e-bulletin - February 2006 | Birmingham Forward

News & Events

Roger Dickens

It is with great sadness that we heard the news of Roger Dickens’ death at the end of January following a long illness.

Roger was a founder and previous chairman of City 2000 (now Birmingham Forward) and an inspirational businessman.

A former partner at KPMG, Roger held a variety of directorships across the region, including Carillion, the NEC and Headlam Group. He also led the management buyout and flotation of iSoft and enjoyed a successful spell as chairman of West Bromwich Building Society.

Our sympathies go to Roger’s wife and family – he will be sadly missed.

A vote of thanks

A very big vote of thanks to Deloitte for helping to draft the Birmingham Forward report, drawn up in conjunction with Birmingham Law Society, St Philip’s Chamber and No. 5 Chambers, which calls for the permanent relocation of High Court Judges to the Midlands region.

The report was submitted to Government on 20th January. Please click here to view the report

Thanks also go to the 16 Birmingham Forward member firms that contacted the Department of Constitutional Affairs to support the report’s findings, along with our partners at Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

Members of Parliament in both Houses are now set to lobby on behalf of the report’s findings.

Making our voices heard

Birmingham Forward was well represented at the lobby of MPs and Peers at the Birmingham W1 offices in Piccadilly on 30th January.

Birmingham Forward, along with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, the Engineering Employers Federation, the CBI, Council Leader Mike Whitby, Deputy Leader Paul Tilsley and Councillor Ian Ward from the Labour Group, discussed New Street station, road pricing and the City Region concept, as part of our regular dialogue with parliamentarians.

Birmingham Professional DiverCity Calling

Two important dates for your diaries from our partners at Birmingham Professional Divercity.

Friday 3rd March: Employers Business Breakfast on linkages between schools and businesses 7.30 – 9.00am at Eversheds, 15 Colmore Row. Please contact 0121 248 8230/34 to register your place.
Thursday 9th March: Careers Event 1.30 – 3.30pm at King Edwards VI Aston School

To secure your chance to exhibit at this specialist Sport and History school for boys, please contact Lara Foster on 0121 694 5137 or lara@cbeb.org

Achieving a good work/life balance

The media has been buzzing recently with stories about achieving that all important work/life balance and Birmingham Future is set to take on the debate with a series of special events on the issue over the next 12 months.

The first event takes place on Monday 13th February at Chistows, One Colmore Row with guest speakers Mariann Harris from Birmingham Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership and Jan Fullerlove from Birmingham-based training company Purple Monster (work/life balance award winners 2005).

Tickets are priced £17.00 + VAT so, for further information or to book your tickets, please contact Halina.Bromberg@birminghamforward.co.uk

Guest speaker is definitely no bore

We were delighted to welcome Councillor Sir Albert Bore, Leader of the Labour Group on Birmingham City Council, as guest speaker at our February Board meeting.

Councillor Bore spoke about the party’s vision for the city over the next ten years and the importance of building on the recent success the city has enjoyed.

BYPY Deadline Looming

Nominations for this year’s Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards close on 1 March so if you know someone who deserves recognition for their outstanding work at a city firm, make sure you get your entry forms in now.

Nominations are welcome in six categories: communications; financial; legal; property and construction; recruitment and training; and entrepreneurial, and the winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Wednesday 17 May the ICC.

For further information, please contact Samantha.Sandbrook@birminghamforward.co.uk

Make sure your firm’s involved

There are currently a wide range of sponsorship packages available in connection with Birmingham Forward events and activities for the coming year.

High profile events still available include our Keynote Lunches and the Annual Dinner.

If you are interested in more information about this, please contact Jo.Sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk

New member welcome

Birmingham Forward would like to welcome the following new members:

ACE European Group Limited is a UK registered insurer authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. ACE provides tailored property, Liability, Marine, Financiel Lines, Accident and Health insurance solutions for a diverse range of clients.
Mazarin provides MBA level managerial training to professional service firms, primarily legal working at the partnership level (both current and prospective).
M Consulting is a leading marketing communications agency to the insurance, financial and professional services sectors.

Patrons