e-bulletin - August 2008
Birmingham Forward Welcome to the August edition of our e-Bulletin. Although for many of our members August is a time to catch up and achieve those tasks that have been hanging around for a little while. Here at the Forward and Future office we seem to be busier than ever with a number of internal and external projects coming to the boil. We are looking forward to the start of the autumn events programme kicking off with the Speaker Lunch with John Wilman on 4th September.
As 2008 draws to an end we are already already gearing up for our new membership year and all of our KEY contacts will soon be receiving letters and details for 2009. If you have any suggestions or queries please e-mail parmi.gill@birminghamforward.co.uk
News & Events
Colmore Business District
We have now formally launched the consultation phase of this new Business Improvement District (BID) which aims to improve the Brand and Environment for businesses in the defined area. Assuming we receive strong indications of support we will develop a Business Plan in the Autumn with the intention of holding a ballot early in 2009.
The first event to explain more about the BID is being held at Opus on the evening of 12th August and is open to businesses within the area. Further information can be found on the BID website: www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com
Permanent High Court – Administrative Court
As you are aware Birmingham has been granted an Administrative Court which will start to hear cases in the second quarter of 2009. In order to fully inform the business community we are hosting a series of five events between October and February to provide more detailed information on the caseload handled by the Administrative Court. These events are being developed with our partners who have supported us throughout the High Court campaign. Please keep an eye on the events section of our website for more information.
Pictured - Lord Justice May who recognises the positive contribution Birmingham Forward has made to this debate
DiverCity – New Chairman
We are delighted to learn that John Rider, well known to many of you through his chairmanship at IOD, has agreed to take over this important role from Norman Gascoigne. Initially John will serve as Deputy Chair with the intention of assuming the full role during the autumn. We have been fortunate to secure John’s services as speaker at our Meet & Greet lunch on Wednesday August 19th at Woktastic in Paradise Forum (already a sell out event) where members and their guests will have an opportunity to hear his plans and also be updated on some cost effective ways to move their firm’s diversity profile forward.
BIZ TV – Podcast interviews
Richard Brennan has done another in his regular series of interviews where he provides updates on both the Colmore Business District and the Administrative Court. Joe McConnell and his team are building up an interesting library of interviews on this site which you may enjoy listening to. They can be all be heard by going to the Biz TV site. www.biz-tv.net
Forthcoming events
We are pleased to announce guest speakers at the forthcoming Graduates Welcome event 2008 will be Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards (BYPY) Winner Anthony McCourt (pictured) and Inspiring Leader, Peter Rees-steer. The event will be held on Wednesday 8th October at the Banqueting Suite of the Council House. A limited number of sponsorship packages are available for organisations that wish to have a presence at the event which was attended by over 200 guests last year to market their brand to the new young professionals of the city. For further information please contact Isabel on 0121 632 2204 or by e-mail here.
John Wilman, UK Business Editor and Associate Editor, Financial Times will be addressing Forward members at the Speaker Lunch to be held on Thursday 4th September. Members and guests will be able to hear first-hand about his experience and anecdotes gained during his career to date. Places are available for this event, book yours on-line by clicking here or e-mail martina@birminghamforward.co.uk.
Event review by Forward member… Menna Rees-steer, Liquid PR
"Yet another quality lunchtime seminar was provided by the PSMG / Birmingham Forward team, hosted on this occasion by Ernst & Young, which attracted some 50 marketers from Birmingham’s professional services sector – all of whom were keen to learn more about the practicalities involved in ‘Launching & running a successful client magazine’.
Two speakers shared their experiences of doing just this from two perspectives, that of Andrew Rogerson of Grist Ltd - who specialise in delivering B2B publishing solutions to clients within the professional services sector, and from the client side Tony Tyler, Head of Marketing at Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ltd, who recently launched a new corporate magazine ‘Risk Specialist’ as part of an internal and external marketing revamp.
From the evidence provided by Andrew Rogerson, it was refreshing to learn in these online times that there is still room for a quality corporate printed publication within an organisation’s marketing mix."
Defy the credit crunch… enjoy summer with Filini at the Radisson
Affiliate members Radisson SAS Hotel are offering 50% off their entire wine list at a time when the tendency is to cut back, count your pennies and be frugal, Filini bar and restaurant want to remind you that life is sweet.
Indulge, pamper and delight in the finer things in life. Just because the purse strings have been tightened doesn’t have to mean that life’s little pleasures are no longer affordable.For 50 days, starting Thursday August 7th 2008, Filini’s entire wine list will be offered at half price. The promotion will end September 25th 2008. For further information or to book a table please call 0121 654 6000.
autism.west midlands
autism.west midlands is looking for people from the business community to serve as trustees, and is inviting people from the professional services sector in the city to put themselves forward. Motivated and multi-skilled individuals are being sought to work with current trustees and the senior management team to develop strategy and support the development of the organisation going forward.
autism.west midlands is the region’s principal provider of residential and community services for children, families and adults affected by autism. The charity provides care and support to individuals and families through a range of services, including seven residential homes and a residential specialist school.
For more information contact Carolyn Bailey on 0121 450 7580, email carolynb@autismwestmidlands.org.uk or write to 18 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3DU.
Open invite to celebrate halfway mark to Birmingham’s newest hospital!
The mid-point in the construction of Birmingham’s first new acute hospital in 70 years will be marked with a free family fun day on August 30.
The new hospital which will replace the existing Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals is halfway to completion. To celebrate this important milestone University Hospital Birmingham, Balfour Beatty – which is building the hospital – and Consort Healthcare have organised a family fun day.
The main entrance will be opened up to the public – giving you the closest view yet of what the new hospital will look like. There will also be a range of entertainment, including lots of FREE fun fair activities, food stalls and BRMB Radio will also be on stage to take you through the day.
The family fun day is being held on Saturday 30 August, 11am to 5pm. For more information, look on UHB’s website: www.uhb.nhs.uk
Birmingham Forward members watch this space as we will be arranging a full brief and update on the new hospital soon.
Little steps… big difference!
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Decline plastic bags wherever possible - Every person in the UK uses up to 167 plastic bags every year. That's 10 billion bags all together. All sitting in huge land fill sites producing tons of methane gas. And if you consider a plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decay you realise "Houston, we've got a problem." Well, there is an alternative. It's called a shopping bag and apparently in France, it's very chic. Failing that, start by just using fewer bags at the check out, or better still, take old bags with you to the shops when you can.
Fit at least one energy-saving light bulb - They're not cheap, these energy saving light bulbs, but over their lifetime they'll save you £65 and a lot more besides. In fact if every British household fitted just three bulbs enough energy would be saved to supply the entire country's urban lighting. (who does work this stuff out?). So lower bills over a year and a cleaner planet... err, why wouldn't you adopt this action?
Birmingham… did you know?
Major John Hall-Edwards - The use of X-rays for medical purposes was pioneered by Major John Hall-Edwards in Birmingham. He is today remembered by a plaque at the former General (now Children’s) Hospital.
Where a King Stood - Probably the oldest man-made “structure” within the City of Birmingham is an unprepossessing mound, about 60’ across but only about 4’ high, standing unnoticed alongside the B4138 North West of the City.
Information courtesy of Ian Jelf who is a professionally-qualified 'Blue Badge' tourist Guide for the Heart of England, specialising in Birmingham tours.
New members
We would like to welcome the following new members who joined us last month;
Pro-active Associates are a UK and International investigation agency. Entrust your important enquiries to a legally qualified professional who specialises in debt recovery and person tracing.
Service Birmingham is a unique strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and Capita wiith the principal focus of the provision of cost effective world class ICT services and supporting the council in achieving its business transformation objectives.
The Space* Studio are a dynamic RIBA Practice that offers contemporary architectural, refurbishment, and commercial interior design services.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
