

easyJet

Rebecca Duncan

easyJet.com

Scheduled passenger air transport

Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce

ElectriX

Yessica Cordoba Hernandez 0330 123 9970

www.lvelectrix.co.uk

Other business support service activities n.e.c.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Excelpoint Limited

Mark Whittlesea 01325 375930

www.excelpoint.co.uk

Information technology consultancy activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Food Division Ltd

Shaun Sookoo 0121 630 3342

fooddivision.co.uk

Other service activities n.e.c.

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Harrison Clark Rickerbys LLP

Omer Simjee 0121 454 0739

www.hcrlaw.com

Activities of patent and copyright agents; other legal activities n.e.c.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

IMI Truflo Marine Ltd

Mike Semens-Flanagan 0121 327 4789

www.imi-critical.com/brands/ imi-truflo-marine/

Manufacture of taps and valves

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Kids Village

Paul Faulkner 01543 307857

www.kidsvillage.org.uk

Other human health activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Maintech Recruitment Limited

Emma Devereux

Maintechrecruitment.co.uk

Human resources provision and management of human resources functions

Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce

NHS Blood and Transplant

Joanne Seddon-Dite 07735 009606

www.nhsbt.nhs.uk

Other human health activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Whatever

As the voice of local business since 1813, we strive to help firms across the region connect, support and grow.

North Midlands Rugby Football Union Limited

Ian Strangward 07534 730892

northmidsrfu.co.uk

Other sports activities

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Orange and Blue UK

Mark Tonks 07957 805987

www.orangeandblue.uk

Management consultancy activities other than financial management

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Oxiworks

Matt Balcers 07934 223588

www.oxiworks.co.uk

Specialised design activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Paul Rigby Group Ltd

Darren Keight 0121 382 1222

www.paulrigbyltd.com

Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Perception Copywriting

Richard Newell 07800 870717

perceptioncopywriting.co.uk

Advertising agencies

Solihull Chamber of Commerce

Portway Scaffold Midlands Ltd

Steve Boulton

www.portwayscaffolding.com

Scaffold erection

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Shamas Banqueting Ltd

Waseem Atif 07914 023086

www.shamasbanqueting.com

Letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

SME Outsourcing

Amina Hussain 0121 337 0411

www.smeoutsourcing.co.uk

Accounting and auditing activities

Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce

Solar for Schools

Danielle Parker 01376 428984

www.solarforschools.co.uk

Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Steven Eagell Toyota and Lexus Birmingham

Simon Buttery 0121 386 8700

steveneagellbirmingham.toyota.co.uk

Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles

Solihull Chamber of Commerce

Strategus Consulting Limited

Mike Harris 0776 550 9844

strategusconsulting.co.uk

home

Management consultancy activities other than financial management

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

T150 Energy Limited

Matthew Small 01889 227700

www.energy.t150.co.uk

Agents specialised in the sale of other particular products

Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce

Ten10 Solutions Ltd

Richard Frodin 020 3613 9793

www.ten10.com

Technical testing and analysis

Transatlantic Chamber

The Manufacturing Technologies Association

Karen Finegold 0207 298 6400

www.mta.org.uk

Activities of professional membership organisations

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Version 1

Andrea Fionda +353 1 865 7800

www.version1.com

Information technology consultancy activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Wigley Building & Development

Limited

Charles Hicks 01926 670600

thewigleygroup.com

Construction of commercial buildings

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Xplorient Limited

Rachel Garwood 07700 164898

xplorient.com

Information technology consultancy activities

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

...any other business

A roundup of news from Chamber members

New home for popular nightclub

A launch date of 13 March has been announced for the new Snobs nightclub on Birmingham’s ‘golden mile’ of Broad Street.

What is one of the city’s most famous and best-loved nightclubs will close its current premises on Smallbrook Queensway after a final night on 2 March.

It will then reopen just 10 days later in Cumberland House at 200 Broad Street, bringing with it all 45 current staff and creating another 15 jobs.

The new venue will have a 1,450 audience capacity in what will be a downstairs bar and clubroom, with two club dance rooms upstairs.

The opening night on 13 March will feature a VIP launch event, followed by Snobs Wednesday, the famous student night. The regular indie and alt pop night called Rehab Friday will follow on 15 March, with the city’s favourite alternative night out called Loaded Saturday coming on 16 March.

Dozens of builders, floor specialists, plasterers and

electricians are currently busy on a total refurbishment of what was formerly Velvet Music Rooms. The venue has been stripped down to its original brickwork with a new design by architects Tibbatts Abel now being created.

This involves the most up-todate electronics and lighting, including 102 huge LED light boxes on the ceilings. There will also be up to 400 life-sized ‘Snobs faces’

coming out of the walls, recreating one of the club’s original design features.

Snobs, founded more than 50 years ago, has made the move because its Smallbrook Queensway base has been put at risk as part of the city’s regeneration plans.

But Wayne Tracey, the owner of Snobs, explained how the move has resulted in a “fantastic opportunity” to relaunch the club using the

latest 21st century designs and electronics.

Mr Tracey said: “The opening of the new Snobs on Broad Street will be a major landmark in the club’s history, making it Birmingham’s most modern dance venue.

“We are thrilled to have such a good position on Broad Street to continue the great name, brand, reputation and nightlife that everyone in Birmingham knows as Snobs.

“All 45 staff are coming with us from the club’s old venue, and we will be creating around 15 new jobs because of longer opening hours due to more passing trade in the daytime.”

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “The new Snobs will quickly become the place to go to enjoy nightlife on Birmingham’s ‘golden mile’ of Broad Street.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Snobs and having spoken to Wayne I know he’s looking forward to not only attracting all the club’s existing custom but also the area’s extra footfall.”

easyJet named official airline of Eurovision

easyJet, 1813 members of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce, is the official airline partner of the Eurovision Song Contest in a multi-year partnership, bringing Europe together to celebrate the world’s largest live music event.

easyJet will fly thousands of visitors from across Europe travelling for this year’s contest into Copenhagen airport, which provides quick, direct access to the host city of Malmö, Sweden, where the live semi-final and final events will take place on 7, 9 and 11 May. The airline will operate over 10 per cent more seats to and from

Copenhagen compared to the same period last year.

Gabriella Neudecker, marketing director, easyJet said: “We couldn’t be prouder to be the official airline partner for the Eurovision Song Contest for the coming years. Travel offers you that rare opportunity to break away from the everyday and to feel totally in the moment, just as the iconic Eurovision Song Contest does.

“People, countries and communities are brought together, anything is possible and everyone is welcome. At easyJet we share all of these important values and are proud to play our

part in connecting people across Europe, which we believe makes this partnership the perfect match.”

Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor, Eurovision Song Contest said: “We’re thrilled to welcome easyJet as the Official Airline Partner for the Eurovision Song Contest. We both share a passion for connecting people and cultures, and look forward to taking off together as we unite the joy of music and the freedom of travel.”

easyJet has over 17,000 people, of 97 nationalities, speaking over 43 languages and based in eight countries across Europe.

VIP bar: An artist’s impression of one of the Snobs bars

Snobs faces: Wayne Tracey with some of the faces that will recreate an original Snobs feature