I am now just under two months into my role as Birmingham Future Chair and, whilst incredibly busy, I am not complaining! I have had the privilege of meeting with a number of key organisations and decision makers on a whole host of issues that affect our city. This is a great reflection on the value that is placed on the views of you, our members.
The end of the last month also saw the Leadership Team's Away Day. After swinging through the trees at Cannock's Go Ape Centre in a bid to get to know each other better and the value of team work, we then returned to the city centre in order to plan our strategy for the coming 12 months. See theblogfor some rather unflattering photos of the Leadership Team in our climbing gear.
Date for your diary! I am delighted to announce that our annual Ball will be taking place onFriday 26th Februaryand this year's theme is Bollywood. Keep an eye out for further details to follow shortly. Huge thanks to Jo Sheridan from Empty Creative (2009 BYPY finalist) for all her help with this.
And finally, I wish the very best of luck to all those Future members who are running the Birmingham half marathon. A Birmingham Future team will be joining thousands of other runners on the day to raise money for the Future Foundation and any donations would be gratefully received. See below for further details.
Photo: Amanda Porter, Chairman, Birmingham Future
Latest News
Graduate Apprentice Starts Out
We caught up with Emily Williams, this year’s Graduate Apprentice, after her first full
week in the office…
A week after starting as the Graduate Apprentice and I’m starting to settle in. I was really quite nervous the night before my first day in the office, but I had no reason to be! The people that I’m working with are really nice, and are happy to help me with the many questions that I’ve got! I spent a couple of days in London, doing an induction, and then my first couple of days in the office were mainly training based. But now I’m doing more work, and I’m enjoying it. There’s a lot to learn, but I look forward to the challenge that it brings me.
Go to theblogto read more about Emily’s first week in the office.
Photo: Emily Williams
Date for your diaries....Birmingham Future Bollywood Ball
Birmingham Future will be spicing things up in 2010, bringing a taste of the exotic to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens for its Annual Ball. We are pleased to announce the date has been set forFriday 26th February 2010and, to celebrate one of the chairman’s key themes of Diversity, we will be holding a Bollywood Ball.
Expect no end of glamour as we welcome Bollywood dancers to entertain us through the night, whilst we enjoy culinary and musical delights in the beautiful setting of the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston.
This is a chance to celebrate with friends and colleagues with dinner, dancing and an unforgettable night.
If you would like to book your place or request more information, please contact Isabel Drabble,isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk/ 0121 632 2204.
Photo: Attendees at the last Annual Ball.
The search is on for BYPY’s 10th anniversary sponsors
The Birmingham Young Professional of the Year committee is beginning its annual search for sponsors with even higher stakes than usual, as Birmingham Future’s flagship event will celebrate its 10th anniversary in May next year.
BYPY 10 is set to be the biggest awards ceremony on the business calendar and the committee will be pulling out all the stops to make it the most memorable to date.
Darren Walker, Chairman of the BYPY committee, said sponsoring the high profile event, particularly in its 10th anniversary year, is a great way for businesses to raise their profile.
“Sponsors of BYPY 10 will not only benefit from the exposure and publicity linked to the event itself but also from a close association with Birmingham Future throughout the 10th anniversary year,” he said.
“This is a unique opportunity to be part of the celebrations to mark BYPY’s ten year commitment to recognising and rewarding the wealth of talent in the city.”
To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities contact Isabel Drabble in the Birmingham Future office:isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk/ 0121 632 2204
The Katie Price/Peter Andre saga has given plenty of opportunity for the old adage “a good day to bury bad news” to be proven so true.
One recent revelation that may have been missed by many was that the Ethnic Minority and Employment Task Force have sent out over 2,000 fake job applications to find out if employers are discriminatory. Two or more applications for each 1,000 vacancies were sent out by the Task Force. The applications were signed by either a traditional English name, or one that looked like it belonged to an ethnic minority background. The C.V.s would be similar. Suzie Gingles from the Diversity Committee explains.
Early on 27th August the Birmingham Future Leadership Team met at Mills & Reeve before travelling to Cannock to take on the Go Ape course. After the initial embarrassment of putting on what were some very unflattering harnesses, the team got down to business and climbed the first rope ladder. It was a gruelling two hours of balancing, stretching and hanging on for dear life whilst hoping that the safety equipment would work, but the team got through it together.
Do you have a passion for music? Did you dream of making it as a rock star / concert pianist / celebrity DJ before the need to pay the mortgage and take a sensible job took over?
Then OxjamBrum, in aid of Oxfam’s ‘Here and Now’ climate change campaign, is for you. Clickhereto read further.
Future Focus
This month's Future Focus is CBSO Music Director Andris Nelsons. Go to theblogto read the full interview. Find out how Andris feels to be voted number nine in this year's Post Power 50, what he does to relax and his advice for the hesitant concert-goer, dipping their toe into the world of classical music for the first time.
Photo: Andris Nelsons
Forthcoming Events
Graduates' Welcome to Birmingham
Wednesday 7th October; 18.00 - 2100
The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB
Birmingham Future’s Welcome to Birmingham is a unique reception for new graduate employees and trainees.
This annual event provides an invaluable opportunity to learn more about the great variety of career and lifestyle opportunities that Birmingham has to offer, and to meet fellow new professionals in the city over drinks and canapés.
Photo: Attendees at last year's Welcome to Birmingham event.
Is Birmingham Integrated?
Diversity: Integration in Birmingham - The young professional's view
Wednesday 28th October; 18.00 - 20.00
DLA Piper, Victoria Square House,Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4DL
Birmingham is one of Britain’s most diverse cities and in 2026 is due to attain plurality - where no one ethnic group makes up over 50% of the population. But how cohesive do young professionals and young business people think Birmingham is and does it affect or even concern them?
Are you anxious about community cohesion and racial tensions? Are you concerned about access to public services? Do you fear a loss of identity?
On Wednesday 28 October 2009 Birmingham Future's Diversity Committee will be holding an event to find out.
The Barrow Cadbury Trust, a charitable foundation, carried out comprehensive research and produced a report in May 2008 called ‘Beyond Pancakes and Popadoms’ which explored integration and diversity in Birmingham. Pippa Lane from the Trust will be providing an update on latest research carried out by the Trust.
Birmingham Future members are invited to come along and find out what the people of Birmingham really think. The committee urge you to take a look at the full reportherethen come along to share your views at what looks set to be a lively debate.
Having listened to the various feedback and comments from our members regarding our events, Birmingham Future will be providing a Meet & Mix as an evening event on Monday 23rd November 2009.
We are delighted to welcome Alan Chatham, winner of BYPY Inspiring Leader 2009 to speak to us over a two course dinner at Aston Villa Football Club.
Could you handle a night under the stars in the middle of November? A number of Birmingham Future members are already signed up to take part in the ultimate networking event, the St Basil’s Corporate Sleepout, onFriday 13th November from 7pm. Following the huge success of last year’s event, which raised around £22,000, Birmingham’s professional community are again invited to sleep rough for one night, and help to raise even more for one of the city’s most worthwhile causes. This year, the aim is to get 100 people slumbering beneath the stars, and we know that the Birmingham Future membership can help beat that target.
Up for it? For more information about the event, including an insight from Suzie Branch, BYPY 2009, who took part last year, and to find out how you can join this year’s sleep out, simply visit theblog.
Team BF in training
A team from Birmingham Future is taking part in the Birmingham Half Marathon onSunday 11th October. There are now 11 team members including last year’s Chair Matt Taylor. The team is aiming to raise at least £1,500 for the Birmingham Future Community Foundation Fund and any contribution through sponsorship that you can make would be much appreciated.
The "Future Foundation" is a charitable fund set up by Birmingham Future to support education, employment and training projects in Birmingham. Future Foundation will provide financial support to assist in the development of the city’s untapped and emerging talent.
For more information on where the money goes, who’s running and how training is going go to theblogortwitter.
If you wish to join the team there are still spaces so please see theblogfor further information.
Recent Events
Mentoring 5th Birthday Celebrations
The mentoring committee turns 5 this year and in celebration, the Mentoring committee held an evening reception at the popular Metro Bar & Grill on 22nd September.
Birmingham Future held a Speed Networking event on 3rd September. Brewin Dolphin’s Peter Meckiff put down his business cards to give an account of the evening. Go to the blogto find out how it went.
Featured Member Benefit
October’s Member benefit is one not to miss - exclusive £10 tickets to see Cacophony!
This electrifying new production showcases some of Britain’s finest young talent in an exciting display of stunning street dance and percussion, and gravity-defying aerial acrobatics with a breathtaking circus twist, set to a rich and exciting original urban soundtrack.
With something for everyone, Cacophony is a rare, entertaining treat - don’t miss it!
For your Birmingham Future Discount simply quote ‘Dance offer’ before booking and get tickets* for just £10.00. Online password DANCE.
*Card payments are subject to a service/handling charge. All offers are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Discount is not offered retrospectively.
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