e-bulletin - December 2008
Welcome to the final e-Bulletin of 2008, a year that has proved to be more and more challenging as the months rolled by. We have looked to keep you informed by accessing both key economic commentators and business leaders who came to speak to the membership and we plan to continue to deliver a similar programme into 2009.
We have also taken your views to the government through direct contact with Gordon Brown, Lord Mandelson and our two regional ministers Liam Byrne and Ian Austin. We play an active part in the Regional Economic Council that is advising Westminster on the specific issues affecting the Midlands.You have played your part in providing us with good factual and anecdotal information that we can use to seek to influence on your behalf at the most senior levels of government.
During the past year we can claim some real successes including a growth in membership; the first victory in our High Court campaign with the Administrative Court; the formal launch of the Colmore BID; the positive news on the Airport runway; and the continued sell-out of many of our events.
Our 2009 events schedule is taking shape and we are keen to ensure we offer the greatest relevance in the most effective way so that you, our members, can access our resources and get real value from your continued support. If you have any specific ideas or input you would like us to consider please let me know.
In the meantime on behalf of the entire team, Board and Executive, may we wish you a pleasant and peaceful Christmas break and a successful 2009.
Richard Brennan
Chief Executive
News & Events
New Directors - Your chance to join the Board and influence our future direction
This is the time of year when we start looking for non-executive directors to join us and help influence and direct the future of the professional and financial services sector in the city. If you have a passion for your city and the work we do now is your chance to apply to join Birmingham Forward’s Board.
We are particularly looking for senior level candidates who have an interest in, if not a passion for: Education & Skills; Diversity; and Transport. Directors serve for an initial three year term and invest some 4/5 hours per month in this role. We welcome applicants from all sections of our community.
Due to our annual Board Director rotation this year we have three vacancies. If you think that you have the qualities to be a Birmingham Forward Board Director, please contact Jo Sollom for an application form, which must be returned by 23rd January 2009 jo.sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk
For an informal chat about the role of a Board Director at Birmingham Forward, please, call our CEO, Richard Brennan on 07739 071964.
Colmore Business District BID – vote YES
Many of you attended the Prospectus launch party held earlier this month at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Thus far we have received extremely positive feedback about this detailed document that outlines how we plan to deliver the BID subject to a YES vote. You can download a pdf of the Prospectus at the BID website www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com or send us an email to the office and we will put a hard copy in the post.
The launch is the culmination of over 4 years work by our Board, Committee members and others and we have been strongly supported by a wide range of members firms as well as Birmingham City Council and Birmingham City Centre Partnership.
January 2009 will see notification of the ballot being sent on 9th with actual ballot papers being issued to all participating firms on the 19th. You may receive more than one ballot paper as your business may have more than one vote. All ballot forms need to be completed and returned by February 27th.
The BID team will be happy to provide additional information or answer any queries that you may have and you will find their contact details on the BID site: www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com
Please vote YES.
Support for Committees
Like all voluntary organisations we achieve much of our output through the dedication of committee members. We have some vacancies on existing committees and also want to constitute some new committees so are looking for applications from members who have expertise or interest in a number of different areas.
Most committees meet monthly 10 or 11 times a year for around 90 minutes – often (but not always) first thing in the morning. Individual committee members will find they have tasks and activities that would require them to invest a further 2 or 3 hours per month.
Our existing Marketing Membership and Events committee would benefit from one or two further members.
As the BID moves from idea to reality we want to reconstitute our Better Business Climate Committee, from whence the BID idea came and probably rename it Better Business Committee. This committee is likely to have Transport as a sub group.
We would finally like to create a new Education & Skills committee and would need at least six active and interested members to get this to happen.
If you want more information before deciding if you can ‘take the plunge’ please talk to Jo Sollom at the office 0121 632 2202.
Birmingham Ambassadors programme
We have held two of our three introductory events around this exciting scheme to ensure that relevant business leaders are fully briefed about Birmingham’s inward investment agenda and are able to provide support at short notice working with the Locate in Birmingham team.
Some 40 business leaders have thus far had the first briefing and the overwhelming reaction is one of positive support and a willingness to get involved – exactly what we have come to expect from our members.
Once we have completed the third event and surveyed the attendees we will provide further information about the next stages in this programme as it develops through 2009.
New Forward Members
We have had four new members join Birmingham Forward since October 2008.
Interactive Telecoms
Interactive Telecoms are an accredited partner of Cisco and are specialists in deploying Cisco's unified system. They provide advice on IP telephony, Blackberry and mobile devices and internet connectivity.
Malcolm Payne Group Ltd
Malcolm Payne Group Ltd provides services across the UK to developers, landowners and building occupiers. They work in the fields of architecture, design and building conservation. They assist their clients in the design, promotion and construction of residential, commercial, industrial, hotel, leisure, education and health care projects.
Click Generation Limited
Click Generation are located in Birmingham City centre and have satellite offices around the UK. They offer Search Engine Optimisation and web marketing services as well as custom web design.
TBL Marketing
TBL is a full service advertising agency. They develop commercially focussed marketing activity that focusses on delivering results for their clients.
2009 Renewals
Hopefully you have all received and processed your 2009 renewals. We all recognise that next year is going to be tough but we are confident that both our lobbying and networking will prove essential as part of a refocused arsenal of resources that will deliver for your firm.
In order to provide the same programme of events and provide the strong voice that we have become recognised for we need to ensure we can spend the most of our time on these issues.
You can help us in two ways – firstly by confirming your renewal promptly and secondly by paying at the same time. Despite gentle pressure over recent years we have still had to expend a large amount of our limited resources on chasing payments.
Forthcoming Event
Roger Dickens Annual Lecture
The third Roger Dickens lecture is scheduled for Tuesday 24th February at the ICC.
One of Birmingham’s most famous sons, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, will return to the city to deliver the 2009 Roger Dickens Annual Lecture in which he will explore the theme of the currency of power in the 21st century.
Delivering the third Roger Dickens Lecture for Birmingham Forward, Lord Jones will look at how the cataclysmic effects of the global recession leave the developed economies of the world (and their cities and regions) with stark choices about how to win through, how to drive successful wealth creation, how to combat the destructive forces of nationalism and protectionism that grow in times of economic challenge and how to be at the top table of a new world order.
Lord Jones will explore these forces, analyse their characteristics and develop conclusions of what will be the currency of power in the future globalised economy.
This prestigious business lecture is being held in partnership with The NEC Group and kindly sponsored by KPMG.
To register, please visit the Events page on the Birmingham Forward website.
Recent Event: Chairman's Gala Dinner with Jeff Randall - 21st November
Members and their guests enjoyed the annual Birmingham Forward Chairman’s Gala Dinner at the ICC. The guest speaker was business journalist Jeff Randall and the evening was hosted by local news presenter Llewela Bailey and sponsored by Kleinwort Benson. Demons of Tune provided the entertainment and the event raised over £2,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Recent Event: Keynote Lunch with Dermot Finch - 23rd October
Dermot Finch, Director of leading think tank Centre for Cities, addressed 170 members and their guests at the last Birmingham Forward Keynote Lunch on Thursday 23rd October. The event was sponsored by Calthorpe Estates and held at the newly refurbished Crowne Plaza Hotel. In his speech, he called for stronger leadership in Birmingham and across the city region, whilst also urging a radical rebrand under ‘Greater Birmingham.
Christmas closure
The Birmingham Forward office will close on Wednesday 24th December for the Christmas and New Year period. It will reopen on Monday 5th January.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
