e-bulletin - February 2007
News & Events
Birmingham’s professionals are looking East
A survey we have carried out among members has confirmed that many firms are looking to China and India for business development with 35% of respondents working in China and 59% across Asia as a whole. Some 69% of firms responding indicated they already derive at least part of their revenues from abroad.
23% of respondents have already secured Chinese clients or are advising their UK clients on dealings within the country. 17% of those who took part in the survey have at least one representative office in China and 35% revealed that they are planning to open an office in China within the next three years.
Richard Brennan, Forward’s Chief Executive, was pleased to see that many members were already advanced with their dealings in China;
“We have known for sometime that China has massive commercial potential for professional firms in this city. Our survey demonstrates many of our members are working for clients in China and indeed Asia in general. This is really encouraging. One member believed this was an emerging and important market to be ignored at our peril, with one firm going further stating that their expectation was for China to become its biggest market in the years to come.”
Chief Executive addresses the Law Society Annual Dinner
Richard Brennan addressed the Birmingham Law Society Annual Dinner on Friday, 9th February in which he not only updated guests on the Advised in Birmingham campaign and the outline strategy for greater usage of the concept but addressed some of the wider challenges facing the city.
Richard revealed Advised in Birmingham is the theme for the enlarged Members Directory, to be published in March, that will now include practical and useful information about the city and region and the business that happens here.
The speech also reviewed some of the wider challenges facing the city. Richard congratulated Birmingham City Council Leader, Mike Whitby on the appointment of Professor Parkinson to prepare the City Centre Masterplan. However, Richard echoed the concern that although the city has had a fantastic “First Act” the key question now was what will the “Second Act” look like? Richard went on to say the momentum and direction leading to this vital stage in the city’s history appeared to have stalled in recent years.
The address also went on to warn guests that the city was now not only competing with other UK cities but with the likes of Barcelona, Frankfurt and Chicago.
Richard concluded with a challenge to guests. The city’s “Second Act” lies in the hands of more than just the civic leaders, business too has to play a key role and Richard’s challenge was for each and every guest to spend just fifteen minutes each considering what they believe the shape of the city should be and what they can do to help achieve it.
Shadow Attorney - General believes in Forward’s High Court Justice Campaign
Birmingham Forward’s campaign to bring a permanent High Court to the city has received a warm response from Shadow- Attorney General, Dominic Grieve. Speaking at the latest event in the campaign being run jointly with colleagues at the Birmingham Law Society, St Philips Chambers and No5 Chambers, Mr. Grieve believed that it was a “near certainty” that Birmingham would be granted a permanent Administrative Court and urged Birmingham Forward and its partners to use it as an “embryo” to achieving a full High Court in the city.
Addressing guests at the event, hosted by Deloitte in Birmingham, Mr. Grieve said he was “open minded” about a permanent High Court being established outside London but was nevertheless impressed with the representations he had heard in Birmingham and promised to take the matter to the Lord Chancellor, Charles Falconer.
Future-pro brings employers and graduates together
A wide range of members supported the latest Future-pro event which arrived at Aston University’s Business School Conference Centre on Wednesday 7th February. Over sixty under graduates attended the event from all three of the city’s universities and took part in a speed networking session with representatives from twenty member companies.
Future-pro is a graduate’s initiative organised by Birmingham Future and sponsored by AWM and has also been staged in Coventry and Stoke on Trent.
Diane in Dubai
Birmingham Forward Chair, Diane Benussi, was part of professional services delegation to Dubai at the end of January. Organized by AWM, the delegation spent a week talking to UK professional service businesses operating in the Arab State.
The schedule for the week also included a reception at the British Embassy. Dubai already boasts a significant Professional Services sector and is providing further opportunities for business as the State continues with its ambitious and vigorous development.
An evening at the Races
A great evening was had by members who attended the racing event kindly hosted by DLA. Wolverhampton racecourse staff and Ladbrokes betting services were on hand to bring the true flavour and excitement of the races to the event.
We would like to say well done to the following members on the huge sums of (fake!) money that they won on the evening.
- Colleen Walton from Hotel Du Vin with a magnificent £28,000
- Catrice Date from Baker Tilly with £9,000
- Elizabeth Barnett from Mills & Reeve with £5,000
Wolverhampton Race Course is only 20 minutes from the centre of Birmingham, boasts a floodlit course and is one of the few racecourses to offer on-site hotel accomodation. For further information, please click here.
Taste of Birmingham 2007
Taste of Birmingham is back in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park between 5-8th July. Taste is the ultimate event to showcase the steps the city had made to become the UK's centre of excellence for cuisine & culture.
The concept of Taste of Birmingham is unique; take Birmingham's most prestigious and important restaurants, add premium drink suppliers, upmarket lifestyle brands, a fabulous programme of music and entertainment and combine them all in a beautiful al-fresco city venue for one of the most dynamic and refreshing consumer events imaginable.
We are pleased to announce that Birmingham Forward members are entiltled to 20% off the corporate hospitality packages. For further details please contact Kirsty Price on 020 74711092 or by e-mail to kirstyp@brandevents.co.uk.
New members
Bozeat Consulting are confident you will want to talk to them if you need to build an army of Rainmakers; professionals who learn to 'akate anti-clockwise'. They promise to coach your people to (un)learn what needs to be (un)learned and do what needs to be done to deliver outstanding business results.
Co-Operative Bank offer an experienced Relationship Management team dedicated to providing mid-market corporate customers with a professional bespoke service.
ICICI Bank UK Plc is a full service bank offering retail and corporate and investment banking services in the UK and Europe.
Martin Ward Anderson a Randstad Group company is one of the UK's leading specialist Financial Recruitment Consultancies. Established in 1989 they have since expanded into network of ten offices across the UK and Europe.
No5 Chambers is a successful chambers of approachable barristers which is committed to working in partnership with its clients and delivering the highest standard of advocacy and service from its offices in Birmingham, London and Bristol.
Stewart Miller McCulloch team offer a friendly, highly qualified and experienced team of advisers, based in Oldbury and Hereford offices, available to offer independent advice. With direct access to the market's most competitive products, each client is ensured the best advice for the provision of their insurance covers.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
