CEO's Welcome

Richard Brennan
CEO, Birmingham Forward

Since our AGM in April our Chairman and Board of Directors have been working on updating our Strategy Document.  It’s a challenging task but one that is important to maintain momentum and focus of our organisation.

Birmingham Forward has 7 strategic objectives for 2009/10, reflecting some of the core issues facing the business sector that we are able to align ourselves with and support.  Click here to view the objectives.

As our Strategy Document develops we will focus on some of the issues in each of our forthcoming e.bulletins to keep our members informed of what we are doing.

Amongst the turmoil of businesses facing re-structure, change and in some cases closure, are the hundreds of graduates about to enter one of the most challenging employment markets for the past two decades.  Initiatives are being developed across the region to try to help; Birmingham Future’s Graduate Apprentice Scheme is a very small but effective example (see below). 

Of real interest to members is the latest of these initiatives from Graduate Advantage, through their West Midlands Graduate Internships (WMGI) project.  This aims to match unemployed graduates with SMEs, creating valuable work experience placements and ensuring the city retains some of its talent in the region in preparation to support businesses into the upturn.  (Details as to how your firm might benefit are to be found below).

As always, your feedback is very welcomed and you can contact either myself or Jo Sollom, Operations Manager at any time:  richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk  / jo.sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk.

Latest News

West Midlands Graduate Internships

The West Midlands Graduate Internships scheme launched on 13th July. Its aim is to tackle the effects of the economic downturn on the West Midlands’ employers and graduates by creating work experience placements. The scheme, partnered with Job Centre Plus, Graduate Advantage, Advantage West Midlands and the European Social Fund in England, allows employers to access graduate level skills, which will support them into the economic upturn. It also gives graduates the opportunity to gain valuable work experience to enhance their skills and employability, and will help to ensure that graduate talent is retained in the region.

For more information, visit www.wmgi.co.uk or email enquiries@wmgi.co.uk.

Birmingham's Fourth Graduate Apprentice

Emily Williams, Graduate Apprentice

Twenty-one year old Emily Williams has been announced as Birmingham Future’s fourth Graduate Apprentice, overcoming competition from 70 other graduates. She is the first female to be given the unique opportunity to work in three diverse environments during a structured year, since the innovative scheme was launched in 2006 by Birmingham Future.

Emily, from Coventry, has recently graduated from Lancaster University with a first in mathematics and will start her year as the Graduate Apprentice in September with Deloitte in Birmingham. She will also enjoy placements with the HR department of Sutton Coldfield and Matthew Boulton Colleges before completing her year with business consultants, VC Consulting.

The programme is run by Birmingham Future’s Talent Retention and Development committee and supported by Graduate Advantage. For further information on the Graduate Appretice, visit www.graduateapprentice.co.uk.
 

Invitation to Tender

Production of Birmingham Forward/Future Business Guidebook To Professional And Business Support Services In Birmingham 2010/11

Birmingham Forward is inviting suitably experienced organisations to undertake the compilation and production of its Members’ Directory, due for publication in March 2010, to coincide with Birmingham Forward’s AGM.

It is hoped that the reach of the directory can be developed, so it will act as a wider positioning and promotional document for both the organisation, the city of Birmingham and the wider region, as well as a membership listing for both Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future.

For further details and a copy of the tender document, please contact Joanne Sollom, Operations and Development Manager by emailing jo.sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk.

 We are on the move...

But don’t worry... we’re not going far.

The Birmingham Forward & Future office team are moving headquarters.  With the Team soon to be sharing their office with the Colmore Business District we are going back up in the world... 2 floors to be exact.

After looking at various alternatives within the BID area and weighing up moving against staying, we have decided to stay where we are. 

The Regus Team have been very helpful with the recent negotiations and understand our requirements and challenges we have as a not for profit organisation, so after spending some 7 years on 4 different floors, we are now returning to the fifth floor. Our thanks go to Jo Kelly, Area Sales Manager for Regus for the successful conclusion of our discussions.

Birmingham Forward,  5th Floor, One Victoria Square, Colmore Business District, Birmingham.  B1 1BD
Tel : 0121 632 2200
Websites :  www.birminghamforward.co.uk   /  www.birminghamfuture.co.uk.

Forthcoming Events

Meet & Eat Lunch: Tuesday 28th July - The Olympic Opportunity

Jim Johnston will be joining our members for what we hope will be a sunny barbeque lunch on the terrace at City Café in Brindleyplace on Tuesday 28th July. Jim has been appointed the Business Manager for the London 2012 Games and will be discussing the background and relevance of the games to the West Midlands region.

He will also be highlighting some of the economic opportunities that will arise from London 2012 along with information and help on how to gain access to these business opportunities.

Click here for further information. Please contact Claire Hawkins to book your place: claire@birminghamforward.co.uk or 0121 632 2209.

Speaker Lunch: Thursday 20th August - Bank of England perspective

Rob Elder, Bank of England

As the recession continues to impact on business, Birmingham Forward is continuing with their aim to provide a wide range of commentary and analysis from across the economic spectrum.

To gain our next perspective we will be welcoming Rob Elder, Manager of the Conjunctural Assessment and Projections Division, one of the Bank of England’s key economists, to Bank Restaurant for our Speaker Lunch. In his speech Rob will outline the Bank of England’s view of the economy and predictions for the future. 

Click here for further information. Please contact Claire Hawkins to book your place: claire@birminghamforward.co.uk or 0121 632 2209. 

Bahrain Trade Mission: Wednesday 16th September
 

The forthcoming UKTI and Birmingham Forward delegation trip to Bahrain in December provides a number of opportunities for our members and their companies to become involved. This event will be held in order for those key speakers and delegates already involved to inform our members on the objectives of the trip - in particular the ‘Birmingham Day’. Members will also be provided with an opportunity to register their interest in becoming involved. Part of the mission will allow the opportunity to take part in the World Islamic Banking Conference being held on 6th and 7th December. The event on 16th September will be free of charge and is kindly being sponsored by UKTI.

Please contact Isabel Drabble for more information on this event: isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk or 0121 632 2204.

Recent Events

 Kevin Morley Keynote Lunch: Tuesday 30th June

Kevin Morley

Birmingham Forward members welcomed Kevin Morley, former Managing Director of Rover Car group, to a sunny Birmingham on Tuesday 30th June 2009 for Birmingham Forward's second Keynote Lunch of the year, held at the Crowne Plaza.
 
Click here for more information.

 Islamic Finance: Tuesday 7th July

Birmingham Forward recently welcomed an esteemed panel of speakers to address the complex issue of Islamic Finance. The panel consisted of Dawood Ahmedji (Deloitte), Sultan Choudhury (Islamic Bank of Britain) and Kazi Rahman (Wragge & Co), each of whom gave an introduction to specific aspects of Islamic Finance.

This event was an excellent introduction to what is clearly a complex financial approach and we hope that this is the first of many information events, of which our members can take full advantage to develop their knowledge of this approach.

Other News

Acorns Professional Challenge

Colin Buchanan

A dozen of Birmingham’s finest professionals have already committed to the Acorns Professional Challenge Cup, to take place on Monday 19th October and sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The event has raised £54,000 for Acorns Children’s Hospice in the past six years, going towards helping life-limited children.

The MC will be Ed James and BBC Dalziel and Pascoe’s star, Colin Buchanan will host the TV round. Pitting their wits against quiz masters drawn from the Midland media glitterati, it’s only £1,000 to enter a team of six in return for great networking, team-building and a  PricewaterhouseCoopers buffet from the sponsors. To enter, contact angela.podmore@kineticpr.co.uk or call 0121 212 6250. 

New Members

Heath Lambert

Heath Lambert is an independent insurance broker and employee benefits consultant in the UK. It has a strong UK regional network of offices with the Head Office in London.

Heath Lambert not only places risks on behalf of UK clients, but also has a strong London Market team, placing risks on behalf of international clients and on a wholesale basis for other brokers.
 

EFG Private Bank Limited

EFG Private Bank is a leading Swiss Bank with 3 separate Birmingham based operations: Independent Financial Advisers EFG Ashby London and EFG Platts Flello plus Stockbrokers EFG Harris Allday. The combination of these individual businesses provides a wide range of financial services and investment management expertise.