Birmingham Future e-Bulletin – August 2009

26th August 2009

 Chairman's Welcome

At our AGM on 30 July, I took over from Matt Taylor as Chairman of Birmingham Future. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a senior solicitor in the professional indemnity team of Mills & Reeve LLP. I very much look forward to meeting you all over the coming 12 months.

We had a record turnout to the AGM and I would like to thank all of you who were able to come along and support me that evening. I hope that, like me, you enjoyed the stunning panoramic view of the city from the windows of Eleven Brindley Place and this seemed very appropriate as the backdrop to Future announcing the third annual Power 50 list with the Birmingham Post. Click here for a copy of Future’s annual report and click here to see who appears in this year’s Power 50 list.

Matt has done a terrific job of leading the organisation over the last year, with particular highlights including the establishment of the Future Foundation and the “adoption” of Moseley School. I will be taking both of these projects forward under my two chosen themes - education & skills and diversity. More details about how these themes will shape Birmingham Future’s direction over the course of the next year is on the website.

Fundamentally, Future is about one thing – its members. We are committed to staging events which allow you to engage in productive networking opportunities and to hear high quality speakers but we need to hear from you to ensure that we are doing things right. If you do have any suggestions or comments, please contact Kelly Grant of the Events team or me directly.

I know the next year will be a very busy one but I can’t wait!

Photo: Amanda Porter, Chairman, Birmingham Future

Latest News

Birmingham Future’s annual Welcome to Birmingham event has secured Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of the NEC Group and number one in this year’s Power 50 list, as its keynote speaker.

The Welcome to Birmingham event has become a popular fixture in the Birmingham Future events calendar, giving new recruits and trainees the opportunity to find out more about Birmingham’s dynamic business community, make connections with new employees and forge valuable friendships.

Anthony McCourt, Chair of the Birmingham Future’s Talent Retention and Development Committee, which organises the event, said: “We are delighted to have secured Paul as our guest speaker for this year’s Welcome to Birmingham reception. As head of a business that contributes more than £2 billion to the regional economy, supports 29,000 jobs and plays a crucial role in promoting the West Midlands on a global stage, we know that Paul will be an inspiration to new recruits who have chosen to start their own careers here in Birmingham.”

This year’s event will take place at Birmingham Council House on Wednesday 7 October. Keep an eye on the Birmingham Future website for further information and booking details.

Photo: Paul Thandi, Chief Executive, NEC Group

Birmingham Future Culture Club – it’s finally here…

You may remember a couple of months ago we mentioned that Birmingham Future’s scheme of member benefits was evolving…

Well we are very pleased to announce that the new scheme can finally be unveiled. The Marketing Committee has been working tirelessly over the last few months to secure a fantastic range of exclusive benefits for Future members at partner organisations around the city.

Under the new name ‘Birmingham Future Culture Club’ all members are eligible for a ‘Culture Club’ card which gives them access to an ever expanding list of benefits, which will be unveiled at a special launch event.

If you would like to find out more about the scheme, join us for a complimentary drink at The Jam House at 6pm on Wednesday 30 September when all will be revealed. Click here for further information. To book a place contact Isabel Drabble. Please note that this is an event for members only.

Photo: 'Culture Club' card

BYPY needs you

The Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) committee, the team behind Birmingham Future’s flagship awards ceremony, is looking for new recruits to help it deliver its most spectacular event to date in honour of BYPY’s 10th anniversary.

The committee needs three new members, who will ideally have PR, design, or website experience.

Click here to read more and if you are interested in joining this dynamic, fun team then please contact the Birmingham Future office for more information.

Photo: BYPY 2009 Committee

Calling all creatives!

Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) is looking for a creative agency to work on the design for the event’s 10th anniversary next year.

We are looking for an agency that can put together BYPY 2010’s overall design concept, as well as the tickets, programmes, winners’ certificates and other incidentals.

Ideally the successful team will also be able to create the opening sequence, which will be broadcast on big screens at the event, and take responsibility for producing video content for use on the night and on the BYPY website.

We would like a little help with our BYPY website too! It’s a tall order but if you want to be part of one of the premier events on the Birmingham calendar and you can fulfil all or any of these requirements, then your business could benefit from exposure to hundreds of the city’s professionals.

There will be an opportunity for the chosen business to appoint a representative to the BYPY Committee, becoming more involved with Birmingham Future and working with the team on all aspects of the event. If you would like further information then please contact the Birmingham Future office.
 

What do you think?

Do you enjoy a good two-way discussion? Do you want to ensure young professionals’ voices are heard on the issues that matter?  If so, Birmingham Future’s Debates Committee needs you!

Following a successful summer debate on Birmingham’s ability to weather the current financial storm, the team is now looking for new members to join its ranks and help the debates series become an established part of the city’s consultative and networking calendar.

If you’re interested in joining, or for further information, please contact Kirsty Mack at k.a.mack@bham.ac.uk.

Future in Schools

We are still keen to sign up volunteers for our flagship Moseley School Project which will be launched in the Autumn school term. Some of you will have already worked with schools in Birmingham through Education Business Links and other organisations and would therefore be able to make a valuable contribution to this project. However, experienced or not, we would love to hear from you and, if you haven't already signed up, please email donna.codrington@dlapiper.com. More details on the blog.

Photo: Moseley School

Common Purpose launches Meridian and Masterclass

- Leadership Masterclass - 21 September, Birmingham -  one-day event with national, and regional, leaders hosting informal discussions about the challenges, and rewards, of leadership in these changing times.   £250 per delegate, discounts for multiple places , some reduced fee, bursary places available.

- Birmingham Meridian 2010 - Meridian is the new international name for our senior leaders programme.  The programme is aimed at cross-sector, experienced leaders and has an element of flexibility to help you tailor the modules to suit your calendar.  There are three core, compulsory days (January, March and June) and then the rest of the 60 hours needed to graduate are made up from one set of learning groups,  Understanding Change, Understanding Place and Leadership Insights.  Open for applications now.

Further details:  Louise Teboul, louise.teboul@commonpurpose.org.uk, telephone 0121 625 3269 or visit www.commonpurpose.org.uk.
 

Forthcoming Events

Keynote lunch with David Grove, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin

1st September 2009, 12.00 - 14.00; Hotel du Vin, Church Street, Birmingham B3 2NR

We are delighted to welcome David Grove as Birmingham Future’s second keynote speaker in 2009. David is a well known Midlands businessman with a long track record of transforming the prospects of businesses, leading to sustained improvements in profitability. This was highlighted in the ‘2008 Deal of the Year’ awards where he won two awards including a Special Achievement award for his work as Chairman of Hill & Smith plc.

Following careers in finance and manufacturing in the 1970s and 1980s, David formed Grove Industries where he is also Chairman. A committed supporter of UK manufacturing, he has a strong belief that focus on innovation, markets and sound management can still secure a positive future for manufacturers despite competition from low cost global competitors.

Click here for further information. To book a place contact Claire Hawkins: 0121 632 2209/ claire@birminghamforward.co.uk.

Photo: David Grove

Speed Networking

3rd September 2009, 18.00 to 21.00; Bluu, Islington Gates, Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JH

Our speed networking events allow participants to network with a considerable number of people in a limited period of time. As well as a fast and efficient way to make connections, we bring the fun back into networking!

If you are new to networking events or simply keen to make new contacts our Speed Networking event is a fantastic opportunity to meet other Birmingham Future members in a fun, friendly and relaxed environment.

Visit the Future website for further information. To book a place contact Claire Hawkins: 0121 632 2209/ claire@birminghamforward.co.uk.

Recent Events

Birmingham Future Successfully Develops Diversity Aware Managers

Birmingham Future’s Diversity Committee hosted a well attended workshop on 29 June with Ben Gorner, an Associate Solicitor from DLA Piper’s employment team. To read about the issues that were discussed and more about this event click here.

Meet and Mix, San Paolo, 4th August

This month’s meet & mix lunch was held at San Paolo on Ludgate Hill in the Jewellery Quarter. The light, open and welcoming venue created a relaxed setting ideal for informal networking.

Kirsty Cartwright of Brewin Dolphin was there and click here for her review.

Photo: San Paolo, Ludgate Hill

Out and About.... With Lise-Ann

La Fibule

29A-31 Woodbridge Road
Moseley
Birmingham
B13 8EH

My plans to try Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath were somewhat scuppered by the fact that they don't open for dinner Monday - Wednesday!! So instead we went to another one of the places on my 'to do' list, La Fibule in Moseley.

Having read a few reviews from the past I decided to call ahead and book us a table for two at 7:30pm and it turned out to be a wise decision as the restaurant was already pretty full when we arrived.

Find out how Lise-Ann got on when she went Moroccan in Moseley on the blog.

Photo: Lise-Ann
 

Featured Member Benefit

September's highlighted member benefit is from The Jam House in St Paul's Square Birmingham. Future members can get free admission on Friday 11th September before 11pm for 'Up For The Downstroke' playing funk and new soul flavours from Chaka Khan to Mis-Teeq. Live music starts at 9.30pm with our resident boogie-woogie pianists. 'Downstroke' will be on stage at 11pm.

To add your names to the guest list email: Leonie.Martin@luminar.co.uk.

Similarly The Jam House is giving Future Members free entry to Mica Paris on Wednesday 7th October - one of the finest soul vocalists to have emerged from the British Isles for a long time singing 'My One Temptation', 'Where is the Love', and 'I Never Felt like this Before'. Again, to add your name to the guest list email: Leonie.Martin@luminar.co.uk and for further information: www.thejamhouse.com.