A word from the Chairman

Throughout my chairmanship of Birmingham Future there have been many highlights – too many, in fact, to list. However, two of the most memorable will have happened this month – BYPY and Power 50. It gives me immense pride to have been chairman in a year in which we staged the biggest and arguably the best ever BYPY event. Standing up to address an audience of some 650 people is an experience I will never forget and will definitely be one of the defining moments of my year in office. Secondly, this week I will be part of the judging panel that decides who's made it into this year's Power 50 list.

A distinguished panel of judges, chaired by Dermot Finch, a director at Centre for Cities, has been put together to contemplate and deliberate this year's entrants. The final list will be revealed at the Birmingham Future AGM on the 30th July. So to find out who has and hasn't made the cut, make sure you come along. The AGM will also be an opportunity for you to hear about all of the good work that Birmingham Future has been involved in during the past 12 months and to find out more about what's planned for the forthcoming year from Amanda Porter, the incoming chairman.

Finally with just over a month to go until I hand over the reins, I'm hoping there are a few more highlights in store.

Latest News

Power 50 2009

With the judging for this year's Power 50 due to take place on Friday 26 June, Matt Taylor, chairman of Birmingham Future, gives his view on the list and why it's important that we recognise the people with power and influence in the city.

Power50 was not born of having no leaders, but from having too few. Birmingham Future and The Birmingham Post work together to discover the rising 50 most influential people in the city and this year's search has begun.

We have lined up an esteemed panel of judges, headed by Dermot Finch, director of Centre for Cities, to help decide who should be in the Power50. He's our most independent chair of judges to date, coming from outside Birmingham, and an expert on what makes a successful city.

This year's scheme will benefit from even wider use of social media channels and tools, appropriate for a city where digital media is such a strength. It will allow more people to point judges toward those who should be considered, hopefully identifying more surprise names in the list!

But like all league tables, Power50 should not to be taken too literally; the list is there to provoke, inspire and reflect.

The list will be revealed on 30 July at a special event to coincide with Birmingham Future's AGM. Number Eleven Brindleyplace will be our stage for revealing the Power50 with thanks to Argent for being our hosts for the evening.

This story in full is available on the blog.

BYPY 2009 Winner Announced...

This year the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards was arguably one of the city’s most glamorous events. More than 620 people attended the event and waited in anticipation to see who would be crowned the BYPY 2009 winner.

Contenders for the prestigious title were category winners Suzie Branch (BHMG), Graham Nicoll (Barclays Wealth), Claire-Elaine Arthurs (HBJ Gateley Wareing), Ollie Purdom (Pitch Consultants), Chris Hill (Mace Group) and Damien Deighan (Altruist Medical). In what was a closely fought competition. In the end the coveted BYPY award went to a very surprised Suzie Branch. In addition, Alan Chatham from Birmingham Development Company was named Inspiring Leader 2009.

Special thanks go to Wayne Hemingway, founder of fashion label Red or Dead, who was the perfect compere for the event amidst the glitz, the glamour, the delicious food and the array of spectacular ball dresses.

We also give special thanks to this year’s sponsors, in particular main sponsor Cobbetts; the judging panel, chaired by Gary Taylor of Argent; the BYPY committee and Roula Samaha for all her efforts over the past two years. Whilst we bid a sad farewell to Roula, who has decided to step down as chair of the BYPY committee, her efforts will not go unnoticed and we are very pleased to announce Darren Walker from Cobbetts will be taking over this very important role for 2010.

For those of you wishing to get involved, 2010 will be BYPY's 10th anniversary and promises to be THE date to have in your business diary. Make sure you keep track of updates via the BYPY website and have a look at the photos from this year's awards by visitingwww.birminghamyoungprofessional.co.uk/gallery.

A charitable effort from BYPY

Thank you to everyone who took part in the raffle draw at this year's BYPY Awards. We managed to raise just under £4,000 for Birmingham Future's charitable fund, the Future Foundation, which will help support education, training and employment projects in the city.

Thank you also to all those companies that kindly donated prizes. We couldn't have done it without you.

It's got everything bar a name

Future Focus with Kurt Jacobs

This month we managed to catch up with Marketing Birmingham's new Head of PR, Kurt Jacobs, former editor of Midlands Business Insider magazine.

Kurt is a very powerful voice in Birmingham and responsible for making sure the city is promoted outside our region's walls. For the full interview visit the blog.

Events

Forthcoming events...

Keynote Lunch with Kevin Morley
Tuesday 30th June, 2009 12:00 until 14:30
Crowne Plaza, Birmingham City Centre, Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1HH

Birmingham Forward is delighted that Midlands based entrepreneur, Kevin Morley, will be the guest speaker at the next in our series of Keynote Lunches to be held during 2009. The Lunch will take place at Crowne Plaza Birmingham on June 30th at which Kevin Morley will talk about how business can succeed in the 21st century. In his speech Kevin will be drawing on his vast experience gained during the 20th century working with some of the world’s biggest brands.

Following a career in the automotive industry in marketing with Ford and latterly Rover where he became MD of the Group, Kevin is now one of theMidlands most successful entrepreneurs with involvement with several large scale projects around the world.

In March this year, he featured in Channel Four’s documentary series, The Secret Millionaire, in which he spent time looking and then helping various community based projects in Haringey in North London donating just under a quarter of million pounds.

For more information here.

Meet & Mix Lunch with Kurt Jacobs
Monday 6th July, 2009 12:00 until 14:00
Bank Restaurant, Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2JB

Birmingham Future is delighted to welcome Kurt Jacobs, the newly appointed Head of PR at Marketing Birmingham, as our speaker for the next Meet & Mix Lunch. Kurt joined Marketing Birmingham in April, leaving his role as editor of Insider Magazine behind. He has been working in Birmingham for the past 15 years and as a result his understanding of the city and business community is second to none.

Kurt will talk to members of Birmingham Future about the projects that Marketing Birmingham is involved with as well as planned future campaigns. For more information, visit the Birmingham Future website.

Birmingham Future AGM & Power 50
Thursday 30th July, 18.00 for 18.30 to 20.00
Eleven Brindleyplace, 2 Brunswick Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2LP

Members of Birmingham Future are invited to join us at the newly launched Eleven Brindleyplace for our Annual General Meeting 2009 and launch of this year’s Power50 list.

The event will see Matt Taylor hand over the role of chairman of Birmingham Future to Amanda Porter who will be taking over the role for the next 12 months.  Immediately following the AGM of Birmingham Future, Birmingham’s Power50 2009 will be revealed and how the Judging Panel Chaired by Dermot Finch, reached its decisions.

Click here for more information.

Recent events...

Birmingham Future Meet & Mix Lunch at Asha's, 8 June 2009
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? Birmingham Future members were treated to curry and a lively speech from Moseley School's Chair of Governors, Assad Hamed who was there to talk about the "Adopt a School" Project, a new initiative from Birmingham Future, which will see Future members engaging in projects with pupils at the school in an attempt to promote and encourage careers within the professional and financial services sector, and to improve and raise their aspirations.

Click here to read more.

Future Debate: Are Birmingham's young professionals right to be confident about the city's ability to weather the financial crisis?

With all the furore and column inches devoted to MPs expenses, the rise of fringe parties and Susan Boyle, the financial crisis and its implications for British business have ostensibly taken a back seat. Birmingham Future and its newly reprised Debates committee hoped to bring the issue back into the spotlight with the first of several debates focusing on the issues affectingBirmingham's young professional community. Taking place on a balmy summer's evening at Bevan Brittan as an open forum session (rather like Question Time, though with an audience less likely to heckle), the motion hoped to address a topic close to every young professional in Birmingham: can we be confident about the city's ability to weather the financial crisis? Guest panellists included Councillor Deidre Alden, Gisela Stewart MP, Professor David Bailey and Alun Thorne, head of business at The Birmingham Post. Click here to read more.

Out and About

Pascal's
1 Montague Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 9HN
www.pascalsrestaurant.co.uk

It was Mrs Brennan's birthday on Sunday. After reading a couple of recent reviews in the local papers she has been keen to try a couple of Birmingham's restaurants for a while.

Top of her list were Turners of Harborne and Pascal's. Since Turners no longer opens for Sunday lunch the decision was made for us! I called to book our table the week before and spoke to Pascal himself. He was most helpful and apologetic that my internet booking had not been responded to. When I mentioned there was a birthday in our party he was more than happy to arrange for this to be marked in someway on the day.

To read Lise-Ann's full review and find out what she had to eat at Pascal's click here.

Featured member benefit

Stressed? Tired? Feeling the strain of English weather? Hyatt Regency Birmingham is delighted to offer a special discount of 25% in their Amala spa for all Birmingham Future members. With a wide range of treatments that include the Kamala spa back neck and shoulder massage, finishing with a peppermint foot rub, the trademark chocolate facial by Karen Herzog, manicures, pedicures and make-overs, there is a treatment for every day of the week. Prices start from just £30.00 and for days when you just need to a break they offer express treatments, quick enough to have during your lunch break.

To make a booking please contact the Amala Spa on 0121 632 1690 or via email on amal.aspa@hyatt.com or for more information please visit www.birmingham.hyatt.com.

This month we also have a special double whammy on Member benefits and are able to bring you an exclusive offer with the Jam House in the Jewellery Quarter.

Birmingham Future members can have free entry before 11pm to see Solid Soul on Friday 3rd July. You must be on the guest list so please email tara@rewiredpr.com.