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News & Events
Welcome Richard
We’re delighted to announce that Richard Brennan has been appointed as Chief Executive.
We received a number of top quality applications for the role but Richard’s obvious passion for the job meant he stood out from the crowd.
Richard brings a wealth of senior level experience in the professional services sector to the role and took up his post with effect from Monday 8 May.
We look forward to working with him over the coming months and years.
…and thank you Simon
Thanks also go to Simon Murphy who steps down as Chief Executive to take up his new post as City Region Project Director.
Simon has enjoyed a successful period at the helm, developing good relationships with key partners across the country and creating a great platform from which to move forward.
We wish him well in his new post.
Congratulations
We would also like to send our congratulations to Stephen Hughes and Jerry Blackett on their appointments as Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council and Chief Executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively.
We are committed to working closely with our partners across the city for the good of Birmingham and look forward to developing these relationships over the coming months.
Birmingham Future going strong
Our sister organisation is celebrating ongoing membership success with the recruitment of its 500th member!
The landmark figure was achieved less than 12 months after its membership passed the 400 mark – a clear indication of the value placed on its work by younger members of the professional community.
If you know a young professional working in a professional or financial services role across the city who would be interested, please contact Joanne Sollom, Operations & Development Manager on 0121 632 2200.
Remembering Roger Dickens
We are pleased to announce that Sir Michael Lyons has agreed to give the inaugural Roger Dickens Annual Memorial Lecture, which will take place later this year.
This lecture series will form a fitting tribute to the founder and previous chairman of City 2000, the predecessor to Birmingham Forward. For further details of this event, watch this space.
Access to Finance
The Regional Finance Forum will be running a series of one-day Access to Finance seminars in September, featuring a number of high profile keynote speakers.
The RFF and Advantage West Midlands will also be organising a series of breakfast meetings in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants to promote awareness of the Access to Finance Framework.
For further details of either of these events, please contact gary.cowdrill@westbrom.co.uk.
Fundraising support
The University Hospital of Birmingham is establishing a fundraising sub-committee and is looking to recruit members from the city’s professional services community to serve on it.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email Amanda Cadman at amanda@lunarsociety.org.uk.
All change at the Birmingham Post
Marc Reeves, recently-appointed editor of the Birmingham Post, was guest speaker at the Board meeting on 3 May.
Marc was born and raised in Birmingham. His first job was as a reporter for the Handsworth-based community newspaper the Soho Star. He also worked in Walsall and for other weekly newspapers in Birmingham before leaving the city in 1991 to work in a number of editorial roles across the UK.
Most recently Marc was Editorial Director of Trinity Mirror Southern, responsible for the editorial agenda and product development of more than 80 weekly newspapers in London and the South East.
Marc has a wealth of interesting views on the city and the future of the newspaper and we wish him well in his new role.
Making business better together
Birmingham Forward is one of the founder partners of Better Together – the business charter for social responsibility.
Since its launch in 2001, more than 260 companies have pledged their support, at no cost, to improve our city by committing to undertake a minimum of three socially responsible activities from the 150 offered by the charter.
The scheme is a real success story and illustrates a real commitment by the private sector to play a part in regenerating our city and neighbourhoods.
If you would like to get involved, please contact Rina Guddu on 0121 451 2227 or email rina.guddu@bitc.org.uk or visit www.bettertogether.org.uk.
Raising funds for Cancer Research
The girls from the Birmingham Forward office will be entering the Race for Life event on Saturday 15th July in Sutton Coldfield Park for the second year running.
Last year they raised over £1,000 for the charity and, with your help, the fifteen strong team are aiming to beat that total this year.
We would like to thank our current t-shirts sponsors; West Bromwich Building Society, Index Fund Advisors, PCL Colour Studio and Leisure Security Training Organisation for their support.
If you would like to help the girls reach their sponsorship target, please contact Parmi Gill on 0121 632 2205 or by e-mail or alternatively send your cheque, payable to ‘Race for Life’, to Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD.
Midlands Corporate Finance Charity Ball 2006
Every year, members of Birmingham’s finance community organise a Charity Ball held at the Botanical Gardens raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The event is attended by 300 local members of the midlands finance community including Corporate Financiers, Corporate Lawyers, Stockbrokers, Private Equity/Venture Capitalists and Bankers. This year’s event takes place on 10th June.
For more details or to book your tickets please contact Helen Morley at HBJ Gateley Wareing on 0121 234 0082 or email hmorley@hbj-gw.com
Adjusting for better business
A new campaign has been launched to encourage local businesses to make their businesses more accessible to disabled customers and staff.
The campaign will inform small businesses about their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and show them how they may only need to make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of disabled people.
A jargon-free information pack aimed exclusively at small businesses is available to illustrate some of the adjustments that can be made. For copies of the booklet, please call 0845 1249 841 or e-mail ddainfopack2@meads-ltd.co.uk
New member welcome
Birmingham Forward would like to welcome the following new members:
- Else Commercial Solicitors are a commercial law firm with specialisms in commercial litigation, insolvency and commercial property. They provide clear, client focused advice at a competitive and commercial rate.
- Frontier Software plc is a leading provider of specialist Human Resource and Payroll systems around the world. More than 1300 clients across all market sectors rely on their easy-to-use and infinitely adaptable products and support.
- International Risk Consult is a globally recognised company who specialise in credit insurance, political risk and trade finance consultation. Their business is based on providing bespoke solutions and services to their clients.
Special offer for members
The Radisson SAS Hotel, is offering Birmingham Forward & Birmingham Future members a special 2 for 1 lunch in the Filini Restaurant with a glass of champagne on arrival until 7th July. To take advantage of this great offer, please look out for the vouchers at both Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future events or pop into the Birmingham Forward/Future office at One Victoria Square.
For those of you looking for a pit stop lunch, The Filini Restaurant also runs a rapido 3 course lunch for £13.50 which is served within 45 minutes.
Birmingham Forward, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
