Have you completed your membership renewal for 2007? Birmingham Forward KEY contacts will have receieved their membership renewal forms from us recently. If you have not already responded please do at your earliest convenience to facilitate a smooth renewal transistion into 2007. If you require copies or further information please email parmi.gill@birminghamforward.co.uk.
News & Events
Campaign to establish a permanent High Court gathers momentum.
As many of you will have seen, and heard, our campaign to establish a Permanent High Court in Birmingham has achieved excellent media coverage around the attendance of Lord Justice (LJ) May in Birmingham on Tuesday 10th. LJ May was extremely complimentary of our research report and assured everyone that he was going to use some of its recommendations as part of his working party’s consultation.
Thank you all for your attendance at the public meeting on Tuesday afternoon where over 130 people filled the Dickens Room at The Midlands Institute to hear LJ May tell us about his plans for an Administrative Court in Birmingham. Our members and other people from the legal profession gave an excellent showing and asked LJ May some extremely challenging and pertinent questions.
We believe that the Administrative Court is just the first step on the journey to establishing a full High Court and we will be seeking members support to keep this debate alive over the coming months.
The Inaugural Roger Dickens’ Annual Lecture.
The first Roger Dickens’ Annual Lecture, being staged in partnership with the NEC Group, will take place on Wednesday 8th November in Hall 5 of the ICC. Sir Michael Lyons will be the speaker and will be making a timely contribution to the debate on leadership and partnership between local government and business.
The lecture entitled “The Flywheel of Local Prosperity and Good Government: Does Birmingham Have Lessons to Learn from Peter Rabbit and the Hedgehog?” will be delivered just weeks before Sir Michael reports to Government following his Inquiry into the future of local government.
Tickets for the event cost £41.13 inc VAT, £5.00 inc VAT of which will be going to our Chairma's charity - Get-A-Head.
This event is open to both members and non-members. To book your place(s) at the inaugural Roger Dickens’ Annual Lecture, you can book on-line or alternatively contact Samantha Sandbrook on 0121 632 2203 or email her: samantha.sandbrook@birminghamforward.co.uk
Forward members told that the future of high street retail is in question!
Birmingham Forward’s first “Facing Challenges” lunch, sponsored by Pertemps People Development Group, was held in the Trinity Lounge at Aston Villa Football Club on September 28th.
Members were treated to a fascinating and wide ranging address from former Next Chairman, David Jones, who during his speech said he believed that no Chief Executive should be at the helm of a plc longer than ten years and that he believed that the development of out of town malls and home shopping via the internet would effectively kill off traditional high streets within a few years.
David Jones also talked of his own personal challenges of combining a high profile business career while fighting a personal battle against Parkinson’s Disease. The lunch including sale of his book ‘Next to Me – Luck, Leadership and Living with Parkinsons’ and a raffle raised £1440.00 for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust. If you would like to obtain a copy of the book please e-mail samantha.sandbrook@birminghamforward.co.uk.
Our thanks are extended to all those who donated raffle prizes for this cause.
Our prize winners on the day were:
- Richard Edwards – Golf for four on the championship Arden Course at the Forest of Arden: donated by Allied Irish Bank
- Jane Harrison – Pike- Signed 2006 Warwickshire County Cricket Squad Bat: donated by Edgbaston / Warwickshire Cricket Club
- Mark Triggs – 2 boxes of Harvey Nichols Wine: donated by Harvey Nichols
- Mark Yarnold – A VIP Hospitality package at Aston Villa: donated by Aston Villa FC
- Adam Wilkins – A case of Bombardier English Bitter: donated by Pertemps People Development Group
- Peter Brewer – Christmas Dinner for Six at the Radisson SAS Hotel’s Filini Restaurant: donated by The Radisson SAS Hotel
Simon Murphy & Ben Reid to be guest speakers at Breakfast Connection.
Two of the key members of the shadow City Region Growth & Prosperity Board, Simon Murphy and Ben Reid will discuss the issues around the city region debate at the Breakfast Connection being held at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel on Wednesday 22nd November.
The Board is made up of Leaders of 8 urban councils - Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Telford, Walsall and Wolverhampton as well as the Chairmen of AWM, The Learning & Skills Council, the Regional Assembly and the elected business representative, Ben Reid.
The City Region aims to increase competitiveness and wealth creation by accelerating key strategic decisions on transport, investment, housing and quality of life. For tickets to the Breakfast Connection please book online here or contact Halina Bromberg on 0121 632 2204 or by email: halina.bromberg@birminghamforward.co.uk
Chairman’s Gala Dinner
We are hosting our second Gala Dinner at The Botanical Gardens on Thursday 23rd November. This promises to be an entertaining evening and provides an ideal opportunity to introduce your colleagues and clients to Birmingham Forward. The event is kindly sponsored by Sir Robert McAlpine and our guest speaker is the superb Dr Kevin Jones who is sponsored by West Bromwich Building Society.
Single tickets cost £75.00 + VAT and tables of 10 or twelve are also available for £750.00 + VAT or £900.00 +VAT. We expect this to be an extremely popular event. To reserve your place please click here to book on-line or contact Samantha Sandbrook on 0121 632 2203 or by email: samantha.sandbrook@birminghamforward.co.uk
Congratulations Liz!
Elizabeth Lewis-Jones, director of Birmingham Forward member firm Liquid Public Relations, has been elected CIPR President for 2008. Liz will take up her role on January 1st in the Institute’s sixtieth anniversary year. Liz is a former Chair of the CIPR in the West Midlands and served on Birmingham Future’s Leadership Team for five years.
Chiltern Railways- Have Your Say!
The Chairman of Chiltern Railways Adrian Shooter has appealed to Forward members to take part in a questionnaire asking for views and comments on Chiltern Railways West Midlands Services. The survey sets out to hear the views of customers on their current services and areas that you feel need to be addressed. The closing date for receipt of the completed questionnaires is December 7th.
To complete the questionnaire please click here.
We believe this survey will provide valuable information about the travel needs of our members and ongoing requirements for the city therefore we would appreciate you taking 5 minutes of your time to complete it – Thank you.
Hotel du Vin present the Bruce Wallner Wine Dinner
Bruce Wallner, Chef Sommelier at the Hotel du Vin will join forces with Head Chef Nick Turner to present an evening of specially selected seasonal food and wine at a dinner being held at the hotel on Sunday 29th October. Tickets for the event are priced at £75.00 and can be obtained by calling Emma on 0121 200 0600 or by email: eventsmanager@birmingham.hotelduvin.com
Hotel Du Vin are offering a special bed and breakfast rate for all Birmingham Forward members who attend the dinner at £60.00 per room for two people sharing.
Be a Good Sport at Work!
This month sees the launch of a month long initiative by Sport England in which they are challenging workers across the West Midlands to get active. Office Games will run between 2nd – 31st October and encourages employees to build activity of a sporty nature in to their working day.
Leading sports scientist Alan Pearson has designed a series of exercises perfect for the office environment including desk disco, tea dance and filing cabinet shuffle. To learn more visit the Sport England website – www.everydaysport@sportengland.org
Go Potty at the Theatre!
Following a successful run at Lichfield’s Garrick Theatre, the brand new comedy looking at the issue of work/life balance has hit Birmingham (11th -14th October) taking up residency at the Hippodrome.
The play is being sponsored by Birmingham Forward and members can receive a 10% discount on tickets by quoting PCDSPONSOROFFERBF at the Hippodrome Box Office.
New member welcome
- Blakemores is a consistently expanding regional law firm developing a national reputation for handling bulk referred work to the highest standards in addition to being recognised by the Birmingham Law Society as Law Firm of the Year 2006.
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