Welcome to our April E.bulletin, in a month which has seen: five new Board Directors join Birmingham Forward; our new Chairman Sue Lewis, Senior Partner at Eversheds, take the helm; the opening of the Administrative court following a lengthy lobbying process to the Judiciary; the commencement of Colmore Business District Limited, the management company for the Colmore Bid, on 1st April; and a challenging, if not totally unsurprising budget from Alastair Darling, it has been a busy few weeks.
Below you will find details of a pan regional survey we conducted into the trading and staffing issues for our members. I presented the results of this work to the Regional Minister and the Regional Taskforce earlier this week and we have been asked, as a result, to draw up an action plan for our sector.
We at Birmingham Forward are continuing to champion our members and support what we are being told, and have confirmed by our event attendance levels, that there is a growing need for networking and business development. The team are now planning the final months of the 2009 calendar looking at more events with a specific business focus and we would be very pleased to hear from any of our members with suggestions for speakers and subject matters which are of importance to the city and its professional sector. Email Isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk with your suggestions.
As if the economic crisis wasn’t bad enough, we now have a possible threat of Swine Flu. Perhaps this might prompt us all to review our Business Continuity Plans, which may not have had the same level of priority in recent months that they deserve. We know from our flooding incident last year that it is wise to be prepared and to have a plan.
But, if all of that is too much, think on... summer is almost here.
News & Events
New Board Directors
Dr Arpinder Bansi, Senior Group Engineer, Atkins
Dr Arpinder Bansi is a chartered civil engineer and a senior group manager in Atkins.
Arpinder has extensive experience in the design, construction and delivery of highways and railway projects. She has managed Local Authority Commissions, Highway Agency Contracts and Railtrack Projects. She is a member of the Midlands Transport Solutions Operational Management Board. Her other roles include championing Diversity and driving Business Excellence.
Dr Andrew Bass, Managing Director, BassClusker Consulting
Andrew Bass is co-founder of BassClusker Consulting, and helps clients to align behaviours and culture with business strategy. Clients include leading professional service firms and ambitious growing businesses. As well as working throughout the UK, Andrew has experience in Europe and the CIS.
Stephen Cockell, Regional Managing Director, RBS Corporate Banking
Stephen Cockell is the Regional Managing Director of the RBS Corporate Bank in the Midlands & East of England.
Stephen is based at the Regional Office in St Philips Place, Birmingham, and previously held roles in RBS as head of sector teams in Industrials, Transport, and Services, over the preceding few years.
Nick Venning, Global CIPS Marketing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Nick Venning is Marketing Director, Global Industries at PricewaterhouseCoopers with worldwide responsibility for strategic positioning and business development in key supply chain sectors including automotive, energy utilities and mining, industrial manufactures, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and retail services. He has been with PricewaterhouseCoopers over 20 years and is a member of the firm’s Global Marketing Executive Group.
Mark Whitehouse, Deputy Managing Director, Clarke Associates
Mark Whitehouse is deputy managing director of Clarke Associates, one of the Midlands' leading communications consultancies.
Mark joined Clarke Associates in 2001, having previously spent 21 years working in journalism and edited three weekly newspapers across the West Midlands, as well as working on daily publications. Having worked on both weekly and daily newspapers, he is highly experienced in regional media - with a thorough knowledge of not just contacts, but how the media operates.
Birmingham Forward Members are Experiencing the Challenges Caused by the Recession but are Optimistic for the Future
Thank you to all our members who took part in the recent Economic Outlook Survey. This is the first time that all six of the Business and Professional Services member organisations within the West Midlands have worked collectively to establish a snapshot of the challenges facing the sector during these difficult economic times.
The collective results from the survey were presented to Ian Austin MP, Minister for the West Midlands at the recent Task Force meeting.
The Survey has sent a clear message to the Government. 100% of respondents want the focus to be on getting the economy moving through increased access to finance.
The survey also looked at a whole range of issues facing business in our sector including questions exploring turnover, employment, training, graduate recruitment and cash-flow.
Click here for a brief summary of the survey results from Birmingham Forward members.
Birmingham Future introduction event
The Birmingham Future Membership committee is planning an introduction to Birmingham Future event for Forward member companies without Future members. Birmingham Future is the ‘sister’ company of Forward and provides a great opportunity for young professionals to network at a full annual programme of interesting and enjoyable events such as Meet & Mix lunches or speed networking and to actively participate in more tailored events such as our successful development seminars and city debates. Members (currently standing at over 450) tend to be under the age of 35 and either two years postgraduate or working in a professional role.
The event will allow attendees the opportunity to network whilst finding out a little more about Birmingham Future and how young professionals can benefit. If you are interested in attending, please contact Tahreen Kutub, Membership Administrator, on 0121 632 2205 or email tahreen@birminghamforward.co.uk.
New Events Co-ordinator at Birmingham Forward
We are delighted to welcome Laura Bayliss to the Birmingham Forward office team as the new Events Co-ordinator. Laura previously worked within marketing and events for Business Links West Midlands. Speaking of her position, Laura has commented “I am extremely excited about my new role as well as the chance to meet our members.” You will be able to meet Laura at one of our forthcoming events.
Common Purpose Navigator programme ... for emerging leaders
In these difficult times, which are new to many emerging leaders, we're asking more and more of our people and this programme can really help not only develop and motivate but also retain key people, which will be important for so many organisations when we start to come out of the recession.
It features a diverse participant group, from across the West Midlands, experiential learning through real-life challenges, leadership insights and behind the scenes visits. It takes place in June and is residential, split across two weeks (17-19 June and 29-30 June). It is a dynamic and fast-moving learning experience, which covers the key themes of risk, leadership, power, change and vision. Participants can expect to practice a vast range of competencies, including:
- negotiating and influencing
- multi-disciplinary team-working
- working with change and innovation
- holistic problem-solving
- solution-based reasoning
- engaging with diversity.
The programme allows participants to:
- get an unparalleled view of the world they inhabit
- build a diverse network of peers
- challenge the status quo
- spot opportunities for their own organisations by identifying transferable ideas and good practice.
For further information contact: Louise Teboul, Common Purpose, 0121 625 3269, email louise.teboul@commonpurpose.org.uk, or visit www.commonpurpose.org.uk.
Pub du Vin
Birmingham Forward Affiliate member Hotel du Vin has recently opened their new Pub du Vin in what used to be the cellar bar underneath the hotel. Pub du Vin is based on a traditional British Pub, with great ales and food. It describes its service as unpretentious and friendly yet efficient and professional.
Opening Times Mon – Thurs from 4.30pm Friday & Sat from 12pm
Contact details Pub du Vin, Church Street, Birmingham B3 2NR; T: 0121 200 0600 F: 0121 236 0899
BridgeStreet property retains four star rating
Birmingham Forward Affiliate member BridgeStreet Worldwide Serviced Apartments is delighted to announce that their four star rated property, The PostBox, located next to the heart of Birmingham's Mailbox development has retained its four star rating for another year for 2009. The rating was awarded by the Government’s official serviced apartment assessment and grading agency, Quality in tourism (QIT), who represent Visit Britain.
The PostBox by BridgeStreet Worldwide is stylish city living at its most desirable with 60 contemporary one and two bedroom apartments, all with fully functional kitchens, complete bathrooms and well appointed living areas in which to work, rest or entertain.
Should you require further details, please contact Kate Scott on 0121 616 0722 or kate.scott@bridgestreet.com.
Taste of Business Launch
Taste of Birmingham 2009 begins on the evening of Thursday 9th July and in a first for the food and drink festival, all members of the business community across Birmingham and the West Midlands are invited to a special event called Taste of Business. Taste of Business will be THE event for networking, meeting new contacts, doing business or just having a catch up in 2009.
Invitations will be sent to members of Birmingham Forward over the next couple of weeks but put the date in your diary now so that you don't miss out!
Forthcoming event: Business & Sport in the Community - The Positive Impacts
Aston Villa Football Club, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE Friday 8th May
Despite the current economic climate, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should still be high on an organisation’s agenda, as it focuses staff activity and, in return, can lead to improved business performance.
With this in mind we have arranged a special event, with a core CSR element, focusing on links with the sporting community. We are pleased to welcome a diverse panel of speakers to address the links with business and sport in the community through best practice as well as information on ways to get involved across the region. Paul Faulkner, Chief Operating Officer of Aston Villa Football Club will be discussing the relationship between Aston Villa FC and Acorns, which is at the heart of their business. Dennis Hodgkins, of the English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS) will give an overview of the work EFDS do and projects they are involved with in the West Midlands Region. Finally, as one of Britain’s most successful Paralympic athletes, Sascha Kindred OBE, will share his experiences of his first international selection and success during Beijing 2008.
The event will consist of a drinks reception, seated 2 course lunch and speaker presentations as well as an optional stadium tour for the Villa fans amongst us.
Online booking is now available and places cost £35.00 (£40.25 including VAT).
Forthcoming Event - BYPY 2009
The ICC, Hall 3, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA Thursday 4th June
The annual Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) has now made its mark as one of the most important, well-respected and glitziest events on Birmingham’s business calendar.
Returning again to the ICC, BYPY is one of the business community’s most coveted awards, and has nurtured some of the city’s most promising young professionals into tomorrow’s leaders.
Tickets are now on sale, priced £850 + VAT per table or £85 + VAT per person for single tickets. With 500 tickets already sold, this promises to be another great event for the city's business community and an ideal way to show that we are still achieving great things in a difficult climate and confidence in the city's professionals is still high.
To reserve your place contact Isabel Drabble via email isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk or telephone 0121 632 2204.
Recent Event: PSMG
Birmingham Forward members attended our recent event partnered with PSMG on Wednesday 18th March at Ernst & Young's offices at 1 Colmore Square.
They were joined by Alex Smith, UK Co-ordinator of IOWEU who delivered a workshop on how to create and keep clients during the current economic downturn. Alex stressed the importance of value of service over cost and reinforced the benefits of trust and delivery of excellent services.
Recent Event: AGM & Deal of the Year
The Hyatt Regency played host to Birmingham Forward’s 19th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 31st March, at which Richard Edwards stood down to welcome our new Chairman, Sue Lewis of Eversheds. The AGM was followed by a well attended Deal of the Year Awards, sponsored by Deloitte. Guests - including a large number of Birmingham Forward members and welcomed Arti Halai as Awards host and compére to celebrate 2008's best deals. It is a credit to Birmingham that there were so many. Many of the winning deals contained some involvement of Birmingham Forward members and this is a reflection on the calibre of members within the city.
Hampson’s 158.2 million acquisition of Michigan-based Odyssey Industries and Global Tooling Systems won best Mergers & Acquisitions Deal and overall Deal of the Year. For more information, please go to http://www.birminghampost.net
New Corporate Members
Rathbones
Rathbone Investment Management is one of the UK's largest and longest-established providers of discretionary investment services. Rathbones has ten offices nationally and is part of Rathbone Brothers PLC.
Zurich Commercial
Zurich Commercial is the UK commercial insurance arm of the Zurich Financial Services Group. They offer insurance claims and risk management solutions to a wide range of UK businesses through a UK wide distribution network.
State Bank of India
State Bank of India is the largest bank in India. It has had a presence in the UK for 80 years. The Birmingham branch offers many banking facilities including remittance to India.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
