Future eBulletin - June 2010

June 2010

James Villarreal, Chief Executive Officer of Glide Utilities, became the first contender from the Entrepreneurial category to win Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) at the event’s 10th anniversary awards ceremony.

James Villarreal, 24, won the Entrepreneurial category despite stiff competition from Moo Moo Youth Marketing Director Tim Nutbeam, who received a special commendation from the judges.

A panel of judges, chaired by Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell, chose James Villarreal, who founded Glide Utilities in 2006 with business partner Sandeep Krishan. The pair offered a solution to splitting bills in shared accommodation by billing each tenant individually.

Darren Walker, chairman of the BYPY committee and an associate at law firm Cobbetts, said: “It is fitting that as BYPY celebrates its tenth anniversary we are also celebrating the first ever winner to come from the Entrepreneurial category.

“The awards this year really were a night to remember and I’m excited about what could be in store for BYPY during the next ten years.”

To see pictures from the event, have a look at the BYPY website.

Photo: James Villarreal of Glide Utilities, Winner of BYPY 2010

Thanks to all those who entered the raffle at the 10th Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards (BYPY).  The total raised for the Future Foundation on the night was in excess of £4,500.

This was topped up with another £1,000 pledged by the BYPY judges’ table after David Neale of JNJ Financial Management offered to add an extra leg onto his epic bike ride to Geneva.  David Neale is completing the ride for SENSE, but has dedicated the Birmingham to London leg of the journey to the Future Foundation.

Prizes were kindly donated by: jewellery designer KC, Cornish holiday provider Atlantic Reach, Birmingham’s Itihaas restaurant, City Nites, video and design company Red Box, Town Hall Symphony Hall, Cadbury’s World, Benjamin Ryan, Aston Villa and Women in Property.

A select group of Birmingham Future members were invited to put forward their views on business, politics, education and diversity when West Midlands Conservative MEP, Malcolm Harbour, paid a visit to the offices of Mills & Reeve.

The event, which took place shortly after the election in which the Conservatives took power, saw Birmingham Future’s leadership team quiz the minister on topics as diverse as:

•  The role of business people in politics
•  What the coalition government will mean for the Midlands
•  Leadership in the city
•  The future of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
•  Employability skills for graduates
•  Bureaucracy and its impact on small businesses
•  Public sector and private sector working together
•  Social engineering and equality in the workplace.

If you are interested in finding out more about the briefing event and what was discussed, please contact Birmingham Future chair, Amanda Porter, at amanda.porter@mills-reeve.com. 

Photo: Malcolm Harbour MEP & the Birmingham Future leadership team.

Talented Birmingham school leavers are missing out on careers in professional services because of an ‘invisible’ wall around the city’s business district, according to a panel of experts at a recent debate.

The issue was raised at a discussion led by Birmingham Future, the voice of young professionals in the city, which debated the blockages that prevent many children in deprived areas from achieving their potential in the professional services sector.

Speaking at the debate, chairman of the Civic Society, David Clarke, said: “Historically, Birmingham has led the way with corporate social responsibility (CSR) long before the term was coined.  But, in today’s society, it seems that business sometimes forgets the responsibility it has to its immediate environment.

“We need to return to helping bolster young people’s aspirations and open the ‘glass doors’ between Birmingham’s businesses and the next generation of young professionals – whether they’re from deprived areas or not.”

Those interested in volunteering can visit the Volunteering section of the Birmingham Future website for a list of current opportunities to get involved in the wider Birmingham community.

By Paul Fielding - Community Development Committee

Have you ever considered running a Marathon? If the answer is an emphatic “no” then my next question would quite simply be; well what about a half marathon then? This may also make you wince but believe me, if I can do it, then anyone can.

Last year I ran in my first half marathon alongside 9 others. This was the first time that I have run anywhere since my school days and much to my surprise I actually quite enjoyed it. There was also the added bonus of losing over a stone and feeling generally pretty good about myself!

Thousands of runners will be taking part in the Birmingham Half Marathon, which this year is being held on Sunday 24th October. Among them will be a team from Birmingham Future, which, if you were so inclined could include you! The team will be running to raise money for Birmingham Future's charitable fund, the Future Foundation. Last year the Birmingham Future team managed to raise more than £1,800, which is a figure that we are hoping to beat. If you would like further information please visit the half marathon web page www.birminghamhalfmarathon.com.

So if I have inspired you to don your running shoes and you would like to join the Birmingham Future team or if you would like any further information before committing please send me an e mail on paul.fielding@brewin.co.uk. I will then contact you with further details.

If however, running fills you with dread then don’t despair, you can still support the team through sponsorship. Details of how you can sponsor the team will follow shortly.

After the roaring fundraising success of BYPY, the Future Foundation is asking Birmingham Future members for suggestions of projects to support in the city.

A grant of £3,500 was made to the Mentor-IT Academy in Lozells last year while 2010 sees the progression of projects with local schools and support being provided for Birchfield Harriers’s campaign (in putting forward 13 athletes for the 2012 Olympics).

Claire-Elaine Arthurs, chair of the community development committee, says: “Funds raised via the Future Foundation give Birmingham Future members a wonderful opportunity to support projects making a real difference in our city."

“We’re now opening the floor for members to put forward the projects which they think deserve our support.  The only criteria are that the projects have to be based in, or focused on supporting, Birmingham and revolve around education, employment or training.”

To put forward a project for consideration, or to find out more about the Future Foundation and the community development committee, please contact Claire-Elaine Arthurs.

After four years as chair, Clare Edwards will be stepping down as chair of Sound It Out. Sound It Out is a social development agency which offers opportunities for people in the West Midlands to get together and make music.

Clare was Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in 2007 and as such Sound It Out is eager to recruit another talanted individual to replace her.

Sound It Out is looking for a high profile individual who can lead the organisation with innovation and passion, someone who brings a range of skills and the qualities and expertise of governance required to strategically steer Sound It Out through the next exciting phase of its growth and development.

Sound It Out is also open to accepting expressions of interest from potential new Board Members.

For an information pack please email Rachel Cranny at rachelcranny@sounditout.co.uk or call her on 0121 772 9961.

Deadline for expressions of interest: 5pm Monday 5th July 2010
Interview date: Week commencing 12th July 2010

Photo: Clare Edwards

Come and join the community development committee as they support Birmingham’s talented youth actors. On the 20th and 21st of July, the Theatre Ark production company will be putting on two performances of Arthur Miller's The Crucible in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

For more information about the performances and how to book, have a look at the Theatre Ark website or the promotional material.

This month’s Volunteer Spotlight features Andy Ricketts, an associate at WSP Environment & Energy. 

In his interview, Andy discusses the importance of mentoring programmes, Birmingham Future's relationship with schools in Birmingham and the value of volunteering.

Please go to the Birmingham Future website to find out what prompted Andy to get involved in volunteering, who has been his biggest inspiration and lots more.

Photo: Andy Ricketts, Associate at WSP Environment & Energy

For details of all our forthcoming events please have a look at the Birmingham Future Website.

Wednesday 7th July - Economics Lunch with Mark Miller from Lloyds TSB: Hall 9 at The ICC.

Tuesday 13th July – Breakfast Connections: Crowne Plaza, Birmingham City Centre.

Thursday 15th July - City Summer Sculpture Hunt: Starting at Birmingham City Centre near Victoria Square, concluding in Brindleyplace.

Tuesday 27th July - Meet & Mix Lunch: BYPY 2010 Winner, James Villarreal - Piccolino Birmingham, Nine Brindleyplace.

This most recent instalment in our hugely successful series of Meet & Mix lunches saw Birmingham Future welcome Julie Fouad, Brand Development Director at Katie Bard, to speak to our membership about Katie Bard's recently published Blue Book employment survey results.

This was a 'hot off the press' opportunity to preview this year’s Blue Book employment survey. 626 employers and 1,444 employees were interviewed in the first quarter of 2010, producing one of the most significant current pieces of work available to the employment arena. This market leading survey reports on salaries, benefits and the comparison of attitudes between employers and employees, forming an invaluable guide on recruitment insights and trends for any organisation.

Julie gave a very full analysis of the employment market at the moment and shared her views on likely trends for the future. As expected there were a number of questions from the floor, and much heated discussion whilst enjoying the delicious lunch provided by Bank.

At this hugely interesting event, John Peters of Aston Business School spoke to our members about the physiology of leadership and how executives need to develop the ability, now more than ever, to perform mentally, physically and spiritually under pressure in an increasingly complex, uncertain and demanding world. John explained how both body and mind together create effective leaders, using some fascinating examples of human biology and psychology.

Brigitte Nicoulaud and Angela Edkins of Aston Business School also spoke about the school itself and the MBA programme. Aston Business School is renowned for the quality of its teaching, research and its supportive environment, and we are delighted to confirm that all Birmingham Future members are eligible for a 5% discount off part time MBA fees – equating to a saving of over £800! As John was such an amazing speaker, we will try our best to have him speak at another event in the future...so watch this space!

Don’t forget there are lots of exciting discounts that can be redeemed across the city and beyond by using your Culture Club card!

If you are a Birmingham Future member then you will be eligible for a Culture Club card. For more information about the Club or to find out how to join please contact the Birmingham Future office on 0121 632 2200 or visit the Birmingham Future website.