CEO's Welcome

Richard Brennan, CEO, Birmingham Forward

Birmingham certainly came alive this past week with Rotary members from all over the world visiting our city and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being able to chat to a number of them as they gathered in Victoria Square for lunch, or evening drinks, in the International Summer Market, but just what is it about Birmingham that we should be sharing with them?  What hidden gems or places of interest should they not miss so that they can go back to their home countries taking stories of Birmingham’s treasures with them? 

As a promotional organisation, Birmingham Forward is supporting Locate in Birmingham through our Ambassadors Programme. Through this, a large number of our professional members have joined together to help Locate with their Inward Investment meetings and prospect visits, by ‘pitching’ the City, selling not only its business opportunities but also its lifestyle and leisure facilities.  Our Ambassadors know the good points and benefits of setting up business in Birmingham and what we should 'sell' to interested parties, but what about the City’s people?  We are all Birmingham’s ambassadors, selling the city as a commodity should be easy when you work here every day, but you don’t always see beyond the suits and offices of your colleagues or clients, and visits to the City’s ‘gems’ too often remain hidden, even to us. 

At a recent Birmingham Future meeting we talked about the effect these international visits have and it made us all look at just how many of us have stepped outside of the city’s ‘walls’ and stretched our legs in the parks and gardens, visited the Botanical Gardens for the actual gardens and not just for a conference or a dinner, and what about the numerous museums and art galleries..? 

One of my most privileged experiences in the last few days was being able to share thoughts and conversation with Mr Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General.  Never had I thought I would have the opportunity to shake the hand of such a prominent figure as he visited our city and the story of him refusing to leave Birmingham University until he had visited the The Barber Institute of Fine Arts left me smiling.  Entourage and security personnel were left in disarray having scheduled his visit and the cavalcade of motor cars to the ‘nth degree only to have their plans completely upended when Mr Ban Ki-moon wouldn’t leave without seeing this world renowned and most enviable collection of works of art.  This is just one of the places high on my list of recommended must sees and our congratulations must go to our friends at the University of Birmingham for getting such a prestigious guest to their campus.
 

Latest News

Gateway to India – conference and trade mission

Plans for our trip to India at the end of October are moving on a pace. As part of the preparations Sue Lewis, our chairman, and Richard Brennan, our CEO, were in London recently to meet the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This was our second meeting with their President and CEO who we had helped to host when they came to Birmingham last year. We also met the new Indian Business Minister, Mr Anand Sharma who was delighted to hear we were visiting Delhi. The Trade Mission will be in Delhi from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October with the Birmingham day on Wednesday 28th being the start of the conference, which then continues on Thursday and Friday.

If you would like further details on the conference please contact the superb organising team at No5 Chambers by going to: www.no5.com/seminars.

For more information on the Trade Mission please contact Steve Cunnane of UKTI: s.cunnane@birminghamchamber.org.uk. 

We are also drawing up a brochure to talk about some of the Birmingham BPS firms already working in India. If you are working in this market please let our CEO, Richard Brennan, know: richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk.
 

Unemployed Professionals

Andy Bass, BasClusker, facilitates the morning worksop

Wednesday 24th June saw us pilot our programme to use our existing mentoring scheme to help unemployed professionals who are struggling to get back into work. Working with Job Centre Plus (JCP) our team of Dr Andy Bass of BassClusker, Kathryn Gallan of 2nd City Resourcing and Richard Brennan ran a morning workshop hosted by Eversheds ending in a lunch at which a number of existing mentors came along to meet the delegates.

As a result we expect to roll out the programme to around 20 professionals and would be interested to hear from you if you would be interested in being one of the mentors. Please contact our CEO, Richard Brennan: richard.brennan@birminghamforward.co.uk.

Suzie Branch crowned BYPY 2009

BYPY 2009, Suzie Branch

Suzie Branch, client services director at BHMG Marketing was crowned Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2009 at Birmingham Future’s annual awards ceremony on Thursday 4th June 2009. More than 620 people attended the event.

Suzie, winner of the Communications category, overcame stiff competition from five other finalists from the Financial, Legal, Recruitment and Training, Property and Construction, and Entrepreneurial sectors to become the overall BYPY winner. In addition to this, Alan Chatham from Birmingham Development Company was named Inspiring Leader 2009.

Special thanks to compere Wayne Hemmingway, founder of fashion label Red or Dead, as well as to this year's sponsors, the judging panel and the BYPY committee.

For further information on BYPY, visit www.birminghamyoungprofessional.co.uk.

Birmingham Forward and Future Appointment of a PR Consultancy – Invitation to Tender

Birmingham Forward is inviting tenders for a PR agency / PR consultant to advise principally on media relations and PR strategy for both organisations.

The objective of the PR contract is to maximise awareness of Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future in their aim to raise and maintain the profile of the brand, which will assist in attracting and retaining membership.  To position them as the voice of the professional, financial and business services sector; promote their roles, aims and objectives; and increase awareness of the strength, depth, range, influence and skills of member firms and individuals, with an increasing focus on regional, national and international target audiences.

The PR campaign will generate media coverage, principally in the regional and specialist media, but also with coverage in the national media as appropriate and position Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future within the city/region as a primary organisation consultation and comment on issues pertaining to the sector.

For further information and to receive the full invitation, please contact Jo Sollom, Operations and Development Manager, at jo.sollom@birminghamforward.co.uk.

 No.11 Brindleyplace – Name the Bar

New Bar at Eleven Brindleyplace

Name the new bar at Eleven Brindleyplace and win a case of vintage champagne, invite to the VIP launch party and overnight stay in Brindleyplace. Click here for more information.

Forthcoming Events

Islamic Finance from Birmingham to Bahrain and back!

Tuesday 7th July 2009, 07:30hrs for 08:00hrs until approx 09:30hrs
Wragge & Co, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2AS

Birmingham has been successfully promoting itself as a global centre and in the process has been attracting a large number of non-muslim customers and businesses who see the value of the Islamic approach.

Birmingham Forward will therefore be welcoming an esteemed panel of speakers to address Islamic Finance; what it is, the benefits in light of the current economy, the legal aspects to consider and the opportunities available in Birmingham. The panel will consist of Dawood Ahmedji (Deloitte), Sultan Choudhury (Islamic Bank of Britain), Kazi Rahman (Wragge & Co) and Mike Loftus (Locate in Birmingham).

The breakfast seminar will also allow an opportunity to hear how you can get involved with the proposed Birmingham Forward delegation to Bahrain in December, which is timed to coincide with The World Islamic Banking Conference.

Visit the Birmingham Forward website for more information. To book your place, contact isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk.
 

PSMG- Sharpen your Sales and Business Development Techniques - A Masterclass

Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 12.00 until 14.00
Ernst & Young, 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, B4 6HQ

This PSMG event will give you tools and techniques to apply back in your business environment that can win you more work and give you more certainty about the sales you can get in the future. For many firms, sales this year are more important than ever and for some it is essential. This requires a change of mindset and behaviour to get better results. If you want to increase sales, this workshop is a definite for you.

Don't forget, CPD points can also be claimed through PSMG for these events.

Click here for more information. To book your place, contact isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk.

 

Meet & Eat Lunch with Jim Johnston, Advantage West Midlands

Tuesday 28th July, 2009 12:00 until 14:00
City Café 1 Brunswick Square, Birmingham, B1 2HW

Join fellow Birmingham Forward members for a barbeque lunch at City Inn, where we will welcome Jim Johnston of Advantage West Midlands.

Jim is the Business Manager for the London 2012 Games and will be discussing the background and relevance of the games to the West Midlands region. Jim will also be presenting some of the economic opportunities that will arise from London 2012 along with information and help on how to gain access to these business opportunities.

Click here for more information. Contact claire@birminghamforward.co.uk to book your place.

Recent Events

Library of Birmingham Development

Eleven Brindleyplace, 2 Brunswick Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JF

Birmingham Forward members came together on 9th June to hear the exciting plans for one of the city’s future iconic buildings while being hosted in the city’s newest iconic building, Eleven Brindleyplace.

Brian Gambles first discussed the plans for the Library and its benefits to the public, as well as better access and storage of Birmingham’s rare archives. Francine Houben followed, providing her own insight into the design and functionality of the new library. She talked about her inspirations on first exploration of the city and highlighted the Library’s links to other key buildings and sites across the city. A detailed presentation then followed, showing the planned structure- and reasons behind it- for the Library.

Particularly interesting was the exploration of plans to extend the library into Centenary Square and incorporating its neighbouring buildings, The REP and Baskerville House into three new palazzos, effectively dividing the square into three parts.

Click here for further information.

The Prince’s Trust – What’s it really all about? And what’s it to do with me?

The McLaren Building

The McLaren Building, 35 Dale End, Birmingham, B4 7LN

The Prince’s Trust’s Birmingham Development Committee invited Birmingham Forward members to an evening event on 18th June to find out more about the Trust and its breadth and scope. In Birmingham alone, more than 3,000 youngsters have been supported by the Trust when starting their own business. Members were given the opportunity to meet a range of young people who have been helped by the Trust and hear their stories at first hand.

The event was hosted by The McLaren Building and was kindly supported by Bruntwood, who are in the midst of completing an upgrade of the Building.

To read further, click here.

Breakfast Connections

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of BHX

Crowne Plaza, Central Square, Birmingham B1 1HH

Paul Kehoe was the Breakfast Connections speaker on 19th June. Chief Executive of Birmingham International Airport (BHX), Paul started out as an air traffic controller before working his way through a number of airports including Bristol, Belfast  and London Luton.

The event was opened with a video and preview slide show of the new pier development at BHX.... Click here for the full review.

New Members

Katie Bard

Katie Bard based in Birmingham and Nottingham supply quality permanent and temporary recruitment services for executive, secretarial, and all areas of business/office support throughout the Midlands. Katie Bard is part of the Angela Mortimer Group.