Birmingham Forward Seasons Greetings from the CEO
Welcome to the final e-bulletin of 2006. Birmingham Forward have had a busy and successful year what with our comprehensive event programme, our first Roger Dickens Annual Lecture and our second Gala Dinner. The latter two events raised over £6,000 for the Get-A-Head charity. Alongside this we also had a change of chief executive.
2007 is shaping up well with membership renewals coming in thick and fast (please help us by completing your renewal before we have to chase you) , the revised directory is beginning to look very interesting and a comprehensive and varied programme of events is being planned. Click here to view the current events listing for 2007.
On behalf of the executive team and our board I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas break and a successful 2007.
Richard D Brennan
News & Events
New Directors - Your chance to join the Board
Do you want to influence and direct the future of the professional and financial services sector in the city?
If yes, now is your chance to apply to join Birmingham Forward’s Board, where we have two vacancies. If you think that you have the qualities to be a Board Director, please contact joanne.sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk for an application form, which must be returned by 12th January.
We are particularly looking for candidates from the creative, insurance and legal sectors. We would also welcome applicants from Black or Minority Ethinic backgrounds. For an informal chat about the role of a Board Director, please, call Richard Brennan on 07739 071964.
2007 Directory
Work has started on a new-look new-format Birmingham Forward/Future Directory. The business guidebook to professional, financial and business support services in Birmingham will be distributed extensively to potential inward investors, business prospects and key business influencers. The directory will also be used by inward investment agencies, commercial attachés in the UK and overseas - so that it becomes a hard-working promotional tool for the membership. As before, it will include contact details of every member firm.
A comprehensive editorial section will promote Birmingham’s financial, professional and business support community and act as a sign-post for new business opportunities.
The changes follow the development of a new brief by our executive which has been refined through a series of discussions with member firms undertaken by long-standing member Clarke Associates who will produce the book in association with The Rabbit Guide to Birmingham, the independent guidebook.
A series of new commercial opportunities will be available with each member being contacted by Clarke Associates early in the new year.
Profile, advertising and enhanced listing opportunities are available. For advance details, contact Parmi Gill at the Birmingham Forward office: email: parmi.gill@birminghamforward.co.uk
RICS
As you may be aware we have entered an informal partnership with the West Midlands RICS and are planning to run a number of events together that should be of interest to both memberships. We have also agreed to promote each other’s events where relevant.
The RICS West Midlands Construction Faculty Annual Dinner is being held on Friday 26th January 2007 at 5pm. This is always a great event and if you are interested in sponsorship or attending please contact Carol Boyd on 0121 643 0105.
Passport to Birmingham
As part of our Chairman Diane Benussi’s strategy for graduate retention we are looking to run a new and exciting event to introduce first year undergraduates to city businesses. This will be a joint event with Birmingham Future and we will provide practical tips & techniques to the students together with an introduction to the host business.
In the first year we are looking for 8 to 10 businesses across the city willing to participate. This is a great opportunity to ‘get in on the ground floor’ with our local student population. If you think this might be good for your firm please contact richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk
Common Purpose… follow up to Sir Michael Lyons lecture
If you attended our recent Sir Michael Lyons lecture, and heard Sir Michael mention Common Purpose and wanted to know more, please read on …
Sir Michael referred to Common Purpose as being ‘recommended for up and coming leaders.’ The next West Midlands Navigator programme, aimed and emerging leaders, is 23-27 April 2007. It is a five-day residential programme covering the themes of: risk, leadership, vision, power and change. For further details please contact Common Purpose on 0121 625 3269, or by email: birmingham@commonpurpose.org.uk
Doing business the W1 way…
Are you a Birmingham based businesses that has a need for a short term meeting facility in London?
The office boasts one of London’s most prestigious addresses, located in the heart of Piccadilly within easy reach of central government and the core business district.
Birmingham Forward Members who join Birmingham W1 as a Corporate Member will receive a 15% discount on the Annual Membership Fee. We are also offering Birmingham Forward Members who would like to trial the Meeting Room Facilities at Birmingham W1 from January – March 2007 a 30% discount on their first booking. Click here to view the current rates on offer If you would like to make a booking or simply an appointment to view the facilities on offer and discuss the Birmingham Forward offer in more detail, please contact the Office Manager on 0870 761 0500 or email sarah.schoeman@necgroup.co.uk, stating that you are a Birmingham Forward Member.
New members
Birmingham Forward would like to welcome the following new members;
- Development Portfolio Management Limited is a niche consultancy that utilises its specialist property development skills to unlock latent value in client’s property assets.
- Kleinwort Benson Private Bank strives to establish private banking relationships by matching their services to your needs.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
